Ernest L. Webster
Encyclopedia
Ernest L. Webster was a pioneer automobile dealer in Los Angeles, California, and representative of the 3rd District on the Los Angeles City Council between 1927 and 1931.
, to Warren Webster, originally from Pennsylvania, and Jane William Webster, from South Wales
. As a youth he worked for the Youngstown Sheet and Tubing Company
as a pattern maker. In 1914 he became an automobile salesman and moved to California in 1917, where he worked at early automobile agencies both in Los Angeles and San Diego. He formed the Landsdale-Webster Company, dealing in automobile accessories, in 1925, and then the Startomatic Company, which was later leased to the Bendix Corporation
.
He was married on December 25, 1912, to Nettie Elizabeth Kline.
In 1934, he said his hobbies were his bungalow home at 5139 Maplewood Avenue, in today's Larchmont District, "with its rock pool, rose garden, barbecue and outdoor clubroom." After his retirement from public service he was in the commercial photography business. He died on January 16, 1954, leaving his widow; a sister, Mrs. Addie Ford, and two brothers, John and Warren.
Webster ran in 1927 for the 3rd Councilmanic District post as an anti-Parrot
candidate, and trounced the incumbent, Isaac F. Hughes
by a vote of 9,608 to 2,386 in the June final. He was easily reelected in May 1929. At that time, the 3rd District was known as the "West Washington area," but it actually lay mostly south of the Santa Monica Mountains
east of Sawtelle, with its eastern boundary at Western Avenue
, and its southern boundary running along Washington Boulevard to embrace the Palms area. It included the Los Angeles Country Club
and the Sawtelle district, and all the Santa Monica Mountains west of Sawtelle to the Ventura County line, including Pacific Palisades and Topanga Canyon.
During his two terms, he was instrumental in installing a traffic-signal
system on Wilshire Boulevard
and unsuccessfully advocated legislation for public nurses in parochial schools.
In January 1930, Webster and seven other council members who had voted in favor of granting a rock-crushing permit in the Santa Monica Mountains were unsuccessfully targeted for recall on the grounds that the eight
Webster was among six council members who in May 1930 unsuccessfully opposed allocating funds to make a study of leveling Bunker Hill, "which stands as a hindrance to traffic and a bar to development in the northwestern downtown territory."
He ran for reelection again in 1931 but was beaten by James Stuart McKnight, 7,866 to 4,861. He was appointed secretary of the city's Building and Safety Commission in 1934.
Biography
Webster was born in 1889 in Youngstown, OhioYoungstown, Ohio
Youngstown is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Mahoning County; it also extends into Trumbull County. The municipality is situated on the Mahoning River, approximately southeast of Cleveland and northwest of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania...
, to Warren Webster, originally from Pennsylvania, and Jane William Webster, from South Wales
South Wales
South Wales is an area of Wales bordered by England and the Bristol Channel to the east and south, and Mid Wales and West Wales to the north and west. The most densely populated region in the south-west of the United Kingdom, it is home to around 2.1 million people and includes the capital city of...
. As a youth he worked for the Youngstown Sheet and Tubing Company
Youngstown Sheet and Tube
The Youngstown Iron Sheet and Tube Company, based in Youngstown, Ohio, was one of the largest steel manufacturers in the world. Officially, the company was created on November 23, 1900, when Articles of Incorporation of the Youngstown Iron Sheet and Tube Company were filed with the Ohio Secretary...
as a pattern maker. In 1914 he became an automobile salesman and moved to California in 1917, where he worked at early automobile agencies both in Los Angeles and San Diego. He formed the Landsdale-Webster Company, dealing in automobile accessories, in 1925, and then the Startomatic Company, which was later leased to the Bendix Corporation
Bendix Corporation
The Bendix Corporation was an American manufacturing and engineering company which during various times in its 60 year existence made brake systems, aeronautical hydraulics, avionics, aircraft and automobile fuel control systems, radios, televisions and computers, and which licensed its name for...
.
He was married on December 25, 1912, to Nettie Elizabeth Kline.
In 1934, he said his hobbies were his bungalow home at 5139 Maplewood Avenue, in today's Larchmont District, "with its rock pool, rose garden, barbecue and outdoor clubroom." After his retirement from public service he was in the commercial photography business. He died on January 16, 1954, leaving his widow; a sister, Mrs. Addie Ford, and two brothers, John and Warren.
Public service
See also List of Los Angeles municipal election returns, 1927, 1929 and 1931.Webster ran in 1927 for the 3rd Councilmanic District post as an anti-Parrot
Kent Kane Parrot
Kent Kane Parrot was an American political figure and attorney who was considered the "boss" of municipal politics in Los Angeles, California, in the 1920s.Kent Kane Parrot Kent Kane Parrot (c. 1882 - March 11, 1956) was an American political figure and attorney who was considered the "boss" of...
candidate, and trounced the incumbent, Isaac F. Hughes
Isaac F. Hughes
Not to be confused with William M. Hughes, council member in 1927 to 1929.Isaac F. Hughes, known as I.F. Hughes, was a miller, a grocer and a businessman who was the first representative of Los Angeles City Council District 3 after a new city charter went into effect in 1925...
by a vote of 9,608 to 2,386 in the June final. He was easily reelected in May 1929. At that time, the 3rd District was known as the "West Washington area," but it actually lay mostly south of the Santa Monica Mountains
Santa Monica Mountains
The Santa Monica Mountains are a Transverse Range in Southern California, along the coast of the Pacific Ocean in the United States.-Geography:...
east of Sawtelle, with its eastern boundary at Western Avenue
Western Avenue
Western Avenue, some 10 miles in length, is one of the major roads leading out of London, England. It is part of the A40, leaving the city in a north-westerly direction...
, and its southern boundary running along Washington Boulevard to embrace the Palms area. It included the Los Angeles Country Club
Los Angeles Country Club
The Los Angeles Country Club is a golf and country club in Los Angeles, California.- History :In the fall of 1897, a group of Los Angelenos organized a voluntary association to further the cause of one of Southern California's newest sports...
and the Sawtelle district, and all the Santa Monica Mountains west of Sawtelle to the Ventura County line, including Pacific Palisades and Topanga Canyon.
During his two terms, he was instrumental in installing a traffic-signal
Traffic light
Traffic lights, which may also be known as stoplights, traffic lamps, traffic signals, signal lights, robots or semaphore, are signalling devices positioned at road intersections, pedestrian crossings and other locations to control competing flows of traffic...
system on Wilshire Boulevard
Wilshire Boulevard
Wilshire Boulevard is one of the principal east-west arterial roads in Los Angeles, California, United States. It was named for Henry Gaylord Wilshire , an Ohio native who made and lost fortunes in real estate, farming, and gold mining. Henry Wilshire initiated what was to become Wilshire...
and unsuccessfully advocated legislation for public nurses in parochial schools.
In January 1930, Webster and seven other council members who had voted in favor of granting a rock-crushing permit in the Santa Monica Mountains were unsuccessfully targeted for recall on the grounds that the eight
have conspired with . . . Alphonzo BellAlphonzo BellAlphonzo Edward Bell Sr. was an American oil multi-millionaire, real estate developer, philanthropist, and champion tennis player...
, Samuel Traylor and Chapin A. Day, all multi-millionaires, to grant this group a special spot zoning permit to crush and ship . . . from the high-class residential section of Santa Monica, limestone and rock for cement.
Webster was among six council members who in May 1930 unsuccessfully opposed allocating funds to make a study of leveling Bunker Hill, "which stands as a hindrance to traffic and a bar to development in the northwestern downtown territory."
He ran for reelection again in 1931 but was beaten by James Stuart McKnight, 7,866 to 4,861. He was appointed secretary of the city's Building and Safety Commission in 1934.