Terrible Teddy Tetzlaff and his "mechanician" in his Fiat #33 on the dirt racetrack at Tacoma Speedway during the July 1913 Montamara Festo program. Mr. Tetzlaff was the holder of the Montamarathon trophy in 1912, the first year of the track's existence. TPL-3164

Tetzlaff, Teddy; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Fiat automobile;

ca. 1914. S.F. Brock of Portland and his "mechanician" N.E. "Nervy" Green on the track at the Tacoma Speedway in July of 1914. His #24 car, a Wright, came in second in the InterCity 100-mile race, and garnered Mr. Brock a $350 prize. It was remarkable that his car raced at all; it had been heavily damaged prior to the race when it flipped after striking and killing R.C. Pollock, an onlooker at the practice races who had attempted to cross the track. The News Tribune reported that it was the second fatal accident in connection with Tacoma racing. In 1912 a rock kicked by a racer's tire struck a boy sitting in a tree who then fell and died from his injuries. TPL-1642 (TNT 7-2-14, p. 1-article; TNT 7-3-14, p. 1-results)

Brock, S.F.; Green, N.E.; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Wright automobile;

Joe Thomas of Seattle attempts to pass Jim Parsons' #7 car, a Frantz, during the July 3, 1914, InterCity 100-mile race at Tacoma Speedway. Mr. Parsons would hold off Mr. Thomas' Mercer to win the race and the $750 first place prize money for the second consecutive year. Last year he rode to victory in a veteran Stutz. In 1914 his time was faster by 14 minutes and he made only one stop to change a rear tire. TPL-3167 (TDN 7-3-14, p. 1-article; TDL 7-4-14, p. 9-article)

Parsons, Jim; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Thomas, Joe;

ca. 1915. At the wheel of the "Great Big Baked Potato Special" is driver Harry O'Brien. The #33 car was entered in both the InterCity 100-mile and Golden Potlatch 200-mile races at the Tacoma Speedway during the 4th of July holiday weekend in 1915. The "Baked Potato" was believed to be a Stutz and the Stutzs and Mercers entries had withdrawn from the InterCity race. The car also did not run in the Potlatch on July 5th as only eight cars started the race. TPL-128

O'Brien, Harry; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Racing automobiles--1910-1920;

ca. 1914. Californian Billy Taylor and his unidentified "mechanician" aboard the big #12 Alco "six" at the Tacoma Speedway in early July of 1914. Entry was submitted by A.H. Woolacott. The Alco raced in both the Golden Potlatch 200-miler on July 3rd and the grand finale Montamarathon 250-mile race on the 4th on the two-mile oval track. Mr. Taylor came in 5th place of the closing race, trailing winner Earl Cooper's Stutz, G.E. Ruckstell's Mercer, Arthur Klein's King, and Jim Parsons' Frantz. He had been dubbed a "daredevil of the (Billy) Carlson type" by the Tacoma Daily Ledger prior to the race and was, according to the newspaper, quickly becoming famous. (TDL 6-29-14, p. 2-article; TNT 7-5-14, p. 1-results)

Taylor, Billy; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Alco automobile;

ca. 1914. This young driver, sitting in his unnumbered race car, is believed to be Walter Grossman of Los Angeles. He and thirteen other racers had brought their "cycle cars," smaller and less powerful than regular race cars, to the Tacoma Speedway for special Labor Day competition in 1914. Mr. Grossman was also photographed in a "Red Devil" car of his own design and construction (see G51.1, image 120) which was far different from the car he is pictured in above. Although the boys were able to get in practice and speed trial times, rains on the actual day of competition cancelled the race. Mr. Grossman, part of a large contingent from Southern California, returned to his home after a second postponement.

Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Racing automobiles--1910-1920; Automobile racing drivers;

Switchboard operator at Camp Lewis photographed in September of 1918. The operator, taking messages, sits at a desk in front of a small switchboard. She listens to callers over a set of headphones fitted across her head on a band and speaks through a speaking tube that juts out from a band extended from her neck to her chest. In the background is a poster promoting the sale of war bonds. Camp Lewis was erected on 70,000 acres given by Pierce County to the government in 1916 for mobilization of troops in World War I. After the war was over, the camp was dismantled. In 1927, Fort Lewis was constructed on the same site. Boland B1330

Telephone operators--Tacoma--1910-1920; Telephone switchboards--1910-1920; Camp Lewis (Wash.);

ca. 1918. In 1853, Capt. William Talbot located the perfect site for a lumber mill, a sheltered bay five miles inside of the Hood Canal. He and partners Josiah Keller, Andrew Pope and Charles Foster built the Puget Mill in an area called "Teekalet" by the native Americans. In 1865, the town that the mill had erected for its workers was renamed Port Gamble. A company store was built in 1853, but it was replaced in 1916 by this office and general store built on Rainier Ave. As the centerpiece for the company town, the store sold groceries and household items needed by the workers and also served as the communication center, posting news of the world on its bulletin boards. The offices for the company were located upstairs. The building is still the General Store in Port Gamble, although it now caters to tourists, while a museum is now located on the lower level. (HistoryLink.org, Bremerton Sun 5/15/1953) Boland #23

Lumber industry--Port Gamble; Puget Mill Co. (Port Gamble); General stores--Port Gamble;

ca. 1918. The rear and side view of the Puget Hotel, circa 1918, in Port Gamble. The hotel was constructed in 1907 by the Puget Mill Co., which owned the entire town of Port Gamble. It included a luxurious hotel, a restaurant, a tavern, stables for horses and carriages and an annex for longer term budget boarders. The structure was designed by Seattle architects Charles Bebb and Louis Mendel and it was operated as a concession. The hotel was closed December 22, 1962 and later demolished. In 1966, the entire town of Port Gamble was made a National Historic site in recognition of its being one of the last remaining lumber towns in the nation. ("The Coast" magazine, January 1909, Vol. 17, No. 1, pg. 92) Boland #20

Puget Hotel (Port Gamble); Lumber industry--Port Gamble; Puget Mill Co. (Port Gamble);

ca. 1918. The livery stable attached to the Puget Hotel in Port Gamble, circa 1918. The stable was also designed by the Seattle firm of Bebb & Mendel and constructed in 1907. It housed the horses and carriages used by the guests at the hotel. By 1920, the hotel was no longer boarding horses. The building was used successively as a garage, maintenance shop and a fire station. It is still standing. (Historylink.org) Boland #36

Puget Hotel (Port Gamble); Lumber industry--Port Gamble; Puget Mill Co. (Port Gamble); Stables;

ca. 1918. Junction of Rainier Ave and View Drive in Port Gamble, circa 1918. The building in the back was the company office and attached company store of Puget Mill. Puget Mill owned the entire town of Port Gamble and operated it for the benefit of their workers. In the foreground was the Community Hall, operated as a meeting venue for workers. It also contained the doctor, dentist and telegraph offices, a barber shop, Post Office and meeting room that could double as a theater and movie house. (Historylink.org) Boland #30

Lumber industry--Port Gamble; Puget Mill Co. (Port Gamble); Post offices--Port Gamble; Community centers--Port Gamble; General stores--Port Gamble;

Swimming in 1918 meant venturing into the cool lake waters wearing old dresses and hats. Even the men did not have swimming trunks but wore sleeveless one-piece bathing attire. These men, women, and children were apparently in the area for a Baptist convention and journeyed to a lake to wade and canoe. No one seems to have gone deeper than thigh-high in the water.

Wading; Canoes; Lakes & ponds;

ca. 1919. Farmers, fruit growers and breeders of the Puyallup valley held an enthusiastic meeting on June 2, 1900, and formed the Valley Fair Association. Members changed the name to the Western Washington Fair Association on January 13, 1913. The purpose of the fair was to promote agricultural, horticultural, dairying, stock-raising and manufacturing industries of the valley. In this 1919 photograph, people in the small hamlets of Dieringer, Rhodes Lake, Connell's Prairie, and Milton exhibit their wares at the fair. Boland #B2321,

Fairs; Western Washington Fair (Puyallup); Exhibitions; Home food processing; Sewing--Puyallup; Art exhibitions;

Cushman Indian School Convention Group portrait of Native Americans posed on the grass outside the Cushman Indian School, 2002 E. 28th St., in June of 1918. The school buildings became the Cushman Hospital the same year. G5.1-017

Group portraits; Meetings--Tacoma--1910-1920; Indians of North America--Tacoma--1910-1920;

These Native American girls were taking a sewing class at the Cushman Indian School on the Puyallup Reservation in June of 1918. The goal of Native American education from 1880-1920 was to assimilate the children into the dominant European culture, removing them from traditional Indian ways. One method was to remove them from their families and enroll them in government run boarding schools. By 1910, the Puyallup Indian School had become the Cushman Indian School, a large industrial boarding school, hosting over 350 students from the Northwest and Alaska. The school's focus was training the students for a place as a laborer in an industrialized America. During WWI the Red Cross entered into a partnership with schools to produce needed goods for the war torn countries. The girls in this photograph are probably sewing for the Red Cross. The boarding school closed in 1920. G39.1-163; TPL-2822

Cushman Indian School (Tacoma); Boarding schools--Puyallup Reservation; Sewing--1910-1920; Sewing machines--1910-1920;

In the summer of 1919 the building at 218-220 St. Helens Avenue was the home of Sam J. Kenyon's Marmon Service Station and Bartons Auto Laundry. Mr. Kenyon specialized in servicing and repairing luxury automobiles known for their speed and power. The Marmon was manufactured from 1903 - 1933. Signage on the glass window indicates that the Kenyon shop also serviced "Locomobiles." The Locomobile was also manufactured in the US, from 1899 (steam version) and 1902 for the gas engine version, until 1928. Both car companies also produced race cars. To provide maximum service to its customers, Barton's, in the same building, was open "day and night" according to their sign. BU-13095

Marmon Service Station (Tacoma); Barton's Auto Laundry (Tacoma); Automobile service stations--Tacoma--1910-1920; Vehicle maintenance & repair--Tacoma--1910-1920;

Seven soldier members of the Salt Lake No. 85 Elks Lodge pose in front of the Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks, Tacoma Lodge No. 174 on August 16, 1918. They are wearing military uniforms with most carrying flags. A large sign is held by two Elks "warning" others to "Watch Your Girls We're From Salt Lake No. 85." The soldiers represented their lodge during the 14th annual Washington State Elks convention held in Tacoma during August of 1918. They would march in the massive downtown parade along with Elks from lodges across the state and including several Montana Elks stationed at Camp Lewis. G68.1-109 (TDL 8-17-18, p. 7-article)

Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Tacoma Lodge No. 174 (Tacoma); Elks Temple (Tacoma); Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Salt Lake Lodge No. 85; Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1910-1920; Signs (Notices); Guests--Tacoma--1910-1920;

Actress, singer and lecturer Mona Darkfeather made a special appearance at the Liberty Theater, 906-08 Pacific Avenue, during the week beginning on August 31, 1918. Advertised as an "Indian Princess," she was actually born Josephine Workman in California and due to her dark, exotic look, became an actress specializing in Native American roles. A small article in the September 5th Tacoma Daily Ledger stated that she had come from one of the oldest and best families in California. It indicated that her father was the owner of the first bank in Los Angeles and her grandfather owned Alcatraz Island. The Princess was said to be one of five heirs to the city of Puenta, California, a matter then being contested. Her name is misspelled as "Mono" Darkfeather on the large sign advertising a special movie feature, "Eyes of the World." Princess Mona, in her "rattlesnake" dress, appeared after each showing of "Eyes of the World" to sing and give advice to all girls with ambition to enter show business. G64.1-130 (TNT 8-31-18, p. 7-ad; TDL 9-5-18, p. 7-article)

Darkfeather, Mona; Costumes; Actresses; Singers; Liberty Theater (Tacoma); Signs (Notices);

Princess Mona Darkfeather appeared in person on stage at the Liberty Theater, 906-08 Pacific Avenue, for several days beginning August 31, 1918. Photographed in front of the theater dressed in an "authentic" Indian costume, Princess Darkfeather was born Josephine Workman in southern California. She became a screen actress after answering an advertisement, placed by movie producer Thomas Ince, calling for exotic looking girls to play "Indian maidens". She became a popular star in both one-reel Western melodramas and feature films often featured astride her famous pinto pony Comanche. Princess Mona spent several days in Tacoma in 1918, appearing after each showing of "Eyes of the World." She sang and gave lectures to aspiring young actresses. The woman to the right was not identified. (entertainment.msn.com & www.homesteadmuseum.org; TNT 8-31-18, p. 7-Ad; TDL 9-5-18, p. 7-article) G64.1-025, TPL-8837

Darkfeather, Mona; Indians of North America--Tacoma; Singers; Liberty Theater (Tacoma);

This truck, adorned with large American flags, was believed to have participated in the 1918 Labor Day parade that swung through Tacoma's downtown streets on September 2nd. It carried an unidentified well-dressed man holding what may have been sheets of paper containing stamps. Signs urged people to buy US savings stamps to support the war. 18,000 workmen carried American flags, allied banners and union banners in what organizers believed was the largest Labor Day parade to date. (TDL 9-2-18, p. 1-article; TDL 9-3-18, p. 1-article)

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1910-1920; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1910-1920; Signs (Notices); Flags--United States;

March, 1919, large Foster & Kleiser billboard advertising the Liberty Theatre. The Liberty was located at 9th & Pacific in downtown Tacoma where patrons could view first-run Fox feature films. Formerly the site of the Princess Theater, the Liberty celebrated its grand opening on February 27, 1915. Moviegoers could be assured of "always a good show" at the Liberty Theatre.

Billboards--Tacoma--1910-1920;

Cargo handling at the Milwaukee Dock. A large wooden crate is being either unloaded or loaded onto the unidentified vessel at the Milwaukee Dock in March of 1919. The shipment is either headed for or came from Yokohama, Japan, according to printing on the crate. G49.1-204

Cargo ships--Japanese; Shipping--Tacoma--1910-1920; Containers; Crates;

Waldren Flying Machine Hoquiam This three-wheeled flying contraption was piloted by a Mr. Waldren in Hoquiam on the 4th of July in 1910. Among those standing near the "flying machine" was John A. ("Jack") Croston, who is believed to be second on the right of the pilot. Mr. Croston operated a garage and Chevrolet agency at 1135 Tacoma Avenue South, across the street from the Tacoma Public Library, during the years 1917-19. Copy of photograph made on February 19, 1928. TPL-2688; G71.1-141

Airplanes--Hoquiam; Croston, John A.;

Although there was no freeway between Tacoma and Seattle in June of 1919 and little actual paved road, Harry Barsamian, shop foreman for Pacific Car Co., managed to drive from the city limits of Tacoma to the city limits of Seattle in 30 minutes, 55 seconds. He was accompanied, not by the unidentified lovely miss in the front seat, but by his mechanic Victor Williams, proprietor of the Metropolitan Garage. Mr. Barsamian's time broke the previously acknowledged record of 34 minutes, 30 seconds. Victor Williams confessed to the Daily Ledger that there was one man too many in the vehicle and he was the one man; he swore never to do it again. Mr. Barsamian reported that there were no problems with the engine during the non-stop run. He declared the new stock Overland 90 Touring Car the "gamest little car in the world." Photograph ordered by the Pacific Car Co. (TDL 6-22-19, 8C) TPL-1522; G11.1-001

Barsamian, Harry; Automobiles--Tacoma--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Tacoma--1910-1920;

On June 19, 1919 racing mechanics Fred Comer (left) and Harry Hartz posed in front of the Tacoma Motor Car Company building at 945 Market with two of the cars entered in the annual July 4th races held at the Tacoma Speedway. At this time in racing, the mechanics both worked on the cars and rode with the drivers during the race. Mechanics were frequently killed along with their drivers in crashes. The car to the left is a Chevrolet Special, in actuality a modified Stutz, built and owned by millionaire sportsman Cliff Durant. The second car is a Durant Special, designed and built by Cliff Durant but owned by veteran racer Eddie Hearne. Cliff Durant was the son of William Durant, who founded General Motors, Chevrolet and Durant Motors. The two cars represented the Chevrolet team in the race. (TDL 6/22/1919, pg. C4-6-picture, 6/21/1919, pg. 8) G52.1-019; TPL-3163 (Additional identification provided by a reader)

Comer, Fred; Hartz, Harry; Racing automobiles--1910-1920; Mechanics (Persons);

Three people, including a young girl, seem dwarfed by the large trees in the national park on Mount Tacoma (Mt. Rainier) in June of 1919. They are standing at the curve of a road. TPL-2167; G76.1-134

National parks & reserves--Washington; Trees--Washington;

Informal portrait of an intense Louis Chevrolet. He was in Tacoma to race in the July 4, 1919, races held at the Tacoma Speedway. He was the overall winner that day, winning two of the three events. Chevrolet, one of the best known names in automobile history, first belonged to this mechanical genius Louis Chevrolet. Born in Switzerland on Christmas Day, 1878, the son of a watchmaker, Chevrolet enjoyed taking things apart to see how they worked, but not sitting in a classroom. He left school early to become a bicycle mechanic and later a racer of bicycles. Once he discovered automobiles, there was no turning back. He left his home in 1900, at the age of 21, for North America. He began racing in 1905 and by 1907 had caught the attention of W.C. Durant, the father of General Motors, who hired him to design and race for his Buick racing team. Chevrolet was the head of a racing family of three brothers, the other two being Gaston and Arthur. Louis is credited with 27 major event racing wins in his career. In 1911, Durant traded on the fame of the Chevrolet name to form Chevrolet Motors, competing with Ford in the moderate price market, with Louis Chevrolet as head designer. Chevrolet soon left due to artistic differences and formed his own company, Frontenac Motors. After the financial failure of Frontenac, he designed race cars for Monroe Motor Co., designing the Indy 500 winner in both 1920 and 21. After cars, he branched out into airplane design without great business success. He died in 1941, at the age of 63, having never achieved the financial success that he deserved. His fame lives on in the Chevrolet automobile name. G52.1-031; TPL-3173

Chevrolet, Louis; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Racing automobile drivers;

Concert at Wright Park. View of the many spectators watching children's concert; large flag hanging on line before the children. The first public children's "sing" was held on August 5, 1919, in Wright Park. It was enjoyed by about 2000 people who packed the north end of the park. The program was arranged and directed by Mrs. Zoe Pearl Park who had rehearsed the children for three months. Edward Benedict's "Tacoma, We're Proud of You" and "Keep the Home Fires Burning" were two popular numbers performed that evening. The large crowd pictured above also joined in singing the chorus of some of the songs. (TNT 8-6-19, p. 15) G41.1-127B, TPL-1463

Wright Park (Tacoma); Audiences--Tacoma--1910-1920; Concerts--Tacoma--1910-1920;

The Chehalis City Hall and its Free Public Library (on right) were separated by well-manicured lawns as evidenced in this September, 1919, photograph. Wooden benches were dispersed in the vicinity for the comfort of weary pedestrians. The public library was built in 1910 as a Carnegie building. Later remodeled after the 1949 earthquake, it was demolished in 2007 with completion of a new library expected in the fall of 2008. (www.trlib.org/chehalis.htm) G72.1-074

City Hall (Chehalis); Free Public Library (Chehalis); Public libraries--Chehalis;

Ambassador ready for launching. The motorship "Ambassador" was built for the Chichagof Mining Co. of Alaska in 1919. She was 112-feet long and would be used by the company for transport between Chichagof, Juneau, and Tacoma. In 1924 she would be sold to Alexander & Baldwin Ltd. for service in the Hawaiian coastal trade. The "Ambassador," launched on September 11, 1919, was built by the Tacoma Shipbuilding Co. She was the only boat built by the firm since the cancelling of contracts by the Emergency Fleet Corporation. G37.1-119 (Newell: " Maritime Events of 1924;" T.Times 9-13-19, p. 14-article)

Launchings--Tacoma--1910-1920; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1910-1920; Tacoma Shipbuilding Co. (Tacoma);