Photo-collage by Marvin Boland of photographs that he took at the First Annual Rotary Fair held on October 31, 1919. This industrial fair for Rotary Club members and friends featured 150 exhibits promoting local professions and businesses. It was held in Stadium High School's gymnasium where the slogan of the fair was "Rotarians, Buy at Home." Because the fair was so successful, mention was made that a larger exhibition might be held later for the general public. Dr. H. J. Whitacre was the Rotary president at that time. (TDL 10-17-19, p. 3-article; TDL 10-31-19, p. 1-article)

Rotary Fair (Tacoma); Exhibits--Tacoma--1910-1920;

On July 4th, 1919, the Tacoma Speedway was packed with 35,000 racing fanatics for the annual races. The Speedway was one of two "Class A" racing locations in the United States, the other being Indianapolis. It was also a favorite of the drivers because of the abundant recreation opportunities of the area. Three races would be held on this day, 40 miles, 60 miles and 80 miles. By 1919, the track was 2 miles round and 50 feet wide, an adjustment done in 1914, and covered with 2 x 4 Washington fir planks laid end to end with gravel and sand filling the gaps and barrels of Richmond road oil applied hot to the surface. Indianapolis had shut down due to World War I and all the greats came to Tacoma. The five drivers surviving after the trials were Louis Chevrolet, Dario Resta (both in Tacoma for the first time,) Cliff Durant, Eddie Hearne and Ralph Mulford (in his first Tacoma appearance since 1913.) Eddie Rickenbacker, WW I flying ace and former race car driver, would referee the race. (TDL 7/2/1919, pg. 8-9) (Information on track construction: Standard Oil Bulletin, Vol. 3, circa 1915) Boland B2066, Speedway-025

Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Spectators; Grandstands;

The stands look a little empty for the start of the July 3, 1914, InterCity 100-mile race at the Tacoma Speedway. Drivers and their accompanying "mechanicians" are lined up in their race cars two abreast. These included at front: Tacoma driver Jack Croston in car #1, a Chevrolet; #2 -believed to be Barnes in his Romano; #5 -Joe Thomas in his Mercer; #26 - N. Latta of Seattle in his Lozier. This particular race was restricted to cars from Pacific Northwest cities. Total prize money was $1500 with first place winner Jim Parsons getting the lion's share of $750. Mr. Parsons, of Seattle, had won the event for the second straight year. TPL-5697;

Croston, Jack A.; Thomas, Joe; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Chevrolet automobile; Mercer automobile; Lozier automobile; Romano automobile;

ca. 1914. Jim Parsons' #7 Frantz race car is parked in the pit area of the Tacoma Speedway circa 1914 while a vehicle carrying a load of tires slowly backs in front of it. Other tires have already been unloaded and are piled upright nearby. The grandstands are nearly empty indicating this may have been practice time at the Speedway instead of the actual July races. Jim Parsons, from Seattle, would go on to win the InterCity 100 race three consecutive years, 1913-1915, allowing him to keep the perpetual challenge trophy. TPL-4424

Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Racing automobiles--1910-1920; Frantz automobile; Tires; Grandstands--Lakewood;

ca. 1915. Although photographer Marvin Boland has labeled the driver as "Earl Cooper" in his "Stutz," and the condition of the Tacoma Speedway board track identifies it as being post-1913 (the last year of the dirt track), it is not certain that this was a race during the 1915 Montamara Festo. In 1915 Mr. Cooper came in a close second during the Montamarathon on July 4th, as he attempted to win the big 250-mile race for the third consecutive year. He did run a Stutz in that year but it was the #8, not the #4 shown above. He earned $1500 for second place, sandwiched between the winner, Grover Ruckstell and Mr. Ruckstell's Mercer racing partner, Eddie Pullen, who came in third. TPL-4423

Cooper, Earl; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Stutz automobile;

Encouraged by 16,000 screaming racecar fans, three cars rush to the finish line in the "Golden Potlatch," one of two races run on July 5th, 1913 at the Tacoma Speedway. The race was 200 miles, 58 laps of 3.516 miles each, run on a dirt track and open to Class "E" non-stock cars with a winner's purse of $3,500. Earl Cooper and his white Stutz won the race in 1913 after "Terrible Teddie" Tetzlaff dropped from the lead with a broken cam shaft. Cooper's time was 2:49:32. 1913 was a victorious year for Cooper; he won 7 of 8 major road races and claimed his first national championship. The Tacoma Speedway racetrack had opened in July of 1912, financed by a group of Tacoma businessmen led by Arthur Pritchard, President of the Tacoma Automobile Association. During its years of operation, 1912-1922, most of racing's greats sped around the track, which was rated one of the three best in the United States. TPL-5481, Speedway Glass- 020 (TDL 7/6/1913, pg. 1, www.historylink.org, www.hickoksports.com)

Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920;

The Mercer racing team had a very successful journey to the Tacoma Speedway in July of 1915 as young Grover Ruckstell won the big 250-mile Montamarathon on the 4th with Eddie Pullen in third place and Mr. Pullen emerging victorious in the 200-mile Golden Potlatch race the following day. Mr. Pullen is shown waving his arm to the thrilled crowd as he prevented the 1913 titleholder, Earl Cooper in his Stutz, from recapturing the title. Mr. Pullen's winning time of 2:21:14 paid off with $1500 and the Golden Potlatch trophy. 1915 also saw the first appearance of veteran driver Barney Oldfield in his Peugeot at the Tacoma Speedway. Mr. Oldfield, who had high praise for the new planked track, came in third in the Potlatch after a disputed finish and fifth in the Montamarathon. (TDL 6-27-15, p. 20-article on Mr. Oldfield; TDL 7-5-15, p.1-results; TDL 7-6-15, p. 1,2-results)

Pullen, Eddie; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Racing automobiles--1910-1920; Mercer automobile; Grandstands--Lakewood; Sports spectators--Lakewood;

ca. 1919. Montage of newspaper clippings regarding the 1919 Tacoma Speedway races from the Seattle Sunday Times, Tacoma Sunday Ledger, Tacoma Times and Oregon Sunday Journal. July 4, 1919, saw five of the nation's top drivers compete at the Tacoma Speedway for a one-day-only, three-big-races extravaganza of racing. The appearance of flying ace and speed pilot Eddie Rickenbacker who refereed, plus Dario Resta, Eddie Hearne, Louis Chevrolet, Ralph Mulford and Cliff Durant, all helped to attract the Speedway's largest crowd to that date of nearly 40,000 people. The Frontenacs driven by Ralph Mulford and Louis "Grandpa" Chevrolet took first place in all three races. (TNT 7-5-19, p. 1,13-results)

Newspapers--Tacoma--1910-1920; Clippings; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920;

On August 17, 1918, Mrs. M. Ristig was photographed while repairing tires at the M.K. Martin Company, 750 Broadway. She was one of thousands of women worldwide, as the photo's headline in the Tacoma Daily Ledger stated, "Taking the Places of Those Over There." World War I, 1914-1918, proved to be a turning point for women's employment. With the men away at war, women were called upon to fill non traditional jobs, providing them the opportunity to prove that women could fill jobs outside the office or the home. The women performed admirably in many jobs previously denied to them, many of them physically demanding or dangerous. As Mrs. Ristig's employer, Mr. Martin, stated "She can do every bit as much work as a man and do it just as well." TPL-1656, Boland B1306 (TDL 8/25/1918, pg. C-1)

Tires; Women--Working class--1910-1920; M.K. Martin Co. (Tacoma); World War, 1914-1918--Women--Tacoma;

ca. 1916. Around 1916, the exhibition prison ship "Success," from Melbourne, Australia, was docked at the Tacoma Municipal Dock Landing and open for tours. Between 1895 and 1942, the ship was seen by millions on three continents. She was also considered a bit of a hoax, since she was exhibited as a convict ship, when in fact she had been used not to transport convicts but as a floating prison. Built in 1840, she was sold to a London company in 1842 and was used to carry emigrants from England to Australia. After being abandoned by her crew in 1852 during the Australian gold rush, she was purchased by the Victorian government to serve as a floating prison. Ordered to be destroyed in 1885, the "Success" escaped this fate, and was purchased by Alexander Phillips who saw her potential as a money making floating museum. She toured Australia, the British Isles (1895-1912) and the U.S. (1912-1943.) After 106 years, she burned to the waterline on Lake Erie on July 4, 1946. (http://home.gci.net; www.nla.gov.au) Ships-071, TPL-1787

Sailing ships--Australia;

Exhaust fills the air as the speed kings prepare to race at the Tacoma Speedway. The InterCity 100-mile and Golden Potlatch 200-mile races were both run on the same day, July 3, 1914. This is believed to be the start of the Golden Potlatch with Californian Billy Taylor in his #12 Alco and "Terrible Teddy" Tetzlaff in his #3 Maxwell side-by-side and Jim Parsons of Seattle in his #7 Frantz directly behind the Maxwell. None of the three would win the race. Another Maxwell driver, Englishman Hughie Hughes, won the $1500 first place award with Art Klein in his King and Earl Cooper (the previous year's winner) in his Stutz coming in second and third. Mr. Hughes averaged 74.28 mph while beating Mr. Klein by 6 2/5th seconds. Mr. Parsons would finish in sixth place and Mr. Taylor in eighth. If the track looks a bit oily, it probably was. According to a Standard Oil Bulletin, some 1331 barrels of Richmond road oil were used on the two-mile track. (TDL 7-4-14, p. 1-results; Standard Oil Bulletin, Vol. 3, ca. 1915)

Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Racing automobiles--1910-1920; Taylor, Billy; Tetzlaff, Teddy; Parsons, Jim; Alco automobile; Maxwell automobile; Frantz automobile;

ca. 1915. Bob Burman sails around a curve at the Tacoma Speedway behind the wheel of his Peugeot, #9. The photograph was probably taken at the July 4, 1915 Montamarathon Classic in which Burman finished fourth. Burman broke into racing as the driver of a Buick, part of a team including Louis Chevrolet and Lewis Strang. The trio won more races and broke more records than any team racing. After Chevrolet retired and Strang was killed, Burman struck out on his own. He set the speed record on Daytona Beach, one mile in 25 2/5 seconds at 141 mph, earning the title "Speed King." His most prominent characteristic as a driver was his fearlessness. He was killed in a crash in Corona, California in 1916. TPL-2949 (Tacoma Tribune 7/4/1915, pg. 12)

Burman, Bob; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920;

ca. 1915. Harry O'Brien and his "mechanician" zipping around the $100,000 Tacoma Speedway in their "Great Big Baked Potato Special" during the July, 1915, Montamara Festo races. #33 was believed to be in reality a Stutz. Mr. O'Brien had planned to race both the InterCity Century 100-mile and Golden Potlatch 200-mile events on July 5th. How he placed in the InterCity was not known but his "Baked Potato" did not run in the Potlatch. Only eight cars started in the Potlatch, the final race of the festival, as the others were too damaged by the previous races to compete. The InterCity was won by Jim Parsons for the third time in 1:15:27 while Mercer ace Eddie Pullen shattered Earl Cooper's chances of repeating as champion in the Potlatch. (TNT ad 7-4-15, p. 2; TDN 7-6-15, p. 5-results)

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

On July 4, 1915, Earl Cooper approaches the checkered flag in his Stutz racing car at the Tacoma Speedway, finishing second in the Montamarathon. The crowd of 20,000 spectators stands and cheers. Cooper had won the 250 mile race in 1913 and 1914 and had hopes of retaining the perpetual trophy for the Montamarathon, second only in importance to Indianapolis's 500. His hopes were dashed by his second place finish at 2: 58: 5. Grover Ruckstell finished first at 2:57. The track's split board planking consisted of 2 x 4 planks which were laid end to end and were a hazard to the car's tires. The race was also marked by the board track's first fatalities. Billy Carlson's Maxwell 17 blew a tire and left the track in the 60th lap, launching both Carlson and his mechanic in the air. The mechanic, Paul Franzen, was killed instantly and Carlson died later that day of injuries. TPL-130, Speedway glass- 040 (Tacoma Tribune 7/5/1915, pg. 1 & 2)

Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Cooper, Earl;

This is believed to be the Velie Special driven by T.F. Barsby who finished third in the July 5, 1915, InterCity 100-mile race at the Tacoma Speedway. The race was won by Jim Parsons of Seattle for the third consecutive year. Frank Elliott in his Gordon Special came in second. Twelve cars were entered but only six finished. TPL-3166 (TDL 7-6-15, p. 1,2 -results)

Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Racing automobiles--1910-1920;

ca. 1914. In 1914 Charles Webster Latta of Seattle returned to the Tacoma Speedway for the annual July Montamarathon Festo races. He had competed in the Golden Potlatch 200-mile race in 1913 at the Speedway and finished a very respectable third behind eventual winner Earl Cooper and well-known national star Bob Burman. In 1914 he captured third place in the InterCity 100-mile race with a Lozier, rather than the Interstate he had used in the Potlatch the year before. Jim Parsons repeated as winner of the InterCity with S.F. Brock of Portland in second place. (Local newspapers referred to Mr. Latta as "N." Latta) (TNT 7-3-14, p. 1-results) TPL-1646

Latta, Charles Webster; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Racing automobiles--1910-1920; Lozier automobile;

ca. 1914. Herman C. Terrien of Tacoma sits behind the wheel of his small Regal along with his "mechanician" Oscar Soderburg as the duo prepares for their entry in the InterCity 100-mile race scheduled for July 3, 1914 at the Tacoma Speedway. The car, dubbed the "Pacific Car Special," was altered at the Pacific Car Co., hence its name. As with racing cars of the time, the tires and steering wheel seem exceptionally large. The "Pacific Car Special" was one of twelve cars entered in the first race of the 1914 Montamara Festo which was restricted to cars from the Pacific Northwest. The InterCity race was won again by Jim Parsons of Seattle in his Frantz car. TPL-1638 (See Speedway 002 for close up of drivers)

Terrien, Herman C.; Soderburg, Oscar; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Regal automobile;

ca. 1914. Frank Verbeck and his "mechanician," Forrest C. Smithson are pictured in their Fiat "70" which had been entered in the 200-mile Golden Potlatch and 250-mile Montamarathon races at the Tacoma Speedway in early July of 1914. Mr. Verbeck had raced in Tacoma in 1912 but not the following year. He held the 24 hour record on the Los Angeles motordrome. The Fiat had been the car of Mr. Verbeck's former teammate, "Terrible Teddy" Tetzlaff, who this year would run in a Maxwell. Mr. Verbeck along with several other notable racers showed up about two weeks before the race along with their cars. Forrest C. Smithson, the "mechanician," was a world class hurdler who was making his first appearance in Tacoma. He was an Olympic champion in 1908 and held numerous American records. TPL-10151 (TNT 6-21-14, 2-B-article; TNT 6-28-14, 3-D-alt. photograph & article)

Verbeck, Frank; Smithson, Forrest C.; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Fiat automobile;

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.);

Boy Scouts salute. Organized labor flexed its muscles as nearly 20,000 marchers participated in Tacoma's Labor Day parade on September 2, 1918. These young boys pictured above had plenty of opportunity to salute the American flag as nearly every group carried the Stars and Stripes. Every trade was represented in the parade including ironworkers, boilermakers, machinists and shipyard workers. Twelve bands and occasional floats were interspersed among the double lines of marchers. (TNT 9-2-18, p. 1) Boland B1324 TPL-9632 (photograph was marred with black marks)

Saluting--Tacoma; Boys--Tacoma--1910-1920; Parades & processions--Tacoma--1910-1920;

ca. 1915. "The Famous Tacoma Speedway, Annually the Scene of Exciting Automobile Races" This photograph was believed to have been taken in 1915. The grandstands are full of excited spectators while many others view the action from their parked cars across the way. Winners that year were Grover Ruckstell in the Montamarathon, Eddie Pullen in the Golden Potlatch and three-time winner Jim Parsons in the InterCity 100. TPL-8065

Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Racing automobiles--1910-1920; Grandstands--Lakewood; Sports spectators--Lakewood;

Earl Cooper in his #8 Stutz motors past the checkered flag on July 4, 1915, at the 250-mile Montamarathon held at the Tacoma Speedway. Thirteen cars had started on the "lattice" track which consisted of 2 x 4 Washington fir planks over which gravel, sand and hot oil were applied. Mr. Cooper had hoped to retain his title in the big race which he had won for two consecutive years but came in a close second to Grover Ruckstell in his red Mercer. Mr. Ruckstell's time was 2:57 which nipped Mr. Cooper's 2:58:5. Although Mr. Cooper's car was numbered 8 which had graced the car previously and was still a Stutz racer, it was not the same car that won him the previous titles. This particular #8 had finished fourth at Indy. Mr. Cooper's old #8 Stutz was re-numbered 2 and driven by George Hill. (TDL 7-5-15, p. 1-article; Tacoma Sunday Ledger 7-4-15, p. 1-article)

Cooper, Earl; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Racing automobiles--1910-1920; Stutz automobile;

ca. 1915. Veteran driver Barney Oldfield, chewing on his ever-present Havana, at the wheel during the July, 1915 Tacoma Speedway races. He took his first spin around the board track on June 26th, declaring it "a wonder." Mr. Oldfield drove his #1 Peugeot in both the Golden Potlatch 200-mile and Montamarathan 250-mile races. This is the car he bought from Dario Resta who had previously won the Vanderbilt Cup and Grand Prix races in San Francisco as new foreign cars were not available due to the European war. He also brought his special Fiat Cyclone and 300 hp Christie to town to attempt world records; those cars did not compete in the actual races as they did not meet piston displacement rules. Barney Oldfield finished fifth with a time of 3 hours, 17 minutes in the big Montamarathon race on July 4th and third in the Golden Potlatch on the following day. (TDL 6-27-15, p. 20-article; TDL 7-5-15, p. 1-results; TDL 7-6-15, p. 1,2-results; Tacoma Sunday Ledger 7-2-22, C-1-photo) TPL-3162

Oldfield, Barney; Automobile racing drivers; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Racing automobiles--1910-1920; Cigars;

On a hot summer evening in August of 1919, a visitor to Tacoma could stand at the intersection of Pacific Avenue and 9th, looking north, and see the names of two of the city's hotels and a theater light up the sky in electric signs suspended over the street. On the left is the Hotel Donnelly, 742-50 Pacific Ave. The hotel was built in 1887 and leased to John Donnelly, who gave it his name, ten years later. It was demolished in 1925 to make way for the Motoramp Garage. On the right is the Hippodrome Theater at 821-23 Pacific Ave., an office building at 819 Pacific and the Olympus Hotel at 815-17 Pacific. In 1978, the Olympus was converted to apartments. Pedestrians who became weary from walking could hire a taxi at the corner stand or catch a ride the Pacific Avenue streetcar. TPL-4446, BU-13429, Boland-B2166

Hotel Donnelly (Tacoma); Hotels--Tacoma--1910-1920; Street railroads--Tacoma--1910-1920; Streets--Tacoma--1910-1920; City & town life--Tacoma--1910-1920; Hippodrome Building (Tacoma); Olympus Hotel (Tacoma);