ca. 1913. This photograph from July, 1913 shows the Engine Company No. 1 fire station at 209-211 Saint Helens Avenue. The bunting and other decorations on the station appear to be for the Montamara Festo which was held in Tacoma over the 4th of July holiday every year from 1912 to 1922. The highlight of the festival was a series of automobile races held at a race track close to the present Clover Park Vocational Center. The two fire trucks framed by the open station doors are a Seagrave combination hose and chemical wagon on the left, and a 1907 Seagrave, 75 foot aerial truck, Tacoma's first motorized fire truck, on the right. Above the doors can be seen a model Fiat racing car being driven by "Tige", the mascot of the Tacoma Tigers. "Tige" was created by cartoonist Edward "Tige" Reynolds when he worked as an editorial cartoonist for the Tacoma Daily Ledger.

Tacoma Fire Department (Tacoma); Fire stations--Tacoma--1910-1920; Murals--Tacoma;

The Mountaineers Summer Outing, July 20, 1912-August 10, 1913 Scrapbook, pg. 60. From captions, clockwise: Seattle Chicken Dinner Walk (Outside Silverdale Hotel). January 19, 1913. Seattle Scenic Trip. February 22-23, 1913. Scenes I have missed.

The Mountaineers Summer Outing, July 20, 1912-August 10, 1913 Scrapbook, pg. 69. From captions, clockwise: Rhododendron Trip to Chico. May 31-June 1. Paschall Homestead. On the launch.

The Samuel Balkwill family was photographed in June of 1913 aboard a new Cadillac. The vehicle was parked outside the Balkwill home at 1022 North "K" St. Mr. Balkwill served as architect of this elegant structure which had been built by the Cornell Bros. in 1901.

Balkwill, Samuel R.--Homes & haunts; Balkwill, Samuel--Family; Houses--Tacoma--1910-1920; Cadillac automobile;

Early racing superstar Earl Cooper poses at the July 1913 Montamara Festo races at the Tacoma Speedway behind the wheel of his Stutz "8," "the most winingest" race car in the country. On July 5th, Cooper won the 200 mile "Golden Potlatch" race in Tacoma with a time of 2:49:32 and an average speed on 71 mph. He later also won the 250 mile Montamarathon. 1913 was one of his best years in racing. He won 7 of 8 major road races, winning his first National Championship (to be followed by Championships in 1915 and 1917.) Born in 1886, Earl Cooper started out as a mechanic and throughout his career took a methodical and scientific approach to racing, as opposed to the daredevils that populated racing at this time. He worked closely with his mechanics and helped develop hydraulic brakes and pressure lubrication. He raced off and on until 1928 and managed racing teams after his driving retirement. He died in 1965 at the age of 79. Cooper joined the Stutz team in 1912. The Stutz had originated in 1910 when Harry C. Stutz established Stutz Auto Parts Co. to manufacture his engineering design, the transaxle. He built a car fitted with one and entered it in the first Indy 500 in 1911. It came in 11th. He then set up the Ideal Motor Co. (renamed Stutz Motor Car Co. in 1913) to manufacture the car. Its most famous model, the Stutz Bearcat sportscar, was introduced in 1912 to compete with the Mercer Raceabout. The company was finished by the Great Depression and ceased production in 1934, dissolving in 1939. SPEEDWAY-019, TPL-5479 (T. Tribune 7/6/1913, pg. 1; www.canadiandriver.com; www.hickoksports.com)

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

Charles Webster Latta drove the #3 Interstate during the 1913 Golden Potlatch trophy race on the Tacoma Speedway on July 5, 1913. He is pictured above with his unidentified "mechanician." Race car drivers at that time were accompanied by their "mechanicians" or machinists while on the race course. Mr. Latta started in position #3 for the 200-mile race, behind defending champion "Terrible Teddy" Tetzlaff who had the pole position. The race was for 58 laps of 3.516 miles each. Out of the nine entries, Mr. Latta finished third while at times running fourth and fifth. Although "Wild Bob" Burman was favored to defeat Teddy Tetzlaff for top honors, Earl Cooper in his white Stutz captured the first prize of $1800 in a time of 2 hours, 49 minutes and 32 seconds. (The Tacoma Tribune also called Mr. Latta, "C.N. Latta," rather than Charles Webster Latta.) TPL-9865 (T.Tribune, 7-2-13, p. 2-article; T.Tribune 7-5-13, p. 1-results)

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

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;

The Mountaineers Summer Outing, July 20, 1912-August 10, 1913 Scrapbook, pg. 80. From captions, clockwise: Mountaineers in Glacier National Park. August 1-23, 1914. Mt. Henry, Lake St. Mary.

The Mountaineers Summer Outing, July 20, 1912-August 10, 1913 Scrapbook, pg. 76. From captions, clockwise: The Singing Elwha poem. "A member of the mountaineers since 1911, Mrs. Linda Coleman of Seattle was camp nurse. Here she binds a minor injury for Amos Hand, Tacoma.

The Mountaineers Summer Outing, July 20, 1912-August 10, 1913 Scrapbook, pg. 79. From captions, clockwise: First view of Mt. Olympus, Company "A" on the Summit, On the big climb.

The Mountaineers Summer Outing, July 20, 1912-August 10, 1913 Scrapbook, pg. 81. From captions, clockwise: Gunsight, Three of a kind, Camp five, Lake St. Mary.

The Mountaineers Summer Outing, July 20, 1912-August 10, 1913 Scrapbook, pg. 72. Exterior shot of trading post with advertisements for honey, root beer, vegetables and bread. From captions, clockwise: Easy Hard. Spaghetti of Boston.

The Mountaineers Summer Outing, July 20, 1912-August 10, 1913 Scrapbook, pg. 74. From captions, clockwise: Springs, Coley, Alma and Kratchie, Reverand Hugh Brown of Seattle, Fording the Quinault.

The Mountaineers Summer Outing, July 20, 1912-August 10, 1913 Scrapbook, pg. 77. Unused

The Mountaineers Summer Outing, July 20, 1912-August 10, 1913 Scrapbook, pg. 71. From captions, clockwise: Mountaineers Summer Outing. August 2-23, 1913. The pack train. Outing Committee.

The Mountaineers Summer Outing, July 20, 1912-August 10, 1913 Scrapbook, pg. 73. From captions, clockwise: Henry in Action (Photo by C.D. Fordyce). First and Second Crossing of the Elwha.

The Mountaineers Summer Outing, July 20, 1912-August 10, 1913 Scrapbook, pg. 75. From captions, clockwise: Pack horses in community meeting objecting to canyons. Summit of Seattle. Climbing Mt. Seattle.

The Mountaineers Summer Outing, July 20, 1912-August 10, 1913 Scrapbook, pg. 78. From captions, clockwise: An all day hike to temporary camp. Why doesn't that marmot whistle twice. After effects Dr. Grimer and one of his patients. A mean place on Meany.

The Mountaineers Summer Outing, July 20, 1912-August 10, 1913 Scrapbook, pg. 37. From captions, clockwise: San Juan Islands Labor Day, August 31-September 2, 1913. Taking Uncle Allie's Place, Roche Harbor

In November of 1913 a large group of children gathered in the Order Department of the original Tacoma Public Library at 1102 Tacoma Avenue South to hear Miss Emily Caskey tell the tale of "The Little Jackal and the Alligator." Each Wednesday during the winter, stories were told to public school children up to 4th grade to cultivate in them an interest in books. The story hour was started by Miss Jessie Carson, head of the Children's Department in 1910. For each session, Miss Caskey selects two stories to tell, one a literary classic and the other more humorous. Although the library had a children's area, this story time was held in the much less ornate Order Department. Exposed pipes run along the ceiling and walls and light fixtures are utilitarian. (TDL 11/9/1913, pg. 41) TPL-4068

Public libraries--Tacoma--1910-1920; Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma); Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma)--Employees; Caskey, Emily; Book talks; Children--Tacoma--1910-1920;

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. 1914. Unidentified driver in car # 19 at Tacoma Speedway. May be Lou Sorrell in his 120-hp Fiat. The big Fiat was entered by Mack Sennett of Los Angeles in the races held during the Montamara Festo week of July, 1914. There were a total of 26 cars entered in the three sanctioned events spanning July 3 and 4th. Total prizes were $10,500. The Fiat was said to be the largest car entered. Driver Sorrell (also spelled Sorell in the newspapers) was said to be a well known driver back East but unknown in the Northwest. (TDL 6-29-14, p. 2-article; TNT 6-28-14, 2D-article)

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

ca. 1914. Lumber to be used to build Tacoma's wooden track in stacks at the Speedway. Prior to 1914, the two-mile oval Tacoma Speedway was a dirt track which often provided a jolting, tough ride. When it rained and the track became too soggy for use, races were cancelled. In 1914 a split board track consisting of Washington fir 2 x 4's replaced the dirt. These planks were laid on edge, 5/8th of an inch apart, and nailed down. 2,000,000 feet of lumber, board measure, were used and 72 miles of wire were necessary to make the nails. The spaces between the planks were filled with 2500 cubic yards of gravel and sand. About 500 barrels of Richmond road oil were applied hot to the surface and about 400 cubic yards of sand was spread on top of the oil. This method would hopefully prevent holes from appearing in the track thereby lessening the chance of accidents. Several auto racers, including Earl Cooper, Jim Parsons, Hughie Hughes, Billy Carlson, Wilbur De Alene and G.E. Ruckstell, had previously advised that the Speedway should be paved with creosote wood blocks instead to make it the fastest and safest auto racetrack in the world. The ride would be smoother and it would be easier on the tires and less strain on the driver. (TNT 7-5-14, 5-B-article on creosote blocks) (information on track construction: Standard Oil Bulletin, Vol. 3, ca. 1915)

Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Lumber;

Image title: The wedding party - Qagyuhl. The North American Indian, suppl. 10, plate 344.

Indians of North America--Kwakiutl--1910-1920; Brides--Indians of North America; Indians of North America--Weddings;