In July of 1919, the Ideal Tea Co. at 927-29 Tacoma Ave. So. made its deliveries with a horse drawn wagon. Milton H. Hoch, who had moved to Tacoma from Omaha around 1915, was manager of the tea and coffee shop. These buildings on Tacoma Avenue South were later demolished to make way for modern office buildings across from the County City Building. BU 12,939; Boland # B1998

Ideal Tea Co. (Tacoma);

A visitor to Tacoma in 1919 could stand downtown on Pacific Avenue near 8th St., looking south and view this bustling scene. Pedestrians present a blurred image through the camera as they hustle across Pacific, pictured with its streetcar tracks running down the center of the street. Some automobiles maneuver down the street, while others wait parked for their drivers to return. On the left, front to back, are the Hotel Olympus (815-17 Pacific Ave.), an office building at 819 containing the offices of the Tacoma Times and the Hippodrome (821-23.) On the right, front to back, are the Havana Inn storefront and its delivery vehicle in front, Hotel Waldorf (a rooming house at 728 Pacific), Bowie and Love (electric supplies at 732), Hotel Revere (rooms to let above 732), Moose Candy & Confectionary and the Hotel Donnelly and Donnelly Cafe. G61.1-024, TPL-5769

Hotel Donnelly (Tacoma); Hotels--Tacoma--1910-1920; City & town life--Tacoma--1910-1920; Hippodrome Building (Tacoma); Olympus Hotel (Tacoma); Business districts--Tacoma--1910-1920; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1910-1920;

The new home of the Model Bakery was nearing completion in the spring of 1919. The south end bakery had started as a one man shop less than 5 years earlier. Gus Westerdale had manned the oven at the small bakery at 760 So. 38th Street, while his wife Thora made the deliveries. Their new large two story brick structure at 3802 Yakima Ave. So. was designed by Mahon and Lundberg, architects, and furnished with all the latest in modern equipment. It employed a work force of 16 and had three delivery trucks. They could turn out 20,000 loaves of bread, 465 dozen donuts, 300 dozen rolls and 250 cakes in a week. The building has since been demolished. BU-11089 (TDL 10/19/1919, pg. B-5)

Model Bakery (Tacoma); Bakeries--Tacoma--1910-1920; Building construction--Tacoma--1910-1920;

Although photographer Marvin Boland's notes stated that this was the United States "Marine" Band posed on the lawn of the Hotel Tacoma on July 24, 1919, it is believed that this was actually the United States Navy Recruiting Band or The Great Lakes Band. They were there to play for the Tacoma Rotary Club for a luncheon held at the ivy-covered south end of the porch. The United States Navy Recruiting Band would perform later that evening in the Stadium Bowl along with Metropolitan Opera's prima donna Marie Rappold. G71.1-034 (TDL 7-24-19, p. 3 (ad); TNT 7-24-19, p. 1-articles on concert)

Tacoma Hotel (Tacoma); Military bands--United States;

In July of 1919, horses were being used to excavate the foundation of the Western Rubber Company factory at 6200 South Tacoma Way. The foundation would be 260 x 80 feet and to save money, the sand and gravel from the excavation would be used in the concrete work. The building was designed by E.J. Bresemann, who was also serving as contractor. The plan was to finish the building and have it occupied in 90 days. It would be ready to turn out tires by the beginning of the year. The tire manufacturer would become one of Tacoma's biggest industries. It produced new tires and tubes. Abundant water and electricity at reasonable prices were factors in its location in Tacoma. (TDL 7/27/1919, pg. B-5-article & alt. photograph) TPL-1896, BU-12489

Western Rubber Co. (Tacoma); Excavation--Tacoma--1910-1920; Horses--Tacoma;

Informal portrait of race car driver, Cliff Durant. Mr. Durant was back in Tacoma during the special July 4th races at the Tacoma Speedway in 1919. He joined racing colleagues and fellow aces Louis Chevrolet, Ralph Mulford, Eddie Hearne and Dario Resta for a one-day-only three race series with a total purse of $15,000. Although his Chevy Special No. 1 practiced at speeds up to 118 mph, he came in third in qualifying at 102.56 mph with the Frontenac team of "Grandpa" Louis Chevrolet and Ralph Mulford in first and second. The Frontenacs would sweep all three races but Mr. Durant did stay on the course throughout the day and won $2000. He came in second in the 40-mile, fourth in the 60-mile and third in the 80-mile race. Mr. Durant, a California millionaire and automobile manufacturer, had designed the "Durant Special" now owned and driven by Eddie Hearne in the Tacoma Speedway races. Mr. Hearne also did well in the races with total winnings of $2100 and second place honors in the 80-mile race. (TNT 7-3-19, p. 1, 2-article; 7-5-19, p. 1, 13-results) G52.1-032

Durant, Cliff; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing drivers; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood);

Ralph Mulford and his mechanic Frank Eastman are pictured behind the wheel of his Frontenac race car with aluminum engine at the Tacoma Speedway in July of 1919. Mulford was in town for the July 4th Montamarathon races. Mulford was in the lead in the 80 mile race when he had to drop out due to an engine malfunction. His car was repaired in time for him to place second in the 60 mile and to win the 40 mile race. Mulford won the National Driving Championship twice, in 1911 & 1915, despite the fact that he refused to race on Sundays due to his religious beliefs. He also has the distinction of being the driver to post the slowest time in the Indy, nine hours. In 1912, he was far behind when the winner crossed the line at the Indy. When officials told him that he still had to finish the race to receive his money, he decided to take his sweet time, even stopping once to eat a chicken dinner. Mulford lived to a ripe old age; he was born in 1884 and died October 23, 1973. (TDL 7/2/1919, pg 8-9; 7/5/19, pg. 1; www.hickoksports.com) G51.1-115, Speedway-039, TPL-097

Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Mulford, Ralph; Eastman, Frank; Racing automobiles--1910-1920; Automobile racing drivers;

Louis Chevrolet is pictured behind the wheel of his Monroe Frontenac with his mechanic K.W. Goodson riding beside him. This photograph was taken in the days preceding the July 4th, 1919 Racing Classic. Chevrolet would finish first in the 80 mile and 60 mile races and come in third in the 40 mile race, winning a purse of $6,500. Although he averaged out at 105 mph during the trials, his top speed in the races was 98.5 mph. The veteran racer was born December 25, 1878 and came to North American from Switzerland in 1900. He met William Durant, the founder of General Motors, in 1907, who hired him to design and race cars as part of a Buick team. In 1911, Durant founded the Chevrolet Motor Co., named after the driver, and hired Louis Chevrolet as its chief engineer. Durant wanted a car designed to compete with Ford and Chevrolet designed and engineered the first model that bore his name. Unable to agree on the direction the vehicle would take, the two split and Chevrolet founded the Frontenac Motor Corporation. The company was later bought out by Monroe Motor Co. and Chevrolet was retained as designer. Louis was the most successful of the three racing brothers, Arthur, Gaston and Louis, and won over 27 major racing events. He died in 1941. (TDL 7/2/1919, pg 8-9; 7/5/19, pg. 1; www. cruise-in.com; www.motorsportshalloffame.com) G51.1-127; Speedway-035, TPL-094

Chevrolet, Louis; Goodson, K.W.; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Racing automobiles--1910-1920;

Peering over the large steering wheel of his Durant Special is speed king Eddie Hearne, who had traveled to the Tacoma Speedway to race in the eighth annual auto race. Accompanying him on his ride in July of 1919 is his mechanic, Harry Hartz. Mr. Hearne joined his racing colleagues Cliff Durant, Dario Resta, Louis Chevrolet and Ralph Mulford in a one-day-only three-race series held on July 4th. The meet, sponsored by the Tacoma Speedway Association, offered a $15,000 purse for the event, the higher earnings to the winner of the most points in the 40,60, and 80 mile races. Nearly 40,000 fans flocked to the Speedway which saw the grandstands packed to capacity (seating 11,400) and the course lined with cars and field crowds that had taken special trains and buses in order to get there. Although Mr. Hearne did not win any of the races, he did manage to acquire enough points to finish with a $2100 payday. The Frontenac team of Louis Chevrolet and Ralph Mulford swept all three races. (TNT 6-30-19, p.1, 16-article; TNT 7-3-19, p. 1,2-article; TNT 7-5-19, p. 1, 13-results) TPL-1635; G51.1-138

Hearne, Eddie; Hartz, Harry; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Racing automobiles--1910-1920;

Dario Resta is photographed in July of 1919 at the Tacoma Speedway in his Resta Special. Also in the vehicle is his mechanic R. Dahnke. Resta was making his first appearance at the Tacoma track and he was an unknown wildcard. In the trials for the July 4th race, he appeared to holding his car back, only going fast enough to qualify. However, it turned out that the smaller engine in his vehicle could not compete with the four larger cars. He finished last in the 40 mile and 60 mile races and dropped out of the 80 mile race with engine problems. Resta was born in Milan, Italy in 1884. His greatest year in racing was 1916, when he won both the Indy and the Driver's Championship. He was killed in a crash at Brooklands, England on September 2, 1924 when his car went out of control. (TDL 7/5/1919, pg. 1; 7/2/1919, pg. 8-9; www.hickoksports.com) G51.1-109; TPL-1645

Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Resta, Dario; Automobile racing drivers;

R.C. "Cliff" Durant, California millionaire and automobile manufacturer, with his "mechanician" Fred Comer, on the Tacoma Speedway track in July of 1919. Five of the country's best known racing stars came to Tacoma for a one-day-only series of three races. Cliff Durant would join fellow racers Dario Resta, Louis Chevrolet, Eddie Hearne and Ralph Mulford at the Tacoma Speedway on July 4th for a total purse of $15,000. Mr. Durant would pilot his Chevrolet Special No. 1 in the afternoon races. He had qualified third with an average speed of 102.56 mph on July 1st, allowing him to be placed in the front row with Ralph Mulford and top qualifier, "Grandpa" Louis Chevrolet, who was on the pole. The Frontenac team of Chevrolet and Mulford would win all three races with Mr. Chevrolet the winner in the 60 and 80 mile events. Mr. Durant finished second in the first race, the 40-mile event, fourth in the second race, the 60-mile, and third in the final race of 80 miles. (TNT 7-2-19, p. 19-article; 7-5-19, p. 1-article) TPL-106; G51.1-108

Durant, Cliff; Comer, Fred; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Racing automobiles--1910-1920; Chevrolet automobile;

1916 Indy 500 champion Dario Resta made his first appearance at the Tacoma Speedway in July of 1919, at the special 5-star 4th of July races. He joined fellow speed kings Louis Chevrolet, Cliff Durant, Ralph Mulford and Eddie Hearne in a one-day, three-race competition. Mr. Resta, already a star on the European tracks and winner on American speedways, brought his Resta "Mystery" Special to town. Although the car was dubbed a "Mystery" Special, it may have had some Frontenac in it. Mr. Resta was able to finish both first and second races but was forced out in the third and longest race of 80 miles with mechanical trouble. His car had qualified last of the five entered in the races with an average speed of 98.09 mph. At that time Mr. Resta indicated that he wasn't out to break any records in practice but was saving his car for the actual races. The Special's motor troubles and bad steering made it a non-factor in the competition. Dario Resta, who was brought up in England but was of Italian descent, would die in England five years later at the wheel of a Sunbeam while trying for a new land speed record. (TNT 7-2-19, p. 19-article; TNT 7-5-19, p. 1, 13-results) TPL-081; G51.1-110

Resta, Dario; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Racing automobiles--1910-1920; Automobile racing drivers;

A beaming Ralph Mulford behind the wheel of his Frontenac race car, #2, on the Tacoma Speedway in July of 1919. His "mechanician" is believed to be Frank Eastman. Ralph Mulford was last in Tacoma in 1912 at the first automobile races in the Northwest where he drove a six-cylinder Knox on the old five-mile course. He arrived in Tacoma on June 25, 1919, along with fellow Frontenac driver, Louis "Grandpa" Chevrolet and Englishman Dario Resta in his Resta "mystery" Special. The three drivers plus Eddie Hearne and Cliff Durant would enter into a one-day-only three event race at the Tacoma Speedway on the 4th of July. The News Tribune called them "the five greatest speedway pilots in the world" as all had stellar reputations in the racing world. The Speedway's largest crowd of almost 40,000 saw the Frontenacs driven by Ralph Mulford and Louis Chevrolet take first place in all three races. Mr. Mulford won the 40 mile race at an average speed of 100+ mph and took home prize money $1500 for the race. He placed second in the 60 mile race and earned $800. His Frontenac was forced out of the third race with mechanical problems and he did not complete the race. There were no injuries or accidents during the afternoon of racing. TPL-093; G51.1-114 (TNT 7-3-19, p.1, 2-article; 7-5-19, p. 1-results)

Mulford, Ralph; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Racing automobiles--1910-1920; Frontenac automobile;

Close-up view of race car driver, Dario Resta, circa 1919. Mr. Resta was part of the select five-car competition at the Tacoma Speedway in July of 1919. He joined racing stars Louis Chevrolet, Ralph Mulford, Eddie Hearne and Cliff Durant for a one-day-only series of three races held on July 4th. It was the first time Mr. Resta had raced on the Speedway. Mr. Resta, of Italian descent, was raised in England and began racing there. In 1915 he finished second to Ralph DePalma in the Indy 500 after leading in the late stages. He won the Indy 500 the following year as well as the United States National Driving Championship. Mr. Resta had brought his Resta "Mystery" Special to Tacoma but his car failed to keep up with the larger cars of his competitors. He finished last in the 40 and 60 mile races and was forced out of the 80 mile final race in the 23rd lap with mechanical problems. He died at age 40 at Brooklands in England when a tire blew and sent his car out of control. (TNT 7-3-19, p. 1; 7-5-19, p. 1, 13-results; hickoksports.com) G52.1-030

Resta, Dario; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing drivers;

Fresh off a second place finish at the Indy 500, driver Eddie Hearne returned to the Tacoma Speedway racetrack to compete in the Pacific Coast championship on July 4, 1919. He is pictured above with "mechanician" Harry Hartz at his side. Five top racers were invited to the Speedway to battle for $15,000 in prize money. A crowd of nearly 40,000, Speedway's largest crowd to date, saw Mr. Hearne, Louis Chevrolet, Ralph Mulford, Cliff Durant and Dario Resta battle in the eighth annual auto race there. Refereed by former ace and 1916's 300-mile winner Eddie Rickenbacker, the men drove in three races of 40,60 and 80 miles. Eddie Hearne in his Durant Special #14 qualified fourth at 100 mph and so started in the second row along with Dario Resta. Although his car completed the course in all three races, Mr. Hearne did not come in first in any of the races. He finished fourth in the 40 mile, third in the 60 mile and second in the third and longest race of 80 miles. (TNT 7-2-19, p. 19-article; TNT 7-5-19, p. 1, 13-results) TPL-115; G51.1-137

Hearne, Eddie; Hartz, Harry; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Racing automobiles--1910-1920;

Members of the community gathered on August 5, 1919, at the north end of Wright Park to listen to the first public children's "sing." 200 children had practiced for three months under the direction of Mrs. Zoe Pearl Park. Among the 2000 people in attendance were members of the military and undoubtedly proud parents and grandparents of the chorus. They would happily join in singing with the children some of the day's popular tunes. (TNT 8-6-19, p. 15; TDL 8-6-19, p. 1-article) G41.1-127A; TPL-939

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

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;

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);

Waiting for the "Ship by Truck" parade to begin on August 16, 1919, was this float composed of a (now rare) Cole Eight automobile being carried on a Bethlehem truck. The truck was furnished by Wever Motor Car Co., 725 Broadway, and had a large flag draped over its hood. Wever Motor also sold new Coles. Tacoma truck dealers would be participating in the nationwide campaign fathered by Firestone Tire & Rubber Co. called "Ship by Truck," promoting the various uses of motor trucks in shipping and hauling. A grand parade involving some 500 trucks was held on Saturday, August 16th. Nearly every truck offered for sale in Tacoma was represented in the parade that traveled through Tacoma's business streets. G11.1-007 (TDL 8-14-19, p. 2-article; TDL 8-15-19, p. 2-article)

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1910-1920; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1910-1920; Cole automobile; Bethlehem truck;

Log on shute. This log on a shute at an unidentified sawmill was photographed in mid-August of 1919. TPL-8085; G36.1-015

Logs;

Unidentified sailing ship photographed on August 18, 1919. Sails are furled on this three-mast vessel. G50.1-113

Sailing ships--1910-1920;

View down a peaceful tree-lined road. There was no traffic of any kind in sight on this August, 1919, day. Wood framed houses behind picket fences on the right; wagon in tall grass outside fenced yard on left. Street may be either dirt or gravel. Sidewalk on the right is made of wood, not concrete. TPL-7169; G57.1-003

Residential streets; Trees; Fences; Houses--1910-1920;

An early logging truck, used by Wilson Logging Co. to bring in logs, was photographed in August of 1919. The early motor trucks offered an economical alternative to railway logging. Despite the cost of constructing roads, the trucks were a cheaper, faster and more practical way to move the logs. They were a common sight by the 1920s. They usually were underpowered, had an open cab and hard rubber tires, but they could go places that locomotives could not. There was a C.C. (Chan) Wilson Lumber Co. located in Hudson, just west of Rainier, Oregon. G75.1-032 (website for the Museum at Campbell River www.crmuseum.ca\exhibits)

Lumber industry--1910-1920; Wilson Logging Co.;

Although motorized logging trucks were becoming more common in the lumber industry, horses were still being used in August of 1919. A pair of horses are pictured above at an unidentified sawmill waiting patiently as planks are being loaded onto an open cart. Photograph ordered by the Wilson Logging Co. TPL-6636 G36.1-052

Logging industry--1910-1920; Wilson Logging Co.;

Side view of logging equipment on wheels belonging to the Wilson Logging Co. Photograph taken at unidentified location on August 23, 1919. TPL-9852 ; G36.1-032

Lumber industry--1910-1920; Wilson Logging Co.;

In August of 1919, a steam donkey mounted on a sled was photographed loaded on a truck for ease in transport to a logging site. Only the sled itself, built from huge logs, is clearly visible. The cable and winch on the donkey could be used to help load and unload it from the truck. This photograph was ordered by the Wilson Logging Co. There was a C.C. (Chan) Wilson Lumber Co. located in Hudson, just west of Rainier, Oregon. G75.1-082

Lumber industry--1910-1920; Wilson Logging Co.;

Edward C. Hill, an officer of the South Tacoma Mill, was president of the Water Power Furniture Co. on Steilacoom Lake, listed in the Tacoma City Directory from 1917 through 1922. The furniture factory was located at Custer Station, now Lakewood, at approximately 8700 Edgewater Drive S.W. An elevated walkway connected the two buildings on the property. It is believed to have occupied the site previously used by the Coops Piano Company. J. Carr was the General Manager of Water Power Furniture for the early years. By 1922, the company also listed J.M. Smith, W.C. Miller and A.H. Fischer as officers. G35.1-013

Water Power Furniture Co. (Lakewood); Furniture industry--Lakewood;

A clever advertising stunt by the Auto Delivery Co. spelled out the word "Service" using one letter per delivery truck lined up in a row in mid-August of 1919. According to the 1920 City Directory, transfer and storage along with long distance hauling were the company's specialties. The firm was located at 722 Commerce St. The trucks were probably participating in the "Ship by Truck" parade of 500+ trucks held on Saturday, August 16, 1919. Nearly every truck offered for sale in Tacoma was represented in the parade that rolled through Tacoma's downtown business district. The day of the horse and cart was just about over and truck and tire companies were eager to show the public the benefits of this improved means of transportation. G66.2-129 (TDL 8-14-19, p. 2-article on parade)

Auto Delivery Co. (Tacoma); Moving & storage trade--Tacoma--1910-1920; Trucks--Tacoma--1910-1920;

Additional view of the Water Power Furniture Co. on Steilacoom Lake circa August of 1919. A wooden ladder dangles from the fifth floor of the plant to possibly serve as a fire escape in lieu of actual stairs. Edward C. Hill was listed as the president of the firm in the 1920 City Directory. See Boland B2187 for alternate view of company site including additional building. G21.1-159

Water Power Furniture Co. (Lakewood); Furniture industry--Lakewood;

Seven Tacoma Inter-city Auto Freight Co. delivery trucks and their drivers lined up in downtown Tacoma in August of 1919. The company's motto was apparently "You Need It (Service) We Give It." The freight company's address was listed as 2312 A Street in the 1919 telephone book. In the background of this photograph are the F.S. Harmon furniture company and Hunt & Mottet hardware and sporting goods store. G66.2-131

Tacoma Inter-city Auto Freight Co. (Tacoma); Trucks--Tacoma--1910-1920; Moving & storage trade--Tacoma--1910-1920;