Seattle's Joe Thomas at the wheel of his Duesenberg 8 as he prepares for the 1922 Tacoma Speedway long distance race. Duesenbergs were a popular ride; in 1922, Harry Hartz, Roscoe Sarles, Jerry Wonderlich, and Joe Thomas were in Duesenbergs with Eddie Hearne in a Disteel Duesenberg. Joe Thomas had come in third place in the 1921 Tacoma Speedway event but the 1922 race, the last ever at the Speedway, saw his car #10 flagged down by the starter. Jimmy Murphy was the winner of the 11th 250-mile race, a few seconds ahead of Tommy Milton's Leach Special. (TNT 7-5-22, p. 1+-results)

Thomas, Joe; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1920-1930; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1920-1930; Racing automobiles--1920-1930; Duesenberg automobile;

Jimmy Murphy and his mechanic Ernie Olson posed in Murphy's Duesenberg #12 on the board track of the Tacoma Speedway in July of 1920. The pair were an unknown factor in the July 5th Tacoma Classic. Murphy had won his first major race and the season opener, the 1920 inaugural of the Beverly Hills Speedway. He would come in 6th in Tacoma in 1920, but return to take first place in 1922. (TDL 7/5/1920, pg. 3; www.rumbledrome.com) TPL-079, Speedway 002

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

This is driver Eddie O'Donnell at the wheel of a Duesenberg race car parked on the board track of the Tacoma Speedway in July of 1920. The other man next to him is Lyall Jolls, his mechanic. Mr. O'Donnell had arrived in Tacoma as part of the four-man Duesenberg team of Tommy Milton, Eddie Miller, and Jimmy Murphy, ready to compete in the 225-mile July 5th race. Although the Duesenberg sports the number 29, the local newspaper The Tacoma Ledger placed the number 9 on the car. Mr. O'Donnell did not drive his own car during the race as he had generously opted to lend the vehicle to a competitor, Ralph DePalma, so that race fans would not be disappointed in Mr. DePalma's withdrawl. Teammate Eddie Miller in turn lent his car to Mr. O'Donnell for the race in a losing cause. 1920 was the last time local fans were able to watch Mr. O'Donnell in action as he died later in the year during a race in California. Mr. Jolls was also killed in the same wreck. TPL-100

O'Donnell, Eddie; Jolls, Lyall; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1920-1930; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1920-1930; Duesenberg automobile; Racing automobiles--1920-1930;

The Duesenberg team brought four cars to the Tacoma Speedway for the 1920 225-mile race. Driver Eddie Miller and his "mechanician," believed to be Gus Duray, are seated in his #31 Duesenberg on the board track in early July of 1920. He had already provided excitement to the crowds avidly watching practice as he survived a crash into the track rail at 87 mph, spinning several times and landing in a ditch. He was uninjured. Eddie Miller was a new driver and had visited the Tacoma Speedway back in 1916 as a "mechanician" with the Duesenberg team of d'Alene and Milton. Mr. Miller ended up not driving at the 1920 race as teammate Eddie O'Donnell, having offered Ralph DePalma the use of his fast car, drove Mr. Miller's Duesenberg with Mr. Miller as the "mechanician." Eddie Miller had graciously offered his car first to Mr. DePalma but it was not as fast as Mr. O'Donnell's. (The Sunday Ledger indicated in their 7-4-20 edition that Mr. Miller's car number was 11, rather than the 31 painted above.) TPL-095 (Tacoma Sunday Ledger 7-4-20, p. 1-article, B-2 -list of drivers & cars)

Miller, Edward; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1920-1930; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1920-1930; Racing automobiles--1920-1930; Duesenberg automobile; Grandstands--Lakewood;

Frank Elliott in his car #5, the "Gordon Special," leads the way during what is probably the InterCity 100-mile race at the Tacoma Speedway held in early July of 1915. He would eventually finish second with a time of 1:20:28, two laps behind three-time winner Jim Parsons of Seattle, shown in the background in the Parsons Special, #22. Twelve cars from the Pacific Northwest had entered the race on July 5th but only six finished. T.F. Barsby came in third in his Velie Special and Earl Staley fourth in his Studebaker. The Mercer and Stutz entries were withdrawn from the InterCity. Mr. Elliott had also submitted entries to the big 250-Montamarathon and the Golden Potlatch 200-mile races. He finished sixth in the Montamarathon won by Grover Ruckstell. Although 21 drivers had entered the Potlatch which was run the day after the Montamarathon and on the same day as the InterCity, only eight were in condition to start with the others too damaged to race. Mr. Elliott's Gordon Special did start but did not win. TPL-1641 (TDN 7-6-15, p. 5-article; TDL 7-6-15, p. 1, 2 -results)

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

Maxwell teammates Billy Carlson (car #25) and Hughies Hughes (#32) are side-by-side on the track of the Tacoma Speedway in July of 1914. Their cars had arrived in Tacoma directly from Indianapolis and the drivers themselves were in town two weeks prior to the July 3 & 4th holiday races. The Maxwells ran on kerosene and were expected to compete strongly in the races. Englishman Hughie Hughes would go on to win the 200-mile Golden Potlatch race on July 3rd with his black racecar averaging 74.28 mph. He picked up $1500 for his efforts. (TNT 6-21-14, p. 1-article; 2-B-brief biographies; TDL 7-4-14, p. 1-results) TPL-3165

Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Racing automobiles--1910-1920; Maxwell automobile; Carlson, Billy; Hughes, Hughie;

Getting ready to take a spin around the Tacoma Speedway is Ralph Mulford in his #3 Monroe along with his "mechanician," believed to be Thane Houser. Mr. Mulford had run in the 1919 Tacoma Classic which had been restricted to five top drivers including Louis Chevrolet, Dario Resta, Cliff Durant and Eddie Hearne. The Frontenac team of Chevrolet and Mulford won all three events of the day with Mr. Mulford driving to victory in the 40-mile race at an average speed of 100.2 mph. In front of a packed new grandstand and car-filled field, Tommy Milton and his #10 Duesenberg battled Mr. Mulford's Monroe throughout the 1920 race. Ideal weather conditions and the good track resulted in no accidents during the 225-mile race. Both the winning Duesenberg and the second place Monroe used Oldfield tires for the race. Mr. Milton did not have to pit once, not even to change tires, while Mr. Mulford only had to stop once for tire changes. For his second place finish, Ralph Mulford won $5000. (TDL 7-6-20, p. 1-results) TPL-099

Mulford, Ralph; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1920-1930; Monroe automobile; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1920-1930; Racing automobiles;

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;

Walter Gossman of Los Angeles poses in his cycle car, the Red Devil, at the Tacoma Speedway. Cycle racers, primarily from California, were in Tacoma in September of 1914 for the first "junior race" to be held north of California. Gossman was participating in his first race ever. He had designed and built the unique looking Devil. Outside of practices and speed trials, Tacomans were never able to see it race. The actual races were rained out. Speedway-061 (Tacoma Tribune 9/13/1914, pg 2B)

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

Omar Toft, behind the wheel of his "Omar Special" #5, was one of 14 drivers who competed in the Montamarathon Classic held at the Tacoma Speedway on August 5th, 1916. The 300 mile race, the longest held in the Northwest, carried a purse of $10,000. Eddie Rickenbacker won with an average speed just shy of 90 mph; Toft finished 6th, winning $250. The usual July 4th date for the Montamarathon was usurped by a scheduled, two car grudge match between Seattle driver Jim Parsons and Tacoman Ulysses Audrey. That race was cancelled at the last minute due to Parsons' car troubles. Although an alternate program was presented on July 4th that included a head on collision between two locomotives, it was fast cars that Tacoma craved. Fans showed their displeasure by staying away from the August Race; only about 10,000 fans, about a fifth of the previous year's crowd, showed up on the 5th. TPL-1644, Speedway-046 (T. Tribune 8/5/16, pg.1; 8/6/16, pg.1; TDL 7/4/1920, pg. 1-C- history of the races)

Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Toft, Omar; Automobile racing drivers;

A solemn Roscoe Sarles posed behind the wheel of fellow racer Art Klein's #8 Frontenac race car on the board track of the Tacoma Speedway in July of 1920. He was entered in the 225 mile Tacoma Classic on July 5th. He would finish 5th in the race while driving his #5 Monroe. (TDL 7/5/1920, pg. 3) Speedway 052

Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1920-1930; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1920-1930; Automobile racing drivers; Sarles, Roscoe; Frontenac automobile;

Eddie Hearne posed in his Revere race car, #15, on the board track of the Tacoma Speedway prior to the Tacoma Classic July 5th, 1920. The new grandstands, replacing those lost in a pre-season fire, can be seen in the background. He would come in third in the race, following winner Tommy Milton who completed the course in record time 2:23:28 at an average speed of 95 mph and second place finisher Ralph Mulford. (TDL 7/5/1920, pg. 3) Speedway 054

Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1920-1930; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1920-1930; Racing automobiles--1920-1930; Revere automobile; Hearne, Eddie; Automobile racing drivers; Grandstands--Lakewood;

Jim Parsons and "mechanician" in his #22 Parsons Special on the track at the Tacoma Speedway in July of 1915. Mr. Parsons had entered his race car in all three of the races held over the July 4-5 holiday. In 1914 his car ran under the Frantz label and was accorded the #7. In 1915, his vehicle was entered as the Parsons Special and it wore the #22. No matter what his car number was his record remained impeccable in the InterCity 100-mile race. With an average speed of 79 1/2 mph, he won the race for the third consecutive time and got to keep the trophy. In 1915 the big 250-mile race, the Montamarathon, was run on July 4th and the two other races, the InterCity 100-mile and Golden Potlatch 200-mile, followed on the 5th. This was in reverse order from 1914. TPL-1643 (TDL 7-6-15, p.1-2-results)

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

This unidentified driver is believed to be piloting a "cycle carriage" or car during speed trials at the Tacoma Speedway in September of 1914. There were 14 entries, mostly from Southern California and including future star Harry Hartz, for the Labor Day races. Four of the junior drivers were from Tacoma. Vehicles had to reach a speed of 40 mph to qualify. These cars had for the most part motorcycle engines and were smaller than regular race cars. Although days preceding the event were dry, the Labor Day race was cancelled due to rain and a rescheduled race the following week was also postponed indefinitely due to inclement weather. (TNT 9-6-14, 2-b-article)

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

Jim Parsons and his mechanic W. Ogden pose at the July 1914 races at the Tacoma Speedway in Parsons' race car #7, a Frantz. Parsons won the 100 mile Intercity race on July 3rd with a winning time of 1:21:29 with an average speed of 73.6 mph. He triumphed over a field of 12 cars from cities in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and British Columbia. Parsons was from Seattle. He returned on July 4th to place 4th in the 250 mile Montamarathon. TPL-1639, Speedway-066 (T. Tribune 7/3/1914, pg. 1)

Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Parsons, Jim; Ogden, W.; Automobile racing drivers;

Race car driver Eddie O'Donnell is behind the wheel of a Duesenberg in this July of 1920 photograph. His "mechanician" Lyall Jolls is seated next to him. The man standing was not positively identified. Eddie O'Donnell was part of the Duesenberg team which sent four top drivers to the 1920 225-mile July 5th race at the Tacoma Speedway, including eventual winner Tommy Milton, Jimmy Murphy and Eddie Miller. Although the number on the Duesenberg is 29, the Tacoma Daily Ledger had listed Mr. O'Donnell's car as #9. Showing a generous spirit, Mr. O'Donnell gave up his car so that a competitor, Ralph DePalma, could drive it. Mr. DePalma, a popular driver, had a broken connecting rod on his French Ballot which was not repairable in time for the race. Mr. O'Donnell did compete in the race by driving his teammate Eddie Miller's vehicle but came in last of the eight cars remaining. Mr. O'Donnell's fortitude was unquestioned; he had broken an arm in a Kansas City race in 1916 and raced with only one arm for months. He was to die later in 1920 in a collision with Gaston Chevrolet in California. (TDL 6-29-20, p. 1-article; TDL 7-2-20, p. 1-article; Tacoma Sunday Ledger 7-4-20, B-2-list of drivers & cars; TDL 7-6-20, p. 1-results)

O'Donnell, Eddie; Jolls, Lyall; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1920-1930; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1920-1930; Racing automobiles--1920-1930; Duesenberg automobile; Grandstands--Lakewood;

In June of 1929 Robert F. Bown, the principle of Stewart Jr. High, declared his school's baseball team "the best athletic team ever produced at the south side intermediate." It is easy to understand the pride he held for his team. Not only had Stewart won the city crown with a 5-0 record, they had also defeated Fife Junior High, Clover Park Junior High and Stadium High School. The Stewart team captured their title with a resounding defeat of rival Gray, 21-1. Posed in front of the school on June 7, 1929, as listed in the News Tribune are: third row (rear), coaches H.A. Post, W.C. Cohoon and S.S. Todd, physical director; second row, Howard Berry, Ernest Holm, Clarence Zachow, Clyde Olsen, Verne Kampbell and Arnold Doersam; first row, Howard Converse, Louis Mazza, Charles Mazza, (Capt.) Tommy Mazza, Leonard Brunstad, Albin Semion and Harvey Christlaw. (TNT 5-29-29, p. 12-article; TNT 6-14-29, 6-B) G46.1-023

Baseball players--Tacoma--1920-1930; Stewart Junior High School (Tacoma);

This is believed to be the Steilacoom Lake golf course as seen from the rough on May 1, 1928. The golf course was under construction and would open on September 14, 1928. It was managed by Fred Beckwith. G54.1-016 (TNT 8-31-28, p. 21-article)

Golf;

On April 21, 1928, the McKinley Hill Presidents baseball team, providing excellent advertising for the Arthur Bryant Motor Co. Chevrolet dealership, lounged on the two new Chevys parked inside the Lincoln Bowl. The Chevys were probably part of the parade of businesses that led the way to the Lincoln Bowl for the opening day of the 1928 Tacoma City League baseball season. With 2000 fans in attendance, the Washington Co-ops, the 1927 champions, defeated the McKinley Hill Presidents, who were 1927's runners-up. Elwood "Andy" Anderson of the Co-ops outdueled "Ocky" Haugland of the Presidents, 4-2. (TDL 4-22-28, C-1) G53.1-027; TPL-461

Baseball players--Tacoma--1920-1930; Baseball--Tacoma--1920-1930; Chevrolet automobile; Signs (Notices); Lincoln Bowl (Tacoma);

This young basketball team posed before a painted backdrop on April 6, 1928. Seated before them is presumably their coach. On their jerseys can be seen a faint outline of a dog. The team members were not identified. G53.1-077

Basketball players--Tacoma--1920-1930;

This five-man bowling team posed with their bowling balls and three pins outside an unidentified bowling center entrance on April 1, 1928. Each of the men wore a long sleeved dark shirt with an emblem on the left side. They are possibly the five-man team representing Duncan's Garage who would do well in the Northwest Bowling Congress meet later in April. G53.1-100

Bowlers; Bowling balls;

Five members of an unidentified basketball team posed for a studio photograph on April 6, 1928. The man accompanying them is presumably their coach. G53.1-078

Basketball players--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Aberdeen boxer Leo Lomski stopped in Tacoma for a brief visit along with his wife and son, George Jr., in late February of 1928. The Lomskis are in the center of the group in front of Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad Engine #10250, on February 26, 1928. This was an electric bipolar Class EP2 locomotive. G44.1-081 (TNT3-2-28, p. 18)

Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad Co. (Tacoma); Railroad locomotives--Tacoma; Railroad cars--Tacoma; Railroads--Tacoma; Lomski, Leo; Lomski, Leo--Family; Boxers (Sports)--1920-1930;

Four unidentified men pose with a late-model automobile in the back of the Fircrest Golf Clubhouse in late September of 1926. Three are wearing golfing clothes while the fourth man has a modified version including jacket, tie and fedora. The private golf course was situated on about 160 acres in Fircrest and was relatively new, opening on July 26, 1924. G54.1-025

Fircrest Golf Club (Fircrest); Clubhouses--Fircrest--1920-1930; Golfers--Fircrest--1920-1930; Golfers--Clothing & dress--1920-1930; Automobiles--Fircrest;

One golfer is lining up his putt at the 10th hole of the Fircrest Golf Course on September 29, 1926, while his playing partners wait. The flagstick has been thrown to the side. All four balls look in close proximity to the hole. G54.1-024 TPL-10256

Golfers--Fircrest--1920-1930; Golfers--Clothing & dress--1920-1930; Putting (Golf)--Fircrest; Golf--Fircrest--1920-1930;

These men and their caddies enjoyed a round of golf at the Fircrest Golf Club in August of 1925. The private golf course had opened in July of 1924 with nine of the 18 holes available. The second nine holes were seeded in the fall of 1924 and would be ready for use by the summer of 1925. The course's rolling grounds would provide challenges for later tournaments. G54.1-023 (TDL 4-8-25, p. 9-brief article on golf course; TNT 9-9-25, p. 6)

Golfers--Fircrest--1920-1930; Golf--Fircrest--1920-1930; Fircrest Golf Club (Fircrest);

This is the mighty right forearm of "Young Jack" Dempsey, rugged fighter out of Puyallup, as pictured on September 14, 1925. His clenched fist, popping veins, and muscular biceps are an indication of the power he unleashes in his bouts, having knocked out his last two foes. Dempsey had been training for an upcoming battle with Everett's Kid Kober in which he would emerge victorious. G53.1-129 (TNT 9-16-25, p. 26)

Dempsey, Jack; Boxers (Sports); Arms (Anatomy);

There was more than one Jack Dempsey in the world of boxing. Although he shared the name of the famous boxer, "Jar 'em Jack" or "Young Jack" Dempsey was from Puyallup and would be facing Kid Kober of Everett in a six-rounder on September 17th of 1925; a bout that the light heavyweight would win by a knockout. This photo of the bare-chested Jack Dempsey with clenched fists and an intent look was taken in September of 1925 at an unidentified gym. G67.1-179 (TDL 9-14-25, p. 6-article; TNT 9-16-25, p. 26)

Dempsey, Jack; Boxers (Sports);

Members of the Tacoma Railway & Power Company baseball team and their "mascot" stare stoically at the camera in an April 30, 1925, photograph. L-R back row (last names only given): Bonney, Rice, Kaperick, Pyfer, Hull, Fagon, James, Gordon (Captain). Middle row (L-R): Pryor, Arnold, Kendziora, Hendry, Berry, Billsborrow. Front row (L-R); Mynhier, Williams, Kennedy, "Jargo Jr."-mascot, Purcell, Wharton, Berg. Behind them are the covered stands of Athletic Park, located on Sprague Avenue between 14th & 15th Streets, where fans could watch games in comfort. The TR & P team competed in the 6-team Commercial League in 1925; they were joined by teams from the Rhodes Bros., City Lumber, American Institute of Banking, Harmon & Co. and Washington Coop. Egg. The Commercial League opened their 1925 season at Athletic Park on April 27th, matching up the previous year's champs, the TR & P with the league runner-up, Rhodes Bros. This time Rhodes Bros. came up winners in seven innings with a 5-2 score. (TDL 4-26-25, C-2, 5-2-25, p. 6; TNT 5-19-25, p. 17) G53.1-038 TPL-10076

Baseball players--Tacoma--1920-1930;

M & M Hats bowling team. Team members were photographed at the Imperial Lanes, 9th & Commerce, on April 9, 1925. First row, L-R, team captain Bill Slater, team manager Arthur McGinley, John Radonich. Back row, L-R, George Tripp, Cal Hier, V.E. McClure. Five of the men are wearing bow ties, white shirts, and a "M & M-Hats" pennant. Manager McGinley has his hat on the floor and holds a bowling ball. The team finished fourth in the 1925 City League Bowling standings and also participated in the Bowling Congress at Aberdeen. G53.1-104 (TNT 4-10-25, p. 21)

Bowlers--Tacoma--1920-1930; Bowling balls; M & M Hats (Tacoma);