ca. 1920. Racing sensation Jimmy Murphy poses next to his Duesenberg race car #12 at the Tacoma Speedway, circa 1920. Murphy has been named the driver of the decade for Championship cars, 1920-1929, claiming 19 victories from 1920-24. He went to work for Duesenberg as a mechanic on his 21st birthday in 1916. He burst on the racing world as a driver in 1920, winning his very first major race in Beverly Hills, Ca. He is most famous for his 1922 Indy 500 win and for being the first American to win the French Grand Prix, in 1921. Jimmy Murphy was a familiar face in Tacoma, racing at the Classic in 1920, where he finished sixth and 1922, which he won. He was killed in a crash at the Syracuse, N.Y., racetrack in September of 1924. Speedway-044 (TDL 7/2/1922, pg. C-1, C-6)

Racing automobiles--1920-1930; Duesenberg automobile; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1920-1930; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1920-1930; Murphy, Jimmy; Automobile racing drivers;

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;

ca. 1922. Driving icon Barney Oldfield, hat in hand and cigar in mouth, posed with the nine driving mechanics, or "mechanicians," who would accompany the world class racers at the 11th and final Tacoma Speedway long distance race in July of 1922. Harlan Fengler, who rode with Californian Harry Hartz, is third from left next to Mr. Oldfield and Terry Curley is seated, extreme left, front row. Others were not identified. TPL-2743; TPL-3169

Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1920-1930; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1920-1930; Oldfield, Barney; Fengler, Harlan; Curley, Terry;

The grand old man of racing Barney Oldfield posed with thirteen drivers on the board track of the Tacoma Speedway prior to the race on July 4th 1922. The 1922 Speedway Classic would turn out to be the last auto race held on the track. It was closed at the end of 1922. Only ten of the drivers would actually compete in the race. Oldfield led the pack as Pacemaker. Pictured, left to right, are Jimmy Murphy, Tommy Milton, unidentified, Frank Elliott, Roscoe Sarles, Jerry Wanderlich, Harry Hartz, Joe Thomas, unidentified, Barney Oldfield, unidentified, Eddie Hearne, Cliff Durant and Ralph Mulford. TPL-3177

Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Automobile racing--Lakewood--1920-1930; Racetracks--Lakewood--1920-1930; Automobile racing drivers;

New racing sensation Jimmy Murphy stands next to a Duesenberg racer #10 at the Tacoma Speedway. He was in Tacoma for the July 5, 1920 225 mile Classic. Born in 1895, Murphy was left an orphan. Going to work at a young age, he made the acquaintance of the racing world at the garage where he was employed in California. He joined Duesenberg as a riding mechanic on his 21st birthday in 1916, and was promoted to driver in 1919. He took the racing world by storm in 1920, winning the first race of the season, also his first personal major race, the inaugural of the Beverly Hills 1 1/4 mile board track and setting a world record to boot. He went on to finish 4th in the 1920 Indy and 6th in Tacoma (behind Tommy Milton, Ralph Mulford and Eddie Hearne.) He was the shooting star of racing during his short 4 year and 9 month career. He won the 1922 Indy 500 and was the first American driver to win the Grand Prix (in 1921.) Jimmy Murphy was killed in a crash at Syracuse, New York, in September of 1924. (Jimmy Ralstin's Racing Home Page; www.ddavid.com/formula1/; TDL 7/6/1920, pg. 1) SPEEDWAY 030

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

Automotive legend Louis Chevrolet, standing, looked on as race car driver Joe Thomas tinkered with his Monroe racing car at the Tacoma Speedway on July 2, 1920. Thomas' riding mechanic, Marcel Treyvoux, leans against the car. Local boy Thomas, from Seattle, had just qualified for the 225 mile Tacoma Classic by driving at speeds up to 96 mph. He was a veteran, experienced driver, having been recruited by famed Barney Oldfield in 1907 for an exhibition in Seattle where the high schooler drove a Franklin. He later became Eddie Pullen's mechanic on the Mercer team and started driving himself in 1916. Louis Chevrolet was an early successful race car driver with 27 major wins to his record. He was also a design genius, creating the first Chevrolet with W.C. Durant and Frontenac race cars with his brothers, Gaston and Arthur. In 1920, he was working with Monroe to design a race car, which his brother Gaston drove to victory in the 1920 Indianapolis 500. (TDL 7/3/1920, pg. 2; TNT 7-1-20, p. 11-article) TPL-092, Speedway 016

Chevrolet, Louis; Racing automobiles--1920-1930; Racetracks--Lakewood--1920-1930; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1920-1930; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Thomas, Joe; Treyvoux, Marcel;

Barney Oldfield, famed early race car driver, chewed on his trademark cigar at the side of the Tacoma Speedway where he acted as Pace Setter for the July 5, 1920 Tacoma Speedway Classic. The man on the left is believed to be DeLloyd "Dutch" Thompson, exhibition pilot and early partner of Oldfield. Barney Oldfield, whose name is synonymous with early racing, was a consummate showman-famous for speed records, match races and exhibitions. He has been declared by Motor Sports Hall of Fame to be one of the greatest race drivers of all time. Born Bern Eli Oldfield in 1878, he started out racing bicycles until he met Henry Ford who had just designed the first Ford race car. By 1910, Oldfield had broken all existing speed records for the mile, 2 mile and kilometer. He retired from racing in 1918, but continued to tour and make appearances and movies. He died in 1946. (www.motorsportshallof fame.com)

Oldfield, Barney; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Racing automobile drivers;

Race car driver Roscoe Sarles, circa 1920. Although he had been a familiar face at major races for the past five years, Sarles made his first appearance at the Tacoma Speedway during the July 5th, 1920 race. He raced a Monroe, numbered "5," and finished fifth in the race. Two years later, in September of 1922, Sarles was killed in an accident at the Kansas City Speedway when he collided with Pete Depaola's car on the 110th lap and plunged over the edge of the track. Speedway 101 (TNT 6/24/1920, pg. 19)

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

ca. 1921. Auto racer Roscoe Sarles and unidentified driver/"mechanician" with Richlube Motor Oil. The motor oil was manufactured by the Richfield Oil Co., Los Angeles. 1921 was the second year that Mr. Sarles had ventured to the Tacoma Speedway to compete with racing colleagues such as Eddie Hearne, Tommy Milton, Joe Thomas and Eddie Pullen. Mr. Milton passed Mr. Sarles on the home stretch after the 200-mile mark and beat him by a mere 22 seconds. For his second place finish, Mr. Sarles accepted $5000 and 260 championship points. (TNT 7-5-21, p. 1,2-article on results) TPL-3175

Sarles, Roscoe; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Automobile racing--Lakewood--1920-1930; Automobile equipment & supplies;

ca. 1921. Speed king Eddie Hearne watches as fellow driver Harry Hartz pours Richlube Motor Oil in Mr. Hearne's vehicle. Richlube Motor Oil was manufactured by the Richfield Oil Co. of California. This photograph may have been taken around 1920 or 1921 at the Tacoma Speedway. Both years Mr. Hearne drove a white Revere.

Hearne, Eddie; Hartz, Harry; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1920-1930; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Automobile equipment & supplies;

Joe Thomas of Seattle lifts up a large can of Richlube Motor Oil in this circa 1920 photograph. By 1920, Joe Thomas had at least four years experience in driving race cars. He started driving himself in 1916 after garnering experience as Eddie Pullen's mechanic on the Mercer team. Always a local favorite, Mr. Thomas appeared many times at the Tacoma Speedway including the last year of the racetrack's existence in 1922. His best finish at the Speedway was third in the 1921 250-mile race.

Thomas, Joe; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Automobile racing--Lakewood--1920-1930; Automobile equipment & supplies;

ca. 1921. Eddie Miller shown pouring Richlube Motor Oil into his Duesenberg race car circa 1921. His jacket bears the name of his team, Duesenberg, on the front and back. This was Mr. Miller's first appearance as a driver in Tacoma. He rode as a "mechanician" with Eddie O'Donnell as driver in his own car in 1920. Known as a skilled mechanic, he had built 23 cars and had ridden as a "mechanician" with six different drivers. He finished in sixth place in 1921's 225-mile long distance race at the Tacoma Speedway, earning $1000 and 35 championship points. (TNT 7-5-21, p. 1,2-results; Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 7-3-21, C-3-small article on Mr. Miller)

Miller, Edward; Automobile racing drivers; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Automobile equipment & supplies; Duesenberg automobile; Racing automobiles--1920-1930;

Tacoma Sunday Ledger Automobile Section C-1 featuring photographs of well known auto racers coming to Tacoma for the annual Tacoma Speedway Classic. "Crowned Heads of Speedways in Annual Pilgrimage to Tacoma" proclaimed the headlines of the Ledger's automotive section on June 13, 1920. Photographs of Indy 500 winner Gaston Chevrolet, local boy Joe Thomas, first time Tacoma visitor Roscoe Sarles, Uniontown 225-mile winner Tommy Milton, Chicago millionaire Joe Boyer, Jr., California millionaire and manufacturer Cliff Durant, and popular favorites Ralph Mulford and Eddie Hearne were prominently placed. Records were expected to be battered on the newly refurbished Speedway. (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 1-C, 6-13-1920) TPL-8828

Newspapers--Tacoma--1920-1930; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Automobile racing--Lakewood--1920-1930; Automobile racing drivers; Chevrolet, Gaston; Sarles, Roscoe; Milton, Tommy; Thomas, Joe; Boyer, Joe; Durant, Cliff; Mulford, Ralph; Hearne, Eddie;

Copy of Automotive Section of Portland Telegram newspaper dated June 30, 1920, with photographs of top racers heading for Tacoma to compete at the Tacoma Speedway's 225-mile event. Images of Jimmy Murphy, Roscoe Sarles, Ralph Mulford, Joe Thomas, Cliff Durant, Eddie Hearne and Gaston Chevrolet were included under the heading "World's Leading Speed Kings to Vie at Tacoma." Veteran driver Barney Oldfield would lead the pack on the first lap of the two-mile board track. TPL-8829 (Portland Telegram, 6-30-1920)

Newspapers--Oregon--Portland; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Automobile racing--Lakewood--1920-1930; Murphy, Jimmy; Sarles, Roscoe; Mulford, Ralph; Thomas, Joe; Durant, Cliff; Hearne, Eddie; Chevrolet, Gaston;

Copy of front page of The News Tribune dated July 2, 1920. Under the title "These Men Will Set Pace for Old "Daddy Time" Monday," were photographs of retired veteran driver Barney Oldfield, Indy 500 winner Gaston Chevrolet, California millionaire Cliff Durant and fan favorite Ralph Mulford. These top racers would be at the Tacoma Speedway on July 5, 1920, to compete in the 225-mile event for a top prize of $10,000.

Newspapers--Tacoma--1920-1930; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Automobile racing--Lakewood--1920-1930; Oldfield, Barney; Chevrolet, Gaston; Durant, Cliff; Mulford, Ralph; Automobile racing drivers;

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 October 5, 1922, longtime Puyallup Fair president W.H. Paulhamus (center, directly under American flag) and a large group of men and women gathered outside an ornate building on the fairgrounds; a ferris wheel can faintly be seen to the rear along with numerous food booths. The building has a scoreboard mounted on it that shows the inning-by-inning score of the World Series game being held on that day between the NY Yankees and the NY Giants. The Yankees played the Giants in three successive World Series with much of the same roster. On October 5, 1922, the teams played to a 3-3 tie. Both Yankee pitcher B. Shawkey and Giants pitcher J. Barnes pitched 10 innings; the sun was still high in the sky when the game was called on account of "darkness," a decision that irritated baseball commissioner Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis to the point that he donated the days receipts for the game to charity.

Scoreboards--Puyallup; Western Washington Fair (Puyallup); Paulhamus, W.H.;

Boys playing horseshoes - possibly members of the Baptist Young Persons Union A5413

By August of 1924, only one year after it opened to the public, "The Oakes" on Lake Steilacoom was attracting "regular Sunday crowds" that numbered in the hundreds. "The Oakes" offered boating, bathing, and picnic grounds; there was dancing in the Pavilion on Sunday afternoons and both Sunday and Wednesday evenings. Row boats and canoes were available for rental and aquatic equipment included a high, long slide and a platform diving tower. The water stadium was used for competitive swimming events including the Olympic trials for 1924. By 1934, renovation was underway to turn the Pavilion into a night spot called the Towers. In 1938, Norton Clapp converted it to the Lakewood Ice Arena. The Arena was demolished in 1982 to make room for lake front condominiums. (TNT 8/14/1924, pg. B1) BU 13522, Boland # A5430

Oakes Pavilion (Lakewood); Ballrooms--Lakewood; Swimming; Swimmers; Rowboats;

The Edgewood Grange was electrified for the first time by a portable generator mounted in a Dodge on March 25, 1920. The Grange had invited Dr. W. S. Beekman to lecture on the berry industry and Dr. Beekman had prepared lantern slides as illustrations. He was dismayed to find on his arrival that the hall had no electricity. C.V. Parsons, left, of Puyallup saved the day by mounting a farm lighting plant in a donated commercial Dodge. He and his assistants strung wiring throughout the hall, illuminated the building for the first time and provided power to the lantern for projecting the slides. This photograph shows Mr. Parsons standing by the generator and his assistant in the window stringing the lights. Boland #B2778 (TDL 3/28/1920, pg. E-7)

Edgewood Grange (Edgewood); Farmers' groups--Edgewood; Parsons, C.V.; Electric generators; Electricity--Edgewood; Dodge automobile;

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);

In September of 1924 the Sprague Building and its extension took up the whole block between South 15th Street and South 17th on the east side of Pacific Avenue. Built in 1888, the original Sprague Building was home to the Hotel Savoy in the 1920s when this photograph was taken. Later it was home to many businesses including the Croft Hotel in the 1930s, the Lutheran Welfare Mission & Service Club in the 1940s and the Full Gospel Tabernacle in the 1960s. It was torn down in the late 1960s. The Sprague Building Annex, now simply known as the Sprague Building, still stands at the corner of South 15th and Pacific. It is listed on both the city and national registers of historic buildings. Boland B10931, BU-10735;

Hotel Savoy (Tacoma); Hotels--Tacoma--1920-1930;

On April 4, 1924, the Bell System Telephone company celebrated the 40th anniversary of telephone service in Tacoma by holding a luncheon for the surviving original subscribers to Tacoma's first telephone exchange. Five female employees, dressed in the manner of 1884, welcomed the guests. They are, left to right, Icle McDowell, Lucille Croxall, Eva Mollett, Mrs. Signe Hultgrew and Mrs. Mildred Sinclair. Their guests are, left to right, A.E. Dean, R.F. Radebaugh, I.W. Anderson, Major C.O.Bates, E.W. Melse, Judge John Arthur, Arthur Patrick, John Schlarb, W.P. Bonney, W.G. Rowland, Walter J. Ball, J.M. Ashton, W.J. Thompson, Henry Drum and Stuart Rice. The first telephone company office was located in Rebard's Cigar Store, and the owner acted as "central", dropping his work at the cigar counter to work the switchboard. The group is standing outside the Bell Telephone building at 1101 Fawcett Ave. Built in 1901 by J.E. Bonnell, it was added to the National and Tacoma historic registries in 1985. Boland B9815, BU-13,178

Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Co. (Tacoma); Telephone companies--Tacoma;

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.);

Three actors from the Mountaineer Players troupe peer at the camera on June 9, 1928, during the production of "Robin of Sherwood." Performances of the play were located in the Forest Theatre, set in a natural amphitheater located seven miles west of downtown Bremerton, and part of the 21-acre Kitsap Cabin property. This would be the second time "Robin of Sherwood" had been selected as the Mountaineer Players' annual spring show, the first was in 1923. (www.foresttheater.com/players/players.html)

Mountaineer Players (Kitsap County); Actors--Kitsap County; Actresses; Open-air theaters--Kitsap County; Open-air theatrical productions--Kitsap County;

Maid Marian modestly accepts the courtly bow of an admiring man in this June 9, 1928, production of "Robin of Sherwood." Smilingly, he has doffed his plumed hat. "Robin of Sherwood" was a production of the Mountaineer Players, a division of the Mountaineers Club, set in a natural amphitheater designed by William C. Darling and located near Bremerton. The site, located on 21 acres called the Kitsap Cabin, is owned and maintained by the Mountaineers Club. The Mountaineer Players have presented a spring show since 1923, with the exception of the war years 1943-1946, with the first production being "Robin of Sherwood."

Actors--Kitsap County; Actresses; Mountaineer Players (Kitsap County); Kitsap Cabin (Kitsap County); Open-air theaters--Kitsap County; Open-air theatrical productions--Kitsap County; Bowing;

Enclosed in a tight embrace, actors portraying Robin Hood and Maid Marian look smilingly upon one another in a Mountaineer Players June 9, 1928, production of "Robin of Sherwood." The Mountaineer Players are part of possibly the oldest "community" theater under its original charter in the United States. Plays are set in the all-natural Forest Theatre near Bremerton, believed to be one of the oldest outdoor theaters in the country, and built by volunteer labor. The first rehearsed production was the initial performance of "Robin of Sherwood" in 1923. Since then, dramatically inclined Mountaineers and potential members combine their love of the outdoors with performance art. (www.foresttheater.com/players/players.html)

Mountaineer Players (Kitsap County); Actors--Kitsap County; Actresses; Open-air theaters--Kitsap County; Open-air theatrical productions--Kitsap County;

The Mountaineer Players, a division of the non-profit Mountaineers Club of Seattle, portray Robin Hood and his merry men in a June 9, 1928, performance of "Robin of Sherwood" in an all-natural forest setting. The play had previously been performed in 1923 as the group's first reheased production; since then, a show has been presented every spring to coincide with blooming wild rhododendrons. Plays are still being performed on the 21-acre Kitsap Cabin property near Bremerton, home of the Forest Theatre, believed to be one of the oldest outdoor theaters in the United States. (www.foresttheater.com/theater/theater.html; www.kitsapcabin.org/index.php)

Actors--Kitsap County; Actresses; Mountaineer Players (Kitsap County); Kitsap Cabin (Kitsap County); Open-air theaters--Kitsap County; Open-air theatrical productions--Kitsap County;

The lead role in "Robin of Sherwood" and perhaps his liege lord pose for the camera on June 9, 1928, in the Forest Theatre on Kitsap Cabin property. Built by volunteers in 1918, the 21-acre Kitsap Cabin is owned by the Mountaineers Club whose Mountaineer Players produced an outdoor spring show each year. The actors made full use of the beautiful setting of the Forest Theatre, using the sky, trees, moss and earth as natural backdrops. (www.foresttheater.com/theater/theater.html; www.foresttheater.com/players/players.html; www.kitsapcabin.org/index.php)

Mountaineer Players (Kitsap County); Actors--Kitsap County; Open-air theaters--Kitsap County; Open-air theatrical productions--Kitsap County; Kitsap Cabin (Kitsap County);

Second "Robin of Sherwood" production. Actors portraying Maid Marian and a dashing royal pose in the outdoor Forest Theatre near Bremerton on June 9, 1928. Each year the Mountaineer Players, a division of the non-profit Mountaineers Club of Seattle, would produce an annual spring show. The first rehearsed play was in 1923 and was the first production of "Robin of Sherwood." Set in a natural amphitheater, plays utilize the forest as walls and the earth as foundation. (www.foresttheater.com/theater/theater.html www.foresttheater.com/players/players..html)

Mountaineer Players (Kitsap County); Actors--Kitsap County; Actresses; Open-air theaters--Kitsap County; Open-air theatrical productions--Kitsap County;