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;

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;

At 10 a.m. on a clear July 4th morning in 1919, the most elaborate Independence Day parade in years got underway. Thousands watched the 45 minute spectacle, part of the Northwest Peace Jubilee celebration. In the fourth division, industrial, was this pictured float entered by the Walker Cut Stone Co. of Tacoma. A General Motors 5 ton chassis carried a 6 1/2 block of carved Wilkeson Sandstone. The stone was elaborately carved and designed for the "Temple of Justice" in Olympia, Wa. The float banner stated that 142 carloads were used in the construction of the Temple, at Cherry Lane and 12th Ave. in Olympia, which houses the State Supreme Court. The structure was completed in 1920. The GMC truck was loaned by Mueller-Harkins Motor Co. to Bob Walker, at the wheel of the vehicle. Wilkeson Sandstone is named for the small mountain town of Wilkeson, in the Cascade range, where it is quarried. The 1919 City Directory lists A.J. Griesemer as President, Robert Walker as Sec-treas., and 1008 Puyallup Ave as the location of the office and yard of Walker Cut Stone. (TDL 7/5/1919, pg. 1; TDL 7/13/1919, pg. 6C- picture) G33.1-114, TPL-2244

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1910-1920; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1910-1920; Walker Cut Stone Co. (Tacoma); Holidays--Tacoma--1910-1920; General Motors trucks;

On July 4, 1919, race car driver Eddie Hearne and his mechanic Harry Hartz whizz by in the "Durant Special." The Durant Special was originally built by millionaire sportsman and race car enthusiast Cliff Durant. Durant was also the son of William "Billy" Durant, founder of General Motors, Chevrolet and Durant Motors. The Special was now owned by driver Hearne. Hearne was a familiar face in Tacoma. He came in second in the 80 mile race and third in the 60 mile race, winning a purse of $2,100. Mechanic Hartz was one of the few who went on to become a driver and later a car owner. He ranks fifth on the all time winner's list for board tracks, above former boss Hearne. G51.1-090 (TDL 7/5/1919, pg. 1; Dick Ralstin's Racing Home Page)

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

Informal portrait of an intense Louis Chevrolet. He was in Tacoma to race in the July 4, 1919, races held at the Tacoma Speedway. He was the overall winner that day, winning two of the three events. Chevrolet, one of the best known names in automobile history, first belonged to this mechanical genius Louis Chevrolet. Born in Switzerland on Christmas Day, 1878, the son of a watchmaker, Chevrolet enjoyed taking things apart to see how they worked, but not sitting in a classroom. He left school early to become a bicycle mechanic and later a racer of bicycles. Once he discovered automobiles, there was no turning back. He left his home in 1900, at the age of 21, for North America. He began racing in 1905 and by 1907 had caught the attention of W.C. Durant, the father of General Motors, who hired him to design and race for his Buick racing team. Chevrolet was the head of a racing family of three brothers, the other two being Gaston and Arthur. Louis is credited with 27 major event racing wins in his career. In 1911, Durant traded on the fame of the Chevrolet name to form Chevrolet Motors, competing with Ford in the moderate price market, with Louis Chevrolet as head designer. Chevrolet soon left due to artistic differences and formed his own company, Frontenac Motors. After the financial failure of Frontenac, he designed race cars for Monroe Motor Co., designing the Indy 500 winner in both 1920 and 21. After cars, he branched out into airplane design without great business success. He died in 1941, at the age of 63, having never achieved the financial success that he deserved. His fame lives on in the Chevrolet automobile name. G52.1-031; TPL-3173

Chevrolet, Louis; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Racing automobile drivers;

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;

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;

Long shot of the Puget Hotel and its landscaped grounds, circa August of 1919, in Port Gamble. The hotel was designed by Seattle architects Bebb & Mendel. Port Gamble is located in Kitsap County on a bay of the same name, about 35 miles from Seattle. The town rises on a bluff above the Puget Mill, later the Port Gamble mill of Pope & Talbot, Inc. The entire town was owned by the mill, including the hotel and the church. It is one of the only surviving examples of a 19th century company town. In 1966, the entire town was designated as a National Historic site. G73.1-041

Puget Hotel (Port Gamble); Hotels--Port Gamble; Lumber industry--Port Gamble; Puget Mill Co. (Port Gamble);

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.;

1919 Labor Day parade. Five uniformed motorcycle policemen lead the 1919 Labor Day parade down Pacific Avenue before waiting crowds. Grand marshal of the parade, Charles Richmond, secretary of the Building Trades Council, rode on horseback. Bands and marching units follow. Streetcars move along adjacent to the parade activity. Businesses along this stretch of Pacific were thickly bundled together including banks, hotels, dentists, and drugstores. G38.1-019

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1910-1920; Business districts--Tacoma--1910-1920; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1910-1920;