ca. 1914. Joe Thomas behind the wheel of his Mercer automobile at the Tacoma Speedway circa 1914. His "mechanician" is believed to be named Kindic. Mr. Thomas, from Seattle, was entered solely in the InterCity 100-mile race on July 3rd. He did not place in the top 5. In 1915 Mr. Thomas again entered the InterCity race but his Mercer failed to start. Unlike many of his colleagues, he survived his racing career and by 1939, was the head of the Washington State safety inspection station in Tacoma.

Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Racing automobiles--1910-1920; Mercer automobile; Thomas, Joe;

ca. 1915. This is Grover E. Ruckstell, newly crowned "Speed King" of the 1915 Montamarathon race at the Tacoma Speedway. His winning time of 2:57 on July 4th barely beat out two-time champ Earl Cooper's 2:58:5 as he collected $2500 in cash and the possession of the Montamarathon trophy for one year. He again drove a big Mercer, this time painted red, and wore a jacket advertising Ventura Gasoline. Mr. Ruckstell kept the lead from the 105th lap to the finish as he ran the last three laps on bad tires without pitting to change them. The average winning speed was 84.4 mph, faster than in 1914 but much slower than expected on the new "lattice" track. Mr. Ruckstell, from California, came in second the year before, losing to defending champ Earl Cooper and his Stutz. Later Grover Ruckstell would head the famous Mercer racing team and develop the Ruckstell axle. (TDN 7-5-15, p. 1; TDL 7-5-15, p. 1-article)

Ruckstell, Grover; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Racing automobiles--1910-1920; Mercer automobile;

ca. 1915. Vincent E. "Ventura " McDermott, wearing a heavy sweater emblazoned with a "Ventura Gasoline" emblem, shakes hands with a race driver drinking from a glass bottle in this circa 1915 photograph taken at the Tacoma Speedway. Mr. McDermott had come to Tacoma for the big July auto classics, bypassing stops in Chicago and Omaha. The Ventura brand of gas was popular with racers as cars using it came in first, second and five other places in the June, 1915, Indianapolis 500, accummulating $39,700 in prizes. The two other racers in the photograph were not positively identified although the man in the middle is believed to be Joe Thomas, an eight-year racing veteran from Seattle. His Mercer car failed to start for the 100-mile InterCity Century race at the Tacoma Speedway that year. The man enjoying a drink is believed to be veteran driver Eddie Pullen, Mr. Thomas' Mercer teammate, who went on to win the 200-mile Golden Potlatch race on July 5th. (damaged negative) (TNT 6-27-15, p. 13-alt. photograph & article on Mr. McDermott) TPL-1636; G52.1-102

McDermott, Vincent E.; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Shaking hands--Lakewood;

ca. 1915. Firestone tire service truck at Tacoma Speedway circa 1915. The location was the Tacoma Speedway, about seven miles from Tacoma. The occasion was probably the three auto races which composed a great part of the summer Montamara Festo. The Firestone service vehicle was there in all likelihood to supply replacement tires to the cars which raced 100, 200, and 250 miles respectively. A new "lattice" track was in use. It had replaced the old dirt track in 1914 but racers still had to deal with unexpected difficulties such as splinters. Two million feet of lumber, board measure, consisting of Washington fir, were used for the new track. Speedway construction was a relatively new process at that time. (speedway construction information: Standard Oil Bulletin, Vol. 3, ca. 1915)

Firestone Tire; Trucks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920;

ca. 1915. Cars in pit area at Tacoma Speedway circa 1915. Grandstands are sparsely filled indicating that the occasion might have been practice time for the racers who had entered in the three races composing part of the Montamara Festo circa 1915. Pit area is still dirt although the track itself was built of split boards consisting of 2 x 4 Washington fir. Filling in the spaces between the planks was 2500 cubic yards of gravel and sand. Over this was poured 500 barrels of hot Richmond road oil after which 400 cubic yards of sand was spread on top of the oil. (information on track construction provided by Standard Oil Bulletin, Vol. 3, ca. 1915)

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

In September of 1914, racing fever over miniature racers and their junior drivers took Tacoma by storm. The "cycle cars" were in town for Labor Day races scheduled at the Tacoma Speedway. Most of the cars and drivers were from California, although Tacoma boys Joe Rovegno, Clarence Healy, Phil "Babe" Sullivan and "Swift" were scheduled to race. All the boys were feted by Tacomans and felt that the city "sure did treat a fellow fine." Six of the cars and drivers are pictured on A Street. At the left rear is the Park Hotel, at 802 A St. The building at the front left may be the J.F. Hickey Motor Car Co., at 812-14 A St., and a Seattle-Tacoma interurban car provides the background. In the front row are: (l to r) veteran junior driver Mott Haynes in his Mercer and novice driver Walter Gossman in his Red Devil. In the center are Homer Loudenclos, in either the Peugeot or the Hudson he designed, and Al Bruce in his National. In the rear are an unidentified car and Shirley Williams in a Theim. The cars were designed and built, in most cases, by the drivers themselves. They were in some cases backed by the motor companies whose names they carried. It was common for companies to bankroll race cars as advertising.

Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Racing automobiles--1910-1920; Haynes, Mott; Gossman, Walter; Loudenclos, Homer; Bruce, Al;

Ray Ritters of Los Angeles poses in his cycle car, #2, a Velie, at the Tacoma Speedway. The Velie autos and trucks were manufactured by Velie Motors Corp. of Moline, Ill., from 1902-1928. In September of 1914, the small race cars and their junior drivers took Tacoma by storm. Each day the newspapers were filled with stories about the boys who, for the most part, designed and built, as well as raced, their own cars. The cars were usually powered by motorcycle engines and could travel at 35-50 mph. Ritters had raced many times in the South, but had never finished in the money. He arrived early in Tacoma and rebuilt his car here, making many changes, including mounting the engine on the side. He never got to show off his improved vehicle in Tacoma, both the Labor Day race and the rescheduled race were called due to rain. (T. Tribune 9/13/1914, pg. 2B, plus preceding dates in Sept. 1914)

Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Ritters, Ray; Racing automobiles--1910-1920;

ca. 1919. Smiling Ralph Mulford, early race car driver, was not smiling in 1911 when many felt that he won the first Indianapolis 500 by a lap instead of credited winner Ray Harroun. Mulford still managed to garner enough points to become the 1911 National Driving Champion, a feat that he repeated seven years later in 1918. In 1919, he won Tacoma Speedway's 40 mile race with a time of 24:02 and 100.2 mph, outracing Frontenac teammate Louis Chevrolet and Cliff Durant. Returning in 1920 for the 225 mile Tacoma Classic, he finished second in his Monroe racing car, numbered "3." Ralph Mulford retired from speed racing after 1922 but continued to compete in hill climbs. At one time, he held the record for climbing both Mount Washington and Pikes Peak. Mulford lived to a ripe old age, a rare feat for the early drivers; born in 1884, he died October 23, 1973. (www.hickoksports.com; TNT 7-3-19, p. 1; 6/29/1920) G52.1-027, Speedway 096, BOLAND-B2010

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

Robert Bye Thompson and partner Charles Dyer constructed a new building at 3320 So. G Street for their automobile dealership. Bye Thompson Motor Sales carried Ford, Hudson, Essex and Moon automobiles. Central Motors, Commercial Motors and the Allen Motor Co. later occupied the building. It has been home to Cartozian Fine Carpets & Rugs since 1946. Boland, B10272.

Undated photograph of Stadium High School overlooking Commencement Bay. This photograph of the majestic brick and turreted school was probably taken in the 1920s. Boland A7920.

Stadium High School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma; Commencement Bay (Wash.);

Swimming in 1918 meant venturing into the cool lake waters wearing old dresses and hats. Even the men did not have swimming trunks but wore sleeveless one-piece bathing attire. These men, women, and children were apparently in the area for a Baptist convention and journeyed to a lake to wade and canoe. No one seems to have gone deeper than thigh-high in the water.

Wading; Canoes; Lakes & ponds;

Stadium High School as captured in print by photographer Marvin Boland on January 15, 1921. The building had started as a hotel in 1890, never completed as such, and converted to a high school in 1905. It opened in 1906 as Tacoma High School with its name changing to Stadium High school in 1913. The brick structure strongly resembled an old French castle with its turrets and steep roofs.

Stadium High School (Tacoma)--1920-1930; Public schools--Tacoma--1920-1930;

ca. 1921. Pacific Luthern College's (later University) first building dominates the landscape in 1921. Designed by architect August Heide, the cornerstone was laid in 1891, one year after the college was founded. Known first as "Old Main," the landmark structure was renamed Harstad Hall for the school's first president, the Rev. B. A. Harstad. (B5709)

Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--1920-1930; Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--Buildings--1920-1930;

ca. 1921. Ole B. Lien, pioneer pharmacist on Tacoma Avenue since 1894, and partner Harry B. Selvig opened this drug store in 1901 in the 1888 Greer Building. The Queen Anne-style structure was designed by architects Farrell & Darmer and built by contractor H. M. Matheson. It was torn down in 1951 to make way for a modern addition to the Tacoma Public Library. B8252.

Drugstores; Pharmacists; Lien & Selvig (Tacoma);

The Ingleside Orchestra performed in January of 1924 at the Ingleside Sunken Gardens in Lakewood. The club was built in 1921 as an upper end party place for the Society Set. In the background can be seen the lattice work entwined with artificial flowers and the French windows that gave the building its yearlong feeling of spring. The structure was modeled after the Green Mill Gardens of Chicago and contained 28 sets of French doors and 18 miles of lattice work. The Ingleside Sunken Gardens was destroyed by fire in 1936 and the Ingleside Cafe built on the site in 1940. B10370.

Ingleside Orchestra (Lakewood); Ingleside Sunken Gardens (Lakewood); Dance halls--Lakewood; Taverns (Inns)--Lakewood;

Western Washington Fair. Washington Cooperative Egg and Poultry Association exhibit booth. The association sought to inform visitors to the Western Washington Fair in Puyallup of the importance of eggs in a healthy diet and the impact of poultry farms in the area. This undated photograph was probably taken in the 1920's when the Co-op had a large presence at the fair.

Washington Co-op Egg & Poultry Association (Tacoma); Eggs; Exhibit booths--Puyallup; Western Washington Fair (Puyallup);

ca. 1919. Farmers, fruit growers and breeders of the Puyallup valley held an enthusiastic meeting on June 2, 1900, and formed the Valley Fair Association. Members changed the name to the Western Washington Fair Association on January 13, 1913. The purpose of the fair was to promote agricultural, horticultural, dairying, stock-raising and manufacturing industries of the valley. In this 1919 photograph, people in the small hamlets of Dieringer, Rhodes Lake, Connell's Prairie, and Milton exhibit their wares at the fair. Boland #B2321,

Fairs; Western Washington Fair (Puyallup); Exhibitions; Home food processing; Sewing--Puyallup; Art exhibitions;

ca. 1919. Tacoma architect C. Frank Mahon drew this delineation of Holy Rosary Church before construction began on the Catholic church in 1920. Located at 520 South 30th Street, its Gothic steeple has long been a Tacoma landmark. Mahon's architectural work for the Catholic Diocese included many schools and churches in Tacoma in addition to Marymount Boys School in Spanaway and St. Martin's College in Lacey. (B2308)

Holy Rosary Church (Tacoma); Catholic churches--Tacoma; Architectural drawings;

ca. 1929. Harold Bromley and a second man, most probably his benefactor John Buffelen, stand next to Bromley's Lockheed Vega monoplane, the "City of Tacoma." Between them they hold a map that shows Bromley's proposed course for his non-stop flight from Tacoma to Tokyo. The route would follow the Great Circle and call for a continuous flight of 4,700 miles. The plane would never get off the ground, crashing on take off.

Bromley, Harold; Airplanes--Tacoma--1920-1930; Aeronautics--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Undated photograph of the Port of Tacoma, Pier #2. Lumber waits left to be loaded. Cranes rest on the tracks and steamships are docked right. Photograph marked Boland #1.

Port of Tacoma (Tacoma); Piers & wharves--Tacoma; Hoisting machinery; Ships--Tacoma;

Undated photograph of the Port of Tacoma. Lumber rests on the dock, waiting to be loaded by crane onto ships. Picture is labelled Boland #6.

Port of Tacoma (Tacoma); Piers & wharves--Tacoma; Lumber--Tacoma; Hoisting machinery; Shipping--Tacoma;

Undated photograph of the Port of Tacoma. Notes labelled "Colby Steel and Engineering Co." Lumber lays on the dock, waiting to be loaded on ships. Photograph is labelled Boland #7.

Port of Tacoma (Tacoma); Piers & wharves--Tacoma; Lumber--Tacoma; Shipping--Tacoma; Hoisting machinery;

Undated photograph of the Port of Tacoma, Pier #2.

Port of Tacoma (Tacoma); Piers & wharves--Tacoma; Shipping--Tacoma;

Undated photograph of the Port of Tacoma, Pier #2.

Port of Tacoma (Tacoma); Piers & wharves--Tacoma; Hoisting machinery; Shipping--Tacoma; Lumber--Tacoma;

Undated photograph of the Port of Tacoma, Pier #2.

Port of Tacoma (Tacoma);

Undated photograph of the Port of Tacoma.

Port of Tacoma (Tacoma);

Undated photograph of the Port of Tacoma

Port of Tacoma (Tacoma);

Undated photograph of a ship docked at the Port of Tacoma.

Port of Tacoma (Tacoma);

Undated photograph of a ship being loaded at the Port of Tacoma. Name of ship looks like Usuri Maru.

Port of Tacoma (Tacoma);