These young men and women, posed in front of the platform diving tower at "The Oakes" on Lake Steilacoom in May of 1924, were participating in the trials for the 1924 Olympic Games that were to be held in Paris. Those in suits and hats are presumed to be judges and/or coaches. Merle "Blackie" Fadden, representing Crystal Pool, Seattle, won the diving trials. Katheryne Brown of Tacoma and Coral Moran, representing the YWCA of Spokane, won their swimming events. All three qualified to enter the final Olympic tryouts in Indianapolis in early June. G54.1-146 (TNT 5-26-24, p. 12-article; TDL 5-26-24, p. 9-article) TPL-10098

Swimmers--1920-1930;

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 Oakes water stadium. A good sized crowd has gathered at "The Oakes" water stadium on Lake Steilacoom in early September of 1925. The water stadium had celebrated its official opening on June 21st. It had a capacity of 3000 people and was built on piling 10 feet apart. The water stadium was enclosed on three sides facing the body of water 200-feet by 200-feet. The Oakes Pavilion is in the background with windows and walkways facing the water stadium. Many of the crowd are in bathing suits while others are content to bask in the sun in street clothes. "The Oakes" itself had opened in 1923 and was a popular spot for picnicking, boating, swimming and rowing. Dancing was offered in the Pavilion two days a week. TPL-529; G54.1-148; BU13,437 (TNT 6-18-24, p. 21, 23-articles on water stadium)

Oakes Pavilion (Lakewood); Spectators--Lakewood; Crowds--Lakewood;

ca. 1934. Orchestra at the Oakes. View of musicians with grand piano and female singer ordered by Mr. White. The Oakes Pavilion had opened in the summer of 1923 and was available for ballroom dancing. By 1934, renovation was underway to turn the Pavilion into a nightspot called the Towers. In 1938, Norton Clapp converted it to the Lakewood Ice Arena. The Arena was demolished in 1982 to make room for lakefront condominiums. (T. Times) (WSHS)

Oakes Pavilion (Lakewood); Ballrooms--Lakewood; Orchestras--1930-1940;

ca. 1939. Hockey players performing drills at Lakewood Ice Arena circa 1939. One player is down on ice with puck under him; Griffin Fuel Company player above him with stick raised.

Ice hockey players--Lakewood; Ice hockey--Lakewood--1930-1940; Lakewood Ice Arena (Lakewood);

Masquerade affair at Lakewood Ice Arena, given by the Lakewood Club on April 18, 1939. Emulating war figures, three men dress as Neville Chamberlin, Adolf Hitler (identified as Lorne McKendry) and Abraham Lincoln. All three wear skates. (T. Times, 4/22/1939, p. 8)

Lakewood Club (Lakewood); Masquerades--Lakewood--1930-1940; McKendry, Lorne;

Hockey season closed with Griffin Fuel finishing first against Alt Heidelberg at Lakewood Ice Arena. L to r: Fred Kislingbury, arena manager, Captain Bill Anderson, Wenatchee Apple Queen Lois Ross and Norton Clapp. (T. Times, 4/20/1939, p. 14)

Ice hockey--Lakewood--1930-1940; Ice hockey players--Tacoma--1930-1940; Griffin Fuel Co. (Tacoma); Lakewood Ice Arena (Lakewood); Kislingbury, Fred; Anderson, Bill; Ross, Lois; Clapp, Norton, 1906-1995;

Harry Bernie holding the trophy, and 1938-1939 Ice Hockey Champions, Griffin Fuel ice hockey team's eight players, at Lakewood Ice Arena. From left to right: Unidentified, Jim Kotas, Art "Archie" Swanson, Bill Gribble, Bill Anderson, Ed Swanson, Chuck Negali and Morley Barnard. Peering out between the legs of Ed Swanson is his father, Ed Swanson, Sr. (T. Times, 4/20/1939, p. 14).

Ice hockey--Lakewood--1930-1940; Ice hockey players--Tacoma--1930-1940; Griffin Fuel Co. (Tacoma); Lakewood Ice Arena (Lakewood);

Hockey season ends with the 1938-1939 Ice Hockey Champions, Griffin Fuel team at Lakewood Ice Arena. Captain Bill Anderson and two unidentified men. (T. Times, 4/20/1939, p. 14)

Ice hockey--Lakewood--1930-1940; Ice hockey players--Tacoma--1930-1940; Griffin Fuel Co. (Tacoma); Lakewood Ice Arena (Lakewood); Anderson, Bill;

Hockey season closed with Griffin Fuel finishing first against Alt Heidelberg at Lakewood Ice Arena. L to r: Fred Kislingbury, Captain Bill Anderson, Wenatchee Apple Queen Lois Ross, Ed Griffin, and Norton Clapp. (T. Times, 4/2/1939, p. 14)

Ice hockey--Lakewood--1930-1940; Ice hockey players--Tacoma--1930-1940; Griffin Fuel Co. (Tacoma); Lakewood Ice Arena (Lakewood); Kislingbury, Fred; Anderson, Bill; Ross, Lois; Griffin, Edwin L., 1908-1955; Clapp, Norton, 1906-1995;

Morley Barnard (left) and Bill Anderson (right) of the Griffin Fuel Company hockey team warm up for their game against the team fielded by Cammaranos. On Wednesday November 15, 1939 the Griffin Fuel hockey team set a new league record at the Lakewood Ice Arena when they defeated the Cammaranos 19 to 16. In 1938, the Oakes Pavilion at 7310 Steilacoom Blvd. was converted into the Lakewood Ice Arena. The Ice Arena was torn down after its roof collapsed in October 1982.

Ice hockey--Lakewood--1930-1940; Lakewood Ice Arena (Lakewood); Ice hockey players--Lakewood;

Alex Babbitt skating party at Lakewood Ice Arena. A woman wearing a floral costume with an orchid in her hair receives a piece of cake from two women, also in costume and wearing skates. The event occurred on November 25, 1939.

Cakes--Lakewood; Costumes; Lakewood Ice Arena (Lakewood); Parties--Lakewood;

Tacoma Ice Hockey players at Lakewood Ice Arena. This goalie, representing the Medosweet Dairies team, is ready at net in this November of 1940 photograph. Maskless, he is wearing enormous pads and thick gloves and clutching his stick. No helmets were worn in this era so the goalie needed to be alert and agile to avoid incoming pucks. [Also dated 11-15-1940.]

Lakewood Ice Arena (Lakewood); Ice hockey--Lakewood--1940-1950; Ice hockey players--Lakewood;

George and Leah Mueller pose for an October, 1942, publicity photograph inside the Lakewood Ice Arena, with its pseudo Bavarian decor. The German couple were well known in skating and replaced John Johnsen when he left for war duty in 1942. Prior to coming to Lakewood, the couple had taught in Boston, Toronto, St. Louis, Philadelphia and Long Beach, California. Initially booked only for the 1942-43 season, they stayed six years, enjoying the Northwest and the arena's talented group of young skaters. In a nod to World War II anti-German sentiment, the couple was introduced to Tacoma as the "Millers." ("A History of Figure Skating in Pierce County;" T. Times 10-19-1942, p.2)

Lakewood Ice Arena (Lakewood); Ice skating--Tacoma--1940-1950; Ice skating rinks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Mueller, George; Mueller, Leah;

The Lakewood Ice Club was sponsoring a fundraising event in support of young ice skaters from Washington. Local champion ice skaters would participate in the program; the performances would include: dance, duets or solos. View of Patsy Hamm and Jackie Boyle, champion ice skaters from Tacoma; last year they won National Recognition in the major league events held at Colorado Springs, Colorado (T. Times, 1/16/49, p. 14 & 1/20/49, p. 16).

Ice skating--Tacoma; Ice skating rinks--Lakewood; Winter sports--Tacoma; Athletes--Tacoma; Skaters; Lakewood Ice Arena (Lakewood); Hamm, Patsy; Boyle, Jack;

Figure ice skaters from Tacoma joined ice skaters from the Lakewood Ice Club for a special event held in support of young ice skaters throughout the State. These skaters have returned with trophies galore and would perform between 10:00 A.M. and 12:00 P.M. for spectators at the Lakewood Ice Arena. View of Nancy Roberts, 13 year old champion ice skater from Tacoma. Nancy performed at the Lakewood Ice Arena in the solos program (T. Times, 1/16/49, p. 14 & 1/20/49, p. 16).

Ice skating--Tacoma; Ice skating rinks--Lakewood; Winter sports--Tacoma; Athletes--Tacoma; Skaters; Lakewood Ice Arena (Lakewood); Roberts, Nancy;

Western Washington ice skaters were gathering together at the Lakewood Ice Arena in January of 1949 to raise money to support young skaters working towards National, Coast and Northwest events. View of hand-colored black and white photograph of Diane Jacobsen, student at Lincoln High School and a champion ice skater. Diane performed in the Lakewood Ice Club ice skating fundraiser (T. Times, 1/16/49, p. 14 & 1/20/49, p. 16). ALBUM 15.

Ice skating--Tacoma; Ice skating rinks--Lakewood; Winter sports--Tacoma; Athletes--Tacoma; Skaters; Lakewood Ice Arena (Lakewood); Jacobsen, Diane;

A curling game at Lakewood Ice Arena, Times, Metcalf. A player has just released the stone towards the circular target at the other end of the ice arena. All members of the four-person team can brush the ice with their brooms to help the stone get closer to the target. TPL-10597

Lakewood Ice Arena (Lakewood); Curling--Tacoma--1940-1950; Athletes--Tacoma--1940-1950; Brooms & brushes; Ice skating rinks--Tacoma--1940-1950;

A curling game at Lakewood Ice Arena, Times, Metcalf. One of the curlers has just released the stone across the ice hoping for a bull's eye. The other team stands behind him. TPL-10599

Lakewood Ice Arena (Lakewood); Curling--Tacoma--1940-1950; Athletes--Tacoma--1940-1950; Brooms & brushes; Ice skating rinks--Tacoma--1940-1950;

In January of 1949 the first team curling competition in the Tacoma area was held at the Lakewood Ice Arena, 7310 Steilacoom Blvd. S.W., Lakewood. In this photograph, three curlers sweep the ice to help control the curling stone as it slides toward the target behind them. A fourth member of the team stands close to the target directing their actions. The three curlers with brooms are (l to r) Anton Barcott, later the owner of Harbor Lights, Al St. Pierre, Boeing firefighter, and Don Gilbertson, who was a junior in high school at the time and ran the snack bar at the ice arena. TPL-10596

Lakewood Ice Arena (Lakewood); Curling--Tacoma--1940-1950; Athletes--Tacoma--1940-1950; Brooms & brushes; Ice skating rinks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Barcott, Anton; Gilbertson, Don; St. Pierre, Al

Tacoma sports enthusiasts were introduced to the sport of curling in January of 1949 at the Lakewood Ice Arena. There were six or more teams already organized in the area and eager to demonstrate the game and recruit new players. From left to right, standing, are: Piper Montgomery (no first name provided), Drummer McLeod (no first name provided), Harry Morrison, Bud Mellinger, Frank Edwardson, Al St. Pierre, J. Woodruff and Dr. Rudolph McCrae. Kneeling are: C.J. Tucker, Anton Barcott, Andy Coppock and Don Gilbertson. Although curling originated in Scotland, it had become very popular across the pond in Canada and the United States. The broom, a major factor in the game, is used to clear the path of the sliding stone. The circles on the ice are targets. The Scottish piper and drummer added color to the games that were being held weekly at the arena. Photograph ordered by Mr. Metcalf, Tacoma Times. (T.Times, 1/30/1949, p.14-article; T.Times 2-6-49, p. 13) TPL-9505

Lakewood Ice Arena (Lakewood); Curling--Tacoma--1940-1950; Athletes--Tacoma--1940-1950; Brooms & brushes; Ice skating rinks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Costumes--Scottish;

Skaters from the Tacoma and Lakewood figure skating clubs dominated the competition at the northwest championships held in Spokane in February of 1949. Crouching behind four of the trophies that they brought back from east of the mountains are: (l to r) Diane Jacobsen, Marlene Jackson, Jack Boyle, Patsy Hamm, and Nancy Roberts. Patsy Hamm and Jack Boyle had been long time skating partners and they had competed in the Olympics in dancing pairs. Jack won the senior men's division at Spokane. The Lakewood Club took home the group trophy with 140 points, 31 more than the next competitor. (T.Times, 2/23/1949, p.12, TNT, 2/24/1949, p.27)

Lakewood Ice Arena (Lakewood); Boyle, Jack; Hamm, Patsy; Jacobsen, Diane; Roberts, Nancy; Jackson, Marlene; Awards; Skaters--1940-1950;

This action shot of Marlene Jackson, caught in a swirl of ice particles as she leaps high above the ice, was taken in late February of 1949 at the Lakewood Ice Arena. Marlene, age 14, was a native of Tacoma and was a student at Mason Junior High School. In March of 1949, shortly after this photo was taken, she won the Pacific Coast Junior Ladies figure skating championship at San Diego. Earlier in the season she had won the Northwest Junior Ladies and free skating titles. She had placed high at the national championship at Colorado Springs the year before in her first appearance there. Marlene was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Jackson, 4501 N. 28th St. ( T.Times, 3/28/1949, p.8- alt. photograph)

Lakewood Ice Arena (Lakewood); Jackson, Marlene; Ice Skating--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Diane Dapper invited her friends for a skating party at Lakewood for her 10th birthday party. Diane is 9th from the left in a white skating outfit. She was the daughter of Mathias J. and Adah H. Dapper. Fourteen girls, all friends at Annie Wright Seminary, pose by the barrier at the Lakewood Ice Arena wearing various skating outfits. A snowy mountain scene made of plywood is seen above them. (TNT, 12/11/1950, p.4)

Ice skating--Tacoma; Ice skating rinks--Lakewood; Winter sports--Tacoma; Skaters; Lakewood Ice Arena (Lakewood); Dapper, Diane; Birthday parties--Lakewood--1950-1960;

Exteriors of the Lakewood Ice Arena. Perched on the shores of Steilacoom Lake, the facility had once been the ballroom for the Oakes Pavilion, which also offered a water stadium for competitive swimming where the tryouts for the American Olympic team were held in the mid twenties. After a brief stint as the Towers, a nightclub, the frame building was purchased by developer Norton Clapp in 1936. In 1938, at the urging of his wife who was a fan of ice skating, the building was remodeled into the Lakewood Ice Arena. The lake area around the club was still available for summer swimming and the Figure Skating Club even kept a dock and float available for members. The Arena was demolished in 1982 and replaced by lakeshore condominiums. ("History of Figure Skating in Pierce County, Lakewood Arena") TPL-5672

Ice skating--Tacoma--1950-1960; Lakewood Ice Arena (Lakewood); Lakewood Figure Skating Club (Lakewood); Ice skating rinks--Tacoma--1950-1960; Lake Steilacoom (Wash.);

Interiors of the Lakewood Ice Arena. An instructor ties his skates surrounded by smiling young students. Although the home of several competitive skaters, the rink also offered affordable lessons to children and adults at all skating levels from beginners on up. Public free skating time was also available and if you didn't own your own skates, they could be rented. ("History of Figure Skating in Pierce County, Lakewood Arena")

Ice skating--Tacoma--1950-1960; Lakewood Ice Arena (Lakewood); Lakewood Figure Skating Club (Lakewood); Ice skating rinks--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Interiors Lakewood Ice Arena. Several young skaters and what appear to be instructors watch while a more experienced skater makes a graceful curve on a thin blade of steel. The building formerly known as the Oakes Ballroom and briefly as the Towers was purchased by developer Norton Clapp, future Weyerhaeuser chairman, in 1936 and converted into the Ice Arena in 1938. The building was remodeled to resemble a Swiss chalet with murals on the walls and a draped ceiling approximating clouds. The Lakewood Figure Skating Club at the Ice Arena produced many champions through the years. The building itself however went through some trying times. In 1948, the roof collapsed and the building had to be restored. There was a major remodel in 1959 and in 1974 a temporary closure by the fire marshalls. In October of 1982, the roof caved in once more, forcing the demolition of the historic building. ("History of Figure Skating in Pierce County, Lakewood Arena")

Ice skating--Tacoma--1950-1960; Lakewood Ice Arena (Lakewood); Lakewood Figure Skating Club (Lakewood); Ice skating rinks--Tacoma--1950-1960;