Port Townsend is too visibly historic not to wonder what life was like in years past. I gleaned some answers during a tour of the Jefferson County Historical Society Research Center back in May and happily left with a dozen new questions. Actually, many more, but you know what I mean. 

That day I sat down for a few minutes with a bound volume of The Weekly Leader from 100 years earlier, starting with the then-current week and flipping forward in time. I was struck by the buildup to the July 4 celebrations and the jubilant mood. World War I was in the rearview mirror, and about five years since a horrific flu epidemic claimed 1,600 lives in Seattle. It was an election year, and women would be voting for the second time on the federal level. 

Patriotism was strong, but so too was the desire for a fun party. Readers were encouraged to register early for the parade, reminded of the abundance of fair-like activities, and the baseball games at Athletic Park. The first, set for 2 p.m. July 4, was between Fort Worden and the Townsend Cubs. July 6 had the Cubs playing Fort Casey. The competitive horseshoe pitching contest was enticing: “Practice Up — Distance Thirty Feet.”

Another ad promised “Street Parade Fun Concessions Baseball Prominent Patriotic Speaker Footraces Small Sports Dancing, Day and Night War Vessels Picnicking Exhibit of Monster Traction Artillery & Equipment.”

Parade organizers worked hard for the holiday event, advertised separately. The popular parade promised cash prizes in two competitions, one for Town Cars and the other for Country Cars. It’s not a historical distinction today and appears to have drawn the line between the high- and low-end options. But the money was good, with two prizes in each category, of $20 and $15, the equivalent of $356 and $267 today.

The automobile had just turned 25, and the Ford Motor Co. dominated the market, thanks to its mastery of the mass production process in preceding years. The advancement had led to a significant price drop. The Model T was selling for about $260 in 1924, a big drop from its $850 sale price in 1909, according to the Detroit Historical Society. That is roughly the equivalent of dropping from about $15,124 to $4,626 in 2023 dollars adjusted for inflation.

It was a big year for Ford, which sold its tenth millionth vehicle. The Model T accounted for more than half of all cars sold in the world. But there were plenty of vehicles made by other companies like Dodge, Oldsmobile, Studebaker and the closer-to-home Olympia Motor Co. which sold a Star Touring Car. 

It occurred to me only later that there had been an absence of election ads, at least that I saw. That isn’t surprising, since that wasn’t a thing then, but it is an interesting aside given the present era. There were other things about politics of the day that ring true today. Calvin Coolidge had it sewn up early among other things he had fended off a potential primary challenge by Henry Ford.

Coolidge, who as vice president had ascended to the presidency after the unexpected death of Warren Harding, was seeking to return to the White House of his own accord. The Republican party used “Keep Cool with Coolidge,” as its slogan, touting a strong economy.

Democrats put forth John W. Davis, who aggressively went after Coolidge and the Republicans, alleging corruption. Davis denounced the Ku Klux Klan while Coolidge remained silent. A Progressive Party candidate named Robert M. La Follette seemed to avoid the discussion, and ended up with a sixth of the vote. In the end, Coolidge prevailed with 54%, while Davis got 28.8% and La Follette 16.6%.

Baseball, parades with well-decorated Model Ts, and lots of people edged in by porches adorned with fluffy American-flag bunting. A simpler time, and so idyllic. Perhaps I’d like to go back? Sure, if it could just be for the 1924 holiday. I’d dress in flapper-wear and seek out my people. Meredith Jordan can be reached at editor@ptleader.com.