McMenamins

An Olympic Club Reunion

In the early 1970s, the reunion at Centralia of two talented friends fueled a wellspring of creative energy that resulted in intimate, unapologetic portrayals of two infamous Centralia subjects steeped in secrecy and intrigue-- the 1919 Armistice Day Tragedy and the Olympic Club.

Tom Churchill's book, Centralia Dead March, published in 1980, was the first thorough examination in 50 years of the nationally significant labor clash of 1919, and arguably was the first to initiate an open dialogue about the topic that left deep scars within the community. Because of its gripping narrative and raw, intimate characterizations, Churchill's book remains a compelling read for both students of labor history and fans of the mystery genre.

Don Iverson's artful photographs of the Oly Club shed light into the dark lair from which so many testosterone-and-beer-soaked tales were crafted. Generations of wives, mothers and daughters have alternately craved and spurned just such a glimpse into the notorious gentlemen's resort. Iverson's honest images, shot during the early 1970s, remove some of the mystery, depicting seasoned and scarred men playing comfortably in their stained-glass and mahogany sanctuary. The series of photos were published in a 1974 Seattle Post-Intelligencer photo essay about the Olympic Club, which subsequently was picked up by the wire service.

Don Iverson and Tom Churchill first met in the Seattle area as junior high school students. As boys, they shared a fascination for exploring the nooks and crannies of the city, getting acquainted with people and places definitely not highlighted in tourist guides. Tom stored away in his mind the scenes and characters they encountered while Don documented them with his camera.

After high school, Don went on to become a Seattle-area schoolteacher, and an active participant in the civil rights struggles of African Americans and Native Americans. Tom also went into education, where he asserted his passion for human rights, in particular the rights of laborers. As a professor at the University of Wisconsin at Green Bay, Churchill began work on his groundbreaking examination of the Armistice Day Tragedy. He had first heard of the 1919 incident as a teenager hanging out at Iverson's house.

The school friends reunited when Tom came back west to do research for his book. He learned Don and wife Donna had moved to Don's family farmstead outside of Centralia. Disillusioned by the turmoil of the '60s, Iverson had returned to his first love of photography. He opened a studio at the old family farmstead and began teaching photography at Centralia College. At the invitation of his old friend, Tom came to live at the farmstead while doing his research. Inspiration for both men was drawn from the historic rural setting, conversations with old timers, and excursions to the Olympic Club. In fact, Don, the farmstead, and the Oly Club all became important elements in Tom's book.

Today, nearly 40 years later, Tom Churchill and Don Iverson remain friends but have long since left Centralia for points closer to the Puget Sound. Both men, however, look back fondly on their creative periods here. It was one of those rare and magical instances when talent and inspiration collide with opportunity.

Don and Tom each have lodging rooms named for them at the Olympic Club Hotel, commemorating their connections with the place. Many of Don's 1970s photos of the Oly Club and its denizens are proudly displayed throughout the property. Don and Tom also helped us with the grand opening festivities for the hotel in 2002.

 

About the author: Tim is the McMenamins Historian.