Story and photos by Tim Marsh, Lakes High Class of 1966.
I rode my Sears J. C. Higgins bicycle — bought in 1963 from the Sears catalogue and paid for and picked it up at Sears & Roebuck in Lakewood at 8720 South Tacoma Way at the “U.S. 99 at Lakewood cutoff” – off into the sunset.
That paints a nice picture. But, it’s not accurate.
In reality, this month a local charity picked up my bike. It was loaded into the back of their truck next to a couple of couches someone else donated. The truck drove off during a brief respite from rainy weather. No rain drops. No tears from me. But, memories.
Downsizing at home finished off the bike, which I bought at 15-years old. I’m 76. It’s been literally hanging around in our garage for more than 10 years. I lost track the last time I rode the bike. It was time for us to part.
The bike was moved from Lakewood to western Oregon. From western Oregon to eastern Washington. From eastern Washington back to western Oregon. Next stop will be where the charity’s buyer takes it. .
In 1963 I needed the bike for transportation. I had a Saturday job doing yardwork at a home on the other side of the lake. I could walk there but riding a bike to/from was a better option.
Looking at the Sears catalogue at home I saw possibilities. I picked a 26-inch bike with bright metallic red enamel finish and silver fenders.
Today the finish has faded. It still has its original white sidewall tires. There’s rust. The seat is cracking. But, in general it’s in great shape for its age. The Tacoma bike license affixed on the back fender expired Dec. 31, 1963.
When the bike arrived, we got a phone call. Dad drove me to the store. He paid for it. We put the bike in a box and brought it home.
I assembled it. Then, I ordered a J.C. Higgins speedometer/odometer and did not ride the bike until I installed it on the bike. The 950 miles on the odometer are original miles.
Not every Saturday was a bike to yard work on the other side of the lake day. Neighbor boys, older than me, worked at the same home years before. They sometimes rowed a boat over and back. I decided I’d do that, too.
Dad bought a new 8-foot pram wood rowboat from a shop in old Tacoma. We put it on sawhorses on the front porch and painted the inside and stern white and the rest of it bright blue.
Rowing to my Saturday job was not a breeze, but do-able. Once there was more than a breeze. There was strong wind and whitecaps on the lake. Rowing back home after work was challenging. I was not wearing a life jacket and was afraid the pram would be swamped and sink.
So, I beached the pram at American Lake Park and walked home. The next day, with better lake conditions, I walked to the park and rowed the pram home.
Having that Saturday job meant I earned money. Mrs. L (name changed) paid me after each day of work. Using a manual typewriter, she’d add the date, and my name on the check. Then, she used a neat machine to print the dollar and cents amount on the check.
With check in hand, I’d get myself to Rhodes department store at Villa Plaza. It cashed my check in its second floor business office. Yes, on Saturdays.
Mrs. L was amazing. Not only a job, but she paid with checks. I did not appreciate it at the time, but she tallied my hours and paid into Social Security. When I retired, the first hours for which I had SocSec credit were thanks to her.
Yes, the money earned and Social Security credit was good. But, more important to me now is the memory of my bicycle and my 8-foot pram.
POSTSCRIPT – According to the TNT, the Sears Suburban Store in Lakewood opened in 1957. Store officials extended a “cordial invitation to the public to see the many facilities offered in this great new Sears store of almost 11,000 square feet.” Interesting to note, the building formerly housed a Safeway grocery store.
The store had a South Tacoma Way address and was at the intersection with Steilacoom Boulevard. Phone JU 8-3661.
Sold in the store were Coldspot freezers and refrigerators. Kenmore ranges, washers and dryers. Silverstone television sets and radios and Craftsman power tools. No mention of J. C. Higgins.
Oh, you recall, as do I, the Sears store on Broadway in downtown Tacoma. I always entered in through the back (top of building) parking lot. Go into the back door, ride the escalator down and smell the popcorn.
ALSO – A TNT classified ad in the Nov 18, 1952 mentions “Sears Farm Store, 1408 So. St.” in Tacoma.
Tim,
A very nice story of a boy and his bike from Sears. I have a similar Lakewood story you might enjoy. I graduated two years before you and I went to Clover Park. I delivered newspapers on Saturdays for a friend and loved my bike.
Don
https://thesubtimes.com/2017/12/19/the-one-present-christmas-1956/
Great story. I had almost the same experience except mine was a Schwinn Continental bought from the Ponders Corner Schwinn store. It was a beautiful Sierra Brown with sparkle flakes in the paint. I actually didn’t keep it as long as you did but it was in my garage for years and years. It was from saving my hard earned money for a long time. Thanks for that story before the weekend.
Great story! I’m impressed that you kept your bike all those decades. My 1960 Schwinn Hurricane (also bright red) was handed off to my youngest brother when I left for the Army, and that’s the last I saw of it.
Great story. Thanks for sharing your memories. My first bike was one my dad had assembled from bits and pieces of cast-offs and painted a powder blue – with a brush. Ohmigosh, what a sense of freedom that first ride gave me. I was gone for hours and missed dinner ! Dad bawled me out when I finally got home; but it was just one of his pro forma bawlings out, ’cause mom told him to.) I loved that bike. And when I fitted it with a basket, I got a job delivering groceries… 40 cents an hour.
Tim Marsh,
Yours is a great kid bike story.
A summer weekend visit to my cousin’s house in Spokane, back in 1949, was a memorable trip for two reasons.
#1. One of my cousins threw a dart at me and it stuck in the back of my head.
#2. After removing the dart, I spent every waking hour all weekend teaching myself how to ride a girl’s bike.
Upon returning home to Seattle, I begged my parents unmercifully for a bike.
I woke up early on Christmas morning and looking out towards the Christmas tree I saw a big mysterious cardboard box.
When my parents awoke so my sister and I could have Christmas morning, my dad told me they had bought me a brand new mattress, which was inside the box.
My dad was not serious like me. He was a funny guy as proven by the fact that inside the box was a 16″ Colson boy’s bike. We assembled the bike and a short time later we went to Sears in downtown Seattle to pick up my chrome spring-loaded luggage rack.
I rode my bike to school, work, and on adventures with my pal Biff and my dog, Colleen, a purebred collie.
We rode from South Seattle to Lake Tapps and spent the night camped out in the woods before many houses were on the lake. I have never forgotten flying down Eli-Hill from Lake Tapps the next morning.
Then there was the time we rode to Mercer Island and I talked the manager of a swimming pool sales company into letting the six of us hot sweaty bike-riding boys swim in his demonstration pool.
Age 16 brought cars and girls into my life causing my bike to collect dust. Returning to the adventures of youth, I now have a single and a tandem Rans Fusion bike out of Oregon. Riding keeps me young.
Thanks for jarring my memories.
Joseph Boyle
Tim,
Oh, sorry I forgot.
Joseph Boyle – Class of 1962
My. Parents and myself started shopping at Sears in the 1960’s. We also received all their catalogs and sales flyers. As I recall one had to spend $30 in the prior 6 months to continue to get them . Somewhere along the way we got a Sears Revolving charge card. I later got my own. My dad mentioned purchasing tires from a Sears decades before. As he had grown up in Hungtion Long Island I assume those were purchased around that area. That outlet in the big H shopping center in Huntington was our go to location as far back as I can remember. Had our car serviced there as well as tire purchases. Sears sold everything those days and if it was not in stock you were directed to order from The Catalog. Every store had a catalog desk with all the books and help as needed. Oddly Coldspot is noted today on some model number plates on current Kenmore refrigerators. That brand was on our window air conditioner back in the day. Silvertone was the first portable stereo my parents bought us in December 1969. They ordered from the catalog although we picked up at the store. It was cheaper then shipping home. That brand was also on batteries.i remember the warranty if they leaked and ruined whatever used in Sears would replace the item. I send back a flash light and sure enough a new one came and a return shipping refund ( by Sears currency). I could go but those off us who fondly remember Sears back then one can only wonder what if!
Pp