Golden Silence

An old-fashioned streetlamp illuminates an abandoned block in Ellensburg, Washington. A shuttered pallet factory wobbles in the wind on Wilson Creek. Only a young red maple tree grows near the vacant sandlot at 105 North Water Street.

There is no indication the past owner was once a buffalo soldier and baseball pioneer. Not a sign that suggests the past residence holds any historical significance. Only a flat plat of land. But, not with a million-watt bulb could enough light be shed on this subject. Here are a few faint words …

Spanish American war veteran, 9th Cavalry Sgt. John Richard Golden (July 18, 1880 - March 9, 1951), was born on the opposite side of the country. “The other Washington”, as locals quip. He was the first-born son of George Washington Golden (1859-1901) and Lewellen Golden. They lived at 209 C Street SW in the sunset shadow of the US Capitol in DC.

Too little of his youth can be discussed with any certainty, but War broke out in 1898. A wave of patriotic fervor swept the United States. “Remember the Maine” was the battle cry and many young men heeded the call of duty.

African American volunteers were assigned to one of four segregated regiments, the 9th and 10th Cavalry, 24th or 25th Infantry. Though the Spanish American War lasted just 114 days (April – August 1898), many buffalo soldiers distinguished themselves in combat, especially the 9th Cavalry at the Battle of San Juan Hill alongside Roosevelt’s Roughriders.

Post-war insurrections in former Spanish colonies lasted until 1902. The 9th Cavalry was briefly repositioned and replenished at Fort Wingate, New Mexico in 1899, before redeployment to the Philippines 1900-1902. These conflicts were controversial in many African American communities as an extension of US colonialism.

At 18, John Golden enlisted for three-years of service March 20, 1899, and was sent to basic training at Fort Wingate (NM). Drill instruction and athletics were encouraged to maintain soldiers peak physical fitness. Each company in the regiment had their own baseball team, manager, and uniforms. The best athletes were frequently promoted in rank. Sgt. John Golden served in 9th Cavalry Troop H and of the 60-100 soldiers that constituted company H, as sergeant he oversaw 8-10 men in his squad.

All buffalo soldier regiments were sent to the Philippine-American War by the summer of 1900. The 9th Cavalry Troop H saw action and at least two casualties; Corporal Philip Oliver wounded at Luzon, and Private Fred Hayward killed in action at Matanzas. The conflict lasted from February 4, 1899 – July 2, 1902.

After honorable discharge from the US Army, March 19, 1902, Sgt. John Golden moved to the American West. He settled in the rural agricultural and ranching community of Ellensburg, Washington. It is difficult to pinpoint the year he moved to the Kittitas Valley, but his skills on the diamond were soon recognized by the boosters of local baseball.

He found a job as a porter with the Northern Pacific Railroad. The original depot was replaced by the Ellensburg train station in 1910. The Northern Pacific was a regular sponsor of local baseball teams. Golden was a NP employee in various capacities until at least 1922.

Ellensburg and (North) Yakima had been regional sports rivals since the 1880s. In 1906, this mutual competitive disdain manifested the short-lived Yakima Valley League. The league schedule was clumsily rolled out, stumbled through an abbreviated season and mercifully folded like a cheap lawn chair.

For a blip on the baseball map, the league certainly had some unique characters and characteristics. This was one of the first leagues in Washington state to be integrated (by Sgt. John Golden). The Colts were led by multi-sport athlete, Nick Daviscourt (1887-1960), a former minor league baseball player, football star, and future Hall of Fame wrestling champion. In a lengthy mat career, he battled for the World Heavyweight Championship twice (1921 and 1935). Both bouts he lost.

The North Yakima Tigers led by young baseball talent, Royal “Hunky” Shaw (1884-1969), were the class of the league. On July 1, 1906 the Ellensburg Colts crossed bats with them at Sumach Park. The next day, a thorough game recap was published in the Yakima Daily Republic. Sgt. John “Goldy” Golden went 1-for-3 at the plate, with a fielder’s choice RBI in the second inning. He had two putouts with no errors in the field, and flashed good speed to leg out an infield single in the fifth inning. Despite a solid performance, the Colts lost to the Tigers, 6-1.

The 1906 Ellensburg Colts could have easily slipped into baseball oblivion were it not for two images captured by local photographer Otto Pautzke (1863-1918), whose son was on the team. One, a real picture postcard or cabinet photo sold locally. The other a team composite of players, manager, and mascot taken from the same set of negatives submitted to and included in the nationally distributed 1907 Spalding Baseball Guide. This may or may not have occurred with the editors’ knowledge the team was integrated.

After his single season with the Colts, Golden played for at least two segregated central Washington baseball teams, 1907-12. In 1906-07 the Mount Hope Baptist and Bethel AME churches were founded in Yakima. Parishioners organized a baseball team to represent their congregations named the Yakima Black Stockings.

The Black Stockings were an interesting cross section of local African American employment; porters, janitors, barbers, students, a steel worker, horse trainer, and various blue-collar laborers. Players were young men in their teens and older men in their thirties. At 26-years old Sgt. John Golden manned the hot corner. They played just one game of public record versus the town team of Outlook, Washington. No results of the game are available only a thank you letter from Black Sox manager IB Turnell printed in the Yakima Herald, May 1, 1907.

Most turn-of-the-century Pacific Northwest African American teams practiced and played only on holidays, or at special occasions. The most popular of Cascade events was Emancipation Day every August 4th. It was 1922 before the Yakima Colored Giants played regularly scheduled central Washington bush league games.

Many early games were amateur, charitable affairs. Baseball saved the small Ellensburg AME church from financial ruin, twice. A June 19, 1912 game was meant, “To free the AME church from a debt that has been hanging over it for a number of years [the parish] gave an all day program beginning with speeches, including a baseball game and barbecue and ending with a reception in the evening.”

The Ellensburg baseball field was located at the south edge of town, 500 South Main Street, less than one block from the AME church (404 S. Main). Speeches were made by Mayor Mahan and Reverend Sharp before, “the crowd repaired to the ballpark, where a nine-inning game between North Yakima and Ellensburg … was played.” It was a quick Wednesday afternoon walk to the ballpark.

Sgt. John Golden kept visitors bats quiet early, and pitched three innings of no-hit, no-run baseball. The newspaper noted, “Although the team had indulged in but little practice, they made a most credible showing, and the game was fast and exciting.” Other Ellensburg pitchers did not fare as well, and the North Yakima nine was victorious, 13-8.

Some baseball everyone wins. “A barbecue dinner was served in the AME church after the ball game. During the afternoon a steer, sheep, hogs, and other meats were roasted, and although the hungry crowd would not wait till the meats were thoroughly cooked, the repast was said to be excellent. In the evening a reception was held in the Grace church parish home, at which the 56 out-of-town people were guests… Close to 200 people attended the reception and the celebration was a success in every way.”

Eleven years later, a second benefit game May 30, 1923 between the Ellensburg Hawks and Yakima Colored Giants was played at the same field. The church faced another significant debt and struggled with just 17 parishioners. They spelled it out as clearly as possible, and asked for assistance from the whole community, “It is the desire of both races for a separate social life and religious worship because of conditions which neither race can control.”

The 1923 Ellensburg Hawks played two games versus segregated teams; the Yakima Colored Giants and Queen City All-Stars (Seattle). The Hawks featured future Detroit Tiger/New York Yankee/Boston Red Sox outfielder Roy Johnson, and San Francisco Seal pitcher Lester “Stump” Ferguson. The Giants featured Tom “Circus” Mooney, Charlie Allen, and Codie Spearman, one of five Spearman brothers to play in the Negro Leagues. However, fan interest and local support waned, the game was not nearly the success of the 1912 event.

The Ellensburg AME church navigated difficult financial times despite modest means and attendance the next thirty years primarily due to the dedicated efforts of Reverends James Smith and Mamie Evans Robertson. The church remained at 404 South Main Street until the late 1950’s. Today, the property is owned by the Kittitas County Historical Museum, but the church and rectory are no longer there.

John Golden and his wife Alice were lifelong members. The Goldens were married April 17, 1907 by the local magistrate. The Ellensburg AME was founded January 1908, cornerstone laid April 26, 1908, but the church was not completed for almost two years, and a rectory built many years later. When the local church was unable to house priests or their spouses, the Golden homestead hosted until a more suitable place may be found.

Their home at 105 North Water Street was relocated or rebuilt on the same lot between 1909 and 1928 farther from the edge of Wilson Creek, and closer to Water Street. Wilson Creek had been diverted to allow construction north of the property. This practice was frequently disastrous for localized flood mitigation.

The end of his life is a difficult chapter. His beloved wife, Alice Golden (1869-1926), passed away the morning of July 23, 1926. She was a seamstress and janitor at the Farmer’s National Bank. Her obituary expressed the tremendous loss of the entire community for, “one of the best known colored residents of the city”. She was buried at IOOF Brick Road Cemetery in Ellensburg.

Sgt. John Golden moved from their home at 105 North Water to Tacoma, Seattle, and back to Ellensburg the next decade in a series of part time jobs and relationships. The Goldens’ adopted daughter, Gladys Beatty, did not seem to maintain a close relationship. Sadly his 1942 WW2 draft registration indicates under “name and address of person who will always know your address” it is written, “United States Pension Office”. Not a family member, trusted friend, business, or church, but a government agency.

As his health deteriorated, his final few years were spent at the Veterans Affairs hospital in Los Angeles. He passed away at 70-years of age, and one of an estimated 100 buffalo soldiers buried at Los Angeles National Cemetery. His headstone reads; “John R. Golden, District of Columbia, Sgt 9th Cavalry, Spanish American War, July 18, 1880 – March 9, 1951”. What may be added to it? “Washington Baseball Pioneer”.

There was no obituary for Sgt. John Golden in either Ellensburg or Los Angeles newspapers. May this article serve as a salute and overdue eulogy to what should have been said too many years ago. His former Ellensburg home no longer a blank canvas but a foundation. Now, a candle lit in that old-fashioned streetlamp.

1906 Ellensburg Colts

John Golden (3B), Nick Daviscourt (2B), Charles Dickson (IF), Earl Evans (SS), Paul “Rube” Fein (Manager), Bert Geiger (OF), Lou Giddens (OF), ? Otis (OF), Jim Pautzke (IF), Henry Rusch (C), Gus Shupe (P), Harry Suver (1B), Joe Whitman (P), Abe Witt (OF)

1907 Yakima Black Stockings

John Golden (3B), Nathaniel Cortner (2B), L. James Foster (1B), Herbert H. Jones (OF), Stephen Otis Jones (Sub), W. Johnson (Sub), William M. Knox (P), William Clark Lytle (OF), George Perry (Scorekeeper), Ben Piles (Sub), Alvin Price (Sub), William S. Powell (SS), John Garfield Taylor (Sub), LD Thompson (C), Frank L. Wilson (OF)

1912 Ellensburg

John Golden (P/3B), George Brewer (2B), Charles Brown 1B, John E. Evans (OF), ? Forney (CF), James Gratton (OF), Eliza “Star” Hunter (3B), ? Morrison (SS), William B. Thomas (C)

Special thanks:

Steven “Glo” Lauderdale, web and baseball card design

Sadie Thayer & the Kittitas County Historical Museum, research

The David Eskenazi Collection, photos

Bibliography:

1) New York Tribune, 8 July 1900, page 3

2) Evening Star, 2 March 1901, page 2

3) Yakima Daily Republic, 2 July 1906, page 3

4) The Ellensburg Daily Record, 18 August 1989, page 18-D

5) Yakima Daily Republic, 17 March 1906, page 1

6) Yakima Herald, 1 May 1907, page 4

7) The Evening Record, 20 June 1912, page 6

8) The Evening Record, 5 June 1924, page 4

9) The Evening Record, 30 May 1923, page 8

10) The Evening Record, 31 May 1923, page 8

11) The Evening Record, 26 July 1923, page 2

12) The Evening Record, 26 July 1926, page 1

13) Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps 1909, 1928

14) University of New Mexico State Archives, photo 9th Calvary Troop H @ Presidio, San Francisco

“Ty Phelan is a central Washington sports memorabilia collector and historian. The last two decades he scoured Pacific Northwest sports pages with a focus on pre-WW2 African American baseball history. He was a research contributor to the 2014 NAAM exhibit, “Pitch Black; African American History in Washington (state)”, guest writer for the Negro Leagues 100th Anniversary “Diversus Voices” series, and author of “Darkhorse; The Jimmy Claxton Story”. He is a right handed hitter with no glove or speed.”