This 1947 photo shows five girls on bikes during the Redmond Bicycle Derby. It includes a handwritten note on the negative: "Bike Derby - Redmond 8-23-47."
The caption on this Seattle P-I photo taken by Clarence J. Rote stated:
The 1947 Redmond Bicycle Derby began with a parade of children in costume and the crowning of the derby's queen. The bicycle race, run under the rules of the National Amateur Racing Authority, began in the early afternoon, with classes for men and junior and senior boys and girls. Junior riders raced from Issaquah to Redmond, and senior riders raced a 25 mile route around Lake Sammamish.
This photo was re-published in the Society's "The Redmond Recorder Newsletter " in June 2008.
The Society seeks to know if anyone recognizes the street corner where the photo above was taken? The buildings are still there, and one offers clues as to location.
This photo shows the 1947 Derby in the heart of Redmond: the girls are riding along Leary Way, just having crossed Redmond Way. How do we know that's the spot? While the General Electric Store doesn't jump out as a distinctive property, the dormer windows of the building behind it are unique to the Odd Fellows Hall on Leary Way. An even closer look reveals the circular Independent Order of Odd Fellows logo hanging from the building.
Long-timers will have also identified the far left corner of the photo, where a clue from a sign is visible. That would have been the Corner Tavern, now O'Leary Park.
Notice any signs from World War II, which had ended just two years earlier? Hanging next to the American flag are two others: seems like one is a flag of mourning and the other possibly the flag of France.
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