Have you ever wondered why there is a pig pictured on Kenmore’s historic mural at the St. Vincent de Paul building? This little guy got his start at the Inglewood Golf Club. The club was once on land known as Peterson’s Goat Farm, but this has nothing to do with our story. Our story…the pig’s story is really about money and how to make ends meet.
Kenmore Mural by St. Vincent DePaul Store
A New Golf Course in Town
Now the oldest course on the Eastside, the Inglewood Golf and Country Club was chartered on December 12, 1919. After four separate parcels of land were purchased and the 221 acres cleared, a course was designed, and a clubhouse built. To pay off the hefty mortgage, land was also divided into residential lots intended for sale.
Fire Destroys the Clubhouse
After two years of planning and construction, the clubhouse opened its doors on August 6, 1921. On October 12, 1924, the one-story, frame building went up in flames. It was immediately replaced by the present-day stucco-and-tile clubhouse, which hosted grand, sophisticated events for the social elite. At the time it was built, the price of the new structure was $172,290. Membership dues were barely able to cover the cost, and the club incurred a heavy debt.
A Club Repurposed
With the onset of World War II few people were playing golf. In order to keep business afloat, Barron changed tack. He rented the clubhouse rooms to defense workers and Navy men and later leased the facility to the Coast Guard as a receiving station for personnel coming from or going to various far-flung stations. The clubhouse’s main floor became a recreational area, and the pro shop was converted to a commissary. The fairways and greens lay fallow. Coast Guardsmen with farm backgrounds–along with Barron’s herd of sheep–kept the grounds reasonably maintained.
Pigs in the Pen
In 1946 after the war, the club resumed its previous golf and hosting activities. Wanting to promote club membership, Barron hired Ed “Porky” Oliver, who was then ranked in the top ten of national golfers. Oliver remained under contract at Inglewood for three years, acting as a club professional. While he was there, he played on two Ryder Cup teams. Several Northwest regional championships were also hosted, including the 1947 State Open.
In 1949 another kind of porky came to reside at Inglewood Golf Club. The club instituted a program to raise its own hogs and chickens for meat and eggs in the dining facility. The pens were located along the 9th fairway. In remembrance of their temporary stay years ago, one of these pink porkers found a permanent home on Kenmore’s historic mural.
This Little Piggy Went to Market
Eventually the Barron family sold the Inglewood facility to its members in July 1970. Joel Barron handed over the reins to his son Jack, who became the club manager. In 1989 the members joyously made the final mortgage payment. The animal pens are now gone, and the club has experienced some major renovations. The grounds are beautifully maintained and livestock free. Those who take in a round of golf may see a few birdies, but never swine. Who knows? Kenmore Air may be the city’s next purveyor of pigs. Maybe. When pigs fly.
