Simpson Avenue buildings — 11/10/1940 — #17685_1
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Photograph Copyright Anderson & Middleton Company
United States — Washington (State) — Hoquiam
Harbor Plywood Corporation
Image includes The Hub, Daisy's Lunch, a barbershop and Vean Gregg's Home Plate restaurant. A 1951 Polk's Directory listing for The Hub lists "Cigars, Tobacco, Wines, Beer Fishing Tackle, Cards, Lunch Room in Connection, 716 Simpson Avenue, Telephone 31."
Vean Gregg was a famous baseball player, both in the major leagues and in the Pacific Coast League, who moved to Hoquiam after he retired from professional baseball in 1926. The full name of this downtown Hoquiam operation was "Vean Gregg's Home Plate" (aka the "Home Plate Lunch"). Gregg's business included a lunch counter and he also sold sporting goods (primarily hunting and fishing) and cigars. Vean Gregg died in Aberdeen in 1964. Thanks to Eric Sallee for contributing information.
Additional thanks to Terri Middleton, who adds some interesting statistics on Vean Gregg: “Born in Chehalis, Washington in 1885, Gregg was considered a rookie sensation - he was the ERA champ in 1911. He went to the World Series with the Boston Red Sox in 1915 & 1916 and although he didn't play he was a member of the pitching staff which included Babe Ruth. He had 20 wins in each of his first three seasons - the only pitcher in the 20th century to do so. He struck out Ty Cobb three times in the same game in 1913. He played for Boston, Cleveland, Philadelphia and Washington. His baseball career lasted from 1911-1925 with a 92-63 record. Arm problems began around his fourth season and eventually ended his career.”
