A house of stars

Don Cantrell

William A. Irwin was a real estate man with an idea for the ocean

front of Newport Beach and in 1924 - some 78 years ago - he ordered the

construction of a two-story, brick framed building that would become a

landmark overlooking Newport Pier.

The late real estate man, who died before the building was completed,

could not have projected the athletic history that would subsequently

emerge from some early day residents of the structure, almost a block

long on Ocean Front.

Two of the early day pioneers would feature his two sons, Albert and

the late Ralph, and two members of the Doug Ward family, which came to

the area from the midwest in the mid-30s. It had two sons, Roy and Don.

Al and Ralph would develop into outstanding gridders for early Newport

Harbor High football teams. Al became an all-league fullback in 1935,

while Ralph was an all-league selection in 1937 as a noted lineman.

Al would advance to star at College of the Pacific under famed Coach

Amos Alonzo Stagg before returning to coach at his alma mater in 1948-55,

then Orange Coast College, then UC Irvine. He and Ralph would serve in

the military during World War II.

Roy, in time, would become the first Newporter to play in the Rose

Bowl Game. A versatile athlete, he starred at Harbor High in four sports,

then went to Berkeley where he became a first string end for California

Coach Lynn “Pappy” Waldorf.

Roy’s younger brother also played several sports at Newport, and

served as a member of the infield on the Sunset League championship

baseball team of ’48. It is still the the only champion baseball team in

Tars’ history.

The Ward family was allowed a back unit by William’s widow, Sarah,

whom locals called “Sadie,” and was granted free rent for work asked by

Sadie. In time, they moved and Mr. Ward became successful in real estate.

Both Al and Ralph once said it was their mother’s fortitude that kept

their family and the building stabilized during difficult financial

times. She was seen by many as a smart and courageous woman, who knew how

to meet the mortgage payments by renting stores at ground level on Ocean

Front and 22nd Street.

With a proud tone, Ralph once said, “She really helped a lot of people

in those days.” She obviously cared for people and knew the Depression

years were tough on all.

One highlight came in 1950 when she called family together at her home

for a surprise announcement. She declared that she was out of debt for

the first time since her husband had died.

In 1968, a few years after her death, the Irwin brothers sold the

building, which still stands with trendy shops and apartments upstairs.

Interestingly enough, Al Irwin still pedals his bike near the old

building every morning on his way to morning coffee.

He still recalls one event from 1935 when he was playing fullback at

Newport.

“My mother took Roy, who was then about 8 years old, to the game

once,” she said.

She loved attending the games to see her two sons play football.

Another lad, about 14 years of age, whose name was Frank Sheflin, came

to observe the powerful Al Irwin and once said, years later, “He ran like

my brother, Hal.”

Hal led Newport to its first varsity title in ’42 and was named to the

All-CIF team.

Ralph Irwin starred on the ’37 grid team with fullback Rollo

McClellan, quarterback Glenn Thompson and center George Lumel. All four

were named to the Sunset League squad. It was Ralph Reed’s last year of

coaching football at Newport.

Al Irwin still recalls how his mother would lean on a gentleman named

Eddie Moore, who ran a confectionery store on the corner, if he would

make certain her boys would not get into fights.

“She said ‘give them an ice cream cone and I will pay you later.’ ” he

said, perhaps seeking an alternative.

It’s fair to say that their father was prompted to have the building

constructed because he had heard the Masonic Lodge was forming a local

chapter and believed the upstairs portion could serve as a grand meeting

place.

The Masons did form a chapter, but they never came to Newport. They

chose Costa Mesa and built a hall on the hill.