The Street Seen: King of Virginia
2804 Main Street @ Ashland
Self-titled World Women's Billiards Champion, Bertha M. King lived at the Virginia Apartments on Main St from 1928 to 1948.
Virginia Apartments' most famous resident is Bertha M. King (1873 – 1948),1 self-titled World Women's Billiards Champion, who died 75 years ago this week. In 1910, in New York, Bertha King stages the first World Women's Billiards Championship.2 Bertha and her professional pool player husband, William Watson King (1867 – 1951), then tour the country giving exhibitions sponsored by local pool halls. In the early 20th century, this is a novelty - people have not seen a woman play pool in public. Undefeated Bertha King retires to Ocean Park in 1928. She lives at Virginia Apartments until her death in 1948. In 1910, the newspapers ask Bertha what she will do when they are too old to play pool, she says “…they hope to settle down in Southern California where they can raise bulldogs and violets.”
Bertha May (Mae) Davis King (1873 – 1948). Bertha M. Davis is born in Yonkers, NY and marries William Watson King (1867 – 1951) in 1897 in WI. Bertha travels the country with her professional pool playing husband, and becomes interested in playing pool. From 1910 till 1928, they tour the country giving exhibitions - usually playing each other. They retire to Ocean Park in 1928. After Berthe’s death in 1948, William King remains at Virginia Apartments until his death.
In 1910, 37-year-old Bertha M. King challenges Martha M. Clearwater (1893 – 1974), the 17-year-old daughter of pool champion William H. Clearwater (1875-1948), to the first World Women's Billiards Championship in New York City. The contest is sponsored by pool equipment supplier Brunswick-Balke-Collender Company. Bertha and Martha play two matches in New York, NY, and following the public interest, two more matches in Martha’s hometown of Pittsburg, PA. Bertha M. King is declared World Women's Billiards Champion.
