In 1898,
William Chase Temple took over the
Duquesne Country and Athletic Club, becoming the first individual team owner in professional football. In 1900, most of the Duquesne players were hired by the Homestead Library & Athletic Club, by offering them higher salaries.[1]
Bemus Pierce was hired by Homestead in mid-October 1899. He played and got hurt in the November game versus Duquesne C. & A.C.[2] He returned to Homestead L.A.C. in 1900 and 1901, helping lead the teams to an undefeated 21–0 record.
Homestead's coach and captain in 1899 was halfback George Lowery, who had played with Duquesne C. & A.C. in 1895–1897 and the
Pittsburgh Athletic Club in 1898.[3][4][5]
A game with the 10th Regiment was not played on October 21 because they failed to show up. Homestead refunded money to the spectators.[7]
The Homestead team disbanded before Thanksgiving forcing the
Latrobe A.A. (November 18), Crescent A.C. (November 22), Duquesne A.C. (November 25),
Western University of Pennsylvania (November 30) to find new opponents.[8]