ca. 1907. Group portrait of the Tacoma Daily Ledger newspaper staff in front of their new offices in the Perkins Building circa 1907. These men were composing room employees, members of Typographical Union No. 170. S. A. "Sam" Perkins had just purchased the Ledger, adding it to his Perkins Press newspaper empire. At that time the Ledger was a morning and Sunday paper and the News, an afternoon paper. The Ledger merged into the Tacoma News Tribune in 1937. Harold S. Hagen, third from left in the middle row, was still working as a compositor at the Tacoma News Tribune in 1959, some 52 years after this photograph was taken. G40.1-115, G38.1-014 (Tacoma Labor Advocate, 9-4-1959, p. 11)

Newspaper industry--Tacoma--1900-1910; Typesetting--Tacoma; Printers; Labor unions--Tacoma; Hagen, Harold S.;

On November 11, 1918, in celebration of the German surrender to the Allies and the end of World War I, a giant American flag was unfurled from the top of the Perkins building by the staff of the News Tribune so that it draped down the side of the building. As the Armistice agreements were signed, Tacomans flooded out of their offices and factories and into the streets to celebrate. At 11 a.m. the executives of the Tacoma News Tribune swung the enormous flag purchased by the readers of the old Tacoma News into place. The flag was hung from the cornice above the sixth floor and rippled down almost to the sidewalk. A cheer rose from the throats of the crowd at 11th and A and a band struck up "Keep the Home Fires Burning." Not a dry eye remained in the crowd and, with hats over their hearts, Tacoma declared that the Great War was over. (TNT 11/11/1918, pg.1; 11/12/1918, pg. 1-picture)

Perkins Building (Tacoma); World War, 1914-1918--Victory celebrations--Tacoma; Flags--United States;

ca. 1928. The Perkins building. The Perkins building was constructed in 1906 and named after its builder, Sydney Albert Perkins. It was designed by Russell & Babcock, Architects. At the time it was built, it was the first fireproof building and the tallest structure (at eight floors) in Tacoma. It housed the Tacoma Daily Ledger and the Daily News and it was the first home to the University of Washington, Tacoma. (WSHS- negative A655-0)

Kenneth H. Cobb was listed in the 1955 City Directory as being in charge of the Telex Hearing Center, located in the historic Perkins Building at 1101 A Street. Telex high fidelity hearing aids were touted as the "world's finest". Signs in the Telex Hearing Center advertised the availability of the new Telex 5 transistor Telemaster, ten times more powerful than before. Customers could also purchase Eveready batteries for all makes of hearing aids. View of well-dressed employees behind the counter at Telex Hearing; there is a variety of testing equipment on the counter as well. Photograph taken on September 20, 1955, and ordered by Telex Hearing Center.

Telex Hearing Center (Tacoma); Hearing aids; Electric batteries; Signs (Notices);

An elderly customer gets his hearing tested at the Telex Hearing Center on September 20, 1955. The Telex employee, possibly Kenneth H. Cobb, its owner, holds a small hearing aid or battery in his hand while the cord is attached to the earpiece in the customer's left ear. The company was offering free consultations regarding the testing and purchase of the new Telex 5 transistor, the Telemaster. Photographed ordered by Telex Hearing Center.

Telex Hearing Center (Tacoma); Hearing aids; Electric batteries;

Interior of Clark's Islander Restaurant. Keeping with the Polynesian motif, Clark's Islander restaurant was noted for its casual, tropical atmosphere complete with anthuriums, "Hawaiian" decor, and even "stars" in the ceiling. Returning to Tacoma after an absence of 30 years, Walter Clark took control of the Islander and included it in his chain of fine Seattle and Bellevue restaurants. Diners could order Polynesian specialties as well as the traditional menu, including roast beef carved by a chef. Clark pledged to bring to Tacoma the same high quality cuisine, service and hospitality enjoyed by those in his other dining establishments. Photograph ordered by Clark's Islander, exposures for TV slides for KTVW. (TNT 5-6-47, p. 4-5)

Clark's Islander (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Exterior of Islander Restaurant with neon palm tree. The Islander, located in the Perkins Bldg. at S. 11th & A St., advertised itself as "Tacoma's Smart Charcoal Broiler Restaurant" where people could enjoy "Cocktails and Dining in a Tropical Atmosphere." In May, 1957, the restaurant changed hands when Walter F. Clark returned to Tacoma after an absence of 30 years to include the Islander in his chain of Northwest restaurants. Mr. Clark had first opened Manning's Coffee Shop on 11th & Broadway in 1925. His chain of dining establishments included Clark's Red Apple in Bellevue, the Red Carpet in downtown Seattle and Clark's Village Chef in the University District, and were well-known for their delicious food. Clark's Islander would have a warm, exotic Polynesian atmosphere with special dishes in agreement with the motif, and other tasty meals ranging from 80 cents and onward for lunches and $1.75 and above for dinners. Plenty of free parking was available. Photograph ordered for Clark's Islander; exposures to be used for TV slides for KTVW. (TNT 5-6-57, p. 4-5)

Clark's Islander (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1950-1960; Electric signs--Tacoma--1950-1960;

John E. Wagoner, on the left, accepts a check for $2500 from George Stanfield, representative of the American Seating Co. The certificate and check were presented at the awards ceremony at The Islander at 11th & A St. Wagoner was the winner of a national teachers contest sponsored by the American Seating Co. Teachers from across the country completed the following sentence in 25 words or less; "Properly designed school furniture is important because..." In Wagoner's case, his reply was worth about $100 per word. His award coincided with his retirement from teaching after 30 years. Wagoner taught his last class at the Weyerhaeuser school the same day as the awards ceremony. He and his wife Jean lived in a trailer next to the three room school during the week and commuted to their Gig Harbor home on the weekends. He served as the school's principal as well as teaching several classes. Wagoner had worked as principal of the Gig Harbor Union High School in 1940 and 1941 and later served in Concrete and Randle. (TNT 5/30/1959, pg. 3)

Awards; Wagoner, John E.; Teachers--1950-1960; School principals--Gig Harbor;

Perkins Building as pictured in February of 1973. The landmark Perkins Building is located in downtown Tacoma at 1101 A Street. Built in 1906 for S.A. (Sydney Albert) Perkins, the structure once housed the Tacoma Daily Ledger and Tacoma Daily News newspapers. At that time, it was the highest building in Tacoma and also the highest reinforced concrete structure in the Northwest. It was Tacoma's first fireproof building. The Perkins Bldg. served as the first home of the University of Washington-Tacoma from 1990-1997. The Black Angus restaurant was located on the first level of the building for several years. Photograph ordered by DeVac-Chamberlain Inc., Seattle.

Perkins Building (Tacoma); Black Angus Restaurant (Tacoma);

Circa 1915.

Circa 1915.

• Downtown Tacoma business district, highlighting the Tacoma, Perkins, Washington, Puget Sound Bank, (National Realty) and Trust buildings. circa 1930.
• Printed on front: The Commercial Center of Tacoma, Wash. Tacoma Bldg. Perkins Bldg. Washington Bldg. Puget Sound Bank Bldg. Trust Bldg.

• Built in 1906 at 1101 "A" Street, the Perkins Building was considered the first fire proof structure in Tacoma. The building was home to the first University of Washington Tacoma students. circa 1910.
• Printed on front: Perkins Building Home of the Morning Ledger & Evening News, Tacoma, Wash.