625 COMMERCE ST, TACOMA

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625 COMMERCE ST, TACOMA

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625 COMMERCE ST, TACOMA

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625 COMMERCE ST, TACOMA

195 Collections results for 625 COMMERCE ST, TACOMA

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TPL-4084

ca. 1893. Tacoma Public Library on 5th floor of Old City Hall. The three statues in the large room were purchased by City Librarian William Curtis Taylor and donated to the library. Mr. Taylor had decorated the library with several busts and frames paid for by himself. The library had previously been located in the Ball Block, 919-21 Broadway, before its move to Old City Hall, 625 Commerce St., in 1893. Mr. Taylor had been the librarian since 1892 and was appointed by Mayor Huson as City Librarian in 1894 when the library came under the control of the City of Tacoma. (Tacoma Daily Ledger, 4-22-1896-article)


Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma); Public libraries--Tacoma--1890-1900; Old City Hall (Tacoma); Statues--Tacoma--1890-1900;

TPL-4083

ca. 1893. Tacoma Public Library on 5th floor of Old City Hall. The Tacoma Public Library moved to more spacious quarters on the fifth floor of (Old) City Hall, 625 Commerce St., in 1893. There was room for 20,000 volumes although the library at that time contained only a fraction of that amount, about 1000. Tall ceilings and large rooms that were tastefully decorated, including a cheerful room set aside as a women's reading space, provided patrons with a comfortable library atmosphere. Bookcases were mostly placed against the walls leaving a clear space for reading tables and display cases. Among the many paintings and wall decor at the library was an oil painting of City Librarian William Curtis Taylor who was its first librarian. It is pictured above at left center. Over 1300 people checked out books regularly out of a total of 1434 members. Membership had increased by 1100 during the year. (TDL 5-3-1893-article)


Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma); Public libraries--Tacoma--1890-1900; Bookcases--Tacoma; Books; Showcases;

TPL-4067

Mayor John W. Linck was photographed at his desk in the mayor's office in Old City Hall in June of 1909. As Mayor of Tacoma he was invited to the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition held on the campus of the University of Washington that year. He had won election to the mayor's office in April of 1908, defeating Democratic incumbent George P. Wright. Prior to serving as the city's mayor, he had extensive legal and political experience in the Midwest. John Linck served one term as mayor after which he spent several years as a justice of the peace.


Linck, John W.; Mayors--Tacoma--1900-1910; Old City Hall (Tacoma);

Comfort Station for Women

Three of eight technical drawings for a proposed but unbuilt Comfort Station for Women, created by Wilbur C. Raleigh on October, 1910. Wilbur C. Raleigh was working under Mayor Angelo V. Fawcett as a city engineer when he was commissioned to create these plans. The space was intended to utilize the wood storage room under the sidewalk at the south end of the City Hall building as a women's restroom, urged by the growing Women's Club movement happening in Tacoma at that time. The space appears to never have been constructed. Raleigh's informal technical drawing style, with what may be waxed pencil, are unique to other technical drawings in the Lost Tacoma collection. Raleigh subsequently worked as the secretary for the Havelock C. Boyle & Co. and the President of the Raleigh-Hayward Company, realtors in the Rust building.

Wilbur C. Raleigh also designed the Shops and Stables building and acted as supervising engineer for the construction of the Murray Morgan and Puyallup River Bridges.

BOLAND-B3070

Prohibition actually began early in Washington state where saloons were ordered to close at midnight on December 31, 1915. However, alcohol was soon readily available as enterprising entrepreneurs produced "moonshine" from homemade distilleries, "stills," like the one pictured at (Old) City Hall in August of 1920. A long tube comes to a narrow point, allowing the liquor to drip conveniently into a bottle. (TDL 8/15/1920, pg B-5) G24.1-076


Prohibition--Tacoma; Stills (Distilleries);

BOLAND-B3069

At midnight on January 16, 1920, the United States went "dry." Overnight, breweries and distilleries closed their doors as the 18th Amendment made the manufacture, sale or transport of alcohol illegal. America was thirsty and enterprising individuals stepped forward to fill the void with alcohol made from home made distilleries, or "stills." Many of these apparatus, such as the one pictured at (Old) City Hall, were confiscated in Pierce County. (TDL 8/15/1920, pg B-5) G24.1-077


Prohibition--Tacoma; Stills (Distilleries);

BOLAND-B9356

On February 2, 1924, 15 year old singer Marino Sensi, of 4534 South Adams, presented a concert at City Hall for Mayor Angelo Vance Fawcett (seated), city councilmen, employees and visitors. The South Tacoma boy, who had lived here for the last nine years, performed selections designed to illustrate his powerful bass range, rare in a young boy. The bass performs in the lowest vocal range of the human voice. Friends of the young singer were trying to raise money to purchase a piano for his use. Mayor Fawcett and attorney S.A. Gagliardi were pleased to make the first, and generous, contributions. This was not the first time young Sensi had sung for a mayor; he had performed for San Francisco Mayor Rolph the previous year. (TNT 2-2-24, p. 7-article; TNT 2/6/1924, pg. 9) G1.1-066 ALBUM 16


Sensi, Marino; Singers--Tacoma--1920-1930; Mayors--Tacoma--1920-1930; Fawcett, Angelo Vance;

BOLAND-B11244

On October 29, 1924, a group of city and railroad officials met in Mayor A.V. Fawcett's office in (Old) City Hall, 625 Commerce St., to sign Belt Line contracts. The municipal carline was now the industrial belt line, effective November 1st. Mayor Fawcett is seated at far left; also seated are City Attorney E.K. Murray and chairman Ernest Dolge of the traffic bureau. Among others present was the mayor's son, and future mayor, Val Fawcett, second man standing in rear at left. The sole woman in the group is city clerk, Genevieve Martin. (other officials are listed in the Tacoma Daily Ledger article, 10-30-24, p. 4) TPL-10461


Mayors--Tacoma--1920-1930; Fawcett, Angelo Vance; Fawcett, Clarence Valdo, 1900-1965; Municipal officials--Tacoma--1920-1930; Contracts; Martin, Genevieve; Dolge, Ernest; Murray, E.K.;

A-481

ca. 1925. Large group of men in business suits outside of the Mayor's office in the (Old) City Hall at 625 Commerce St. The men are unidentified in this circa 1925 photograph with the exception of the man seated second to the right who is thought to be Dr. Hinton Jonez, prominent Tacoma physician.


Municipal government--Tacoma--1930-1940; Old City Hall (Tacoma);

BOLAND-B11648

New floors at City Hall. The flooring in this January 13, 1925, photograph appears to be hardwood. City Hall in 1925 was still at 625 Commerce St., situated in a six-story building designed in the Italian Renaissance style. G67.1-011


Old City Hall (Tacoma); Floors--Tacoma--1920-1930;

BOWEN G42.1-074

Early in January of 1926, Tacoma voters were flooding into the Registrar's office on the third floor of City Hall to qualify to vote in the upcoming city primary and general elections. The throng included three new voters, pictured center of the counter. The trio was composed of Ingeborg Ekberg, Alice Raymond and Vera Landers, all students at the College of Puget Sound and all having just turned 21. According to city clerk Genevieve Martin almost 9,000 voters had registered in the first five days for the elections, which included another run for the Mayor's office by four time incumbent Angelo Vance Fawcett. TPL-3209 (TNT 1/11/1926, pg. 17- cropped picture, TNT 1/9/26, pg. 14-article on registration)

BOWEN G27.1-002

On the morning of June 7, 1926, Tacoma saw a change in city government from "business as usual." The March 1926 election had brought defeat to all City Council incumbents up for re-election. Photographer Chapin Bowen captured the moment as the old Council stepped out and the new took their seats for their first meeting. Pictured around the table, left to right, are Jesse W. Silver- Public Works, newly elected A.S. Walters - Finance, newly elected Mayor Melvin G. Tennent, Ira Davisson- Light & Water and newly elected H. Dyer Dyment- Public Safety. Seated to the right is City Clerk Genevieve Martin. (TNT 6-7-26, p. 1-photograph is flipped in newspaper) Bowen 26375, TPL-9549

BOLAND-B16745

The Young Men's Republican Club presented a framed and colored portrait of President Calvin Coolidge to Tacoma's City Council on April 20, 1927. The photograph would join the likenesses of Presidents (Teddy) Roosevelt, Wilson, and Harding in the council chambers. Mayor Melvin G. Tennent accepted, on behalf of the council, the portrait from Al Ray, president of the Young Men's Republican Club. L-R are: Mayor Tennent (hand on photograph); Commissioners Ira S. Davisson, Dyer Dyment, Jesse Silver, Acting commissioner Asa Troyer, and Al Ray. G23.1-007 (TDL 4-21-27, p. 3)


Portrait photographs; Gifts; Tennent, Melvin Green; Mayors--Tacoma--1920-1930; Davisson, Ira; Dyment, Dyer; Silver, Jesse; Troyer, Asa E.; Ray, Al; Municipal government--Tacoma--1920-1930;

A2428-0

Mayor Melvin G. Tennent, right, shakes hands with "Banjo King" Eddie Peabody at (Old) City Hall. Edwin Ellsworth "Eddie" Peabody, 1902-1970, was a well known vaudeville star. The 24 year old performer was appearing in person for the first time in Tacoma, from 12/2- 12/29/1927, at the Broadway Theater. The diminutive blue eyed, blonde haired young man was an expert on all stringed instruments, playing with proficiency the banjo, violin, mandolin, guitar, harp and others. While in town, he also made guest appearances to autograph his records at Sherman Clay Co., Hopper Kelly and Rhodes Bro. (TDL 12/2/1927, pg. 7- info only) (Argentum) (listed in Richards notes as A2438)


Peabody, Eddie; Banjos; Mayors--Tacoma--1920-1930; Tennent, Melvin Green;

BOWEN TPL-1845

In the depths of the Great Depression, about 1,000 men and women waged a peaceful orderly march on City Hall in late February of 1931 to focus attention on immediate unemployment relief. Members of the Unemployed Council, the Trade Unity League and the Communist Party requested: 1) unemployment insurance at $15 per week with $5 extra per dependent; 2) an immediate relief fund of $1 million generated by reducing city officials' salaries; 3) non-ejection of unemployed not able to pay house rent; 4) free use of civic auditoriums for meetings of the unemployed and 5) full payment of war bonus. Mayor M.G. Tennent met with twelve chosen marchers to express his and the city council's concern but stated that their powers were limited. He did state that a $41,000 Sheridan Avenue project was approved that morning so that more men could be employed through city construction. After listening to a program of addresses by their leaders, the large crowd dispersed after about three hours. (TDL 2/26/1931, p.4-article). Bowen 03-914.

TPL-7508

City Refuse Department office in Tacoma's Old City Hall. Three women and three men are working in the office. Flowers decorate the office desks, and a calander from the Tacoma Savings & Loan Association hangs on the back wall. The "Spanish steps", next to the Elks Building, can be seen through the window.


City Refuse Department (Tacoma); Refuse disposal--Tacoma--1930-1940

I35-6

ca. 1934. Portrait of Tacoma Mayor George A. Smitley in his office at (Old) City Hall. Sepia photograph was taken during his first, and only, term of office. 62 years old at the time of the photograph, Mr. Smitley had vowed not to run again, believing that one term was sufficient. His aim, according to a speech to the Democratic Club in March, 1934, was to increase payrolls in Tacoma, by developing industry. Mr. Smitley passed away in 1956 at the age of 84. ALBUM 11.


Mayors--Tacoma--1930-1940; Smitley, George A., 1872-1956;

I35-2

ca. 1934. Sepia portrait of Tacoma Mayor George A. Smitley at (Old) City Hall. A native of Fort Wayne, Indiana, Mr. Smitley was a traveling salesman for the Majestic Manufacturing Co. for twelve years. He came to Tacoma in 1905 and worked for the C.E. Horton Furniture Co. for nine years. While in Tacoma, Mr. Smitley joined the Elks Club, eventually becoming the secretary and manager. His association with many civic and social groups, including the Elks, Masons, Lions, Tacoma Gun Club and Shriners, may have assisted him when he made a successful bid in 1934 for the mayor's seat. He had held no previous political office prior to becoming mayor. During his tenure as mayor, Fort Nisqually Reconstruction was officially dedicated and President Roosevelt whistlestopped in Tacoma. ALBUM 11, ALBUM 16.


Mayors--Tacoma--1930-1940; Smitley, George A., 1872-1956;

I35-5

ca. 1934. Portrait of Tacoma Mayor George A. Smitley in his office at (Old) City Hall. Mr. Smitley succeeded two-time mayor, Melvin G. Tennent, as the city's chief executive. Formerly a traveling salesman, furniture company manager and Elks secretary/manager, Mr. Smitley won election in March, 1934, despite never holding a political office. During his administration, Franklin Roosevelt visited Tacoma on a brief stopover and Fort Nisqually's reconstruction efforts took place. ALBUM 11.


Mayors--Tacoma--1930-1940; Smitley, George A., 1872-1956;

I35-7

ca. 1934. Portrait of Mayor George A. Smitley in his office at (Old) City Hall. In this 1934 sepia photograph, Mr. Smitley is wearing a three-piece suit; he has one hand resting on the mayor's desk. Having held no previous political office, he succeeded two-term mayor Melvin G. Tennent. A former salesman, furniture company manager and Elks Club secretary/manager, and well known in Tacoma, Mr. Smitley was mayor for one four-year term. He was married in 1930 to Mrs. W.C. (Isabel) Bowen. ALBUM 11.


Mayors--Tacoma--1930-1940; Smitley, George A., 1872-1956;

765-1

Sepia photograph of new city officers at (Old) City Hall. Left to Right: Frank Callender, C. Val Fawcett, Mayor George A. Smitley, Abner R. Bergersen, Ira S. Davisson. Mr. Callender and Mayor Smitley won election bids on March 13, 1934, but were not sworn in until June 4, 1934. Mr. Smitley defeated Dr. John C. Siegle by 5325 votes while Frank Callender was elected as the new Public Safety Commissioner. Voters also rejected the city manager proposal whereby freeholders would have been elected on May 1st in order that the city charter might be revised to provide for a city manager plan. Val Fawcett had been re-elected Finance Commissioner; he, the new mayor, and Mr. Callender took oaths of office on June 4th administered by city clerk, Genevieve Martin. Mr. Bergersen was already Public Works Commissioner and Mr. Davisson, Public Utilities Commissioner. These men composed the re-organized city council. (T.Times, 3-14-34, p. 1, 6-4-34, p. 1) ALBUM 11.


Mayors--Tacoma--1930-1940; Smitley, George A., 1872-1956; Callender, Frank T.; Fawcett, Clarence Valdo, 1900-1965; Bergersen, Abner R.; Davisson, Ira; Municipal government--Tacoma;

D2000-9

ca. 1935. Mayor George A. Smitley with Ethlynne "Skit" Smith (later Babson) and Ellis-Ayr Smith at his office in (Old) City Hall circa 1935. The Smith sisters were noted local skiers, Ellis-Ayr being a U.S. team member for the 1936 Winter Olympic Games at Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany.


Mayors--Tacoma--1930-1940; Smitley, George A., 1872-1956; Skiers; Babson, Ethlynne; Smith, Ethlynne; Smith, Ellis-Ayr; Families--Tacoma--1930-1940;

D608-2

Girl representing the Disabled American Veterans pins a Forget-Me-Not or "Buddy Poppy" on Mayor George A. Smitley at his office in (Old) City Hall. Miss Viola Wilson is holding a handful of paper poppies as she fastens the Forget-Me-Not to Mr. Smitley's lapel. Mr. Smitley helped to kick off the annual Forget-Me-Not sale by purchasing the first flower from Miss Wilson, who is the daughter of state disabled veterans commander Virgil Wilson. It was noted in the Tacoma Times article attached to the sepia September 25, 1935, photograph, that Mr. Wilson was seriously ill in a Seattle hospital suffering from the effects of wounds received in the war. ALBUM 11. (T. Times, 9-26-35, p. 5)


Mayors--Tacoma--1930-1940; Smitley, George A., 1872-1956; Fund raising--Tacoma--1930-1940; Patriotic societies--Tacoma; Veterans' organizations--Tacoma; Wilson, Viola;

D608-1

Mayor George A. Smitley buying a Forget-Me-Not or "Buddy Poppy" from a volunteer worker representing the Disabled American Veterans at his office in (Old) City Hall. He is in the process of handing over a check as a donation to Viola Wilson. Miss Wilson is the daughter of Virgil Wilson, state commander of disabled veterans, and the youngest member of the women's auxiliary here. The proceeds of the two-day sale will go to rehabiliation efforts of the veterans' organizations. Sepia photograph taken on September 25, 1935. ALBUM 11. (T. Times, 9-26-35, p. 5)


Mayors--Tacoma--1930-1940; Smitley, George A., 1872-1956; Fund raising--Tacoma--1930-1940; Patriotic societies--Tacoma; Veterans' organizations--Tacoma; Wilson, Viola;

D623-2

Norman J. Maddex, a city light department wire man, is "re-lamping" the tower on Tacoma's Old City Hall, 625 Commerce St., in this photograph from November 1935. Sitting in a boatswain's chair, just a board slung in the loops of a bowline knot, he works at replacing burned out light bulbs and repairing defective wiring. The tower had 750 bulbs along the cornice rims, down the tower corners, and around the clock dial. (T. Times 11-15-1935 p.3)


City Hall (Tacoma); Maddex, Norman J.;

D623-4

Norman J. Maddex, City Light department wireman, suspended by cables to work on relamping the (Old) City Hall tower clock. "Relamping" is the term used for replacing the burned out light globes and defective wiring. He is dangling in a boatswain's chair, a board slung in the loops of a bowline knot. In addition to his precarious perch, the men handling the cables above him had to be careful of loose tiles that could send them hurtling to the street below. The work had been delayed for some time as financially hard pressed city departments argued about whose budget the job should be charged to. (T. Times 11-15-1935, pg. 3)


City Hall (Tacoma); Maddex, Norman J.;

D375-2

Mayor George A. Smitley with Rhododendron Queen Myrtle Olson at his office in (Old) City Hall. Photograph taken for the Seattle Star. Miss Olson brought Mayor Smitley a bouquet of Washington's state flower and an invitation from Port Townsend's Mayor Bangerter for all Tacomans to attend Rhododendron Days on the Olympic Peninsula May 22-23, 1936. (T. Times 5/15/1936, pg. 1)


Smitley, George A., 1872-1956; Olson, Myrtle; Rhododendrons; Mayors--Tacoma--1930-1940; Festivals--Port Townsend--1930-1940;

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