Automobile dealers of the 1920s built palaces of prestige to showcase their latest models. Architect C.F. W. Lundberg designed the Mutual Motors Building for pioneer Tacoma automobile dealer Edward P. Leonard. The Lincoln dealership opened in June 1925. Later, a giant milk bottle was installed on the building's roof to identify it as the Olympic Dairy Products plant. As of 2000, Washington Tent & Awning, Inc. occupies this building on Martin Luther King Way. B12455, BU-10023, TPL-5683

Automobile dealerships--Tacoma; Mutual Motors (Tacoma); Building construction;

Fleischmann's Yeast vehicle parked outside of Mutual Motors, then at 816-24 South "K," on May 8, 1929. The shiny Ford, recently purchased from the agency, was decorated with the familiar yeast box as advertisement along with the saying "Eat it for health." Photograph ordered by Mutual Motors. G11.1-017

Ford automobile; Mutual Motors (Tacoma); Fleischmann's Yeast (Tacoma);

Donoghue Chevrolet was located at 824 Martin Luther King Jr. Way (then known as South "K" St.), the former home of Mutual Motors, in 1931. This interior view of Donoghue's focuses on the repairs section of the facility with its display of tools and machinery. Fred W. Donoghue was the president of the company. G36.1-189

Donoghue Chevrolet (Tacoma); Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1930-1940; Hand tools; Machinery; Vehicle maintenance & repair--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Automobile supplies were on display at the Donoghue Chevrolet facility located at 824 Martin Luther King Jr. Way (then called South "K" St.) in April of 1931. Genuine Chevrolet parts and other quality equipment were for sale at the former home of Mutual Motors. G32.1-134

Donoghue Chevrolet (Tacoma); Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1930-1940; Vehicle maintenance & repair--Tacoma--1930-1940; Automobile equipment & supplies; Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1930-1940;

On November 20, 1933, American Motors, Inc. of Tacoma moved their Chrysler/Plymouth dealership to 824 K St. (now 824 Martin Luther King Jr. Way). Built in 1925 by Mutual Motors, the building offered large showrooms, a fully equipped service department and a service station. The dealership lasted at this location for only two years, and in 1939 the building was taken over by the Olympic Dairy Products Co. Note the street car lines in from of the building.

Automobile dealerships--Tacoma; American Motor Co. (Tacoma); Depressions--1929;

Former Lincoln automobile dealership, new home of Olympic Dairy at 9th and K Street in March of 1939. Photograph ordered by Corky Maybin at the Tacoma Times. The structure was built in 1925 from a design by C.F.W. Lundberg for Mutual Motors. It was home to Donoghue Chevrolet, American Motors Inc. and Tommy Burns Inc. before becoming the new plant for the Olympic Dairy in 1939. Remodeling the structure and adding modern equipment cost Olympic more than $75,000. The 30 year old firm did not move any of their old equipment to their new plant. (filed with Argentum) (T. Times 3/30/1939, pg. 7)

Olympic Dairy (Tacoma); Dairying--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Party for kids at Olympic Dairy, O'Connell, Ragan, Beverly Balster. School children and several adults crowd into a room with a counter. Some of the children are clapping. A door at the back right says "To Creamery".

Olympic Dairy (Tacoma); Dairying--Tacoma--1940-1950; School children--Tacoma--1940-1950; School field trips--Tacoma--1940-1950; Children & adults--Tacoma--1940-1950;

In the early 1950s, Arden Farms took over the building at 824 Martin Luther King Jr. Way that had been the home of the Olympic Dairy Products Co. The large milk bottle on the roof made the building immediately identifiable. This photograph from February of 1953 shows four Arden Milk drivers standing proudly by their new Ford delivery trucks. The men are all dressed neatly in striped overalls, ties, and caps with the company's logo on them. Arden Farms was well known for their milk, "flavor fresh" ice cream, butter and cottage cheese. TPL-8203

Arden Farms Co. (Tacoma)--People; Ford trucks;

Four Arden Farms Company milk trucks parked on an angle next to building, Drivers in uniform standing beside each new refrigerated truck.

Vehicles - Trucks - Refrigerated TrucksIndustries - Food Industries - Dairying - Tacoma - Arden Farms