Dedication day for Fort Nisqually reconstruction at Point Defiance. L-R are Tacoma Mayor George Smitley, Governor Clarence D. Martin, Mrs. Smitley and an unidentified man. Photograph was probably taken in the morning of September 3, 1934, at the time of the historical pageant which occurred on downtown streets. Dedication of the old fort later that day would be the feature of the Labor Day celebration. (TNT 9-4-34, p. 1) ALBUM 10.

Governors; Martin, Clarence D., 1887-1955; Mayors--Tacoma--1930-1940; Smitley, George A., 1872-1956; Point Defiance Park (Tacoma); Fort Nisqually (Tacoma); Dedications--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Dedication day for Fort Nisqually reconstruction at Point Defiance. Tacoma Mayor George Smitley, far left, his wife and Governor Clarence D. Martin, second from left in photo, and an unidentified man stand in an open automobile during the historical pageant held in downtown Tacoma on Labor Day. The man to the far right is possibly a Tacoma city councilman. Later that day, throngs would attend the formal dedication of Fort Nisqually's restoration. The Young Men's Business Club was instrumental in pursuing restoration of the historic fort. It provided the funds for the materials necessary for the project. Much of the labor was done through the CWA. (TNT 9-4-34, p. 1) ALBUM 10.

Governors; Martin, Clarence D., 1887-1955; Mayors--Tacoma--1930-1940; Smitley, George A., 1872-1956; Point Defiance Park (Tacoma); Fort Nisqually (Tacoma); Dedications--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Army Day at Fort Lewis, 1935. Governor Martin shaking army officer's hand, another officer standing beside the first one. On Saturday, April 6th, 1935, Ft. Lewis, under the command of Brig. Gen. Ortho B. Rosenbaum, threw open the gates of the fort to celebrate the 16th anniversary of the US's entry into WWI. Thousands attended, double the attendance of the previous year, and were treated to exhibitions, drills and demonstrations. (T. Times 4/8/1935, pg. 1)

Governors; Martin, Clarence D., 1887-1955; Fort Lewis (Wash.);

Tacoma Mayor Harry P. Cain, seated in rear at the head table, was one of the principal speakers at the annual induction meeting of the Tacoma Active Club, held at the (New) Tacoma Hotel on December 12, 1940. 46 initiates were accepted into the group's membership. In addition, Active International president Ted Little of Olympia and the mayor-elect of Olympia, Truman Trullinger, were guest speakers. ALBUM 12. (T.Times 12-13-40, p. 12)

Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979; Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Meetings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Active Club (Tacoma);

Mayor Harry Cain and Tacoma AAA head Bob Hager in front of AAA office at Winthrop Hotel during Ford Good Driver League Contest. Automobile is a 1942 Mercury.

Mayors - Tacoma - 1940-46 - US Senators - Washington State - 1947-53 - Harry P. Cain (1906-79)

View of County-City Building ordered by Fentron Industries, Seattle. The modern County-City Building stands nearly completed on September 19, 1958, a stark contrast to the Old City Hall that it will be replacing. The main tower would be twelve stories high: ten for office space, basement storage and a penthouse used for mechanical equipment and a lunchroom. This particular shot was taken by a Richards Studio photographer who apparently climbed to the third floor of the Old Courthouse located to the rear of the new facility.

County-City Building (Tacoma);

ca. 1959. A rare view of the modern fifties architecture of the County City Building (dedicated April of 1959) and the Romanesque building that it was replacing, the Pierce County Courthouse. The County Courthouse was built in 1892 and although beautiful, by the fifties it had deteriorated, had sagging floors and was a fire hazard. The building was demolished the summer of 1959 and the area used as additional parking for the County-City Building. With this added parking area, the County-City Building would have available parking for 604 cars. The increased need for parking reflected the increase in personal automobile ownership in the fifties. TPL-9929

County-City Building (Tacoma); Pierce County Courthouse (Tacoma);

ca. 1959. Imposing entrance of the new County-City building, an soaring glass and aluminum structure designed by A. Gordon Lumm. Lumm was the controversial selection of the County Commissioners as architect. His selection raised the ire of the local architects as he was the only one who did not participate in the free preliminary work performed by the architects' society. Bids for the construction of the original design came in 3 1/2 million higher than available funds. Voters approved an additional $3,700,00 in a bond issue to make up the difference. The building was finally constructed according to the original design and dedicated on April 10, 1959. (TNT 4/7/1959, pg. B1+)

County-City Building (Tacoma);

ca. 1959. The gothic spires of the old Pierce County Courthouse overlook the new glass and aluminum County-City building in this photograph from April or May of 1959. The old Courthouse was scheduled to be demolished as soon as all offices were relocated to the the new building. Of special interest was the movement of thousands of paper records, required by law for the county to store. Four trucking firms were hired to move 5,000 beer cartons of public records to the new building. Approximately 9 additional truck loads of records that were over 10 years old were ordered destroyed. Demolition of the Old Courthouse began in June, 1959. It was replaced with a parking lot.

County-City Building (Tacoma); Pierce County Courthouse (Tacoma); Courthouses--Tacoma;

ca. 1959. The new County-City building from the intersection of 9th and Tacoma Ave. So. In April of 1959, Macdonald Building Co. had finally finished construction on the building that almost did not get built. In November of 1952, after a previous bond issue defeat, voters approved 6 million dollars to finance a joint county and city building. Over 20 sites were proposed, each with its own adamant supporters. The County Commissioners overrode all, including their own advisory committee that recommended the area bounded by So. 13th, 15th, Market and Tacoma Ave, to choose its present site. A Gordon Lumm was the controversial selection as architect. In midstream, 1953, Tacoma changed its form of government and the new council wanted the city to have its own wing, a demand that Lumm could not accomodate. In 1956, things went from bad to worse, as construction bids came in at 3 1/2 million over available funds. Voters voted in another bond issue to cover the shortfall. The council agreed on a lease agreement, after stormy negotiations, whereby the city would pay the county $80,000 a year for 20 years. The building was finally completed and dedicated on April 10, 1959, after much political blood letting. (TNT 4/7/1959, pg B1+) TPL-8169

County-City Building (Tacoma); Courthouses--Tacoma;

Interior and exterior shots of the new County-City building; jail cells in the new law enforcement wing. The combined facility for the county sheriff and the Tacoma police departments was jokingly referred to as the "joint joint." The jail was designed for maximum security and to be a more comfortable and spacious environment for the city, county and federal prisoners. It had air conditioning, a chapel, infirmary, delousing room and even a fenced rooftop exercise area called the "patio." The city jail was located on the third floor and the county jail on the fourth floor of the north wing. Jointly there were 8-9 tanks capable of holding 10-50 prisoners each. The city and county jails each had space for 140 prisoners. The day cells were equipped with showers, but the shower booths had no controls. A jailer yards away controlled both the temperature and the volume of the spray. (TNT 4/7/1959, pg. B-10)

County-City Building (Tacoma); Courthouses--Tacoma; Jails--Tacoma;

ca. 1960. The County-City Building, dedicated in April of 1959, over 7 years after the voters' approval, and designed by A. Gordon Lumm. The building stretches over 2 city blocks and was built at a cost of 9 1/2 million dollars; 3 1/2 million over the original amount approved by the voters. Shown is the four story law enforcement wing that was completed and occupied last. It housed both the Pierce County Sheriffs and the Tacoma Police Department. It is connected to the twelve story central structure. The photograph is taken from the intersection of 9th and Tacoma Ave. South with the structure facing onto Tacoma Ave. So. Photograph from the 1960 Richards stock files.

County-City Building (Tacoma); Courthouses--Tacoma;

ca. 1960. 1960 Richards stock footage- the County-City Building, taken from Tacoma Avenue South. This twelve story central structure towers 167 feet above the street level. The court wing sits to the left and the law enforcement wing to the right. The glass and aluminum building was dedicated in April of 1959 and built from a design by architect A. Gordon Lumm. The building is still in use and the central structure looks much the same, however the side wings have been remodeled and greatly expanded.

County-City Building (Tacoma); Courthouses--Tacoma;

ca. 1960. 1960 Richards stock footage- the County-City Building from the intersection of 11th and Tacoma Avenue South. In the background to the left can be seen the Armory. This view shows the two story court wing next to the twelve story central structure. The very controversial joint building took over 7 years from voter approval to finished structure, with skirmishes over location, architect, cost (it finished 3 1/2 million over original budget) and division between city and county. The building, however, has served Tacoma and Pierce County well and still meets the needs of the community. The wings have been extensively remodeled and added on to and now stretch almost to Tacoma Ave. So.

County-City Building (Tacoma); Courthouses--Tacoma;

ca. 1942. Formal portrait of men in business suits, probably Tacoma city officials. Tacoma Mayor Harry Cain is seated in the front row, third from left.

Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979; Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950;

ca. 1926. Mayor Melvin G. Tennent presents a key to the city to an unidentified military man. (WSHS)

Mayors--Tacoma--1920-1930; Tennent, Melvin Green; Keys (Hardware);

ca. 1965. 1965 Stock footage. The County-City Building's law enforcement section looks quite a bit different in 2004 than it did in 1965. The four-story wing that housed the Tacoma Police Department and Pierce County Sheriff's Department was completed last after the twelve story central structure and court wing. Each police department had its own jail capable of holding 140 prisoners. Designed for maximum security, the new building also was a more comfortable and spacious environment for the city, county and federal prisoners it housed. This 1965 photograph was taken from about So. 9th & Tacoma Ave. So., looking southwesterly.

County-City Building (Tacoma); Courthouses--Tacoma; Jails--Tacoma;

ca. 1927. Group of men standing in front of a brick or stucco building. In the very back are believed to be, left to right, Commissioners Jessie Silver (Public Works) and H. Dyer Dyment (Public Safety.) An unidentified man pours into a glass held by Mayor Melvin Tennent (right.) (WSHS)

Mayors--Tacoma--1920-1930; Tennent, Melvin Green; Silver, Jesse; Dyment, Dyer; Municipal officials--Tacoma--1920-1930;

ca. 1937. A young John Anderson, future Mayor of Tacoma, works a saw during the construction of a home. Photo ordered by Al Gehri for "Better Homes and Gardens" but did not appear in the magazine. Prior to becoming mayor, Mr. Anderson had a successful career as a contractor. He served from 1950-54 as mayor and again from 1956-58.

Mayors--Tacoma--1950-1960; Anderson, John H.; Carpentry; Construction; Construction industry--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Harry P. Cain, future Mayor of Tacoma and U.S. Senator, appeared in the Tacoma Little Theater production of "The Animal Kingdom" under the direction of his wife, Marjorie Dils Cain. Mr. Cain, who starred as Tom Collier, is pictured in this March, 1937, print speaking to the woman on the stairs. He portrayed a small-time publisher with a genuine sense of humor. Other cast members included Mrs. Salem Nourse, Salem Nourse, Uwarda Egley, Claude Brennan, Mrs. Galvin Hopper, Gordon Tuell, Mrs. Thomas Turner and Merle Benedict. The well-received play completed its 3-day run on March 14, 1937. (T.Times 3-3-37, p. 11, 3-12-37, p. 8) ALBUM 12.

Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979; Actors--Tacoma--1930-1940; Tacoma Little Theatre (Tacoma); Tacoma Drama League (Tacoma); Theatrical productions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950;

1935 Armistice Day Navy vs. Army football game at Stadium Bowl. Tacoma Mayor George Smitley (center) with Rear Admiral T. T. Craven and Brig. General C.H. Conrad Jr., commanding officer at Fort Lewis. (Bremerton Sun)

Mayors--Tacoma--1930-1940; Smitley, George A., 1872-1956; Football--Tacoma--1930-1940; Craven, T.T.; Admirals--Tacoma; Conrad, C.H.;

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);

Funeral of incumbent Mayor John C. Siegle. Dr. Siegle died on a train in Oregon, enroute to Tacoma from California where he had been recuperating from an extended illness. His memorial service was held at the First Presbyterian Church and was attended by an estimated crowd of two thousand. An honor guard of uniformed Police and Fire department employees stand surrounding the flag draped coffin. Dr. Siegle was the first native Tacoman to be elected Mayor and Tacoma's first Mayor to die in office. (T. Times 4/13/1939, 4/14/1939, 4/15/1939, pg.1) also numbered D8141 image A

Mayors--Tacoma--1930-1940; Siegle, John C., 1885-1939--Funeral rites & ceremonies;