ca. 1931. The first Jewish synagogue in Tacoma was built in 1893 at the corner of So. 10th and So. I St. (921-23 So. I St.) Nineteen years later, the new Temple Beth Israel shown in this photograph was built at 324 No. J St. This building was the home of Tacoma's reform congregation from 1922 until the 1960 merger with Talmud Torah Synagogue. In 1965 it was sold to the Apostolic Faith Church. It still looks very much like it did when this photograph was taken in 1931, and it still retains its beautiful stain glass windows. Bowen# CHU-019
ca. 1931. Japanese Methodist Episcopal Church, 1901 Fawcett Ave., Tacoma. Architect George W. Bullard designed this church that was built in 1929 by the Tuell Bro. contractors for the Japanese American community. It later became the Whitney Memorial United Methodist Church. It was deconsecrated in December of 1999 when it was purchased by the University of Washington. It was listed in 2003 as the Abbey Ballroom or the Abbey. Bowen # CHU-027
ca. 1931. St. Leo's Church, 1301 Yakima Ave. So., Tacoma. St. Leo's was built in 1920 to replace an older church (1902) destroyed by fire. The 1920's structure was considered a "temporary building" on a permanent foundation. However, the "temporary" structure is still serving the congregation. Bowen # CHU-028
ca. 1931. Christ Episcopal Church, 316 No. K St., Tacoma. The church was built in 1889. It was designed by Daniels & Cook, architects, and was originally named the Trinity Episcopal Church. After a merger in 1926 with St. Luke's, the church was named the Christ Episcopal Church. It has been demolished. Bowen #CHU-035
ca. 1931. St. Mark's Episcopal Church, 3615 No. Gove St., Tacoma. The historic church was originally built in 1915 at 3601 No. Gove St. and moved to 3615 in 1937 to make way for the reconstruction of St. Luke's Memorial Episcopal Church. This building contained the stained glass windows from the Fannie Paddock Hospital Chapel which were later moved to the rebuilt St. Luke's. After the completion of St. Luke's, this building was renamed St. Mark's house and used as church offices. Bowen #CHU-042
ca. 1931. Immanuel Lutheran Church, 4320 No. 14th St., Tacoma. The church was built in 1913 on N. 14th at the SE corner of N. Stevens by contractor A.L. Ronken. It was dedicated as Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church. It has since been demolished. Bowen #CHU-044
ca. 1931. The First Norwegian Lutheran Church was dedicated in February of 1891. This church, which still stands at 1211 So. I Street, later became the Shiloh Baptist Church with Reverend Earnest S. Brazill as its minister. Rev. Brazill retired in 1999 after serving his congregation for 44 years. He died September 1, 2000. A new sanctuary has been erected next to the old church, but the original church lives on as one of the oldest buildings on I Street. Bowen# CHU-052
ca. 1931. St. Paul Danish Lutheran Church, 1310 So. L St., Tacoma. The Church was built around 1904 and has since been demolished. By 1951, it was renamed St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church. Bowen #CHU-053
ca. 1931. St. Patrick's Catholic Church, 1123 No. J St., Tacoma. Architect Frederick Heath designed this Norman Gothic styled Catholic church, which was constructed in 1906. St. Patrick's was recently restored. Bowen # CHU-023
First Evangelical Lutheran Church, 524 So. I St., Tacoma. Photograph taken for Rev. S. G. Svenson in April of 1931. Construction began on this Gothic structure in 1925 and it was dedicated in 1929. The church was designed by Heath, Gove & Bell, architects, and was built of tapestry brick with Tenino stone trim.
ca. 1931. Parkland Methodist Episcopal Church, 200 Wheeler St., Parkland. This Parkland area church was built in 1900 and remodeled in 1924. Bowen # CHU-011
ca. 1931. Calvary Presbyterian Church, 3516 So. D St., Tacoma. The church was built in 1886 and moved a few blocks to this location in 1909. Bowen # CHU-012
ca. 1931. First Church of Christ, Scientist, 902 Division Ave., Tacoma. Built in 1911, the Greek-influenced edifice remains at its original location directly across Wright Park. It was designed by local architect Frederick Heath. Bowen # CHU-024
ca. 1931. Talmud Torah Synagogue, 901 So. 4th, Tacoma. Architects Hill & Mock designed this "Romanesque Italian Renaissance" structure, which was constructed in 1925. It was renamed Sinai Temple in 1947. In 1960, Talmud Torah merged with the reformists at Temple Beth Israel. Rabbi Richard Rosenthal was elected to lead the combined congregations. They built a new synagogue, Temple Beth El, at 5975 So. 12th St. Talmud Torah was sold in 1968 to the Tacoma Blood Bank. It was later demolished and its site used as a parking lot for Tacoma General Hospital. Bowen # CHU-025
ca. 1931. 6th Avenue Baptist Church, 2520 Sixth Avenue, Tacoma. This Gothic structure was built in 1924 from a design by Heath, Gove & Bell, architects. It was constructed from Walker Cut Stone donated by Robert Walker. The formal dedication was held on April 12, 1925. Bowen #CHU- 032
ca. 1931. St. Joseph's Church, 602 So. 34th St. Tacoma. This church was designed by C. Frank Mahon, architect, and built by congregation members. It was dedicated April 19, 1912 as St. Joseph's Slovak Catholic Church. Bowen #CHU-037
ca. 1931. First German Baptist Church, 2005 So. J St., Tacoma. The church was constructed in 1907 and originally named the First German Baptist. In the 40's, it became Calvary Baptist and in 1957, St. John Missionary Baptist Church. It has since been demolished. Bowen # CHU-038
ca. 1931. Central Methodist Church, 1953 So. I St., Tacoma. The church was dedicated on January 8, 1922 and stood at So. I and 21st St. The structure also housed Goodwill Industries. It has since been demolished. Bowen #CHU-045
ca. 1931. Bethany Presbyterian Church, 4420 No. 41st St., Tacoma. This semi-Colonial structure replaced a previous Bethany Presbyterian at this location. It was designed by the architectural firm of Heath, Gove & Bell. The structure had a brick veneer and stained glass windows from the Allen C. Mason mansion. Rev. Robert Asa Smith was the preacher at the time of construction. Bowen #CHU-047
ca. 1931. Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 702 E. Harrison St., Tacoma. The church was built in 1906 for the First Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church. It was dedicated in 1907 as the Bethlehem Norwegian Lutheran Church, later shortened to Bethlehem Lutheran. Bowen #CHU-049
ca. 1931. Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1601 So. L St., Tacoma. The church was built in 1908 as the German Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church. The $9000 structure was designed by H. Crosley, architect. It much later became the Miles Memorial CME Church. It was demolished in 2004. Bowen #CHU-051
ca. 1931. Bethlehem Baptist Church, 1723 So. I St., Tacoma (Identification at bottom of negative is incorrect.) The church was built in 1922 by Baptists of color to replace an older structure. The pictured church burned in 1959 and was itself replaced by a new building. Bowen # CHU-030
