Stadium High School track team. Cold December weather in 1924 did not deter these Stadium High School athletes from posing inside Stadium Bowl in traditional running gear. Stadium would be defeated in the annual interscholastic meet with Lincoln by a 72.5 to 56.5 score. Jack Cavin (second from right, back row) would be the high point man with 16 points to his credit. G46.1-020

Track athletics--Tacoma--1920-1930; Stadium High School (Tacoma); Stadium Bowl (Tacoma); Cavin, Jack;

Inexperienced safecrackers failed to blow open the massive safe at Bye Thompson Motor Sales, 3320 South G Street, on early Friday morning, December 5, 1924. The thieves abandoned their efforts when the explosives they used broke the windows in front of the safe and threw the office into disarray, but only succeeded in blowing off the combination dial on the safe's door, not in releasing the bars holding the door in place. This was the second time in less than a year that Bye Thompson Motors had been robbed; on December 18, 1923, thieves somehow carried away the company's 1000 pound safe and blew it open several blocks away. That robbery netted the thieves $362. This photograph was taken at the scene of the crime on December 5, 1924. G24.1-056 (TNT 12-5-24, p. 1)

Safes; Robberies--Tacoma; Bye Thompson Motor Sales Co. (Tacoma);

Dressed in an elegant sequined gown, Miss Esther Stayner is pictured in this late December, 1924 print as she prepares to play the baby grand piano at the Rialto Theater. Miss Stayner had been named organist at the Rialto and had given her first concert on November 1, 1924. She succeeded Alice Piercy in the job. Miss Stayner was photographed on the stage with massive curtains as the backdrop. A framed "window" with accompanying foliage is also part of the decor. She had spent the three previous years at the Clemmer Theater in Spokane. G40.1-052B (TDL 10-31-24, p. 5-article)

Pianists--Tacoma; Pianos; Stayner, Esther; Rialto Theatre (Tacoma); Women--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1920-1930;

ca. 1920. Smelter operations at ASARCO. Steam rises as ore is poured via hoisted ladle onto giant cylinders at the American Smelting & Refining Co.'s plant in Ruston circa 1920. Other large ladles are on the floor waiting to be filled with ore. TPL-899; G37.1-184

American Smelting & Refining Co. (Tacoma); Smelters--Tacoma--1920-1930; Industrial facilities--Tacoma--1920-1930;

ca. 1920. Smelter operations at ASARCO. These employees of the American Smelting & Refining Co. (ASARCO) are carefully monitoring what may be the pouring of molten ore in this circa 1920 photograph. It seems to have caught the attention of several other workers in the area. TPL-2351; G37.1-191

American Smelting & Refining Co. (Tacoma); Smelters--Tacoma--1920-1930; Industrial facilities--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Group portrait of well-dressed men and women on stage with piano and harpist, taken in late January of 1920. Photographer Marvin Boland's notes indicate that this is the "St. Cecelia Club." The St. Cecelia Club opened their season with a reception and musicale at the Tacoma Hotel on October 24, 1919, and would hold fortnightly receptions. Mrs. B.B. Broomell was president. (TNT 10-17-19, p. 11-article)

Men--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1920-1930; Women--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1920-1930; Harps; Pianos;

In March of 1920, a steam donkey on a sled was photographed for the West Fork Logging Co. The donkey was used for pulling logs in from the woods. In its simplest form, a donkey was just a steam engine with a drum and a steel cable. The winch was used to pull in logs or load them. In this case, the boiler is mounted, along with the drums, on a sled to make the unit portable. The steam donkey replaced the logging horses and oxen with the power of steam. It was faster, cheaper and more reliable than animals. The West Fork Logging Co. was located in Mineral, about 14 miles north of Morton in Lewis County. It was owned and operated by L.T. Murray. G75.1-093; TPL-9856 (Labbe & Goe, Railroads in the Woods)

West Fork Logging Co. (Mineral); Lumber industry--1920-1930; Steam donkeys; Donkey engines;

On March 5, 1920, cameras rolled as the electric powered "Olympian" pulled out from Tacoma and made history. This marked the formal opening of the Cascade division for electrically operated trains driven by 3000-volt current supplied by the glacier streams of the Cascades. Over 100 guests from Tacoma and Seattle (railroad officials, newsmen and politicos) were aboard a special pilot train that preceded the Olympian. The Olympian made its maiden electric powered ascent through the passages of the snow draped Cascades to its summit where the special train was sidetracked so the Olympian could continue on to Chicago. The special train would travel to Cle Elum and back to Tacoma. The Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul train reached speeds up to 60 mph with barely any effort and without puffs of black smoke. It descended as smoothly as it ascended, proving that cross country electrical trains were viable. G44.1-080 (TDL 3/6/1920, pg. 3; TNT 3-6-20, p. 1) TPL-2376

Railroad cars--Tacoma; Railroad locomotives--Tacoma; Railroad companies--Tacoma; Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad Co. (Tacoma); Railroads--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Fisher Flouring Mills Co. facility. The office staff and delivery drivers of Fisher's posed by their Tideflats plant in April of 1920. The company's vehicles, including a truck piled high with sacks of flour, are arranged in a row. Employees are standing in front of a railroad car. The firm, located according to the 1920 City Directory as on the "West Waterway," was managed by H.B. Clark. Products produced, according to advertising on a large company truck, included poultry feed, calf meal, "morfat" and "morpork," and dairy feed. G34.1-130

Fisher Flouring Mills (Tacoma); Flour & meal industry--Tacoma--1920-1930; Trucks--Tacoma--1920-1930;

The largest commercially made tire, size 44 x 10, was on display in front of the Orton Brothers Motor Company in Sumner on May 3, 1920. The all-weather Goodyear tire, which weighed 225 lbs., was mounted on the back of a flat-bed truck. Passersby could instantly see the significant difference between the size of the truck tires and the giant Goodyear model. The man leaning against the truck is probably one of the Orton brothers. William J. and Charles W. Orton were also in the fruit growing business. G32.1-094 (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 5-9-20, C-9)

Tires; Signs (Notices); Trucks--Sumner;

Prohibition came to Washington State early, with its passage taking effect at 12:01a.m. on January 1, 1916. By 1920, local entrepreneurs were very savvy at brewing "moonshine" in homemade distilleries, or "stills." This pile was only the most recent installment of confiscated stills in Pierce County. (TDL 8/15/1920, pg B-5) G24.1-072

Prohibition--Tacoma; Stills (Distilleries);

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);

George McCartney was photographed in September of 1920 working at a bench making repairs on a flat iron in the service department of the Blue Bird Electrical Shop. A silver coffee percolator waits for repair on the workbench. The year old company was located in the Chamber of Commerce building at 773 Broadway. It was the only plant of its kind in Western Washington and had one of the most complete electrical manufacturing departments in the Northwest. The manufacturing department was established at a cost of $10,000 and could make custom electrical equipment, a job formerly only performed back East. They were also involved in the electrical design and installation in new construction, had their own service department and maintained a staff of consulting electrical engineers. (TDL 9/19/1920, pg. B-7)

McCartney, George; Blue Bird Electrical Shop (Tacoma); Electric household appliances industry--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Photographer Marvin Boland's notes indicate that this was the bank vault at the Scandinavian American Bank in December of 1920. At that time the bank was building a 16-story structure at 1019 Pacific Avenue. While the new building was being constructed, the bank conducted business at a temporary location at South 13th and Pacific. The bank failed in January of 1921 and construction stopped. The building remained unfinished until 1925 and is now known as the Washington Building. G34.1-019

Scandinavian-American Bank (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Vaults (Strong rooms)--Tacoma;

Miss Louise Bushnell White, sponsor, stood on the launching platform to pose for pictures on December 14, 1920 after smashing the customary bottle of champagne on the USS Omaha at Todd Shipyards in Tacoma. She was chosen to represent her home city of Omaha partially because she was a descendant of David Bushnell, inventor of the one-man submarine during the Revolutionary War. Posing with her on the platform are (order unknown) C.W. Wiley of Seattle, pres. of Todd Drydocks Inc., William H. Todd of NYC, pres. Todd Shipyards Corp. (believed to be left) and J.A. Eves of Tacoma, VP and general manager of Todd Drydock and Construction Corp. This was the 27th launching at the Todd yard. The Omaha was the longest vessel to be launched in the Northwest (at 550 feet, 6 inches) and the first ever to be launched bow first. It was a scout cruiser, the first of 10 scheduled to be built for the Navy, 3 currently under construction at Todd. The Omaha (CL4) was built as Hull #30 and delivered to the US Navy on February 24, 1923. It was scrapped in 1946. (TDL 12/15/1920, pg. 1+, 12/14/1920, pg. 1) G37.1-172; TPL-9554

White, Louise Bushnell; Launchings--Tacoma--1920-1930; Todd Dry Dock & Construction Corp. (Tacoma); Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Six-piece Carmody's Orchestra. The six men, looking very alert, prepare to burst into music in this December 29, 1920, photograph. They may have been practicing for a New Year Eve's gig. TPL-1648; G40.1-041

Carmody's Orchestra; Musicians;

This was the recently built home of Mr. and Mrs. Homer Tinker as pictured in January of 1921. Mr. Tinker was the head of Puget Sound Bank & Trust. The modified English style home was located at 44 Orchard Rd. on Prospect Hill. Built on an elevated lot with an unobstructed marine view, the home featured hollow tile and cream colored stucco. The Tinkers did not stay long at this elegant residence; Mr. Tinker would die in Florida in 1925 but not before selling his North End home in 1923 to Bertrand & Dorothy Buckmaster. Mr. Buckmaster was also in the banking business as the president of Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan and North Pacific Bank Note Co. G29.1-045; BU-10,363 (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 2-6-21, B-5)

Tinker, Homer--Homes & haunts; Houses--Tacoma--1920-1930;

An unidentified mill in Tacoma's Tideflats was photographed by Marvin Boland in March of 1921. No workers are in sight. Piles of lumber are stacked throughout the yard. G36.1-043

Lumber industry--Tacoma--1920-1930; Mills--Tacoma;

Four Mack trucks form a small convoy as they transport small tanks in May of 1921. Several soldiers are atop of the parked vehicles. The men, trucks and tanks were probably photographed at Camp Lewis. The Tacoma Sunday Ledger had reported on February 27, 1921, that one of the newest arrivals at Camp Lewis was the Fourth Company of Tanks, consisting of 25 tanks, 25 Bull Dog Mack trucks and 88 men and officers. The trucks were all 5-ton Macks which were used to transport the 6-ton American Renault-make tanks on long journeys and in actual warfare, would carry them to the frontline. All privates in the Fourth Company of Tanks were either machinists or automobile mechanics and would be fully capable of keeping the Mack trucks in top shape. TPL-2507; G69.1-153 (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 2-27-21, C-1-article)

Trucks--Camp Lewis; Mack trucks; Tanks (Military science)--Camp Lewis;

This image is that of Tacoma's skyline in June of 1921. It was taken looking due west from the industrial Tideflats area. Pierce County Courthouse with spire is visible as well as the (new) Central School with tower. G27.1-067

Cityscapes; Pierce County Courthouse (Tacoma); Central School (Tacoma);

This unidentified family of three is camped under the shade of tall trees at Manitou Park in South Tacoma in mid-June of 1921. A canvas tent is rigged over an automobile and folding chairs provided for relaxing. Two bottles of milk rest on top of a small table built onto the car's running board. Visitors to the park praised it for its beauty and cleanliness and it was a favorite stopping point for thousands of out-of-state tourists. The 10-acre Manitou Park was divided into three sections with three acres set aside for free camping for tourists only. Locals were invited to use a three-acre section for picnics or enjoy four acres of green lawns and shade trees. TPL-5859; G41.1-013 (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 6-19-21, E-7; TNT 7-18-21, p. 3-article)

Camping--Tacoma--1920-1930; Manitou Park (Tacoma);

Kitchen and dining room - Manitou Park, a ten-acre park located on the outskirts of South Tacoma. Three acres were set aside only for tourists for camping purposes. The Metropolitan Park board had erected a dining hall with ten tables, four stoves, piped-in water and made the ground level for tents. Surrounded by towering trees, the open-air kitchen featured a large fireplace while the adjacent dining room was framed on all sides. Although many visitors brought their own small portable stoves, they were welcome to use the camp's dining facilities, especially when it rained. G77.1-011 (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 6-19-21, E-7; TNT 7-18-21, p. 3-article)

Camping--Tacoma--1920-1930; Manitou Park (Tacoma);

A veteran of the road, F.A. Read, is pictured in the "Official Car" of the Automobile Club of Western Washington. It was fortunate for him that on this rainy day in June of 1921 his 490 Chevrolet roadster with special built body came equipped with a hardtop. Automobile tires were much narrower then, as viewed above, and he prudently carried a spare which was mounted outside the driver's side. Mr. Read, an employee of the Automobile Club of Western Washington, spent most of his time mapping new roads which involved much travel. He appreciated his Chevrolet for its low operating cost and ability to roam where other vehicles may have had difficulty. G11.1-050 (T.Times 7-2-21, p. 10)

Chevrolet automobile; Tires; Read, F.A.;

Smoker - K.C. Bldg. Cushman Hospital This large hall in the "K.C.Bldg." was used for multiple events including dances and on this day in July of 1921, wrestling or boxing matches. A large crowd has gathered for this "smoker." They may have been employees or patients of the Cushman Hospital, a hospital for veterans located on the site of the former Puyallup Indian School, 2002 E. 28th St. If the two men in the ring are going to box, they will do so sans gloves. G53.1-128

Crowds--Tacoma--1920-1930; Sports spectators--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Haering's opened a new brick one-story grocery store in the Hillsdale neighborhood on the east side of town in July of 1921. It was the first of several new buildings to house the rapidly growing firm; more would be built in different parts of the city. The store was designed and built by P.C. Walesby for about $4500. Employees of the company are pictured above enjoying a celebratory banquet inside the store. Haering's Grocetorium promoted the "self-service" form of shopping as a means to keep prices low. As the signs inside the store indicated, smart shoppers could purchase five cans of Del Monte corn for $1.00, flour for $2.20, ginger snaps and citrus for 25 cents. "Help Yourself" seemed to be the store's byword. (TDL 6-12-21, B-5-article); TDL 7-11-21, p. 7-article)

Grocery stores--Tacoma--1920-1930; Haering's Grocetorium (Tacoma);

The staff of the Tacoma Hotel stood ready to serve the 348 hungry diners at the P.C.A.C.A. annual banquet held on July 7, 1921 on the grounds of the famous hotel. Waitresses were prepared to hoist large round trays filled with plates of chicken and vegetables which had been kept warm by steam tables. Diners were able to admire the 11th Street (now Murray Morgan) Bridge and the hotel's gardens. The Pacific Coast Advertising Clubs Association held their annual convention in Tacoma from July 3-10, 1921. Delegates were headquartered at the Tacoma Hotel and were treated to rounds of business meetings, excursions and picnics. The annual banquet was followed by a dance. (TDL 7-7-21, p. 1-article; Tacoma Sunday Ledger 7-10-21, A-12-article)

Banquets--Tacoma--1920-1930; Tacoma Hotel (Tacoma); 11th Street Bridge (Tacoma); Meetings--Tacoma--1920-1930;

The tip of Mount Rainier (called Mount Tacoma by Tacomans at that time) is barely visible through heavy cloud cover on this mid-July day in 1921. In the foreground is Dock Street next to the City (now called Thea Foss) Waterway. The Tacoma Steam Boiler Works, Ryan Fruit Company and the Dock St. steam plant (Consumers Central Heating Co.) with tall smokestack adjoin the waterway. G27.1-081

Smokestacks--Tacoma--1920-1930; Tacoma Steam Boiler Works (Tacoma); Ryan Fruit Co. (Tacoma); Rainier, Mount (Wash.); City Waterway (Tacoma); Commercial streets--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Cliff Avenue improvement. Construction of the ramp to Stadium Way (then called Cliff Ave.) is underway in July of 1921. Pacific Avenue in the back of the Central Police Station located in (Old) City Hall has been torn up with mounds of gravel, stacks of lumber and piles of cement bricks scattered around the area. Albertson, Cornell & Walsh won a contract with their sole bid of $153,535 for improvements to Cliff Avenue and a viaduct around City Hall. A reinforced concrete viaduct will lead from Pacific Avenue around the east side of (Old) City Hall to Cliff Avenue below the gulch. A concrete retaining wall will be built across the gulch and Cliff Avenue will be paved from Commerce to Division, 30-feet wide with concrete. (TNT 6-17-21, p. 1-article; Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 7-10-21, B-5)

Progress photographs; Road construction--Tacoma--1920-1930; Old City Hall (Tacoma);

Even in summer, Mount Rainier (then called Mount Tacoma by locals) had a sprinkling of snow on its cap. This is an image taken in July of 1921 by photographer Marvin Boland. The roofline of an unidentified building blends neatly in the wooded background. This may be part of Paradise Inn. G76.1-065

Rainier, Mount (Wash.);

Parked outside Griffith Motor Co. on August 16, 1921, is a Dodge Bros. automobile with oversized Federal brand evaporated milk can on display. The Federal Condensed Milk Co. advertised that their milk was safe for all to drink with the slogan "It's Pure That's Sure." W.J. Clifford, advertising manager for the milk company, has his hand on the steering wheel while peering out the glassless window frame. Mr. Clifford has had his Dodge for two years and indicates that he finds the vehicle most satisfactory and well suited for his travels through Washington, Oregon and Idaho. G6.1-075; TPL-912 (T.Times 8-27-21, p. 7)

Griffith Motor Co. (Tacoma); Dodge automobile; Advertising--Tacoma--1920-1930; Clifford, W.J.;