In November of 1919, Marvin Boland photographed this elevated view of the triangular shaped block on the west side of Pacific Avenue bordered by Jefferson and South 17th. In the center of the photograph was the recently constructed Depot Service Station. A small wedge of a brick building was apparently still under construction to the right of the service station. Tires were on sale and Union gasoline could be purchased there. In the right background was the Carlton Hotel, 1552 Jefferson Ave., which was built in 1909. In the upper left corner was the Pacific Storage & Transfer Co., located in the Dougan Block at 1721-25 Jefferson Ave., whose ad in the 1920 City Directory stated that they were distributors of pool cars. Depot Service Station remained at this location, with various changes of ownership and remodeling, until it was demolished around 2002. TPL-244; G8.1-017
Depot Service Station (Tacoma); Automobile service stations--Tacoma--1910-1920; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1910-1920; Carlton Hotel (Tacoma); Pacific Storage & Transfer Co. (Tacoma);
This photograph from November 1920 shows one of the huge 32 ton beams of the framework for the Scandinavian -American Bank nearing its resting place. The erectors stand on top of the beam, ready to secure it in position. The design for the bank called for 16 stories with 22 rooms per floor with 5,000 feet of rentable space. The 11th Street entrance would open on a 26 foot wide court with a huge colored glass dome forming the ceiling for the massive banking room below. The bank failed in January of 1921 and construction was halted. The building, after a re-design, was completed in 1925 and was renamed the Washington Building. (TDL 11/14/1920, pg. B-7) BU 10, 759, Boland B 3235
Scandinavian-American Bank (Tacoma); Building construction--Tacoma--1920-1930; Construction industry--Tacoma--1920-1930;
S-T-U-D-E-B-A-K-E-R! Salesmen Tommy Burns, Tom Lea and Ben Johnson (l-r) are in fighting mode as they prepare to set Studebaker sales records for the month of March, 1923. The men were employed by the pioneer automobile dealership, B.H. Kennedy Company, located at 753 Broadway. Owned and operated by Burton "Bert" Kennedy, the firm had an up-to-date service department and competent Studebaker mechanics. The B.H. Kennedy Co. had sold $27,000 of Studebakers in February of 1923 and were confident of repeating their successful month. (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 3-11-23, C-1)
Construction is well under way in June of 1923 at the Wilkeson Garage in downtown Tacoma's auto row. Built of concrete and measuring 120 feet by 131 feet, it was declared the "largest of its kind on the Pacific Coast." All units of the big service station were completed by November of 1923. Built by L.E.Wilkeson, the new structure was to reflect the "department store idea for the motor car." A parking lot on top with room for 100 cars was finished in April of 1924. G18.1-089; BU14,356 (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 4-29-23, C-1-article)
Wilkeson Garage & Service Station (Tacoma); Automobile service stations--Tacoma--1920-1930; Building construction--Tacoma--1920-1930;
Walker Cut Stone Co. operations. Walker Cut Stone had just completed building a new plant located at 2403 Center St. in 1923. Workers are shown plying their trade on July 16, 1923. Walker Cut Stone supplied the tons of Wilkeson sandstone used in the construction of Olympia's Temple of Justice and its stone would be used in the Bank of California building and the Walker Apartments. The hard surfaced stone was brought in from the Company's quarry near Wilkeson, cut to size with a stone saw, milled into a shape and hand carved into finished shape with ornamentation. Prior to Robert Walker, no one had been able to utilize the hard stone. He designed special tools for cutting the stone. TPL-9101; G33.1-113
Walker Cut Stone Co. (Tacoma); Building materials industry--Tacoma--1920-1930;
Walker Cut Stone Co. Employees of the Walker Cut Stone Co. stand outside their new plant located at 2403 Center St. on August 21, 1923, with samples of their stone work mounted on a Pierce-Arrow commercial truck. The durable sandstone was brought in from the company's quarry near Wilkeson and then cut and formed by workers in Tacoma. TPL-962; G75.1-184; G33.1-120
Walker Cut Stone Co. (Tacoma); Building materials industry--Tacoma--1920-1930; Pierce-Arrow trucks;
Window display - H.D. Baker Co. The H.D. Baker Co. window is filled with materials promoting the new $100 price for the Victor adding and listing machine. Noting that this was the "biggest value $100 ever bought," a free trial and easy payments were promised. The Victor had a capacity of $1,000,000. The H.D. Baker Co., established in 1905, was located downtown on A Street. In addition to the Victor, the firm also sold typewriters. G56.2-171
Circular tank located at Tacoma Gas & Fuel Co. property in the Tideflats on February 14, 1924. Standard Oil Co. plant in the distance. Construction had begun in late 1923 of a new $250,000 plant on 4 1/2 acres on South River Road. The above tank is a 250,000 cubic feet gas tank. The old Tacoma Gas & Fuel plant was to be abandoned next summer upon the connection of mains to the new plant. G35.1-046; TPL-258 (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 10-7-23, 8-E-article; TNT 1-24-24, p. 6-article)
Tacoma Gas & Fuel Co. (Tacoma); Fuel tanks; Storage tanks--Tacoma;
Exterior view of the Water Power Furniture Manufacturing Co., located on Steilacoom Lake, as pictured in March of 1924. The plant was situated on what is approximately 8700 Edgewater Dr. S.W., Lakewood. The firm was listed in the 1917-22 City Directories but not in the following 1923 or 1924 years. Edward C. Hill, president of the manufacturing company, had apparently moved on to the South Tacoma Mill Co. as its secretary/treasurer, per the 1923 City Directory. TPL-2700; G35.1-004
Water Power Furniture Co. (Lakewood); Furniture industry--Lakewood;
Water Power Furniture Manufacturing Co. Situated on the banks of Steilacoom Lake was the Water Power Furniture Manufacturing Co. facility per this March, 1924, photograph. Its approximate address was 8700 Edgewater Dr. S.W., Lakewood. G35.1-012
Water Power Furniture Co. (Lakewood); Furniture industry--Lakewood; Lake Steilacoom (Wash.);
Gig Harbor's Empress Theater, with its unusual "Moorish" architectural style, opened April 12, 1925, with the silent film "Miss Bluebeard" starring Bebe Daniels and Raymond Griffith. Contractor, and later architect, Gaston Lance designed the building which had a capacity of 450. Renamed the Blue Eagle, the theater closed in 1955, and was demolished a few years later. B12219, BU-10013, TPL-3843
Winthrop Hotel. The 2 million dollar+ Winthrop Hotel was nearing completion by the end of March, 1925. Exterior work was finished in January of 1925 and hotel furnishings under way. It would have its much anticipated grand opening celebration in May.
Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Hotels--Tacoma--1920-1930;
On June 22, 1925, Hazel Green, right, and Arline Abel posed boldly in front of the Rialto Theater, clutching pipes in their mouths. They were demonstrating the newest fad, how young ladies were discarding their cigarettes in favor of pipes. The women were performers in the Ziegfeld Follies "Phantograph" advertised on the sign boards. The Follies novelty act preceded the movie and starred six beautiful bathing beauties, a comedian and a German police dog in a live action skit. Each audience member was given an early form of 3-D glasses that brought them up close and personal with the action. Viewers ducked falling ladders and water from the garden hose, screaming and laughing. The act was followed by the feature film "If I Marry Again." (TNT 6/24/1925, pg. 6- picture; TDL 6/21/1925, pg. H-3) g65.1-086 BU-11,224 (filed)
An addition to the industrial facilities located in Tacoma's Tideflats was the Associated Oil Co. plant and offices, built in 1925 for $500,000, under the direction of E.F. Fitzgerald, superintendent of construction. They were located on the waterfront overlooking the City (now Thea Foss) Waterway. View of East "D" St. with smoke billowing from several mills; boat passing by Associated Oil plant. TPL-1348; G9.1-048
Located at 7th & Broadway was the big Wilkeson Garage. The 120-feet by 131-feet concrete building was the largest of its kind on the Pacific Coast. The service station added a top level for parking in April of 1924, a few months after work was completed on the rest of the structure. Wilkeson Garage carried Goodyear Tires, General Gasoline, Watson Stabilators, Wold-Wilkeson Motor Oil. G59.1-026
Wilkeson Garage & Service Station (Tacoma); Automobile service stations--Tacoma--1920-1930;
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
A shining black hearse from the Allen Motor Co. was parked in front of the Mellinger funeral home on April 17, 1931. A black-clad driver is waiting patiently at the wheel of the sleek Studebaker. The C.C. Mellinger Co. colonial-styled mortuary, located at 510 Tacoma Avenue South, was built in 1909 for $65,000 by noted architects Heath & Twichell. The firm was established by Ohio native Charles C. Mellinger who first began on a small scale in Tacoma in 1897. The company grew quickly to become one of the largest in the city. G26.1-135; TPL-1743 Hunt: "Charles C. Mellinger," History of Tacoma, p. 580-582)
This small building and outdoor tanks belonged to the Consolidated Mining Co. who conducted mining operations in Morton. Photograph was taken on May 1, 1931. G75.1-017
Daily mining plant operations in Morton, Washington. This view of Consolidated Mining Co. plant operations was taken on May 1, 1931. Sharp tines appear to be shifting through ore contained in an enormous steel container. G36.1-192
The Tacoma Hotel was the site of a hardware convention in late January of 1932. Participants, all male, posed for a group portrait on the hotel's steps. The Pacific Northwest Hardware & Implement Association met in Tacoma for the first time in its 37 years of existence. The three-day meeting was to discuss hardware trade problems. A.E. Vaughn of Aberdeen was president of the association. G30.1-088 (TNT1-27-32, p. 11-article)
Tacoma Hotel (Tacoma); Meetings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Pacific Northwest Hardware & Implement Association;
Shoppers swarmed the McCormack Bros. department store on February 7, 1932, in hopes of capturing great bargains as the store had just settled with its creditors for 20 cents on the dollar. McCormack Bros. had been in downtown Tacoma for many years and had closed the previous December. It reopened on February 5, 1932, under the name of McCormack's, Inc. The McCormack family was still in control of the business with James McCormack as president and his three sons as associates. (TDL 2-4-32, p. 3-article)
McCormack Bros. Department Store (Tacoma); Department stores--Tacoma--1930-1940; Shopping--Tacoma--1930-1940;
Carstens Packing Co. building as viewed on October 13, 1932; two KMO antennae in sight. Completed in 1931, this $150,000 building housed the executive offices of the company. Despite the nation's economic woes, Carstens continued to do annual business of about 15 million dollars. TPL-5919; G34.1-166 (TDL 2-9-32, C-7-article & alternate photograph)
Carstens Packing Co. (Tacoma); Meat industry--Tacoma--1930-1940; Radio antennas--Tacoma;
An enormous log is being hoisted onto a heavy duty truck using a "spreader bar" (at left) in this June, 1936, photograph. It will be taken to Tacoma to be processed for Peterman Manufacturing Co. This view is of one of Peterman's old White trucks unloading its load at the railhead in Morton. Al Peterman had purchased several old Whites, then completely rebuilt and heavily modified them to be used in his logging operations at Morton. In 1933-34 Mr. Peterman had purchaed 11 sections (7040 acres) from the Northern Pacific Railroad and began logging in late 1934 to provide materials for his Tacoma door plant. Logging operations were finished in Morton in 1940 after 190 million feet of timber were logged. G75.1-056 (Additional information provided by a reader)
One-lane road, curving by forested land. Photograph requested by Peterman Logging (Manufacturing Co.) in June of 1936. Hillside on the right has been decimated of trees. This is a view of Peterman Manufacturing Co.'s main truck road just down the ravine below the trestle in Boland B25874. According to a reader, Mr. Peterman kept his roads in excellent shape to make it easier and faster for his logging trucks. It is said that his trucks could do 50 mph coming down off the hill into Morton which was unheard of at that time. G75.1-064
Spar tree used in Peterman Logging operations in June of 1936. This tall straight tree has had its limbs chopped off and has been topped. It would be used to support cables that would drag the felled timber to where trucks could transport it to mills. Spar trees have since been supplemented by portable steel towers. This view was taken of one of Peterman's landings on top of Peterman Hill near Morton. Next to the spar tree is an 11 x 13 steam yarder ("donkey") yarding logs. Nearby are some of the trucks waiting to be loaded and then transporting logs down the hill to the railhead at Morton. According to a reader, the road to Tacoma was not good enough to transport the logs via trucks in a safe and timely manner, hence the use of rail. G75.1-057 (Additional information provided by a reader)
Peterman Logging operations near Morton in June of 1936. This may be a "skid road," where heavy logs are partially sunken so that felled timber can be dragged over them to a skidway or landing. According to a reader, this is a view of one of Peterman Manufacturing Co.'s truck roads about a mile past the trestle (shown in Boland B25874) to the south of the beaver pond area. The assorted logs in the foreground were part of a bridge under construction. Because the ground was very swampy, the brush was cut down and laid crossways in the roadbed and gravel dumped on top. The road is still there decades later. G75.1-051 (Additional information provided by a reader)
Peterman Logging operations at or near Morton, June of 1936. According to a reader, this photograph shows a "Triple Drum" yarder in action. Unlike earlier models, this vehicle was mobile with tracklaying capability. The caterpillar mounted set of drums could easily maneuver over rough terrain to yard logs out of a ravine or canyon. The logs could then be either yarded with a crawler tractor or directly loaded onto trucks. TPL-9854; G75.1-044 (Additional information provided by a reader)
Employees of the U.S. Bakery posed alongside their fleet of delivery trucks in April of 1923. The bakery had just signed a contract with Sutherland Co., Inc., to operate their trucks only on General Tires. They chose to limit tires only to the General brand despite the fact they had never used them before. Good reports by others on the tires prompted them to do so. The United States Bakery was located at So. I St. and Center St. from 1921 to 1930. Chris Manthou, with partners John Kokotos and John Efandis, operated the wholesale bakery. Manthou remained as president when the Tacoma Bread Company took over operations in 1931. The building was demolished during urban renewal, about 1967. G33.1-010; TPL-909 (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 5-6-23, C-7)
United States Bakery (Tacoma); Bakeries--Tacoma--1920-1930; Trucks--Tacoma--1920-1930; Tires;
