Nine little "sailors" and one "Gallant Lady" are at hand on November 7, 1937. The "Gallant Lady" was a Sea Scouts vessel. The little children, dressed in sailor suits, are listening to a man who is explaining charts to them. According to photographer Boland's notes, these children were dancers. G23.1-115

Boats--Tacoma--1930-1940; Children--Tacoma--1930-1940;

St. Regis' floating log dump as viewed in early May of 1937. Docked nearby is the Japanese vessel, "Gyokoh Marudairen." In the distance are prominent city structures: the towers of City Hall, Pierce County Courthouse, and Central School and the Art-Deco styled Medical Arts Building. The floating logs will eventually be pulped and the product shipped via water to St. Regis' eastern paper mills and exported to foreign countries, including Japan. Japan was St. Regis' best customer at 35,000 tons annually. G37.1-010 (T.Times 1-27-37, p. 1-article on St. Regis)

Logs; Cargo ships--Japanese; Shipping--Tacoma--1930-1940; Cityscapes;

The schooner "Commodore," the last of the offshore sailing fleet in regular service on the Puget Sound, was photographed in September of 1936 while taking on a load of lumber at one of the mills in Tacoma. She was built in 1919 by the J.H. Price Construction Company, a Lake Washington shipyard, and by 1935 the wooden four masted schooner had fallen on hard times. In 1937 she was operating in Alaska as the Iniskin. She met her end in 1942. She was towed to South America and broken up for lumber to build houses. ("Marine History of the Pacific Northwest" H.W. McCurdy) G50.1-118, TPL-5845

Sailing ships; Shipping--Tacoma--1930-1940;

The "Infallible," an 86-foot diesel cannery tender, was launched on June 19, 1936 at Western Boat. An unidentified woman, in a long floral -patterned gown and dark hat, was the sponsor of the event. She is pictured holding a bouquet of assorted blossoms as she reaches to officially launch the vessel. G37.1-133

Launchings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Boats--Tacoma; Canneries; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1930-1940;

On April 1, 1933, the flagship of the Imperial Japanese fleet and another Japanese naval training ship arrived in Tacoma for a three day visit. The flagship Yakumo and the Iwate were moored at the Port of Tacoma Piers. The ships were open for tours on Saturday and Sunday drawing large crowds. Over 1500 officers and men were on the two ships and were released for leave in Tacoma. Just eight years later, with the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7,1941, Japan and the United States were at war. TPL-9080. Boland A11023. (TNT 4/1/1933, pg. 1; 4/3/1933, pg. 1)

Battleships--Japan; Sailors--Japan;

Japanese cruiser, probably either the Idzumo (sp) or the Iwate, at dock in Tacoma. Crowds gather to board the ship. Photograph was taken on September 6, 1932. TPL-7102

Cruisers (Warships)--Japan--1930-1940; Piers & wharves--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Crew from Japanese cruiser, probably either the Idzumo (sp) or the Iwate, meet with a delegation from the local Japanese community on the deck of their ship in Tacoma. Photograph taken on September 6, 1932. TPL-7101

Cruisers (Warships)--Japan--1930-1940; Japanese Americans--Tacoma; Japanese--Tacoma;

S. Shumate & Sons of Olympia lined up a small fleet of Kenworth trucks plus a trailer while in Tacoma on April 18, 1932. The trucking firm's drivers carried along a small dog as a passenger in truck #4. Photograph ordered by Tacoma Kenworth. G66.2-103

Trucks--1930-1940; S. Shumate & Sons (Olympia); Dogs--Tacoma--1930-1940;

A longshoreman keeps a careful eye on cargo being unloaded from a ship docked at the Port of Tacoma in November of 1931. G50.1-009

Shipping--Tacoma--1930-1940; Longshoremen--Tacoma--1930-1940; Hoisting machinery;

The USS West Virginia at anchor in Commencement Bay in July of 1931. The ship, under command of Rear Admiral R.H. Leigh, was in town to participate in Fleet Week. The battleship had been commissioned in 1923 and was the most recent of the "super-dreadnoughts." She would be heavily damaged during the attack on Pearl Harbor but was completely rebuilt at the Puget Sound Navy Yard in Bremerton. Although missing much of the war, the West Virginian would still earn five battle stars. She was decommissioned in January of 1947. (www.usswestvirginia.org; TDL 6-30-31, p. 5-article) G71.007

Battleships--1930-1940; Commencement Bay (Wash.);

In July of 1931, passengers on the Washington Navigation Company ferry "Skansonia" could climb onto a stool and order a fried ham sandwich for 15 cents as they commuted between Gig Harbor and Point Defiance. The "Skansonia" was built in 1929 at the Skansie Brothers Shipyard in Gig Harbor. The curved lunch counter on the ferry offered a fried egg for 15 cents; or a Swiss cheese sandwich, hamburger or hotdog for 10 cents. You could top off your breakfast or lunch with a slice of homemade pie for a dime and wash it down with coffee, cold milk or pop. On hot days, the kiddies could enjoy a frozen Popsicle or a malted milk shake. (Neal & Janus "Puget Sound Ferries.") TPL-9261; G66.1-090

Ferries--1930-1940; Washington Navigation Co. (Gig Harbor);

In 1931, the Foss Launch & Tug Company operated the largest fleet of tugs on the Puget Sound out of their waterfront office building at 400 Dock Street. This photograph from July of 1931 shows twelve Foss tugs (and a small service boat) lined up by size next to the company's office building. The largest tug, at the far left, is the Andrew Foss, 97 feet long, built in 1905. The smallest tug, at the far right next to the service boat, is the Peggy Foss, 32 feet long, built in 1912. On Monday November 23, 1931 a fire destroyed the Foss company offices. They rebuilt at the same site, but in 1943 they moved to the Middle Waterway. TPL-7092

Foss Launch & Tug Co. (Tacoma); Tugboats--Tacoma--1930-1940

Line of Foss tugboats, from big to small, next to dock. TPL-7093, TPL-9073

Foss Launch & Tug Co. (Tacoma); Tugboats--Tacoma--1930-1940;

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)

C.C. Mellinger Funeral Directors (Tacoma); Morgues & mortuaries--Tacoma--1930-1940; Hearses--Tacoma--1930-1940; Studebaker automobile;

In November of 1930, the Washington Navigation Co. (WNC) ferry "Relief," shown above docked at Gig Harbor, was one of several ferries owned by the company plying the waters of the Puget Sound. She had been launched on July 17, 1930, at Skansie Shipbuilding in Gig Harbor. The "Relief" was 72-feet long with a 32-foot beam and 85 hp diesel engine. Befitting her name, she was used as a relief ship when other ferries were laid up for repairs. The Washington Navigation Co. was founded by Mitchell Skansie of Skansie Shipbuilding around 1926. When Pierce County could no longer afford to run its own ferry service to Gig Harbor, the service was contracted out to WNC. By the 1930's, the company had several ferries running on many routes in the South Sound. The company was almost ruined by the Great Depression and the opening of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge in 1940. When the bridge collapsed a scant seven months after construction, the ferry runs were restored and WNC began a bidding war with Puget Sound Navigation Co. for state ferry contracts. (Neal & Janus "Puget Sound Ferries"; TNT 7-17-30, p. 5-article) G66.1-089

Ferries--1930-1940; Washington Navigation Co. (Gig Harbor);

A Coast Airlines Flying Service aircraft is on the ground at a Tacoma airport in June of 1930. Coast Airlines provided service to Seattle and Everett. Mount Rainier (or "Tacoma" as referred to by locals) is prominently featured in the background. Standard Used Car Market used this plane, or a similar Coast Airlines aircraft, in their promotion of a free scenic 15-minute ride for every car sold over $100. TPL-5031; G12.1-047 (Ad-TNT 6-10-30, p. 18)

Airplanes--Tacoma--1930-1940; Rainier, Mount (Wash.);

Members of the Girls' Corner Club of Tacoma pose with the pilot of this biplane located at the Mueller-Harkins Field in early May of 1930. The Corner Club was a women's support and social group, an off-shoot of the club originating in British Columbia in 1917. Eleanor Renstrom (seated in plane) and Dorothy Allen (outside) experienced a trial flight with Washington Aeronautical Corporation pilot George Fisher before the girls made the actual flight to Olympia to scatter flowers over a white birch tree to be planted by club members on the grounds of the executive mansion. The white birch is the official Washington State mothers' tree. G12.1-036 (TNT 5-10-30, p. 12)

Biplanes--Tacoma--1930-1940; Girls' Corner Club of Tacoma (Tacoma); Renstrom, Eleanor; Allen, Dorothy; Fisher, George; Air pilots--Tacoma;

Two planes, one much smaller than the other, at an unidentified field the day after Christmas, 1929. The larger plane, a biplane, has tarp covering the open pilot cockpit and passenger seating. Photograph ordered by Tacoma Airways. G12.1-027

Airplanes--1920-1930;

A City Fuel truck with a load of wood is third in line as this October 14, 1929, photograph was taken on an unidentified street. Sandwiched between the small City Fuel truck and a heavy-duty truck from the company is a large cement mixer. The mixer is on a trailer being hauled by the heavy-duty truck. Photograph ordered by City Fuel Co., 1947 Jefferson Ave. TPL-3669; G43.1-180

City Fuel Co. (Tacoma); Trucks--Tacoma--1920-1930; Fuel trade--Tacoma--1920-1930; Concrete mixers--Tacoma;

Standing beneath this biplane's propeller on October 12, 1929, are four unidentified individuals. Both women and one man are wearing aviation headgear and goggles. The plane is marked "Bergersen-Sherman." An alternate photograph ran in the November 14, 1929, Tacoma Times indicating that these four flying enthusiasts recently soloed at Mueller-Harkins Airport. Unfortunately, their names were not listed but their occupations were given as "tugboat man," "auto man," school teacher and doctor's assistant. TPL-8074; G12.1-008 (T.Times 11-14-29, p. 2)

Biplanes; Airplanes; Airline industry;

Docked at Shaffer Terminal #2 on September 25, 1929, was the "Bellingham" of the Tacoma Oriental Line. She appears to be in the process of loading large logs. The "Bellingham" departed on September 28th bound for South China and the Philippines. G49.1-061 (TNT 9-25-29, p. 18-small article on ship)

Cargo ships--Tacoma--1920-1930; Shipping--Tacoma--1920-1930; Logs;

Storefront window featuring Plymouth accolades. On August 23, 1929, the large glass window of this automobile dealership was plastered with complimentary remarks about the smooth performance of Plymouth cars. The dealership welcomed passersby to stop and read what people had to say about the Chrysler Motors product. Photograph ordered by A. H. McConnell, Plymouth distributor in Tacoma and Pierce County. He also represented the Dodge Bros. line. The Plymouth agency and Dodge Bros. agency were once under the same roof but the Plymouth agency had recently moved to separate quarters adjacent to its former home. (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 8-18-29, 4-E-article on Plymouth distributorship)

Plymouth automobile; Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1920-1930; Window displays--Tacoma--1920-1930; Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1920-1930;

On August 12, 1929, men and women connected with Tacoma Airways aviation school lined up in front of two biplanes at the Mueller-Harkins airport with several automobiles further down the row. A Richfield service station is in the distance. TPL-532; G12.1-001

Tacoma Airways (Tacoma); Airline industry; Vocational education--Tacoma--1920-1930; Biplanes--Tacoma--1920-1930; Airplanes--Tacoma--1920-1930; Automobiles--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Parked directly in front of the Boland photography studios on August 6, 1929, was a gleaming black Washington Cooperative Egg & Poultry Association truck. Per the advertising on the truck, the co-op's eggs went directly from the farm to customers. G6.1-093

Trucks--Tacoma--1920-1930; Washington Co-op Egg & Poultry Association (Tacoma); Boland The Photographer (Tacoma); Photographic studios--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Theatrical performers, the Maylon Players, pose with a new Reo Flying Cloud from the Winthrop Motor Co. on June 19, 1929. The car silently appeared on the Heilig Theater stage while the actors were rehearsing and they could not resist remarking about its fine features. They are: Maurice Penborn (on car), Will Maylon at the wheel, Joyce Booth (in car), Margaret Nixon, Paul Bardsley, Caroline Edwards and Arthur Siegrist, seated. G11.1-060 (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 9-23-29, 8E)

Reo automobile; Maylon Players (Tacoma); Actors--Tacoma--1920-1930; Winthrop Motor Co. (Tacoma); Penborn, Maurice; Maylon, Will; Booth, Joyce; Nixon, Margaret; Bardsley, Paul; Edwards, Caroline; Siegrist, Arthur;

This is one of five Sterling-Viking gasoline engines installed on the new Tacoma Fire Boat No. 1. Tacoma Fire Boat No. 1 was successfully launched on June 8, 1929, from the plant of the Coast Line Shipbuilding Co. Hundreds had gathered to witness the launching of the speedy and powerful boat where an absence of speeches and brevity of ceremony marked the occasion. Tacoma Fire Boat No. 1 had a 95 1/2 foot hull, beam of 21 1/2 feet and a 6-foot draft. (TDL 6-8-29, p. 1-article; Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 6-9-29, p. 1-article) G26.1-041

Boat engines; Fireboats--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Two unidentified men are gazing upon the operating equipment aboard the new Tacoma Fire Boat No. 1, recently launched and now undergoing installation of five gasoline engines and four pumps. Once operational, the vessel could generate speeds of 18 mph and be able to throw out 10,000 gallons of water per minute. Tacoma's waterfront could be assured that help would come quickly in case of fires. G26.1-040 (TDL 6-8-29, p. 1-article; Tacoma Sunday Ledger 6-9-29, p. 1-article)

Boat engines; Fireboats--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Three unidentified men stand inside the Tacoma Fire Boat No. 1, Tacoma's first fire boat, on June 10, 1929. The vessel had been successfully christened with ginger ale by Mrs. Dyer Dyment on June 8th and launched smoothly from the Coast Line Shipbuilding Co. plant. Shortly after launching the fire boat was moved to the Port of Tacoma piers where five gasoline engines were to be installed. Once operational, the fire boat would have speeds up to 18 mph and would be capable of issuing 10,000 gallons of water per minute from four centrifugal pumps. (TDL 6-8-29, p. 1-article; Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 6-9-29, p. 1-article) TPL-9899; G26.1-039

Boat engines; Fireboats--Tacoma--1920-1930;

A tanker out of San Francisco, believed to be the "Tulsagas," is moored at the Associated Oil Co. terminal along the City (now Thea Foss) Waterway on May 29, 1929. She was making her first visit to Tacoma in nearly three years, this time to discharge a cargo of oil and gasoline. The air is hazy with smoke billowing from the many lumber and industrial plants in the Tideflats. Adjacent to the Associated Oil plant are Shell holding tanks and those of the Union Oil Co. TPL-5891; G49.1-048 (TNT 5-29-29, p. 14-small article on the "Tulsagas")

Tankers; Cargo ships--Tacoma--1920-1930; Associated Oil Co. (Tacoma); Petroleum industry--Tacoma--1920-1930; Piers & wharves--Tacoma--1920-1930; Storage tanks--Tacoma--1920-1930; City Waterway (Tacoma); Smoke--Tacoma;

Standard Fuel Co. recently added the Model A Ford truck and the Ford coupe shown above to their fleet of vehicles. The firm's proprietors, Bernard F. and R.B. Christian, purchased the vehicles from Leonard's, a South Tacoma Ford dealer. Their sister Mary, a bookkeeper for the company, posed between the two Fords on May 17, 1929. She is in the industrial Tideflats around E. 11th St., near Standard Fuel operations. Photograph ordered by Leonard's of South Tacoma, authorized dealers of Ford and Fordson. TPL-2693; G35.1-071 (T.Times, 5-25-29, p. 20)

Ford automobile; Ford trucks; Christian, Mary; Standard Fuel Co. (Tacoma);