This wide street was South Union Ave. (later to be known as South Tacoma Way), part of South Tacoma's business district, as viewed in late May of 1924. A few cars are rolling down the street apparently being monitored by a lone traffic policeman in the distance. Flags are flying in honor of Memorial Day. The flags and poles on both sides of the street had been purchased by individual merchants from a company that manufactured them to be of uniform size. The flags were to be dedicated by the South Tacoma merchants on Flag Day. Residents in South Tacoma had ready access to bakeries, drugstores, grocery stores, candy shops and even pool halls on this stretch of South Union, close to South 52nd St. G62.1-005; TPL-2539 (TNT 6-4-24, p. 13)

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1920-1930; Business districts--Tacoma--1920-1930; Flags--United States;

This view is of Broadway at 9th looking south in August of 1924. On the right foreground is a portion of the massive Tacoma Theater building (902-14 Broadway) with new tenant Frank C. Hart & Sons (jewelers) sign and the Electro Dental Parlors (former practice of dentist John Austin). The Colonial Theater (916-18 Broadway) is next, then showing for the second week the movie "The Covered Wagon." The Pythian Temple (924-26 Broadway) and Burnett Brothers jewelry store (932 Broadway) follow. At the end of the block is the Rhodes Brothers Department Store (950 Broadway). On the left side of Broadway several businesses are visible: the Hotel Illington and the McMillan Bros. Drugstore in the Jonathan Smith Bldg. (911-13 Broadway); Lou Johnson (ladies apparel) in the Collier-Hardenberg Bldg (915-17 Broadway); Pierce Hotel (912 1/2 Broadway); and further down the street, the Lewis Brothers clothing store (935-41 Broadway). G59.1-030

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1920-1930; Colonial Theater (Tacoma); Pythian Temple (Tacoma); Tacoma Theater (Tacoma);

This is 11th St. at the bridge looking west as pictured on August 22, 1924. On the left is the Perkins Building at 1101 A Street, Tacoma's first fireproof building; on the right is the Tacoma Building, 1017-21 A Street, home to the Weyerhaeuser Timber Co. The unfinished Scandinavian-American Bank building (later known as the Washington Building) is in the distance also on the right. G57.1-133

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1920-1930; Business districts--Tacoma--1920-1930; Perkins Building (Tacoma); Tacoma Building (Tacoma); Washington Building (Tacoma);

Downtown Tacoma street scene. Not much traffic or people visible at South 11th & A Streets on this spring day in 1920. A streetcar has just made a turn onto A Street from South 11th as it moves past the L. Schoenfeld & Sons store at 105-11 So. 11th. This would be the Schoenfeld furniture store location until 1924 when they would move to the skyscraper at 1423 Pacific Ave. To the left of the photograph is the Federal Building, home of the federal courts (until 1992) and the Main branch of the Post Office. Also on the left is a portion of the towering Puget Sound National Bank building with spire. G57.1-121

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1920-1930; Business districts--Tacoma--1920-1930; Street railroads--Tacoma--1920-1930; L. Schoenfeld & Sons (Tacoma); Federal Building (Tacoma); Puget Sound National Bank (Tacoma);

This is what the South 17th & Broadway & Jefferson area looked like in April of 1920. The 11-year-old Carlton Hotel, with the address of 1552 Jefferson Ave., is in view in the center of the photograph. A juxtaposition of old and new modes of transportation is on the left - a horse-driven cart is next to a modern streetcar. Power lines create geometric designs above. TPL-1363 G59.1-039

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1920-1930; Carlton Hotel (Tacoma); Street railroads--Tacoma--1920-1930;

ca. 1920. In 1920, Pacific Avenue was taking on a new look. Buildings had been demolished and work had begun on William R. Rust's 12 floor Rust building at 950 Pacific Ave. (under construction in this photograph.) Left to right, the buildings are 948 Pacific Ave. - home to Burnside hats on the ground floor and the Dayton Agency upstairs. The Dayton Agency, according to their signage, carried supplies for bicycles and motorcycles and did repairs. Next comes 946 Pacific with Scobey Cigar Co. downstairs and Naubert & Manning English Billiards upstairs. The following building at 942-44 Pacific Ave. included Walk Over Shoes, M&M Hat Store and Phil Friedman Jeweler downstairs with the Peterson & Cooksie Billiard Parlor above. The Shriners must have been in town at the time of the photograph because most of the buildings are decorated with bunting, Shriner emblems and American flags. G61.1-032

Business districts--Tacoma--1920-1930; Rust Building (Tacoma); Burnside Hats (Tacoma); Scobey Cigar Co. (Tacoma); Naubert & Manning Billiards (Tacoma); Walk Over Shoes (Tacoma); M& M Hats (Tacoma); Peterson & Cooksie Billiard Parlor (Tacoma);

Jefferson Avenue near Pacific. A few vehicles, including a Tacoma Power & Rail street car, are captured in motion on Jefferson Avenue in early March of 1921. The stately Hotel Carlton is on the right. TPL-5538; G60.1-075

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1920-1930; Carlton Hotel (Tacoma); Hotels--Tacoma--1920-1930; Mass transit--Tacoma--1920-1930; Electric railroads--Tacoma--1920-1930;

A streetcar climbs Jefferson Avenue as it makes its daily rounds on March 3, 1921. The Wickersham Triangle Building at 1702 Jefferson Avenue is to the far left; it was demolished in 1936. To the right of the Wickersham is the Hotel Carlton, 1552 Jefferson, now known as the Carlton Center. It was built in 1909 by Anton Huth, based on a design by C.A. Darmer, Architect. In the far background is the skyline of the 1500 block of Pacific Ave., much of which has been demolished. This curving intersection is one of the few sections of road in downtown Tacoma that resembles the unique street plan for Tacoma created by Frederick Law Olmstead; the design was rejected as impractical. G60.1-078;

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1920-1930; Carlton Hotel (Tacoma); Hotels--Tacoma; Mass transit--Tacoma--1920-1930; Electric railroads--1920-1930;

This is the view that one would see in February of 1922 of St. Helens Avenue near 7th St. looking south. The YMCA is the tall building on the right at 7th & Market. Streetcar tracks ran down the middle of the road which was not paved with smooth asphalt but more of a brick-like substance. On the left (or east) side of the street was the building housing the News Tribune and Tacoma Daily Ledger newspapers. The papers were published independently and seemed to exist harmoniously. The Daily Ledger would go out of business 15 years later. G61.1-170 TPL-10213

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1920-1930; Business districts--Tacoma--1920-1930; Tacoma News Tribune Publishing Co. (Tacoma); Street railroad tracks--Tacoma--1920-1930; Young Men's Christian Association (Tacoma);

Tacoma street scene. This is the intersection of South 56th St. and South Tacoma Way (then known as South Union Ave.), one of the area's prime business districts, as seen in March of 1922. North Pacific Bank is at the left. Northern Pacific's South Tacoma Shops were a short distance away at 52nd & South Proctor. The South Tacoma community was a thriving area containing restaurants, garages, theaters, hotels, grocery stores, real estate and other professional enterprises. TPL-2538; G62.1-003

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1920-1930; Business districts--Tacoma--1920-1930; North Pacific Bank (Tacoma);

Both pedestrian and cars are blurred as this view of 17th & Pacific looking north was captured on May 8, 1922. This section of Pacific had at least two hotels visible with a third, the Japanese-owned Hotel Rector, on Broadway. The Savoy Hotel on the right was listed in the 1922 City Directory as being on 1535 1/2 Pacific Ave. and owned/operated by B. Bertleson. On the left side was the Hotel Lewis at 1522 Pacific Ave., owned by the Hotel Operating Co. of Seattle. There rooms advertised as "new and modern" could be had for as little as $1.00. The Hotel Rector, far left of the photograph, was listed at 1541 Broadway and owned by K. Nakatsukasa. Rooms were available for 50 cents and up. At the time, there were several other downtown hotels owned by Japanese, including the Madison Hotel, Central Hotel, Hotel Victoria, and the Hotel Dewey. TPL-5550

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1920-1930; Hotels--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Exterior of 7517 Dowerwood Lane SW, Lakewood, the estate of John and Rose Dower.

Dower, John--Homes & haunts; Estates--Lakewood;

View of curving road in Gig Harbor, taken on October 31, 1927, for court evidence. This street has now been identified as Harborview by a reader with the nearest cross street as Novak. The small house below street level has been identified as once belonging to the Jerkovich family and is no longer there. The house on the extreme left with car parked outside was the Ancich home. The house on the extreme right belongs to the Allen/Dupelle families. The vacant property in the middle is now known as the Burton/Steele property and was once owned by another Ancich family. (Information provided by a reader)

Streets--Gig Harbor; Houses--Gig Harbor--1920-1930;

Judge and Mrs. O.S. Galbreath gathered with their extended family on October 8, 1928, on the occasion of the couple's 60th wedding anniversary. They are posed on the front steps of the Galbreath family home at 4604 Yakima Avenue South. The five young people in the front row are probably part of the 18 grand or four great-grandchildren of Judge and Mrs. Galbreath. Judge and Mrs. Galbreath are Tennessee natives who have resided in Tacoma for sixteen years. He practiced law in both Nashville and later in Durango, Colorado. G1.1-074 (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 10-14-28, 8-D-article & alternate photograph)

Galbreath, O.S.; Galbreath, O.S.--Family; Galbreath, O.S.--Homes & haunts; Anniversaries--Tacoma--1920-1930; Families--Tacoma--1920-1930;

This house and surrounding structures near the Seattle highway was photographed on October 13, 1928, for court evidence. The yard next to the buildings is filled with tall grass. G28.1-061

Houses--1920-1930;

Parked outside the John Gallucci residence of 516 North "M" St. on April 29, 1930, was a new Cord courtesy of Remmert Motor Co. Miss Florence Gallucci is behind the wheel; she was the first woman in Tacoma to drive a Cord front-drive. Miss Gallucci is the daughter of John Gallucci, local contractor. This is the second car purchased by Mr. Gallucci from Remmert Motors, distributors of Auburns and Cords. G11.1-036 (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 5-4-30, E-5-alternate photograph)

Gallucci, John--Homes & haunts; Gallucci, Florence; Automobiles--Tacoma--1930-1940;

The four-story brick and tile building in the foreground is the Roosevelt Apartments, as pictured in late July of 1930. Built in late 1929, the $125,000 structure was designed by architects Lundberg, Mahon & Ekvall and had a Philippine mahogany interior. Behind the Roosevelt is the Lauan Apartments, 818 So. 11th St., which was built in 1925 on behalf of John Buffelen and furnished with Tacoma-made products. The Lauan had its own grocery store on the bottom level and also had mahogany interiors. BU-10,440

Apartment houses--Tacoma--1930-1940; Roosevelt Apartments (Tacoma); Lauan Apartments (Tacoma);

One of Tacoma's busier intersections in 1931 was North 1st St. and Tacoma Avenue North. The San Clare Cafe (at left) featured everything from cigars to candy and Medosweet ice cream. Further down Tacoma Avenue North was the Supreme Cleaners & Dyers. Across the street was the Davis & Hollingsworth retail furniture concern at 20 Tacoma Avenue North. The First Presbyterian Church, a beautiful example of Romanesque architecture, rises high above the street at 20 Tacoma Avenue South. TPL-1605; G62.1-064

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1930-1940; Streets--Tacoma--1930-1940; San Clare Cafe (Tacoma); Supreme Cleaners & Dyers (Tacoma); Davis & Hollingsworth (Tacoma); First Presbyterian Church (Tacoma);

Tacoma Railway & Power Co. requested photographs be taken of the North 41st & Cheyenne Sts. area in late December of 1936. According to information noted on the print, the view is of "center No. 41st St. 81 ft. west from property line." North 41st appears to have been a gravel road in the north end of Tacoma with houses on both sides of the street. The church steeple up the street is believed to be part of the Bethany Presbyterian Church, 4420 N. 41st St. G57.1-043

Residential streets--Tacoma--1930-1940; Streets--Tacoma--1930-1940;

A wet, overcast day lends to this tranquil view of Sixth Avenue, looking west from Prospect Street, in February of 1923. The Sunset Theater, at left, was built in 1919 by Louis Perunko. It is now occupied by Speedy Auto Glass. The Red Cross Drug Store and F. C. Jonas Hardware occupied the building at the right. Several children on bicycles pause on the wet roadway while three men and a small boy huddle near the awning of the drugstore. G57.1-067; TPL-1797;

Sunset Theater (Tacoma); Red Cross Drug Store (Tacoma); F.C. Jonas Hardware (Tacoma); Bicycles & tricycles--Tacoma; Street railroad tracks--Tacoma;

This unidentified home was photographed by Marvin Boland in March of 1923, one of a series of homes taken on the same day throughout what was probably Tacoma. The large wood frame house had a second story balcony facing the front of the home and a lattice with climbing plants nearly covering one of the sides. The building was situated on a corner lot.

Houses--1920-1930; Trellises;

Bustling downtown street scene. This is 11th St. looking east near Broadway as it appeared in January of 1924. Pedestrians scurry across the road aided by the helpful policeman holding the "Stop" sign before the few cars. It apparently was a dry, sunny day with no umbrellas in sight. Some of the business district's notable buildings are in view: the Fidelity Building, the Rust Building, and the unfinished Scandinavian-American Bank building (later completed and named the Washington Building) on the left with the Stone-Fisher (name changed the following year to Fisher Co.) Department Store on the right foreground. The 11th St. Bridge (name changed later to honor Murray Morgan) is in the far background. G57.1-141

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1920-1930; Business districts--Tacoma--1920-1930; Fidelity Building (Tacoma); Rust Building (Tacoma); Fishers Department Store (Tacoma); 11th Street Bridge (Tacoma);

House on South Ainsworth Avenue. This home was probably located in the Central Park addition of Tacoma and may have been built by the M.W.F. Wallace Co. It appears to be a simple, bungalow-style home with fireplace and located on a corner lot. There is a small building in the rear, either a one-car garage or storage unit. G29.1-055

Houses--Tacoma--1920-1930;

City Center skyline. This photograph, taken on April 13, 1925 from the Puget Sound National Bank Bldg. at 1117-19 Pacific Avenue, gives the viewer a good look at the massive office buildings located in the downtown commercial district. The building on the right with scaffolding is the Washington Building whose much-delayed construction would finally be completed and the building opened in July of 1925. Next to the Washington Building is the Rust Building (950 Pacific) designed by architects Sutton, Whitney & Dugan. Its neighbor is the Fidelity Building (949-55 Broadway). The last building on the extreme left is the Rhodes Brothers Department Store at 950 Broadway. Directly across the street from the Rust Building is the Equitable Building (1102-04 Pacific) which housed at that time the Pacific Savings & Loan Assoc. with Crown Drug Co. at one corner.

Business districts--Tacoma--1920-1930; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1920-1930; Washington Building (Tacoma); Rust Building (Tacoma); Fidelity Building (Tacoma); Rhodes Brothers Department Store (Tacoma); Puget Sound National Bank (Tacoma);

View looking up Saint Helens Ave. This photograph was taken from the top of the Winthrop Hotel, 773 Broadway, on May 15, 1925, the day before its grand opening. The view is of Saint Helens Avenue, just beyond the Bostwick Block (755-71 Saint Helens), the triangular shaped building next to the Winthrop. Visible businesses included the Montelius Music House (736 Saint Helens), the Gilliam & Steven Motor Co. (735 Saint Helens -street renamed Court C), and the Caswell Optical Co.(752-66 Saint Helens), on the far left edge. In the distance at the far left is Central School. G8.1-013

Business districts--Tacoma--1920-1930; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1920-1930; Central School (Tacoma); Montelius Music House (Tacoma); Gilliam & Steven Motor Co. (Tacoma); Caswell Optical Co. (Tacoma);

This view of South 9th Street looking west from the corner of Broadway and Saint Helens was taken on May 15, 1925 from the top of the Winthrop Hotel. At the bottom left is a part of the old Tacoma Theater. The ornate white building on the same side of 9th is the Rialto Theater, 310 So. 9th. Up the street is the First Baptist Church at 902 Market Street with its bell tower still under construction. On the north side of 9th is the Caswell Optical building, 752-66 St. Helens, in the foreground, followed by the white Exley Apartments at 309 So. 9th, originally the oldest existing house in Tacoma and later converted into apartments. The taller Rhodes Apartments, 311 So. 9th (now the Rialto Apartments), are next. Rising in the background are the Gothic towers of the Pierce County Courthouse, left, and the Central School building, right. G57.1-101

Business districts--Tacoma--1920-1940; Tacoma Theatre (Tacoma); Rialto Theatre (Tacoma); First Baptist Church (Tacoma); Caswell Optical Co. (Tacoma); Exley Apartments (Tacoma); Rhodes Apartments (Tacoma); Rialto Apartments (Tacoma);

View of two homes on an unidentified street in the Regents Park community taken during late summer in 1925. The house in the center with unusual porch belonged to Dr. and Mrs. J.A. Caswell, owners of Caswell Optical Co. Regents Park would become the Town of Fircrest in September of 1925. It had been developed by investors including Major Edward J. Bowes as a planned community back in 1907 whereby streets, sidewalks, roads and sewer systems were improved and installed. Regents Park was small in acreage and mostly residential. Homes like these two Colonial-style houses were substantial and well-maintained. G72.1-113

Houses--Fircrest--1920-1930; Caswell, J.A.--Homes & haunts; Regents Park (Fircrest);

This section of Broadway near South 7th Street was "Auto Row" in September of 1925 with several automobile dealerships located side-by-side. L-R were: Griffith Motor Company selling Dodge Brothers motor cars; Mueller-Harkins Motor Company, a Buick dealer; Arthur Bryan Motor Company, a Chevrolet dealership and Richardson Motor Company, the Cleveland & Chandler dealership. Most, if not all, also had used car departments. TPL-1731; G59.1-025

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1920-1930; Griffith Motor Co. (Tacoma); Mueller-Harkins Motor Co. (Tacoma); Arthur Bryan Motor Co. (Tacoma); Richardson Motor Co. (Tacoma); Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Its grass grown tall on the front lawn, this Colonial/American Foursquare styled home located at 2121 North Fife St. was being offered as a forced sale at a price of $3,700 in 1925. The two-story home had a second-story balcony, dormer and four bedrooms and bath. The ground floor had a large front room, dining room, library and kitchen. A full basement contained a fireplace for the billiard room. It had been built around 1911 for Marvel Watson. Interested buyers could contact Hellar, Lyon & Co. G29.1-022; BU10,296 (TDL 8-20-25, p. 9-ad)

Houses--Tacoma--1920-1930;

This is 11th & Broadway looking south in early 1926. Cars are parked on both sides of the street while streetcars and a small 6th Ave. bus share the road. On the left side of the street is one of the McMillan Bros. drugstores. Besides being a pharmacy, the McMillan Bros. also sold Brunswick and Victor phonographs and Wurlitzer pianos. Among the establishments on the right side of the photograph is the Feist & Bachrach department store (1114-20 Broadway); the site would later become the J.C. Penney Co. department store. Photograph ordered by Foster & Kleiser. TPL-1582; G59.1-033

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1920-1930; Business districts--Tacoma--1920-1930; Street railroads--Tacoma--1920-1930; Street railroad tracks--Tacoma--1920-1930; McMillan Brothers (Tacoma); Feist & Bachrach (Tacoma);