The newly formed Browns Point volunteer fire department tried out their new equipment on one of the Point cottages on March 15, 1925. Their equipment included two portable hose reels, 1,000 feet of 2 1/2 inch double-jacketed hose, two portable chemical tanks and a motor driven siren. Water was available through six hydrants placed at convenient locations in the city. The volunteer fire department included Chief Oscar Brown, Allie Hoska, Fred Schenck, Ed McClure, Jerry Meeker, Will Burrows, Vic Bjorklund, Rolla Gilman, Clint Hull, Bill Wharton, Fred Allstrum, Bob Gleason Jr., Andy Wingard and Bob Gleason Sr. (TNT 3/17/1925, pg. 22) Boland-A7134, TPL-705

Fire fighters--Browns Point; Firefighting equipment--Browns Point;

Work continues on the installation of equipment aboard the new Tacoma Fire Boat No. 1 in June of 1929. One unidentified man is standing on top of a Sterling-Viking gasoline engine carefully monitoring the lowering of what possibly is a pump. After the fire boat's successful launching on June 8th, the vessel was moved to a Port of Tacoma pier where five engines were to be installed as well as four centrifugal pumps. This was Tacoma's first fire boat, officially known as Tacoma Fire Boat No. 1, with a hull of 95 1/2 feet, 21 1/2 beam and 6-foot draft. G26.1-042 (TDL 6-8-29, p. 1-article; Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 6-9-29, p. 1-article)

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

This group of Tacoma firemen may have gathered in support of the Near East relief in December of 1927. Americans were asked to donate one Sunday's meal expenses toward this charitable endeavor. Tacoma had been awarded the title "Golden Rule City of America" in 1926 by virtue of its generous donations. G25.1-094

Fire fighters--Tacoma--1920-1930; Tacoma Fire Department (Tacoma); Eating & drinking--Tacoma--1920-1930;

In October of 1920, Al McCoy, one of the last farriers working in Tacoma posed beside "Big John," the veteran fire horse of the Tacoma Fire Department and one of McCoy's steady customers for 20 years. Mr. McCoy worked at the John A. Andrews Blacksmith Shop, located at 1330-32 Commerce St. "Big John" waited patiently for Mr. McCoy to fit his new shoes. He was no longer needed to pull Tacoma's fire wagons and Mrs. W.R. Rust and the Tacoma Humane Society had narrowly saved him from being sent to a glue factory. (TDL 10/3/1920 p.B-4) G66.1-119

Blacksmiths--Tacoma; McCoy, Al; John A. Andrews Blacksmith Shop (Tacoma); Forge shops--Tacoma; Horses--Tacoma--1920-1930;

This display of fireworks at the 1924 4th of July celebration held in Tacoma's Stadium Bowl fully expressed what the people of Tacoma thought the correct name should be for our mountain. Tacomans waged an ultimately fruitless battle against the name "Mount Rainier" for Pierce County's majestic mountain. Residents insisted that the original Native American name, "Tacoma," be reinstated and references in local newspapers always referred to "Mt. Tacoma." TPL-308; G20.1-032

Fireworks--Tacoma--1920-1930; Celebrations--Tacoma--1920-1930;

ca. 1923. Three members of the Tacoma Fire Department are pictured in this early 1920's photograph with a Tacoma built engine. It is possible that this is the 1910 Seagrave Combination Hose and Chemical wagon attached to the Engine Co. No. 6. The hose wagon was rebuilt in 1922. (Talbot: 100 Years of Firefighting in the City of Destiny Tacoma, Washington, p. 62)

Tacoma Fire Department (Tacoma); Fire engines & equipment--Tacoma;

Firefighters W.C. Harbin (driver) and S.J. Pollard are aboard Engine Company # 6 engine in February of 1924. They staffed the headquarters for the Tacoma Fire Department, located at South 9th & A Streets in downtown Tacoma. Company # 6's pump motor had been built in city shops. In 1924 Tacoma had twelve fire stations and the Fire Department had a staff of 145 employees. (print has been torn) (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 2-17-24, G-1)

Tacoma Fire Department (Tacoma); Fire stations--Tacoma--1920-1930; Fire engines & equipment--Tacoma; Fire fighters--Tacoma--1920-1930; Pollard, S.J.; Harbin, W.C.;

On May 12, 1924, seven Clement Avenue District women received instructions, behind the United Presbyterian Church at So. 66th and Clement Avenue, in handling an emergency fire hose cart.. The South Tacoma women were expected to handle any fires which might occur during the day while the men of the district were at work. The women in the fire brigade were identified in the Tacoma Daily Ledger as: (l to r) Mrs. C.W. Stromberg, Mrs. M. L. Gilbertson, Mrs. George Bates, Miss J. Alstead, Mrs. Frank Mazzini, Mrs. M. Nelson and Mrs. Douglas Price. (TDL 5-13-24, p. 2) TPL-710

Fire fighters--Tacoma; Hoses;

This is Truck Co. No. 2 with their 1913 Seagrave 75-foot aerial in front of Engine House No. 2. The driver was Harry Ketler and tillerman Jim Turner. Others were not identified. The hose tower is in view. Note the planked roadway that is Tacoma Avenue South. St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church is next door to the fire station. (Talbot & Decker: 100 Years of Firefighting, Tacoma, Washington, p. 53)

Tacoma Fire Department (Tacoma); Fire stations--Tacoma--1910-1920; Fire engines & equipment--Tacoma--1910-1920; Fire fighters--Tacoma--1910-1920; St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church (Tacoma);