In September of 1924 the Sprague Building and its extension took up the whole block between South 15th Street and South 17th on the east side of Pacific Avenue. Built in 1888, the original Sprague Building was home to the Hotel Savoy in the 1920s when this photograph was taken. Later it was home to many businesses including the Croft Hotel in the 1930s, the Lutheran Welfare Mission & Service Club in the 1940s and the Full Gospel Tabernacle in the 1960s. It was torn down in the late 1960s. The Sprague Building Annex, now simply known as the Sprague Building, still stands at the corner of South 15th and Pacific. It is listed on both the city and national registers of historic buildings. Boland B10931, BU-10735;

Hotel Savoy (Tacoma); Hotels--Tacoma--1920-1930;

The usherettes at the Colonial Theater, 916-18 Broadway, wore gingham dresses for the opening on February 28,1920 of the silent version of "Pollyanna" starring Mary Pickford. A slightly different version of this photograph appeared in the March 3rd News Tribune; the girls are believed to be (l to r) Edna Fitzmaurice, Fern Chantler (the theater cashier), Nellie Mason, Rosa Fair, Lillian Buth, Stella Church, and Ruth Harkness. Mary Pickford was 27 when she played the film's 12 year old title character; the picture grossed one million dollars for United Artists, the film company owned by D.W. Griffith, Charlie Chaplin, Mary Pickford and her husband Douglas Fairbanks. The Colonial Theater was designed by Roland Borhek, architect, and opened in 1914. It was demolished in 1988. (TNT 3/3/1920 p.9) TPL-5877, BU-10014, Boland-B2760

Colonial Theater (Tacoma); Motion picture theaters--Tacoma--1920-1930; Ushers--Tacoma--1920-1930; Motion picture industry--1920-1930;

First aid teams from various Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Co. departments are pictured on May 19, 1924, at the Odd Fellows Hall. Maintenance from Aberdeen, outside repairmen, cable splicers, construction, installers and central office repairmen were represented. G64.1-005

Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Co. (Tacoma)--Employees;

Western Union employees enjoyed a picnic and ball game in Centralia in July of 1924. Several young men have a prime view of all activities as they have scrambled atop a nearby roof. A batter waits patiently for his chance to belt one into the distance. G78.1-090

Western Union Telegraph Co.--Employees; Baseball players--Centralia;

On May 8, 1920, six employees of the Postal Telegraph Cable Company at 1105 A Street were mounted on their bicycles and ready to deliver messages to local businesses and residents. The messengers are all dressed in uniform including caps. The man standing in the doorway of the firm is possibly L.L. Craft, manager. The Postal Telegraph Cable Co. was located across the street from the Federal Building whose reflection can be spotted on the large store window.

Postal Telegraph Cable Co. (Tacoma); Messengers--Tacoma; Bicycles & tricycles--Tacoma--1920-1930; Cyclists--Tacoma; Delivery boys--Tacoma;

Jewelers at work at Mahncke & Co. By 1920, Mahncke & Co. had been in business at 914 Pacific Avenue for ten years. The pioneer jewelry firm, established in 1883, was owned and operated by Franz, William G., and Louis A. Mahncke. In 1923 the store would move a short distance away to 919 Broadway where it would remain for decades. Mahncke & Co. would be taken over by Friedlanders in 1956.

Mahncke & Co. (Tacoma); Jewelry stores--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Silver display at Mahncke's. Rows of sterling silver and silver plate vases, tea sets, plates, trays and coffee pots were attractively displayed at pioneer jewelers, Mahncke & Co., in November of 1920. Mahncke & Co. was located at 914 Pacific Avenue. Established in 1883, it was "The Store That Quality Built." (TNT Ad -11-5-20, p. 4)

Mahncke & Co. (Tacoma); Jewelry stores--Tacoma--1920-1930; Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1920-1930; Tableware;

In 1921, Brown & Haley was still marketing their candy under the name of Oriole Chocolates. They dipped their chocolate by hand. Female workers are pictured in September of 1921, dressed in spotless white dresses and matching hats, but without gloves. Each woman has one hand covered in chocolate, as she rolls the center piece in chocolate and places it on a tray to dry. G33.1-141; TPL-8700

Oriole Chocolates (Tacoma); Candy--Tacoma; Chocolate industry--Tacoma--1920-1930; Brown & Haley (Tacoma);

Candy manufacturing in 1921 at Brown & Haley. At this time, their candy was still marketed under the name of Oriole Candies. A number of workers pose in the factory. The women are dressed in pristine white dresses and matching hats, the men wear clean white aprons, but none of the workers wear gloves. The front group is gathered around an early assembly line. The candy comes down the belt where it is loaded by hand into trays. A woman with a dolly takes the trays away. It is unclear what the group in the back is doing, although the man on the right stands behind some kind of a vat. All Orioles candies at this time were made by hand. G33.1-140

Oriole Chocolates (Tacoma); Candy--Tacoma; Chocolate industry--Tacoma--1910-1920; Brown & Haley (Tacoma);

Candy making at Brown and Haley in September of 1921. The female workers are dressed in spotless white dresses, some with matching hats, but no gloves. They are working with the candy with their bare hands. The women in the back are possibly either wrapping medium size tubes of a harder candy, such as toffee or caramel, or unwrapping them and slicing them into nougats. The woman in the front is dipping something into a stainless steel pot beside her. A fan on the left cools her work. The chocolate covered candies to the right are possibly the finished product. G33.1-133

Oriole Chocolates (Tacoma); Candy--Tacoma; Chocolate industry--Tacoma--1910-1920; Brown & Haley (Tacoma);

April, 1922, view of one end of a large boiler, manufactured by the Birchfield Boiler Co., 2503 E. 11th St. The company had opened at this Tideflats site in March of 1921 and was run by H.E. Warren, President, and E.E. Birchfield, Vice-President. They built steel heating boilers and performed welding and boiler repairs. Birchfield boilers were in heavy demand in 1922. The company had been receiving orders at the rate of one per day since May 1st and the plant was forced to put on a double shift to handle the demand. Later they would expand into building steel ships. G36.1-136 (TDL 6-26-22, p. 6-article)

Birchfield Boiler, Inc. (Tacoma); Boilers; Boiler industry--Tacoma;

Dill pickle display at Skaggs-Safeway Market #277. In 1927 Skaggs-Safeway Market #277 was located at South 12th & "K" (now Martin Luther King Jr. Way) Sts. The store was promoting its second carload of Dill Pickles at 25 cents a dozen. Shoppers could pick and choose among hundreds of juicy pickles piled on display. The Northwest-based Skaggs United Stores along with Skaggs Cash Stores and the California-based Safeway Stores had recently consolidated to become known as the Skaggs-Safeway Stores. G56.2-132

Skaggs-Safeway Market #277 (Tacoma); Grocery stores--Tacoma--1920-1930; Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1920-1930; Vegetables--Tacoma; Cucumbers--Tacoma;

The MacKenzie Drugs store was at the corner of South 24th and Pacific Ave. in the Richaven Building. Local architects Heath, Gove & Bell designed the cream colored brick building for Dr. Edward A. Rich. Upstairs was a Dr. Trimble, physician and surgeon while downstairs was the MacKenzie drugstore and next door, the Richaven Barbershop. Adjacent to the Richaven Building was the Merkle Hotel, 2407-09 Pacific Ave., which had been built in 1913 for the Pacific Brewing & Malting Co. TPL-7108 G19.1-095 (filed as BU-12915)

MacKenzie Pharmacy (Tacoma); Drugstores--Tacoma--1920-1930; Richaven Barbershop (Tacoma); Barbershops--Tacoma--1920-1930; Hotel Merkle (Tacoma);

This is the Colonial Garage as pictured on December 20, 1927. It was operated by Frank J. Brennan and offered storage, repairs, simonizing and washing with day and night service. The garage was located in downtown Tacoma at 924 Court C. Part of the Rhodes Bros. Department Store is visible in the background.

Colonial Garage (Tacoma); Automobile service stations--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Union Bag & Paper Power Corporation locomotive on tracks. The #2 locomotive is labeled "Union Bag & Paper Power Corp." Union Bag was making its entry into the Tacoma area by building a multi-million dollar pulp mill in the Tideflats. G37.1-037G (See Boland B18338, B18339 for alternate views of locomotive)

Union Bag & Paper Power Corporation (Tacoma); Railroad locomotives--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Another view of the Union Bag & Paper Power Corporation locomotive #2 as seen on April 10, 1928. The Union Bag & Paper Power Corporation, based out of New York, was in the process of constructing a multi-million dollar pulp mill in the Tideflats. See Boland B18337, B18339 for alternate photographs of locomotive. TPL-2374; G44.1-048

Union Bag & Paper Power Corporation (Tacoma); Railroad locomotives--Tacoma--1920-1930;

On April 10, 1928, the Union Bag & Paper Power Corporation locomotive, #2, was photographed at the site of the upcoming company pulp mill on a 30-acre site north of East 11th St. This would eventually become the address of the St. Regis Paper Co. G44.1-047 (See Boland B18337, B18338 for other views of locomotive)

Union Bag & Paper Power Corporation (Tacoma); Railroad locomotives--Tacoma--1920-1930;

On April 14, 1928, 16 employees of the Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Co. lined up in the snow at Longmire in the Mount Rainier National Park. Boland Studio notes list them as "pioneers," perhaps meaning long-term company employees. They may have been members of the Telephone Pioneers of America who claimed more than 20 years active service with telephone companies. G64.1-008

Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Co. (Tacoma)--Employees; Mount Rainier National Park (Wash.);

Pacific Savings & Loan Association occupied the Equitable Building (former location of the Merchants National Bank) in 1928. Other tenants included Crown Drugs and Pyro-Kure Dentists. The building adjoining the Equitable Building was the home of the F.W. Woolworth 5 & 10 cent store.

Pacific Savings & Loan Association (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; F.W. Woolworth Co. (Tacoma); Variety stores--Tacoma--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;

The foreman and crew of "erectors" for the Scandinavian-American Bank being built at 1019 Pacific Avenue were photographed during a pause in work in November of 1920. The erectors were responsible for raising the 32-ton beams and 60-foot steel columns into position. The 12 men were handpicked for their steady nerves, even tempers and ability to work as team players. The first two floors alone contained over 1,000 tons of steel. The planned 16 story building rose beam by beam until January of 1921 when the bank failed and construction was shut down. The building was eventually completed in 1925 for the Washington-California Co. and named the Washington Building. (TDL 11/14/1920, pg. B-7) BU-10760, Boland B 3244, TPL-9548

Scandinavian-American Bank (Tacoma); Building construction--Tacoma--1920-1930; Construction industry--Tacoma--1920-1930;

One of the "erectors" dangles high in the air in this November 1920 photograph, attaching chains and wires that will pull the 60 foot column into position at the Scandinavian-American Bank (now the Washington Building) construction site. The skeleton of the building was put together by the erectors, who were followed by the riveters. As designed, the building would ascend to 16 stories. Over 1,000 tons of steel were used in the first 2 floors alone. (TDL 11/14/1920, pg. B-7) BU 10, 756, Boland B 3212

Scandinavian-American Bank (Tacoma); Building construction--Tacoma--1920-1930; Construction industry--Tacoma--1920-1930;

In June of 1925, Mike Marush posed in front of his store, the Marush Fish Co., with the King Salmon believed to be the largest ever caught in local waters on hook and line. The huge fish, weighing in at 47 lbs. dressed, was caught by G.C. Crawford of Gig Harbor at a point known as the "mouth of Gig Harbor," not far from the Narrows. The salmon fought for an hour, almost capsizing the boat. TNT 6/23/1925, pg. 16 (BU12230, Boland #B12818)

Marush, Mike; Marush Fish & Oyster Co. (Tacoma); Salmon; Seafood stores--Tacoma;

Additional view of the Water Power Furniture Co. on Steilacoom Lake circa August of 1919. A wooden ladder dangles from the fifth floor of the plant to possibly serve as a fire escape in lieu of actual stairs. Edward C. Hill was listed as the president of the firm in the 1920 City Directory. See Boland B2187 for alternate view of company site including additional building. G21.1-159

Water Power Furniture Co. (Lakewood); Furniture industry--Lakewood;

Long shot of the Puget Hotel and its landscaped grounds, circa August of 1919, in Port Gamble. The hotel was designed by Seattle architects Bebb & Mendel. Port Gamble is located in Kitsap County on a bay of the same name, about 35 miles from Seattle. The town rises on a bluff above the Puget Mill, later the Port Gamble mill of Pope & Talbot, Inc. The entire town was owned by the mill, including the hotel and the church. It is one of the only surviving examples of a 19th century company town. In 1966, the entire town was designated as a National Historic site. G73.1-041

Puget Hotel (Port Gamble); Hotels--Port Gamble; Lumber industry--Port Gamble; Puget Mill Co. (Port Gamble);

Mine entry carved into a hillside. This was a mine operated by the Consolidated Mining Co. in the Morton area in May of 1931. TPL-6267; G75.1-165

Consolidated Mining Co. (Morton); Mining--Morton;

Andrews Women's Apparel. Owned and operated by Samuel A. Andrews, the store focused on dresses, suits and hats for discerning shoppers. It was located at 923 Broadway and had undergone extensive remodeling just two years before. TPL-5477; G56.1-098; BU-13732

Andrews Women's Apparel (Tacoma); Clothing stores--Tacoma--1930-1940; Facades--Tacoma--1930-1940;

This angled view of the Twin Gates restaurant was taken from across the street in January of 1936. The large restaurant was located next to a Richfield service station a short distance south of Tenino in Thurston County. By the 1970's, it was a secondhand store. The building has since been destroyed by fire. (Additional information provided by a reader) G77.1-078, TPL-10521

Twin Gates (Tenino); Restaurants--Tenino; Automobile service stations--Tenino;

Peterman logging operations on top of Peterman Hill south of Morton. View of Peterman Manufacturing Co.'s truck road trestle. A section of forest has been partially cleared in this June, 1936, photograph. Tree stumps remaining seem to indicate that the trees were mostly young trees and not old growth timber although the short log in the foreground was Douglas Fir old growth. Peterman's Tacoma door and veneer plants utilized the Douglas Fir for its products. According to one reader, this area is now called the "beaver pond." There was no pond there at the time of this photograph but over time the beavers took advantage of the pilings of the trestle and built a large dam around them. The trestle is no longer there. G75.1.052

Peterman Manufacturing Co. (Tacoma); Lumber industry--1930-1940; Trestles--Morton;

Interior of Peterman Manufacturing Co.'s Morton large truck shop with dirt floor. This open-beamed garage was photographed on June 5, 1936, as part of a series of daily operations for the company. An exterior view of the building is located at Boland B25884. Mr. Al Peterman had purchaed a fleet of fifteen old White trucks from the Shell Oil Co. and completely rebuilt them in his Tacoma shop. They were converted into 6 wheelers with air brakes and bigger engines. The Morton shop then made more modifications as they were put through the hauling operations. Mr. Peterman maintained a staff of skilled mechanics in the Morton shop to work on these trucks. G48.1-018 (Additional information provided by a reader)

Peterman Manufacturing Co. (Tacoma); Lumber industry--1930-1940; Garages--Morton; Tires;