ca. 1954. Area around South 9th and G Streets, circa 1954. There is a wall cutting off the area south of 9th where the new County-City Building is going to be built. The old Pierce County Courthouse, 1012 South G, is the large stone building with turrets and bell tower at center back. The Washington State Armory is on the right. The large damaged building at 902 South G (center) is the Domo Apartments. It was hit by fire twice in six months, on September 15, 1953 and again on March 23, 1954. The building was once the property of Puget Sound University (later University of Puget Sound, College of Puget Sound). The Domo Apartments would be torn down to make way for the new County-City Building in August of 1955.

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1950-1960; Pierce County Courthouse (Tacoma); State Armory (Tacoma); Domo Apartments (Tacoma);

Dr. Cameron (possibly Walter Cameron)'s home near the confluence of Leach Creek with Chambers Creek on August 14, 1956. The rustic log cabin-styled home is barely 5 1/2 feet from the water surface to yard level at the foundation. The subject is standing at the creek's water surface and edge. Addressing a potential storm drainage problem after reading the preliminary study by civil engineering firm Brown & Caldwell , Public Works Director L.P. Staman indicated his belief that the increase of storm water flowing into Leach Creek due to proposed storm drainage projects by Tacoma would not for several years overflow the stream banks to any damaging extent. This would be especially true if an impounding area was established. However, it was expected that the creek bed would not always remain clogged with logs and heavy undergrowth and that the material increase in water would gradually eliminate these obstacles. Damage from falling trees would occur depending on nature. (NWR 628.2 T135R)

Leach Creek Watershed; Houses--1950-1960;

Dams and diversion works on Leach Creek at Dr. Cameron's home near confluence of Leach Creek with Chambers Creek. One of the main channels, left; right channel supplies water to concrete pond. In August, 1956, the Town of Fircrest and the City of Tacoma was faced with a major storm drain problem in the vicinity of the Leach Creek Watershed. After preliminary studies were conducted and possible solutions presented, it would be the Director of Public Works' recommendation, and with the Tacoma City Manager concurring, that a storm drain be built through Fircrest. The recommendation was to build the storm trunks and laterals above So. 19th St. and establish an impounding area below Fircrest which would regulate the flow to the valley below. This seemed to be the most practical solution to the complex problem facing both municipalities. (NWR 628.2 T135R)

Leach Creek; Leach Creek Watershed; Dams;

Leach Creek, looking downstream just below Mr. Piper's home. Note logs and debris clogging stream. A dilapidated wooden bridge has its planks partially separated while what appears to be a small watermill is mired in undergrowth. This portion of the creek was photographed on August 14, 1956, as possibly one of the critical or controversial sections of the creek. Questions on storm drainage for the Leach Creek Watershed were being raised before the Tacoma and Fircrest City Councils. (NWR 628.2 T135R)

Leach Creek; Leach Creek Watershed; Streams;

Leach Creek at So. "I" St. The Campbell rambler is on the left, six feet from the water surface to the ground beside the house. Note the dense undergrowth on right and in the background. The Leach Creek Watershed, where this home was constructed, had 2000 acres of its total area within Tacoma city limits. Most of this acreage was north of So. 19th St. The Campbell home was probably located in the narrow strip remaining east of Orchard St. (NWR 628.2 T135R)

Leach Creek; Leach Creek Watershed; Streams; Houses--Tacoma--1950-1960; Logs;

Leach Creek, looking upstream just below Mr. Piper's home. Note fallen trees impeding water flow. Mr. Linstrom's undeveloped acreage is at the top of the hill in the background. In 1956 the Tacoma City Council met to discuss the storm drainage problem in the Leach Creek Watershed area. The question concerned the contribution of storm water to Leach Creek and not sanitary sewage which would have been disapproved by state health agencies. Photographs, maps and hydrographs were submitted to the Council in August, 1956, by City Manager Rowlands after the preliminary study by civil engineering firm Brown & Caldwell was concluded. Mr. Rowlands also indicated that the City Council had a responsibility to the Tacoma property owners that wanted to proceed with the development of their lands located north of the Town of Fircrest. He recommended that the Council should approve construction of a storm drain which would serve all of the area located within the City north of 19th St. as expeditiously as possible. (NWR 628.2 T135R)

Leach Creek; Leach Creek Watershed; Streams; Logs; Trees;

Leach Creek, looking upstream near the Frederick's home, shown in right background. 18 1/2 feet measured from the water's surface to the basement and patio level of home. As this August 14, 1956, photograph shows, there were some homes built very close to the creek and therefore subject to potential flooding. Leach Creek Watershed has an area of 5000 acres according to Brown & Caldwell, a San Francisco civil and chemical engineering firm commissioned to do a preliminary study on storm drainage in the watershed. Most of the acreage lies within Pierce County territory with a slightly lesser amount within Tacoma city limits and 440 acres in Fircrest. The creek is fed by springs in a wooded marsh just south of Fircrest and numerous other springs throughout its length. (NWR 628.2 T135R)

Leach Creek; Leach Creek Watershed; Streams;

Leach Creek, Frederick's pump house. The Frederick family may have had more than two pump houses; LCW-006 shows an older pump house that had been damaged by high waters. Note "rip-rapping" work placed for protection. (NWR 628.2 T135R)

Leach Creek; Leach Creek Watershed; Pumping stations;

Leach Creek, near So. 62nd St. Mr. Piper's home in background, 28 1/2 feet from valley floor to basement level of house. Stream is flowing under large uprooted tree in left foreground. Because the City of Tacoma in 1956 was concerned with the looming storm drainage problem with the Leach Creek Watershed, it commissioned a preliminary study on water flows by the San Francisco civil engineering firm of Brown & Caldwell. After carefully considering several alternatives including improving the carrying capacity of Leach Creek and carrying the storm drainage to Chambers Creek in a closed conduit, it would be their recommendation to impound storm drainage below Fircrest to keep peak rate of discharge within the carrying capacity of the creek. This seemed to be the most practical and economical solution. (NWR 628.2 T135R)

Leach Creek; Leach Creek Watershed; Streams; Trees;

Leach Creek at the So. 53rd St. crossing, four feet from underside of bridge to the stream bottom. Note log down in background and debris-catching fence. If necessary, simple stream improvement will permit passage of considerably more water. In August, 1956, the problem of storm drainage in the Leach Creek Watershed was brought before the Tacoma City Council and later, the Town of Fircrest. It would be the Tacoma City Manager's recommendation, based on reports by the Public Works Director and a commissioned civil engineering firm, to build a storm drain through Fircrest which would service all areas located within the City north of 19th St. The Watershed itself encompassed 5000 acres, located in Tacoma, Pierce County and Fircrest. (NWR 628.2 T135R)

Leach Creek; Leach Creek Watershed; Streams; Bridges--Tacoma;

Confluence of Leach Creek with Chambers Creek. Smith cottage to the left, yard 5 1/2 feet above water surface. In an August 14, 1956, Tacoma Police Department photograph taken by P.N. Stuckey, the Smith home is reportedly one of two homes at the confluence of Leach and Chamber Creeks which were built barely above the creek bottom. If high water were to occur on both creeks at the same time, there might be possible flooding and damage to lawn and ponds. The Town of Fircrest and the Tacoma City Council had to wrestle with the problem of storm drainage in the Leach Creek Watershed. It was Tacoma City Manager David Rowland's recommendation, after the preliminary study by San Francisco civil and chemical engineering firm Brown & Caldwell and the report by Public Works Director L.P. Staman, that a storm drain be constructed through Fircrest which would serve all the area located within the City north of 19th St. (NWR 628.2 T135R)

Leach Creek; Chambers Creek; Leach Creek Watershed; Streams;

Leach Creek, clearing for homesite by Mr. Linstrom west of the Piper family home. Leach Creek is about 25 feet below logs in the background. Families were attracted to the quiet peacefulness of the Leach Creek area with its towering firs and rustic setting. However, the Tacoma City Council was concerned in 1956 about a storm drainage problem in the creek's watershed. Many of the homes were located scant feet away from the creek's bed and the potential of flooding was always present. (NWR 628.2 T135R)

Leach Creek; Leach Creek Watershed; Streams; Tree limbs; Trees;

Confluence of Leach Creek with Chambers Creek. Chambers Creek in background, converging channels of Leach Creek in foreground. In 1956 there was a storm drainage problem in the Leach Creek Watershed. Representatives from the firm of Brown & Caldwell were requested by Public Works Director L.P. Staman to conduct a preliminary study and present possible solutions for the disposal of storm water collecting in the watershed north of the Town of Fircrest. Photographs of the more critical or controversial areas on Leach Creek, prints of maps and hydrographs were accumulated and presented to City Manager David Rowlands so that the City Council could make a proper decision on August 20, 1956. (NWR 628.2 T135R)

Leach Creek; Chambers Creek; Leach Creek Watershed; Streams;

Wrecked pump house belonging to the Frederick's family with "Private Keep Off" sign still nailed near roof. This pump house, photographed on August 14, 1956, was destroyed by high water from Leach Creek within the past several years. It was located just off Bridgeport Way downstream. There is a new pump house in left of the picture. Concerns about disposing of storm water collecting in the watershed area north of the Town of Fircrest precipitated a preliminary study by a California civil engineering company whose data indicated that the Leach Creek, in its present condition, may not be able to accommodate flows projected for nineteen years in the future (1975) and for ultimate development. Alternatives were suggested by the firm of Brown & Caldwell with the most practicable being the impounding of peak flows in the swamp area below Fircrest. (NWR 628.2 T135R)

Leach Creek; Leach Creek Watershed; Streams; Pumping stations;

Leach Creek, upstream from Bridgeport Way, near Mr. Reuter's home and adjacent to the Holroyd gravel pit. August 14, 1956, photograph by Tacoma Police Department photographer P.N. Stuckey shows fallen trees due to erosion. Trees, branches and bushes clog up water flow in various sections of the creek. Leach Creek is fed by springs in a wooded marsh just south of Fircrest and many other springs throughout its length. In 1956, Tacoma had storm drainage problems both in the Leach Creek Watershed and on Flett Creek. (NWR 628.2 T135R)

Leach Creek; Leach Creek Watershed; Streams; Trees;

Leach Creek, photographed on August 14, 1956, upstream from Bridgeport Way, near Mr. Reuter's home. Note fallen timber, some recent and some rotting away. Mother Nature has taken its toll in the Leach Creek Watershed area as trees, some old or eroded and others taken prematurely in storms, litter and clog sections of the creek. Because Tacoma had a storm drainage problem both in the Leach Creek Watershed and Flett Creek, Public Works Directory L.P. Staman recommended, after reviewing a preliminary study by civil engineering firm Brown & Caldwell, that the City of Tacoma proceed immediately with the construction of a proposed storm drain and sanitary trunk through the Town of Fircrest at an estimated cost of $235,000 and also, among other recommendations, that an impounding area and regulated water overflow be established in the swampy area below Fircrest with land purchase of approximately $20,000. (NWR 628.2 T135R)

Leach Creek; Leach Creek Watershed; Streams; Trees;

Leach Creek, looking upstream opposite Mr. Piper's home. Another more clogged view of the creek is LCW -010. Not only is the creek clogged with fallen trees and heavy undergrowth, but manmade debris as well. The heavy wooded area of the Leach Creek Watershed provided a scenic setting for the homes nestled around the creek but also potential flooding problems with the increase of storm drainage. The City of Tacoma needed to work with the Town of Fircrest to devise an acceptable solution. (NWR 628.2 T135R)

Leach Creek; Leach Creek Watershed; Streams; Logs;

City manager David Rowlands (second from left) and Police Chief Roy Kerr pose with visiting Vietnamese Army officers Lts. Nguyen Ngcoc Tien, 26, and Pham Ngoc Thinh, 32, in August of 1960. The visitors, representatives of the civil guard of the Vietnam National police forces, were in Tacoma to take a two week police training course before returning home. They had spent most of the year studying police work back East. (TNT 8-16-60, p. 2-article)

Foreign visitors--Vietnam; Rowlands, David; Kerr, Roy; Municipal officials--Tacoma--1960-1970; Police--Tacoma--1960-1970; Tacoma Police Department (Tacoma); Law enforcement training--Tacoma--1960-1970;

On January 12, 1965, Tacoma police counted coins from five confiscated slot machines on a makeshift table in the basement of the County City Building. According to a News Tribune article the following day, Detective Ritchie Mace, City Prosecutor Jack Majeres and Captain John Gookins tallied the coins from slot machines seized in a September 15, 1964, raid on Tacoma barber George Parrott's residence. The slots had been opened and smashed by police per court order. The two 25 cent slots, one nickel slot, and two penny slots had coins totaling $117.33. (TNT 1-13-65, A-3)

Slot machines--Tacoma; Tacoma Police Department (Tacoma); Police--Tacoma--1960-1970; Coins--United States; Gookins, John; Mace, Ritchie; Majeres, Jack;

An unidentified Tacoma police officer uses a hand sledge to smash the inner workings of a slot machine on January 12, 1965, one of five confiscated slots demolished in the basement of the County City Building per court order. The exposed reels show the familiar fruit symbols of cherries, plums and oranges. The non-uniformed man in the photograph has his hand on a 25 cent "Club Chief" slot; that machine has a jackpot of $25. The quarter, nickel and penny slots yielded a total of $117.33. Former owner George Parrott, a Tacoma barber, paid a $100 city fine in addition to a federal gambling tax of more than $1,000. He did, however, get back the $117.33 in coins which were turned over to his attorney, Martin Potter, for return to Mr. Parrott. (TNT 1-13-65, A-3-article & alt. photo)

Slot machines--Tacoma; Gambling--Tacoma--1960-1970; Tacoma Police Department (Tacoma); Police--Tacoma--1960-1970; Hammers;