ca. 1975. Anne Heller in Literature Dept., Main Branch, Tacoma Public Library. Mrs. Heller (now Seago) later became the supervisor of Quick Information and manager of Technical Services. Retired, she was on the library's Board of Trustees.

Heller, Anne; Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma); Public libraries--Tacoma--1970-1980; Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma)--Employees;

ca. 1870. Beginnings of Tacoma City circa 1870. Photo taken by Anthony Carr, who was Old Tacoma's first photographer. Cabin nearest the two trees on the left is Job Carr's cabin and his farm is in the foreground. The Steele Hotel, Tacoma's first hotel, is the "large" L-shaped building at left of center. (Photo donated by Ron Karabaich) (Caroline Gallacci & Tacoma Historical Society: Old Tacoma, p. 11)

Steele Hotel (Tacoma); Hotels--Tacoma--1870-1880; Carr, Job--Homes & haunts;

ca. 1873. "Terminus of Tacoma, looking toward Mt. Rainier, W.T." Early stereopticon slide by Oliver Dennie, Portland, Oregon (From the collection of Dan Kerlee, Seattle, Washington). One or two wooden shacks and a handful of tents occupy the top of the bluff near what is now South 7th & Pacific Avenue. This view is the beginning of New Tacoma as pictured in the fall of 1873. Commencement Bay at left. (Prosch: McCarver and Tacoma, p. 185)

Cities & towns--Tacoma; Commencement Bay (Wash.); Tree stumps--Tacoma; Houses--Tacoma--1870-1880;

ca. 1884. "New Tacoma, Puget Sound, W. T." Early stereopticon slide by Watkins, San Francisco, CA Watkins' New Series # 5201, Pacific Coast Views (From the collection of Dan Kerlee, Seattle, Washington) see C52158 (far left) for possible location of buildings in this photo. The area in the center is part of the Tideflats before any dredging. Of the two large buildings in the background center-right, the dark building is the forge shop of the Northern Pacific Railroad shops between South 17th & South 19th, east of Pacific Ave. The light building is the car shop.

Cities & towns--Tacoma; Houses--Tacoma--1880-1890; Northern Pacific Railway Co. (Tacoma);

ca. 1925. Press room - probably Tacoma News Tribune - circa 1925. Man at front, right is Leo G. Sauers who worked for the News Tribune for 55 years. Mr. Sauers, born in Kenton, Michigan, spent most of his life in the Tacoma area. He began his apprenticeship as a pressman for the former Tacoma Ledger. He retired as a pressroom foreman for the Tacoma News Tribune about 1973 and died in December of that year at the age of 76. (TNT 12-22-1973- obit.)

Newspaper industry--1920-1930; Sauers, Leo G.;

ca. 1915. Created from the stump of a massive cedar tree, this bandstand stood in 27-acre Wright Park and was the scene of many civic and formal occasions and celebrations. Two unidentified men are pictured on the bandstand in this circa 1915 photograph. Fire destroyed the bandstand in 1930. (copy of original) Bi-Centennial Project # 75346-11 (www.metroparkstacoma.org-short article)

Wright Park (Tacoma); Parks--Tacoma--1910-1920; Tree stumps--Tacoma; Bandstands--Tacoma;

ca. 1908. Families enjoy a sunny day at McKinley Park circa 1908. The 22-acre park was a gift to the City of Tacoma by the Tacoma Land & Improvement Co. in 1901. It was named after President William McKinley who had died that year. The park was covered with trees, shrubs and grass and it took a few years to develop it for the public. Usage of the park diminished after the freeway was constructed along its northern border in 1962 but rebounded with the addition of new playground equipment, new restroom and improved pathways. (metroparkstacoma.org)

McKinley Park (Tacoma); Parks--Tacoma--1900-1910;

A repair crew is rewinding generator no.2 at the Nisqually Power Station in April 1924. Planning for Tacoma's first hydroelectric project, the LaGrande Dam on the Nisqually River, began in 1907. The project was controversial - people wondered what the city could possibly do with all the power generated by the four 6,000 kilowatt units. Construction started in Feb. 1910 and the new plant began furnishing power to the citizens of Tacoma on Nov. 6, 1912.

Nisqually Power Station (Nisqually); Hydroelectric power--Tacoma; LaGrande Dam (Wash.); Hydroelectric generators--Washington;

John H. Van Fossen sits at his desk in June of 1909. He was the Chief Clerk for the Assistant Superintendent of Transportation for the Northern Pacific Railroad in Tacoma. Mr. Van Fossen lived at 1212 North I Street. Washington state map and 1909 calendar on wall.

Van Fossen, John H.; Northern Pacific Railway Co. (Tacoma)--Employees;

ca. 1873. Frederick Law Olmsted plat map for City of Tacoma (New Tacoma), Washington Territory. Created for the Northern Pacific Railroad, and the Tacoma Land Company

Maps; Olmsted, Frederick Law, 1822-1903; Tacoma Land Co. (Tacoma); Northern Pacific Railway Co. (Tacoma);

ca. 1976. Owner Reno Rosi served up spaghetti with the famous rich red sauce in this 1976 photograph of the kitchen at Bimbo's Avenue Cafe, 1514-1516 Pacific Ave. The restaurant was opened in 1921 by Rosi's uncle Vittorio "Bimbo" Perniconi when he arrived in Tacoma from his native Lucca, on Italy's northwest coast. During Prohibition it was rumored that he served up a little gambling and bootleg gin along with the spaghetti. In 2001, the long time family owned business was bought out by the City of Tacoma, to make way for the convention center. The city bought the rights to the name "Bimbo's" and the recipes to four of the sauces. Bimbo's closed its doors in late September of 2001 after 80 years of business. This photograph was taken in 1976 by John Vlahovich / Vlahovich Design Associates for the opening of the Bicentennial Building. (TNT 8/22/2001, pg. 1) TPL-9516, BU-13378

Bimbo's Avenue Cafe (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma; Rosi, Reno;

ca. 1910. Peter Leonard and Francis J. O'Leary were the proprietors of the Red Front Saloon located at 5244 South Tacoma Way on the west side of the 5200 block. It is believed the men are standing at the entrance to the bar in this circa 1910 photograph. The other five men may have been customers or saloon employees. Even a curious dog has managed to turn his head to face the camera. The Red Front offered its customers pool and billiards as well as a wide array of wines, liquors and cigars. Furnished rooms and lodgings were available upstairs .

Red Front Saloon (Tacoma); Bars--Tacoma--1910-1920; Eating & drinking facilities--Tacoma--1910-1920; Dogs--Tacoma--1910-1920;

ca. 1904. Interior of the Red Front Saloon, 5244 South Union (now South Tacoma Way), circa 1904. The saloon was located on the west side of the 5200 block of South Union. Besides the usual beer and other alcoholic beverages, the Red Front offered its clientele pool and billiards on at least three tables. The pool tables were covered up to prevent dust or spillage until wanted by customers.

Red Front Saloon (Tacoma); Bars--Tacoma--1900-1910; Eating & drinking facilities--Tacoma--1900-1910; Billiards--Tacoma--1900-1910;

Tacoma was introduced to McDonald's hamburgers in 1963 when the franchised restaurant chain built its golden arches at 802 Tacoma Avenue South. When this photograph was taken, sometime after 1967, the popular fast-food chain had four outlets in Tacoma and was selling 3 million hamburgers each day nationwide.

McDonald's (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1960-1970; Fast food restaurants--Tacoma--1960-1970;

ca. 1931. Tudor Rose Tea Room & Delicatessen, 16 Tacoma Ave. No. The tea room was located in the store building at 16-24 Tacoma Ave. No. The English style building was built by the Lumberman's Investment Co. from a design by Sutton, Whitney & Dugan. First Presbyterian Church can be seen in the background left in this circa 1931 photograph.

Tudor Rose Tea Room (Tacoma); Delicatessens--Tacoma; First Presbyterian Church (Tacoma);

Roller skating rink. This is the King Roller Rink, located at 2707-13 Pacific Avenue. The rink was built in 1931 by Martin H. Marker, contractor. W. Chelse Boynton was the architect. 800 pairs of skates were available for gliding on the white maple flooring.

Roller skating; King Roller Rink (Tacoma); Skating rinks--Tacoma;

ca. 1904. Students and teacher on the front steps of a school, probably Franklin School, 3210 So. 12th St., circa 1904. Class sizes in 1904 at Franklin averaged 48 children with one teacher. Franklin School (first named Pierce's Addition School and then renamed shortly after opening in honor of Benjamin Franklin) had the distinction of being older than Washington statehood. It opened in October of 1889 and Washington became the 42nd state in November of the same year. The original Franklin School would stand until 1910 when overcrowding forced the construction of a new school . The old school with gables and bell tower was sold for $250 and hauled away for scrap lumber. A new Franklin arose nearby at 3202 So. 12th St. where it would remain until its demolition in 1997. The third Franklin School was then built in 1998 at 1402 So. Lawrence St. (Olsen: For the Record, p. 59-article; TNT 4-10-97, SL3-article, various photos)

Public schools--Tacoma--1900-1910; School children--Tacoma--1900-1910; Teachers--Tacoma--1900-1910;

ca. 1901. Sepia photograph of a Lincoln Elementary School class in 1901. Standing on the steps of Lincoln Elementary are numerous students; in the third row, second from the left is reportedly Jeston Reed Foss. Originally named West School, construction began on the new school at 1610 South K Street (now MLK Way) in 1887. It was renamed in honor of President Abraham Lincoln in 1889. The school began as a two-room school with two grades; by 1890, it had four grades and five teachers. The school was closed and demolished in 1938. Most of the students and staff were transferred to McCarver Junior High where they joined students from Longfellow to form a new elementary school. Others were assigned to either Central or Stanley schools. (Olsen: For the Record, p. 57) (note: the same photograph is identified in Olsen's book as Hawthorne School)

Lincoln Elementary School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1900-1910; School children--Tacoma;

ca. 1916. Girls Gymnasium, Lincoln Park High School, Tacoma

Lincoln Park High School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1910-1920; Gymnasiums; Physical education

Machinist Mate Carl Lischke gets a final salute from his German ship commander, Captain Harsdorf von Enderndorf, during impressive funeral rites at Mountain View Memorial Park on March 19, 1934. The young sailor was stricken with fish poisoning after his cruiser, the Karlsruhe, docked in Tacoma. He was buried in Tacoma because his ship would not return to Germany for quite some time. The funeral was attended by a large crowd of citizens as well as German and U.S. military forces. Lischke was accorded full naval honors. TPL-8711 (T.Times 3-20-34, p. 1-article)

Cemeteries--Lakewood; Funeral rites & ceremonies--Lakewood; Sailors--German;

The band from the German warship Karlsruhe plays a funeral air as the casket of Machinist Mate Carl Lischke is being lowered into the ground at Mountain View Memorial Park on March 19, 1934. The young sailor had died of food poisoning on the 17th and was buried on American soil, 8000 miles from his homeland. Many ordinary citizens chose to attend the services as well as American and German military personnel. The Karlsruhe was in port for one week when Lischke became ill after eating fish that had just arrived from Germany. (T.Times 3-20-34, p. 1-article)

Cemeteries--Lakewood; Funeral rites & ceremonies--Lakewood; Military bands--German; Sailors--German;

ca. 1910. Commercial Dock on Commencement Bay. "Watch Tacoma Grow" publicity sign in background. Photograph was taken circa 1910.

Piers & wharves--Tacoma--1910-1920; Commercial Dock (Tacoma); Commencement Bay (Wash.);

Undated photograph of the Port of Tacoma. Various businesses labeled in background include: Coast Sash & Door Co., Pacific Foundry Co.; City Lumber and Walstad Machine Co. Tugs and rowboat in waterway.

Port of Tacoma (Tacoma);

ca. 1917. Seated in his Stutz race car #5 is driver Earl Cooper and his mechanic Reeves Dutton. Both men have uniforms with the Stutz brand in front. Earl Cooper won national championships in 1913, 1915 and 1917. A favorite of crowds at the Tacoma Speedway, Mr. Cooper won the 250-mile Montamarathon in both 1913 and 1914 but was thwarted in his attempt to retain the trophy for a third year when he finished second to Grover Ruckstell in 1915. TPL-8827. (Photograph donated by John & Pat Reisinger)

Cooper, Earl; Dutton, Reeves; Automobile racing drivers; Racing automobiles--1910-1920; Stutz automobile;

ca. 1931. Copy negative of publicity photograph of Jack Dempsey. Photograph was used for advertising the Junior League milk fund benefit held on September 10, 1931 in Tacoma. Mr. Dempsey arrived via train on September 10, 1931, as the star attraction for the benefit. He fought four opponents in exhibition matches that evening at the Stadium Bowl before a crowd of about 6000. (TNT 8-28-31, p. 1-article; T.Times 9-11-31, p. 13-article)

Dempsey, Jack, 1895-1983; Boxers (Sports)

Construction of Stadium Bowl. Stadium High School (then called Tacoma High School) looms over the site of the Stadium Bowl under construction in September of 1909. Standing in sharp contrast in the foreground is an unidentified man in overalls holding the reins of his sturdy horse who is harnessed to a sled of some sort. In the pre-tractor, pre-truck days, horses were commonly used to haul materials to and from construction sites. BU-11577, TPL-1541

Stadium High School (Tacoma); Stadium Bowl (Tacoma); Construction--Tacoma--1900-1910; Horses--Tacoma--1900-1910;

ca. 1904. This is the exterior of the Rhodes Brothers store at 950 C Street (now Broadway) as it looked from its Grand Opening in November of 1903 until its first remodel in 1907. Rhodes was founded by Henry A. Rhodes in 1892 in a small storefront at 932 C St. Through the years, the tea and coffee shop moved into progressively larger quarters and added glassware, crockery, stationery, books and dry goods to its wares. Henry Rhodes was joined in business by his brothers Will and Albert. In the early 1900's, Henry Rhodes proposed building a grand mercantile establishment on the order of Marshall Fields or Wanamakers. A lease was signed for a new, three story building at 11th and C (Broadway) Sts with Russell & Heath as architects. The new emporium, pictured, had its formal opening November 5-7, 1903, which attracted thousands of admiring visitors. At that time Rhodes Brothers employed 100 clerks and four delivery wagons. (Photo donated by the Rhodes Reunion Comm.) (TDL 11/8/1903, p.17; "A History of Pierce County Washington", Vol. 3, pg 73-77)

Rhodes Brothers Department Store (Tacoma); Department stores--Tacoma--1900-1910;

ca. 1917. Rhodes Brothers Store, circa 1917; Window display of luggage and travel. Rhodes Brothers Department Store opened their grand establishment at 950 Broadway in 1903. Its windows offered a glimpse of the interests and fashions of the time period. Around 1920, there was a sharp increase in tourism nationally. Travelers began to switch from more leisurely horse powered trips to travel by automobile, train and later planes. This Rhodes window display from 1917 displayed the "correct" luggage and accessories for travelers, including one "must have" that is no longer popular- the travelers' trunk. (photograph donated by the Rhodes Reunion Committee)

Department stores--Tacoma; Merchandise displays--Tacoma; Rhodes Brothers Department Store (Tacoma);

Main floor at Rhodes Brothers Store, Christmas season 1937. The main floor at Rhodes was festive with holiday decorations and crowded with boxed holiday gifts. Signs point out suggested gifts- stationery, hose, wool gloves, gowns and games- all boxed and ready to give. A counter in the back was devoted to wrapping and gift slips. A large sign directs children, and their parents, to the special elevator "direct to Toyland" on the fifth floor. (photograph donated by the Rhodes Reunion Committee)

Department stores--Tacoma; Merchandise displays--Tacoma; Rhodes Brothers Department Store (Tacoma);

ca. 1903. Rhodes Brothers horse drawn delivery wagon, circa 1903. When the Rhodes Brothers store opened in 1903, they employed four horse drawn delivery wagons. The name of the store was printed boldly on the side, and the wagons were kept busy delivering throughout the area. By 1912, the horses were retired and replaced by automobiles. (photograph donated by the Rhodes Reunion Committee)

Department stores--Tacoma; Rhodes Brothers Department Store (Tacoma);