ca. 1915. Parish Rectory of St. Joseph's Church. This was the rectory, or home, of the parish priest of St. Joseph's Slovak Catholic Church. It was built in 1914, two years after the church itself was constructed at South 34th & Tacoma Avenue South.

Rectories--Tacoma; Houses--Tacoma--1910-1920;

Recent photograph of house at 916 So. Lawrence. Original photograph by Kathleen Earl. The Library does not have a negative for this image.

Houses--Tacoma

ca. 1939. Mrs. Beatice Neslund (top, left) and two unidentified employees work on one of the match boxing lines at the Pacific Match Company in Tacoma, Washington circa 1939. Pacific Match had been established near Center St. in 1924 and according to the Tacoma Labor Advocate back then, provided their employees with good working conditions. The company would close in 1964 due to competition from the Midwest. (Courtesy of the Ron Neslund Collection)

Neslund, Beatrice; Pacific Match Co. (Tacoma)--People; Assembly-line methods--Tacoma--1930-1940; Match industry--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Standing outside the Sumner Garage were two of the Valley's Conlon brothers, John W. and Peter, who were owners of the Sumner Tacoma Stage Co. in the 1920's and 30's. John was third from the left and Peter was at the far right. The other men in the photograph were not identified. When John Conlon died on March 18, 1935 at the age of 47, his obituary listed him as the president of the firm and a resident of this area for 40 years. Besides his wife Jeanette and four children, John Conlon was survived by his mother Mrs. Mary Conlon, four brothers (Peter and Frank of Sumner, Joe and Max of Oregon) and a sister, Mrs. Albert Rhyson of Firwood. (Photograph courtesy of the Jack Conlon collection) (John Conlon obituary - TDL 3-19-35)

Conlon, John W.; Conlon, Peter; Families--Sumner; Sumner Tacoma Stage Co. (Sumner); Sumner Garage (Sumner);

ca. 1910. A fleet of delivery wagons has gathered in front of the Hyson Apartments, 702-14 Saint Helens Ave., circa 1910. Two of them are associated with the Hoyt Doughnuts, 2713 Sixth Ave., with advertising proclaiming them the "Best Ever." The wagon on the far right is from Dickson Bros. Bakery.

Carts & wagons--Tacoma--1910-1920; Dickson Bros. Bakery (Tacoma); Hoyt Doughnut Co. (Tacoma); Hyson Apartments (Tacoma);

ca. 1907. This building at 3636 E. "H" Street (now McKinley Avenue) was built by William J. Goellner and was the home of the McKinley Park Bakery from 1906 through 1914. Mr. Goellner also lived at this location. In 1915, he had moved his bakery to Pacific Ave, although his home was still listed at this address. By 1917, he had moved his home to North 25th Street. Mr. Goellner died June 27, 1942 in Sumner at the age of 64. He had been a resident of Tacoma for 53 years. He was the owner of the Northwestern Bakery and operated a chain of retail stores. He was survived only by his sisters. (TNT 7/14/1942, pg. 13; Tacoma City Directory)

McKinley Park Bakery (Tacoma); Goellner, William John; Bakeries--Tacoma--1900-1910;

ca. 1920. At the time of this picture in 1920, Tacoma had four flour mills, Tacoma Grain Company (pictured), Sperry, Puget Sound Flouring Mills and Albers Brothers Company. Together the mills created the largest flour production west of Minneapolis and Kansas City. The Tacoma Grain Co., producer of Pyramid Flour, was built in 1890 by the Northern Pacific Elevator Co. at what is now 7 Schuster Parkway. Its main feature was the 210 foot smoke stack (left of buildings.) It became the Centennial Flouring Mills in 1934. A fire destroyed the mill in January of 1947, and although the company tried to rebuild for a few years, the buildings were razed in 1950. (TDL 12/27/1920, pg. 6) BU- 13987

Tacoma Grain Co. (Tacoma); Flour & meal industry--Tacoma--1910-1920;

Pacific Northwest Canning Co., 203 5th Ave. N.W., Puyallup. This exterior view of the business was taken on September 20, 1927.

Pacific Northwest Canning Co. (Puyallup); Food industry--Puyallup;

ca. 1890. This photograph of the Cascade Steam Laundry, 2124 A Street, was taken sometime in the 1890's. The laundry's fleet of delivery wagons, harnessed to horses, is lined up in front of the business. Cascade Steam Laundry employed 36 men and women in 1891 with a monthly payroll of $1800. Proprietor H.A. Durr had recently remodeled the building to increase the width by 12 feet and increase the height by one story. Appliances included six washing machines, one large mangler (ironer) with a new one to be installed shortly, one extractor (wringer) and one 18-rack dry room. The Cascade Steam Laundry was established in 1886. (copy of original) Bi-Centennial Project # 75346-33 BU-12654 G35.1-167 (TDL 10-9-1891, p. 3-article)

Cascade Steam Laundry (Tacoma); Cleaning establishments--Tacoma--1890-1900; Carts & wagons--Tacoma--1890-1900;

Unidentified lumber yard

ca. 1893. Tacoma smelter. This photograph of the Tacoma Smelting & Refining Co. (previously named the Ryan Smelter) was taken for the New England Magazine and published in their February, 1893, issue. The smelter was owned by prominent businessman William R. Rust who had purchased it four years before. The smelter was originally built to produce lead but in a few short years, would become a major supplier of copper. A comparison of an earlier view of the smelter, taken circa 1888, now shows a completed pier on the right and an additional large building on the property. In 1905 the American Smelting & Refining Co. (ASARCO) bought the company and it remained an important part of Tacoma's economy until its closure in 1985. (New England Magazine - February, 1893 p.800) (See Rutter, image 01, for view of smelter circa 1888)

American Smelting & Refining Co. (Tacoma); Smelters--Tacoma; Industrial facilities--Tacoma;

Damaged negative showning view of American Smelting & Refining Co. (ASARCO) looking toward Tacoma.

Smelters--Tacoma; American Smelting & Refining Co. (Tacoma);

ca. 1896. A woman believed to be Grace R. Moore and accompanied by a large dog, was photographed while reading in the law offices of her husband, Henry K. Moore, circa 1896. Grace R. Moore and several acquaintances formed a reading circle to share their love of books. This led to the formation of the Mercantile Library, the Tacoma area's first circulating library, which was initially housed in the Moore's home where Mrs. Moore served as librarian. The growing membership made it necessary to relocate the library to a more central location. The new site was the outer room of the law office of Mrs. Moore's husband in the Washington Bldg. where his stenographer helped give out books. Eventually, the Mercantile Library's collection was donated to the City of Tacoma and it became a new organization known as the Tacoma Public Library. A branch library named in honor of Mrs. Moore opened in June, 1950, on So. 56th St. near Pacific Ave. G7.1-001 (Bonney: "History of the Tacoma Public Library," History of Pierce County)

Books; Libraries--Tacoma; Public libraries--Tacoma; Dogs--Tacoma--1890-1900; Law offices--Tacoma;

ca. 1915. View of pond near entrance to Point Defiance Park as taken circa 1915. "Old" Ruston School and first tall ASARO smokestack in background This stack was replaced with a tall stack in 1917. Ruston Elementary School, 5227 No. Winnifred St., opened as Ruston School in 1902, before the area incorporated as Ruston. Large building to the far right is unidentified.

Ruston School (Ruston); Smokestacks--Tacoma; Lakes & ponds--Tacoma;

ca. 1911. South Tacoma Branch Library, corner So. 56th and Puget Sound Ave. This was the first branch library in a building of its own in the Tacoma Public Library System. The idea grew from the Women's Christian Temperance Union's South Tacoma Reading Room, opened in 1905 as an alternative to South Tacoma's numerous saloons. This branch library building opened in 1911, the same year as Union Station. It was designed by George Gove, Architect and W. K. Steele served as contractor. Cost of construction was $3,620. In 1958, the building was judged to be unsafe and obsolete. It was demolished and replaced in 1959 with a modern $112,000 library and fire station. TPL-4269

Tacoma Public Library, South Tacoma Branch (Tacoma); Public libraries--Tacoma;

ca. 1904. The Tacoma Public Library, built with funds from industrialist Andrew Carnegie, was dedicated in 1903. The stacks area, where most of the Library's books were shelved (shown at the rear of the picture,) was "closed," meaning that the librarian retrieved books for the patron. The librarians worked behind the wooden, windowed structure at the rear center of the picture much like tellers in a bank. Pictured in the foreground is the top of the white Vermont marble staircase. Above can be seen the decorative stained glass dome. Graceful Ionic columns support the high ceilings. The original glass dome was damaged in the 1949 earthquake. In 1952, a new main library was built adjoining the Carnegie building and the older building was used for storage and meeting rooms. A 5.1 million dollar renovation in 1990 remodeled the newer building and restored the Carnegie Library. This room is now home to the Library's NW Room/ Special Collection Department.

Public Libraries--Tacoma; Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma);

ca. 1975. Librarian Bob Pankl at General Services Dept. desk, Main Branch, Tacoma Public Library.

Pankl, Robert; Librarians; Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma); Public libraries--Tacoma--1970-1980; Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma)--Employees;

ca. 1975. Carolyn Wesley in General Services Dept. Main Branch, Tacoma Public Library. Ms. Wesley is perusing an article on new chemical plants that has been clipped out of the local newspaper. She and fellow staff member Judy Wilkins (not pictured) had spent many hours clipping and filing items of interest to Tacoma readers.

Wesley, Carolyn; Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma); Public libraries--Tacoma--1970-1980; Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma)--Employees; Clippings;

ca. 1975. Judy Wilkins in General Services Dept., Main Branch, Tacoma Public Library. Staff member Judy Wilkins points out a location on a relief map in this circa 1975 color photograph. Mrs. Wilkins later joined the Quick Information telephone reference department. A documents specialist, she was still with the library 35 years later.

Wilkins, Judy; Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma); Public libraries--Tacoma--1970-1980; Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma)--Employees;

ca. 1975. Librarian Randy Rafferty in Business, Science & Technology Dept., Main Branch, Tacoma Public Library.

Rafferty, Randy; Librarians; Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma); Public libraries--Tacoma--1970-1980; Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma)--Employees;

ca. 1975. Librarians Jack Rasmussen and Karen (Goettling) Kelley in Lit. Dept., Main Branch, Tacoma Public Library. Mrs. Kelley was a former Daffodil Festival Queen.

Rasmussen, Jack; Kelley, Karen; Goettling, Karen Jane; Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma); Librarians; Public libraries--Tacoma--1970-1980; Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma)--Employees;

ca. 1873. "Tacoma, the terminus of the Northern Pacific Rail Road, Washington Territory" image on early stereopticon slide taken by Oliver Dennie of Portland, Oregon (slide from the collection of Dan Kerlee, Seattle, Washington). This photograph, and also KERLEE - 02, shows the area on top of the bluff in "New Tacoma" around what is now South 7th & Pacific Avenue. The unidentified man in the foreground is leaning against a tree stump close to where the Northern Pacific Railroad headquarters building would be constructed in 1887. Once the Board of Directors of the Northern Pacific Railroad formally approved locating the terminus, hundreds began swarming to the area. Tents were set up on vacant lots for which $1 per front foot was paid per month and houses quickly sprang up for waiting occupants. Financial woes would shortly grip the nation, subsequently slowing down the rush of people to Tacoma. (Prosch: McCarver and Tacoma, p. 179-80-article)

Cities & towns--Tacoma;

ca. 1873. "Water front and wharf at Tacoma, W.T." Early stereopticon slide by Oliver Dennie, Portland, Oregon. Pioneering men and women pose by the waterfront next to a downed tree circa 1873. The town was becoming civilized with picket fences, two-storied buildings and even washing hung on a line. In the background at left is the Hanson, Ackerson & Co. lumber mill, store and wharf. The Steele Hotel, Tacoma's first hotel, is the large two-story building at right. (From the collection of Dan Kerlee, Seattle, Washington). (Prosch: McCarver and Tacoma, p. 181)

Waterfronts--Tacoma; Piers & wharves--Tacoma--1870-1880; Pioneers--Tacoma; Hanson, Ackerson & Co. (Tacoma); Lumber industry--Tacoma--1870-1880; Mills--Tacoma; Steele Hotel (Tacoma); Hotels--Tacoma--1870-1880;

ca. 1873. "Old Town of Tacoma, W.T." Early stereopticon slide by Oliver Dennie, Portland, Oregon (From the collection of Dan Kerlee, Seattle, Washington). The building with darker roof in the distance at center-left is believed to be the Steele Hotel at 2105 No. 30th St. It was built in 1868 and was the first frame building and first hotel built in Tacoma. Also on the left near the foreground is a sign indicating "carpenter shop," possibly referring to the Ball & Bonney carpenter shop which opened between 1870 and 1872. On the right side of the photograph in the distance are reportedly a saloon and a dance hall. (dark roof, light exterior). This photograph was taken circa 1873 at the foot of the present No. 30th St. looking south. It was then called Second Street. (Prosch: McCarver and Tacoma, p. 179)

Cities & towns--Tacoma; Houses--Tacoma--1870-1880; Streets--Tacoma--1870-1880;

Passage to Secoma (Tugboat Annie). Saturday Evening Post 3/12/1932 p.18. Anton Otto Fischer, artist.

A young boy lounges on the grass in front of a bandstand placed on an enormous cedar tree stump in Wright Park in this circa 1915 photograph. One man is leaning against an open doorway cut into the stump and apparently conversing with another man in businessmen's attire. A large sign advertises "The Auditorium Orthophonic Victrola." TPL-487

Wright Park (Tacoma); Parks--Tacoma; Signs (Notices); Tree stumps--Tacoma;

ca. 1900. A bicycle leans against a young sapling at the north entrance to Wright Park in this photograph from around 1900. The road curving through the park is Yakima Avenue, which was closed to traffic by the Metropolitan Park Board in 1922. The two "dancing maidens" that stand at either side of the entrance were purchased by Clinton P. Ferry, the "Duke of Tacoma", in Brussels and presented to the city in 1891. Somewhat worse for wear after over 100 years, they still stand at the north end of the park. The tower at the far left is the tower on the old Pierce County Court House which stood at 1012 South G Street. (This image appears on the reverse of BU-10705)

Parks--Tacoma--1900-1910; Wright Park (Tacoma); Sculpture--Tacoma;

The Tacoma Safety Council and the Tacoma Police Department teamed up to promote traffic safety in the spring and summer of 1957. Volunteers, including the Fort Lewis servicemen pictured here, hoped to inspect every vehicle in Pierce County. This free community safety-check was held at the Starlite Drive-in, at South 83rd Street and South Tacoma Way. TAC 211.

Automobile inspections--Tacoma; Safety; Star-Lite Park In Theatre (Tacoma);

Traffic safety became a major concern in the growing community of Lakewood in the 1950s. The Traffic Safety Committee of the Lakes District Improvement Council and other agencies enlisted the help of area high school students in studying solutions to the problem. In this photograph from Spring, 1956 a joint task force of students from both Clover Park and Franklin Pierce High Schools visited the state capitol to further their research and provide input on traffic safety issues. Governor Arthur B. Langlie is seen standing at rear center.

Students--Lakewood--1950-1960; Students--Parkland--1950-1960; Langlie, Arthur B., 1900-1966; Governors;

ca. 1900. Hood St. Reservoir during its construction circa 1900. Teams of horses were used to drag materials or debris at the site. The reservoir was located at South 32nd and Yakima Ave. South. TPL-1551

Hood Street Reservoir (Tacoma); Reservoirs--Tacoma--1900-1910; Horses--Tacoma--1900-1910;