On November 5, 1899, over 50,000 admirers lined the tracks of the Northern Pacific Railroad to welcome home the First Washington Volunteer Infantry Regiment, the "Fighting First," from their battle service in the Philippines. The crowd was so thick that it lined the track for miles, stretching upward to cover rooftops with a mass of humanity. The soldiers had been absent for 18 months, a year spent training and six months spent fighting Filipino insurgents in Manila and Luzon. Over 1,125 men left for the Philippines of which 129 never returned, felled by battle or disease. The Regiment was made up of 12 companies, mostly National Guard, from Seattle (2), Spokane (2), Walla Walla, Vancouver, Centralia, Dayton, Yakima, Waitsburg, Ellensburg and Tacoma. Picture of the crowd awaiting the arrival of the volunteers' train. On the left of the track were, front to back, 1701 Commerce (built 1892), a building at the corner of Jefferson and So. 17th St. and 1511-41 Pacific Ave. The street running along the left side of the track is Hood St.; the track is the Northern Pacific Portland branch.

First Washington Volunteer Infantry Regiment (Wash.); Philippine Insurrection, (1899-1902); Crowds; Homecomings;

ca. 1900. The West & Wert Store, Roy, Washington, circa 1900. Almon W. Wert was a prominent businessman who had arrived in Roy about 1892. Born in Ohio in 1860, he had married Mattie West who is pictured above along with her mother and himself. He had purchased the above store (later called Wolf's) and later bought the entire block. Mr. Wert started a mill that manufactured hoop poles and also built a large windmill tower. He sold the store and the block he owned to Kincaid & Dobler from Sumner. He later farmed and ran a livery stable before purchasing an interest in the Roy State Bank. Stays in Tacoma and California then followed before Mr. Wert passed away in March of 1932. He and his wife are buried in the Roy Cemetery. (Baccus, "Roy Area Pierce County, Washington," p. 29-30-article) (Photograph and identification courtesy of Ilma Swanson Kandle)

West & Wert Store (Roy); Wert, Almon W.; Wert, Mattie L.; Families--Roy;

Raging flood waters caused plenty of damage in Pierce County, particularly the valley area, during the winter of 1933-34. Steps were taken to prevent damage in case of future high water. Large amounts of sheet pilings were used as barriers since the pilings would hold for ten years before natural decay set in. The above photograph may have been taken on the Stuck River, a 10-mile stream connecting the White River near Auburn with the Puyallup River near Sumner. (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 5-13-34, A-2)

Pilings (Civil engineering)--Sumner; Floods--Sumner;

ca. 1900. This was the West & Wert general merchandise store in Roy, Washington, circa 1900. The store was owned and operated by A.W. (Almon) Wert and his father in law, Mr. West. Mr. Wert, an Ohio native, came to Roy about 1892. He was to later own a hoop pole mill, farm, raise cattle, run a livery stable and organize the Roy State Bank. Standing on the store porch is Mabel Swanson with baby Ilma. Almon (A.W.) Wert is next to the lightpole. Charles Swanson is pictured driving the horse and wagon carrying material for Mr. Wert's hoop factory. "Pug" the dog is alertly standing guard outside the store. The Native American couple sitting on the porch and the other men are not identified. (Photograph and identification courtesy of Ilma Swanson Kandle) (Baccus, "Roy Area Pierce County, Washington," p. 29-30-article on Mr. Wert)

West & Wert Store (Roy); Wert, Almon W.; Swanson, Mabel; Swanson, Ilma; Swanson, Charles; Dogs--Roy; Carts & wagons--Roy;

ca. 1927. Seventeen children sit or stand on a fire truck in front of a fire station believed to be Fire Station #1 located at 425 Tacoma Ave. So. in this circa 1927 photograph. The station was built in 1919. In the background are the Leroy Apartments, 415 Fawcett Ave. (Additional information provided by a reader)

Tacoma Fire Department (Tacoma); Fire engines & equipment--Tacoma--1920-1930; Fire stations--Tacoma--1920-1930; Children--Tacoma--1920-1930; Leroy Apartments (Tacoma);

ca. 1926. As the Foss family expanded their operations into the Olympic Peninsula, Henry Foss rented the home on the extreme left when in the area to oversee the company's growth. It was also used by Foss employees when they were towing on the river. The cabin was located on Rialto Beach, out from the town of Mora, near the mouth of the Quillayute River. The large home on the right was the summer home of the magician "Alexander the Great," better known on stage as the one who "knows all, sees all." In 1926, Foss was awarded a contract by Washington Pulp & Paper Corporation of Port Angeles to tow a barge load per day of pulp wood from the Quillayute River on the Olympic Peninsula to the company's Port Angeles plant. The Foss #21 was assigned to this task and continued until the pulp wood camps there were closed in 1930. In 1926, Foss also purchased the Angeles Gravel & Supply Co. and took over their operations. Foss executive Henry Berg was placed in charge of the Port Angeles office. They continued to capitalize on future Peninsula towing opportunities, including the large scale movement of materials for the paving of what is now Highway 101. (photograph courtesy of the William T. Case collection) ("Foss: A Living Legend" by Bruce Johnson and Mike Skalley) (TDL 8/14/1927, pg. G-1)

Foss, Henry O., 1891-1986--Homes & haunts; Alexander--Homes & haunts; Cabins--Olympic Peninsula; Foss Launch & Tug Co. (Tacoma);

In April of 1924, the fifth grade students from Orting School were photographed in front of their school building. For a list of the names printed on the back of the photograph, see Series RUCSHNER Image 001B. Theresa Rucshner, front seated row 4th from left, was eleven years old in this photograph. (scanned copy only - no hard copy) Photograph donated by Shirley Frasl Sigafoos.

School children--Orting; Orting School--Group portraits; Rucshner, Theresa; Orting School (Orting); Public schools--Orting--1920-1930;

Logging railroad bridge being built for Weyerhaeuser near Elma, WA. Timbers used in construction may have been cut from trees nearby as evidenced by several tree stumps. (copy negative on file; original owned by Kathleen Ramsey)

Railroad bridges--Elma; Bridges--Elma; Weyerhauser Timber Co. (Elma);

This information was written on the back of the April 11, 1924 group portrait of the fifth grade students at Orting School. The back listed the names of the majority of the children in the photo. To see the photograph itself, see Series RUCSHNER Image 001B. (scanned copy only - no hard copy) back of photograph donated by Shirley Frasl Sigafoos.

School children--Orting; Orting School (Orting); Public schools--Orting--1920-1930;

ca. 1911. The student body of Oak Knoll School, District No. 5, posed for a group picture in 1911. Front row: Frank Otremba, John Dilley, Ed Patzke, _ Bevins, Waldo Smith, George Goymer. Second row: Laura Pflugmacher, Mildred Carter, Almira Kawelmacher, Irene Smith, Thelma Carter, Zelda Lenz, Evelyn Laverne and Ella Otremba. Third row: Edna Kawelmacher, Ida Smeiden, Minnie Patzke, Louise Laverne, Elizabeth Otremba, Fred Otremba, George Carter and Freida Jeschke. Fourth row (8th grade): Homer Hawk, John Pflugmacher, Oscar Lindahl, John Carter, Helen Dilley. Alexa McGilvary was the teacher. Oak Knoll School was located east of Roy on Harts Lake Loop Road. It was on the west side of 8th Avenue South, going toward the junction with 288th Street South.

Oak Knoll School; Students--1910-1920;

ca. 1923. Photograph of a sculpture of a young woman by Allan Clark, representing "Inspiration." The statue is one of three located over the front entrance of the Suzzallo Library at the University of Washington, Seattle. Sculptor Allan Clark was born in Montana, but spent many of his years as a youth in Tacoma. He attended Stadium High School and the College of Puget Sound. At the age of 27, in 1923, he received his largest commission, 21 statues for the new library at the University in Seattle. Eighteen were of historical figures cast in terra cotta, but the the three largest were of cast stone. The three statues were to symbolize the concepts of "Mastery, Inspiration, and Thought." Photograph courtesy of Mrs. Harry P. Clark

Clark, Allan, 1896-1950--Associated objects; Sculpture--Seattle;

ca. 1923. Sculpture by Tacoma artist Allan Clark representing "Thought." This sculpture is one of three over the main entrance of the Suzzallo Library, University of Washington, Seattle. The trio personify the concepts of "Mastery, Inspiration and Thought." In 1923, 27 year old sculptor Allan Clark received a commission for 21 statues for the new library. The other 18 are figures cast in terra cotta of famous men. Photograph courtesy of Mrs. Harry P. Clark.

Clark, Allan, 1896-1950--Associated objects; Sculpture--Seattle;

ca. 1911. This large group of men and women attended the 42nd annual session of the Grand Lodge of Washington I.O.G.T. Chautauqua on Vashon Island circa 1911. I.O.G.T. stood for the Independent (now International) Order of Good Templars. Several in the group above are wearing the I.O.G.T. regalia. The organization promoted temperance and brotherhood.

Independent Order of Good Templars (Wash.); Meetings--Vashon Island;

ca. 1920. Unidentified farm on unidentified lake probably in the Lakewood/Spanaway region of Pierce County. Aerial photograph was taken circa 1920 by the Barnes Aviation Co.

Aerial photographs; Farms--1920-1930; Lakes & ponds--Washington;

North side of American Lake. This area view was taken by Barnes Aviation Co. in the spring of 1920. The large building on the waters edge at the bottom of the photo is the American Lake Boathouse. Hiding in the trees just above the Boathouse is the American Lake Inn. Both buildings have since been demolished. The boathouse, called Martin's American Lake Boathouse, was destroyed in a supervised burn by the Lakewood Fire Department in June of 1955. The boathouse had been built around the turn of the 20th century and served the community for many years as a recreational center for boating and fishing and as the site for dances and social functions. It gradually deteriorated and plans were made to replace it with a modern structure. The American Lake Inn was also built in the first decade of the 20th century. By May of 1904, the 20-room resort was open for business. It was owned by Mrs. H.I. Nolan. Included was a handsome pavilion for exclusive use of the Inn's guests. (TNT 6-19-1955- article on boathouse burn; TDL 5-29-04, p. 7-article on American Lake Inn)

American Lake (Wash.); Aerial photographs; Aerial views; American Lake Boathouse (Lakewood); American Lake Inn (Lakewood);

On Sunday April 13, 1930, seven miners and mine inspectors, grimy with coal dust, gathered at one of the small flat bed cars used to carry workers back and forth in the mine at Carbonado. At 6 p.m. on April 12th, a terrific coal gas explosion on the 2nd level of the mine, about 1500 feet underground, had killed 17 miners. Rescue workers were kept back by coal gas fumes for almost 2 hours after the blast. They eventually reached the dead and injured miners about a mile from the mouth of the mine. Pictured, left to right, are John G. Schoning of the US Bureau of Mines; William R. Reese, chief state mine inspector; Robert Simson, superintendent of the mine; H.A. Wilson, general manager of the Pacific Coast Coal Co.; George T. Wake, deputy mine inspector. Seated are Martin Hamlin and William Williams, safety representatives of the mines. TPL-2783, BGN 363 (TNT 4-14-1930 p.1; TDL 4-14-1930, pg. 1)

Pacific Coast Coal Co. (Carbonado); Coal mining; Mine accidents--Carbonado; Explosions; Schoning, John G.; Reese, William R.; Simson, Robert; Wilson, H.A.; Wake, George T.; Hamlin, Martin; Williams; William;

John J. Lemon house on Day Island. Brick chimney, porch, wood exterior. According to the February, 1957, obituary of Charles Henry Lemon, son of John and Mary Ann Lemon, the family home site was purchased by Mr. John Lemon from an early Tacoma missionary. (Wheelock - Lemon collection)

Lemon, John J.--Homes & haunts; Houses--Day Island;

ca. 1923. "Mastery," sculpture by Allan Clark located over the main doorway at the Suzzallo Library at the University of Washington, Seattle. In 1923, at the age of 27, sculptor Allan Clark of Tacoma was given his biggest commission, 21 statues intended for the new library at the University of Washington. Eighteen were terra cotta figures of famous men who had influenced history. The three largest statues were cast stone figures designed to embody the concepts of "Mastery, Inspiration and Thought." Photograph courtesy of Mrs. Harry P. Clark

Clark, Allan, 1896-1950--Associated objects; Sculpture--Seattle;

Mt. Rainier from the Ohop Valley

ca. 1910. Members of the A.S.M.W.I. A. (Amalgamated Sheet Metal Workers International Association), Local #99 of Seattle posed outside the Fisher Flouring Mills Co. circa 1910. Nearly all are dressed in overalls. Although the photographer, J.J. Kneisle has labeled the picture "A.S.M.W.I.A., " the union's name had changed to the Sheet Metal Workers International Alliance in 1903. The union movement was growing with membership of over 100 local unions and over 5000 people at the turn of the century. In 1924 the union's name would change again to the Sheet Metal Workers International Association. (www.smwia.org)

Labor unions--Seattle; Sheet Metal Workers (Seattle);

Western Washington Fair. Western State Hospital produce exhibit.