ca. 1889. This photograph was taken shortly after the Bostwick Block was completed in 1889. Designed by early Tacoma architect O. P. Dennis, the Bostwick was remodeled in 1924. At that time, the wood-clad exterior was faced with "Duralite" stucco as seen today with its newly painted facade.

Hotel Bostwick (Tacoma); Hotels--Tacoma--1880-1890;

On Wednesday July 12, 1899, 375 members of the National Editorial Association and their wives arrived in Tacoma for a short visit. They were met at the Tacoma depot by a reception committee consisting of members of the Tacoma Press club, various citizens, and the Tacoma Military Band. After breakfast at the Hotel Tacoma, the editors were taken by barge to the Point Defiance waterfront where their visit included a clambake. It was anticipated that entertaining the newspaper men and their wives would cost a substantial amount of money, and plans were made to raise the required $700. The Military Band was directed by Julius Adler and played daily concerts at Tacoma Parks, travelling from site to site on a tiny private streetcar. Their uniforms consisted of dark trousers and scarlet coats with bright blue trim. This photograph was recently donated by Ann Jorgensen and is from the Alta Scofield Collection/TPL (TNT 6/25/1950, PG. D-11, names of band members in caption)

Point Defiance Park (Tacoma); Tacoma Military Band (Tacoma); Military bands--United States;

ca. 1905. Stacks and rows of women's clothing, including coats, dresses and perhaps lingerie, on display at Peoples department store circa 1905. The store was probably getting ready for its annual spring white sales which attracted hordes of shoppers. Peoples opened in Tacoma in 1888 and remained a vibrant presence in downtown Tacoma until 1983.

Peoples (Tacoma); Department stores--Tacoma--1900-1910; Women--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1900-1910;

ca. 1905. James Delbert and Frank Armstrong (left to right) stand at the entrance to the Armstrong Bros. grocery store at 5648 So. Union Avenue (now So. Tacoma Way) in the early part of the 20th century. Vegetables fill the window space at left while paintings are on display at right. The store was earlier known as Armstrong & Baker.

Armstrong Bros. (Tacoma); Grocery stores--Tacoma--1900-1910; Armstrong, James Delbert; Armstrong, Frank;

ca. 1914. The staff of the Queen City Market lined up in front of the store which had opened in early March of 1914. It was located in a three-story building at 1115 Broadway in downtown Tacoma, adjoining the Horgan-Parker department store. The market had a modern refrigerating system installed with ammonia pipes in all showcases. The Queen City Market offered for sale meats, butter, eggs, cheese, fresh fish, oysters and crabs, and misc. groceries. It was managed by Albert Bruner. (TDL 3-1-1914, p. 3-article)

Queen City Market (Tacoma); Grocery stores--Tacoma--1910-1920;

ca. 1904. In November of 1903, Henry A. Rhodes opened his grand emporium at 11th and C (now Broadway) Streets in one of Tacoma's first big building projects to be completed after the "Panic" of the 1890's. The new Rhodes Brothers department store was modeled after Philadelphia's Wanamakers and Chicago's Marshall Fields. With its three floors of new merchandise, it was a far cry from the one room tea and coffee shop opened by Mr. Rhodes in 1892. For its three day Grand Opening, an orchestra played while Tacomans visited in droves to admire the decorations and elegant window displays. (Photograph donated by the Rhodes Reunion Committee)

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

ca. 1938. Rhodes Brothers Store, circa 1938; Christmas display of handbags and silk stockings. Rhodes Brothers Department Store opened at 950 Broadway in 1903. By the time that this photograph was taken, around 1938, the clutter of the earlier years had been replaced by spacious aisles and attractive displays. The store was well known for its festive seasonal decorations. (photograph donated by the Rhodes Reunion Committee)

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

On May 31, 1914, a guest was photographed posing in front of the Park Hotel, 802 A St. The Park was built in 1908 from a design by Heath and Twichell, architects. It was built of concrete. The building stood at the intersection of South 8th and A St. for almost 70 years before falling victim to the wrecker's ball. (photograph courtesy of the Tom Stenger collection)

Hotels--Tacoma; Park Hotel (Tacoma); Concrete construction;

This photograph was taken May 31, 1914 of the, left to right, Union Motor Co. (808-10 A St.), the I.M. Larsen Awning & Tent Factory (804-06 A St.) and the Park Hotel (802 A St.) The entire block was demolished in 1977 to make way for a parking lot. (photograph courtesy of the Tom Stenger collection)

Hotels--Tacoma; Park Hotel (Tacoma); Union Motor Co. (Tacoma); I.M. Larsen Awning & Tent Factory (Tacoma);

ca. 1935. Photograph taken of the destroyed Tacoma Hotel after the disastrous fire on October 17, 1935. Ivy was still clinging to the lower walls despite the intense heat and in the right foreground was the Tacoma Totem Pole. The Tudor Hotel was built in 1884 from a design by Stanford White's architectural firm of McKim, Mead and White. The Tacoma landmark was widely recognized as one of the finest hotels on the Pacific Coast. It was not rebuilt after the fire and although its annex continued as the new Tacoma Hotel, it never achieved the same prominence as the original. (photograph courtesy of the Tom Stenger collection)

Fires--Tacoma--1930-1940; Hotels--Tacoma; Tacoma Hotel (Tacoma);

ca. 1907. Belle Sharpe (left) and Lillian McPherson stand in front of the Elite Cafe in this circa 1907 photograph. The Elite Cafe was at 2405 Pacific Avenue, Tacoma. The proprietors of the cafe were C.W. Sharpe and Collin McPherson. From the collection of Beverly Knoll.

Elite Cafe (Tacoma); Cafes--Tacoma--1900-1910; Sharpe, Belle; McPherson, Lillian; Women--Tacoma--1900-1910;

ca. 1910. Carl W. Sharpe (left), and Clarence R. Sharpe, Manager, sit on the front porch of the Longmire Springs Hotel. From the collection of Beverly Knoll.

Longmire Springs Hotel; Mount Rainier National Park (Wash.)

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;

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;

ca. 1911. South Tacoma Drug Store, 5401 South Tacoma Way Fred Ludwig, proprietor. This circa 1911 photograph shows the interior of the drugstore along with employees and customer(s). Frederick Andrew Ludwig, University of Washington School of Pharmacy graduate, is in the foreground, far left. Others in the photograph (order unknown) are: Lee Jewell, Erny Bittner, J.A. Dague, and Dr. Carlsen (possibly E.L. Carlsen). Mr. Ludwig partnered with pioneer pharmacist J.A. Dague to buy Tacoma's oldest pharmacy, Yuill & McKenzie, in 1910. The pharmacy was moved to 5401 South Tacoma Way in 1911. In 1916 Mr. Ludwig acquired sole ownership of the drugstore which now bore his name. Mr. Ludwig, founder of the Tacoma chain of Ludwig Drug Stores, died on February 4, 1976, at the age of 88. (TNT 2-5-76, D-9-obituary)

South Tacoma Drug Co. (Tacoma); Ludwig Drugs (Tacoma); Drugstores--Tacoma--1910-1920; Ludwig, Frederick Andrew; Dague, J.A.; Jewell, Lee;

ca. 1892. The Owen Woods' Building at 1148 Broadway is pictured here shortly after its completion in 1892. It was designed by architects Roath & Mendell with Michael McDonnell as contractor. The building was available for rent at the time of this photograph and interested parties could contact the Tacoma Rent Guaranty Co. The Arcade Store, and later the McCormack Brothers Dept. Store, occupied the building before Sears, Roebuck & Co. purchased it in 1935. Sears added two adjacent buildings to its store during expansion. The building was restored and renamed the Cornerstone Building in 1982.

Department stores--Tacoma--1890-1900;

ca. 1931. An automobile drives down the road in front of the Bar-B-Q Inn and Kennedy's Garage, probably in Tillicum (Lakewood), circa 1931.

Bar-B-Q Inn (Lakewood); Kennedy's Garage (Lakewood); Automobile service stations--Lakewood--1930-1940; Automobiles--1930-1940;

ca. 1909. Post card showing the First Bank of Wilkeson, Washington, circa 1909. From the collection of N.P. Anderson.

Banks--Wilkeson--1900-1910;

ca. 1909. The First Bank in Wilkeson, WA. Four men stand in front of the bank. The man at the far right is probably Tobie J. Anderson, the cashier at the bank. The man in the long coat and bowler hat is probably W. H. Pringle, the president of the bank. From the collection of N. P. Anderson. TPL-9752

Banks--Wilkeson--1900-1910; First Bank (Wilkeson);

ca. 1885. Five men are standing in front of the Halstead House in this photograph by U. P. Hadley that dates between 1879 and 1885. Located at 707 Pacific Avenue, the Halstead House was one of the nicer hotels in Tacoma at that time; it even had a covered walkway leading to the "water closet" out back. Built in 1879 by Jacob Halstead, in 1885 the proprietors were Freeman S. Crosby and Hugh Kenealy. The building to the south of the hotel, with the large Standard Steilacoom Beer sign was the Steilacoom Beer Hall, 711 Pacific Avenue, owned by Fred Seger.

Hotels--Tacoma--1880-1890; Halstead House (Tacoma); Business districts--Tacoma--1880-1890; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1880-1890;

ca. 1972. Puget Sound National Bank, University Place Branch Robert Billsbrough Price - Architect

ca. 1909. Tobie J. Anderson in coat and hat, gloves in hand, selecting a cigar at the Miners Trading Co. general store in Wilkeson, WA. The shelves and display cases of the store are filled with merchandise, and there is a victrola sitting on the counter. From the collection of N. P. Anderson TPL-9750

Miners Trading Co. (Wilkeson); General stores--Wilkeson--1900-1910; Anderson, Tobie J.;

ca. 1929. Office and officers of the Pacific Match Co. Inc. in 1929. Seated at desk, Osee V. Snyder, president-general manager. Standing, 2nd from left, John O. Pasnick, bookkeeper; 6th from left, Tobi J. Anderson, bookkeeper; 5th from right, Fredrick J. Cronkhite, secretary-treasurer. From the collection of N.P. Anderson.

Match industry--Tacoma--1920-1930; Pacific Match Co. (Tacoma);

ca. 1935. Photograph taken of the ruined Tacoma Hotel after the disastrous fire on October 17, 1935. The hotel was totally destroyed by a fire that started out in the north end of the basement in the early morning hours. (photograph courtesy of the Tom Stenger collection)

Fires--Tacoma--1930-1940; Hotels--Tacoma; Tacoma Hotel (Tacoma);

ca. 1887. This street scene of Pacific Avenue looking north from the corner of 11th and Pacific was taken by an unknown photographer in 1887. The brick building at the far left is the Merchant's National Bank Building. Several doors down is the Kaufman & Berliner dry goods store, 948 Pacific. Across the street, at the far right, is Mrs. Mary Fowler's millinery store. The Northern Pacific Headquarters Building is under construction at the far end of the block. The Tacoma Old City Hall will not be built for another four years.

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1880-1890; Business districts--Tacoma--1880-1890; Merchant's National Bank (Tacoma); Fowler Millinery (Tacoma)

West Side Grocery (now the Tides Tavern), 2925 Harborview Dr., Gig Harbor . Docked beside it is the "Florence K," a passenger steamer built in Tacoma by Crawford & Reid in 1903. The "Florence K" would end her service career as a ferry called the "Beeline." Buildings to the right in this undated photograph are part of the Skansie Brothers shipyard. TPL-191, BU-12833 (Doecher Collection DOE- N001)

West Side Grocery (Gig Harbor); Grocery stores--Gig Harbor; Skansie's Shipbuilding Co. (Gig Harbor); Steamboats--Gig Harbor;

ca. 1885. Photograph of "The Tacoma" (Hotel) shortly after it was built - before any of the later additions were added. The massive hotel, focus of much civic pride, opened on August 8, 1884. It had cost more than $250,000 to build, an enormous sum at the time, and was the design of architect Stanford White in 1881 who, according to Murray Morgan's South on the Sound, had been commissioned by the Northern Pacific Railroad and Tacoma Land Co. In subsequent years, several additions and renovations were made to further extend the hotel's reputation as "the finest west of the Mississippi and north of San Francisco." The Tacoma Hotel even boasted of having for a time a tame bear named Jack who spent time in the hotel lobby and was a drinker of beer. The elegant hostelry attracted many prominent visitors who enjoyed breathtaking views and luxurious furnishings. It was destroyed by fire on October 17, 1935 and never rebuilt.

Tacoma Hotel (Tacoma); Hotels--Tacoma--1880-1890;

ca. 1884. The Tacoma Hotel, 913 A street, with its commanding view of the Tacoma tideflats, was one of the best hotels north of San Francisco. Designed by the famous architect Stanford White, it had its official opening in August of 1884. The scaffolding at the north end of the building suggests that it was still under construction when this photograph was taken. Note the Northern Pacific Railroad tracks crossing the almost completely barren tideflats; mills and manufacturing structures had yet to be fully built. The body of water at the left is the Puyallup River as it flows unfettered into Commencement Bay. The massive Tacoma Hotel was destroyed by fire on October 17, 1935, and was never rebuilt; its annex would be remodeled and called the "new" Tacoma Hotel in January, 1936.

Tacoma Hotel (Tacoma);

ca. 1890. The Arlington Hotel was an impressive sight on Pacific Avenue for forty years before its demolition in 1930. Built by Jim Dorsey with architectural plans by C. Langlois in 1889, the hotel was first listed as 2023 Pacific Avenue before its address was later changed to 1955 Pacific Avenue. The 3+ story structure was built primarily of wood and contained multiple windows. A sample room was installed for the benefit of traveling salesmen to show their wares. Imported and domestic wines, liquors and cigars were available for purchase. Some of the hotel's staff, including the bartender in long apron, and the hotel watchdog, posed at the front entrance in this circa 1890 photograph. (copy of original) Bi-Centennial Project # 75346-2; BU-11870

Arlington Hotel (Tacoma); Hotels--Tacoma--1890-1900;