ca. 1925. The Lorenz Building, 1552-56 Market St. The Lorenz Building was constructed in 1889 and was designed by architect R. L. Robertson. From 1899- 1914, it was home to the Astor House, also known as the Hiroshimaya Hotel, the first major Japanese Hotel in Tacoma. In the mid 1920's, the building housed the Columbus Hotel and the Tacoma Ju Jitsu School.

Lorenz Building (Tacoma); Columbus Hotel (Tacoma); Tacoma Ju Jitsu School (Tacoma);

ca. 1926. Photomontage of Downtown Tacoma from the City Waterway, ordered by the Chamber of Commerce. Ships and warehouses in foreground, 11th Street bridge at left, major buildings shown in their relative locations. (filed with Argentum)

Business districts--Tacoma--1920-1930; Cityscapes--Tacoma--1920-1930; City Waterway (Tacoma);

ca. 1926. Elevated view of downtown Tacoma from the northwest circa 1926. Major buildings around 11th Street and Pacific Avenue are, left to right, Tacoma Building, Washington Building, Puget Sound Bank (National Realty ) Building, and Rust Building. (filed with Argentum)

Business districts--Tacoma--1920-1930; Tacoma Building (Tacoma); Washington Building (Tacoma); Puget Sound Bank Building (Tacoma); Rust Building (Tacoma);

ca. 1925. The 17 story Washington Building near completion. The building was officially opened at the end of June, 1925. The ground floor was occupied by the Brotherhood Cooperative Bank, Theodore Knutson's cigar store, Henrietta McNerthney's Purity Pharmacy and the "Orange Bower," the first orange mill in Tacoma. The orange mill's specialty was fresh squeezed orange juice, that you could watch being processed by a machine. (TNT 6/30/1925, pg. 13)(WSHS)

Washington Building (Tacoma);

ca. 1925. Washington Building as completed. Started 1919 by the Scandinavian-American Bank, unfinished when bank failed. The steel framework was completed by a group established for that purpose, the Washington-California Co. Frederick Webber, Original Architect; Doyle and Merriam, Architects for completion. The Washington Building opened at the end of June in 1925. (WSHS & Argentum)

Washington Building (Tacoma);

ca. 1925. The Washington Building, 1019 Pacific Ave., under construction. This modern structure was originally designed by Frederick Webber in the style of the Chicago School for the Scandinavian American Bank. Construction began in 1919 and halted when the bank failed. It was completed in 1925 when the Washington-California Co. purchased the steel skeleton and completed the building. At 17 stories, it was the second tallest building in the Northwest. When it opened, it contained 350 office suites, including its main occupant, the Brotherhood Co-Operative National Bank. (WSHS) (TDL 6/28/1925, pg. 2B)

Washington Building (Tacoma); Business districts--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Washington Building under construction in April of 1925. Started 1919 by the Scandinavian-American Bank and left unfinished when the bank failed, the building was completed and opened in June of 1925. At 17 stories, it was one of the skycrapers changing the skyline of Tacoma. The building is of steel framework, completed with glazed white terra cotta. The investment in the building was 1 1/2 million dollars. (filed with Argentum)

Washington Building (Tacoma); Office buildings--Tacoma--1920-1930; Building construction--Tacoma--1920-1930;

The R.E. Anderson building, on the southeast corner of 10th and Pacific, opened in December of 1941. Albert Gardner of Los Angeles was the architect of the modernistic building. Knapp Business College took a lease on the entire second floor, with Gale's Rugs as one of the tenants on the first floor. The modern design continued inside with all fluorescent lights and bronze trim. (T. Times 12/8/1941, pg. 4)

Anderson Building (Tacoma); Knapp College (Tacoma); Storefronts--Tacoma--1940-1950; Gales Rugs (Tacoma);

Exterior exposure of intersection at 24th and Commerce. For use in court by Metzger, Blair & Gardner. The sign on the building across the street announces, "Pierce County Welfare Dept., Food Stamp Div., 2315 Commerce St."

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1940-1950; Warehouses--Tacoma; Automobiles--Tacoma--1940-1950; Pierce County Welfare Department (Tacoma);

Exterior of Anderson Building showing Federal Insurance offices and sign; 10th and Pacific. This building was constructed in 1941 of concrete and crystal glass. The second floor was home to Knapp's Business College.

Anderson Building (Tacoma); Knapp College (Tacoma); Storefronts--Tacoma--1940-1950; Federal Insurance Group (Tacoma);

Exterior of Anderson Building showing Federal Insurance offices and sign; 10th and Pacific. This building was constructed in 1941 of concrete and crystal glass. The second floor was home to Knapp's Business College.

Anderson Building (Tacoma); Knapp College (Tacoma); Storefronts--Tacoma--1940-1950; Federal Insurance Group (Tacoma);

Exterior of Anderson Building showing Federal Insurance offices and sign; 10th and Pacific. This building was constructed in 1941 of concrete and crystal glass. The second floor was home to Knapp's Business College.

Anderson Building (Tacoma); Knapp College (Tacoma); Storefronts--Tacoma--1940-1950; Federal Insurance Group (Tacoma);

Interior of Broadway Branch, Puget Sound National Bank. Wooden counter from employee's side. Glass partitions, fancy wall covering and light fixtures, terrazzo flooring and countertops. Fueled by the wartime economy and the able leadership of bank president Reno Odlin, Puget Sound Bank began to grow dramatically. With the increased business, the bank needed additional help as well as replacements for those men serving in the war. The bank could not find enough employees to cover both the Broadway and the Lincoln branches, as well as the main branch. The Broadway branch was closed and the main branch remodeled in 1942.

Commercial facilities--Tacoma--1940-1950; Puget Sound National Bank (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma;

Main Street, Sumner, Washington. View of commercial buildings along Main Street including: Leverene Building, Klontz Market, Beaver's Thrifty Drugs, Usher's Bakery, The Mint Club, Schafer's Variety Store, and other businesses. (T. Times)

Business districts--Sumner; Klontz Market (Sumner); Beaver's Thrifty Drugs (Sumner); Usher's Bakery (Sumner); The Mint Club (Sumner); Schafer's Variety Store (Sumner);

Sidewalk view from 800 block of Pacific Avenue showing underneath of bay on Johnson-Cox building and fire escapes projecting above sidewalk. Olympus Hotel to Washington Building on left. View of street light standards, automobiles and pedestrians.

Business districts--Tacoma--1930-1940; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1930-1940;

In October of 1941, the long awaited "face lift" of 6th Avenue was almost complete. The curve in 6th Avenue, in front of Jason Lee School, was streamlined to widen the street and eliminate a sharp "jog" making access to the 6th Avenue business district both safer and faster. Steadily growing for many years, the 6th Avenue business district had become one of the biggest general trading centers in Tacoma outside the downtown area. The church at top, center is the Trinity Presbyterian Church at 1619 6th avenue. (T. Times 10/3/1941, pg. 7)

Business districts--Tacoma--1940-1950; Jason Lee Junior High School (Tacoma);

ca. 1941. View of Puget Sound National Bank from across street. Building for National Reality Company by Heath and Twichell, Architects, 1910. Washington Building in background.

Commercial facilities--Tacoma--1940-1950; Business districts--Tacoma--1940-1950; Puget Sound National Bank (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma;

View from the top of the Tacoma Drug Co. building looking south onto Pacific Avenue and Jefferson Avenue. A clear view of Union Station and West Coast Grocery Company directly across. The center area shows a Mobilgas Station with Pacific Storage directly behind, Walt's Tavern is on the right side. Photo ordered by Electrical Products Consolidated, a sign manufacturer.

Business districts--Tacoma; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1940-1950; Roofs--Tacoma; Electrical Products Consolidated (Tacoma); Tacoma Drug Co. (Tacoma);

View of intersection on South 56th Street and Pacific Avenue, Veltex Motor Inn Service Station, Mountain Tavern, Maddex Beauty Salon, Cole's Supermarket, Murphy's Bakery and a Budweiser delivery truck are on left of street. Photo ordered by Henry Arnold Peterson, a prominent Tacoma attorney, his office was in the Rust Building on Pacific Avenue in downtown Tacoma.

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1940-1950; Commercial facilities--Tacoma; Neighborhoods--Tacoma; Utility poles--Tacoma--1940-1950; Storefronts--Tacoma;

View of South 56th Street and Pacific Avenue intersection, with businesses on both side of street. This intersection has one traffic signal light directing traffic. Photo ordered by Henry Arnold Peterson, a prominent Tacoma lawyer, his offices were in downtown Tacoma in the Rust Building. TPL-9281

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1940-1950; Commercial facilities--Tacoma; Signal lights--Tacoma; Neighborhoods--Tacoma; Utility poles--Tacoma--1940-1950; Automobiles--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Montgomery Ward Company. This is a brick, three-storyed building. A ladder truck, an automobile and a delivery truck are on the street. TPL-2534

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1940-1950; Stores & shops--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fire engines & equipment--Tacoma--1940-1950;

View of South Tacoma Way and South 60th Street intersection. Mobilgas service station and Adelphi Court Apartments both located on South Tacoma Way. View of utility poles and parked cars on side of street, photo ordered by North Pacific Bank, possibly for a commercial loan or branch expansion. North Pacific Bank was located on 5446-48 South Tacoma Way.

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1940-1950; Automobile service stations--Tacoma; Apartment houses--Tacoma; Adelphi Court Apartments (Tacoma); Mobilgas Service Station (Tacoma); North Pacific Bank (Tacoma);

View of South Tacoma Way and South 60th Street intersection. Mobilgas service station and apartment housing on right side of the street. A man is waiting for the bus at the Tacoma Transit bus stop, view of utility poles, photo ordered by North Pacific Bank, possibly for a commercial loan or branch expansion. North Pacific Bank was located on 5446-48 South Tacoma Way.

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1940-1950; Automobile service stations--Tacoma; Apartment houses--Tacoma; Bus stops--Tacoma; Mobilgas Service Station (Tacoma); North Pacific Bank (Tacoma);

Arctic Bottling Company for H.J. Geissler. This 1928 Moorish-style building was designed by architect Silas E. Nelsen for Wagner Motors. It served as an automobile dealership for many years. Elaborate detailing around windows on the first and second floors distinquish its style. See also D19973-2. TPL-1782

Commercial buildings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Arctic Bottling Co. (Tacoma); Silas E. Nelsen Architects (Tacoma);

Exterior of Pacific First Federal Building, home of the Savings and Loan Association, at the corner of 11th and Pacific Ave. Gerrit Vander Ende, President. This Romanesque style building was originally built in 1891 and designed by Proctor & Dennis, Architects. It was demolished and replaced by the current First Federal Building in the sixties.

Pacific First Federal Building (Tacoma);

Street scene in Tacoma, photographed on June 5, 1951. Several cars parked along brick building and across the street.

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1950-1960; Automobiles--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Brewery and Tacoma Plumbing Supply as seen from street on June 5, 1951.

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma Plumbing Supply Co. (Tacoma); Columbia Breweries, Inc. (Tacoma);

Exterior of Puget Sound Bank Building showing offices of Hansen and Rowland, Inc., Insurance. A wrap around arrow is used to advertise the location. Pacific Avenue, both north and south of the bank building, is shown as well as automobiles on the street. TPL-8688

Commercial facilities--Tacoma--1940-1950; Business districts--Tacoma--1940-1950; Puget Sound National Bank (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma;

Food Store for H.J. Geissler. This is a three story building with first-floor store front next door to a parking garage on one side and a three story building with the B&B Cafe on the street front. An automobile is parked in front and another with top down and rumble seat open is entering the garage.

Commercial buildings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Automobiles--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Sears Window, Mr. Moor. Toys fill the window display including a fantasy model train, PT boat, tank, toy soldier and sailor, dolls, stuffed animals, Dumbo, and a clown. A poster of animals playing table tennis and others line the back of the display.

Commercial facilities--Tacoma; Sears, Roebuck & Co. (Tacoma); Window displays--Tacoma--1940-1950;