The Spot Delicatessen, 2530 Jefferson Ave., as it appeared in June of 1931. The caption reads "A real place to eat." According to the sign left, the specialty of the house was "chicken on toast." Photograph ordered by Mr. Sanwick. Bowen 310-242

Fisher's Department Store, 1104 Broadway. Photograph of crowd several feet deep outside Fisher's store in June of 1931. Vaudeville act in window. Girls in costume, with trumpets, stand on store marquee. Photo for Fox Broadway Theater Bowen # 310-2406

The Pine, 7052 Pacific Ave, as it appeared in June of 1931. The photograph of the diner was shot at night in heavy rain. Neon sign and sign on roof both proclaim "Dine at the Pine." Bowen # 310-245

Point Defiance Park in June of 1931, showing lake. Bowen #310-246

Car #129 was involved in an accident in Parkland during the summer of 1931. This July 1, 1931, view of the front of the streetcar appears to show a large dent and also scratches below. This streetcar may have been the one involved in a fatal collision involving an automobile that occurred the evening of June 30, 1931. Jack Miller, age 15, died on Wednesday morning, July 1st, and his father H.F. Miller was seriously injured. Photograph taken on behalf of Tacoma Railway & Power Co. G66.2-060 (TNT 7-1-31, p. 1-article; TDL 7-1-31, p. 1-article)

Street railroads--Tacoma--1930-1940; Tacoma Railway & Power Co. (Tacoma)--Accidents; Mass transit--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Car #129, in front of the car barns at 12th & A. This streetcar had been involved earlier in an accident in Parkland. There appears to be a large dent on the front below one of the windows. In addition, there are numerous scratches on the streetcar, some of which may have been caused in the accident. This accident may have involved high speed contact with an automobile on June 30th where Jack Miller, 15, was fatally injured and his father H.F. Miller, hospitalized. Photograph ordered by Tacoma Railway & Power Co. TPL-5834; G66.2-036 (TNT 7-1-31, p. 1-article; TDL 7-1-31, p. 1-article)

Street railroads--Tacoma--1930-1940; Tacoma Railway & Power Co. (Tacoma)--Accidents; Mass transit--Tacoma--1930-1940;

In July of 1931, the Publix Market and Garage at 1110-16 Pacific Ave. was under construction. North Coast Service Garage and Pacific Ave. Building Co. were the builders of the structure and Roberts & Johnson were the contractors. The structure was 9 stories with a "Z System" parking garage.

Garages--Tacoma--1930-1940;

This view of Tacoma's harbor is believed to have been taken on July 3, 1931, from the Milwaukee Dock. In the background is thought to be the Port of Tacoma grain elevator. Photograph ordered by the Cascade Timber Co. G27.1-064

Piers & wharves--Tacoma--1930-1940; Harbors--Tacoma;

Soldiers from the 10th Field Artillery, Fort Lewis, gather in a field in South Tacoma on July 3, 1931. Along the road behind them are several businesses including The Moon lunch room and a building with a sign that says Dew-kist Farm. There is also a fireworks stand. TPL-7088

Soldiers--Tacoma--1930-1940; Fireworks--Tacoma--1930-1940;

The Washington Air College at Mueller-Harkins Airport. Boland # A10414

Airports--Lakewood--1930-1940; Mueller-Harkins Airport (Lakewood); Washington Air College (Lakewood)

The Tacoma Field Inn at Tacoma Field (Pierce County Municipal Airport) in Lakewood. The inn served "Notter's Chicken Dinners" and Medosweet ice cream. TPL-7089

Restaurants--Lakewood--1930-1940; Tacoma Field Inn (Lakewood); Tacoma Field (Lakewood);

Soldiers from the 148th Field Artillery, Fort Lewis on horseback in the 1931 Tacoma 4th of July Parade. The parade is heading south on Pacific Ave. Stores and shops on the west side of Pacific in the 1100 block can be seen in the background. TPL-7091

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Soldiers--Tacoma--1930-1940;

In 1931, the Foss Launch & Tug Company operated the largest fleet of tugs on the Puget Sound out of their waterfront office building at 400 Dock Street. This photograph from July of 1931 shows twelve Foss tugs (and a small service boat) lined up by size next to the company's office building. The largest tug, at the far left, is the Andrew Foss, 97 feet long, built in 1905. The smallest tug, at the far right next to the service boat, is the Peggy Foss, 32 feet long, built in 1912. On Monday November 23, 1931 a fire destroyed the Foss company offices. They rebuilt at the same site, but in 1943 they moved to the Middle Waterway. TPL-7092

Foss Launch & Tug Co. (Tacoma); Tugboats--Tacoma--1930-1940

Line of Foss tugboats, from big to small, next to dock. TPL-7093, TPL-9073

Foss Launch & Tug Co. (Tacoma); Tugboats--Tacoma--1930-1940;

The scene of an accident involving a Tacoma Railway & Power streetcar was photographed on July 7, 1931. Boland photographers took a series of pictures in the area near Pacific Luthern College (now University) showing the distance from the railroad crossing in several directions. This view is labeled "135 feet East of the Eastrail of the South bound Spanaway track at Parkland." On the right hand side of the street is the Parkland Laundry and in the foreground, a building containing a lunchroom and possibly a barbershop. This accident is believed to have occurred on June 30, 1931, when the southbound streetcar struck an automobile heading west. Witnesses reported that the car was carried by the streetcar for more than 75 feet. Jack Miller, age 15, died at the county hospital the following morning, July 1st, and his father H.F. Miller was seriously injured. H. F. Miller had been the driver of the automobile. Photograph ordered by Tacoma Railway & Power Co. TPL-477; G73.1-023 (TNT 7-1-31, p. 1-article; TDL 7-1-31, p. 1-article)

Railroad crossings--Parkland; Tacoma Railway & Power Co. (Tacoma)--Accidents; Parkland Laundry (Parkland); Streets--Parkland;

A Tacoma Railway & Power Co. streetcar had been involved in an accident and Boland photographers were requested to photograph the Parkland accident scene on July 7, 1931. They took several pictures of the accident location from various directions. Photograph #4 was "105 feet west of the South bound Spanaway track at Parkland." This is believed to have been the accident that occurred about 8 pm on June 30, 1931, involving the H.F. Miller car. Mr. Miller's 15-year-old son, Jack, died in the county hospital the following day due to his injuries and his father, H.F. Miller, was seriously injured. The streetcar was heading south at the time of the accident and the Miller vehicle heading west. Photograph ordered by Tacoma Railway & Power Co. G73.1-021 (TNT 7-1-31, p. 1-article; TDL 7-1-31, p. 1-article)

Railroad crossings--Parkland; Tacoma Railway & Power Co. (Tacoma)--Accidents; Streets--Parkland;

On July 7, 1931, photographs of an accident scene in Parkland which had involved a Tacoma Railway & Power Co. streetcar were taken by the Boland photographers. Each photograph was marked with the distance from the railroad track. Photograph #3, shown above, is listed as "33 feet East of the East rail of the Southbound Spanaway track at Parkland." This is believed to have been the June 30th accident involving a vehicle occupied by Jack Miller, age 15, and his father H.F. Miller. The Miller vehicle was going west at the time of the collision with the southbound streetcar. Jack Miller died in the county hospital the following morning and his father was hospitalized with serious injuries. The automobile had been carried down the street for more than 75 feet and was a total wreck. Photograph ordered by Tacoma Railway & Power Co. G73.1-024 (TNT 7-1-31, p. 1-article; TDL 7-1-31, p. 1-article)

Street railroad tracks--Parkland; Tacoma Railway & Power Co. (Tacoma)--Accidents; Streets--Parkland;

The USS West Virginia at anchor in Commencement Bay in July of 1931. The ship, under command of Rear Admiral R.H. Leigh, was in town to participate in Fleet Week. The battleship had been commissioned in 1923 and was the most recent of the "super-dreadnoughts." She would be heavily damaged during the attack on Pearl Harbor but was completely rebuilt at the Puget Sound Navy Yard in Bremerton. Although missing much of the war, the West Virginian would still earn five battle stars. She was decommissioned in January of 1947. (www.usswestvirginia.org; TDL 6-30-31, p. 5-article) G71.007

Battleships--1930-1940; Commencement Bay (Wash.);

This is how the Center Street Market appeared in the summer of 1931. The short-lived fruit and vegetable market, owned by Wilton W. Kean, was located at the corner of Center and I Street. Its immediate neighbor was the Tacoma Bread Company, 2836 S. I, shown at far right. Tacoma Bread would purchase the market in 1933, tear it down, and build a $10,000 addition to its plant. Photograph taken for Wilton W. Kean. Bowen # 310-255 (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 10-29-33-article & photograph of Tacoma Bread Co. addition)

This photograph, taken in July of 1931, shows one of the many fruit and vegetable stands that were scattered through South Tacoma. The photograph was taken for Wilton Kean, who owned the Center Street Market at 901 Center, but this is not that stand. The Drive In Market was probably further south - around the corner of 48th and South Tacoma Way. Bowen # 310-255

In July of 1931, passengers on the Washington Navigation Company ferry "Skansonia" could climb onto a stool and order a fried ham sandwich for 15 cents as they commuted between Gig Harbor and Point Defiance. The "Skansonia" was built in 1929 at the Skansie Brothers Shipyard in Gig Harbor. The curved lunch counter on the ferry offered a fried egg for 15 cents; or a Swiss cheese sandwich, hamburger or hotdog for 10 cents. You could top off your breakfast or lunch with a slice of homemade pie for a dime and wash it down with coffee, cold milk or pop. On hot days, the kiddies could enjoy a frozen Popsicle or a malted milk shake. (Neal & Janus "Puget Sound Ferries.") TPL-9261; G66.1-090

Ferries--1930-1940; Washington Navigation Co. (Gig Harbor);

Large barn on J. Thomas Benston's Farm in Graham that held a bootlegging operation that operated for 6 months undisturbed before it was raided by federal agents in July of 1931. The barn was in clear view of the highway and received frequent shipments of fuel oil, sugar and supplies. It is estimated that it took 25 tons of sugar to produce 1 filling of mash for 1 of its 8 redwood vats. The highway also carried frequent shipments from the farm, trucks loaded with cans and kegs of alcohol. Little trouble was taken to disguise the enterprise and its operation was common knowledge in the neighborhood. The still operated for 6 months and produced over a half million dollars worth of alcohol before it was raided by federal agents. (TNT 7-17-1931. pg 1)

Benston, J. Thomas--Homes & haunts; Barns--Graham; Prohibition--Graham; Stills (Distilleries); Police raids--Graham;

Unidentified men pose with several of the large redwood fermenting vats used in illegal alcohol production in the barn located on the property of J. Thomas Benston in Graham, WA. The barn contained eight of these huge circular vats, each having a capacity of over 5,000 gallons. It is theorized that the operation could produce $20,000 of alcohol every 24 hours. Little effort was made to disguise its operation, and it managed to remain in business six months before it was raided. Operators were said to have paid up to $8,000 a month in protection. In an odd twist of fate, the operators were producing their last batch and getting ready to clear out when the barn was raided. Benston maintained his innocence, stating that he only rented the barn and was not aware that it was being used for illegal purposes. (TNT 7/17-19/1931, pg. 1)

Benston, J. Thomas--Associated objects; Prohibition--Graham; Stills (Distilleries); Police raids--Graham;

An insider's view of some of the details of the bootlegging operation at Benston's Farm raided by Federal agents in July of 1931. One Federal agent, in his sleeveless T-shirt, inspects a pipe on part of the still. Another agent climbs a wooden ladder. There are metal beds in the middle of the "room". The fire for the still had to be maintained 24 hours a day. There is a large stack of metal containers waiting to be filled with alcohol, the still actually used an automatic filler system. The distillery operated 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Ironically, the actual dismantling was done by inmates of McNeil Island, some of them incarcerated for bootlegging. The copper and vats from the distillery became the property of the prison and were put to legitimate use. (TNT 7/17-19/1931, pg. 1)

Benston, J. Thomas--Associated objects; Prohibition--Graham; Stills (Distilleries); Police raids--Graham;

Two men believed to be Federal Prohibition agents worked on July 17, 1931, at dismantling the boiler from the still found in the barn at a Graham, Washington, farm. The illegal operation was as modern and complete as a commercial pre-Prohibition distillery. It was estimated to have been built for $50,000, was in clear view of the highway and operated for six months. The owner of the farm, a Pierce County road district employee, maintained that he rented out the barn and was not aware of the illegal activities. In fact, this location was probably chosen in part due to the respectability that the farmer lent to the operation. In an odd twist of fate, the bootleggers were preparing to abandon the still, or dismantle and move it, and were making their last batch when the raid was made. It is estimated that the operators manufactured over a 1/2 million dollars of alcohol before the still was shut down. 52,000 gallons of mash were seized in the raid. (TNT 7/17-19, 1931, pg. 1-various articles)

Prohibition--Graham; Stills (Distilleries); Police raids--Graham;

A federal agent stands beside one of the huge redwood vats found in the July 1931 raid of Benston's Farm in Graham, Wa., to demonstrate its awesome size. This vat was calculated to hold 7,500 gallons of fermenting mash. The Prohibition era illegal distillery set up in Benston's barn contained a total of eight of these vats. The still operated 24 hours a day, seven days a week and could manufacture 100 gallons of pure alcohol every hour. At a market value of $10 per gallon, the feds estimated that the plant produced $20,000 worth of alcohol every 24 hours. It was reported that the operation was set up by a California syndicate, that rented the barn from Benston, and that it was backed by local capital. (TNT 7/17-19, 1931, pg. 1)

Benston, J. Thomas--Associated objects; Prohibition--Graham; Stills (Distilleries); Police raids--Graham;

The Publix Market & Garage building at 1110-16 Pacific Ave. While under construction. This building was later remodeled, in 1965, and became the Bank of Tacoma.

Garages--Tacoma--1930-1940; Publix Market & Garage (Tacoma);

In July of 1931, the marquee at the RKO Orpheum Theater (now the Pantages) shown brightly in the night advertising Larry Rich & his Oompahs. The Orpheum offered the discriminating viewer both a movie, Richard Dix in the "Public Defender," and a vaudeville style stage show. Band Leader Larry Rich toured the RKO circuit with his own show; he served as master of ceremonies and his band, the Oompahs, backed up the other performers. One of the featured singers was Marion Sunshine. She impersonated popular singers of the day and then sang her own songs, including "The Peanut Vendor," for which she wrote the English lyrics. In addition to creating as a composer and lyricist, Marion Sunshine acted in movies and performed as half of the sister act "Tempest and Sunshine" during her theatrical career. Bowen # 310-26?

In July of 1931, the Veterans of Foreign Wars drum & bugle corps posed in front of the RKO Orpheum Theater (now the Pantages,) 901 Broadway. Behind the group was a sign stating "March with the Veterans of Foreign Wars to the RKO Orpheum to see RKO Vaudeville Larry Rich and Marion Sunshine." A ticket at the Orpheum got you into to see a movie, Richard Dix in the "Public Defender," and a vaudeville show, with headliner Larry Rich and his Oompahs. Larry Rich was a comic bandleader who toured the vaudeville circuit with his own show, featuring his band the 14 Oompahs and singer Marion Sunshine. Ms. Sunshine would impersonate Maurice Chevalier and Ruth Etting and then sing her own songs, including the one for which she penned the English lyrics, "The Peanut Vendor." Larry Rich was the father of jazz drummer and bandleader Buddy Rich. A crowd had gathered between the VFW and the theater. Bowen #310-26 ?

Cars and trucks line both sides of the 1300 block of Broadway in this photograph from July of 1931. All the buildings on the west side of the street including the Goodwill Store at 1320 Broadway, the Hotel Victoria at 1316 1/2 and the Brenden Hotel at 304 South 13th Street have been demolished. This whole block is currently occupied by the Sheraton Hotel, 1320 Broadway, which opened in 1984. Photograph taken for W.H. Opie & Co. Bowen # 310-266