U.S.S. Lexington tied up at old Baker Dock below Stadium Bowl, December, 1929. Power cables are attached to her side. Tacoma received an early Christmas present as the large aircraft carrier was used as an auxiliary power plant to lend a helping hand to the City suffering from severe drought conditions. During its one month stay, it provided over four million kilowatt hours of electricity to a city whose residents had been utilizing candles, kerosene lamps, and living with dim streetlights and smaller night shifts. The Lexington made its last power deliveries to Tacoma on January 16, 1930, and departed for San Francisco the following day. TPL-1936; G71.1-117.
U.S.S. Lexington (United States Navy); Aircraft carriers--United States; Power shortages--Tacoma;
Lt. Cdr. H.L. White, Chief Engineer, and U.S.S. Lexington commander, Capt. Frank D. Berrien, flank Tacoma Mayor James G. Newbergin on the deck of the massive aircraft carrier in December, 1929. The ship is berthed at Baker Dock and shortly will be pouring electricity into Tacoma's power lines. By the time the Lexington left in mid-January, it had generated over 4 million kilowatt hours.
Once Camp Lewis became officially designated as a Fort in September of 1927, money was appropriated to build permanent structures including new barracks. The exteriors of these new living quarters look nearly complete although landscaping is non-existent.
Barracks--Fort Lewis; Building construction--Fort Lewis--1920-1930;
Newly constructed building at Camp Murray. This one-story concrete structure was located near railroad tracks at Camp Murray in January of 1928. Camp Murray is the home of the Washington National Guard. G77.1-005
Close-up view of recessed entryway of newly constructed building located at Camp Murray in January of 1928. See B17968 for general view of concrete building. G77.1-004
Main gates of Fort Lewis. The gates were built in 1917 using field stone and squared logs and paid for by a subscription fund set up by the employees who constructed the main buildings of (then) Camp Lewis. The cost was $4000. Camp Lewis was designated as a permanent Army post and officially became Fort Lewis in September of 1927. G69.1-159 TPL-10315
Gates--Fort Lewis; Military facilities--Wash.; Fort Lewis (Wash.);
On September 14, 1927 Colonel Charles Lindbergh circled his famous craft, "The Spirit of St. Louis," over the Fort Lewis parade grounds as a 12-gun salute was fired in his honor on the orders of Brig. Gen. Richmond P. Davis. In May of 1927, Col. Lindbergh had made the first successful solo non-stop flight across the Atlantic Ocean. Prior to his arrival at Fort Lewis, Col. Lindbergh made an unexpected pass over Cushman Hospital and performed stunts for the benefit of the disabled veterans. His flight to Tacoma was part of a round-the country tour to promote aviation. (TDL 9-14-27, p. 1, 9-15-27, p. 3) TPL-953; G67.1-124 (see also G69.1-129)
This photocopy of Battery "D", 10th Field Artillery's 12-gun salute to Charles Lindbergh was made on September 15, 1927, the day after Col. Lindbergh's pass over Fort Lewis's parade grounds occurred. It is almost identical to Boland B17378 but with the identification and date absent. Charles Lindbergh was traveling through the country promoting aviation. His pioneer non-stop solo voyage across the Atlantic to France was met with tremendous awe and admiration and the boyish aviator's photographs and activities drew much press. G69.1-129 (see also G67.1-124)
L.M. Phillipotts, seaman second class, sights a five inch broadside gun from the deck of the New Mexico directly on City Hall during a gun drill July 22, 1927. The U.S.S. New Mexico, flagship of the Pacific Fleet, was in Tacoma's harbor until the first of August. The battleship was commissioned in May of 1918 and spent the first World War close to the U.S. In 1919, she steamed to Europe and escorted President Woodrow Wilson home from the Versailles peace conference. After playing a prominent role in World War II, she was decommissioned in 1946 and sold for scrap. (TNT 7/22/1927 p.1)
J.T. Swan, center, Bos'n First Class, introduces recruits D.R. Turk (left) and A.G. West to the art of knot tying. The trio were photographed aboard the battleship USS New Mexico on July 22, 1927. The New Mexico was in port in Tacoma until August 1st. Guests were invited to view the flagship of the Pacific fleet in the afternoon. Commissioned in 1918, the battleship served in both World War I & II before being sold for scrap in 1947. (TNT 7/22/1927 p.1)
All Aboard! On June 16, 1927, members of the 148th Field Artillery, Tacoma's own National Guard unit, crowded into three coaches at Union Station. They would be shoving off at 8:30 a.m. for the National Guard encampment at Camp Murray for summer training. (TNT 6/16/1927, pg. 1) BGN-687
Washington National Guard, 148th F.A. (Tacoma); Military uniforms; Military personnel; Railroad cars;
Lt. Commander Richard E. Byrd (later Rear Admiral), the "Conqueror of the North Pole," poses with a Franklin car on February 5, 1927 during his stay as Tacoma's guest. Commander Byrd stands beside the car with Gus Ledbetter at the far right. The man in the center is not identified. He would be speaking on February 5th at the First Baptist Church about his career as a noted aviator and explorer. He was riding a crest of fame created when he and Floyd Bennett proclaimed to the world that they had flown over the North Pole on May 9, 1926. The remainder of his life, after 1928, would be devoted to his exploration of Antarctica. He died in 1957. (TNT 2/5/1927 p.1; Ledger 2/6/1927, pg. 1)
Lt. Commander Richard E. Byrd, left, the first man to fly over the North Pole in an airplane, poses with Tacoma capitalist and explorer Gen. James M. Ashton. Comm. Byrd was in Tacoma on February 5, 1927 to speak at the First Baptist Church about his flight on May 9, 1926 over the North Pole. The two men had much in common. Both men had a military background, Byrd was a Naval officer and Ashton founded Washington's calvary (later known as Troop B, Wa. National Guard.) Both were arctic explorers. In 1922, Ashton at the age of 63 embarked on a 7 month trip on the schooner Iskum to areas of Siberia never seen by a white man. Gen. Ashton published his adventures in 1928 in a book called "Ice Bound." The pair drove about the city and paid a visit to Ashton's home, "Ashtonhill," at 403 No. 11th St. (Ledger 2/6/1927, pg. 1)
ca. 1926. Montage of photographs taken of the Battery "F," 10th Field Artillery circa 1926. Copy was made on November 1, 1926. Most of the pictures were taken at the September, 1926, Western Washington Fair in Puyallup where the men were camped out and put on a demonstration of skills. There was also at least one taken at the Horse Show & Fair at South Tacoma. The 4th Section of Battery "F" were featured in several shots. G70.1-015
ca. 1926. American Lake Veterans Hospital. Large Prairie-style building with columned front porch. Original structures built in 1923. (filed with Argentum)
Hospitals--Lakewood--1920-1930; American Lake Veterans Hospital (Lakewood); Military hospitals--Lakewood;
10th Field Artillery, Battalion F at the Western Washington Fair, Puyallup, Washington. Soldiers with horsedrawn wagons and cannon. Fair buildings and track in background. Friday, September 17, 1926, was both Tacoma and Army Day at the Western Washington Fair. Camp Lewis sent the 10th Artillery and military band as representatives of the Army. The Firing squad gave an exhibition of field gun practice at a mark in woods south of Puyallup. All soldiers at the camp were released by General Robert Alexander except for a few to garrison the post. Hundreds of soldiers thus helped to boost attendance on the very wet day to 37,000, topping Seattle Day's total. (TNT 9-18-26, p. 1) TPL-7087
Artillery (Troops)--Tacoma; Artillery (Weaponry)--Tacoma; Western Washington Fair (Puyallup); Fairs--Puyallup--1920-1930;
Submarine S-27 visits Tacoma in July, 1926, along with several warships. Skippered by Lt. Carlye Craig, one of the country's newest submarines paid a visit to Tacoma in early July, 1926. The 219-foot long submarine, pictured above probably resurfacing, carried a crew of four officers and 39 enlisted men. It was capable of reaching depths of 300 feet. 38 members of the Tacoma Engineers Club were lucky enough to tour the bottom of Commencement Bay, 50 feet below the surface, courtesy of the S-27 on July 1st. Most of the engineers concurred with the opinion of a relieved member who was happy to take the tour but happier to be once again on top of the water and breathing in fresh air. (TNT 7-2-26, p. 1, 13)
The U.S. Navy submarine S-27 paid a visit to Tacoma in early July 1926 along with several warships. The 219-foot long submarine was one of the newest in the Navy's fleet having been commissioned in January 1924. It carried 12 torpedoes and had a top designed underwater speed of 11 knots. It was helmed by Lt. Carlye Craig. (TNT 7-2-26, p. 1, 13)
Baseball Team, Battery "F," 143rd Field Artillery California National Guard, Camp Lewis. July 17, 1925. (WSHS)
Camp Lewis (Wash.); Military camps--Tacoma--1920-1930; California National Guard, Battery F, 143rd Field Artillery (Camp Lewis); Baseball players--Camp Lewis--1920-1930;
Officers of the dirigible USS Shenandoah stand in front of the mooring mast at Camp Lewis in October, 1924. The Shenandoah was the first rigid airship built on US soil. It was first airborne in September of 1922, one of a proposed fleet of German Zeppelin-like lighter than air craft. It came to a tragic end in September of 1925 when it broke apart during a thunderstorm, killing 14.
Officers and crew of the dirigible "Shenandoah" pose in front of the mooring mast at Camp Lewis in October of 1924. The mooring mast was constructed by the Navy for this two day visit. The Shenandoah was the first rigid airship built in America. Commissioned by the Navy, it was a copy of the German Zeppelin that so impressed our military in World War 1. The Shenandoah was first airborne in 1922. It came to a tragic end in September of 1925 when it broke apart in a thunderstorm with 43 persons aboard, killing 14.
On March 12, 1924, Maj. General Edwin Burr Babbitt and his new bride, the former Miss Maud Ainsworth of Portland, returned from their two week honeymoon in Southern California to their newly remodeled home at Camp Lewis. Gen. Babbitt was Camp Commander and during his absence for his wedding and honeymoon, his grim and neglected bachelor quarters had been transformed into this neat, if unpretentious, home. The crowning glory was the bulb garden in front, planned by Gen. Babbitt for his new bride. (TNT 3/13/1924, pg. 11) G69.1-160 TPL-10313
Camp Lewis (Wash.); Fort Lewis (Wash.); Military camps--Tacoma--1920-1930; Babbitt, Edwin Burr--Homes & haunts;
Around 1922, Marvin Boland took this photograph of the main gate and entrance to Camp Lewis (now Fort Lewis). The gate was erected toward the end of the year in 1917 and paid for by a subscription fund set up by the employees who constructed the main buildings at the Camp. In 1917, Pierce County donated 70,000 acres to the federal government for the establishment of a military base. Construction began July 5, 1917 and in the span of 90 days, 10,000 men built 1,757 buildings and 422 other structures. They installed lighting, plumbing and heating and started on streets, roads and railway spurs. They were so proud of their work that when the construction was completed, the workers subscribed $4,000 to build the main gate. The gate is still standing, although was moved from its original location due to the construction of Highway I-5. TPL-7070 (www.lewis.army.mil)
Camp Lewis (Wash.); Fort Lewis (Wash.); Military camps--Tacoma--1920-1930;
On February 24, 1922, ten Army personnel stood in front of a large truck which contained a wireless telephone and radio system with Magnavox speakers. A sign on the truck indicates that it belongs to the "Rock of the Marne Division," a nickname for the famed 3rd Infantry Division. The men and vehicle were at Camp Lewis. Army officers had planned back in November of 1921 to obtain a receiver and amplifier for radio concerts and were testing this process through Magnavox. By early February of 1922 Camp Lewis was able to hear music and daily news from San Francisco and weather reports from ships far out at sea. Arrangements would be made to transmit the music of the Camp Lewis military bands through space to areas far away. G69.1-164 (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 11-31-21, A-12-article; TNT 2-1-22, p. 1-article) TPL-10311
Military personnel--Camp Lewis; Trucks--Camp Lewis; Signs (Notices);
Unidentified building at Camp Murray as photographed in June of 1921. Railroad tracks located close by would make transporting men and equipment easier. Camp Murray was the home of the Washington National Guard and was located near American Lake. TPL-6466; G77.1-012
Arsenal at Camp Murray. The Arsenal was built on the grounds of Camp Murray in 1915 and nearly a hundred years later, is now the museum of the Washington National Guard. Here historical artifacts are collected and preserved to inspire and educate past and present Guardsmen and citizens alike. TPL-6467; G77.1-010
Mounted artillery in semi-circle, probably at Camp Lewis. The Great War was over but this shining array of military might provided a reassuring sight for soldiers and civilians alike. G69.1-166
On February 5, 1921, soldiers at Camp Lewis enjoy reading at the Liberty Library located near the camp's Hostess House. Books, magazines and newspapers were supplied without charge. The Liberty Library opened in November of 1917 with 6000 donated books. The collection had grown to roughly 50,000 volumes a mere six months later. Books were supplied through the auspices of the American Library Association. Camp librarian Arthur Beardsley later indicated that the library had circulated 62,682 volumes in a camp with approximate population of 7094 in 1921. An 40-foot square addition to the original one-story library was made about 1918 as the library needed more space for materials and for patron usage. This addition was a periodical reading room, perhaps shown above, which was attached to the center of the original building. Racks for 150 periodicals and about 50 newspapers were provided and good chairs and tables furnished by the Army and its friends. (www.historylink.org; Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 1-29-22, 10E) TPL-10309
