Tacoma Grocery Company's building at 21st & Pacific collapsed when its fire sprinkler system broke, flooding floors of the six-story warehouse structure, in the early morning hours of October 9, 1934. Engine Co. 2, 4, 6, and Truck Co. 1 & 2 of the Tacoma Fire Department responded to the alarm. Fire fighters shut down the system and began emptying the building of water when groaning floors and structural beams collapsed. The twenty fire fighters within the structure were able to escape to the back of the building in time to avoid injury. The roof and brick facade plunged onto the sidewalk and street below carrying with it tons of merchandise and water. Miraculously, no one was injured on the ground or in the building. (T. Times, 10-9-34, pp. 1, 5)

Building failures--Tacoma; Disasters--Tacoma--1930-1940; Tacoma Grocery Co. (Tacoma);

The Tacoma Grocery Company building at 2108-12 Pacific Avenue collapsed in the early morning hours of October 9, 1934, due to a faulty sprinkler system. The weight of thousands of cases of groceries coupled with tons of water from the company's sprinkling system caused the 27-year-old six-story brick building to collapse into the street. The front part of the building literally slid onto Pacific Avenue leaving four floors exposed; 50 feet of the roof caved in. Both the neighboring Hunt & Mottet Company building and the Tacoma Drug Company were apparently not damaged. Damages were expected to exceed $50,000; the building was insured. No one inside the building or on the ground was injured. The front of the building and the roof were rebuilt, and in the 1940s it was refaced with concrete. (T. Times, 10-9-34, pp. 1, 5) (filed with Argentum)

Building failures--Tacoma; Disasters--Tacoma--1930-1940; Tacoma Grocery Co. (Tacoma);

Two firemen survey the massive damage caused by the collapse of the Tacoma Grocery Co.'s six-story brick building in the early morning hours of October 9, 1934. The fire sprinkler system had broken, flooding the floors and the weight of the water plus the thousands of cases of groceries caused the structure to collapse into the street, spilling mountains of furniture, cans, sacks and paper products onto Pacific Avenue. Amazingly, no rescue workers or pedestrians were injured. The building would later be rebuilt and refaced with concrete. (T.Times 10-9-34, p. 1+)

Building failures--Tacoma; Disasters--Tacoma--1930-1940; Tacoma Grocery Co. (Tacoma);

Tacoma firemen work in unison to haul or cordon off the mountain of debris which fell during the collapse of the six-story Tacoma Grocery Co. warehouse, 2108-12 Pacific Avenue, on October 9, 1934. The front part of the brick building slid into Pacific Avenue and 50 feet of the roof caved in when water from a faulty sprinkler system caused flooding and the eventual collapse of the heavily laden floors. Thousands of cases of groceries and furniture cascaded into the street, and damages were estimated to be over $50,000. No injuries were reported in this building disaster. (T.Times 10-9-34, p. 1, 5)

Building failures--Tacoma; Disasters--Tacoma--1930-1940; Tacoma Grocery Co. (Tacoma);

The Tacoma Drama League had a full program of plays scheduled for the 1934-35 season. The first production was a revival of the old fashioned melodrama "The Streets of New York". In their effort to recreate the true atmosphere of an old time play, special scenery, costuming and lighting had to be designed and constructed. From 1933 through 1939 the Tacoma Little Theater productions were presented on the stage of the Slavonian Hall at 2306 No. 30th St. In 1940 they moved to their current home at 210-12 No. I St.

Drama Clubs -- Tacoma; Tacoma Little Theatre (Tacoma);Tacoma Drama League (Tacoma); Theatrical Productions--Tacoma;

At 6:50 p.m. on October 18, 1934, the Clear Fir Lumber Company on South 19th at the Day Island waterway was destroyed in a spectacular $250,000 fire. Flames shot 70 feet in the air before the alarm was ever received. The flames spread rapidly through the historic mill, built in 1912. When the fire was finally put out, the dock platform, mill and 2 million board feet of lumber were a complete loss. ("100 Years of Firefighting")

Fires--Day Island; Clear Fir Lumber Co. (Day Island); Lumber industry--Day Island--1930-1940;

Fire lights up the night sky on October 18, 1934 as the Clear Fir Lumber Co. on the south end of 19th St. at the Day Island Waterway goes up in flames. The spectacular fire shot flames 70 feet into the air and carried sparks over a half mile before it was extinguished by local firefighters and the "Fireboat." The mill, dock platform and 2 million board feet of lumber were a complete loss. ("100 Years of Firefighting") (filed with Argentum)

Fires--Day Island; Clear Fir Lumber Co. (Day Island); Lumber industry--Day Island--1930-1940;

A spectacular five-hour blaze gutted the Day Island plant of the Clear Fir Lumber Co. on the evening of October 18, 1934. It was the fifth major industrial fire in the Tacoma area in the past 24 days. The sawmill and dry kilns were destroyed but the door factory adjoining the sawmill was saved. Losses were conservatively estimated at $300,000 which included 3,000,000 feet of finished lumber and 170,000 feet of valuable ship decking. Six Tacoma fire companies and the city fireboat battled the blaze of undetermined origin which had begun near the boiler room. The reddened skies made the fire visible for many miles and attracted a crowd of about 10,000 on the hillside roads on three sides of the flaming plant. Another 15,000 viewed the fire from a variety of locations. The mill had begun operations in 1912 and was incorporated in 1916 as Clear Fir Lumber Co. Lately 250 men had worked there. Plans to rebuild were not immediately announced. BU-12606 (T.Times 10-19-34, p. 1-article; TNT 10-19-34, p. 1,11- alt. photograph)

On the evening of October 18, 1934 the Clear Fir Lumber Company on Day Island went up in flames. Fanned by stiff southwesterly winds, the flames were shooting 70 feet into the air before the first alarm was received. The fire, of undetermined causes, originated near the boiler room of the plant. The fire was eventually put out through the joint efforts of local firefighters and the Tacoma "Fireboat" from the water side, but the mill was a complete loss. Fire damage was estimated at $250,000. ("100 Years of Firefighting")

Fires--Day Island; Clear Fir Lumber Co. (Day Island); Lumber industry--Day Island--1930-1940;

Tacoma Drama League "After the Show Party", October 20, 1937. Harry P. Cain, future Tacoma Mayor and U.S. Senator, is third from right, seated on floor.

Drama Clubs -- Tacoma; Tacoma Little Theatre (Tacoma);Tacoma Drama League (Tacoma); Theatrical Productions--Tacoma; Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979;

Per Richards Studio notes "Puyallup River flood, October 25, 1934." Trestle type bridge in background. Man possibly clearing debris right, children on bridge. (filed with Argentum)

Floods--Puyallup--1930-1940;

Alfred Lister, on the right, presents W.P. Bonney, left, and the Washington State Historical Society with a table made by his father, J. H. Lister; celebrating the 50 year anniversary of the family's arrival in Tacoma. The inlaid "Lister" table was hand crafted by the elder Lister when he was 70 years old and contains 5209 accurately cut and fitted pieces. Alfred Lister, after a varied career in public service, is now president of Tacoma Savings and Loan. (T. Times 10/13/1934, pg. 9) (filed with Argentum)

Bonney, William P.; Washington State Historical Society (Tacoma); Galleries & museums--Tacoma--1930-1940; Ferry Museum (Tacoma); Antiques; Lister, Alfred;

The Lister table on steps of Ferry Museum. The beautiful inlaid table was made by J. H. Lister in 1900 when he was 70 years old. It contains 5209 individually cut and fitted pieces, 4163 of which are in the top. The table was donated to the Washington State Historical Society by Mr. Lister's son, Alfred, on the 50th anniversary of the immigrant family's arrival in Tacoma. The Listers established Standard Iron Works on East 23rd St. and the sons went on to hold important government and banking positions. (T. Times 10/13/1934, pg. 9)

Washington State Historical Society (Tacoma); Galleries & museums--Tacoma--1930-1940; Ferry Museum (Tacoma); Antiques;

William P. Bonney, secretary of the Washington State Historical Society and of the Ferry Museum, and Fred E. King, retired revenue officer, with an old Smith and Wesson handgun and holster. The gun is being added to the fire arms collection of the Society. It was taken from Larry Kelly, notorious opium smuggler, in 1905 by arresting officer King. The smuggler had been in operation over 32 years when he was caught by King and associate Fred C. Dean on July 18, 1905 near Anderson Island. He was on his way to Olympia with a sloop load of opium he was running from Victoria. The dope was intended to be dealt out of a Chinese store in Olympia. When arrested, he surrendered his gun to King. It is a .32 caliber Smith and Wesson made to shoot rifle bullets. (T.Times 10/30/1934, pg. 14)

Bonney, William P.; Guns; Firearms; King, Fred E.;

Members of the Tacoma Country and Golf Club reveled at a masquerade ball at the clubhouse on Halloween, 1934. In the center in kilts with wig askew was future Mayor of Tacoma Harry P. Cain. To the far left was his wife, Marjorie Cain, dressed as a Russian cossack. Cain was holding the leg of an unidentified French maid, as an unidentified aviator held that of his wife in this interesting picture. The unidentified cross dressing couple to the right smiled merrily at the camera.

Tacoma Country & Golf Club (Tacoma); Masquerades--Tacoma--1930-1940; Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979; Scotland--Clothing & dress; Cain, Marjorie Dils, 1908-1994

On October 31, 1934, the Tacoma Golf and Country Club held a holiday Costume Ball. Miss Ohlson posed with her prize, a live turkey. (filed with Argentum)

Tacoma Country & Golf Club (Tacoma); Hats--1930-1940; Masquerades--Tacoma--1930-1940; Turkeys; Costumes;

More than 300 unemployed men were working daily in October of 1934 on the Pierce County wood gathering project, at that time 24 miles from Tacoma on Mountain Highway near Silver Lake. A large group of hardworking woodcutters posed in front of transport vehicles, as they prepare to leave for their homes after a day's work in the forest. The wood gathering project, originated by A.B. Comfort in June of 1933, allowed the unemployed to cut and prepare the wood used for winter fuel in their homes. The participating men were picked up at various relief stations in the city in the morning. They were taken in trucks to the forest and furnished with tools to fell trees, saw and split. Each man was expected to prepare three cords of wood; two for his own use and one for distribution to those unable to cut wood. Over 23,000 cords of wood had already been cut since the project's inception with about 8,000 unemployed men participating. (T. Times 10/1/1934, pg. 3)

Woodcutting; Fuelwood; Woodcutters; Unemployment--Pierce County--1930-1940; Unemployed--Pierce County--1930-1940; Depressions--1929; Assistance--Pierce County--1930-1940;

Proud members of the ranks of the unemployed posed in front of a transport truck in October of 1934, after completing a hard days work felling trees for the Pierce County wood gathering project. In 1933, A. B. Comfort, head of Pierce County relief, originated the program which used the labor of the unemployed to fell, cut and split the logs that provided the fuel needed for their homes in the winter. The men got the satisfaction of working to supply their own needs, and the county got the fuel wood at a fraction of the cost of other suppliers. The unemployed participants in the program came from all walks of life; some were former bankers, others skilled engineers and mechanics. The crew was working at a location 24 miles from Tacoma, on Mountain Highway near Silver Lake. (T. Times 10/1/1934, pg. 3)

Woodcutting; Fuel wood; Logs; Woodcutters; Unemployment--Pierce County--1930-1940; Unemployed--Pierce County--1930-1940; Depressions--1929; Assistance--Pierce County--1930-1940;

Two men hard at work in the forest, splitting a large log for fuel wood for their own use in the winter. The man on the right is using a maul. The men are taking part in the Pierce County wood gathering project. The project was begun in June of 1933 and it provided men on the relief rolls of the County transportation and tools to fell, saw and split wood for winter fuel. Each man was expected to prepare three cords of wood- two for his family's use and one for distribution to the aged, widows and handicapped. None of the wood was sold for profit. (T. Times 10/1/1934, pg. 3) (filed with Argentum)

Woodcutting; Fuelwood; Logs; Woodcutters; Unemployment--Pierce County--1930-1940; Unemployed--Pierce County--1930-1940; Depressions--1929; Assistance--Pierce County--1930-1940;

Mrs. Phoebe Maxson celebrated her 100th birthday at her residence in the Tobey Jones Home for the Aged, 5340 North Bristol Street, on October 12, 1934. Born on a 160-acre farm in Ohio, Mrs. Maxson came west in the early 1880s. She was one of the founders of the Epworth Methodist Church and the Tacoma chapter of the Women's Christian Temperance Union. Having outlived both of her husbands, S.A. Danel and A. M. Maxson, she moved to the Tobey Jones home in 1923. She died on August 5, 1936, just two months short of her 102nd birthday. (T. Times 10/11/1935, pg. 7)

Maxson, Phoebe; Aged persons; Centenarians; Franke Tobey Jones Home (Tacoma);

Tacoma Country Club Masked Ball. People in costume seated on large staircase. Harry P. Cain, future Tacoma Mayor and U.S. Senator, wearing long wig, is near center of second row, behind and to right of man in convict's stripes. TPL-5823

Tacoma Country & Golf Club (Tacoma); Masquerades--Tacoma--1930-1940; Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979;

A smaller group of costumed partiers poses for the camera at the Masked Ball at the Tacoma Country & Golf Club. A couple in pirate costumes poses at either end of the group, while the four center people appear dressed as gentlemen and ladies of another era.

Tacoma Country & Golf Club (Tacoma); Masquerades--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Mrs. Manda Ferris, 85 years old, stands beside the 10 foot geranium growing beside her home at 7432 So. "G" St. Mrs. Ferris, who celebrated her 85th birthday October 9, 1934, planted the geranium from a six inch slip one and a half years ago. In a protected location beside her home, the geranium continued growing and even bloomed bright red flowers throughout the winter. Mrs. Ferris was born in Pennsylvania and came to Tacoma 20 years ago. She lives with her daughter Audrey. (T. Times 10/10/1934, pg. 1)

Aged persons; Flowers; Plants; Ferris, Manda;

Girls Glee Club, Steilacoom. Portrait of large group of girls taken at corner of wooden building. (WSHS)

Girls Glee Club (Steilacoom)--1930-1940;

Lucia Rose Rigney O'Donnell, one of the Rigney twins, sitting on a bench with her husband Judge William O'Donnell, an elderly man with goatee, cane and hat in hand. Rose married William O'Donnell on May 15, 1905 in the Catholic Church in Steilacoom. He died in 1936. They had no children. After sister Marcella's husband's death in 1944, the twins lived together at the family home in Steilacoom which their mother bought, as well as two other lots, in 1880 for $800. They kept the vital statistic records for Western States hospital until 1950. (T. Times 10/11/1934, pg. 1)

O'Donnell, Rose Rigney; Couples--Steilacoom; Aged persons;

Washington State Historical Society secretary William P. Bonney with the Lister table on steps of the Ferry Museum. The table was donated to the Society by Alfred Lister on the 50th anniversary of the arrival of the J.H. Lister family in Tacoma. The Listers emigrated from England and established Standard Iron Works in Tacoma. They grew to hold important city and state governmental and banking posts. The inlaid table was made by J.H. Lister in 1900, when he was 70 years old. It contains 5209 accurately cut pieces, 4163 of which are in the top. Bonney accepted the table on behalf of the Society. (T. Times 10/13/1934, pg. 9, E.T. Short's column "After Many Years")

Bonney, William P.; Washington State Historical Society (Tacoma); Galleries & museums--Tacoma--1930-1940; Ferry Museum (Tacoma); Antiques;

William P. Bonney (left), secretary of the Washington State Historical Society, and Fred E. King, retired revenue officer, posed for the Tacoma Times in 1934 with the handgun taken from notorious opium smuggler Larry Kelly during his arrest on July 18, 1905. The gun was being donated to the Society by arresting officer King. Smuggler Kelly ended a 32 year crime spree when he was caught by King and associate Fred C. Dean near Anderson Island. He was running a sloop load of opium from Victoria to Olympia when stopped by the pair. Caught red handed, he turned over his .32 caliber Smith and Wesson to King. (T. Times 10/30/1934, pg. 14)

Bonney, William P.; Guns; Firearms; King, Fred E.;

Harry Cain, future Mayor of Tacoma and U.S. Senator, on right. Cain, wearing kilts and wig, clowns it up with a group of people in costume during Masked Ball at Tacoma Country Club.

Tacoma Country & Golf Club (Tacoma); Masquerades--Tacoma--1930-1940; Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979; Scotland--Clothing & dress;

Pierce County wood gathering project, sponsored by Pierce County relief, to provide heating fuel for the unemployed. Three men are loading a truck with wood cut into firewood lengths. Pictured on the left is H. (Red) Coppack, supervisor of the work. Taking a page from Roosevelt's New Deal, A.B. Comfort, head of the Pierce County Relief, originated this plan in June of 1933. Unemployed men were offered the opportunity to cut their own wood to heat their homes during the winter. The relief organization provided transportation and tools; the unemployed provided the labor. Each man was expected to prepare 3 cords of wood- two for the use of his own family and one for distribution to the aged, widows and handicapped. (T. Times 10/1/1934, pg. 3)

Woodcutting; Fuelwood; Logs; Woodcutters; Unemployment--Pierce County--1930-1940; Unemployed--Pierce County--1930-1940; Depressions--1929; Assistance--Pierce County--1930-1940;