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
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?
ca. 1938. Jackson Brothers Meat Market in the newly modernized Manning's store. Left to right, Elmer Jackson, Mike (last name not identified), Walter Jackson and Edwin Jackson. The meat market at Manning's had been in operation several years before 1926 when Edwin Jackson and Aug Fauss became partners and proprietors of the New Tacoma Meat Market. Edwin's brother Walter was working for them at the time and a few years later, Elmer Jackson was also cutting meat at 1102 Commerce. In the 1930s, it became Jackson Brothers Meat Market; they specialized in quality meat and sold Swift Co., Carsten's and Rath's meat products over the years. The Jackson Meat Market remained here until the building was razed in 1972.
Moultrops Service. This Mobilgas station was a combination grocery store and automobile service station. The tiny building was decorated with a variety of signs - Coca Cola, Shelton Maid ice cream, Mobilgas, Goodrich tires & batteries. Cabins were available for rental, steps away from the station. The service station and cabin (s) are still in existence on what is now called Golden Pheasant Rd., south of Shelton, and on the way to Isabella Lake. (Additional information provided by a reader)
ca. 1942. Henry C. and Margaret Turner owned Turner's Cash Market, a Red & White Food Store franchise. They provided rural shoppers with groceries, hardware, and gasoline plus the convenience of a first aid station and Post Office. In 1942-43, Turner's was one of 90 local Maxwell service stations that featured Mobil products. The building was built in 1929 by Gordon L. Foy as the Stop & Shop; Foy's sister Anna was the Lacey post master from 1915 to 1954. Today, the building is home to Allstate Insurance, Top Choice Janitorial Supply and Domino's Pizza. (Interview, Andrea Hein, Lacey Museum, 7/17/2000).
Christopher's Mobilgas, Maxwell station. This small gas station in Olympia advertised "Plenty of Gas" obtainable from its three pumps. A garage or storage unit adjoining the property has its doors wide open.
Inter City Refinery. Mobilgas, Maxwell station. Eastern Oil $1.75 per 5 gallons; Penn Oil, 15 cents per quart. U. S. 99, Route 5, Box 1070, Kent, Washington.
This was how Buck Morgan & Son's Autotorium at 632 Broadway appeared in June of 1946. The station was located at the corner of 7th and Broadway, across the street from the Elks Temple. The one-stop service and repair station was owned and operated by William "Buck" Morgan and his son Jack W. Morgan. "Buck," who had over 20 years in the automobile repair business, ran the repair shop. They specialized in Buick repair, since "Buck" had spent the previous 16 years working at Mueller-Harkins. Aside from the repair business, they also offered fuel and auto supplies and did lubrication, washing, polishing, storage and parking of automobiles. The second floor was a parking garage accessible by the alley between St. Helens & Broadway. The building at 632 Broadway was sold in the late 1960s and "Buck" Morgan retired. Jack Morgan continued in the automobile business, selling Buicks instead of servicing them. (TNT 12/1/1946, pg. A-18 picture and ad, TNT 10/24/1940, pg. 15- article) (Additional information provided by a reader)
Candy product display by Harry Brown Confections. Included in the picture are circular tins of Pecan Parisian Rolls, Almond Omega and Pecan Caramel Rolls. Each candy is individually wrapped, some in foil. In 1944, the Haley family bought out the Brown family's interest in Brown & Haley. Harry Brown then formed his own company, with his son Alvin and his brother Charles, and designed his own candy line. He opened his plant at 1932 Pacific Ave. and had a military contract before his plant even opened. (TNT 7/19/1944, pg. 1)
Candy product display by Harry Brown Confections. Included in the picture are circular tins of Pecan Parisian Rolls, Almond Omega and Pecan Caramel Rolls. Harry L. Brown learned the candy trade as a boy at Josslyn's in Tacoma. He was a shop boy with another famous Tacoman, Ray Gamble, who started the wood flour industry and gained fame as an amateur magician and collector. In 1907, Brown formed the Oriole Candy Company. He later partnered with J.C. Haley to become Brown & Haley in 1914. In 1944, after 30 years, the Haley family bought the Brown family interest in the company and Harry formed his own company and later became a partner in Rogers Candy Co. in Seattle. He died in 1979 at the age of 93. (TNT 7/19/1944, pg. 1; TNT 12/7/1979, pg. C-4)
Founded in Tacoma in 1924, the Pacific Match Company produced over 80 million wood stick matches per day at its peak production. White pine from Eastern Washington and Idaho was turned into brand name matches such as Sunset, Fire Chief, Lite King and Red Head in the factory at 3223 So. Union Avenue. Pacific Match closed in 1964, largely due to competition from the Diamond Match Company of Ohio. Bowen 2647.
A stunning, 1937 Mill Studio model jukebox made by Mills Novelty Co., Chicago, is installed in front of star-studded drapery at Kipper's Korner, on U.S. Highway 99, seven miles south of Tacoma. Cafe patrons can "Dance to the world's best music". Sound adjustment dials and High Fidelity Color Expressors provide the highest quality "big band" sound for dancing. Each of the 12 - 78 rpm records inside the wood-grain cabinet is affixed to its own turntable by a ferris wheel mechanism which is activated by the push-button selection dial.
North Coast Service Garages on Cliff Ave., behind W. P. Fuller Co. (1117-1123 A St.), photographed in May of 1931. The ramp to the 11th Street Bridge can be seen in the background. Bowen # 310-207
Tacoma Ice Co., 2602 So. Holgate St.; photograph taken from Delin Street across the gulch in June of 1931. The plant was built in 1923, designed by A.W. Sterrett, and is on the City Registry. The ice plant was the first portion built in 1923 for $250,000. It had the capacity to produce 100 tons of ice daily and used 40 miles of piping. The cold storage warehouse was completed in 1925 for $90,000. Photograph ordered by the York Ice Machinery Co. of Seattle. Bowen # 310-230
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
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)
Little Harlem Rondivoo, Ray Simpson/Al Trustee Group of people, mostly African-american, inside a tavern. A man at the far left is sitting at an upright piano.
ca. 1930. The Medical Rheumatic Center at 114 South 24th in Tacoma was run by Dr. William H. Goering. A sign on their concrete/stone building indicated they treated joint diseases. G18.1-049 (filed under BU-12914)
ca. 1932. This is the Shaub-Ellison Building, 1902 Pacific Ave., circa 1932. The super-service station, a Goodyear franchise, opened at the beginning of the year. Partners Charlie Ellison and Roe Shaub started business in 1920 at 7th & Commerce before moving to the Pacific Avenue location. This was their only location throughout the Depression and WWll. The University of Washington would purchase the property in 1993 for their Tacoma campus and the Art Deco-styled building was demolished in 1995. (History of Pierce County, Washington, Vol. 1, p. 436)
ca. 1934. A team of Budweiser Clydesdales delivers cases of beer to Tacoma Hotel in this circa 1934 photograph. The Clydesdales, in harness, have paused outside the entrance to the elegant hotel, one of Tacoma's most famous landmarks. Back then the Budweiser Clydesdales were a new sight, introduced to the public in April of 1933 to celebrate the repeal of Prohibition. The Clydesdale horses were used for promotions by the Anheuser-Busch Brewing Co. They were hitched to red, white and gold beer wagons. Each horse was selected with certain characteristics and temperaments and each had to be a gelding. The Budweiser Clydesdales are still being used for commercials and promotions nearly eighty years after this photograph was taken. (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Budweiser_Clydesdales -article)
