ca. 1887. This view of the Tacoma National Bank bldg. in the 900 block of Pacific Avenue was taken circa 1887. The building was constructed at 923 Pacific about 1885 and an addition at 921 Pacific built in 1888. The Tacoma National Bank occupied the first floor of the structure with Drs. Munson and Misner, homeopathic physicians and surgeons, above. Washington Fire Insurance Company may have had offices there as well. J.S. Howell & Son had their real estate office in the building next door, at left. The building on the right contained a U.S. Post Office (113 S. 10th) and what appears to be a photography studio. At the far right edge of the photograph is part of the elegant Tacoma Hotel, 913 A Street. Streets above were rough and unpaved although sidewalks had already been constructed in front of these commercial facilities. (copy of original) Bi-Centennial Project # 75346-48; BU-13076, TPL-3787

Tacoma National Bank (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1880-1890; Tacoma Hotel (Tacoma); Post offices--Tacoma;

ca. 1887. This street scene of Pacific Avenue looking north from the corner of 11th and Pacific was taken by an unknown photographer in 1887. The brick building at the far left is the Merchant's National Bank Building. Several doors down is the Kaufman & Berliner dry goods store, 948 Pacific. Across the street, at the far right, is Mrs. Mary Fowler's millinery store. The Northern Pacific Headquarters Building is under construction at the far end of the block. The Tacoma Old City Hall will not be built for another four years.

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1880-1890; Business districts--Tacoma--1880-1890; Merchant's National Bank (Tacoma); Fowler Millinery (Tacoma)

ca. 1887. Tacoma Street Railway car # 1 as it appeared circa 1887. Behind the street car is a line of Northern Pacific coal cars.

Street railroads--Tacoma--1880-1890; Tacoma Street Railway (Tacoma)

Tacoma was celebrating the completion of the Northern Pacific Railroad's Cascade Division on July 6, 1887, with city buildings decorated in yards of bunting. The massive structure in the foreground is the newly built Chamber of Commerce Building at South 12th & Pacific Ave. Construction would begin shortly on the new N.P. headquarters brick building to be located at 621 Pacific Ave.

Celebrations--Tacoma--1880-1890; Chamber of Commerce Building (Tacoma);

ca. 1888. Several men and a horse drawn carriage stand in front of the Ross & Naubert Real Estate office, 1001 A Street, in the Mason Block building. The Mason Block was built by Allen C. Mason in 1887.

Ross & Naubert Real Estate (Tacoma); Mason Block (Tacoma); Carriages & coaches--Tacoma--1880-1890; Office buildings--Tacoma--1880-1890

ca. 1888. Three children of William B. and Harriet E. Jolly of Portland, Oregon, were photographed circa 1888 by local photographer Thwaites. Children are (l to r) Ralph, age 6, Inez, age 1 and Cora, age 8. They are dressed in Sunday best, including hightop boots for both the boy and the two girls. Ralph, casually leaning against a chair, has a broad white collar, in the Eton style, and wears knickers with his hip-length jacket. Eight-year-old Cora has her hair pulled back and is dressed in a dark knee length outfit. The baby, Inez, is wearing a dress with elaborate collar and short jacket. All three children look seriously at the camera with little or no smiles.

Jolly, William B.--Family; Families--Oregon--Portland; Jolly, Ralph; Jolly, Cora; Jolly, Inez; Children--Clothing & dress--Oregon--Portland;

ca. 1888. William Nyce Golden Family homestead located in Pierce County, WA. Fernhill - 160 acres Land Patent Document # 8607 BLM Serial # WAOAA 076213 Section: 34 Twp: 20N Range: 3E Meridian: Willamette County: Pierce Aliquot parts: W1/2 NE and E1/2 NW Image donated by Cathryn E. Vannice, from the collection of Cathryn E. Vannice. Cathryn E. Vannice is the Great-great grand-daughter of William N. Golden.

Golden, William N.; Fernhill (Tacoma)--1880-1890; Farmhouses--Tacoma; Farms--Tacoma;

ca. 1888. Eight loggers pose with two large sections of logs that are sitting on a flat-bed railroad car. On the side of the railroad car are the words - W. F. McKay, Tacoma, Wash. T. One of the logs is larger in diameter then the out stretched arm of one of the loggers. Two loggers hold a long hand saw. The Puget Sound Directory for 1888 lists a William F. McKay as a logger.

Loggers; Logs; Lumber industry--Tacoma--1880-1890

ca. 1888. Titled "Loading Wheat for Gt. Britain, Tacoma, W.T. 1888" this lantern slide shows several sailing ships at dock next to the Puget Sound Flouring Mills Co. Warehouses. The railroad tracks in the foreground are Northern Pacific tracks. TPL-8716

Flour & meal industry--Tacoma--1880-1890; Sailing ships--Tacoma--1880-1890; Puget Sound Flouring Mills Co. (Tacoma); Railroad tracks--Tacoma--1880-1890;

ca. 1888. This photograph from 1888 shows the Hotel Fife, 742-50 Pacific Ave., as it appeared shortly after it was built. It stood on the north west corner of 9th and Pacific. This photograph is looking up 9th street. There is a horse drawn wagon standing in front of the hotel. The hotel was demolished in 1925. TPL-9660

Hotels--Tacoma--1880-1890; Hotel Fife (Tacoma); Commercial streets--Tacoma--1880-1890

ca. 1888. Unidentified baby photographed by Isaac G. Davidson in Tacoma, W.T., circa 1888. The infant is wearing a loose fitting, long sleeved outfit and looks unsmilingly at the cameraman.

Infants--Tacoma; Children--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1880-1890;

ca. 1888. William Nyce Golden Family on front porch of the home at Fernhill. (L to R) Guy Vance Golden, Lydia Dunham Golden, ??, William Nyce Golden (in rocker). Image donated by Cathryn E. Vannice the Great Grand-daughter of William N. Golden from her collection. ?? may be Fred Tucker Golden

Fernhill (Tacoma)--1880-1890; Golden, William N.; Farmhouses--Tacoma; Farms--Tacoma;

ca. 1888. In this photograph from 1888, over a half-dozen ships crowd up to the dock of a lumber yard in Tacoma to take on lumber. The dock shown is probably the Tacoma Mill Company dock which was located on the waterfront by present day Old Tacoma, close to the Jack Hyde Park at the south end of Ruston Way. TPL-8608

Lumber industry--Tacoma--1880-1890; Lumberyards--Tacoma--1880-1890; Sailing ships--Tacoma--1880-1890

ca. 1888. Two ships sit at dock next to the Tacoma coal bunkers while three more ships lay at anchor in Commencement Bay in this photograph from 1888. The enormous bunkers along the waterfront enabled Tacoma to become, briefly, the leading coaling station on the Pacific Coast. In 1879-180, the Northern Pacific built a branch railroad up the Puyallup River valley and opened the Pierce County field in Wilkeson, Carbonado, and Fairfax. The first commercial coke plant was established and put into operation by the Tacoma Coal and Coke Company in 1888. TPL-8327

Ore industry--Tacoma--1880-1890; Coal--Tacoma--1880-1890; Cargo ships--Tacoma--1880-1890; Sailing ships--1880-1890

ca. 1889. Tacoma's Fire Station No. 4 was located at 407 E. 26th Street from 1889-1911. In this photograph, a 1889 Silsby 2nd size (700 gpm) rotary pump drawn by three horses and a W.T.Y Schneck hose wagon with two horses are on display in front of the station. The "Our Boys 1887" lettering below the bell tower acknowledged the "Our Boys" volunteer organization. In 1889, H. L. Knoell was listed as Captain in charge of the six-man company; this photograph may have been taken somewhat later as there are now nine firemen present. Engineers made roughly $90 a month with hosemen being paid $70 and drivers $75. The Fire Department Chief was paid approximately $125 monthly. Engine Co. No. 4 was to remain at the 407 E. 26th St. location until June, 1911, when it moved into a new two-story brick station a few blocks away at 224 E. 26th. (100 Years of Firefighting in the City of Destiny Tacoma, Washington, p. 18, 20, 52). TPL-393

Tacoma Fire Department (Tacoma); Fire stations--Tacoma--1880-1890; Fire engines & equipment--Tacoma; Horses--Tacoma;

ca. 1889. This photograph was taken shortly after the Bostwick Block was completed in 1889. Designed by early Tacoma architect O. P. Dennis, the Bostwick was remodeled in 1924. At that time, the wood-clad exterior was faced with "Duralite" stucco as seen today with its newly painted facade.

Hotel Bostwick (Tacoma); Hotels--Tacoma--1880-1890;

ca. 1889. Tacomans line both sides of Pacific Avenue in 1889 to watch a parade march down the unpaved main street of town. Horses and carts pause as bands and athletic groups pass by. The Empire House, located at 1401 Pacific Avenue, is on the right hand side of the street in this sepia photograph. Bunting decorates the first floor windows and entrance.

Parades & processions--Tacoma; Empire House (Tacoma); Horses--Tacoma; Carts & wagons--Tacoma;

ca. 1889. Tacoma smelter BU-13875

ca. 1889. In 1889, if you were able to stand on the roof of the Northern Pacific Headquarters building at 621 Pacific and look south, this is the scene you would take in. Horse drawn carriages and the streetcar stir up dust in the street while pedestrians stroll on wooden sidewalks past shop windows. On the right is the Charles W. Langert Wholesale Liquor and Thompson, Pratt & Co. located in the new structure at 710-712 Pacific Ave. The building had been constructed in 1887 and was designed by the architecture firm of Farrell & Darmer. TPL-379

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1880-1890; Business districts--Tacoma--1880-1890;

Steam schooner Julia H. Ray lost on Coos Bay Bar

Sailing ships; Schooners; Steam Ships;

ca. 1890. This photograph of the Cascade Steam Laundry, 2124 A Street, was taken sometime in the 1890's. The laundry's fleet of delivery wagons, harnessed to horses, is lined up in front of the business. Cascade Steam Laundry employed 36 men and women in 1891 with a monthly payroll of $1800. Proprietor H.A. Durr had recently remodeled the building to increase the width by 12 feet and increase the height by one story. Appliances included six washing machines, one large mangler (ironer) with a new one to be installed shortly, one extractor (wringer) and one 18-rack dry room. The Cascade Steam Laundry was established in 1886. (copy of original) Bi-Centennial Project # 75346-33 BU-12654 G35.1-167 (TDL 10-9-1891, p. 3-article)

Cascade Steam Laundry (Tacoma); Cleaning establishments--Tacoma--1890-1900; Carts & wagons--Tacoma--1890-1900;

ca. 1890. This early steam driven streetcar, circa 1890, was photographed travelling from downtown Tacoma through the North End to Point Defiance Park. The C Street Line was an early streetcar development built by Allen C. Mason and Nelson Bennett and it eventually extended to Point Defiance Park. The streetcar was printed with the name of the Point Defiance, Tacoma and Edison Railway Co. The railway company was only one of several small companies offering their own limited transportation systems. By 1898, most of the companies were having financial difficulties; and by 1899 the various lines were merged into the Tacoma Railway and Power Co. The Point Defiance Railroad Co. was franchised in 1889 to run a line to the Tacoma Smelter. It soon merged with a line to Edison (South Tacoma.) In July of 1892, the Point Defiance, Tacoma and Edison ran its first electric streetcar from Point Defiance Park to Edison (South Tacoma); a trip of twelve miles in one hour and twenty minutes. (T.Times 6/10/1938, pg. 15) G41.1-068 (also TPL-7990)

Mass transit--Tacoma--1890-1900; Street railroads--Tacoma--1890-1900; Point Defiance, Tacoma & Edison Railway Co. (Tacoma);

ca. 1890. Gross Brothers store at 901 Broadway. The large staff of the Gross Brothers store lined up on the sidewalk in front of the main entrance and also on the second floor balcony to promote its "Anual" (sic) Clearance Sale circa the winter of 1890. The holiday season was over and it was time to clear the store for the influx of new merchandise. Every item in the huge department store, at one time the city's largest, would be reduced and customers were urged to take advantage of lower prices until February 1st. Built in 1889, the magnificent property was later known as the Jones Block and was demolished in 1916 to make way for the Pantages Theater. This particular photograph was selected for a daily feature of long-ago pictures displayed in the News Tribune on May 24, 1934. Bi-Centennial Project # 75346-55 BU-12722 G56.1-015 (TNT 5-24-31, p. 11 -"In Tacoma's Family Album")

Gross Bros. Store (Tacoma); Department stores--Tacoma--1890-1900; Banners; Facades--Tacoma--1890-1900;

ca. 1890. "scenery of Oregon and Washington Territory" Northern Pacific Railroad Brewery in the 1880s from an early stereopticon slide. (From the collection of Dan Kerlee, Seattle, Washington.) A driver is waiting, along with his team of horses, to transport barrels and bottles of brew. Another cart is empty next to a yard filled with lumber and possibly bottles. A empty cask lies on its side in the foreground. This brewery was built in Steilacoom on Starling Street in 1873 by Wolf Schaefer. It was acquired by the Northern Pacific Railroad shortly after the death of Mr. Schaefer in 1889. Two years later, the company closed the brewery. (Meier: "Breweries of Steilacoom," Brewed in the Pacific Northwest, p. 110-112)

Northern Pacific Railroad Brewery (Steilacoom); Brewing industry--Steilacoom--1880-1890;

ca. 1890. George B. Kandle, Republican, was elected mayor of Tacoma on October 18, 1890. This picture is from William Prosser's "A History of the Puget Sound Country," The Lewis Publishing Company, 1903. opp p.224. George Kandle came to Washington as an infant in 1852. His parents, Henry and Margaret Kandle, had first arrived in Portland in 1851 where their wagon train broke up. Their son grew up on a large farm near Roy and later clerked at a drug store in Steilacoom. The firm of Clendenin & Miller then opened a general store in Old Town in 1872 and placed the future mayor in charge. In December of 1872 George Kandle was elected county auditor and served four terms. He was later a member of the Tacoma city council and in 1889 represented his district in the first legislature of the new state of Washington. While serving as a legislator, he was elected mayor of Tacoma in October of 1890 and remained in that office until 1892. George Kandle was to later serve as county commissioner and as a trustee for Western Washington Hospital (Western State). George B. Kandle died at age 75 in December of 1926. ALBUM 16. (Bonney: History of Pierce County, Washington, III, p. 201-202; Hunt: Tacoma Its History and Its Builders, III, p. 17-19)

Kandle, George B.; Mayors--Tacoma--1890-1900;

ca. 1890. Engine house # 9, Earl G. Jones pictured. Team of horses and other firemen included in this circa 1910 photograph. TPL-2759, TPL-8438 (Original print TPL-1082)

Jones, Earl G.; Fire fighters--Tacoma--1910-1920; Fire stations--Tacoma--1910-1920; Horses--Tacoma--1910-1920;

ca. 1890. Tacoma Hotel overlooking Puget Sound TPL-2833, BU-11914

ca. 1890. This is a view looking up South 9th from A Street in downtown Tacoma circa 1890. The big building in center of photo (to the right of 9th) is the Fife Block Building, later the Hotel Donnelly. Across 9th from this bulding is the Wright Building. Built in 1874 it was the first brick building in Tacoma. Although massive brick and stone structures were being constructed in the commercial business districts, streets were still rough and unpaved.

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1890-1900; Wright Building (Tacoma); Fife Block Building (Tacoma);

ca. 1890. Copy negative of a Tacoma Fire Department horse-drawn steam pumper, circa 1890.

Tacoma Fire Department (Tacoma); Fire engines & equipment--Tacoma--1890-1900;

ca. 1890. John N. Conna, wealthy real estate agent and head of first Black family in Tacoma. John Newington Conna had accomplished much in his 85 years before his death in Alaska in 1921. Born of a mixed marriage in San Augustine, Texas in 1836, Mr. Conna fought in the Civil War as part of the famed 1st Louisiana Native Guards before migrating north to Hartford, Connecticut and then west to Kansas City, Kansas. In 1883 Mr. Conna journeyed to the "City of Destiny," Tacoma, and became a leading seller of real estate. The father of 14 children, he was married to Mary (Davis) Conna. Mr. and Mrs. Conna would donate to the City of Tacoma some 40 acres of land as a Christmas gift in 1889. He held numerous offices including president of the John Brown Republican Club and president of the Washington State Protective League. He was, in a sense, the titular leader of Tacoma's black community and highly influential in the city's black social and political activities. Mr. Conna was also an attorney authorized to practice before the Treasury Department; Conna family lore suggests that he was also an attorney for railroad magnate James J. Hill. John Conna was appointed as Asst. Sergeant At Arms for the Senate in 1889, Washington's first Territorial Legislature. He was the first black political appointee in the history of Washington Territory. Mr. Conna was also a delegate to the 1896 National Republican Convention. At the age of 64 and not ready for retirement, Mr. Conna traveled to Alaska on the S.S. Seattle with Federal Judge and close friend, James Wickersham. Mr. Conna, like thousands of others, had been attracted by the huge gold rush and opportunities in Alaska. Mrs. Conna and family remained behind while Mr. Conna set up his own real estate, mines and mining property company a few years later. John Conna, age 85, stricken with diabetes, a heart condition, and the loss of a leg, died on October 21, 1921. He is buried in Fairbanks. (Tacoma Morning Globe Annual Review, 1-1-1891; www.historylink.org) (Additional information provided by Douglas Q. Barnett, grandson of John N. Conna)

Conna, John N.; African Americans--Tacoma--1890-1900; Pioneers--Tacoma; Real estate development--Tacoma;