ca. 1910. Several fountains shoot plumes of water into the air above the pond at Pt. Defiance Park. Part of the park's greenhouse peeks out from behind the bushes. Although the area seems void of visitors in this circa 1910 photograph, Point Defiance Park and its (now) 702 acres was a popular destination for city residents. Handy streetcars made the trip to the large park easy for those without automobiles. Once there visitors could enjoy strolling through gardens, picnic areas and on the beach, checking out the conservatory and viewing the zoo animals.

Point Defiance Park (Tacoma); Parks--Tacoma--1910-1920; Fountains--Tacoma;

ca. 1930. Point Defiance Park Pavilion circa 1930. The octogonal pavilion was built in 1903 by concessionaire Edwin Ferris and quickly became a popular location for boat rentals, food stands and a fine restaurant which featured clam chowder. Visitors to Point Defiance Park were able to be dropped off via ferry at the pavilion to spend the day strolling among the hundreds of beautifully kept acres, walk the waterfront, revel in the clean air and visit the zoo. The octagonal pavilion was demolished by the late 1930s. (metroparkstacoma.org)

Point Defiance Pavilion (Tacoma); Point Defiance Park (Tacoma);

ca. 1928. Two young people hold a brass plaque dedicating the new field house at Ferry Park. In 1928 the field house was built and equipment purchased thanks to a $2,000 donation from the Kiwanis Club. Ferry Park, covering just over 1/2 acre at S. 14th & Cushman, was Tacoma's first park. It was donated to the city on May 14, 1883 by C.P. Ferry when he platted the Ferry Addition to the city. Ferry Park was the site of another first, the first organized playground program during the summer months beginning in the 1920s. (www.metroparkstacoma.org)

Ferry Park (Tacoma); Parks--Tacoma--1930-1940;

ca. 1903. The lake at Point Defiance, circa 1903. Much of the early design of Point Defiance can be laid at the feet of Welsh landscape gardener, and Point Defiance's first superintendent, Ebenezer Roberts. He saw the park as an island of peace and beauty to be used and enjoyed by the people of Tacoma. He also sought to preserve its wildness. He was also one of the forces behind the city obtaining sole ownership of the park in 1905. His vision of rustic beauty shaped the early look of the park. In those days, the animals were housed in the pens seen behind the lake. Elk, bison and deer would gather to eat at the animal pavilions, the small buildings in the pens. Ducks inhabited the lake. In the photograph, a woman in a floor length skirt stands at the top of the lake, taking in its beauty.

Point Defiance Park (Tacoma); Parks--Tacoma; Lakes & ponds--Tacoma;

ca. 1960. Tacoma Police on pier with police motorcycles and cars. Photograph believed to have been taken circa 1960. TAC-067.1

Police--Tacoma--1960-1970; Tacoma Police Department (Tacoma); Motorcycles--Tacoma--1960-1970; Piers & wharves--Tacoma--1960-1970;

This view of Tacoma's Federal Building, 1102 A Street, which is home to the Main Branch of the U. S. Post Office, is from the corner of So. 12th and A St. The Federal Building, built to house the Federal courts and the main post office in Tacoma, was formally dedicated in July of 1910 after years of delays and construction problems. The initial plans for the building were shown to the public in 1906, but the foundation was not started until September, 1908. In May of 1929, shortly after this photograph was taken, the 12th Street entrance was remodeled to provide a parcel post room . The Federal courts moved out of the building to their new home at the Union Depot in 1992.

Federal Building (Tacoma);

ca. 1915. This undated photograph is of the first dump truck purchased by the Tacoma Public Works Department in 1915.

Trucks--1910-1920; Dump trucks; Public Works Department (Tacoma);

Photograph labeled "Day Island - Swim." View of people at swimming hole on Day Island. Titlow train station is at left in photograph. View is across railroad tracks looking east toward Titlow.

Day Island--Washington--1930-1940; Railroad stations--Titlow;

ca. 1913. This is the newly built Central School, 601 South 8th St., circa 1913. Located on the site of the former Washington College and Tacoma High School, it replaced the original 12-room wooden structure with 90-foot belltower at South 11th & "G" Sts. The former Central School had opened in 1883 serving grades one through eighth. On September 13, 1913, the new Central School opened under the guidance of principal George Stanley. 1000 elementary students moved into the grand $165,000 building at South 8th & Tacoma Avenue South. Walker Cut Stone Co. furnished the stonework on the multi-storied structure which had windows commanding splendid views of Mount Tahoma (Rainier). Generations of Tacomans were educated at Central School until the end of the 1967-68 school year when the building was converted to Tacoma School District's administrative offices. (Olsen: For the Record, p. 47-48, alt. photographs)

Central School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1910-1920;

ca. 1913. This is Hawthorne School shortly after opening in September of 1913. The entire population of the elementary school is lined up in front of the imposing building with Jessie Lithgow near the far right. Jessie's face has been circled and an arrow pointed toward the head. Hawthorne School was the first school in the Northwest with a German plan assembly hall. It had originated as East School in 1885 in temporary classrooms at a former store at South 24th & Pacific Ave. A new two-room building was constructed at East D & 31st streets in 1886 and classes were held with only one teacher. A six-room addition was authorized in 1889 by the school board and the school renamed Hawthorne after author Nathaniel Hawthorne. Enrollment grew with the admittance of Puyallup Indian Tribal children in 1896 and by 1904 Hawthorne was the school district's third largest school after Central and Lowell. When other schools were built in the eastern and southern parts of the city enrollment started to decline at Hawthorne in 1908. Nonetheless, a new Hawthorne School was built in 1913 at 28th & East F Sts. It held 438 students and four teachers, much smaller than Hawthorne in 1905 when enrollment reached 1,305 students. Hawthorne closed in 1963 and later the building housed early childhood education programs. For a few short years it was the Puyallup Indian Tribe's Chief Leschi School. The school was razed in June of 1981 to make way for the Tacoma Dome. (Olsen: For the Record, p. 53-54-article & various photographs)

Hawthorne School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1910-1920; School children--Tacoma--1910-1920;

The first Bryant School, designed by architects Bullard & Bullard, opened in 1891. Named for journalist and poet William Cullen Bryant, the building accommodated high school students, Tacoma School District offices, and elementary students. It was one of the oldest schools in continuous use in the state when the building was torn down in 1962. A new Bryant Elementary School was built at 707 So. Grant Ave.

ca. 1909. Entrance to Stadium High School, four people in front of building. #BU11372

Stadium High School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1900-1910; Historic buildings--Tacoma

This photograph shows the building adjacent to the Puyallup Opera House, at the corner of So. Meridian and E. Pioneer, as it appeared on September 29, 1927. It was home to Hood's Hardware, the Citizens State Bank and the Puyallup City Hall. The Opera House, its onion dome shows at the far right, was built in 1890, at a final cost of $20,000. It was described as, "the finest and costliest theatre building in the state outside of Tacoma and Spokane." It was demolished after being damaged by the 1949 earthquake. The building at the corner is still standing, but has been completely remodeled. Puyallup City Hall (311-13 S. Meridian), Citizens State Bank (301 S. Meridian), and Hood's Hardware (114 E. Pioneer Ave.)

Hood's Hardware (Puyallup); City Hall (Puyallup); Citizens State Bank (Puyallup); Business districts--Puyallup--1920-1930; Puyallup Opera House (Puyallup); Opera houses--Puyallup;

ca. 1931. Second grade class, Spanaway School District 322, taken in 1931. The teacher is Miss Daisy Salmonson. Bottom row, left to right, Tweeden, Dotty B., Ruby Graber and Gladys Wilson. 2nd row: Phylis Bradshaw, Janet Anderson, Pearl Hoskins, Frank Zlock, Vivian Handy and Lorraine Ridout. 3rd row: Cecelia Niesen, ElmerTeale, Lavina Mae Nygard, Charles Martin, Thelma Williams, Junior Curry and Jeanne Lakey. 4th row: William Case, Marion Gunsons, Louis Phillips, Margaret Hermansen, Gordon Pirnie and Vivian Lawer. 5th row: Robert Reed, La Verne Manning, Edward Manning, Boby Edi, Manly Storlee, Mae Jhonson and Wilbur Schatly. (photograph and names courtesy of the William T. Case collection)

Spanaway School (Spanaway)--1930-1940; Students--Spanaway--1930-1940; Case, William L.;

On May 28, 1926, the Girls Club at Stadium High School unveiled a commemorative bronze tablet at the entrance to their school. The plaque contained the names of the eleven Stadium High School boys who died in World War I and an explanation of the trees planted in their memory at the school in 1919. Bearing roses are Ellis Ayr Smith, left, and Louise Phelps. After the unveiling of the marker, the girls placed the roses at the bases of two of the trees. (TNT 5/28/1926, pg. 17) BU-11,376, BGN 444

Stadium High School (Tacoma)--1920-1930; Memorial rites & ceremonies--Tacoma; Commemoration--Tacoma; Smith, Ellis-Ayr; Phelps, Louise;

ca. 1927. The motorship "Tacoma" arrived in Tacoma on January 14, 1927 on her maiden voyage and berthed at the Defiance Mill. The ship was built in Copenhagen for the Orient Steamship Co. of Copenhagen. She was loading northwest lumber enroute to Japan. She was 400 feet in length with a beam of 55 feet. She ran under the power of two diesel engines with a crew of 15 officers and 34 crewmen. (TNT 1/14/1927, pg. 20)

Lumber industry--Tacoma--1920-1930; Defiance Lumber Co. (Tacoma); Cargo ships; Shipping--Tacoma--1920-1930; Orient Steamship Co. (Copenhagen); Commerce--Tacoma--1920-1930;

The German cruiser Karlsruhe is taking on fuel from a Foss barge in mid-March, 1934, while at the dock in the waters below City Hall. The Karlsruhe was a sister ship to the Konigsberg; both were Koln class light cruisers. It had a displacement of 6000 tons and was equipped with three triple turrets and 4 triple torpedo tubes. The ship was in port for one week but festivities were delayed due to the death of Machinist Mate Karl Lischke who passed away on March 17, 1934, due to fish poisoning. He was buried with full naval rites at Mountain View Memorial Park in ceremonies attended by many local citizens, American and German military personnel, and city and county officials. The entire crew of the ship stood at attention at deckside when the body was removed while cadets formed an aisle along which Lischke was carried from the ship to the funeral car. Hundreds of spectators lined the 11th St. Bridge to view the procession. The ship would be later opened for visits; more than 4,700 people were welcomed aboard on Sunday afternoon, the 18th, and more were expected the following Wednesday. On April 9, 1940, the German vessel was sunk by the British during the German invasion of Norway. TPL-004 (T.Times, 3-19-34, p. 1; Jane's Fighting Ships, 1941; T. Times 4-10-1940, pg. 1& 12)

Cruisers (Warships)--German; Government vessels--German; Barges--Tacoma;

Six sailors from the German cruiser Karlsruhe stand at attention beside the casket of their fellow shipmate, Machinist Mate Carl Lischke, during ceremonies at Mountain View Memorial Park. The young sailor had died the previous Saturday, March 17th, of fish poisoning. It was necessary to have burial in Tacoma because the Karlsruhe would not be returning to Germany immediately. Representatives from US military, city and county officials, and Lischke's shipmates attended the March 19th funeral, as well as many ordinary citizens. Many floral tributes surround the flag-draped casket; more flowers in the way of petals were scattered on the casket by sailors from all departments on the Karlsruhe as the casket was slowly lowered into the ground. (T.Times 3-20-34, p. 1-article)

Cemeteries--Lakewood; Funeral rites & ceremonies--Lakewood; Coffins; Sailors--German;

ca. 1935. The Justine Foss tugboat. The Justine Foss, named for the youngest daughter of Wedell and Edith Foss, was built in 1930 by the Foss Launch & Tug Co. She was 57 feet in length with a 16 foot beam and an Atlas 200 HP engine. She had an amazing 11 year career with Foss, during which she helped build Oregon's scenic Coast Highway 101, served in California and Alaska and supported the US WWII war effort in the central Pacific. The Justine and Drew Foss, the son of Henry, were working on Wake Island when the Island was captured by the Japanese. Drew Foss was sent to a Japanese prisoner of war camp. The Justine and its crew were forced work on the island for the Japanese until no longer needed. In 1941, the Justine was intentionally sunk in the lagoon and the crew executed. Drew Foss survived the camp to return home. TPL-8670 ( "Foss, Ninety Years of Towboating" Skalley)

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

ca. 1896. A two-masted sailing ship is docked on Tacoma's waterfront circa 1896 at the Northern Pacific Railroad's Ocean Freight warehouse to take on cargo. In the background to the left is the Crescent Creamery at what is now 100 Schuster Parkway. The creamery was built in 1890 and demolished about 1920.

Shipping--Tacoma--1890-1900; Sailing ships--Tacoma--1890-1900; Warehouses--Tacoma--1890-1900; Crescent Creamery (Tacoma); Waterfronts--Tacoma--1890-1900;

ca. 1896. Eureka Dock shortly after it was built by the Tacoma Land Co. Smaller building to the left in the photo is the original Commercial Dock Company Freight Warehouse. The Eureka Dock was leased to the Tacoma Warehouse & Elevator Co. whose manager, A.M. Ingersoll, gave it its name which also included the wharves. The 400-ft. long by 130-ft. wide warehouse was capable of holding from 8,000-10,000 tons of grain. It was turned over to the lessee on January 13, 1896, and initially was used to store freight. The wharves were rented for boat dockage. (TDL 1-8-1896, p. 5-article; TDL 1-14-1896, p. 8-article)

Eureka Dock (Tacoma); Piers & wharves--Tacoma--1890-1900; Warehouses--Tacoma--1890-1900; Commercial Dock Co. Freight Warehouse (Tacoma);

On July 6, 1914, the South Tacoma Tigers amateur baseball team members were photographed at an unidentified outdoor location. Back row, left to right were: Ole Rynning, Orville Eley, Oscar "Ocky" Jensen, Harry Vawter, Bert Schumacker (sp), and Ed Woods. Front row, left to right: Earnest Christian, Jack Farrell, manager Walter Holmberg (in suit), Leo Christian and Eddie McTighe. The South Tacoma Tigers represented the West Coast in the Amateur Baseball Championship of the world in 1915, the year after this photograph was taken. (Gallacci, Blau: Playground to the Pros, p. 78-79)

Baseball--Tacoma--1910-1920; Baseball players--Tacoma--1910-1920; Holmberg, Walter; Rynning, Ole; Eley, Orville; Jensen, Oscar; Vawter, Harry; Woods, Ed; Christian, Earnest; Farrell, Jack; Christian, Leo; McTighe, Eddie;

This photograph of the Newports, an amateur baseball team in Tacoma, was taken in June of 1908 . Identified players in the back row are, left to right, Arnold Levenhagen, Jack Clancy, Grant Clark (manager), Mike Kneip (backer), and L. Furlatt. Front row, Ed Ballard, Jack Clark, Vic Olson, F. Burgeson, Frank Cozza and Rudy Johnson. The players wear double breasted coats with large buttons and a "N" on each sleeve. The team's backer, Mike Kneip, owned a saloon at 1544 Commerce, which was also the site of the Newport Hotel. (photograph courtesy of Mrs. Robert G. Clark) (TDL 06/06/1908)

Clark, Grant; Clark, Jack; Baseball players--Tacoma--1900-1910;

Composite photograph for advertisement for appearance by Jack Dempsey in Tacoma for the Junior League Milk Fund Benefit. The benefit was held at the Tacoma Stadium (Stadium Bowl) on Thursday, September 10, 1931. Although Mr. Dempsey and other boxers on the card were paid for their appearances, ticket proceeds funded the purchase of milk for needy Tacoma Public Schools students. Net proceeds totaled $1042 with Mr. Dempsey contributing $154.50 of his appearance fee. (TNT 8-28-31, p. 1-article; TNT 9-25-31, p. 1-article)

Dempsey, Jack, 1895-1983; Boxers (Sports); Advertisements--Tacoma;

ca. 1900. Men at work at unidentified machine shop in Tacoma circa 1900. They stand while working at their machines. Most are wearing hats/caps and retain their jackets/coats. Several of the machines are placed by the large windows which would allow for natural light.

Machine shops--Tacoma; Machinery; Men--Tacoma--1900-1910;

ca. 1905. Stacks and rows of women's clothing, including coats, dresses and perhaps lingerie, on display at Peoples department store circa 1905. The store was probably getting ready for its annual spring white sales which attracted hordes of shoppers. Peoples opened in Tacoma in 1888 and remained a vibrant presence in downtown Tacoma until 1983.

Peoples (Tacoma); Department stores--Tacoma--1900-1910; Women--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1900-1910;

ca. 1930. Kelley-Clarke Company, 1725 Jefferson, Tacoma, Washington. Merchandise brokers who sold various products wholesale to stores; firm started in 1889 with three offices in Portland, Seattle and Spokane. They opened their first branch office in Tacoma in 1901 and moved to Jefferson Avenue in 1906. The Tacoma office closed around 1945 shortly after the end of WWII. Kelley-Clarke were the distributors for various products, including Staley's Starch which was a laundry starch and Staley Pancake & Waffle Syrup.

Kelley-Clarke Co. (Tacoma);

ca. 1905. James Delbert and Frank Armstrong (left to right) stand at the entrance to the Armstrong Bros. grocery store at 5648 So. Union Avenue (now So. Tacoma Way) in the early part of the 20th century. Vegetables fill the window space at left while paintings are on display at right. The store was earlier known as Armstrong & Baker.

Armstrong Bros. (Tacoma); Grocery stores--Tacoma--1900-1910; Armstrong, James Delbert; Armstrong, Frank;