ca. 1873. Frederick Law Olmsted plat map for City of Tacoma (New Tacoma), Washington Territory. Created for the Northern Pacific Railroad, and the Tacoma Land Company

Maps; Olmsted, Frederick Law, 1822-1903; Tacoma Land Co. (Tacoma); Northern Pacific Railway Co. (Tacoma);

The faculty of University School posed in a classroom on May 20, 1892. University School, on I St. at the corner of 21st, occupied the massive building from 1891 to 1924. It had previously been the location of Puget Sound University (later the University of Puget Sound, College of Puget Sound). James S. Lewis, Lincoln High School principal, was University School's first principal. The school opened in the fall of 1891 with eleven teachers for grades one through eight. As the above photograph was taken in May of 1892, this is presumed to be the first faculty of the new school including principal Lewis. Per the 1892 Polk Directory, teachers named were: Mattie A. Smythe (6th, 7th, 8th grades), Nettie E. Clarke, Asst. (6th, 7th, 8th), Mary Gilliam (5th, 6th grades), Alice Thornberry (4th grade), Hattie Messinger (A 3rd grade); Edith J. White (B 3rd grade), Clara Heilig (2nd grade), Jennie McGinnis (A 1st grade), Ella Osborne (A 1st grade), Lillian Hargear (B 1st grade), Mary A. Bovelle (C 1st grade) and John W. Clark, janitor. The name of the school was changed in 1896 to Logan School to honor Civil War Union Army Gen. John A. Logan, who helped to found the Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.) veterans' organization. Logan School closed in 1924 and the building was demolished the following year to make way for McCarver (Intermediate) School. (Olsen: For the Record, p. 71-72, various photographs; 1892 Polk Directory, p. 64-list of faculty)

University School (Tacoma); Logan School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1890-1900; Teachers--Tacoma--1890-1900; School principals--Tacoma; Lewis, James S.; Classrooms--Tacoma--1890-1900;

Three story school house, built 1888, demolished 1925 to make room for new brick building

Tacoma--Schools; Fern Hill;

McKinley School, 2nd grade class photo. These smiling children posed for their class picture near the end of the 1951 school year. Among them was Dorothy Mika, second row to the left, second seat back. Dorothy (later Dorothy Stewart) grew up to become a longtime staff member of the Tacoma Public Library.

McKinley School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1950-1960; School children--Tacoma--1950-1960; Classrooms--Tacoma--1950-1960; Mika, Dorothy; Stewart, Dorothy;

ca. 1885. When this circa 1885 photograph was taken Annie Wright Seminary (now School) was so new that there were still tree stumps in the front yard at the photo's left. There was no staircase to the sidewalk built yet. Annie Wright opened on September 3, 1884, and was named in honor of the school's benefactor, railroad magnate Charles B. Wright. It was located near Wright Park at 611 Division Ave. The school's purpose was to educate the daughters of pioneers so that they could contribute to the "righteous upbringing of this great country." $350 a year was the school's first tuition and that included "board, furnished room, tuition in English branches and Latin, and laundry service." In 1924 the school moved to a new campus at 827 Tacoma Ave. No. which provided more space for growth. The old building, with foundation of Wilkeson stone, was razed. The only remaining building, the gymnasium, was leased to the Tacoma Drama League in 1925. (www.ag.org/about/history)

Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma); Private schools--Tacoma--1880-1890;

ca. 1891. The faculty and pupils of Washington College pose on the wide steps of their secondary school, located on Tacoma Avenue South at the present site of Central School, ca. 1891. Washington College opened as a boys school on September 2, 1886, with a $50,000 endowment by Charles B. Wright. It started with 65 pupils, half of them day students. According to a letter from John Kirtland, a former teacher at the school, the college was headed by a Mr. Pulford at the time of this photograph. Mr. Kirtland was not in this particular picture but he indicated the presence of other faculty: Mr. Dudley, Mr. Ayrault, and Mr. Reed. The school closed in 1892 as the Great Depression of 1892 caused many of the pupils to leave school to find work. Its endowment was then transferred to Annie Wright Seminary.

Washington College (Tacoma); Private schools--Tacoma;

ca. 1939. Paul Satko's Ark, a homemade 40 footer, attracts many curious onlookers prior to its launch on November 6, 1939, into the city waterway. Two men in a rowboat, men balancing on floating logs, and others on a small tug all survey the 15 ton vessel. 4000-5000 rain-soaked Tacomans would be cheering as the much talked about Ark built by Virginian Paul Satko, a welder, completed a successful launching. The fact that the boat got stuck half way down the ways and had to pulled out by the Foss tug Diamond B, did not dampen the spirits of either the Satko family or spectators. The story of the family man who sought new frontiers in Alaska and decided to travel there by means of a homebuilt boat drew the attention of newspapers across the country. Mr. Satko built the frame in Richmond, VA, and mounted it on a truck. It took him three months and many scrapes with the highway patrol to get to his launching point, Tacoma. TPL-1794.

Boats--Tacoma--1930-1940; Satko, Paul--Associated objects; Logs; Rowboats--Tacoma;

ca. 1939. Even on a foggy day in 1939, Paul Satko's Ark draws curious onlookers as they stare at the 40 foot, 8 feet wide home-built vessel. National attention has been drawn to the family of nine who had hauled the boat's frame all the way from Virginia to Tacoma in a $10 truck with the firm intentions of voyaging to Cook Inlet, Alaska. The Ark's unorthodox design also drew much comment, often caustic, amidst doubts that the vessel would even float when launched. Powered by the engine of the $10 truck, the Ark was successfully launched in November, 1939. Mr. Satko, wife, and crew of seven children would be feted with a celebration in April, 1940, at the Point Defiance Dock where 15,000 Tacomans would wish them "Bon Voyage." TPL-5670.

Satko, Paul--Associated objects; Boats--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Fellow shipmates of Machinist Mate Carl Lischke pay tribute to the young sailor on March 19, 1934. His flag-draped casket is surrounded by floral displays. Lischke died on March 17, 1934, while his German warship, Karlsruhe, was docked in Tacoma. He had eaten spoiled fish which had just been delivered to him from Germany. Because the Karlsruhe would not be returning to Germany immediately, it was decided to bury Lischke at Mountain View Memorial Park. He left grieving relatives in his homeland as well as a Frankfort fraulein; Lischke would have been married in June. (T.Times 3-20-34, p. 1)

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

On Wednesday evening December 30, 1925 the crew of the Virginia V helped prevent a major tragedy from occuring in the waters under the 11th Street (Murray Morgan) Bridge. At 7:55 p.m. a municiple streetcar crashed through the steel gate that closed off 11th Street when the bridge was raised. The wooden streetcar broke apart as it plunged toward the water, spilling passengers as it fell. The crew of the Virginia V, docked near the bridge, sped to the rescue, pulling survivors to safety. An undetermined number of passengers were pulled from the water, including four who were injured. The death toll reached five. Pictured (l to r) are David Balduzi, Alfred Jergenson, Capt. Nels G. Christensen (at back), J. Christensen, Joe Brooks, Claude Williams and Al Torgeson. (TNT 12/31/1925, pg. 1) TPL-8547;

Mass transit--Tacoma--1920-1930; Sailors--1920-1930;

On June 15, 1933, the reconditioned frigate USS Constitution was towed into Tacoma and moored at the McCormick Dock; for a week "Old Ironsides" was opened for tours. In the center of the group of men on the dock is a man in uniform, possibly the ship's captain, to his right is Tacoma Mayor Melvin G. Tennent. Immediately to the left of the group of men is a Rockne automobile. The Rockne, produced by the Studebaker Co. of South Bend, Indiana, from 1931-33. was priced to compete with Ford. The brand was named after Knute Rockne, the famous Notre Dame University football coach. Shortly after the new car hit the market, Rockne was killed in an airplane crash. The vehicle never sold well and was eventually pulled from the market. The vehicle has a sign on the side announcing the "Elks Magazine Rockne sponsored by Studebaker, Good Will Tour, Los Angeles to Milwaukee." TPL-9099

Mayors--Tacoma--1930-1940; Tennent, Melvin Green; U.S.S. Constitution; Battleships--United States--1790-1800; Piers & wharves--Tacoma--1930-1940; Cruisers (Warships)--United States--1790-1800; Studebaker automobile;

This is an undated photograph of the towboat, "Vigilant," prior to being purchased by the Foss Launch & Tug Co. and renamed the "Anna Foss." She was a wood two-deck boat with 75-hp steam engine with a 69-foot length and 18-foot beam when built in 1907 in Tacoma for the WallaceTowboat Co. The "Vigilant" put in thirteen years of hard work for Wallace before being sold to the Cascade Tugboat Co. in 1920. Cascade sold her two years later to the Gilky Bros. of Anacortes for log towing in northern Puget Sound and British Columbia. Once more ownership changed hands when Cpt. C.C. Croft traded his tug for her about 1925. Now part of the Vigilant Towing Co. of Seattle, she substituted her steam plant for a 200-hp 2-cycle Worthington diesel in 1926, enabling her to tow heavy gravel scows. In 1930 the "Vigilant" was sold to the Anchor Tugboat Co. of Portland for use on the Columbia River. The Foss Co. acquired her in 1933 for $5,300 at a U.S. Marshal's sale. Her primary job was to bring down millions of feet of Canadian logs for mills operating in Salmon Bay and Elliot Bay. In 1938 the "Vigilant" became the "Anna Foss" after the wife of Peter Foss, Andrew Foss' brother. She would complete more than 50 years of service before being retired on August 2, 1968. The boat would have one final owner, former Chief Engineer Everett Atkinson, who purchased her in May of 1969. Her name reverted back to the "Vigilant" and she was anchored in Colvos Passage in front of Mr. Atkinson's Vashon Island home. She sank in 40 feet of water on September 16, 1969 when her pump apparently failed. (Skalley, "Foss Ninety Years of Towboating," p. 90-92)

Tugboats;

ca. 1895. This is the Foss boathouse below the old 11th St. Bridge circa 1895 with the elegant Tacoma Hotel (at upper right) overlooking the City (now Thea Foss) Waterway. An array of rowboats, some with small children as oarsmen, are clustered on the waterway. A number of people are gathered on the boathouse with at least some of them believed to be members of the Foss family. The Foss boathouse was the first in Tacoma with folks renting rowboats from five to ten cents a day. From these humble beginnings sprang Foss Launch & Tug Co., one of the largest firms of its kind on the Pacific Coast. (copy of original) Bi-Centennial Project # 75346-48

Foss Launch & Tug Co. (Tacoma); Rowboats; Boathouses--Tacoma--1890-1900; Tacoma Hotel (Tacoma); City Waterway (Tacoma);

ca. 1948. Three deep sea Foss tugs based out of Port Angeles, left to right, the Arthur Foss, Mathilda Foss and Foss No. 21. These three ships were used periodically for deep sea tows to Alaska, but after the end of World War II that duty was taken over by Miki class tugs purchased as surplus from the military. The three were then used for log tows out of Port Angeles. The Arthur Foss is probably the most famous Foss tugboat. It began its life in 1898 in Portland Oregon as the steam tug "Wallowa." The 110 foot tug became a star when it appeared in the 1933 motion picture classic "Tugboat Annie" as the "Narcissus." The movie was based on Saturday Evening Post short stories written by University of Washington writing teacher Norman Reilly Raine and loosely based on the Foss family business legend. The vessel was overhauled in 1934 and renamed the "Arthur Foss." It served in World War II, returned to Port Angeles in 1948 and was retired in 1968. Donated in 1970 to the nonprofit "Save Our Ships," it was lovingly restored. The "Mathilda Foss" was built in 1909 as a US Army passenger and freight vessel, the "Captain Gregory Barrett." The 91 foot vessel was retooled in 1937 as an ocean going tug and renamed the "Mathilda Foss." It also served in World War II and entered Port Angeles service in 1946. It was sold in 1963 and sunk in 1978 as an eyesore. The "Foss 21" began life as the Tacoma built "Fearless." Built in 1900, the 80 foot tug was one of the most powerful tugs at the turn of the century. It was based out of Port Angeles and used primarily for tows on the Quillayute River. (photograph courtesy of the William T. Case collection) ("Foss: A Living Legend" by Bruce Johnson and Mike Skalley)

Foss Launch & Tug Co. (Tacoma); Tugboats--Port Angeles--1940-1950;

The spring tournament of the Northwest Lawn Bowling Association was held in Wright Park May 30 through June 2, 1946. Mr. & Mrs. Charles Wood of Vancouver, B.C. dominated the tournament. Mr. Wood defeated George Wilkinson in the final of the men's event, and Mrs. Wood defeated Mrs. Lew Thomas of Tacoma to take the ladies title. (TNT 06/03/1946 p.7)

Wright Park (Tacoma); Lawn Bowling--Tacoma--1940-1950; Northwest Lawn Bowling Association;

City league competitive basketball was popular in Tacoma in the early 1930s. The Carstens Packing Company team from 1933 was rated as a strong contender for the Tacoma City Girls' Basketball league championship. The Carstens Vagabonds team members were, seated left to right, Dolly Reese, Freda Weingard, Eleanor Hiller, Grace Thorne and Katherine Rivers. Standing, left to right, Paul Benton (coach), Eleanor Foley, Vera Kemp, Mary Livesley, Dorothy Weingard and Gladys Hult (manager.) There were six women's teams in the 1932 city league sponsored by the Metropolitan Park District including teams representing Hoskins Grill, Pacific Telephone, and Tacoma Poultry and Eggs. (Previously TPL-9000)

Carstens Packing Co. (Tacoma)--People; Basketball--Tacoma--1930-1940; Basketball players--Tacoma--1930-1940; Women--Sports--1930-1940; Benton, Paul; Hult, Gladys;

A group of men and women golfers gathered in front of the clubhouse at the new Highland Golf Course on the course's first day of play, June 20, 1931. The public course, located at North 13th and Pearl Streets, was so named because the land it occupied was some of the highest in the city; the clubhouse presented a commanding view from its verandas. The 18 hole course offered velvety greens and tricky fairways. Its well-equipped, modern clubhouse offered the accommodations of a private club - yet it was open to the public. 18 holes cost $0.50. (TDL 6/19/1931 p.8)

Golf--Tacoma--1930-1940; Highland Golf Course (Tacoma)

A golfer, sleeves rolled up and wearing traditional knickers, tees off on opening day at Tacoma's newest golf course. It was the first day of golf at the Highland Golf Course. A well dressed crowd watches and waits its turn.

Golf--Tacoma--1930-1940; Golfers--Tacoma--1930-1940; Highland Golf Course (Tacoma);

ca. 1932. Two men in a shoe repair shop. One of the men, in hat and coveralls, talks to a lady customer. The second man works on a shoe behind him. A note on the negative sleeve indicated that this photograph was taken for the Unemployed Citizens League.

Shoes; Shoe industry--Tacoma--1930-1940

ca. 1911. South Tacoma Drug Store, 5401 South Tacoma Way Fred Ludwig, proprietor. This circa 1911 photograph shows the interior of the drugstore along with employees and customer(s). Frederick Andrew Ludwig, University of Washington School of Pharmacy graduate, is in the foreground, far left. Others in the photograph (order unknown) are: Lee Jewell, Erny Bittner, J.A. Dague, and Dr. Carlsen (possibly E.L. Carlsen). Mr. Ludwig partnered with pioneer pharmacist J.A. Dague to buy Tacoma's oldest pharmacy, Yuill & McKenzie, in 1910. The pharmacy was moved to 5401 South Tacoma Way in 1911. In 1916 Mr. Ludwig acquired sole ownership of the drugstore which now bore his name. Mr. Ludwig, founder of the Tacoma chain of Ludwig Drug Stores, died on February 4, 1976, at the age of 88. (TNT 2-5-76, D-9-obituary)

South Tacoma Drug Co. (Tacoma); Ludwig Drugs (Tacoma); Drugstores--Tacoma--1910-1920; Ludwig, Frederick Andrew; Dague, J.A.; Jewell, Lee;

ca. 1892. The Owen Woods' Building at 1148 Broadway is pictured here shortly after its completion in 1892. It was designed by architects Roath & Mendell with Michael McDonnell as contractor. The building was available for rent at the time of this photograph and interested parties could contact the Tacoma Rent Guaranty Co. The Arcade Store, and later the McCormack Brothers Dept. Store, occupied the building before Sears, Roebuck & Co. purchased it in 1935. Sears added two adjacent buildings to its store during expansion. The building was restored and renamed the Cornerstone Building in 1982.

Department stores--Tacoma--1890-1900;

In 1920, Edward Manning and his brother W.W. Manning opened Manning's Coffee Cafe at 1102 Commerce in Tacoma. It was number three in a growing chain of cafes, markets, bakeries and coffee roasting operations. The brothers had founded their chain in Seattle in 1908. They continued to keep pace with progress and customer satisfaction and ran strongly during the Depression. The market was totally remodeled in 1939 and again in 1950. Eventually, there were 65 Manning enterprises on the West Coast, ranging from Bellingham, Wa. to San Diego, Ca. The market closed in 1972 during urban renewal.

Manning's Market (Tacoma);

ca. 1960. This is a view of South 11th & Tacoma Avenue South circa 1960. Standing on the rooftop of the Tacoma Public Library (1102 Tacoma Avenue South), one can see the Art-Deco styled Medical Arts Building (now Municipal Building) at 747 Market St. and in the distance, glimpses of Commencement Bay. Anton's Restaurant is at the corner of 11th & Tacoma Avenue in the Roberts-Parker Building. The buildings visible on the east side of Tacoma Avenue South have since been torn down and/or remodeled. The old building at 955 Tacoma Avenue South, across the street from Anton's, was demolished and a State Savings & Loan Assn. building erected in 1968. It now houses Pierce County governmental offices. Baldwin & Son Lawn Mower Shop moved to South 12th by 1962. Bushey's Tavern, 939 Tacoma Avenue South, advertised "dancing" as one of their attractions. Across the street, though not visible, is the new County-City Building, 930 Tacoma Avenue South. TPL-2157

Streets--Tacoma--1960-1970; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1960-1970; Anton's Restaurant (Tacoma); Baldwin & Son Lawn Mower Shop (Tacoma); Bushey's Tavern (Tacoma); Medical Arts Building (Tacoma);

On December 17, 1912 Nicholas Decker was awarded the sum of $3,000 by the U.S. District Court in Seattle for injuries that he sustained in the spring of 1912 while working as a linesman's helper for the Tacoma Rail and Power Co. in Tacoma. This photo taken as evidence for Mr. Decker's trial shows a man believed to be Mr. Decker's lawyer standing in the center of South C Steet (now Broadway) close to the spot where Mr. Decker was injured. South C at the time was crowded with a variety of businesses including the Fawcett Hotel (at right), M. Furuya Co., Japanese Foods, the Elgin Hotel (at left, 1502 1/2 South C) with S. Fukutomi as proprietor and M. Yamane's laundry next door at 1506 South C. (T.Times 12-17-1912 p.1-article)

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1910-1920; Actions & defenses--Tacoma--1910-1920;

ca. 1929. Street scene showing east side of Pacific Ave. looking south from 10th Street. Buildings shown include (left to right) First Mutual Savings Bank of Tacoma (1005 Pacific Ave.), Western Union Telegraph Co.& Lindsay Hotel (1007 Pacific Ave.), Bank of California (1011-13 Pacific Ave.), Feeney's Cafe (1017), Washington Building (1019), Peoples Store (1101-07), Bankers Trust Building (1109-13) and Puget Sound Bank (1117-19.) This circa 1929 photograph was one of a series of downtown shots taken on behalf of the Tacoma Chamber of Commerce.

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1920-1930; First Mutual Savings Bank of Tacoma (Tacoma); Western Union Telegraph Co. (Tacoma); Lindsay Hotel (Tacoma); Bank of California National Association (Tacoma);