After wedding portrait of Mary Ellen Miller and Don Carlson in front of the Pierce County Court House. As more young men were drafted or enlisted, weddings were hurriedly placed on the social calendar, often with the young woman travelling to the military base where her intended was stationed. The Pierce County Courthouse became a revolving door for young couples wanting to be united before he left for "over there." [Also dated. 08-14-1942]

Miller, Mary Ellen--Marriage; Carlson, Don; Weddings--Tacoma--1940-1950;

In July of 1959 the stately old County Courthouse at 1012 South G Street, adorned with large signs on its southeast tower declaring "This building is coming down" and "Salvage for sale", was in the process of being demolished. Lige Dickson and Co., the subcontractor for the demolition, had gutted much of the interior and the north wing was already gone. Built in 1892, its familiar Romanesque spires and cupolas made it a Tacoma landmark. By 1959 the beauty of the building's stone work hid deteriorating interior walls and sagging floors. A "Save the Courthouse" movement failed after generating only 20 letters. The final hold up to demolition was that Pierce County Sheriff Frank Stojack refused to move his department to the new County-City building until he received increased funding for a larger staff to man the new facility. After demolition was completed, the area formerly occupied by the Courthouse served as a parking lot for the County-City building. (TNT 4/22/1959, pg. 1, 4/30/1959, pg. 1, 6/20/1959, pg. 1) TPL-6567

Pierce County Courthouse (Tacoma); Courthouses--Tacoma; County-City Building (Tacoma); State Armory (Tacoma);

By July of 1959, demolition of the aging Gothic-styled Piece County Courthouse, 1012 South G Street, was well underway. Lige Dickson & Co. began tearing down the old courthouse in June with cranes and wrecking balls bringing it down piece by piece over the next several weeks. In July explosive charges were set and the remainder of the courthouse came tumbling down. A parking lot for the new County City Building, shown at right, was built on the site. BU 12845; TPL-6561

Pierce County Courthouse (Tacoma); Courthouses--Tacoma; Historic buildings--Tacoma; Hoisting machinery; Demolition--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Judge Wilford A. Richmond, Superior Court judge, and his colleagues posed for a portrait at the Pierce County Court House on February 28, 1957. Photograph ordered by Washington Tuberculosis Association.

Richmond, W.A.; Judges--Tacoma; Washington Tuberculosis Association (Tacoma);

ca. 1915. A photographic copy of a customer's photograph showing a large group of approximately 78 people in front of one of the entrances to the Pierce County Courthouse.

Pierce County Courthouse (Tacoma); Courthouses--Tacoma; Architectural elements--Tacoma; Doors & doorways--Tacoma;

Copy of drawing, architect's sketch of design for lowering the tower of the Pierce County Courthouse which was damaged in the 1949 earthquake. Lance, McGuire and Muri, Architects. As of July 31st county commissioners revealed that structural weaknesses necessitated the removal of the tower. Estimates showed it would cost at least $60,000 to reinforce the tower sufficiently to allow it to remain. The Tacoma Architects' Society had petitioned the commissioners to spare the tower as it was "a noble example" of the Romanesque style. Removal of the tower and substitution of an ornamental peaked roof just above what would be the sixth floor level was estimated at $35,000. (TNT, 7/31/1949, p.1)

Pierce County Courthouse (Tacoma); Architectural Drawings; Lance, McGuire & Muri (Tacoma); Courthouses--Tacoma; Towers--Tacoma;

Undated photograph of the Pierce County Courthouse, 1012 South G St., possibly taken in the very early 1900s. The massive stone structure was built in 1892 and patterned after the Courthouse in Pittsburgh. The ornate three-story building with its turrets, spires, and arched windows was a Tacoma landmark until its demolition in 1959 to make way for the County-City Building and future parking. This undated photograph shows a number of pedestrians peering at the roadway in front of the Courthouse while several horse-and-carriages await. It is unclear whether an accident has occurred. TPL-3849

Pierce County Courthouse (Tacoma); Courthouses--Tacoma;