Former world heavyweight boxing champion Jack Dempsey finds himself flanked by prominent Tacomans in this July 25, 1930, photograph taken on the veranda of the Tacoma Hotel. L-R Mike Lavelle, former Pantages manager and current Tacoma Hotel manager Jack Calvert, TNT sports writer Elliott Metcalf, Mr. Dempsey, Mayor Melvin G. Tennent, unidentified, and J. Frank Hickey, president of the elegant Tacoma Hotel. Mr. Dempsey was in town to referee the Tod Morgan - Joey Coffman match at the Greenwich Colliseum that evening. The bout was sponsored by the Kay Street Athletic Club. Mr. Dempsey was clearly the favorite attraction that night with cheers shaking the Colliseum's rafters. A record-breaking crowd was so loud in cheering him that he could not be heard in the ring. (TNT 7-25-30, p. 17-article; TNT 7-26-30, p. 4-article) G67.1-178

Dempsey, Jack, 1895-1983; Boxers (Sports); Hickey, J. Frank; Metcalf, Elliott; Tennent, Melvin Green; Mayors--Tacoma--1930-1940; Lavelle, Mike; Calvert, Jack; Tacoma Hotel (Tacoma);

The Tacoma Hotel was the site of a hardware convention in late January of 1932. Participants, all male, posed for a group portrait on the hotel's steps. The Pacific Northwest Hardware & Implement Association met in Tacoma for the first time in its 37 years of existence. The three-day meeting was to discuss hardware trade problems. A.E. Vaughn of Aberdeen was president of the association. G30.1-088 (TNT1-27-32, p. 11-article)

Tacoma Hotel (Tacoma); Meetings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Pacific Northwest Hardware & Implement Association;

ca. 1890. This photograph, made from an old glass plate negative, shows the Tacoma Hotel as it looked in the 1890s. The massive modified Tudor design structure was built in 1884 by F.W. Lewis, contractor, using the architectural plans of McKim, Mead & White/Stanford White. Built of red brick and white stucco with white stone trim, the hotel cost $267,000. It was 300 feet long and five stories high and covered an entire block between 9th & 10th Sts. on A St. in downtown Tacoma. The lavish hotel had a beautiful view of Mount Rainier and Commencement Bay. Over the years guests at the hotel included Sarah Bernhardt, Babe Ruth, Teddy Roosevelt and Calvin Coolidge. The showpiece of Tacoma, the hotel was reduced to ruins on October 17, 1935, in a spectacular fire, and never rebuilt. (Copy made on October 3, 1958.) (Martin: Tacoma: A Pictorial History, p. 149) TPL-9500

Tacoma Hotel (Tacoma); Hotels--Tacoma;

Ruins loom where the once majestic Tacoma Hotel stood after an October 17, 1935 fire ripped through the building leaving only charred remains. The modified Tudor structure built by the architectural firm headed up by Stanford White was a Tacoma landmark since its construction in 1884. Northwestern Dock Co. can be see through the gaping hole in the hotel's wall backed by the industrial waterfront. Businesses on the waterfront include City Lumber Co., Coast Sash & Door Co. and Western Fibre Furniture Co.

Fires--Tacoma--1930-1940; Hotels--Tacoma; Tacoma Hotel (Tacoma);

Tacoma played host to the first Northwest Fire College June 17-20, 1936. The school was an opportunity for professional and volunteer fire departments from across the Northwest to train together and share techniques. The remains of the burned out Tacoma Hotel had been left intact for training. On Thursday, June 18th, 1936, eerie red lights once again glowed inside the hotel as Tacoma's various fire departments sped to the scene. The first floor is well-lit in this night-time exposure. Automobiles are parked in front of the fenced-off hotel. The Balfour dock, destroyed in a January 1936 fire, was also left intact for training. (T. Times 6/19/1936)

Fire fighters--1930-1940; Fire fighting--Tacoma--1930-1940; Northwest Fire College (Tacoma); Fires--Tacoma--1930-1940; Hotels--Tacoma; Tacoma Hotel (Tacoma);

This group of men attending The Transportation Club of Tacoma dinner at the Tacoma Hotel includes nine retired US Customs employees who have served a total of 272 years. Seated are, left to right, William A. (Billy) Fairweather, Puyallup, 31 years; D.C. Imrie, 1314 So. M St., 26 years; F.P. "Paddy" O'Brien, Puyallup, 40 years; and W.B. Bidwell, 2521 So J St, 30 years. Standing, left to right, are John King, Puyallup, 28 years; Lee Carter, 3404 No 25th St., still in service; A. Voligny, 1030 So. Ferry, 30 years in immigration and 3 in customs; W.A. Hagemeyer, 16 years and still in service, showing a customs uniform; and John Harber, Spanaway, 28 years. (T. Times 12/10/1934, pg. 3)

U.S. Customs Bureau--Retirements--1930-1940; Tacoma Hotel (Tacoma); Fairweather, William; Imrie, D.C.; O'Brien, F.P.; Bidwell, W.B.; King, John; Carter, Lee; Voligny, A.; Hagemeyer, W.A.; Harber, John;

P.L.I.B. (Pacific Lumber Inspection Bureau) banquet at the Tacoma Hotel, April 1935. The insignia plaque on the back wall indicates that the Tacoma chapter of the Lions Club meets in this room. The room has high beams encompassing stencil edged panels. There is tile work on the right hand wall where the piano is located. Some of the door and window frames appear to be hammered tin. The Tacoma Hotel was designed by the architectural firm of McKim, Mead and White and opened on August 8, 1884. Its Tudor spires were the showplace of Tacoma until it was destroyed by fire October 17, 1935, only a few months after this picture was taken. (also cataloged as series L3 image 1)

Tacoma Hotel (Tacoma); Banquets--Tacoma--1930-1940; Pacific Lumber Inspection Bureau (Tacoma);

Undated photograph of unidentified gardener at the original Tacoma Hotel. Photograph was taken probably in the 1920's or early 1930's; the hotel was destroyed by fire in October of 1935.

Tacoma Hotel (Tacoma); Gardens--Tacoma--1920-1930; Gardening--Tacoma;

Ladies Travelers Society at Tacoma Hotel. Sixteen women pose for the camera; most of them wearing wide brimmed hats that shield their faces. (WSHS)

Hotels--Tacoma; Tacoma Hotel (Tacoma); Ladies Travelers Society (Tacoma);

• The Hotel Tacoma was located at 913 A Street. It was built in 1884 and destroyed by fire in 1935. circa 1907.
• Printed on front: Hotel Tacoma, and Totem Pole, Tacoma, Washington.

• The Tacoma Hotel, 913 "A" Street, opened in 1884. The 300 foot long, five story structure was made of red brick and stucco, with white stone trim. A spectacular fire on October 17, 1935 reduced it to ruins. circa 1909.
• Printed on front: Hotel Tacoma, Tacoma, Washington

• Message: Tuesday- Dear Royal M- I did not write that note to Mrs. Fal??? forgot it I wish you would do it for me Am having a fine time don't know when I will be back I leave everything in your hands. L.C.
• Addressee: Miss Jean Watson North Aberdeen Wash.

• Many tall masted ships wait in line on the City Waterway to load with wheat, from what was claimed to be the longest wheat warehouse in the world. "Where the Sails meet the Rails" was one of Tacoma's early slogans touting the great commerce opportunities here. In the background up on the ridge, the Tacoma Hotel, City Hall and the Northern Pacific headquarters are visible. circa 1906.
• Printed on front: Tacoma, Wash. Loading Wheat a the longest Wheat Warehouse in the world.

Circa 1909.

Tacoma Hotel. An arched entryway welcomed guests to the Tacoma Hotel in 1928. 300 rooms were available, some with splendid views of Commencement Bay, and all at reasonable rates. The hotel advertised itself as being famous worldwide for its good food and restful surroundings. Built in 1884, the historic hotel was destroyed by fire in October of 1935. G30.1-112; BU-11,942

Tacoma Hotel (Tacoma); Hotels--Tacoma--1920-1930;

The American Barred Plymouth Rock Club held a banquet at the Tacoma Hotel, 913 A Street, on December 5, 1925. Barred Plymouth Rocks were excellent producers of eggs and meat. The breed was generally known as good general farm chickens and their owners, like those pictured above, could be assured of docility, hardiness and broodiness in their flocks. Members of the club had participated in the annual Tacoma poultry show put on by the Tacoma Poultry Association and held December 1-6, 1925, the same time as the national Barred Plymouth Rock exhibition. This was the first time that the national meet had been staged west of Omaha. Attendance at the poultry show had broken previous local records with the News Tribune reporting daily on activities and awards. Cleve Stout of Anglum, Missouri, was elected president of the American Barred Plymouth Rock Assn. in a business meeting held after the banquet. G6.1-097; G31.1-001 (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 10-18-25, G-10-article; TNT 12-5-25, p. 5-article; TNT 12-7-25, p. 4-article)

Banquets--Tacoma--1920-1930; American Barred Plymouth Rock Club (Tacoma); Poultry industry--Tacoma;

Salvation Army conference at the Tacoma Hotel. Attendees pose for a group portrait on April 22, 1931 on the steps of the hotel. Many are wearing the familiar Salvation Army attire. Among those pictured is Col. Andrew Crawford of San Francisco, second in command of Salvation Army work in the Western states. G21.1-187 (TDL 4-22-31, p. 9-article on convention)

Salvation Army (Tacoma); Meetings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Tacoma Hotel (Tacoma);