Keel laying ceremonies. On June 19, 1971, the keel was laid at Martinolich Shipbuilding for a 100-foot X 25-foot sampan. The sampan is being built for Jack Shinsato and Angel Fishing Co., Ltd. A representative of the Shinsato family is pictured above applying a ceremonial welding to the keel. The man standing on the step above him has not been positively identified but may be a member of the Martinolich family. According to the sign on display before the keel, the sampan was scheduled for launching on November 25, 1971 and completed on December 10th. The fishing boat was actually launched a month ahead of time, on October 18, 1971, at Martinolich's Blair Waterway plant. Photograph ordered by Martinolich Shipbuilding Corp.

Sampans--Tacoma; Fishing boats--Tacoma--1970-1980; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1970-1980; Martinolich Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma);

ca. 1971. The "Eileen M" slices through the smooth waters of Commencement Bay during sea trials. The "Eileen M," 225-foot steel tuna seiner, underwent extensive sea trials before her October, 1971, delivery to her San Diego owners. She had been launched on August 21, 1971, by Tacoma Boatbuilding.

Ship trials--Tacoma--1970-1980; Fishing boats--Tacoma--1970-1980; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1970-1980; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

ca. 1972. 1972 Richards stock footage. View from Northeast Tacoma of ships in harbor. The ships appear dark and indistinct amidst the seemingly colorless water. This photograph was taken from a hillside possibly in early 1972.

Ships--Tacoma--1970-1980;

1972 Richards stock footage. "Dilkara" docked at Port of Tacoma adjacent to "Big Red," West German-built container crane, in late February of 1972. This is possibly the New Zealand container ship that was built in 1971. The name "Dilkara" is reportedly Australian aborigine, meaning "rainbow."

Ships--Tacoma--1970-1980; Hoisting machinery;

ca. 1972. 1972 Richards stock footage. View from the Cliff House restaurant of the harbor operations below. Several ships are seen heading towards one of Tacoma's waterways; masses of log dumps provide natural obstacles.

Ships--Tacoma--1970-1980; Logs;

Boats at Northern Pacific dock, Tacoma, Washington Territory, circa 1885. The owners of the warehouse in the center of photograph were not identified. The large building to the far left is the Blackwell Hotel, considered New Tacoma's first hotel. Built by the Northern Pacific Railroad, it opened on January 1, 1874 and closed in 1884. It was razed during the summer of 1901. KING-002, TPL-1095

Three-masted ship "Eldorado" at old coal bunkers, Tacoma, Washington Territory, circa 1885. These are believed to be the Northern Pacific coal bunkers projecting into Commencement bay that were completed in 1882 at a cost of $250,000 and considered at that time to be the most modern of their type on the North Pacific Coast. Ships like the "Eldorado" were a common sight waiting to take on loads of coal. (Hunt, "The Coal Bunkers," History of Tacoma) KING006, TPL 1076

Two Turner Towing trucks are parked on the company's lot in the 2600 block of Pacific Avenue in April of 1970. Both Kenworth trucks have the company logo, a dragon ("drag-in"), painted on the driver's door. One truck is familiarly dubbed "Little Audrey." Photograph ordered by Pacific Northwest Bell, Seattle, for use in a yellow pages ad.

Trucks--Tacoma--1970-1980; Towing--Tacoma; Wreckers (Vehicles)--Tacoma; Turner Towing Co. (Tacoma);

Old London Dock destroyed by fire on January 7, 1936. City fireboat and Foss tugs dousing flames at waterfront Waterside Milling Co. warehouse. Thick plumes of smoke drift into the Bay as the Tacoma Fire Department tries to staunch the enormous blaze. Wood dust exploded in the Waterside wheat warehouse causing the building and dock to be gutted; damages were set at $260,000. Thousands of residents lined the 11th St. Bridge and surrounding hillsides to watch the spectacular sight. (T. Times, 1-7-36, p. 1, TDL 1-8-36, p. 1, 100 Years of Firefighting in the City of Destiny Tacoma, Washington, p. 94-95).

Fires--Tacoma--1930-1940; Fire fighting--Tacoma--1930-1940; Fireboats--Tacoma--1930-1940;

The Old London Dock and the Waterside Milling Co. on Tacoma's waterfront were destroyed by fire on January 7, 1936. The City fireboat and four Foss tugs are shown fighting the enormous blaze which had earlier threatened the Municipal Dock, Western States grocery and Younglove grocery warehouse. The 2000 foot Waterside Milling Co. warehouse was divided into long sections separated by brick fire walls. The fire walls on the south end of the London Dock helped to stop the blaze from spreading in that direction. There were no reported fatalities among the sixteen workers on the dock at the time of the fire, although one man suffered burns. Total damages, according to the Tacoma Daily Ledger, were set at $260,000. The ruins of the Tacoma Hotel and the city skyline loom in the background. (T. Times, 1-7-36, p. 1, TDL 1-8-36, p. 1, 100 Years of Firefighting in the City of Destiny Tacoma, Washington, p. 94-95).

Fires--Tacoma--1930-1940; Fire fighting--Tacoma--1930-1940; Fireboats--Tacoma--1930-1940;

A large cargo vessel being helped to pier by tugboat. Warehouses on pier, lumber mills and Tacoma skyline in background, pod of logs floating in water. (filed with Argentum)

Cargo ships--Tacoma--1930-1940; Shipping--Tacoma--1930-1940; Logs;

Offices of Mueller-Harkins Buick showing chairs, typewriter, glassed-in offices and advertising banner. The banner reads "When better automobiles are built, Buick will build them." Mueller-Harkins had been located at this address since 1918; they would move in 1948 to 455 St. Helens Ave.

Buick automobile; Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1930-1940; Offices--Tacoma--1930-1940; Mueller-Harkins Motor Co. (Tacoma);

Buck and Company. Several men standing beside a truck parked in front of garage doors at rear of building. View from across large paved parking lot. (T. Times) filed with Argentum

Buck & Co. (Tacoma); Trucks--1930-1940;

Power cruisers compete in the 8th annual power boat race, the"Capital to Capital yacht race," in July 1935. The 1935 race covered 150 nautical miles from Tacoma to Nanaimo, BC through the San Juan and British Columbia Islands. The boats would leave on Friday, 7/26, and reach BC late on 7/27. The Tacoma Yacht Club sponsored 24 entries, one of which the "Irvinetta," won second place overall. (T. Times 7/25-27, 1935; 7/29/1935, pg. 1)

Regattas--1935; Yacht racing--1935;

Captain I.C. Rowland (right), skipper of the Tacoma Yacht Club entry "Irvinetta" in the annual international cruiser race, the "Capital to Capital," and Matt Manay, of Olympia, prepare a code flag in connection with the start of the race. The 8th annual cruiser race would start Friday, July 26, 1935 in Tacoma and end Saturday afternoon in Nanaimo, B.C., a distance of 150 nautical miles through the Puget Sound and San Juan and British Columbia Islands. Rowland and the Irvinetta finished 2nd overall by a fraction of percentage and first in their division, craft over 38 feet in length. (T. Times 7/25-27, 1935 and 7/29/1935, pg. 1)

Regattas--1935; Yacht racing--1935; Rowland, I.C.; Manay, Matt;

ca. 1926. Pair of automobiles, a sedan and a touring car, perhaps Jordans, near a park. For Chamber's Auto Supply House. (filed with Argentum)

Automobiles--1920-1930; Jordan automobiles;

PG-92 at Tacoma Boatbuilding. The USS Tacoma, a patrol gunboat, had been launched in April of 1968. The above photograph was taken about six months later as the vessel was undergoing further work. She would be commissioned in July of 1969.

Gunboats--United States; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

Undated photograph of the "Firecracker," a fishing boat, as requested by Martinolich Shipbuilding. The vessel is passing quietly through the waters of Commencement Bay; a glimpse of one of Kaiser's aluminum domes is visible on the far right of the photograph.

Fishing boats--Tacoma; Martinolich Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma);

Young Men's Business Club (YMBC) airshow at Mueller-Harkins airport June 13, 1937. 25 planes took part in the first annual air circus with nearly 50,000 spectators cheering them on. Various small biplanes fly over the crowd. (T. Times, TNT)

Air shows--Tacoma--1930-1940; Airplanes--1930-1940; Events--Tacoma--1930-1940; Young Mens Business Club (Tacoma);

ca. 1937. Men from the Young Men's Business Club planning Air Circus scheduled for Sunday, June 13, 1937. It is a luncheon meeting and appears to be in a restaurant with blackboard in background listing last names and "Customers Only" sign. Announcement posters on wall. The three men seated in the center of the picture are, left to right, Al Oswald, YMBC aviation committee, Arthur Cook, secretary of the YMBC, and an unidentified man. (filed with Argentum)

Air shows--Tacoma--1930-1940; Events--Tacoma--1930-1940; Young Mens Business Club (Tacoma);

Young Men's Business Club (YMBC) airshow at Mueller-Harkins airport June 13, 1937. 25 planes took part in the first annual air circus with nearly 50,000 spectators cheering them on. A photographer stands on the roof of the airport building above the reviewing stand. (T. Times, TNT.

Air shows--Tacoma--1930-1940; Young Men's Business Club (Tacoma); Events--Tacoma--1930-1940;

By November of 1935 Tacoma's merchants were demanding that something be done about "parking hogs." Even with diagonal parking there was little room on the streets for shoppers to park their cars. All the available space in front of the stores was being taken by business employees. As the streets like Commerce, in this photograph, became jammed with cars, some merchants started demanding parking meters to force cars off the streets. After years of fighting in city hall, 1,200 meters were installed during the summer of 1941. (For Corky Maybin, T.Times).

Automobiles--Tacoma--1930-1940; Parking--Tacoma--1930-1940; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1930-1940; Old City Hall (Tacoma);

On August 22, 1934, several men standing on the roof of the Jones Building (now known as the Pantages) craned their necks to watch the airship Macon fly over the downtown skyline. Thousands lined the streets and rooftops of buildings to watch the dirigible make a wide circle over the city around 8 a.m. Construction of the dirigible cost the US two and a half million dollars. Tacoma was also visited by airships Shenandoah in 1924 and Akron in 1932. The Macon was lost over the Pacific Ocean offshore of Point Sur Feb. 12, 1935. (T. Times 8/22/1934, pg. 1)

Airships--Tacoma; Jones Building (Tacoma); Historic buildings--Tacoma;

Four large mothballed military vessels berthed in Bremerton were photographed for the Bremerton Sun in August of 1935. Locals referred to this area to the west of the Navy yard as the "Boneyard," the home to unused and sometimes outdated vessels. The vessel with the white bow, second from left, was the Patoka, one of the few vessels ever fitted with a dirigible mooring mast on the deck. The wide, tower-like mast can be seen on the left side of the photograph. Built in 1919, the vessel was stored due to the declining size of the peacetime Navy. Also mothballed at the Navy yard were the Aroostook, the USS Pyro (one of only 2 ammunition ships constructed by the US government,) and the oil burning Prometheus and Jason. (Bremerton Sun 8/15/1935, pg. 1)

Boat graveyards--Bremerton; Government vessels--Bremerton; Warships--Bremerton--1930-1940;

The rowing crew from the U.S.S San Francisco holds their oars aloft to signify victory in th 1936 Whaleboat races, a Fleet Week event. The crew was faster than the other 8 teams representing each of the eight other cruisers in Tacoma for fleet week. (T. Times 7/31/1936, pg. 1 & 3)

Boat racing; Rowboats--Tacoma--1930-1940; Rowing races--Tacoma--1930-1940; Rowers;

1939 Studebaker Champion automobile being raffled by Ray C. Roberts V.F.W. Post on back of a flatbed truck. Truck has logo of man riding a bronco on the door. The automobile was raffled off at a VFW benefit ball. For a picture of the car with its winner, Clara Thorsen, see D8931 images 1& 3. (filed with Argentum)

Studebaker automobile; Veterans of Foreign Wars, Ray C. Roberts Post # 969 (Tacoma);

On February 27, 1947, photographs were taken of this wrecked and twisted Medosweet Dairy truck moments after it was hit by a four car southbound train at 10:05 am. The accident took place at a private road crossing 3.5 miles south of the city limits. The truck was carried over 150 feet down the tracks, leaving milk, crunched cartons and broken bottles in its wake. Route supervisor Alex McBeath Jr. was killed in the accident and driver William J. Velacich was seriously injured. (T. Times 2/28/1947, pg. 3- picture, 2/27/47, pg.1)

Wrecks; Traffic accidents--Tacoma--1930-1941; Medosweet Dairies, Inc. (Tacoma); Trucks--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Crew of the American freighter "Wildwood". Crew posed for portrait on wharf with hull of ship as background. The freighter, owned by the American Steamship Co., had turned around mid Pacific and returned to Tacoma to unload its "hot" cargo. The cargo consisted of copper, brass, and machinery intended for Russia.

Cargo ships; Shipping--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Photographs from auto wreck on Seattle-Tacoma Highway taken on June 11, 1940. This Dodge coupe sustained massive front end damage including broken headlight and smashed fenders and bumper. See D9847, image 1 for view of a different damaged car which was possibly involved in the same accident. Its front end was heavily damaged with broken windshield, running board, tire and hood damage.

Dodge automobile; Traffic accidents--1940-1950;

Ferry boats. The "Defiance." Ordered by Mr. Peterson.

Ferries--1940-1950;