Mary Ann Lemon on Day Island. Mary Lemon was the wife of John J. Lemon after whom Lemon's Beach, just south of Day Island, was named. The Lemons were a pioneer family who arrived in the Tacoma area in 1888 from the midwest. Mrs. Lemon passed away in December of 1924. (Wheelock - Lemon collection)

Lemon, Mary Ann; Lemon, John J.--Family;

ca. 1907. Belle Sharpe (left) and Lillian McPherson stand in front of the Elite Cafe in this circa 1907 photograph. The Elite Cafe was at 2405 Pacific Avenue, Tacoma. The proprietors of the cafe were C.W. Sharpe and Collin McPherson. From the collection of Beverly Knoll.

Elite Cafe (Tacoma); Cafes--Tacoma--1900-1910; Sharpe, Belle; McPherson, Lillian; Women--Tacoma--1900-1910;

ca. 1910. Carl W. Sharpe (left), and Clarence R. Sharpe, Manager, sit on the front porch of the Longmire Springs Hotel. From the collection of Beverly Knoll.

Longmire Springs Hotel; Mount Rainier National Park (Wash.)

unidentified children

Model of salmon weir set up at Everett, Washington in June of 1932 by Jerry Dominick. Mr. Dominick was Snoqualmie born, but was a long time resident of the Muckleshoot reservation. Side (or end) view. Note the use of cedar withes to fasten the tripod members together at the tip. Also note the dip net in place within the far tripod. (Caption from note typed on back of photo) (Donated by Arthur Ballard) TPL-8039

Fishing weirs--Washington;

This Eskimo family from Labrador was photographed on October 25, 1909 at the A.Y.P.E. in Seattle. The Inuits posed in front of a backdrop of snow covered log buildings. The A.Y.P.E. stood for the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition which ran for 138 days on the expanded campus of the University of Washington. Over three million visitors paid admission of about 50 cents apiece to marvel at the temporary and permanent exhibit palaces, exquisite gardens, displays of jewelry and fine arts and to expose themselves to the culture of various nations and people.

Alaska-Yukon-Pacific-Exhibition (Seattle); Fairs--Seattle; Inuit--Clothing & dress--1900-1910; Families--Labrador; Log buildings--1900-1910;

ca. 1894. Business district of Tacoma (copy of original), circa 1894. Many of the streets surrounding Pacific Avenue in the 1890s, even then the heart of the city's financial district, were filled with a hodgepodge of wood framed buildings and more substantial brick structures. At the foreground are the Pioneer Paint Store, sellers of wallpaper, mouldings, paints, and glass and W.H. Robison's, where new and second hand goods could be purchased. The Freeman & Boggs livery stable, near left center, stood near the corner of 13th & Pacific. George A. Boggs, who was City Treasurer before going into private business, had been sent away to the state pen in Walla Walla after auditors found a $109,000 shortage in the city books. Also in the far right background is the steeple of the original St. Leo's Church near So. 11th & "D" St. S7.2, TPL-378 (Researched by Murray Morgan)

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1890-1900; Business districts--Tacoma--1890-1900; Freeman & Boggs Livery (Tacoma); Pioneer Paint Store (Tacoma); W.H. Robison (Tacoma);

ca. 1960. Aerial view of Tideflats and downtown Tacoma area, including Wright Park and slices of Division Avenue, ca. 1960. Mount Rainier looms in the background, overlooking the industrial area of Tacoma, City (now Thea Foss) Waterway with its boats and log dumps, and the 11th St. Bridge. Familiar buildings such as the Puget Sound National Bank, Rust, and Washington buildings can be spotted on Pacific Avenue. The County-City Building with its two wings and the State Armory are in mid-photo. The wooded area is Wright Park with its meandering paths clearly marked. Adjoining the park at 9th & Division is the Greek Ionic styled First Church of Christ, Scientist. TPL-9664

Aerial photographs; Neighborhoods--Tacoma; Wright Park (Tacoma); Rainier, Mount (Wash.);

ca. 1920. Aerial view of downtown Tacoma in 1920

ca. 1920. Aerial view of stadium area of Tacoma in 1920

ca. 1939. Artistically modified aerial view of West Tacoma and the Tacoma Narrows. The bridge and the ship under it in the photo were painted in. The bridge was not yet complete in 1939. It would open for traffic on July 1, 1940 and go down in dramatic fashion on November 7, 1940.

Aerial views; Aerial photographs; Neighborhoods--Tacoma--1930-1940; Tacoma Narrows Bridge (Tacoma);

Undated photograph of a bust of Society matron Mrs. Adrian Iselin by Allan Clark, believed to be lacquered and gilded wood. Allan Clark was probably one of the most famous artists produced by the Northwest. Although born in Montana, he grew up in Tacoma and attended high school and college here. He achieved artistic notoriety at a young age and throughout his career did much of his work by commission. He studied the art of carving in wood and lacquering in Japan. CLARK-001

Clark, Allan, 1896-1950--Associated objects; Sculpture--Tacoma;

Undated photograph of Northwest sculptor Allan Clark working with measurement device and a sculpture of a woman's head. Mr. Clark became internationally famous as a sculptor whose figure work reflected his world travels. He was born in 1896 in Missoula, Mt., to Harry and Bessie Clark. The senior Clark's work with the railroad brought him to Tacoma around 1908. Allan grew up in Tacoma, attending Stadium High School and Puget Sound College, where his remarkable talent was recognized. His largest commissioned piece of work was also local; at the young age of 27, he sculpted the 21 figures displayed at the University of Washington Seattle's Suzzallo Library. In his younger years, he maintained a studio in Tacoma. He also traveled and studied extensively in the Orient. He later moved to Santa Fe New Mexico in 1929, where he remained on his ranch for close to 20 years, sculpting Native American figures and hosting other artists. He was killed in 1950, at the age of 53, in an auto accident as he was returning to Tacoma to visit his ailing father. He was one of the most acclaimed artists hailing from the Northwest. (Who Was Who in American Art, Falk; Remembrances of Five Notables, Tilley) CLARK-006

Clark, Allan, 1896-1950; Sculptors--Tacoma; Artists--Tacoma; Sculpture;

Undated photograph of a bust of a woman's head sculpted by Allan Clark. Although Allan Clark also painted, taught and designed architecture, he is best remembered for his sculptures. They reflected his travels around the world, mainly in the Orient, in style and subject. He worked in stone, terra cotta, wood and bronze. One of his art shows was brought to Tacoma by the Aloha Club and took place at the Winthrop Hotel on December 4, 1928. Although born in Montana, he was raised in Tacoma and at times maintained a studio here. He produced acclaimed work from the early 1920's until his death in 1950. CLARK-008

Clark, Allan, 1896-1950--Associated objects; Sculpture--Tacoma;

Worthy Morris drives his 1906 Cadillac loaded with several passengers over the back of a daredevil in front of the Pantages Theater. A curious crowd has gathered for the June, 1909, event. The unidentified man apparently traveled throughout the country making bets that he could survive being run over by an automobile. He did live through the Tacoma mashing but reportedly was finally crushed to death several years later. (Original print owned by Allen Morris. Print has been partially hand-tinted. No print on file. )

Cadillac automobile; Morris, Worthy; Pantages Theater (Tacoma);

ca. 1907. Dorcas Spalt rides through Wright Park in her 1906 Cadillac, driven by her son, Worthy Morris. Purported to be the first Cadillac in Tacoma. Man standing next to car was not identified except as a friend of Mr. Morris. (Original print owned by Allen Morris. No print copy on file.)

Cadillac automobile; Spalt, Dorcas; Morris, Worthy; Wright Park (Tacoma);

United Airlines office on Broadway at the Winthrop Hotel TPL-5541

Airlines--Offices--Tacoma--1940s; Winthrop; Broadway--Tacoma;

ca. 1929. Harold Bromley, on the right, and a second man, probably his benefactor John Buffelen, stand next to Bromley's Lockheed Vega monoplane, the "City of Tacoma." Between them they hold a map on which has been drawn the course that Bromley intended to fly, non-stop from Tacoma to Tokyo, a continuous trip of 4,700 miles. Buffelen and a group of Tacoma businessmen had funded the design and manufacture of the Lockheed plane, hoping to make Tacoma as famous as Lindbergh's "Spirit of St. Louis." The plan ended in disaster. The first plane crashed on take off in front of a crowd of 25,000 at the Tacoma Field. The second and third planes crashed during test flights, the third crash killing test pilot H. W. Catling. The fourth plane was manufactured by Emsco; the plan adjusted to fly from Tokyo to Tacoma, taking advantage of tail winds. It flew for 24 hours, before exhaust fumes forced Bromley and co pilot and navigator Harold Gatty to return to Japan. The plane was stored in a Japanese hangar and the Tacoma money men were stopped by the Depression from ever funding another attempt at the record.

Bromley, Harold; Airplanes--Tacoma--1920-1930; Aeronautics--Tacoma--1920-1930;

ca. 1929. Harold Bromley's airplane, the "City of Tacoma," being viewed at Tacoma Field by citizens in July of 1929. During the spring and summer of 1929, newspapers carried front page stories filled with the exciting news of Bromley's planned flight across the Pacific Ocean from Tacoma to Tokyo. Bromley and his backers had planned the flight for two years. The plane was being built by Lockheed in California, a bright orange low wing Vega monoplane. The final testing of the plane was done at the Muroc dry lake bed, 200 miles northeast of Burbank, but its flight to Tacoma was delayed. Finally on July 19, 1929, Bromley landed at Tacoma Field after a 8 hour and 17 minute flight from Los Angeles. Thousands cheered as the plane landed safely in Tacoma. Over 59,000 people made the trip out to the airstrip to view the plane prior to its July 28, 1929 inaugural flight.

Bromley, Harold--Associated objects; Airplanes--Tacoma--1920-1930; Aeronautics--Tacoma--1920-1930;

ca. 1928. A young woman wearing a flyers jacket, boots and flight cap is helped into a parachute while standing next to a Bergen Bromley Flying Service bi-plane. Photo probably taken at Mueller Harkins Airport. For more images of the same woman, see TPL images 7034 and 7035.

Airplanes--Tacoma--1920-1930; Bergen Bromley Flying Service (Tacoma);

Members of Tacoma's Drama League spend a lazy August day in 1925, paddling an Indian dug-out at the Olympus Manor on Hood Canal. A float plane rests on the water behind them. The Olympus Manor was begun in 1918 by local art instructor, world traveler and friend of the famous Orre N. Nobles. It was located on Hood Canal two miles northeast of Union. By the 1920's, the 16 room retreat was frequented by the local summer art colony and scores of the famous. It was decorated with Nobles' invaluable collection of Tibetan and Oriental art, furniture and artifacts. The two story retreat was destroyed by fire in 1952. No one was hurt, but the building and its priceless collection was destroyed and never rebuilt. (Shelton-Mason County Journal 7/31/1952; 8/7/1952) (photograph from the Erna Tilley Collection)

Olympus Manor (Hood Canal); Tacoma Drama League (Tacoma); Canoes; Nobles, Orre--Homes & haunts;

Undated photograph of gas powered ship the "Fossberg" in City Waterway (now Foss Waterway.) 11th Street bridge at left. This is believed to be the largest of Foss Launch & Tug Co.'s launches, a 15 ton, 100-hp engine and 64-feet in length. She was built in 1912 in Gig Harbor as a combination passenger and freight boat. Passengers and freight were able to be transported to and from ships. In addition, excursion parties and groups of workers were carried to destinations around the Tacoma area. The "Fossberg" also put in extra duty as a tug. (Skalley, Foss Ninety Years of Towboating, p. 32-article)

Foss Launch & Tug Co. (Tacoma); Launches--Tacoma; Boats--Tacoma; 11th Street Bridge (Tacoma);

ca. 1920. Foss launch identified by William L. Case as the "Tyee." The Foss family rowboat rental business, started by Thea Foss in 1889, was thriving at the turn of the century. With an eye for opportunity, Thea branched out into the business of supplying anchored and arriving ships in Tacoma with provisions. With the purchase of the family's first launch, sons Arthur and Wendell Foss were able not only to bring supplies, but also to ferry ship's personnel to land. By 1912, the company owned seven launches, the "Tyee" being one of the smallest. (photograph courtesy of the William T. Case collection) ("Foss: A Living Legend" by Bruce Johnson and Mike Skalley)

Launches--Tacoma; Foss Launch & Tug Co. (Tacoma);

Undated photograph of foot bridge over railroad tracks. Unidentified man on bridge waves his arms exuberantly while high above the ground. (Wheelock - Lemon collection)

Pedestrian bridges; Railroad tracks;

In July of 1931, the Publix Market and Garage at 1110-16 Pacific Ave. was under construction. North Coast Service Garage and Pacific Ave. Building Co. were the builders of the structure and Roberts & Johnson were the contractors. The structure was 9 stories with a "Z System" parking garage.

Garages--Tacoma--1930-1940;

City Refuse Department office in Tacoma's Old City Hall. Three women and three men are working in the office. Flowers decorate the office desks, and a calander from the Tacoma Savings & Loan Association hangs on the back wall. The "Spanish steps", next to the Elks Building, can be seen through the window.

City Refuse Department (Tacoma); Refuse disposal--Tacoma--1930-1940

ca. 1900. German immigrant Henry Mahncke, with partner Charles Muehlenbruch, built the Berlin Building in 1892. It was the American dream come true for Mahncke who had toiled in his Tacoma bakery since 1882. Losing everything but his dignity in the economic Panic of 1893, Mahncke became a janitor and elevator operator in the building he once owned. The Berlin Building was demolished in 1920 to make way for the present Washington Building. Mahncke went on to a successful career in real estate and died in 1937.

Office buildings--Tacoma--1900-1910; Berlin Building (Tacoma); Mahncke, Henry;

German-American Band in concert at the intersection of South 11th and Tacoma Ave. South during the 1910 4th of July celebrations. The News Tribune, in a segment titled "Pages from Tacoma's Family Albums," identified the band simply as "Adler's band." Names of the musicians were not available. The building on the right with flag and awning, 1101 Tacoma Avenue South, contained the Andrew Johnson Shoe Store on the lower level. There may have been apartments for rent above. In later years it would house many businesses including a series of restaurants: Anton's, Siri's and Kelly's (musician Red Kelly's) . The building has been remodeled and the Sidebar Bistro will be opening there in 2009. TPL-306 (TNT 4-13-34, p. 13)

Musicians--Tacoma--1910-1920; Andrew Johnson Shoe Store (Tacoma);