On September 6, 1924 the Tacoma "Dry Squad" dug out an elaborately concealed illegal bootlegging operation that was hidden in a "cave" under the house at 7813 A Street. Two stills were found, each with a capacity of 50 gallons. One man was arrested and 200 gallons of finished moonshine seized. The Dry Squad members who took part in the raid were: (l to r) Captain Adam Wiley, R.C. Mowre, H.L. Phillips, William Farrar, William Blacksmith and W.H. Warren. The Dry Squad had been in business since May 15, 1923. (TDL 9-8-24, p. 1) TPL-9488; G24.1-078

Stills (Distilleries); Wiley, Adam; Mowre, R.C.; Phillips, H.L.; Farrar, William; Blacksmith, William; Warren, W.H.;

Scene of fatal accident, east end of Puyallup River Bridge, taken on September 9, 1924, for court evidence. Two cars can faintly be seen closer to the far end of the bridge. Signs tacked to the utility pole indicate a speed limit of 20 mph while traveling on the bridge. The east end of the bridge would also be the city limits of Tacoma. An allegedly speeding vehicle missed the approach to the bridge on Saturday night, August 30, 1924, and crashed into the telephone pole on the right side. Driver Mike Gunns was slightly injured; one of his passengers, 18-year-old Charles Rauen, was killed. (TDL 9-1-24, p. 1) G15.1-017

Puyallup River Bridge (Puyallup); Traffic accidents--Puyallup; Signs (Notices);

A military band from the 6th Engineers plays as spectators quietly watch at a Defense Day concert held in Steilacoom on September 12, 1924. Small flags decorate a wood platform on which the band stood. The elderly white haired woman at the extreme left wearing a light colored jumper over a black skirt is Lucia Rose Rigney O'Donnell, early Pierce County pioneer. September 12th was the date chosen for a national defense test. In Washington State, Governor Louis F.Hart officially made the day, called Defenders' Day here, a legal holiday. G73.1-139 (TNT 8-27-24, p. 1-article; TNT 9-12-24, p. 3-article)

Military bands--United States; O'Donnell, Rose Rigney;

The unidentified director of a military band addresses the crowd at a Defense Day concert held in Steilacoom on September 12, 1924. Among those listening were Pierce County pioneers Lucia Rose Rigney O'Donnell and her husband, Judge William O'Donnell (elderly man with goatee and cane). Here in Washington State Governor Louis F. Hart proclaimed Defenders' Day a legal holiday. Nationally the country held defense tests on September 12th. G73.1-138 (TNT 8-27-24, p. 1-article; TNT 9-12-24, p. 3-article)

Military bands--United States; O'Donnell, Rose Rigney; O'Donnell, William;

Three unidentified employees of Coast Iron & Machine Works pose in the firm's Dock St. plant on September 24, 1924. One man fits neatly inside one of Coast Iron's products. G35.1-087

Coast Iron & Machine Works (Tacoma);

Spacious Port of Tacoma warehouse as viewed in September of 1924. Piles of lumber and unidentified sacks are stacked neatly inside the structure.

Warehouses--Tacoma--1920-1930; Port of Tacoma (Tacoma);

On October 4, 1924, an unidentified employee of Royal Dairy (Royal Ice Cream & Milk Co.) examines one of three similar machines at the plant located at 912-14 A St. Royal Ice Cream, run by Bert H. Walker, had been in business since about 1900 and sold ice cream, milk and cream products. This was a locally owned business whose ad in the 1924 City Directory stated that its (cream) was a "quality cream manufactured in a sanitary plant" by "Tacoma people" and "not shipped in from outside sources." Special flavors and designs could be made for all occasions. G6.1-068

Royal Ice Cream & Milk Co. (Tacoma); Dairying--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Curved upholstered bench built by the Puget Sound Manufacturing Co. The furniture, meant for a library, was sturdily crafted with wood carvings at the ends. G35.1-034

Benches--Tacoma; Seating furniture--Tacoma;

Interior of the Community Theatre. This is an elevated interior view taken in October of 1924 from the rear of the then-suburban theater located at 5441 South "M" St. Built and managed by S.R. Stalcup in 1924 at a cost of $40,000, the theater served the growing south end population. It was opened for business on August 20, 1924, with "Lights Out" as the first feature shown. B.W. Reeve was the general contractor of the tile, brick and concrete structure. Decorated in blue and gold tints with white woodwork, the ultra-modern theater had room for 500 customers who were able to sit on comfortably uphostered seats. (TNT 8-13-24, p. 20-article; TNT 8-20-24, p. 8, 9-article)

Community Theatre (Tacoma); Motion picture theaters--Tacoma--1920-1930;

The SS Bienville. The 445-foot Bienville had been launched at Todd Dry Dock facilities on July 16, 1924, and four months later, was nearly ready to be delivered to her owners in New York. A crane, in the process of lifting, is on the dock next to the ship. The Bienville would conduct short ship trials on November 17th and then be moved to the Port of Tacoma piers on November 19th to load initial cargo after her trial run. Over 2500 tons of goods, including machinery, 2000+ tons of hay and a large number of canned goods, will be stored aboard. The Bienville fell victim to fire in mid-March of 1925 while undergoing repairs in New Orleans and was severely damaged. G49.174 (TNT 11-12-24, p. 1-article; TNT 11-14-24, p. 1-article TNT 3-19-25, p. 1-article on fire; TDL 3-28-25, p. 1-article on fire)

Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1920-1930; Boats--Tacoma--1920-1930; Hoisting machinery;

Stadium Tigers football team in formation at Stadium Bowl on November 20, 1924. This was the school's second-team who would have a season of victory with their 2-1 record over crosstown rival, Lincoln. Howard M. Carr was the team's coach. TPL-9715; G46.1-035 (1925 Tahoma yearbook, p. 90)

Football players--Tacoma--1920-1930; Stadium High School (Tacoma); Stadium Bowl (Tacoma);

Northwest pioneer Ezra Meeker is pictured on November 25, 1924, at the wheel of a White motor bus parked at the Ferry Museum, 315 North Stadium Way. Lettering on the bus promotes Nevada's Transcontinental Highways Exposition. Ezra Meeker had originally crossed the old Oregon Trail using oxen more than 50 years ago, quite a contrast to the modern convenience of land travel, a tour bus. Officials of the upcoming Transcontinental Highways Exposition in Reno had made a promotional stop in Tacoma, one of the many scheduled in their eleven state tour. G1.1-130 (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 11-30-24, 6G)

Meeker, Ezra, 1830-1928; Buses;

Bearded pioneer Ezra Meeker posed with a group of men and women outside the Ferry Museum, 315 North Stadium Way, on November 25, 1924. Behind them was parked a small White bus advertising Nevada's Transcontinental Highways Exposition to be held in Reno from June 1-October 1, 1926. Next to Mr. Meeker on the right were W.B. Gelatt and Joseph Hutchinson, officials for the Transcontinental Highways Exposition. The women are Mrs. Gelatt and Jean Taylor of Reno. The group was touring eleven western states on behalf of the exposition, to be held in Reno in 1926. TPL-5687; G1.1-132A (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 11-30-24, 6-G)

Meeker, Ezra, 1830-1928; Ferry Museum (Tacoma); Buses; Gelatt, W.B.; Gelatt, W.B.--Family; Hutchinson, Joseph; Taylor, Jean;

On November 28, 1924, these 50 pulp stones were bound for Pacific Mills, Ltd., in Ocean Falls, B.C. The Wilkeson sandstone was provided by Walker Cut Stone and loaded onto Northern Pacific cars at the Terminal Dock. G75.1-206

Building materials; Railroad cars--Tacoma; Railroad tracks--Tacoma;

Seated at the Rialto Theater's baby grand piano on December 19, 1924, was Miss Esther Stayner. Dressed in a lovely sleeveless sequined gown and wearing fashionably bobbed hair, the pianist had her foot on the pedal and hands gently atop the keyboard. Miss Stayner was the organist at the Rialto and a pupil of noted organist Clarence Eddy of Chicago. (TDL 10-31-24, p. 5-article)

Pianists--Tacoma; Pianos; Women--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1920-1930; Stayner, Esther;

Having changed her dress to another stylish outfit, Miss Esther Stayner resumed her performance on the Rialto Theater's baby grand piano on December 19, 1924. A freestanding fringe-topped lamp provided lighting for the pianist. Miss Stayner had been named organist at the Rialto in October of 1924, succeeding Alice Piercy on the Wurlitzer. She had spent the previous three years at the Clemmer Theater in Spokane. G40.1-052A (TDL 10-31-24, p. 5-article; TNT 10-31-24, p. 8-article)

Stayner, Esther; Pianists--Tacoma; Pianos; Women--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1920-1930; Lamps;

Drivers pose next to their delivery trucks at the loading docks of Columbia Brewing Company. (This was a copy print made by the Richards Studio of a Marvin D. Boland photograph #B14210) Ordered by Colulmbia Breweries in 1951. TPL-6494. Previously cataloged as WO58568-4.

Brewing industry--Tacoma--1920-1930; Columbia Brewing Co. (Tacoma); Columbia Brewing Co. (Tacoma)--People;

Bows ready, these violinists are prepared to play. This is believed to be the Dunkleberger Orchestra, photographed in February of 1920. The 1920 City Directory indicated that Mrs. Chauncey (Katherine) Dunkleberger was a violinist and music teacher. Mrs. Dunkleberger may be the woman in black in center of photograph.

Orchestras--Tacoma--1920-1930; Violins;

This spacious sitting room provided a welcome respite from the daily rigorous training by members of the Ninety-First Division at Camp Lewis. Wicker furniture was separated in several small groups to allow for quiet conversation or just solitude. A floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace was on one wall and an enormous freestanding mirror decked with garlands stood against another wall. A piano is set along a third wall. The building was built by the American Red Cross and established by the YWCA as a hostess house where entertainment and writing desks were provided and women visitors were welcomed. It would become the camp social center. G70.1-001 (TDL 12-25-21-article & picture of exterior) TPL-10306

Living rooms--Camp Lewis; Pianos; Fireplaces--Camp Lewis; Mirrors; Hostess House (Camp Lewis);

The Red Shield Inn (now the Fort Lewis Museum) was opened on December 7, 1919, by the Salvation Army to accommodate relatives visiting soldiers at Camp Lewis. Its name reflected the emblem of the Salvation Army. It was built across from the camp in the Greene Park recreation development at a cost of $107,000. The Salvation Army originally had provided sleeping quarters for visitors but need soon exceeded the limited space. The three-story Red Shield Inn, with 150 rooms, provided a welcome solution. It was turned over to the government, without strings, by the Salvation Army on July 1, 1921, so that it could be used as quarters for officers, their relatives and friends. The building is the only remaining structure of Greene Park. TPL-050 G69.1-116 (www.historylink.org; Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 12-14-19; TDL 6-22-21, p. 9-article)

Red Shield Inn (Camp Lewis);

In March of 1920, a row of stevedores pushing dollies piled with sacks of flour, could be seen heading for the Japan-built freighter "Eastern Knight." A passenger on the ship's gangplank stops to gaze at the picturesque sight. The "Eastern Knight" had docked at the Puget Sound Flouring Mills on Saturday, February 28th, and would be departing for the East Coast when fully loaded with 10,000-tons of flour. The Puget Sound Flouring Mills, at what is now 3 Schuster Parkway, was absorbed by the Sperry Flour Company in 1922. Photograph ordered by the Puget Sound Flouring Mills Co. G34.1-103 (TNT 3-1-20, p. 13-article; TNT 3-4-20, p. 6-article)

Cargo ships--Tacoma--1920-1930; Shipping--Tacoma--1920-1930; Puget Sound Flouring Mills Co. (Tacoma);

In 1920, McEldowney Garage, owned by Harry E. McEldowney, had locations listed in the City Directory as 731 St. Helens Ave. and 712 Broadway. According to the Tacoma Daily Ledger however, this large pictured garage was located across the Tideflats. An ad for the garage in the same picture gave the address as the East side of the 11th Street Bridge. The garage, according to the article, was second to none in town and had few equals in the Northwest. They were able to perform all facets of automobile restoration and repair under one roof. They could also work on all standard makes of cars and trucks, as well as large trucks and commercial vehicles. The picture shows what is believed to be the painting department of the plant. G32.1-113 (TDL 3/21/1920, pg. C-8) TPL-9551

McEldowney Garage (Tacoma); Vehicle maintenance & repair--Tacoma--1920-1930; Automobile industry--Tacoma--1920-1930; Automobile repair--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Three delivery trucks are parked along the side of the South Tacoma "Road" in March of 1920. Two of the three drivers stand near their vehicles while the third remains in the truck. The first truck in line, "No. 2," apparently has its route listed on the exterior of the truck, extending from Hoquiam to Seattle. The trucks may have been sold by the J.F. Hickey Motor Co. of Tacoma. G66.2-136

Trucks--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Downtown Tacoma street scene. Not much traffic or people visible at South 11th & A Streets on this spring day in 1920. A streetcar has just made a turn onto A Street from South 11th as it moves past the L. Schoenfeld & Sons store at 105-11 So. 11th. This would be the Schoenfeld furniture store location until 1924 when they would move to the skyscraper at 1423 Pacific Ave. To the left of the photograph is the Federal Building, home of the federal courts (until 1992) and the Main branch of the Post Office. Also on the left is a portion of the towering Puget Sound National Bank building with spire. G57.1-121

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1920-1930; Business districts--Tacoma--1920-1930; Street railroads--Tacoma--1920-1930; L. Schoenfeld & Sons (Tacoma); Federal Building (Tacoma); Puget Sound National Bank (Tacoma);

This is what the South 17th & Broadway & Jefferson area looked like in April of 1920. The 11-year-old Carlton Hotel, with the address of 1552 Jefferson Ave., is in view in the center of the photograph. A juxtaposition of old and new modes of transportation is on the left - a horse-driven cart is next to a modern streetcar. Power lines create geometric designs above. TPL-1363 G59.1-039

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1920-1930; Carlton Hotel (Tacoma); Street railroads--Tacoma--1920-1930;

On May 8, 1920, six employees of the Postal Telegraph Cable Company at 1105 A Street were mounted on their bicycles and ready to deliver messages to local businesses and residents. The messengers are all dressed in uniform including caps. The man standing in the doorway of the firm is possibly L.L. Craft, manager. The Postal Telegraph Cable Co. was located across the street from the Federal Building whose reflection can be spotted on the large store window.

Postal Telegraph Cable Co. (Tacoma); Messengers--Tacoma; Bicycles & tricycles--Tacoma--1920-1930; Cyclists--Tacoma; Delivery boys--Tacoma;

Jefferson Avenue looking north. This portion of Jefferson Avenue in 1920 was a mixture of residential and business concerns. Tacoma Rail & Power tracks are embeded in the road. Horse-and-cart and an automobile on the extreme left. The Wilson Apartments, 1954 1/2 Jefferson Ave., are in view on left. The News Tribune reported on August 4, 1920, that Jefferson Avenue would be repaired along the street railroad tracks. The street's surface would be improved and work done by Tacoma Rail & Power. TPL-256; G60.1-076 (TNT 8-4-20, p. 3-article on street repair)

Streets--Tacoma--1920-1930; Street railroad tracks--Tacoma--1920-1930; Wilson Apartments (Tacoma); Carts & wagons--Tacoma;

Parked outside the J.F. Hickey Motor Car. Co., 812-14 A Street, in early July of 1920 is a White truck carrying a "Save Alder Timber" display. The sign and machinery were provided by the Buffelen Lumber & Mfg. Co. who sought to show Washingtonians how valuable alder trees were. Alder trees had previously been thought of as useless for building materials but Buffelen believed that they could make hardwood finish from alder. The truck was decorated in patriotic bunting and included small American flags and would participate in the American Legion patriotic parade held on July 5th. See Boland B3038 for additional trucks with same message. G36.1-016

Signs (Notices); Lumber industry--Tacoma--1920-1930; Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1920-1930; J.F. Hickey Motor Car Co. (Tacoma); White trucks;

A tractor, built by Blewett Tractor Co. for the G. Wallis & Co., is pictured in July of 1920 in front of an unidentified two-story home. G28.1-005

Tractors--1920-1930; Houses--1920-1930;

Jewelers at work at Mahncke & Co. By 1920, Mahncke & Co. had been in business at 914 Pacific Avenue for ten years. The pioneer jewelry firm, established in 1883, was owned and operated by Franz, William G., and Louis A. Mahncke. In 1923 the store would move a short distance away to 919 Broadway where it would remain for decades. Mahncke & Co. would be taken over by Friedlanders in 1956.

Mahncke & Co. (Tacoma); Jewelry stores--Tacoma--1920-1930;