Sam Perkins celebrates his 73rd birthday with friends at the Tacoma Club. Mayor Smitley (far right) and another man sing happy birthday as he prepares to blow out the candles on his huge cake. Mr. Perkins was born in Boston on May 6, 1865 and was christened Sidney Albert Perkins. That moniker was soon shortened to "Sam." For his 73rd birthday, he was feted by some of the friends he made in over 50 years of business in Tacoma. Mr. Perkins was best known locally as the owner of the Tacoma Daily Ledger and the News. (T. Times 5/5/1938, pg. 1)

Tacoma Club (Tacoma); Perkins, S.A.--Commemoration; Birthday parties--Tacoma--1930-1940; Smitley, George A., 1872-1956; Mayors--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Circa 1925.

The foreman and crew of "erectors" for the Scandinavian-American Bank being built at 1019 Pacific Avenue were photographed during a pause in work in November of 1920. The erectors were responsible for raising the 32-ton beams and 60-foot steel columns into position. The 12 men were handpicked for their steady nerves, even tempers and ability to work as team players. The first two floors alone contained over 1,000 tons of steel. The planned 16 story building rose beam by beam until January of 1921 when the bank failed and construction was shut down. The building was eventually completed in 1925 for the Washington-California Co. and named the Washington Building. (TDL 11/14/1920, pg. B-7) BU-10760, Boland B 3244, TPL-9548

Scandinavian-American Bank (Tacoma); Building construction--Tacoma--1920-1930; Construction industry--Tacoma--1920-1930;

One of the "erectors" dangles high in the air in this November 1920 photograph, attaching chains and wires that will pull the 60 foot column into position at the Scandinavian-American Bank (now the Washington Building) construction site. The skeleton of the building was put together by the erectors, who were followed by the riveters. As designed, the building would ascend to 16 stories. Over 1,000 tons of steel were used in the first 2 floors alone. (TDL 11/14/1920, pg. B-7) BU 10, 756, Boland B 3212

Scandinavian-American Bank (Tacoma); Building construction--Tacoma--1920-1930; Construction industry--Tacoma--1920-1930;

The "erectors" get one of the massive 32 ton steel beams into position at the construction site of the Scandinavian-American Bank (later the Washington Building) in this November 1920 photograph. The beams were lifted into place by a pulley system and then rivetted. Because the main banking room, when completed, would be the largest open space on the Pacific Coast without a supporting pillar or post, the massive cross beams required specially designed lifting equipment. When completed, the room was to measure 60 feet frontage, 100 feet deep and 30 feet from floor to ceiling. However, construction was halted when the bank failed in 1921. The building was resold, redesigned and completed in 1925 as the Washington Building. (TDL 11/14/1920, pg. B-7) BU 10, 758, G17.1-122 TPL-9944

Scandinavian-American Bank (Tacoma); Building construction--Tacoma--1920-1930; Construction industry--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Washington Building. Situated at the corner of 11th & Pacific, the imposing Washington Building, built in the style of the Chicago School, stands 17 stories high. A large red neon sign installed on the top of the building advertised its neighbor, the Bank of California. As their signs advertised, United Mutual Savings Bank and Household Finance had offices in the Washington Building. The left side of the photograph shows the Rust Building, 950 Pacific Ave., also built in the 1920's. Beyond the Rust Building, on Tacoma Ave. So., is the County-City Building. The Medical Arts Building, on Market St., is the large Art-Deco structure on the right side of photograph. Photograph ordered by Washington Building Co.

Washington Building (Tacoma); Electric signs--Tacoma--1960-1970; Bank of California National Association (Tacoma); Rust Building (Tacoma); Medical Arts Building (Tacoma); Signs (Notices);

Washington Building. View of the Washington Building, 1019 Pacific Ave., believed to have been photographed from the top of the Perkins Building in August of 1970. From this angle, the distant Art-Deco styled Medical Arts Building (now Municipal Building) can be seen along the right-center edge. The Rust Building, another well known Tacoma landmark, is slightly up the hill at 950 Pacific. Seldens furniture store is in the right lower corner. A small section of the Bank of California, whose large red neon sign rested on top of the Washington Building, can be spotted at the lower right edge. Photograph ordered by the Washington Building.

Washington Building (Tacoma); Medical Arts Building (Tacoma); Rust Building (Tacoma); Seldens, Inc. (Tacoma); Business districts--Tacoma--1970-1980; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1970-1980; Electric signs--Tacoma--1970-1980;

The "Women's Lounge" at the new Tacoma Club on the top floor of the Washington Building. The Grand Opening for the new club, Tacoma' s most exclusive, was held the evening of May 10, 1937. J. P. Weyerhaeuser, Jr. was the club's first President. Corner lounge with sofa, upholstered chairs, tables and lamps. (WSHS) (T. Times 5/10/1937, pg. 1)

Tacoma Club (Tacoma); Clubs--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Interior of new facilities for The Tacoma Club on the 17th Floor of the Washington Building. The Club, for business and professional men, opened in May of 1937. John P. Weyerhaeuser, Jr. was president. Bar with glass block wall shown in photograph. (WSHS)

Tacoma Club (Tacoma); Clubs--Tacoma--1930-1940; Bars (Furniture)--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Sam Perkins, right, receives a toast from an unidentified friend on his 73rd birthday at a party given in his honor at the Tacoma Club.

Tacoma Club (Tacoma); Perkins, S.A.--Commemoration; Birthday parties--Tacoma--1930-1940;

ca. 1925. The 17 story Washington Building near completion. The building was officially opened at the end of June, 1925. The ground floor was occupied by the Brotherhood Cooperative Bank, Theodore Knutson's cigar store, Henrietta McNerthney's Purity Pharmacy and the "Orange Bower," the first orange mill in Tacoma. The orange mill's specialty was fresh squeezed orange juice, that you could watch being processed by a machine. (TNT 6/30/1925, pg. 13)(WSHS)

Washington Building (Tacoma);

ca. 1925. Washington Building as completed. Started 1919 by the Scandinavian-American Bank, unfinished when bank failed. The steel framework was completed by a group established for that purpose, the Washington-California Co. Frederick Webber, Original Architect; Doyle and Merriam, Architects for completion. The Washington Building opened at the end of June in 1925. (WSHS & Argentum)

Washington Building (Tacoma);

ca. 1925. The Washington Building, 1019 Pacific Ave., under construction. This modern structure was originally designed by Frederick Webber in the style of the Chicago School for the Scandinavian American Bank. Construction began in 1919 and halted when the bank failed. It was completed in 1925 when the Washington-California Co. purchased the steel skeleton and completed the building. At 17 stories, it was the second tallest building in the Northwest. When it opened, it contained 350 office suites, including its main occupant, the Brotherhood Co-Operative National Bank. (WSHS) (TDL 6/28/1925, pg. 2B)

Washington Building (Tacoma); Business districts--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Washington Building under construction in April of 1925. Started 1919 by the Scandinavian-American Bank and left unfinished when the bank failed, the building was completed and opened in June of 1925. At 17 stories, it was one of the skycrapers changing the skyline of Tacoma. The building is of steel framework, completed with glazed white terra cotta. The investment in the building was 1 1/2 million dollars. (filed with Argentum)

Washington Building (Tacoma); Office buildings--Tacoma--1920-1930; Building construction--Tacoma--1920-1930;

ca. 1934. Washington Building. 17 story steel framed office building started by Scandinavian-American Bank in 1919, left unfinished when bank failed. Completed in 1925. Frederick Webber, Original Architect; Doyle and Merriam, Architects for Completion. (filed with Argentum)

Washington Building (Tacoma);

Dining room w/many tables set, believed to be in the Tacoma Club. (filed with Argentum)

Tacoma Club (Tacoma);

Art Exhibit in Washington Building. Melvin O. Kohler and Kathryn King Youell discuss the hanging of a painting by Ruth Clark in preparation for National Art Week, November 25-December 1, 1940. The public was invited to attend the art exhibit held at the Washington Building. (T.Times 11/23/1940 p.1)

Art exhibitions--Tacoma--1940-1950; Exhibitions--Tacoma--1940-1950; Washington Building (Tacoma); Paintings; Kohler, Melvin O.; Youell, Kathryn King;

Condon Co. was an advertising company, Roscoe A. Smith is the President and Victor Kaufman is the Vice-President. The Condon Co. was working on an advertising campaign for Mobilgas. Close-up view of neon Mobilgas sign on Washington Building. TPL-8460

Electric signs--Tacoma--1940-1950; Business districts--Tacoma--1940-1950; Office buildings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Condon Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Washington Building (Tacoma); Petroleum industry; Advertisements;

Electrical Products Consolidated manufactured signs. They also manufactured street lights in the downtown Tacoma area. View of Mobilgas sign above the Washington Building, Pacific Avenue and street lights can be seen on right side.

Electric signs--Tacoma--1940-1950; Street lights--Tacoma; Electrical Products Consolidated (Tacoma); Mobilgas;

The Internal Revenue Department was sorting and checking through the U. S. income tax return forms and payments that were submitted, meeting the March 15th deadline. Employees had to separate the payments from the return forms and check over all forms submitted. Citizen meeting the deadline would not be subject to government penalties. View of U. S. Internal Revenue Staff in Tacoma (T. Times, 3/17/47, p. 9).

Correspondence; Income taxes--Tacoma; Civil service--Tacoma; Government employees--Tacoma; Internal Revenue Service (Tacoma);

Informal group of eight men dining at the Tacoma Club on November 27, 1950. Ordered by Henry Foss, far right. Others in photograph were not identified.

Foss, Henry O., 1891-1986; Tacoma Club (Tacoma);

In May of 1943, Frederick E. Sexton of the Internal Revenue Service modeled his modern new green eyeshade, his first in twenty years, purchased to celebrate his move to new office quarters in the Washington Building. Twenty eight years ago, he had reported to the second floor of the Federal building to fill a temporary position working with the new income tax. The year was 1915 and extra help was needed to work with the new experimental tax. The tax rate at that time was 1 % of income. That "temporary" position extended to 28 years, during which time he never moved off the second floor of the Federal building. Mr. Sexton began as a clerk and has risen to the Chief of the Assessment and Control section and an assistant Comptroller. (T.Times 5/19/1943, pg. 18)

Sexton, Frederick E.; Internal Revenue Service (Tacoma)--1940-1950;

Ruth Zdillae (right), home on furlough, dropped into the Army Recruiting Office in the Washington Building on February 25, 1943 to talk about her love for the Army life. She was stationed as a cook at Fort Sam Houston in Texas. Jean Hunnewell (left), in charge of WAAC recruiting here, was on duty. Miss Pauline Gregoryk, who had stopped in for information, was so impressed that she signed up for duty. (T.Times, 2/26/1943, p.4)

World War, 1939-1945--Women--Tacoma; World War, 1939-1945--Recruiting & enlistment--Tacoma; Zdillae, Ruth; Hunnewell, Jean; Gregoryk, Pauline;

The actual use of a collapsible shipping crate is demonstrated by an unidentified employee of Pacific Forest Industries on July 26, 1950. The crate is constructed to break down flat to maximize storage space. Pacific Forest Industries is an exporting business located in the Washington Building at 1019 Pacific Avenue.

Pacific Forest Industries (Tacoma); Crates--Tacoma;

• Aerial view of downtown Tacoma. The Washington Building, with its Brotherhood Bank sign, is featured in the center of the card. circa 1940.
• Printed on front: Tacoma, Wash. Skyline from Winthrop Hotel

Circa 1925.