At 11:10 p.m. on November 28, 1894, a strip of land 250-300 yards long and 20-60 feet wide slid into Commencement Bay, carrying with it the home of H.H. Alger, 45 feet of the Northern Pacific Railway Co's Puget Sound warehouse, the company's freight office and the adjoining stockyards. The lack of light made rescue work difficult. Night watchman John Hanson and Emma, the 15 year old daughter of Alger, lost their lives. A second slide followed in a few minutes and another the next night. When the land stopped sliding, it was estimated that the Bay now covered 20 acres of previously inhabited land. Where the warehouses had stood, there was now 60 feet of water. The slide was attributed to a washing out of quicksand beneath the filled-in earth. (Hunt: "History of Tacoma" vol. 2, pg. 170-171) G27.1-097

Landslides--Tacoma--1890-1900; Disasters--Tacoma--1890-1900; Northern Pacific Railway Co. (Tacoma);

ca. 1895. Considered to be the most beautiful home in Tacoma, the Hewitt mansion was designed by architect Andrew J. Smith for Henry Hewitt Jr., one of the founders of the St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Company. The interior of the three story "castle" was filled with ornately carved woodwork of cherry, maple, oak and birch. Much of the interior woodwork was brought west from Milwaukee, where the house was designed. Tacoma of 1889, the year that the house was built, did not have a local industry that could accommodate the elaborate plans for the Hewitt house. The home passed through a succession of owners. Although still in excellent shape, the mansion was demolished in 1957 to make room for the parking lot of the Central Lutheran Church.

Hewitt, Henry J.--Homes & haunts;

ca. 1895. Joseph Bachrach (left) and Theo Feist (right) posed around 1895 at the entrance of their first dry goods store located at 945 Tacoma Avenue South. The woman standing next to Theo is believed to be his sister, Irma Feist. The other woman in the picture is probably Lucie Feist, another sister of Theo's and a clerk at the store. Lucie Feist married Joseph Bachrach in 1895, six years after she and Irma moved to Tacoma from Paris, France. The next store the partners opened was in their own building on Pacific Avenue near 10th St. in 1897. In 1916, they moved to a newly constructed building on Broadway which later housed the J.C. Penney store; eleven years later Feist & Bachrach moved to 1113 Broadway. Copy negative made for the Tacoma Times on July 17, 1937. The photograph and accompanying article appeared in the Golden Jubilee insert in the Times' July 19, 1939, edition. TPL-5478 (T.Times 7-19-39, p. 17)

Dry goods stores--Tacoma--1890-1900; Feist & Bachrach (Tacoma); Bachrach, Joseph; Feist, Theophile;

ca. 1895. On Saturday June 20, 1891 the Tacoma Fire Department moved into its newly built Station No. 6 at 823 A St. The two-story brick building, which was built at a cost of $24,400, also became the Headquarters for the Fire Department. Captain J.L. Dietsch was the first officer in charge of Engine Co. No. 6 with Lt. W.E. Borland as his lieutenant. Chemical Engine Co. No. 1 moved in on June 20, 1891. Equipment owned included a second size Clapp & Jones piston steam fire engine and a W.T.Y. Schneck four wheeled hose wagon. Horses were used to pull these apparatus. This photograph shows how the station appeared in the late 1890's with its front on A St. It was torn down in 1974, and part of the land on which it stood is now part of Fireman Park. (100 Years of Firefighting in the City of Destiny Tacoma, Washington, p. 21; T. Times 6/18/1936, pg. 1-picture) Copy made approximately May, 1937. TPL-2525 (cropped version of TPL-397)

Tacoma Fire Department (Tacoma); Fire stations--Tacoma--1890-1900; Fire engines & equipment--Tacoma; Horses--Tacoma;

ca. 1898. Copy of an 1898 photograph of the R.E. Anderson Insurance and Real Estate office. The office was then located on the first floor of the Berlin Building, 1021-23 Pacific Ave. Its street address was 117 So. 11th St. Mr. Anderson, the founder of the company, was seated in the private office on the left. The remaining group consisted of, left to right, an unidentified Western Union messenger boy, an unidentified female secretary, W.H. Van Horn, William H. Miller (later president of the company) and A.Gehri, contractor and head of a roofing firm. Originally Anderson & Co. handled mortgage loans and insurance; they got into the real estate business in the aftermath of the panic of 1893. The room decor featured a wood stove with its pipe running across the ceiling, unshaded light globes, marble paneling and art glass. Copy made for Mr. Short, columnist for the Tacoma Times. (Argentum) (T. Times 4/23/1937, pg. 11)

R.E. Anderson & Co. Inc. (Tacoma); Anderson, R.E.; Van Horn, W.H.; Miller, William H.; Gehri, A.;

Washington : Geological Survey
1 map : col. ; 45 x 31 cm. on sheet 56 x 47 cm. "Surveyed in 1894-95." Scale: 1:125,000 Contour interval 50 feet. Relief indicated by contours and spot heights. Datum is mean sea level. "Edition of Nov. 1898" Engraved April 1897 by U.S.G.S. Henry Gannett, Chief Topographer. R. U. Goode, Geographer in charge. Control by W.T. Griswold and U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey. Topography by G.E. Hyde and R.H. McKee. Diagram depicts which topographers were responsible for which areas of the map.

ca. 1900. Copy of image Series 2215 image 1 pinned to a board: North Pacific Bank Note Company staff. Group of men in front of building. Copy of customer's photograph. (filed with Argentum)

North Pacific Bank Note Co. (Tacoma);

ca. 1900. This is how Tacoma appeared from the south across the tideflats circa 1900 . Prominent early businesses identified in the foreground were: (left to right) the Pacific Match Co., the Tacoma Furniture Factory Bresemann & Klee, and the Pacific Lounge & Mattress Co. The Pierce County Courthouse with tower is at the far left background. The first 11th St. Bridge is at the far right. Copy made August 31, 1950.

Cityscapes; Pacific Match Co. (Tacoma); Tacoma Furniture Factory Bresemann & Klee (Tacoma); Pacific Lounge & Mattress Co. (Tacoma); Pierce County Courthouse (Tacoma); 11th Street Bridge (Tacoma); Bridges--Tacoma--1900-1910;

ca. 1900. Frederick Weyerhaeuser, founder of the Weyerhaeuser Timber Co. Frederick Weyerhaeuser came to the U.S. from Germany as a penniless teenager. He ended up in Rock Island, Illinois, in 1856 working in a lumberyard. In the wake of the panic of 1857, he became the owner of a little sawmill. He expanded first northward and later westward, founding his family empire. He went into the lumber business with his brother-in-law Frederick Carl August Denkmann. In 1900, after long negotiations, the Weyerhaeuser syndicate purchased 900,000 acres of Washington timberlands from the Northern Pacific Railroad. Although a daring and adventurous businessman with boundless energy, Weyerhaeuser was also a painfully private and simple man. The patriarch of the Weyerhaeusers was devoted to hard work and the founding of a dynasty. At his death on April 4, 1914 of pneumonia, he left $30,000,000 and a empire of timberlands. ("Phil Weyerhaeuser Lumberman" by Charles E. Twining)

Weyerhaeuser, Frederick; Lumber industry--Tacoma--1900-1910; Weyerhaeuser Timber Co. (Tacoma);

ca. 1900. Columbia Breweries remained proud of their beginnings in 1900 when Emil Kliese, William Kiltz and John Smith incorporated the Columbia Brewing Company. This photograph of the entire staff of the brewery in 1900 was used in several newspaper stories during the 1940's and 1950's when the company announced new additions to the brewery. Seated in the front are, L-R, William Kiltz, sales manager, and Emile Kliese, president and brew master. The five men in the back are not identified. Copies of old prints ordered by Heidelberg Brewing Company in December 1954. TPL-9625

Brewing industry--Tacoma--1900-1910; Columbia Brewing Co. (Tacoma); Columbia Brewing Co. (Tacoma)--People; Kiltz, William; Kliese, Emile;

ca. 1900. Copy from glass plate, Richards Studio. The docks are teeming with people in an unidentified photograph dating back perhaps to the late 1890's or early 1900's. Men are dressed in suits and hats while the ladies are covered from top to toe. The large crowd may have been disembarking after a pleasure cruise. Copy from glass plate was made on October 3, 1958.

Passengers; Boats; Crowds;

ca. 1900. Around 1900, a young woman was photographed riding her bicycle across Tacoma's bicycle bridge, also known as the Galliher Gulch bridge. The bridge was constructed in 1896 by the Tacoma Wheelmen's Bicycle Club at the height of the national bicycling craze. It was near Holy Rosary Church, connecting Delin Street with the path leading to the Hood Street reservoir. For more than 25 years, it was the "longest, highest and only exclusive" bicycle bridge in the world. The narrow wooden bridge was perched on steel poles high above the gulch and provided a way for bicyclists to cross the ravine. The bridge measured in at 440 feet long, 127 feet high and 12 feet wide and was built with funds accrued from the sale of bicycle licenses. (TNT 9/5/1922- in clipping file; TNT 4-7-1953, E-4-alt photo of bridge) TPL-4459

Bicycles & tricycles--1890-1900; Cyclists--1890-1900; Cycling--Tacoma; Bridges--Tacoma--1900-1910; Bicycle Bridge (Tacoma);

ca. 1900. Copy negative of photograph of Overland's store at the turn of the century on Tacoma Avenue. Young man and woman stand at entrance to small store; man is Thomas Overland, proprietor. Overland Furniture then moved to 1137-39 Broadway where it expanded to become a complete home furnishings store. Copy made for the Tacoma Times on 7-17-39 where it was used as a photograph in the Golden Jubilee insert in the Times July 19, 1939, edition. (T.Times 7-19-39, p. 18) TPL-9558

Furniture stores--Tacoma--1890-1900; Overland's (Tacoma); Overland, Thomas;

ca. 1900. An emblem of Columbia Brewing Company's trademark, a large circle with an ornament at the top, shows a female figure holding a sheaf of barley in one hand and a glass of beer extended above her head in the other. A bald eagle behind her grasps barley and hops in his claws and a barrel with the initials CB Co. on the end is beside her. Mountains rise in the background. Drawings of barley and hops also wreathe the banner around the circle of stars completing the design. The name "Dawes, P'gh, Pa." appears at the bottom of the emblem. Copies of old prints ordered by Heidelberg Brewing Company in December 1954. TPL-6695

Brewing industry--Tacoma--1900-1910; Columbia Brewing Co. (Tacoma); Trademarks;

ca. 1900. Built in 1889, the First Presbyterian Church at 1001 So. G Street was designed by the architectural firm Farrell & Darmer in the "Eastlake" style. It was dedicated in June, 1890. When the First Presbyterian Church congregation moved to 20 Tacoma Ave.So. in 1925, the building at 1001 So. G St. became the Central Lutheran Church. Thirty years later, in September of 1955, it was torn down to make room for the "new" County-City Building that was to occupy the whole block between So. 9th and So. 11th from Tacoma Ave. So. to G Street.

First Presbyterian Church (Tacoma); Presbyterian churches--Tacoma;

ca. 1900. Copy made from glass plate, Richards Studio. A woman, her sleeves rolled up, is hard at work preparing a tasty snack on an outdoor cement stove. What resembles an enormous stack of buns piled up next to the stove is actually a cobblestone chimney. A small boy reclines on a giant log; he and three men appear to be waiting to be fed. The park appears crowded on a sunny day with several groups of men relaxing in conversation. Even on a casual outing to the park, it was still customary to dress in suits and hats. Date of original plate is unknown, possibly in 1900; copy was made on October 3, 1958.

Picnics; Outdoor cookery; Logs;

ca. 1900. Copy made from glass plate. A graceful woman, arms akimbo, gazes over Wright Park at the Division Street entrance circa 1900. The statue was one of a pair of dancing maidens donated to the city by Clinton P. Ferry in 1891. They were part of a large art collection secured by Ferry from a memorable trip to Paris. Photograph was apparently taken by the Washington Camera Club; actual date of photograph was not known but copy was made from glass plates on October 3, 1958.

Wright Park (Tacoma); Sculpture--Tacoma--1900-1910;

ca. 1900. Copy, made on October 23, 1958, of a customer's print of meat cutting operations in a large butcher shop. The copy was ordered by Bud Merrell of Counterfitter Inc., manufacturer of store fixtures in Seattle. Five butchers, wearing white shirts with ties with white jackets covering, stand behind counters heaped with sausages and cuts of meat. One man is in the process of cutting up some carcass on the butcher block. In the background, wild game and aged processed meats hang from racks. TPL-8129

Butchers--1900-1910; Meat; Sausages; Meat cutting--1900-1910; Butcher shops--1900-1910; Meat industry--1900-1910;

ca. 1900. Copy of customer negative. The prone patient casually rests his head on his hand as doctors pause in the act of swabbing out an injured leg. Because the print is so grainy, it is difficult to see the injury but it appears that there is a chunk missing from the man's right calf. A nun gently places her hand on the man's shoulder. This photograph was not dated nor the people identified in studio records; it may have been taken in the late 1800's or early 1900's. Sepia copy was made on behalf of Mrs. Marie Mason on November 8, 1958.

Sick persons; Wounds & injuries; Nuns;

ca. 1900. Gilbert L. Palmer (3rd from the left), the first warden of McNeil Island prison, serving from 1893-1900, and six of his men, were photographed standing next to Cell House # 1 circa 1900. Completed in 1874, the brick and stone building contained 48 double cells, each secured with a heavy, grated flat-iron door. The old cell block was torn down in the mid-1930s. The small, frame building behind the prison is one of the guard houses, where the guards were quartered. Before 1893, the prison had been run by Federal Marshalls. Left to right: Robert Troutman, John Drake, G. L. Palmer (warden), John Devoin, Robert Longmire (deputy warden), Frank Mooney, and H. E. Palmer. Copy of early photograph for Mr. Short, T. Times. (Price, Lester K. "McNeil, History of a Federal Prison", McNeil Island, Washington, July, 1970.)

Prisons--Washington; McNeil Island Federal Prison (McNeil Island); Prison guards; Rifles; Troutman, Robert; Drake, John; Palmer, Gilbert L.; Devoin, John; Longmire, Robert; Mooney, Frank; Palmer, H.E.;

ca. 1900. Portrait of a young boy and his sister, a copy of a customer's print, for Floyd Oles. Floyd Oles lived at 1018 So. 60th and was president of an import-export company called Floyd Oles Inc. Floyd Oles Inc. was located at 1953 So. C.

Children--1890-1900; Clothing & dress--1890-1900;

ca. 1900. Copy of customer's print. Employees of the Butternut Baking Company stand in the recessed entry of the business in a photograph possibly taken in the early 1900's. One man, dressed in suit and tie, has his arm casually draped over another man's shoulders. A third man appears to be wearing a calf-length duster while the lone woman in the picture stares off-camera. Photograph ordered by Jordan Baking Co. on June 7, 1954.

Butternut Baking Co.; Group portraits;

ca. 1900. Copy of print made from glass plate. Pacific Avenue appears devoid of traffic other than one streetcar in the early years of the 20th century. This photograph was taken early one morning in the vicinity of 9th & Pacific; the distinct image of the Old City Hall can be observed clearly a block ahead. The names "Hotel Donnelly" and "Grand Theatre" have been imprinted onto the photograph. The Hotel Donnelly was probably one of the earliest hotels in the city, as it was listed in the 1893-94 City Directory. It was located on the northwest corner of Pacific Ave. & So. 9th St. The Motoramp Garage was to later be built on this site. Hotel Donnelly was in close proximity to the Hotel Revere, whose sign can be seen protruding from the building. The Hotel Revere, by 1907, was operated by John Fawcett and located at 732 1/2 Pacific Avenue. The Grand Theatre's first mention was in the 1907 City Directory. It was located on the northeast corner of Pacific & So. 9th. Sullivan & Considine were listed as proprietors and Dean B. Worley as manager. Date of original print is not known; copy from glass plate was made on October 3, 1958. TPL-8546

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1900-1910; Hotel Donnelly (Tacoma); Hotel Revere (Tacoma); Old City Hall (Tacoma); Cities & towns--Tacoma;

ca. 1900. Copy made from glass plate, Richards Studio. This may be a street scene from Yakima, Washington, circa 1900. The street is wide enough for a streetcar and many passing horses and carts. There are some carriages parked along the raised sidewalk. People could conduct business at the Yakima Valley Bank, get their teeth checked at Yakima Dental or buy a $12 suit at the Empire. Copy of glass plate made on October 3, 1958.

Commercial streets--Yakima; Street railroads--Yakima; Carts & wagons--Yakima;

ca. 1900. The Rustic Bridge in Point Defiance Park, circa 1900. (A copy by Richards Studio of a customer's print, negative is not available.) The Rustic Bridge was built over Sorex Gulch, located midway between the present boathouse and Owen Beach. It was built in 1892 and was dismantled in 1920. It was a stacked log bridge with notches for crosslogs which tied the two sides of the bridge together. It was constructed of 3500 logs and was 250 feet long and approximately 80 feet high. Limbs were used to build the rustic handrail and benches along the pedestrian walkway. The stream at the mouth of the Sorex Gulch was dammed, creating a pond. A picnic site was created beside the pond and this became one of the most popular attractions for park visitors. A smaller pedestrian bridge can be seen in the foreground of the photograph; its handrail matches that of the Rustic Bridge. (Pierce County Cultural Resource Survey, prepared by Office of Historic Preservation, Community Development Department)

Point Defiance Park (Tacoma); Parks--Tacoma; Bridges--Tacoma;

ca. 1900. View from beach of McNeil Island Prison in the early days. Gilbert L. Palmer is warden at this time. During his service, from 1893-1900, a residence for his use was built on the hill north of the prison, Lumber in the foreground, was purchased and made into shingles by the prisoners to raise funds for the upkeep of the prison. The Federal prison facilities at McNeil Island were primitive and received little attention or money from Congress. Copy photograph for Mr. Short, T. Times. (Price, Lester K. "McNeil, History of a Federal Prison", McNeil Island, Washington, July 1970.)

Prisons--Washington; McNeil Island Federal Prison (McNeil Island);

ca. 1900. Early day chain gang at McNeil Island Prison. Prisoners at this time were mainly "squaw-men" and white men convicted of selling liquor to Indians whose sentences ranged from a few months to a year. Some men served time for murder, mutiny, and other crimes. A few women prisoners were also housed at McNeil, but not in the cellhouse. They were incarcerated in the guards quarters. When prisoners were not in cells, they worked in the fields, clearing and preparing land for gardens to feed the occupants at McNeil. Prisoners wore their own clothes while working in the fields or the striped wool uniforms issued to them. Copy photograph for Mr. Short, T. Times. (Price, Lester K. "McNeil, History of a Federal Prison", McNeil Island, Washington, July 1970).

Prisons--Washington; McNeil Island Federal Prison (McNeil Island); Prisoners;

ca. 1900. Copy negative of old postcard picture. Photograph was copied for Mrs. F. E. Washburn, 305 No. K., in June of 1939. TPL-7176

Houses--Tacoma--1890-1900;

ca. 1900. This magnificent house, which stood at 4301 North Stevens Street, was built by the real estate developer Allen C. Mason in 1892. Mason, who came to Tacoma in 1883 with $2.40, was a millionaire by 1892. He helped finance the commuter railroad that ran from Division to Point Defiance, and spent tens of thousands of dollars "boosting" Tacoma. He lost his fortune in the "panic of 1893", and was forced to sell his newly built mansion. It was bought by Whitworth College, and was the main building on their north Tacoma campus from 1899 to 1913 when they moved to Spokane. John P. Weyerhaeuser purchased all the main buildings of Whitworth College in 1920 and razed them to build "Haddaway Hall." (Copy of glass plate was made by Richards on October 3, 1958.)

Whitworth College (Tacoma); Universities & colleges--Tacoma;