The ferries "Vashonia," "Fox Island," and "The City of Steilacoom" are moored side-by-side in January of 1940. The increasing number of cars and need for fast service for commuters led to the building of many ferries in the 1920's. They were swift and comfortable and due to the lack of major bridges, a more convenient way to travel for those living on the Olympic peninsula than driving for miles on often bad roads. These three ferries had been built by the Skansie (Brothers) Shipbuilding Co. in Gig Harbor for their Washington Navigation Company. Ordered by Mr. Peterson.

Ferries--1940-1950;

Automobile hit by train which killed Mrs. Hull of Steilacoom. A small group of men and teenagers stand at the railroad crossing to the wharf and Steilacoom ferry dock where the accident occurred on November 27, 1939. Mrs. William A. Hull, wife of a McNeil Island federal penitentiary guard, died when the vehicle she was driving was struck by a Union Pacific freight train as it crossed the railroad tracks. The 40-year-old woman was thrown clear upon impact. She had been on her way to pick up her husband who was returning to the mainland from the island. Mrs. Hull was thought to have been driving slowly and possibly did not see the train in time. (TNT 11-28-1939, p. 1-article & alt. photograph)

Traffic accidents--Steilacoom; Railroad accidents--Steilacoom; Railroad crossings--Steilacoom; Hull, William A.--Family;

Scene of traffic accident for insurance claim #700648, Allstate Insurance Company. Highway where road Ys into another road. Houses in background. Sign reads : "The Rosebud Groceries & Notions." This scene was photographed on April 24, 1940.

Traffic accidents; Roads;

Ferry Boats. "Vashonia" at ferry landing. Ordered by Mr. Peterson.

Vessels; Ferries;

Two Ford trucks at Coast Sash and Door Company. Three men by Hunter Fuel truck with wooden sides on bed. One man by second truck with truck dolly and other equipment. Hunter Fuel was owned by Merritt J. Hunter and was located at 6202 McKinley Ave. (filed with Argentum)

Ford trucks; Coast Sash & Door Co. (Tacoma); Hunter Fuel (Tacoma);

New Fuel Oil Service Corp. truck in street in front of residence. The driver casually poses with his elbow outside the Mack truck's window. The bright red vehicle would have been visible for quite a distance away. ALBUM 15.

Fuel Oil Service (Tacoma); Trucks--Tacoma--1930-1940; Fuel trade--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Four men in front of three McKenzie Fuel Company trucks parked in front of two wooden industrial buildings. Photograph ordered by Titus Motor Co. The 1940 City Directory lists the McKenzie Fuel Co. address as Taylor Way at Dolge Mill. The company offered slab and mill wood, hogged fuel, sawdust and stove and diesel oil. (filed with Argentum)

McKenzie Fuel Co. (Tacoma); Fuel trade--Tacoma; Trucks--Tacoma--1930-1940;

According to Richards Studio notes: "Tacoma Bread Co. truck which was involved on Mountain Highway accident." Photograph ordered by Charles A. Peterson, lawyer. Delivery truck with Manthou's Kream Krust Bread logo parked in front of three bay garage. Tacoma Bread Co.'s main product appeared to be their Kream Krust Bread. The bakery was located at 2836-38 So. I St. It was owned and operated by the Manthou family. (filed with Argentum)

Tacoma Bread Co. (Tacoma); Bakeries--Tacoma--1940-1950; Trucks--Tacoma--1940-1950;

In February of 1941, a British American War Relief Committee ambulance was on display in front of the Beverly Theater, at 916-18 Broadway. The offices of the British American War Relief Headquarters can be seen upstairs at 914 1/2 Broadway. The ambulance was on a fund raising tour prior to being shipped to Britain. (T. Times 2/8/1941, pg. 3)

Ambulances--1940-1950; World War, 1939-1945--Ambulances--Tacoma; British American War Relief Committee (Tacoma); Beverly Theater (Tacoma);

The destroyer USS Wilson (#408) was launched April 12,1939 at the Puget Sound Navy Yard in Bremerton. On hand for the launching were, left to right, Rear Admiral E. B. Fenner, Mrs. Fenner (sponsor), Governor Clarence Martin, Mrs. Arthur B. Langlie, Major General Walter C. Sweeney. Mrs. Sweeney, and Seattle Mayor Arthur Langlie. The vessel was named after Seaman Charles Wilson, who was recognized for distinguished service in the Navy during the Civil War. (T.Times 4/13/1939, pg. 20)

Launchings--Bremerton--1930-1940; Puget Sound Naval Shipyard (Bremerton);Martin, Clarence D., 1887-1955; Governors; Langlie, Arthur B., 1900-1966; Mayors--Seattle; Fenner, Edward B.; Sweeney, Walter C.;

ca. 1935. Three men beside Ford truck loaded with large rocks on South 12th Street by National Bank of Tacoma and Post Office. Sign on truck reads "The 1935 Double Duty Ford V8 Truck. Ask for a Demonstration - H.E. Stimpson Motor Company ......." (filed with Argentum)

Ford trucks--1930-1940; Stimpson Motor Co. (Tacoma);

ca. 1935. Three men sitting on large rocks on back of a Ford flatbed truck on A Street by Pioneer Bindery and 4L Hall. For H.E. Stimpson Motor Company. (filed with Argentum)

Ford trucks--1930-1940; Stimpson Motor Co. (Tacoma);

Washington Navigation Company ferries. Two women work as galley crew preparing coffee and pancakes for travelers. Ordered by North Pacific Bank Note Company.

Ferries--Tacoma; Galleys (Ship kitchens); Cooks; Washington Navigation Co. (Gig Harbor);

On March 10, 1938 the soldiers of Fort Lewis' 125 member 3rd Balloon Company, under the command of Major M. E. McHugo test flew the newest addition to their arsenal. The new blimp was 105 feet lomg and could attain a top speed of 40 miles per hour. It was considered to be a great advance over the blimps used during the First World War. (T.Times, 3/11/1938, p.1).

Balloons (Aircraft)--Fort Lewis; Balloonists; Air pilots--Fort Lewis; Military personnel--Fort Lewis; Fort Lewis (Wash.);

Loading of Norwegian motorship "Nordhval" with scrap streetcar tracks for shipment to Japan. Man pushing tracks over rail into hold of ship. Japan, at war with China, would not say what the 2,500 tons of scrap metal in the shipment would be used for. Over 1/2 of the scrap came from the useless ties in the TR & P Bay street yards. The streetcars had been discontinued in Tacoma in June of 1938. (T.Times, 10/17/1938, p. 5).

Cargo ships--Tacoma--1930-1940; Shipping--Tacoma--1930-1940; Shaffer Terminals, Inc. (Tacoma);

In October of 1938 the Norwegian motorship "Nordhval," bound for Japan, was being loaded with old streetcar rails at the Shaffer Terminals, Dock No. 2 on Tacoma's waterfront. Two men operate cranes as another man watches the rails being loaded. Tacoma's last streetcar had been taken out of service in April of 1938 as the old method of travel was replaced with city buses. Street railroad tracks were only a portion of the 2,500 tons of scrap metal assembled from various parts of the Northwest that were being sent to Japan aboard the "Nordhval." (T.Times, 10/17/38, p.5)

Cargo ships--Tacoma--1930-1940; Shipping--Tacoma--1930-1940; Shaffer Terminals, Inc. (Tacoma); Hoisting machinery;

Close up of port side view of lumber laden cargo ship "American Robin" tied up at North Coast Dock on City Waterway (Thea Foss Waterway) below Stadium High School.

Cargo ships--Tacoma; Shipping--Tacoma--1930-1940; Lumber industry--Tacoma--1930-1940; Loading docks--Tacoma; North Coast Dock (Tacoma); Warehouses--Tacoma;

In November of 1934, part of the fishing fleet was pictured moored at the Port Commission Docks. Tacoma at this time was home to about 45 fishing vessels. Among the fleet were the "Sima", the "Argo", and the "Sapho". A motorboat, the "Hazel" was tied to the Port walkway. The November 20th Tacoma Times published an editorial advocating that Tacoma build a larger Marina for the fleet, one that could dock upwards to 300 boats. The area suggested was along the south strip of the Port of Tacoma, near the Port Piers. (T. Times 11/20/1934, pg. 1) (WSHS)

Fishing boats--Tacoma--1930-1940; Fishing industry--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Fishing fleet moored at the Port Commission Docks. Close view of row of fishing boats detailing their cabins, masts and riggings. (WSHS)

Fishing boats--Tacoma--1930-1940; Fishing industry--Tacoma--1930-1940;

ca. 1935. Three trucks with drivers parked in front of Davis Motor Truck Company. Davis Motor Co. manufactured Diamond T trucks. (filed with Argentum)

Davis Motor Truck Company (Tacoma); Trucks--Tacoma--1930-1940; Diamond T trucks;

ca. 1936. Two men working on the hull of sailboat moored on the beach. Concrete bulkhead, roadway, and hillside in background. Automobiles parked along the road include a truck from Covach Bros. grocery.

Boats--Tacoma; Beaches--Tacoma; Automobiles--Tacoma--1930-1940; Trucks--Tacoma--1930-1940;

ca. 1936. Lazy afternoon. Three people sit on the edge of a dock watching a small motor boat pass by with three people and two black dogs aboard.

Boats--Tacoma; Piers & wharves--Tacoma;

Scenic Puget Sound, moonlight, and small boat on water. A full moon breaks through a massive layer of dark clouds to cast its shadow over a forested island and across the water. Stock negative.

Bodies of Water - Puget SoundMoonlight

Fireboat on Puget Sound. Four men ride on the railing of the fireboat.

Vessels - Boats - Fireboats - Tacoma

Unidentified man in dark suit poses with an Oldsmobile coupe automobile parked in front of the Seymour Conservatory in Wright Park. This photograph was taken on behalf of the American Automobile Association (A.A.A) on February 24, 1938.

American Automobile Association (Tacoma); Oldsmobile automobile; Seymour Conservatory (Tacoma); Wright Park (Tacoma); Parks--Tacoma--1930-1940; Greenhouses--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Eight Mack trucks parked in row outside White Truck Co. F.S. Harmon & Co. in background. Richards Studio notes list the address as 2202 A St. (filed with Argentum)

White trucks--Tacoma;

View of cracked fuselage. On March 18, 1939, people living near Alder, 30 miles southeast of Tacoma, looked-up to see this Boeing Stratoliner fall to earth in a fatal tailspin. The four-engine aircraft, designed to revolutionize cross-country transportation, broke apart as it fell and crashed into Nisqually Canyon. All ten men on-board the test flight were killed. The Air Safety Board of the Civil Aeronautics Authority immediately ventured to the scene to investigate the tragedy. (T. Times, 3-18-39, p. 1, 3-20-39, p. 1)

Aircraft accidents--Alder--1930-1940; Boeing Stratoliner;

Stratoliner crash at Alder, Washington, March 18, 1939. Close-up of wrecked airplane debris from the Boeing experimental craft. The ten member crew was killed, possibly instantly, when the 20-ton aircraft plunged two miles into the rural hillside. The crew was composed of experienced test pilots, Boeing employees, and two representatives from the Netherlands. The plane, preparing to be licensed for commercial flying, was to be tested on Monday, March 20, 1939, on a governmental inspection flight. Instead, both wingtips and part of its tail broke off while in the air. The Air Safety Board of the C.A.A. would be investigating the accident which occurred under excellent flying conditions with clear visibility. (T.Times, 3-18-39, p. 1, 3-20-39, p. 1)

Aircraft accidents--Alder--1930-1940; Boeing Stratoliner;

Stratoliner crash near Alder, March 18, 1939. Four men have the grim task of carrying a body on a stretcher to a road near the wooded accident site. Killed were: test pilots Harlan Hull, Julius Barr, Earl Ferguson and William Doyle; Boeing staff John Kylstra, Harry West, Ralph Cram and Benjamin Pearson, as well as Dutch representatives Peter Guilonard and A.G. Von Baumhauer. Escaping death was Bob Bush, Boeing engineer, who had been scheduled to be on the flight but was left off because there was no more room. (T. Times, 3-18-39, p. 1, 3-20-39, p. 1)

Aircraft accidents--Alder--1930-1940; Boeing Stratoliner; Litters;

On October 3, 1939, Beulah Eskildsen (left) and Janet Hatch received instruction from Ben Barry about the instruments in a small mono-plane. Mr. Barry was a commercial pilot at the Mueller-Harkins Airport where the students of the federal government pilot training program, the Civilian Pilot Training Program, received their in-flight instruction. Imitating European countries, America had instituted the Civilian Pilot Training Program (1938-44) to increase the number of civilian pilots and our military preparedness. The program provided new opportunities in aviation for women and Afro-Americans. Women were trained under the program at a ratio of about 1 woman to 10 men, until war preparation demanded that all graduates enlist. At that time, women were excluded from the program because they were not allowed to fly in the military. But by mid 1941, the program had already trained around 2,500 women, many who became Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs.) (T.Times 10-05-1939 p.12; www.nationmuseum.af.mil)

Airplanes--Tacoma--1930-1940; Flight training--Tacoma--1930-1940; Monoplanes; Eskildsen, Beulah; Hatch, Janet; Barry, Ben; College of Puget Sound (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Mueller-Harkins Airport (Lakewood);