Bustling downtown street scene. This is 11th St. looking east near Broadway as it appeared in January of 1924. Pedestrians scurry across the road aided by the helpful policeman holding the "Stop" sign before the few cars. It apparently was a dry, sunny day with no umbrellas in sight. Some of the business district's notable buildings are in view: the Fidelity Building, the Rust Building, and the unfinished Scandinavian-American Bank building (later completed and named the Washington Building) on the left with the Stone-Fisher (name changed the following year to Fisher Co.) Department Store on the right foreground. The 11th St. Bridge (name changed later to honor Murray Morgan) is in the far background. G57.1-141
Commercial streets--Tacoma--1920-1930; Business districts--Tacoma--1920-1930; Fidelity Building (Tacoma); Rust Building (Tacoma); Fishers Department Store (Tacoma); 11th Street Bridge (Tacoma);
11th Street street scene. This is a view of 11th St. looking east toward the 11th St. Bridge and the tideflats in January of 1924. Strolling up and down the steep street are several groups of people. On the photograph's left are the Rhodes Brothers Department Store, the Fidelity Building, the Rust Building, and the unfinished Scandinavian-American Bank building (later to be completed and called the Washington Building). On the right in the foreground at 11th & Broadway is the Stone-Fisher Department Store which would have its name changed to the Fisher Co. store in 1925 and later on, the Bon Marche. G57.1-140
Commercial streets--Tacoma--1920-1930; Business districts--Tacoma--1920-1930; Fidelity Building (Tacoma); Rust Building (Tacoma); Rhodes Brothers Department Store (Tacoma); Fishers Department Store (Tacoma); 11th Street Bridge (Tacoma);
House on South Ainsworth Avenue. This home was probably located in the Central Park addition of Tacoma and may have been built by the M.W.F. Wallace Co. It appears to be a simple, bungalow-style home with fireplace and located on a corner lot. There is a small building in the rear, either a one-car garage or storage unit. G29.1-055
Lampposts on South "J" St. This is a view of South "J" St. , south of South 21st St., looking north, as seen on March 28, 1924. The quiet street has lampposts evenly spaced on both sides. Three cars are parked along the curbside and a few pedestrians can be spotted on the sidewalk in the distance. G60.1-041
This wide street was South Union Ave. (later to be known as South Tacoma Way), part of South Tacoma's business district, as viewed in late May of 1924. A few cars are rolling down the street apparently being monitored by a lone traffic policeman in the distance. Flags are flying in honor of Memorial Day. The flags and poles on both sides of the street had been purchased by individual merchants from a company that manufactured them to be of uniform size. The flags were to be dedicated by the South Tacoma merchants on Flag Day. Residents in South Tacoma had ready access to bakeries, drugstores, grocery stores, candy shops and even pool halls on this stretch of South Union, close to South 52nd St. G62.1-005; TPL-2539 (TNT 6-4-24, p. 13)
Commercial streets--Tacoma--1920-1930; Business districts--Tacoma--1920-1930; Flags--United States;
A large crowd of curious spectators gathered on Pacific Avenue outside the Charles F. Lewis (Hats) store on Saturday, June 7, 1924, to await the unveiling of the "Mystery Car." One man is crouched next to the shrouded hood, perhaps in preparation to flip off the car's covering. The "Mystery Car," type unidentified, proved to be a car finished at the Tacoma Duco Co. with the new Duco finish which was becoming popular nationwide. The Duco finish was now appearing on the latest models of cars direct from the factory. TPL-5552; G32.1-058 (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 6-15-24, G-11)
This August 1924 view of South 10th and Pacific Avenue shows a part of Tacoma's major business district located in the downtown section of the city. A banner flies above the street pointing out the direction of the Tacoma Tourist Information Bureau at 115 South 10th Street. On the left is the Argonaut Hotel (1007 Pacific), the unfinished Scandinavian-American Bank at 1019 Pacific (later completed as the Washington Building in 1925) , Peoples Department Store (1101-07 Pacific) and Puget Sound National Bank (1117-19 Pacific). On the right is the 12-story Rust Building. The box-shaped structure in the middle of South 10th street (on the left) is the entrance to Tacoma's below-street-level Women Only comfort station. TPL-1418
Commercial streets--Tacoma--1920-1930; Business districts--Tacoma--1920-1930; Banners; Argonaut Hotel (Tacoma); Washington Building (Tacoma); Peoples (Tacoma); Puget Sound National Bank (Tacoma); Rust Building (Tacoma);
Photographer Marvin Boland took a series of pictures of Tacoma's downtown business district on August 22, 1924 where he focused on the numerous business establishments, large and small, packed into a few city streets. This view is of Pacific Avenue near South 11th Street. L-R are the 12-story Rust Building (950 Pacific) with one of their tenants, Lundquist-Lilly (men's clothing store); Scobey's Cigars at 946 Pacific with the Naubert & Manning Billiard parlor upstairs; Davis Men's Shop, M&M Hat, Friedman's (Jewelers) all at 942-44 Pacific with Peterson & Cooksie Billiards above; and the Regal Shoe Co. at 938-40 Pacific. TPL-225; G61.1-016
This view is of Broadway at 9th looking south in August of 1924. On the right foreground is a portion of the massive Tacoma Theater building (902-14 Broadway) with new tenant Frank C. Hart & Sons (jewelers) sign and the Electro Dental Parlors (former practice of dentist John Austin). The Colonial Theater (916-18 Broadway) is next, then showing for the second week the movie "The Covered Wagon." The Pythian Temple (924-26 Broadway) and Burnett Brothers jewelry store (932 Broadway) follow. At the end of the block is the Rhodes Brothers Department Store (950 Broadway). On the left side of Broadway several businesses are visible: the Hotel Illington and the McMillan Bros. Drugstore in the Jonathan Smith Bldg. (911-13 Broadway); Lou Johnson (ladies apparel) in the Collier-Hardenberg Bldg (915-17 Broadway); Pierce Hotel (912 1/2 Broadway); and further down the street, the Lewis Brothers clothing store (935-41 Broadway). G59.1-030
This is 11th St. at the bridge looking west as pictured on August 22, 1924. On the left is the Perkins Building at 1101 A Street, Tacoma's first fireproof building; on the right is the Tacoma Building, 1017-21 A Street, home to the Weyerhaeuser Timber Co. The unfinished Scandinavian-American Bank building (later known as the Washington Building) is in the distance also on the right. G57.1-133
Commercial streets--Tacoma--1920-1930; Business districts--Tacoma--1920-1930; Perkins Building (Tacoma); Tacoma Building (Tacoma); Washington Building (Tacoma);
Pacific Avenue at South 9th St. looking south. Barricades from the Consumers Central Heating Co. are positioned in the center of South 9th St. Street construction and/or repair were occurring during this part of August, 1924, in this area. Notable downtown buildings visible include the Provident Building (917 Pacific Ave.), the unfinished Scandinavian-American Bank Bldg (later called the Washington Building at 1019 Pacific Ave.) and Puget Sound National Bank (1117-19 Pacific Ave). G61.1-037
Commercial streets--Tacoma--1920-1930; Business districts--Tacoma--1920-1930; Barricades--Tacoma; Provident Building (Tacoma); Puget Sound National Bank (Tacoma);
This is how the east side of Pacific Avenue, near South 10th & 11th Sts., appeared in September of 1924. Buildings were tightly built side-by-side with no space in between for parking lots. From L-R were: First Mutual Savings Bank's Deposit Vaults (1005 Pacific); Western Union Telegraph Co. (1007 Pacific); Keystone Printing Co., Peerless Grill and the Tourist Hotel Annex (1009 Pacific); and Shaw Supply Co.'s three-story brick building (1015 Pacific). The Tourist Hotel Annex would be demolished later to make way for the Bank of California. G61.1-019 TPL-10075
Commercial streets--Tacoma--1920-1930; Business districts--Tacoma--1920-1930; Tourist Hotel Annex (Tacoma); Western Union Telegraph Co. (Tacoma); Keystone Printing Co. (Tacoma); Peerless Grill (Tacoma); Shaw Supply Co., Inc. (Tacoma);
ca. 1925. A large two-story house with a balcony along its entirety, with a climbing vine growing up each column. A veranda leads out into the landscaped grounds. Location of the home was not provided. (WSHS)
ca. 1925. Same broken down truck parked by a street sign as A-1419. Now the residential intersection can be seen as well as houses alongside the inclined roadway. Another automobile progresses up the incline. (WSHS)
ca. 1925. The Washington Building under construction. Construction on the modern American skyscraper in downtown Tacoma began in 1919 for the Scandinavian American bank, but halted a couple of years later when the bank closed. The steel structure sat deserted until it was completed in 1925 for the Washington-California Co. and dedicated on June 29, 1925. At 17 stories, it was the second tallest building in the Northwest. (WSHS)
Washington Building (Tacoma); Office buildings--Tacoma--1920-1930; Business districts--Tacoma--1920-1930;
ca. 1925. Washington Building at 1019 Pacific Ave. and on the left, the Rust building at 950 Pacific Ave.The Washington Building was finished in 1925. At 17 stories, it was the second tallest building in the Northwest. The Rust building measures in at 12 stories. It is named after its builder William R. Rust. (WSHS-negative A695-0)
Washington Building (Tacoma); Rust Building (Tacoma);
ca. 1925. The new Washington Building had its Grand Opening in June of 1925. Construction of the building was begun in 1919 for the Scandinavian American Bank and halted in 1921 when the bank failed. It was completed in 1925 and was, at that time, the second tallest building in the Northwest. The main tenant at its opening was the Brotherhood Cooperative National Bank. The Cooperative Bank was the first of its kind in any Northwest City. Although it was part of the Brotherhood group of banks, strong in the eastern part of the country, the local bank had local supporters, management and share holders, many of them working men. It was approved by both the Federated Improvement Clubs of Tacoma and the labor unions. (TNT 6/30/1925, pg. 14)(WSHS)
Washington Building (Tacoma); Brotherhood Cooperative National Bank (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma--1920-1930;
ca. 1925. Construction on the Washington Building started in 1919 for the Scandinavian- American Bank, but halted when the bank went bankrupt. The steel framework sat deserted until it was purchased by the Washington-California Co. In 1925, the building was completed. The steel framework was clothed in white terra cotta, which was glazed. It was fireproof. It had 1925 technologically superior Otis elevators, which could take visitors from the bottom to the top in 16 seconds. The building was completed with an investment of 1 1/2 million dollars. (TNT 6/30/1925, pg.1) (WSHS)
Washington Building (Tacoma); Office buildings--Tacoma--1920-1930; Business districts--Tacoma--1920-1930;
ca. 1925. View of front of two story house at 4302 So. Bell. The house was built in 1925 by builder William T. Post. In November of 1926, the Tacoma Daily Ledger called Mr. Post the "champion builder of the state." In the previous eight years, he had constructed 300 houses and three apartment buildings. His specialty was housing developments, rather than single homes. He built 60 houses on Pacific Ave. between 43rd & 48th and was consulted by the School Board and city regarding the site for Stewart Middle School. (WSHS) (TDL 11/7/1926, PG. 11-E article on Wm. T. Post)
ca. 1925. Side view of the home of John J. Hewitt. The English cottage style home was designed by Delano & Aldrich, with local architects Sutton, Whitney & Dugan serving as associate architects. Mr. Hewitt was the president of the Hewitt Land Co. and the secretary-treasurer of Hewitt-Lea-Funck Co. (WSHS- negative A652-0)
Houses--Tacoma--1920-1930; Hewitt, John J.--Homes & haunts; Estates--Tacoma;
ca. 1925. Side view of the home of John J. Hewitt. The English cottage style home was designed by Delano & Aldrich, with local architects Sutton, Whitney & Dugan serving as associate architects. Mr. Hewitt was the president of the Hewitt Land Co. and the secretary-treasurer of Hewitt-Lea-Funck Co. (WSHS- negative A653-0)
Houses--Tacoma--1920-1930; Hewitt, John J.--Homes & haunts; Estates--Tacoma;
ca. 1925. View of the home of John J. Hewitt. The English cottage style home was designed by Delano & Aldrich, with local architects Sutton, Whitney & Dugan serving as associate architects. Mr. Hewitt was the president of the Hewitt Land Co. and the secretary-treasurer of Hewitt-Lea-Funck Co. (WSHS- negative A654-0)
Houses--Tacoma--1920-1930; Hewitt, John J.--Homes & haunts; Estates--Tacoma;
ca. 1925. In 1922, John E. McGuire, an architect with Sutton, Whitney & Dugan, had this English country cottage constructed for his family from his own design. The home is at 4109 No. 33rd and is built from whitewashed brick. (WSHS)
Houses--Tacoma--1920-1930; McGuire, John E.--Homes & haunts;
ca. 1925. View from front of unidentified house. Drying laundry flaps on the line at the rear of the house. This home was most likely located on the south or east end of Tacoma. (WSHS)
ca. 1925. Looking east on South 11th Street in Downtown Tacoma. Fisher's Department Store on right. Buildings on left, left to right: Rhodes Department Store, Fidelity Building, Washington Building and Tacoma Building. 11th Street Bridge (identified on photo as Lincoln Bridge) in distance. When the bridge was built in 1913, it was christened the Lincoln Bridge in a "name the bridge" contest but the name never stuck. Tacomans just preferred to call it the Eleventh Street Bridge. (filed with Argentum)
Business districts--Tacoma--1920-1930; Fishers Department Store (Tacoma); Rhodes Brothers Department Store (Tacoma); Washington Building (Tacoma); Tacoma Building (Tacoma);
ca. 1925. Looking east on South 11th Street in Downtown Tacoma. Fisher's Department Store on right. Buildings on left, left to right: Rhodes Department Store, Fidelity Building, Washington Building and Tacoma Building. 11th Street Bridge in distance. (filed under Argentum)
Business districts--Tacoma--1920-1930; Fishers Department Store (Tacoma); Rhodes Brothers Department Store (Tacoma); Washington Building (Tacoma); Tacoma Building (Tacoma);
ca. 1925. This home at 2714 No. Junett St. was built in 1921 for Vernetta & Irvin C. Rowland. Mr. Rowland was a partner in Hansen & Rowland. The company handled insurance, loans and surety bonds. The architect of the home was A.J. Russell. The home was built of tapestry brick and Wilkeson sandstone with a terra cotta tile roof. The construction cost was around $10,000. (WSHS)
