The new home of the Model Bakery was nearing completion in the spring of 1919. The south end bakery had started as a one man shop less than 5 years earlier. Gus Westerdale had manned the oven at the small bakery at 760 So. 38th Street, while his wife Thora made the deliveries. Their new large two story brick structure at 3802 Yakima Ave. So. was designed by Mahon and Lundberg, architects, and furnished with all the latest in modern equipment. It employed a work force of 16 and had three delivery trucks. They could turn out 20,000 loaves of bread, 465 dozen donuts, 300 dozen rolls and 250 cakes in a week. The building has since been demolished. BU-11089 (TDL 10/19/1919, pg. B-5)
Model Bakery (Tacoma); Bakeries--Tacoma--1910-1920; Building construction--Tacoma--1910-1920;
Although photographer Marvin Boland's notes stated that this was the United States "Marine" Band posed on the lawn of the Hotel Tacoma on July 24, 1919, it is believed that this was actually the United States Navy Recruiting Band or The Great Lakes Band. They were there to play for the Tacoma Rotary Club for a luncheon held at the ivy-covered south end of the porch. The United States Navy Recruiting Band would perform later that evening in the Stadium Bowl along with Metropolitan Opera's prima donna Marie Rappold. G71.1-034 (TDL 7-24-19, p. 3 (ad); TNT 7-24-19, p. 1-articles on concert)
Tacoma Hotel (Tacoma); Military bands--United States;
In July of 1919, horses were being used to excavate the foundation of the Western Rubber Company factory at 6200 South Tacoma Way. The foundation would be 260 x 80 feet and to save money, the sand and gravel from the excavation would be used in the concrete work. The building was designed by E.J. Bresemann, who was also serving as contractor. The plan was to finish the building and have it occupied in 90 days. It would be ready to turn out tires by the beginning of the year. The tire manufacturer would become one of Tacoma's biggest industries. It produced new tires and tubes. Abundant water and electricity at reasonable prices were factors in its location in Tacoma. (TDL 7/27/1919, pg. B-5-article & alt. photograph) TPL-1896, BU-12489
Western Rubber Co. (Tacoma); Excavation--Tacoma--1910-1920; Horses--Tacoma;
Edward C. Hill, an officer of the South Tacoma Mill, was president of the Water Power Furniture Co. on Steilacoom Lake, listed in the Tacoma City Directory from 1917 through 1922. The furniture factory was located at Custer Station, now Lakewood, at approximately 8700 Edgewater Drive S.W. An elevated walkway connected the two buildings on the property. It is believed to have occupied the site previously used by the Coops Piano Company. J. Carr was the General Manager of Water Power Furniture for the early years. By 1922, the company also listed J.M. Smith, W.C. Miller and A.H. Fischer as officers. G35.1-013
Water Power Furniture Co. (Lakewood); Furniture industry--Lakewood;
A clever advertising stunt by the Auto Delivery Co. spelled out the word "Service" using one letter per delivery truck lined up in a row in mid-August of 1919. According to the 1920 City Directory, transfer and storage along with long distance hauling were the company's specialties. The firm was located at 722 Commerce St. The trucks were probably participating in the "Ship by Truck" parade of 500+ trucks held on Saturday, August 16, 1919. Nearly every truck offered for sale in Tacoma was represented in the parade that rolled through Tacoma's downtown business district. The day of the horse and cart was just about over and truck and tire companies were eager to show the public the benefits of this improved means of transportation. G66.2-129 (TDL 8-14-19, p. 2-article on parade)
Auto Delivery Co. (Tacoma); Moving & storage trade--Tacoma--1910-1920; Trucks--Tacoma--1910-1920;
Additional view of the Water Power Furniture Co. on Steilacoom Lake circa August of 1919. A wooden ladder dangles from the fifth floor of the plant to possibly serve as a fire escape in lieu of actual stairs. Edward C. Hill was listed as the president of the firm in the 1920 City Directory. See Boland B2187 for alternate view of company site including additional building. G21.1-159
Water Power Furniture Co. (Lakewood); Furniture industry--Lakewood;
Seven Tacoma Inter-city Auto Freight Co. delivery trucks and their drivers lined up in downtown Tacoma in August of 1919. The company's motto was apparently "You Need It (Service) We Give It." The freight company's address was listed as 2312 A Street in the 1919 telephone book. In the background of this photograph are the F.S. Harmon furniture company and Hunt & Mottet hardware and sporting goods store. G66.2-131
Long shot of the Puget Hotel and its landscaped grounds, circa August of 1919, in Port Gamble. The hotel was designed by Seattle architects Bebb & Mendel. Port Gamble is located in Kitsap County on a bay of the same name, about 35 miles from Seattle. The town rises on a bluff above the Puget Mill, later the Port Gamble mill of Pope & Talbot, Inc. The entire town was owned by the mill, including the hotel and the church. It is one of the only surviving examples of a 19th century company town. In 1966, the entire town was designated as a National Historic site. G73.1-041
Members of the community gathered on August 5, 1919, at the north end of Wright Park to listen to the first public children's "sing." 200 children had practiced for three months under the direction of Mrs. Zoe Pearl Park. Among the 2000 people in attendance were members of the military and undoubtedly proud parents and grandparents of the chorus. They would happily join in singing with the children some of the day's popular tunes. (TNT 8-6-19, p. 15; TDL 8-6-19, p. 1-article) G41.1-127A; TPL-939
Wright Park (Tacoma); Audiences--Tacoma--1910-1920; Concerts--Tacoma--1910-1920;
Concert at Wright Park. View of the many spectators watching children's concert; large flag hanging on line before the children. The first public children's "sing" was held on August 5, 1919, in Wright Park. It was enjoyed by about 2000 people who packed the north end of the park. The program was arranged and directed by Mrs. Zoe Pearl Park who had rehearsed the children for three months. Edward Benedict's "Tacoma, We're Proud of You" and "Keep the Home Fires Burning" were two popular numbers performed that evening. The large crowd pictured above also joined in singing the chorus of some of the songs. (TNT 8-6-19, p. 15) G41.1-127B, TPL-1463
Wright Park (Tacoma); Audiences--Tacoma--1910-1920; Concerts--Tacoma--1910-1920;
On a hot summer evening in August of 1919, a visitor to Tacoma could stand at the intersection of Pacific Avenue and 9th, looking north, and see the names of two of the city's hotels and a theater light up the sky in electric signs suspended over the street. On the left is the Hotel Donnelly, 742-50 Pacific Ave. The hotel was built in 1887 and leased to John Donnelly, who gave it his name, ten years later. It was demolished in 1925 to make way for the Motoramp Garage. On the right is the Hippodrome Theater at 821-23 Pacific Ave., an office building at 819 Pacific and the Olympus Hotel at 815-17 Pacific. In 1978, the Olympus was converted to apartments. Pedestrians who became weary from walking could hire a taxi at the corner stand or catch a ride the Pacific Avenue streetcar. TPL-4446, BU-13429, Boland-B2166
Hotel Donnelly (Tacoma); Hotels--Tacoma--1910-1920; Street railroads--Tacoma--1910-1920; Streets--Tacoma--1910-1920; City & town life--Tacoma--1910-1920; Hippodrome Building (Tacoma); Olympus Hotel (Tacoma);
Waiting for the "Ship by Truck" parade to begin on August 16, 1919, was this float composed of a (now rare) Cole Eight automobile being carried on a Bethlehem truck. The truck was furnished by Wever Motor Car Co., 725 Broadway, and had a large flag draped over its hood. Wever Motor also sold new Coles. Tacoma truck dealers would be participating in the nationwide campaign fathered by Firestone Tire & Rubber Co. called "Ship by Truck," promoting the various uses of motor trucks in shipping and hauling. A grand parade involving some 500 trucks was held on Saturday, August 16th. Nearly every truck offered for sale in Tacoma was represented in the parade that traveled through Tacoma's business streets. G11.1-007 (TDL 8-14-19, p. 2-article; TDL 8-15-19, p. 2-article)
View down a peaceful tree-lined road. There was no traffic of any kind in sight on this August, 1919, day. Wood framed houses behind picket fences on the right; wagon in tall grass outside fenced yard on left. Street may be either dirt or gravel. Sidewalk on the right is made of wood, not concrete. TPL-7169; G57.1-003
An early logging truck, used by Wilson Logging Co. to bring in logs, was photographed in August of 1919. The early motor trucks offered an economical alternative to railway logging. Despite the cost of constructing roads, the trucks were a cheaper, faster and more practical way to move the logs. They were a common sight by the 1920s. They usually were underpowered, had an open cab and hard rubber tires, but they could go places that locomotives could not. There was a C.C. (Chan) Wilson Lumber Co. located in Hudson, just west of Rainier, Oregon. G75.1-032 (website for the Museum at Campbell River www.crmuseum.ca\exhibits)
Although motorized logging trucks were becoming more common in the lumber industry, horses were still being used in August of 1919. A pair of horses are pictured above at an unidentified sawmill waiting patiently as planks are being loaded onto an open cart. Photograph ordered by the Wilson Logging Co. TPL-6636 G36.1-052
Side view of logging equipment on wheels belonging to the Wilson Logging Co. Photograph taken at unidentified location on August 23, 1919. TPL-9852 ; G36.1-032
In August of 1919, a steam donkey mounted on a sled was photographed loaded on a truck for ease in transport to a logging site. Only the sled itself, built from huge logs, is clearly visible. The cable and winch on the donkey could be used to help load and unload it from the truck. This photograph was ordered by the Wilson Logging Co. There was a C.C. (Chan) Wilson Lumber Co. located in Hudson, just west of Rainier, Oregon. G75.1-082
1919 Labor Day parade. Five uniformed motorcycle policemen lead the 1919 Labor Day parade down Pacific Avenue before waiting crowds. Grand marshal of the parade, Charles Richmond, secretary of the Building Trades Council, rode on horseback. Bands and marching units follow. Streetcars move along adjacent to the parade activity. Businesses along this stretch of Pacific were thickly bundled together including banks, hotels, dentists, and drugstores. G38.1-019
Parades & processions--Tacoma--1910-1920; Business districts--Tacoma--1910-1920; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1910-1920;
More than 6,000 Tacoma union men took part in the Labor Day Parade down Pacific Ave. in September of 1919. The parade of Tacoma organized labor through downtown began at the City Hall, 625 Commerce, and proceeded south on Pacific Ave. Charles Richmond, a labor leader, led the parade as marshall mounted on a horse; he was followed by the Railway Brotherhood, policemen and firemen. Next came this float from the Teamsters, an old-time coach mounted on a horse drawn wagon. It was decorated with a banner reading, "Does the man who delivers your goods belong to the Teamsters Chauffeurs Union #313." Union 313 consisted of Tacoma drivers from many industries. Many union members followed the float carrying American flags. One of the goals of the Labor Day celebration was to reach the $30,000 goal set for the Labor Temple building fund. Labor Temple buttons were being sold to raise the funds. (T. Times 9/1/1919, pg. 1) G38.1-018 TPL-10094
Parades & processions--Tacoma--1910-1920; Labor unions; International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Local 313 (Tacoma); Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1910-1920;
Exterior view of the Hotel St. Helens, Chehalis, taken in September of 1919. The Hotel St. Helens, built in the classical revival style, was located at 440 N. Market Blvd. in Chehalis. It was located next to a Ford garage. The hotel, also known as the St. Helens Inn, was designed and/or built by Charles E. Troutman and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1991. G75.1-002
Hotel St. Helens (Chehalis); Hotels--Chehalis; Business districts--Chehalis; Commercial streets--Chehalis;
The Chehalis City Hall and its Free Public Library (on right) were separated by well-manicured lawns as evidenced in this September, 1919, photograph. Wooden benches were dispersed in the vicinity for the comfort of weary pedestrians. The public library was built in 1910 as a Carnegie building. Later remodeled after the 1949 earthquake, it was demolished in 2007 with completion of a new library expected in the fall of 2008. (www.trlib.org/chehalis.htm) G72.1-074
City Hall (Chehalis); Free Public Library (Chehalis); Public libraries--Chehalis;
Ambassador ready for launching. The motorship "Ambassador" was built for the Chichagof Mining Co. of Alaska in 1919. She was 112-feet long and would be used by the company for transport between Chichagof, Juneau, and Tacoma. In 1924 she would be sold to Alexander & Baldwin Ltd. for service in the Hawaiian coastal trade. The "Ambassador," launched on September 11, 1919, was built by the Tacoma Shipbuilding Co. She was the only boat built by the firm since the cancelling of contracts by the Emergency Fleet Corporation. G37.1-119 (Newell: " Maritime Events of 1924;" T.Times 9-13-19, p. 14-article)
Pre-launching of the vessel "Ambassador," as viewed in September of 1919. She was built for the Chichagof Mining Company of Alaska. The power tender "Ambassador" was launched at 5 p.m. on September 11th from the ways of Tacoma Shipbuilding Co. She would be used in connection with the Chichagof mines in southeastern Alaska. The ship's sponsor was Mrs. W.R. Rust whose husband was one of the principal owners of the mines. G37.1-120 (T.Times 9-13-19, p. 14-article)
View of Market Blvd. in Chehalis, Washington, in September of 1919 which features the elegant Hotel St. Helens in the foreground. The four-story brick hotel was designed and/or built by Charles E. Troutman. Numerous cars are parked outside the hotel and adjacent businesses. G72.1-056
Hotel St. Helens (Chehalis); Hotels--Chehalis; Commercial streets--Chehalis; Business districts--Chehalis;
September 13, 1919, photograph of unidentified road flanked by small shrubs and trees. Rounded railroad crossing sign on right. Thin dark stream extends over width of road. In the distance are railroad crossing posts and there may be a lone individual standing in the roadway between them. G77.1-138
This is how downtown Tacoma and surrounding areas appeared in the fall of 1919. In the foreground are houses and apartments west of Pacific Avenue. A few Tacoma landmarks are clearly visible in the distance: the Puget Sound National Bank building with spire and close to the 11th St. Bridge (now Murray Morgan Bridge), the Tacoma Building and the Perkins Building. Smoke billows from the various industrial plants and lumber mills in the Tideflats across the City (now Thea Foss) Waterway. G8.1-026;
Aerial views; Aerial photographs; Cityscapes; Puget Sound National Bank (Tacoma); Tacoma Building (Tacoma); Perkins Building (Tacoma); 11th Street Bridge (Tacoma);
An open automobile with its two occupants chugs valiantly up the steep "K" Street hill in October of 1919. It was not an uncommon sight to see new vehicles test both the driver's skill and the car's capability on the hill, which headed north from Center Street. Four men stand near the top of the hill to witness the strength of this particular automobile. The unpaved dirt road, hampered by tall grass, was virtually impassable in wet weather. The hill was closed and traffic diverted to South "J" Street circa 1960. Photograph ordered by Pacific Car Co.
The annual Western Washington Fair was a time when communities in the area could display with pride fine examples of produce, sewing, and artwork made and grown locally. Dieringer, Rhodes Lake, Connell's Prairie and Milton products are pictured above in this October, 1919, photograph. The 20th annual Puyallup Fair ran from September 30 to October 5th. G74.1-070
Western Washington Fair (Puyallup); Fairs--Puyallup--1910-1920; Exhibitions--Puyallup--1910-1920; Agricultural exhibits--Puyallup--1910-1920; Signs (Notices);
