Water pipes are being hoisted and laid into a pre-dug, relatively shallow ditch at Camp Lewis on February 7, 1924. The start for a permanent Camp Lewis began with the laying of 10-inch cast-iron pipe from the camp's water supply source, Lake Sequalichew. The cast-iron pipe replaced the wooden pipe initially laid when the camp was first built. G69.1-131 (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 2-17-24, 4-A)

Pipes (Conduits);

On February 7, 1924, the Irvings Imperial Midgets energetically attacked the county's collection of confiscated stills in a free-for-all across the street from the Pierce County Courthouse. They were aided in their efforts by deputy sheriffs and jail trustees. The troupe had been invited by Sheriff Tom Desmond to the annual demolition of liquor stills collected by the county dry squad during the year. The European theatrical troupe was the main attraction for "Midget Week" at the Pantages Theater. The 25-member group, ranging in heights from 33 to 44 inches tall, was making its first visit to the United States and appeared in three shows daily during the week. The vaudeville style group, including two women, entertained crowds with musical comedy, acrobatics, boxing, wrestling, singing and dancing. Mayor Angelo Vance Fawcett presented the troupe with the key to the city. (TNT 2-6-24, p. 8, 2-7-24, p. 8, 2-8-24, p. 9; TDL 2-8-24, p.3-article) G24.1-079 TPL-10063

Dwarfs; Publicity; Irvings Imperial Midgets; Stills (Distilleries);

Circular tank located at Tacoma Gas & Fuel Co. property in the Tideflats on February 14, 1924. Standard Oil Co. plant in the distance. Construction had begun in late 1923 of a new $250,000 plant on 4 1/2 acres on South River Road. The above tank is a 250,000 cubic feet gas tank. The old Tacoma Gas & Fuel plant was to be abandoned next summer upon the connection of mains to the new plant. G35.1-046; TPL-258 (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 10-7-23, 8-E-article; TNT 1-24-24, p. 6-article)

Tacoma Gas & Fuel Co. (Tacoma); Fuel tanks; Storage tanks--Tacoma;

On February 19, 1924, this giant 40-foot log was successfully loaded onto a Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railroad freight car by employees of the St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. The log, measuring 72 inches in diameter, would be a prime exhibit when shown in the East and Midwest the following summer. The sheer size of the log would remind viewers that lumber from Tacoma mills came from logs similar to the one displayed. TPL-2375; G44.1-093

Lumber industry--Tacoma--1920-1930; Logs; St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. (Tacoma); Railroad freight cars--Tacoma; Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad Co. (Tacoma);

Bare branches of a 30-foot weeping willow are silhouetted against gray February skies in the winter of 1924. The tree, located at 1115 North Oakes St., is related to a tree growing at the tomb of George Washington in Mount Vernon. The original tree at Washington's burial site is said to be grown from a cutting from a willow found near Napolean's grave at St. Helena. 1115 North Oakes was the home of Mrs. Ada Metsker. G60.1-122; G58.1-054 (TNT 2-22-24, p. 9)

Metsker, Ada--Homes & haunts; Willows--Tacoma; Trees--Tacoma;

Almost 1,000 individuals gathered to see the cornerstone laying ceremony on February 22, 1924 at Jones Hall, the first building to be constructed on the new campus of the College of Puget Sound at 1500 No. Warner St. At this time the college was located at 602 No. Sprague Ave. (now the site of Jason Lee Middle School.) To the extreme left is philanthropist Franke M. Tobey Jones, who was the donor of the building. It was dedicated to her late husband Charles H. Jones, one of the founders of the St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. To the left of the flag is D.D. Brown, presiding Elder at the time the first cornerstone was laid at the college's original location, and to the right is Dr.(Rev.) David G. LeSourd, one of the college's trustees and original planners. (TNT 2/23/1924, pg. 3) G67.1-035

College of Puget Sound (Tacoma); Jones Hall (Tacoma); Universities & colleges--Tacoma--1920-1930; Cornerstone laying--Tacoma--1920-1930; Jones, Franke M. Tobey; LeSourd, David G.; Brown, D.D.;

The cast of the Stadium High School opera, the "Sultan of Sulu," on stage. The opera, an annual presentation at Stadium High School, was the largest and according to the school yearbook "Tahoma," the "most important musical event of the year." In 1924, the musical comedy production of the "Sultan of Sulu" ran three nights from March 13-15, in order to accommodate the always large crowds. Although there was officially no leading role, good notices were received by Kearney Walton who played Kiram the Sultan and foreshadowing later roles in Hollywood, Herman Brix as Col. Jefferson Budd. After graduation, Herman Brix would become an Olympian and actor, later known as Bruce Bennett. (1924 Tahoma, p. 164-67) G64.1-073

Stadium High School (Tacoma)--1920-1930; Students--Tacoma--1920-1930; Actors--Tacoma--1920-1930; Operas & operettas--Tacoma--1920-1930; Walton, Kearney; Brix, Herman;

Exterior view of the Water Power Furniture Manufacturing Co., located on Steilacoom Lake, as pictured in March of 1924. The plant was situated on what is approximately 8700 Edgewater Dr. S.W., Lakewood. The firm was listed in the 1917-22 City Directories but not in the following 1923 or 1924 years. Edward C. Hill, president of the manufacturing company, had apparently moved on to the South Tacoma Mill Co. as its secretary/treasurer, per the 1923 City Directory. TPL-2700; G35.1-004

Water Power Furniture Co. (Lakewood); Furniture industry--Lakewood;

Water Power Furniture Manufacturing Co. Situated on the banks of Steilacoom Lake was the Water Power Furniture Manufacturing Co. facility per this March, 1924, photograph. Its approximate address was 8700 Edgewater Dr. S.W., Lakewood. G35.1-012

Water Power Furniture Co. (Lakewood); Furniture industry--Lakewood; Lake Steilacoom (Wash.);

Piles of logs waiting to be removed via railroad flatcars from a West Fork Logging Co. site in March of 1924. G75.1-088

Logs; West Fork Logging Co.;

Logging operations in the woods, in the Seabeck, Washington, area. West Fork Logging Co. apparatus on railroad tracks photographed on March 23, 1924. L.T. Murray was the president of the firm. Mr. Murray would move his logging operation to Lewis County in 1927. G75.1-089 (Additional information provided by a reader)

West Fork Logging Co.; Lumber industry--1920-1930;

On March 23, 1924, West Fork Logging Co. employees posed near the company's steam donkey on a sled. The donkeys were a replacement for the horse and oxen power formerly used to pull logs from the woods. This photograph was probably taken in logging areas near Seabeck where the company was then based. Logging operation would move to Lewis County three years later. G75.1-033 (for an earlier view of a steam donkey, see B2726) (Additional information provided by a reader)

West Fork Logging Co.; Lumber industry--1920-1930; Steam donkeys; Donkey engines;

Diving for the wrecked ship, "Rubaiyat." Diver Walter McCray prepares to resume the raising of the "Rubaiyat." After several unsuccessful attempts, raising of the sunken freighter "Rubaiyat" was once more underway in March of 1924. The ship had sunk the previous September when she capsized on an outbound journey from Commencement Bay. Diver Walter McCray and Foss Launch & Tug had tried before to haul the ship from the deep bay waters but she had become tangled with the sunken piling from the old 11th St. Bridge. Efforts to raise the ship were futile as cables slipped from the hull and the ship sank back into 378 feet of water. Attempts to raise the "Rubaiyat" halted at the end of November, 1923, until the following March. Drawing the attention of many interested Tacomans, the recovery process finally culminated in the raising of the "Rubaiyat," beaching her, and later successfully floating her to the Western Boat plant on the Wapato Waterway on March 25, 1924. Diver McCray and Fred Berg of Foss Launch & Tug had received title to the wreckage and were prepared to sell her "as is." They were instrumental in completing the deepest salvaging operation to date carried out on the Pacific Coast with the lifting of the "Rubaiyat" from depths of nearly 380 feet with 140 tons of freight aboard. (TDL 10-29-23, p. 1-article; TDL 11-1-23, p. 1-article; TDL 11-6-23, p. 1-article; TDL 12-1-23, p. 1-article; TNT 3-18-24, p. 16-article; TNT 3-21-24, p. 21-article; TNT 3-24-24, p. 9-article; TDL 3-24-24, p. 1-article; TNT 3-25-24, p 16-article; TDL 3-25-24, p. 10-article) G49.1-018

Diving suits--1920-1930; Ships--Tacoma--1920-1930; McCray, Walter;

Damage caused by the overflowing Puyallup River occurred in Tacoma's industrial Tideflats area in March of 1924. This is the section of the Tideflats between 11th St. and Lincoln Avenue. G77.1-126

Floods--Tacoma;

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

Residential streets--Tacoma--1920-1930; Lampposts--Tacoma;

Hotel dishes. Three rows of hotel dishes on display in April of 1924 with each item labeled. These dishes were apparently used for hotel dining and included mustard pots, Rocaille jugs, Saxon bowls and Hall Boy jugs. Photograph ordered by Hunt & Mottet. G35.1-031

Tableware;

The newly formed Browns Point volunteer fire department tried out their new equipment on one of the Point cottages on March 15, 1925. Their equipment included two portable hose reels, 1,000 feet of 2 1/2 inch double-jacketed hose, two portable chemical tanks and a motor driven siren. Water was available through six hydrants placed at convenient locations in the city. The volunteer fire department included Chief Oscar Brown, Allie Hoska, Fred Schenck, Ed McClure, Jerry Meeker, Will Burrows, Vic Bjorklund, Rolla Gilman, Clint Hull, Bill Wharton, Fred Allstrum, Bob Gleason Jr., Andy Wingard and Bob Gleason Sr. (TNT 3/17/1925, pg. 22) Boland-A7134, TPL-705

Fire fighters--Browns Point; Firefighting equipment--Browns Point;

ca. 1928. Unidentified man with his 1928 Buick in front of Seymour Conservatory at Wright Park. Vehicle has Pennsylvania plates and also displays California and Oregon non-resident windshield stickers. Blossoms and other foliage are visible through the conservatory's large windows. The Victorian style glass conservatory, opened in 1908, was a gift to the people of Tacoma from Tacoma businessman William W. Seymour. TPL-5720, BU-12737

Seymour Conservatory (Tacoma); Greenhouses--Tacoma--1920-1930; Wright Park (Tacoma); Buick automobile;

Three actors from the Mountaineer Players troupe peer at the camera on June 9, 1928, during the production of "Robin of Sherwood." Performances of the play were located in the Forest Theatre, set in a natural amphitheater located seven miles west of downtown Bremerton, and part of the 21-acre Kitsap Cabin property. This would be the second time "Robin of Sherwood" had been selected as the Mountaineer Players' annual spring show, the first was in 1923. (www.foresttheater.com/players/players.html)

Mountaineer Players (Kitsap County); Actors--Kitsap County; Actresses; Open-air theaters--Kitsap County; Open-air theatrical productions--Kitsap County;

Maid Marian modestly accepts the courtly bow of an admiring man in this June 9, 1928, production of "Robin of Sherwood." Smilingly, he has doffed his plumed hat. "Robin of Sherwood" was a production of the Mountaineer Players, a division of the Mountaineers Club, set in a natural amphitheater designed by William C. Darling and located near Bremerton. The site, located on 21 acres called the Kitsap Cabin, is owned and maintained by the Mountaineers Club. The Mountaineer Players have presented a spring show since 1923, with the exception of the war years 1943-1946, with the first production being "Robin of Sherwood."

Actors--Kitsap County; Actresses; Mountaineer Players (Kitsap County); Kitsap Cabin (Kitsap County); Open-air theaters--Kitsap County; Open-air theatrical productions--Kitsap County; Bowing;

Second "Robin of Sherwood" production. Actors portraying Maid Marian and a dashing royal pose in the outdoor Forest Theatre near Bremerton on June 9, 1928. Each year the Mountaineer Players, a division of the non-profit Mountaineers Club of Seattle, would produce an annual spring show. The first rehearsed play was in 1923 and was the first production of "Robin of Sherwood." Set in a natural amphitheater, plays utilize the forest as walls and the earth as foundation. (www.foresttheater.com/theater/theater.html www.foresttheater.com/players/players..html)

Mountaineer Players (Kitsap County); Actors--Kitsap County; Actresses; Open-air theaters--Kitsap County; Open-air theatrical productions--Kitsap County;

Gig Harbor's Empress Theater, with its unusual "Moorish" architectural style, opened April 12, 1925, with the silent film "Miss Bluebeard" starring Bebe Daniels and Raymond Griffith. Contractor, and later architect, Gaston Lance designed the building which had a capacity of 450. Renamed the Blue Eagle, the theater closed in 1955, and was demolished a few years later. B12219, BU-10013, TPL-3843

Motion picture theaters--Gig Harbor; Empress Theatre (Gig Harbor);

Club house for the Fircrest Golf Club. The Golf Club was incorporated in May of 1923 and opened its clubhouse about a year later. It sits on 160 acres in Fircrest and is a private club. TPL-7077

Fircrest Golf Club (Fircrest); Golf--Fircrest--1920-1930;

Barns at Western State Hospital. The hospital opened in 1871 in buildings that formerly were used as Fort Steilacoom. In 1886, the hospital was officially recognized as the "Western Washington Hospital for the Insane," shortened to Western State in 1915. The hospital maintained both a farm and animals almost from the beginning. Much of the labor was supplied by patients, in return the farm supplied most of the food used by the hospital. The farm closed in 1959. TPL-7079

Barns--Lakewood--1920-1930; Western State Hospital (Lakewood); Mental institutions--Lakewood--1920-1930;

8A Class - Sheridan School. On January 19, 1925, the 8A class of Sheridan School posed for what was probably the class graduation picture. Its teacher and/or school principal are also included. Sheridan (Elementary) School was located at 5317 McKinley Ave. The school, which had been built in 1908 to replace an older building, was named in honor of Civil War General Philip H. Sheridan.

School children--Tacoma--1920-1930; Public schools--Tacoma--1920-1930; Sheridan School (Tacoma);

Side view of Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad Co. locomotive #9505 showing wheels. Photograph was taken on January 23, 1925. G44.1-043

Railroad locomotives; Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad Co.;

View of electric furnace. This Westrite Electric Furnace was manufactured by Western Foundry & Furnace Co., 3002 South Chandler St. The company had begun shipping their furnaces to Asia in late 1924 as well as selling them locally. G35.1-066

Furnaces--Tacoma--1920-1930; Western Foundry & Furnace Co. (Tacoma);

Raynor Chapel. This is an interior view of Raynor Chapel at Annie Wright Seminary in March of 1925. A narrow wood pathway leads between the rows of wooden pews to the alcove containing the altar with stained glass window above. An open beamed ceiling accentuates the heavy use of wood inside the chapel. Raynor Chapel was erected in honor of Mrs. Amanda Raynor, vice-president of the school for many years. Jesse Thomas donated the stained glass window in memory of his wife. The Tacoma Rotary Club presented the school with the altar as a gift. (See A1034, image 1, for additional view of the chapel's interior)

Private schools--Tacoma--1920-1930; Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1920-1930; Raynor Chapel (Tacoma);

Three unidentified brunettes model the latest in fashions at the Feist & Bachrach clothing store in March of 1925. They are all wearing marcelled hairdos, cut short with deep waves, and long sleeved dresses ending at calf-length. Styles of the day avoided a defining waistline and instead presented an elongated appearance.

Fashion models--Tacoma--1920-1930; Women--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1920-1930; Hairstyles--Tacoma--1920-1930; Feist & Bachrach (Tacoma);

Winthrop Hotel. The 2 million dollar+ Winthrop Hotel was nearing completion by the end of March, 1925. Exterior work was finished in January of 1925 and hotel furnishings under way. It would have its much anticipated grand opening celebration in May.

Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Hotels--Tacoma--1920-1930;