Waldren Flying Machine Hoquiam This three-wheeled flying contraption was piloted by a Mr. Waldren in Hoquiam on the 4th of July in 1910. Among those standing near the "flying machine" was John A. ("Jack") Croston, who is believed to be second on the right of the pilot. Mr. Croston operated a garage and Chevrolet agency at 1135 Tacoma Avenue South, across the street from the Tacoma Public Library, during the years 1917-19. Copy of photograph made on February 19, 1928. TPL-2688; G71.1-141

Airplanes--Hoquiam; Croston, John A.;

Although there was no freeway between Tacoma and Seattle in June of 1919 and little actual paved road, Harry Barsamian, shop foreman for Pacific Car Co., managed to drive from the city limits of Tacoma to the city limits of Seattle in 30 minutes, 55 seconds. He was accompanied, not by the unidentified lovely miss in the front seat, but by his mechanic Victor Williams, proprietor of the Metropolitan Garage. Mr. Barsamian's time broke the previously acknowledged record of 34 minutes, 30 seconds. Victor Williams confessed to the Daily Ledger that there was one man too many in the vehicle and he was the one man; he swore never to do it again. Mr. Barsamian reported that there were no problems with the engine during the non-stop run. He declared the new stock Overland 90 Touring Car the "gamest little car in the world." Photograph ordered by the Pacific Car Co. (TDL 6-22-19, 8C) TPL-1522; G11.1-001

Barsamian, Harry; Automobiles--Tacoma--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Tacoma--1910-1920;

On June 19, 1919 racing mechanics Fred Comer (left) and Harry Hartz posed in front of the Tacoma Motor Car Company building at 945 Market with two of the cars entered in the annual July 4th races held at the Tacoma Speedway. At this time in racing, the mechanics both worked on the cars and rode with the drivers during the race. Mechanics were frequently killed along with their drivers in crashes. The car to the left is a Chevrolet Special, in actuality a modified Stutz, built and owned by millionaire sportsman Cliff Durant. The second car is a Durant Special, designed and built by Cliff Durant but owned by veteran racer Eddie Hearne. Cliff Durant was the son of William Durant, who founded General Motors, Chevrolet and Durant Motors. The two cars represented the Chevrolet team in the race. (TDL 6/22/1919, pg. C4-6-picture, 6/21/1919, pg. 8) G52.1-019; TPL-3163 (Additional identification provided by a reader)

Comer, Fred; Hartz, Harry; Racing automobiles--1910-1920; Mechanics (Persons);

Three people, including a young girl, seem dwarfed by the large trees in the national park on Mount Tacoma (Mt. Rainier) in June of 1919. They are standing at the curve of a road. TPL-2167; G76.1-134

National parks & reserves--Washington; Trees--Washington;

Candy shop at the Donnelly Hotel. Customers browsing in the candy shop at the Donnelly Hotel in 1919 had their choice of good chocolates, reading material, and a place to rest weary feet. Small tables with "ice cream parlor" chairs were placed close to racks of magazines such as "Sunset," "Photoplay," "Collier's" and "Modern Priscilla." A fine candy selection of Oriole, Mars, Imperial's and Sweet's could be purchased. John Donnelly had leased the Fife Hotel and transformed it into the Donnelly Hotel in 1898. The hotel would be demolished 27 years later to make way for the Motoramp Garage. G56.1-046

Hotel Donnelly (Tacoma); Hotels--Tacoma--1910-1920; Confectioneries--Tacoma--1910-1920;

Interior of a section of the Tacoma Smelter taken in March of 1919. This was the copper refinery. Copper anodes from the smelter were inserted between copper cathodes in a copper-sulfuric acid bath. Copper was transferred from the anode to the cathode. The two raised frameworks in the photograph's middle were stands for "slapping copper starter sheets" before they were inserted into the bath as cathodes. The American Smelting & Refining Co., better known by its acronym, ASARCO, was a major employer in Ruston for nearly a hundred years. G32.1-023 (Additional information provided by a reader)

American Smelting & Refining Co. (Tacoma); Smelters--Tacoma; Industrial facilities--Tacoma;

Jacona at dock. The 7,600-ton freighter "Jacona" had been launched on November 20, 1918 by Todd Dry Dock & Construction Co. and delivered to her owners on May 9, 1919. Later in 1930 she was converted into a floating power generation station. TPL-1677

Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1910-1920; Cargo ships--Tacoma--1910-1920;

June 23, 1919, "Rose Show at Base Hospital." This room at the Camp Lewis hospital is decorated with greenery and displays of roses. Convalescing soldiers and guests enjoy the bloom-filled setting. Roses of all kinds were sent to the hospital after the 8th annual Rose Show held at the Armory. This ensured that the wounded and recovering soldiers would still be able to enjoy the sight and beautiful scents of the flowers. G70.1-013 (TNT 6-21-19, p. 9-article)

Roses--Camp Lewis; Sick persons; Soldiers--Camp Lewis; Hospitals--Camp Lewis;

Spring Lake, pictured, was located at the heart of one of the area's first suburbs, Regents Park (now Fircrest.) Developed west of Tacoma in 1907 by a group of investors led by the "Amateur Hour" star Major Edward J. Bowes, Regents Park was built on 200 acres with paved roads, its own water system, sewers and an artificial lake at its center. It was a 20 minute ride by streetcar from the commercial district of Tacoma. The two large cement blocks in the front of the lake, empty in 1919, were originally crowned with lions, installed at the time of early development. ("Of Lions & Dreams, Of Men & Realities" an illustrated history of Fircrest, by Osness; Tacoma Sunday Ledger 7-6-19, B-1-photograph) G72.1-110

Real estate development--Fircrest; Lakes & ponds--Fircrest; Regents Park (Fircrest);

At 10 a.m. on a clear July 4th morning in 1919, the most elaborate Independence Day parade in years got underway. Thousands watched the 45 minute spectacle, part of the Northwest Peace Jubilee celebration. In the fourth division, industrial, was this pictured float entered by the Walker Cut Stone Co. of Tacoma. A General Motors 5 ton chassis carried a 6 1/2 block of carved Wilkeson Sandstone. The stone was elaborately carved and designed for the "Temple of Justice" in Olympia, Wa. The float banner stated that 142 carloads were used in the construction of the Temple, at Cherry Lane and 12th Ave. in Olympia, which houses the State Supreme Court. The structure was completed in 1920. The GMC truck was loaned by Mueller-Harkins Motor Co. to Bob Walker, at the wheel of the vehicle. Wilkeson Sandstone is named for the small mountain town of Wilkeson, in the Cascade range, where it is quarried. The 1919 City Directory lists A.J. Griesemer as President, Robert Walker as Sec-treas., and 1008 Puyallup Ave as the location of the office and yard of Walker Cut Stone. (TDL 7/5/1919, pg. 1; TDL 7/13/1919, pg. 6C- picture) G33.1-114, TPL-2244

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1910-1920; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1910-1920; Walker Cut Stone Co. (Tacoma); Holidays--Tacoma--1910-1920; General Motors trucks;

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)

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1910-1920; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1910-1920; Cole automobile; Bethlehem truck;

Log on shute. This log on a shute at an unidentified sawmill was photographed in mid-August of 1919. TPL-8085; G36.1-015

Logs;

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)

Lumber industry--1910-1920; Wilson Logging Co.;

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);

This photograph was taken on October 20, 1919 at a Homecoming celebration in the Castle Hall of the Knights of Pythias Commencement Lodge #7, Tacoma. The upstairs balconies are ringed with men and bear a sign introducing the "Live Wires from Puyallup Lodge No. 4(7?) Knights of Pythias. Spizzerink'tum'." A Spizzerinktum is a person who possesses initiative, vim, vigor and a will to succeed. The downstairs also has a large crowd of men, sitting on the floor, in chairs and standing. The brotherhood was established in 1864, during the Civil War, and is dedicated to a peaceful existence between men. BU-13103 , TPL-9636

Knights of Pythias, Commencement Lodge #7 (Tacoma); Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1910-1920;

Although the Great War was over, in 1919 the Red Cross was still actively supplying entertainment on military bases. On October 29, 1919, they sponsored a masquerade dance for Halloween at Camp Lewis. Although most of the soldiers were in uniform, many of the young women at the dance wore costumes and masks. Camp Lewis was built on 70,000 acres purchased by the citizens of Pierce County and given to the federal government for use as a military base. It was redesignated as a Fort in 1927. G70.1-012

Charitable organizations--Tacoma--1910-1920; Community service--Tacoma--1910-1920; American Red Cross Pierce County Chapter (Tacoma); Camp Lewis (Wash.); Fort Lewis (Wash.); Military camps--Tacoma--1910-1920;

In November of 1919, Marvin Boland photographed this elevated view of the triangular shaped block on the west side of Pacific Avenue bordered by Jefferson and South 17th. In the center of the photograph was the recently constructed Depot Service Station. A small wedge of a brick building was apparently still under construction to the right of the service station. Tires were on sale and Union gasoline could be purchased there. In the right background was the Carlton Hotel, 1552 Jefferson Ave., which was built in 1909. In the upper left corner was the Pacific Storage & Transfer Co., located in the Dougan Block at 1721-25 Jefferson Ave., whose ad in the 1920 City Directory stated that they were distributors of pool cars. Depot Service Station remained at this location, with various changes of ownership and remodeling, until it was demolished around 2002. TPL-244; G8.1-017

Depot Service Station (Tacoma); Automobile service stations--Tacoma--1910-1920; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1910-1920; Carlton Hotel (Tacoma); Pacific Storage & Transfer Co. (Tacoma);

On July 4, 1919, race car driver Eddie Hearne and his mechanic Harry Hartz whizz by in the "Durant Special." The Durant Special was originally built by millionaire sportsman and race car enthusiast Cliff Durant. Durant was also the son of William "Billy" Durant, founder of General Motors, Chevrolet and Durant Motors. The Special was now owned by driver Hearne. Hearne was a familiar face in Tacoma. He came in second in the 80 mile race and third in the 60 mile race, winning a purse of $2,100. Mechanic Hartz was one of the few who went on to become a driver and later a car owner. He ranks fifth on the all time winner's list for board tracks, above former boss Hearne. G51.1-090 (TDL 7/5/1919, pg. 1; Dick Ralstin's Racing Home Page)

Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Hearne, Eddie; Hartz, Harry;

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;

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

Logging industry--1910-1920; Wilson Logging Co.;

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;

One of the special attractions of the 20th annual Western Washington Fair in Puyallup was the arrival on October 2nd, 1919 of a two seater, passenger carrying airplane from Victoria, B.C. Canadian ace pilot Lt. W.H. Brown made the flight in a miraculous 1 hour and 15 minutes, dropping 100 season passes and leaflets on the way. On October 4th, fare paying passengers donned goggles and a fur trimmed cap to take to the air for 15 minute flights; swooping, circling and passing as low as 75 feet over the grandstands. Here spectators stare open mouthed as the plane (out of the picture frame) buzzes the grandstand. Pilot Brown flew lower than any aviator in the West. The 1919 fair ran from September 30- October 5th and was an outstanding success. (TDL 10/5/1919, pg. A-12) G74.1-087, TPL-6346

Fairs--Puyallup--1910-1920; Western Washington Fair (Puyallup); Spectators--Puyallup; Grandstands--Puyallup;

Informal portrait of an intense Louis Chevrolet. He was in Tacoma to race in the July 4, 1919, races held at the Tacoma Speedway. He was the overall winner that day, winning two of the three events. Chevrolet, one of the best known names in automobile history, first belonged to this mechanical genius Louis Chevrolet. Born in Switzerland on Christmas Day, 1878, the son of a watchmaker, Chevrolet enjoyed taking things apart to see how they worked, but not sitting in a classroom. He left school early to become a bicycle mechanic and later a racer of bicycles. Once he discovered automobiles, there was no turning back. He left his home in 1900, at the age of 21, for North America. He began racing in 1905 and by 1907 had caught the attention of W.C. Durant, the father of General Motors, who hired him to design and race for his Buick racing team. Chevrolet was the head of a racing family of three brothers, the other two being Gaston and Arthur. Louis is credited with 27 major event racing wins in his career. In 1911, Durant traded on the fame of the Chevrolet name to form Chevrolet Motors, competing with Ford in the moderate price market, with Louis Chevrolet as head designer. Chevrolet soon left due to artistic differences and formed his own company, Frontenac Motors. After the financial failure of Frontenac, he designed race cars for Monroe Motor Co., designing the Indy 500 winner in both 1920 and 21. After cars, he branched out into airplane design without great business success. He died in 1941, at the age of 63, having never achieved the financial success that he deserved. His fame lives on in the Chevrolet automobile name. G52.1-031; TPL-3173

Chevrolet, Louis; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Racing automobile drivers;

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;

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)

Launchings--Tacoma--1910-1920; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1910-1920; Tacoma Shipbuilding Co. (Tacoma);

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

Railroad crossings; Roads--Washington;

This large, substantial home was located in Regents Park (now Fircrest) in 1919. Regents Park was one of the area's first suburbs, developed west of Tacoma in 1907 by investors including Major Edward J. Bowes. Streets were paved, sewers constructed, and the community had its own water system . Residents could travel by streetcar to downtown Tacoma in only 20 minutes. This big two story house with attic and possible basement was located on a corner lot with young trees; its owner at the time was not identified.

Real estate development--Fircrest; Houses--Fircrest--1910-1920; Regents Park (Fircrest);

ca. 1919. Driver Louis Chevrolet and his "mechanician" aboard his Frontenac race car circa 1919. The car is parked on a brick roadway. Louis Chevrolet, affectionately known as "Grandpa" due to his senior status in the racing world, would come to Tacoma to compete in the special five-car, one-day-only set of three races at the Tacoma Speedway on July 4th of 1919. Well known racers Dario Resta, Eddie Hearne, Cliff Durant, Ralph Mulford and Louis Chevrolet were in the mix for the $15,000 purse and championship points. The Frontenacs driven by Ralph Mulford and Mr. Chevrolet took first place in all three races, the 40, 60 and 80 mile events. Louis Chevrolet won the 60 and 80 mile races with average mph of 98.5 and 97.2 respectively. TPL-102; G51.1-124

Chevrolet, Louis; Frontenac automobile; Automobile racing drivers;

A visitor to Tacoma in 1919 could stand downtown on Pacific Avenue near 8th St., looking south and view this bustling scene. Pedestrians present a blurred image through the camera as they hustle across Pacific, pictured with its streetcar tracks running down the center of the street. Some automobiles maneuver down the street, while others wait parked for their drivers to return. On the left, front to back, are the Hotel Olympus (815-17 Pacific Ave.), an office building at 819 containing the offices of the Tacoma Times and the Hippodrome (821-23.) On the right, front to back, are the Havana Inn storefront and its delivery vehicle in front, Hotel Waldorf (a rooming house at 728 Pacific), Bowie and Love (electric supplies at 732), Hotel Revere (rooms to let above 732), Moose Candy & Confectionary and the Hotel Donnelly and Donnelly Cafe. G61.1-024, TPL-5769

Hotel Donnelly (Tacoma); Hotels--Tacoma--1910-1920; City & town life--Tacoma--1910-1920; Hippodrome Building (Tacoma); Olympus Hotel (Tacoma); Business districts--Tacoma--1910-1920; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1910-1920;