At 11:10 in the evening of November 28, 1894, a landslide collapsed the Northern Pacific Railway's Dock, carrying the company's warehouse, freight office, pump house, and the home of H.H. Alger into the waters of Commencement Bay. Two lives were lost in the disaster. In the daylight of the following day, people flocked to see the area's devastation and the previously inhabited area now covered with water.When the land stopped sliding, it was estimated that the Bay now covered 20 acres of previously inhabited land with 60 feet of water. The slide was attributed to a washing out of quicksand beneath the filled-in earth. (Hunt: "History of Tacoma" vol. 2, pg. 170-171) see also Series G27.1 images 097, 099 and 100.

Landslides--Tacoma--1890-1900; Disasters--Tacoma--1890-1900; Northern Pacific Railway Co. (Tacoma);

ca. 1895. This is the Foss boathouse below the old 11th St. Bridge circa 1895 with the elegant Tacoma Hotel (at upper right) overlooking the City (now Thea Foss) Waterway. An array of rowboats, some with small children as oarsmen, are clustered on the waterway. A number of people are gathered on the boathouse with at least some of them believed to be members of the Foss family. The Foss boathouse was the first in Tacoma with folks renting rowboats from five to ten cents a day. From these humble beginnings sprang Foss Launch & Tug Co., one of the largest firms of its kind on the Pacific Coast. (copy of original) Bi-Centennial Project # 75346-48

Foss Launch & Tug Co. (Tacoma); Rowboats; Boathouses--Tacoma--1890-1900; Tacoma Hotel (Tacoma); City Waterway (Tacoma);

Tweedsdale. Four masted iron barque 'Tweedsdale', 1460 tons, under sail iron 4 mast barque, 1460 tons, ON76767, 244.4 x 37.4 x 22.6. Built 1877 (4) Barclay, Curle and Co. Glasgow. Owners: J&A Roxburgh, registered Glasgow, later Hatfield, Cameron and Co. Said to have been the first iron hulled sailing ship [and also the smallest ever built] rigged as a four mast barque. (State Library of South Australia, B 3456, PRG 1218/3 or OH 456/1, Digital Collections, South Australiana Collection, Photographs, A. D. Edwardes Collection, https://collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/resource/PRG+1373/18/43)

Sailing ships;

ca. 1895. This circa 1895 photograph was taken in front of the Pacific Avenue Feed Mill, 2136-38 Pacific Avenue. A team of six horses pulling a fully loaded delivery wagon will shortly be on its way to deliver bales of hay to various establishments. A single rider is accompanying the delivery wagon and drivers. The Pacific Avenue Feed Mill was operated by John W. Garvin with several partners between 1894 and 1900. The partners included Byron A. Robinson in 1894 and Frank H. Chandler in 1895.

Pacific Avenue Feed Mill (Tacoma); Mills--Tacoma; Feed stores--Tacoma; Horses--Tacoma--1890-1900; Carts & wagons--Tacoma--1890-1900;

ca. 1895. Teacher, Miss Rice, and students on the steps of "old" Franklin School circa 1895. The original Franklin (Elementary) School was built in 1889 and named after the famous American inventor and statesman, Benjamin Franklin. The school started out with two teachers but rapidly growing enrollment added more faculty and necessitated the construction of a two-story addition in 1896. A new building replaced the old one in 1910 to handle overcrowding and the old building was sold for $250. Further additions were made in 1914 and 1953 but the school finally was demolished in September of 1997. A new Franklin School has been located at 1402 South Lawrence since 1998. (Olsen, For the Record, p. 59-article)

Franklin School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1890-1900; School children--Tacoma--1890-1900; Teachers--Tacoma--1890-1900;

ca. 1895. Arbor House, 4854 So. Washington St. G30.1-074 TPL-2819

Charles Evans, as Leif Eriksson, commanded a boatful of stern looking Norsemen, armed with swords and shields, who were "Bound for Wineland" on May 17, 1895. Tacoma's Scandinavians celebrated the 81st anniversary of Norwegian Constitution Day with a small parade, outdoor concerts and picnic games. Fireworks and dancing capped the activity-filled day. This photograph was probably taken between So. 13th and So. 15th on Tacoma Avenue. (Tacoma Morning Union, 5-18-1895, p. 4)

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1890-1900; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma;

ca. 1896. A woman believed to be Grace R. Moore and accompanied by a large dog, was photographed while reading in the law offices of her husband, Henry K. Moore, circa 1896. Grace R. Moore and several acquaintances formed a reading circle to share their love of books. This led to the formation of the Mercantile Library, the Tacoma area's first circulating library, which was initially housed in the Moore's home where Mrs. Moore served as librarian. The growing membership made it necessary to relocate the library to a more central location. The new site was the outer room of the law office of Mrs. Moore's husband in the Washington Bldg. where his stenographer helped give out books. Eventually, the Mercantile Library's collection was donated to the City of Tacoma and it became a new organization known as the Tacoma Public Library. A branch library named in honor of Mrs. Moore opened in June, 1950, on So. 56th St. near Pacific Ave. G7.1-001 (Bonney: "History of the Tacoma Public Library," History of Pierce County)

Books; Libraries--Tacoma; Public libraries--Tacoma; Dogs--Tacoma--1890-1900; Law offices--Tacoma;

ca. 1896. A view of Tacoma's Bicycle Bridge, also known as the Galliher Gulch bridge; for more than 25 years, the "longest, highest and only exclusive" bicycle bridge in the world. The bridge was built in 1896 by the Tacoma Wheelmen's Bicycle Club from funds raised by the sale of bicycle licenses. It was located near Holy Rosary Church and connected Delin St. with the paths leading to the Hood St. reservoir. With the bridge over the gulch, cyclists could bike undisturbed all the way from Tacoma's Eastside to South Tacoma. (TNT 9/5/1922; TNT 4-7-1953, E-4-alt. photo)

Bicycles & tricycles--1890-1900; Cyclists--1890-1900; Cycling--Tacoma; Bridges--Tacoma; Bicycle Bridge (Tacoma);

ca. 1896. A two-masted sailing ship is docked on Tacoma's waterfront circa 1896 at the Northern Pacific Railroad's Ocean Freight warehouse to take on cargo. In the background to the left is the Crescent Creamery at what is now 100 Schuster Parkway. The creamery was built in 1890 and demolished about 1920.

Shipping--Tacoma--1890-1900; Sailing ships--Tacoma--1890-1900; Warehouses--Tacoma--1890-1900; Crescent Creamery (Tacoma); Waterfronts--Tacoma--1890-1900;

ca. 1896. Eureka Dock shortly after it was built by the Tacoma Land Co. Smaller building to the left in the photo is the original Commercial Dock Company Freight Warehouse. The Eureka Dock was leased to the Tacoma Warehouse & Elevator Co. whose manager, A.M. Ingersoll, gave it its name which also included the wharves. The 400-ft. long by 130-ft. wide warehouse was capable of holding from 8,000-10,000 tons of grain. It was turned over to the lessee on January 13, 1896, and initially was used to store freight. The wharves were rented for boat dockage. (TDL 1-8-1896, p. 5-article; TDL 1-14-1896, p. 8-article)

Eureka Dock (Tacoma); Piers & wharves--Tacoma--1890-1900; Warehouses--Tacoma--1890-1900; Commercial Dock Co. Freight Warehouse (Tacoma);

ca. 1898. Johnson Nickeus, Mayor of Tacoma 1898 and 1899. Mr. Nickeus came to Washington around 1892, an already elderly man seeking milder weather. He brought with him the experience garnered in his long political and legal career; having served from 1883-86 in the Dakota legislature, as well as the Attorney General of that area and two years as a Consul to South America under President Benjamin Harrison. He was elected Mayor of Tacoma in April of 1898. In August of 1899, he was charged by a grand jury with "attempting to receive" a sizable bribe from C.P. Hurley, manager of the Tacoma Gas and Electric Light Co., in connection with a compromise of a million dollar suit against Light and Water. He went to trial on September 10, 1899. On the morning of September 14th, after arguing all night, the jury declared itself deadlocked 6 to 6. In April of 1900, Tacoma selected a new Mayor. (TDL 8/18/1899, pg. 1; 9/12/1899, pg. 1; 9/15/1899, pg. 3)

Nickeus, Johnson; Mayors--Tacoma--1890-1900;

ca. 1898. Bertha Snell sitting in a lawyer's office - probably that of her husband, prominent attorney Marshall K. Snell. In 1898 Marshall K. Snell's office occupied rooms 301-02-03 and 04 of the Equitable Building, 1102-04 Pacific Ave, the former site of the Merchants National Bank. Mrs. Snell passed the bar exam in 1899 to become the first woman lawyer in the new State of Washington. She became a partner in Marshall Snell's firm and worked with him throughout the rest of his professional career. Although Mr. Snell died in 1939, Bertha Snell continued to practice law until 1953 and died four years later in Tacoma at the age of 88. (Perreault, Haskell, "History Lesson: Bertha Denton Snell was a true pioneer," Saratogian, 3-27-2011)

Snell, Bertha; Law offices--Tacoma;

Johnson Nickeus was elected Mayor of Tacoma April 15, 1898. He served as mayor in 1898 and 1899. This picture of Mayor Nickeus is from the Tacoma Daily Ledger, March 29, 1898 p.5 He was born in 1851 in the District of Columbia. An experienced lawyer, Mr. Nickeus had served in the Dakota legislature, Dakota attorney general, and South American counsel prior to his arrival in Washington around 1892. He had defeated Cyrus A. Mentzer, a "silver republican," by 300 votes, in the April mayoral race. Mr. Nickeus' term was set to expire in April of 1900 but the previous August saw him under a grand jury indictment, charged with soliciting a $12,500 bribe . The grand jury deadlocked 6-6 in September of 1899. ALBUM 16. (Hunt: Tacoma Its History and Its Builders, II, p. 199; TDL 7-4-98; TDL 8-18-99)

Mayors--Tacoma--1890-1900; Nickeus, Johnson;

Employees and bicycle delivery boy on steps of the Pierce County Court House. The Pierce County Court House was built in 1892. The three story building was a copy of the Courthouse in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. The plans contained everything Tacomans hoped for in this elaborate structure, including secret staircases and a hanging room, and suited their grandiose plans for their city. The grand structure was demolished in 1959 due to its poor condition and replaced by a parking lot for the modern County-City building. Here employees pose with bicycles on the steps of the structure. The man behind what is believed to be a bicycle delivery boy or courier is holding a baby. The women on the left are most probably clerical staff, although two of them are posing with bicycles.

Pierce County Courthouse (Tacoma); Historic buildings--Tacoma; Bicycles & tricycles--Tacoma--1890-1900; Clothing & dress--1890-1900;

ca. 1899. Engine Co. No. 6 opened on 9th & A Street in 1891. The station also housed Chemical Engine Co. No. 1. The headquarters station cost approximately $24,400. Captain William J. Chisholm led his company of five men; he may have been one of the men standing next to the horse-drawn engines in this sepia photograph. View of flower bedecked wagons and engines outside the two-story brick station; this is probably the 4th of July celebratory parade. (100 Years of Firefighting in the City of Destiny Tacoma, Washington, p. 22)

Tacoma Fire Department (Tacoma); Fire engines & equipment--Tacoma; Fire fighters--Tacoma--1890-1900; Parades & processions--Tacoma--1890-1900;

On Wednesday July 12, 1899, 375 members of the National Editorial Association and their wives arrived in Tacoma for a short visit. They were met at the Tacoma depot by a reception committee consisting of members of the Tacoma Press club, various citizens, and the Tacoma Military Band. After breakfast at the Hotel Tacoma, the editors were taken by barge to the Point Defiance waterfront where their visit included a clambake. It was anticipated that entertaining the newspaper men and their wives would cost a substantial amount of money, and plans were made to raise the required $700. The Military Band was directed by Julius Adler and played daily concerts at Tacoma Parks, travelling from site to site on a tiny private streetcar. Their uniforms consisted of dark trousers and scarlet coats with bright blue trim. This photograph was recently donated by Ann Jorgensen and is from the Alta Scofield Collection/TPL (TNT 6/25/1950, PG. D-11, names of band members in caption)

Point Defiance Park (Tacoma); Tacoma Military Band (Tacoma); Military bands--United States;

On November 5, 1899, over 50,000 admirers lined the tracks of the Northern Pacific Railroad to welcome home the First Washington Volunteer Infantry Regiment, the "Fighting First," from their battle service in the Philippines. The crowd was so thick that it lined the track for miles, stretching upward to cover rooftops with a mass of humanity. The soldiers had been absent for 18 months, a year spent training and six months spent fighting Filipino insurgents in Manila and Luzon. Over 1,125 men left for the Philippines of which 129 never returned, felled by battle or disease. The Regiment was made up of 12 companies, mostly National Guard, from Seattle (2), Spokane (2), Walla Walla, Vancouver, Centralia, Dayton, Yakima, Waitsburg, Ellensburg and Tacoma. Picture of the crowd awaiting the arrival of the volunteers' train. On the left of the track were, front to back, 1701 Commerce (built 1892), a building at the corner of Jefferson and So. 17th St. and 1511-41 Pacific Ave. The street running along the left side of the track is Hood St.; the track is the Northern Pacific Portland branch.

First Washington Volunteer Infantry Regiment (Wash.); Philippine Insurrection, (1899-1902); Crowds; Homecomings;

ca. 1900. A bicycle leans against a young sapling at the north entrance to Wright Park in this photograph from around 1900. The road curving through the park is Yakima Avenue, which was closed to traffic by the Metropolitan Park Board in 1922. The two "dancing maidens" that stand at either side of the entrance were purchased by Clinton P. Ferry, the "Duke of Tacoma", in Brussels and presented to the city in 1891. Somewhat worse for wear after over 100 years, they still stand at the north end of the park. The tower at the far left is the tower on the old Pierce County Court House which stood at 1012 South G Street. (This image appears on the reverse of BU-10705)

Parks--Tacoma--1900-1910; Wright Park (Tacoma); Sculpture--Tacoma;

ca. 1900. Hood St. Reservoir during its construction circa 1900. Teams of horses were used to drag materials or debris at the site. The reservoir was located at South 32nd and Yakima Ave. South. TPL-1551

Hood Street Reservoir (Tacoma); Reservoirs--Tacoma--1900-1910; Horses--Tacoma--1900-1910;

ca. 1900. The West & Wert Store, Roy, Washington, circa 1900. Almon W. Wert was a prominent businessman who had arrived in Roy about 1892. Born in Ohio in 1860, he had married Mattie West who is pictured above along with her mother and himself. He had purchased the above store (later called Wolf's) and later bought the entire block. Mr. Wert started a mill that manufactured hoop poles and also built a large windmill tower. He sold the store and the block he owned to Kincaid & Dobler from Sumner. He later farmed and ran a livery stable before purchasing an interest in the Roy State Bank. Stays in Tacoma and California then followed before Mr. Wert passed away in March of 1932. He and his wife are buried in the Roy Cemetery. (Baccus, "Roy Area Pierce County, Washington," p. 29-30-article) (Photograph and identification courtesy of Ilma Swanson Kandle)

West & Wert Store (Roy); Wert, Almon W.; Wert, Mattie L.; Families--Roy;

ca. 1900. Louis D. Campbell was elected mayor of Tacoma on April 3, 1900. Mr. Campbell, the Republican nominee, defeated A.V. Fawcett by a vote of 2,904 to 2,788. Mr. Fawcett was the candidate of the democratic-populist fusion. According to historian Herbert Hunt, Mr. Fawcett's record as county commissioner and mayor in the three years before was the issue in this campaign. Mr. Campbell would be re-elected mayor in 1902, defeating Democrat Frank R. Cole by a vote of 3,450 to 2,525. Herbert Hunt indicated in his "Tacoma Its History and Its Builders" that it was the first time in Tacoma's history that a mayor had succeeded himself. Born in 1852 in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, Mr. Campbell had studied both at the Pennsyvlania State College and the law department of the University of Pennsylvania. He arrived in Tacoma in January of 1883 and began the practice of law, becoming city attorney in 1884 and 1885. Mr. Campbell would pass away in January of 1908 while on holiday in Santa Cruz, California. This picture is from William Prosser's "A History of the Puget Sound Country, The Lewis Publishing Company, 1903. opp p.176 ALBUM 16. (Hunt: Tacoma Its History and Its Builders, II, p. 199-200; Prosser: A History of the Puget Sound Country, II, p. 176-177)

Campbell, Louis D.; Mayors--Tacoma--1900-1910

ca. 1900. Pacific Brewing & Malting Co. operations circa 1900 with the Malt House, Bottling department and Main plant clearly visible. By 1900 Pacific Brewing & Malting Co. was considered the best brew house on the North Coast. The company was in continuous building mode from 1891 through 1916 with stockhouse, cooling plant, stable and warehouse as some of the additions. They manufactured Tacoma and Pacific beer brands and by 1909 was the second largest brewing company in the state with output of 200,000 barrels of beer per year. Prohibition caused the plant to shut down in 1916. Pacific Brewing & Malting Co. has been added to the City and National registers.

Pacific Brewing & Malting Co. (Tacoma); Brewing industry--Tacoma--1900-1910;

ca. 1900. Wright Park looking east circa 1900. The park by this time enjoyed the emergence of a more park-like setting with the planting of hundreds of trees and landscaping to replace the tree stumps and brush originally situated on the land donated by Charles B. Wright in 1886. It would eventually total 27 acres of an oasis in what was becoming an urban part of town. (copy of original) Bi-Centennial Project # 75346-7 G41.1-124A, TPL-374

Wright Park (Tacoma); Parks--Tacoma--1900-1910;

Donna Francisca. The 'bald-headed' four masted steel barque 'Donna Francisca', 2277 tons, under sail. This ship is 'Jubilee-rigged' [steel 4 mast barque, 2277 tons. ON99059. 277.5 x 42.0 x 24.5. Built 1892 (4) Russell and Co. Greenock. Owners: J Hayes and Co. registered London. Sold 1910 and renamed Herbert and registered in Germany, renamed Lemkenhafen in 1922 and was wrecked in 1924. One of the early ships to be fitted with water ballast tanks. State Library of South Australia, B 3456, PRG 1218/3 or OH 456/1, Digital Collections, South Australiana Collection, Photographs, A. d. Edwardes Collection, https://collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/resource/PRG+1373/1/81

Sailing ships;

ca. 1900. This was the West & Wert general merchandise store in Roy, Washington, circa 1900. The store was owned and operated by A.W. (Almon) Wert and his father in law, Mr. West. Mr. Wert, an Ohio native, came to Roy about 1892. He was to later own a hoop pole mill, farm, raise cattle, run a livery stable and organize the Roy State Bank. Standing on the store porch is Mabel Swanson with baby Ilma. Almon (A.W.) Wert is next to the lightpole. Charles Swanson is pictured driving the horse and wagon carrying material for Mr. Wert's hoop factory. "Pug" the dog is alertly standing guard outside the store. The Native American couple sitting on the porch and the other men are not identified. (Photograph and identification courtesy of Ilma Swanson Kandle) (Baccus, "Roy Area Pierce County, Washington," p. 29-30-article on Mr. Wert)

West & Wert Store (Roy); Wert, Almon W.; Swanson, Mabel; Swanson, Ilma; Swanson, Charles; Dogs--Roy; Carts & wagons--Roy;

ca. 1900. View of Pierce County Court House from the corner of South 9th Street and Tacoma Avenue South looking southwest. The clock has yet to be installed in the court house tower.

Pierce County Courthouse (Tacoma); Courthouses--Tacoma;

ca. 1900. George P. Wright was elected mayor of Tacoma April 4, 1904, defeating incumbent Louis D. Campbell by a vote of 4,239 to 3,578. The Democratic mayor would go on to re-election in 1906. Mr. Wright was born in Ontario, Canada in 1865. He would have a variety of occupations including teacher, farmer, government employee, merchant, contractor, and real estate and investment operator. Mr. Wright arrived in Walla Walla county about 1889 and moved to Tacoma about seven years later. During Mr. Wright's four years as mayor, his greatest accomplishments may have been the planning, engineering, financing and advocating of municipally owned systems of power and light and water supply. Charles F.A. Mann in his "An anniversary celebration commemorating one hundred years of Tacoma" called Mayor Wright the man who "started Tacoma's public utilities." Two terms of office were enough for Mr. Wright who would later establish Wright Shipyard in WWI. He would pass away in April of 1932 while serving as a Port of Tacoma commissioner and president of Tacoma Grocery Co. This picture is from Herbert Hunt's "Tacoma, Its History and Its Builders, Volume 2" p.517 ALBUM 16. (Mann: An anniversary commemorating one hundred years of Tacoma, p. 31; Hunt: Tacoma Its History and Its Builders, II, p. 202, 516-520)

Wright, George P.; Mayors--Tacoma--1900-1910

ca. 1900. John W. Linck was elected mayor of Tacoma April 7, 1908, defeating Democratic two-term incumbent George P. Wright. Mr. Linck had served with the Union Army in the Civil War and had extensive legal and political experience prior to his arrival in Tacoma in 1898 as a U.S. Treasury agent. After his one term of office expired, he, a former police judge, would hold the office of justice of the peace for several years. ALBUM 16. (G1.1-106)

Linck, John W.; Mayors--Tacoma--1900-1910

ca. 1900. Tacoma grain elevators. The Tacoma Warehouse & Elevator Co. grain dock and Elevator B are in the foreground of this circa 1900 photograph. A masted sailing ship is docked there waiting for a shipment of flour. In the background is Elevator A, operated by Cardin & Bibb. The Sperry Flour Co. would be built on the site of Tacoma Warehouse & Elevator in 1905. Sperry Flour would be purchased later by General Mills, Inc.

Warehouses--Tacoma--1900-1910; Grain elevators--Tacoma--1900-1910; Shipping--Tacoma--1900-1910; Sailing ships--Tacoma--1900-1910; Piers & wharves--Tacoma--1900-1910; Waterfronts--Tacoma--1900-1910;