ca. 1890. In this photograph from 1890 the crew of Fire Station No. 5 of the Tacoma Fire Department, 1215-17 So. I Street, demonstrate how they could quickly dress when awakened by a "midnight alarm". The unidentified fireman at the far right has his baggy pants draped around his boots to speed his response. Engine Co. No. 5 was placed in service October 13, 1890, with a third class Ahrens Piston steam fire engine weighing 5,800 pounds and California Fire Apparatus four wheeled hose wagon with 4,485 pounds weight carrying 1000 feet of hose. Jess Poyns was the Captain, age 25 in 1890; he later became Department Chief. This fire station was a very busy one in 1890, answering 45 alarms and performing duty at 15 fires. In 1935 the company moved to new quarters at 1453 So. 12th; the old quarters were subsequently demolished. (2nd Annual Report, Tacoma Paid Fire Department, p. 28-29; 100 Years of Firefighting in the City of Destiny Tacoma Washington, p. 21, p. 72)

Tacoma Fire Department (Tacoma); Fire stations--Tacoma--1890-1900; Fire fighters--Tacoma--1890-1900;

ca. 1890. Copy of photograph of a 19th century Military Field Hospital. Medics, tents, patient on stretcher. Reproduced for Mr. Edgar Short for his column in the Tacoma Times. (T. Times) (Argentum)

Medical aspects of war--1890-1900; Military medicine--1890-1900; Military personnel--United States--1890-1900; Tents; Military uniforms--1890-1900;

ca. 1890. Reprint of photograph of military men and some civilians assembled outside of tent. Photograph ordered by Edgar T. Short for his column in the Tacoma Times.

Military personnel--United States--1890-1900; Military uniforms--1890-1900; Tents; Clothing & dress--1890-1900;

ca. 1890. This portrait of Frank C. Ross was taken in 1891, the year he sold the Tacoma and Lake City Railroad to the Union Pacific Railroad for $153,000. His top hat, double breasted Prince Albert, light overcoat, boutonniere and mutton chop whiskers were typical dress for an affluent businessman of the period. The Tacoma railroad operated from North 25th Street & Union to Lake City. Union Pacific proposed to extend the line from Portland to the Canadian border in exchange for concessions from Tacoma, such as city right of way, land for terminals and waterfrontage for warehouses and docks for their Pacific Mail ships. The Union Pacific sold the Tacoma line to John S. Baker and Robert Wingate whose attempts to keep the railroad afloat failed. They stopped operations in 1897. Mr. Ross celebrated his 80th birthday on March 3, 1938. He was still championing the development of the Tideflats that he had proposed 50 years before. Copy made for T.Times columnist E. T. Short, June of 1936. (T. Times 6/11/1936, pg. 5; T. Times 3/21/1938, pg. 5)

Ross, Frank C.; Tacoma & Lake City Railroad (Tacoma); Men--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1890-1900;

ca. 1890. Old photograph copied around 1937, showing a wagon, perhaps a fire engine, being pulled at speed by two horses on what seems to be Tacoma's A Street in the 1890s. Tower in background appears to be that of City Hall. (filed with Argentum)

Carts & wagons--Tacoma--1890-1900; Horse teams;

ca. 1890. The original of this photograph was taken circa 1890. Several masted sailing ships are waiting to take on shipments of lumber at an unidentified dock believed to be on Tacoma's waterfront. Tacoma would become known as the "Lumber Capital of the World" due to its many sawmills and access to vast forestlands.

Lumber industry--Tacoma--1890-1900; Cargo ships--Tacoma--1890-1900; Sailing ships--Tacoma--1890-1900; Shipping--Tacoma--1890-1900;

ca. 1890. Station # 3, Tacoma Fire Department. Location of Engine Co. No. 3 was listed at the corner of No. "G" and McCarver in 1889 with Captain Amil Krantz in charge of at least five men. A few weeks after a disastrous Seattle business district fire which saw Tacoma volunteers leap in to assist their Seattle brethren, the Tacoma City Council put its volunteers on salary. Considerable new equipment was purchased from the International Fire Engine Company of Seneca Falls, New York, and Tacoma had the first paid fire department. The 2nd Annual Report of the Tacoma Paid Fire Department, for the fiscal year ending May 31, 1891, listed a complete inventory of both employees and equipment for each fire station. Besides the Silsby steam fire engine and American Fire Apparatus hose wagon, 2 sliding poles, 6 rubber coats, 4 horse blankets, 6 spittoons, and one crowbar were among those listed. Running expenses for the fiscal year totaled $7,341.36 including $336.10 for oats, $8.05 for carrots and the largest expenditure, $5887.76 for salaries. Rosters were also listed, including the men's ages, nationality and former occupations. (2nd Annual Report, Tacoma Paid Fire Department, p. 24-25; 100 Years of Firefighting in the City of Destiny Tacoma, Washington, p. 17-18)

Tacoma Fire Department (Tacoma); Fire stations--Tacoma--1890-1900; Fire engines & equipment--Tacoma; Fire fighters--Tacoma--1890-1900; Horses--Tacoma;

ca. 1890. Copy negative of photograph of old Puget Sound Savings Bank building. Photograph was "improved" by superimposing a sketch of a man on a bicycle and a drawn horse-drawn trolley car. Copy negative produced August 19, 1939.

Banks--Tacoma--1890-1900; Puget Sound Savings Bank (Tacoma)

"Robert Burns: The Oration" by Albert E. Joab booklet of 26 pages. Title page: "Robert Burns: Peasant, Poet, Patriot. An Oration, Delivered Before the Caledonian and St. Andrew's Societies of Tacoma, Washington, on the One Hundred and Thirty-Eighth Anniversary of the Poet's Nativity". c. 1897.

Inside the booklet is a program titled "Concert and Social will be held on the anniversary or Robbie Burns' Birthday. Friday, January 24th, 1890 at 8 p.m. in Bush's Hall, 1131 1-2 Tacoma Ave."

ca. 1891. This portrait of Elisha P. Ferry, first Governor of Washington State, was taken circa 1891. On October 1, 1889, Washington voters ratifed the state's first constitution by a four to one majority. Republican Elisha P. Ferry (1825-1895), former lawyer and mayor, was elected governor. He served from 1889-1893. President Ulysses S. Grant had appointed Ferry governor of territorial Washington in 1872 and he was the only territorial governor to be appointed a second term. Ferry County in the northeastern corner of the state was named for the governor in 1899. (www.secstate.wa.gov/history; Washington HistoryLink.org)

Ferry, Elisha P., 1825-1895; Governors--Washington (State);

ca. 1891. In 1891 the LaMotte & Watkins Grocery Store, called simply "My Store" on the sign above their door, was located at 2420 Pacific Avenue. The store was owned by John W. Watkins and Mrs. Annie E. LaMotte, the widow of Oscar LaMotte. The four men standing in front of the store are (l to r) Mr. Lenard, a farmer; Charles S. Ecklund, a clerk at the store who later went to Alaska to seek his fortune; Herschel Rawlings, who was the store's bookkeeper and later became a Tacoma dentist; and Robert K. Taylor, a sales clerk who later moved to Seattle. (TNT 8/17/1922 p.4) Copy negative from 1939.

Grocery stores--Tacoma--1890-1900; My Store (Tacoma); Ecklund, Charles S.; Rawlings, Herschel; Taylor, Robert K.

Back of Photo:
Yesteryear Feb. 7, 1986
Puyallup Indian Tribe members gathered on Feb. 9, 1891, as part of their monthly neighborhood meetings. This was the time when Indian families gathered to discuss the business of running the reservation and making improvements in the quality of life. The women were not generally included in business affairs of the tribe, which would explain their absence in the photograph.
State of Washington Views
Rutter, Photo
Tacoma, Wash.

ca. 1891.

Copy of Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Tacoma Lodge No. 174, charter dated May 20, 1891. Only 23 years after the national organization of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Tacoma was granted a charter upon application by several prominent citizens. On the charter is the large head of the "Cervus Alces," a European elk, as well as the terms and symbols of charity, justice, brotherly love and fidelity. Copy of this charter was ordered on August 27, 1965, possibly in time for the Tacoma Lodge No. 174's dedication of its new temple on South Union Ave.

Charters--Tacoma; Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Tacoma Lodge No. 174 (Tacoma);

ca. 1893. Copy negative of a photograph, ca. 1893, of a Griffin Transfer Co. moving wagon. An unidentified man stands next to the horse-drawn wagon. The Griffin Transfer Co. is listed in the 1893-94 Polk Directory for Tacoma as owned by Griffin Brothers, Frederick and William. The office was at 1105 Pacific Ave. They maintained a yard and their residence at 813 J St. Company founder Frederick L. Griffin came west in 1889 to make his fortune. He was able to purchase a wagon and horse. He started out delivering fuel wood that he cut himself. After a few years, he obtained more wagons, horses and employees and branched out into a moving and hauling service. The company also dealt in coal, wood and ice. The company eventually grew into the Griffin Fuel Co., in the forties the oldest and largest dealer in fuel west of Chicago. The company remained in the hands of the Griffin family. TPL-7177

Moving & storage trade--Tacoma--1890-1900; Carts & wagons--Tacoma--1890-1900; Griffin Transfer Co. (Tacoma); Griffin Fuel Co. (Tacoma);

ca. 1893. Interior of Miller & Grinnell grocery store. Charles Grinnell (l) and James Miller (r) were the proprietors of a grocery store located at 2903 Sixth Avenue in the 1890's. They along with two employees had their photograph taken circa 1893 inside the store. All are wearing long white aprons. The woman is possibly Mary Miller, James' wife. Prominently displayed is a large collection of spices from the Schilling Co.

Grocery stores--Tacoma--1890-1900; Grinnell, Charles H.; Miller, James W.; Spices; Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1890-1900;

ca. 1893. Copy negative of photograph of old Peoples department store when it was at the corner of 19th and Pacific. At this time, the address was known as 1834-1840 Pacific Ave.The five story Romanesque building was built in 1890 from a design by F.A. Sexton. It is known as the Garretson-Woodruff-Pratt building. In the twenties, the building housed Sears and Roebuck. It is now part of the University of Washington-Tacoma campus. Two horse-drawn carriages parked in front of store. Photograph appeared in the Tacoma Times 07-19-1939. The store had its origins as a wholesale business, begun in 1889 a few months before statehood, in the Baker Building at 1306-08 Pacific. After four years, the company moved to this location. It converted to retail sales and took the name "Peoples Store." The day that it opened, it was crowded morning to night. In 1895, the store relocated to 1101-07 Pacific. The Peoples Store closed in 1983. (T. Times 7/19/1939, pg. 17)

Department stores--Tacoma--1890-1900; Peoples (Tacoma);

ca. 1893. Copy of historical print made on August 31, 1950. This copy of a historical print shows Pacific Avenue about 1893. Tracks visible were used to haul dirt across Pacific Avenue. What appears to be part of Pacific Avenue at the near right was actually a wooden bridge over Galliher's Gulch between 24th & 26th Sts. Items of interest on the right side of Pacific are the Northern Pacific shops (in the distance), the Arlington Hotel (1955 Pacific), the Boston House (2413 Pacific) and to the extreme right, the Northern Pacific Railroad bridge. Two small children in hats sit in a cart in the photo's lower left. TPL-1384, TPL-8073

Cityscapes; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1890-1900; Business districts--Tacoma--1890-1900; Children--Tacoma--1890-1900; Arlington Hotel (Tacoma); Boston House (Tacoma); Bridges--Tacoma--1890-1900;

ca. 1893. Located at 2903 Sixth Avenue in the mid-1890's was a grocery store owned & operated by Charles H. Grinnell and James W. Miller. The two-story wood framed building faced Sixth Avenue with parking for delivery carts and customers on North Pine. The 1895 City Directory indicated that the store sold groceries, hay, grain and feed. The next year the store's contents had expanded to include flour, tea, coffee, spices and produce. Charles Grinnell was born in Minnesota in October of 1862. He is shown clutching the hand of his little girl, Ethel, while standing outside his business establishment. His partner, James Miller, is the man on the farthest left. Mr. Miller, born in Ohio in May of 1851, also resided in Tacoma with his wife and three sons. One of the boys, "Willie," has his arm extended to possibly hold the reins of a horse-drawn cart. By the time of 1897-98 City Directory, only James Miller's name was listed as proprietor; Mr. Grinnell was the deputy chief state grain inspector. (photograph has been written on)

Grocery stores--Tacoma--1890-1900; Grinnell, Charles H.; Miller, James W.; Grinnell, Ethel A.; Miller, William E.; Carts & wagons--Tacoma--1890-1900; Horses--Tacoma--1890-1900;