This unidentified vessel, believed to be a Navy gunboat, was in dry dock at Tacoma Boatbuilding in January of 1970. It appears that the paint on the boat has been stripped.

Gunboats--United States; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1970-1980;

ca. 1860s. Undated photograph, possibly taken in the 1860s, of an 19th century family posed in front of their home. The photograph is taken at a wide angle so that the family's possessions, including planted crops, horses grazing, wagon and carriage, hitched span of horses, barn and extended home are prominent. The home appears to have been added on; the original sod house has a framed addition. The people themselves are not shown in close-up. The location of the property is not identified. Photograph believed to have been ordered by Mrs. G.R. Utterback on January 24, 1970.

Sod buildings; Horses; Families;

The "Lori Ann" docked outside Tacoma Marine Supply in late February, 1969. She may have been a crab boat. A small "for sale" sign is posted in the pilothouse. Work order placed by Tacoma Boatbuilding Co.

Boats--Tacoma;

ca. 1907. Copy of customer print. Composite picture where President Teddy Roosevelt has been inserted to stand next to Northwest pioneer Ezra Meeker before the old State Department's "War and Navy" building in Washington D.C., upon the conclusion of Meeker's reenactment of his 1852 journey via covered wagon on the Oregon Trial. Signs decorating the old prairie schooner indicate that Meeker had left Puyallup on January 29, 1906, and arrived in Indianapolis, Indiana on January 5, 1907, a distance of 2,610 miles. Accompanied by his faithful dog "Jim," Edward Songer and Mr. and Mrs. Herman Goble, the 76-year-old Meeker and his yoke of oxen and wagon were a throwback to the days of westward expansion. Mr. and Mrs. Goble are believed to be included in the above photograph. Meeker sought preservation of the Oregon Trail route as an important part of our nation's history. He stopped at many towns along the way to raise money for memorials to the Trail and even received a special permit to drive his team down New York City's famous Broadway. Meeker did meet up with President Roosevelt after he decided to continue his journey to Washington D.C., arriving there on November 29, 1907. The president was interested in preserving the Trail and eventually Congress would appropriate $50,000 to mark the trail. Photograph ordered by the Washington State Historical Society. (en.wikipedia.org, NWR clipping file, TDL 1-31-06, p. 12)

Meeker, Ezra, 1830-1928; Covered wagons--Washington D.C.; Cattle--Washington D.C.; Pioneers; Westward movement; Roosevelt, Theodore; Presidents; Dogs;

Copy of customer print. Ezra Meeker and covered wagon on parade in Portland. Photograph is captioned "EZRA MEEKER, With Dave and Covered Wagon, in Portland." "Dave" was an enormous ox, measuring nearly six feet at the shoulder. This picture of an ox-driven covered wagon was probably taken during Meeker's long 22-month journey over the Oregon Trail onward to Washington D.C. and back starting in 1906. He wanted to stir interest in the preservation of the Oregon Trail and was greeted by tremendous crowds throughout his trip. He was one of the first Northwest pioneers in the early 1850's and had platted Puyallup in 1877. In 1924, the 94-year-old Meeker was to fly from Puget Sound to Dayton, Ohio, in three days; it had taken him months by covered wagon in 1852. Photograph ordered by Washington State Historical Society. (Harvey: Tacoma Headlines, p. 64, 67) TPL-5688

Meeker, Ezra, 1830-1928; Covered wagons--Oregon--Portland; Horses--Oregon--Portland; Cattle--Oregon; Pioneers; Westward movement;

Undated photograph of the Meeker Mansion. Designed by architect C.A. Darmer, the 17-room home of Northwest pioneer Ezra Meeker was built about 1889. The Victorian era home is on the State and National Registries and is currently being restored. Meeker platted and named the town of Puyallup, served as its first mayor, and brought electricity and water to the town. His venture into the hops growing business brought him acclaim as the "Hop King of the World." Meeker brought the attention of the nation to the preservation of the Oregon Trail route on which he had traveled back in 1852, when he re-traced his journey of 2000+ miles via ox-drawn covered wagon in 1906. He was nearly 76 years old. After his wife's death, Meeker would sell his home which would later become a G.A.R. widows' home and even later, a museum. (meekermansion.org) TPL-5686

Meeker, Ezra, 1830-1928--Homes & haunts;

Copy of customer print. Portrait of an elderly couple. This is believed to be Northwest pioneer Willis Boatman and wife Mary Ann, possibly taken in the early 1900's. The Boatmans made the arduous journey in 1852 from Illinois to the Oregon Territory in an ox-drawn covered wagon, a trip that took them about seven months. They would eventually settle on a claim near Puyallup in 1854, were forced to retreat to Fort Steilacoom by an Indian uprising, and spent many years on Gravelly Lake until moving back to the Puyallup valley in the 1870's. Mr. Boatman became one of the area's major hop growers and then was instrumental in the formation of the Farmers Bank of Puyallup, later to become the Puyallup State Bank. He was a member of the Masons and his wife belonged to the Northern Star. Mr. Boatman was to outlive his wife by 15 years, passing away at the age of 99 on January 2, 1926. Photograph ordered by the Washington State Historical Society. (History of Pierce County, Vol. 3, p. 273-74)

Pioneers; Spouses; Older people;

Copy of customer print. Native Americans camping in hops field. Huddled together between three tents is a crowd of Native American families. They may have been employed at Ezra Meeker's hop fields prior to 1900. Photograph ordered by Washington State Historical Society.

Indians of North America; Hops;

ca. 1968. View of USS Ready, an Asheville Class gunboat, which had been commissioned on January 6, 1968. The PG-87 was built by Tacoma Boatbuilding and named after a town in Kentucky. The 165-foot aluminum gunboat was launched on May 12, 1967. Tacoma Boatbuilding had a contract to build twelve gunboats; the USS Ready was the sixth in the series. (TNT 5-13-67, p. 2; www.navsource.org/archives/12/11087.htm)

Gunboats--United States; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

ca. 1967. Progress photographs of boats under construction. Continuation of series involving two boats under construction by Tacoma Boatbuilding Co. in late 1967. They are believed to be the tuna seiners "Bold Venture" and "City of Panama." Both steel vessels were 177-feet in length and would be launched in early 1968. Ladders and scaffolding are in place in the above photograph so that workmen could reach the decks of the ships. TPL-9217

Progress photographs; Fishing boats--Tacoma--1960-1970; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Ladders;

ca. 1967. Work was nearing completion on two fishing boats at the Tacoma Boatbuilding Company shipyard on Tacoma's tideflats in late 1967. The "Bold Venture", the vessel closest to the water, was launched on January 20, 1968, at the Port Industrial Yard. The second boat is probably the "City of Panama" which was launched several weeks later, on February 3rd. Both had steel components and were 177 feet in length; they were capable of a haul of up to 925 tons of tuna. The "Bold Venture" was scheduled to fish in waters near Puerto Rico. (TNT 1-17-68, C-9, TNT 1-30-68, p. 18) TPL-9191

Progress photographs; Fishing boats--Tacoma--1960-1970; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

ca. 1967. Two boats under construction. The Port Industrial Waterway is covered in mist as work continues on two tuna seiners. No Tacoma Boatbuilding Co. employees are in sight on this gloomy day in late 1967. The two fishing boats are believed to be the "Bold Venture" and the "City of Panama," both 177-feet in length and of steel construction. Both vessels were equipped to carry up to 925 tons of tuna. (TNT 1-17-68, C-9, TNT 1-30-68, p. 18) TPL-9216

Progress photographs; Fishing boats--Tacoma--1960-1970; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

ca. 1967. Two boats under construction. Work continues on two Tacoma Boatbuilding projects at the Port Industrial Yard in the latter part of 1967. Both are 177-foot tuna seiners and built of steel. The vessel in the rear is believed to be the "Bold Venture" which will be launched on January 20, 1968. The boat in the foreground is believed to be the "City of Panama," with launch date of February 3, 1968. (TNT 1-17-68, C-9, TNT 1-30-68, p. 18) TPL-9215

Progress photographs; Fishing boats--Tacoma--1960-1970; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

ca. 1967. Two boats under construction. Progress report on two boats under construction by Tacoma Boatbuilding at the Port Industrial Yard about 1967. The boat nearest to the water is believed to be the "Bold Venture," which was the third of four Blue Pacific-class fishing boats built by Tacoma Boatbuilding. The 177-foot tuna seiner was built for Edward Gann of San Diego and would be launched on January 20, 1968. She was scheduled to fish near Puerto Rico and would be able to carry up to 925 tons of fish. The hulls of the boats shown were made of steel construction; the "Bold Venture" would have a 37-foot beam. (TNT 1-17-68, C-9) TPL-9214

Progress photographs; Fishing boats--Tacoma--1960-1970; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

South Lakeshore Christian Church. The church parking lot was empty when photographed on a rainy November day in 1968. The church, now located at 1740 So. 84th St., would be dedicated on December 1, 1968. It had previously been located at 8241 So. Park. The new 3700-square foot church building had been occupied since June and included a 200-seat sanctuary and seven classrooms. Gregg Anderson was the church's pastor. (TNT 11-30-68, p. 4, TNT 12-1-68, A-14)

South Lakeshore Christian Church (Tacoma); Churches--Tacoma;

PG-92 at Tacoma Boatbuilding. The USS Tacoma, a patrol gunboat, had been launched in April of 1968. The above photograph was taken about six months later as the vessel was undergoing further work. She would be commissioned in July of 1969.

Gunboats--United States; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

Additional work on PG-92, the USS Tacoma, in drydock at Tacoma Boatbuilding in mid-October, 1968. The patrol gunboat, eighth in a series of twelve being built for the Navy, had been successfully launched in April of 1968. It would be commissioned in July of 1969. The Tacoma would earn two battle stars during the Vietnam War.

Gunboats--United States; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

Ship under construction at Tacoma Boatbuilding in late summer of 1968. Tacoma Boatbuilding had suffered a devastating fire on August 17, 1968, with more than $2,000,000 in damages. Two Navy gunboats and the primary ship assembly plant were destroyed in the three-alarm fire. The company vowed to rebound from the loss and work did continue on undamaged vessels by the end of August. (TNT 8-17-68, p. 1, TNT 8-18-68, p. 1) TPL-9132

Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

Republican candidate for Congress Tony Chase and his family marched down a corridor on June 28, 1968. His two daughters, dressed alike in daisy covered outfits, were wearing large sashes proclaiming them to be a "Tony Girl." The older child was also carrying a "Chase for Congress" campaign sign. Others in the background were also toting similar signs. Mr. Chase was a former cabinet-level state employee under Governor Dan Evans and served as federal-state coordinator. Governor Evans participated in the opening of separate campaign headquarters for himself and Mr. Chase on June 28, 1968, in Tacoma where he was met by assorted teenage "Tony Girl(s)." (TNT 6-29-68, p. 1) ALBUM 4.

Chase, Anthony G.; Chase, Anthony G.--Family; Political campaigns; Signs (Notices);

Smoke could be seen day and night billowing from the St. Regis Paper Co. facility on Tacoma's industrial Tideflats. Aerial view taken in late June, 1966, shows that the area continued to grow with new construction. St. Regis was located conveniently between the Puyallup and St. Paul Waterways. Photograph ordered by St. Regis Paper Co.

Aerial photographs; St. Regis Paper Co. (Tacoma)--1960-1970; Smoke--Tacoma;

Briarhurst. This large Southern Colonial has been identified as "Briarhurst," constructed in 1914 for William Laird McCormick. The brick 2+ story home on Gravelly Lake Dr. S.W. in Lakewood was built for $20,000 by the Cornell Brothers. It later became the home of Edwin Lewis Griffin of Griffin Fuel Co., who passed away on the premises in March, 1955. By 1966, it was the home of Carroll O'Rourke, an executive with the Weyerhaeuser Co. A woman, possibly Mrs. O'Rourke, stands on the patio of the elegant home in May, 1966. Its columns are reminiscent of the White House. The home has several balconies and numerous French-doors and was located on a large, well-landscaped lot surrounded by trees. Photograph ordered by the Weyerhaeuser Co. from customer's negative. (Additional information provided by Donna Gray)

Houses--Lakewood--1960-1970; Columns; Balconies;

On a sunny April day in 1966, an unidentified cowpoke, arms akimbo, was ready for action on the cement driveway in front of one of the new houses in the Heritage West housing development. Wearing a large (toy) pistol, he is standing near a sign indicating septic tanks were prohibited in the Heritage West neighborhood of homes. Presumably modern sewer lines were being installed. This little boy was used in a Heritage West ad, sans background, in the May 6, 1966, News Tribune. Heritage West was a development of new homes ten minutes northeast of Tacoma that was developed by Evergreen Builders of Tacoma. It was off South 320th just west of The Commons at Federal Way (formerly Seatac Mall). Photograph ordered by Evergreen State Builders. (TNT Ad May 5, 1966, p. 22)

Boys; Cowboy hats; Handguns; Signs (Notices); Houses--1960-1970;

The Bon Marche was no longer the only occupant of the Tacoma Mall Shopping Center on the south side of Tacoma in October,1965 when this aerial photograph was taken. A full-line J.C. Penney's had opened at the southeast end of the large building complex and many smaller specialty stores had joined the two large department stores. Acres of free parking proved to be a major draw, and the enclosed mall design kept customers out of the wind and rain. The National Bank of Washington's circular building is prominent near the Mall; I-5 freeway, providing easy access to the Mall, runs along the photograph's left side. The Wapato Lake area is southeast of the Mall to the left of I-5, near the horizon. Most of the residential development surrounding the Mall has been converted over the years into commercial property.

Aerial photographs; Shopping centers--Tacoma; Bon Marche (Tacoma); National Bank of Washington (Tacoma); J.C. Penney Co. (Tacoma);

Informal portrait of Puget Sound National Bank Chairman of the Board Reno Odlin. Mr. Odlin had been elected president of the American Bankers Association in 1964, the first banker from the Pacific Northwest to win this office in the organization's 90-year history. He had previously served the local and national banking industry in many leadership positions, including the Washington Bankers Assn., the Federal Reserve, and U.S. Treasury. Reno Odlin spent most of 1965 traveling to nearly every state in the union to visit bankers, government and business leaders, in addition to several foreign countries to discuss international issues regarding money. (Provorse: Banking on Independence, p. 120-121)

Odlin, Reno, 1897-1979; Bankers--Tacoma;

ca. 1963. Mt. Rainier serves as a brilliant backdrop for a tree which has just been topped in St. Regis logging operations. The camera has captured the tree in the process of falling on a bright late summer day in 1963. The Douglas fir would be used as a spar for high lead logging operations. Several sections on this mountainside have already been clear-cutted and the downed trees strewn about the landscape. Tops and limbs have been removed from the trees and they have been cut into sections. St. Regis owned about 200,000 acres of prime timber in the Cascades about 40 miles east of Tacoma. Photograph ordered by St. Paul & Tacoma Division (St. Regis Paper Co.) (TNT 8-20-63, B-3) TPL-2010

Logs; Lumber industry; St. Regis Paper Co.;

ca. 1962. Portrait of young boxer in bare-fisted stance, ca. 1962. This is Denny Moyer, Portland middleweight. He was a former Tacoma Golden Gloves junior middle champion. Moyer would win an unanimous decision over former welterweight and middleweight champion Sugar Ray Robinson in a February 17, 1962, rematch at Madison Square Garden. The 22-year-old boxer had lost a previous decision to the 41-year-old Robinson. Moyer would gain the attention of the nation again when he fought welterweight champ, Emile Griffith, in a 10-round non-title event on August 18, 1962. He would lose to Griffith by a split decision in the nationally televised bout.(TNT 2-18-62, B-10, TNT 8-17-62, A-1, 8-19-62, A-1)

Boxers (Sports)--Tacoma--1960-1970; Moyer, Denny;

ca. 1962. Portrait of boxer Emile Griffith. He has his fists clenched as he stares into the distance. He would meet Portland middleweight Denny Moyer in a 10-round matchup at the Tacoma Sports Arena on August 18, 1962. Griffith, the world welterweight champion, would not have his title at stake as both fighters would weigh over the 147 pound welter limit. The fight would be televised nationally on ABC as its "Fight of the Week." Griffith would win a split decision over Moyer before a crowd of approximately 2,600 - not a bad gate considering the match was not blacked out locally. (TNT 8-17-62, A-1, 8-19-62, A-1)

Boxers (Sports)--Tacoma--1960-1970; Griffith, Emile;

The head of a man peering through binoculars can barely been seen emerging from the rounded turret at the top of Mount Constitution Tower. The stone tower is located in Moran State Park on Orcas Island. The 4,803 acre park was donated to the state by famous ship builder, Robert Moran, who also served as mayor of Seattle for two terms. It is on the east peninsula of Orcas Island, in San Juan County. Photograph ordered by the Commerce & Economic Development Department.

Mount Constitution Tower (Orcas Island); Towers;

Here is another view of the progress being made in the construction of a new unidentified suspension bridge in late 1957. Skilled workers are covering wooden slats with sheets of plywood. In the distance cranes and additional workmen are apparently involved in the construction of a bridge tower. Photograph ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association.

Bridge construction; Bridges; Suspension bridges; Plywood; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma);

Groups of men appear to be consulting one another as work progresses on the construction of a new unidentified bridge in late 1957. Plywood has been laid on most of the roadbed with one section of exposed rebar yet to be covered. Photograph ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association.

Bridge construction; Bridges; Suspension bridges; Plywood; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma);