The Washington Navigation Company ferry " Vashonia" out of Gig Harbor is pictured approaching the Point Defiance ferry landing in July of 1937. The ferry to the right is the "Fox Island." Signs indicate that the cars and people on the pier are loading for Gig Harbor. The Washington Navigation Company, under the direction of president Mitchell Skansie, ran ferries between Tacoma and the Peninsula. It had recently come under criticism from commuters opposed to new ferry rates and changes to the schedule. The small building to the left of the pier has doors for the men's and ladies' restrooms facing out. A sign on the other side of the building indicates that it is "Louie's Lunch." Ordered by North Pacific Bank Note Company. TPL-9858 (T.Times 7-13-37, p. 7-article on ferry changes)
Ferries--Tacoma--1930-1940; Marine terminals--Tacoma; Washington Navigation Co. (Gig Harbor);
Washington Navigation Company's "Defiance" ferry pulling into Point Defiance landing where automobiles are waiting. This scene was photographed in July of 1937. Ordered by North Pacific Bank Note Company. (Corrected information provided by a reader)
Ferries--Tacoma; Marine terminals--Tacoma; Washington Navigation Co. (Gig Harbor);
Washington Navigation Company ferries. Two women work as galley crew preparing coffee and pancakes for travelers. Ordered by North Pacific Bank Note Company.
Ferries--Tacoma; Galleys (Ship kitchens); Cooks; Washington Navigation Co. (Gig Harbor);
Washington Navigation Company's "Vashonia" ferry near pilings of ferry landing in July of 1937. The landing is Point Defiance which serviced Gig Harbor and Tahlequah. Vashon Island with the Tahlequah landing is in the background. Ordered by North Pacific Bank Note Company. (Additional information provided by a reader)
Ferries--Tacoma; Washington Navigation Co. (Gig Harbor); Vashon Island (Wash.);
Passenger steamer, the " Arcadia", one of the Mosquito Fleet vessels, steams out of Commencement Bay with carriers from the Times newpaper aboard. The event is the annual Times carriers picnic. (T. Times, 7/12/1937, p. 5).
Ferries--1930-1940; Mass transit--1930-1940; Transportation--1930-1940; Newspaper carriers--Tacoma; Newspaper vendors--Tacoma; Recreation--Tacoma; Tacoma Times Publishing Co. (Tacoma);
The bow of the passenger steamer " Arcadia" pulls up to a wharf. On board, carriers from the Times newspaper wave to the photographer. The event was the Times carriers picnic. Industries in the background include Western Ornamental Iron. The Arcadia was often rented for outings. By 1941, demand for the steamer had decreased so much that she was retired, the last of the fleet of pioneer steamers.
Ferries--1930-1940; Mass transit--1930-1940; Transportation--1930-1940; Newspaper carriers--Tacoma; Newspaper vendors--Tacoma; Recreation--Tacoma; Tacoma Times Publishing Co. (Tacoma);
In July of 1937 the Tacoma Times newspaper chartered the steamer Arcadia to carry several hundred Times carriers from Tacoma to Redondo Beach for the annual carriers picnic. A "perfect day" marked the outing which included athletic events of all kinds and plenty of food for all. The carriers returned at the end of the day with no injuries or untoward events to report. (T. Times 7/12/1937 p.5).
Ferries--1930-1940; Mass transit--1930-1940; Transportation--1930-1940; Newspaper carriers--Tacoma; Newspaper vendors--Tacoma; Recreation--Tacoma; Tacoma Times Publishing Co. (Tacoma);
In 1937, you could ride the steamer Virginia V, operated by the West Pass Transportation Company, twice a day from Tacoma to Seattle. It left the Tacoma Municipal Dock at 7:15 a.m. and 1:45 p.m, and returned from Seattle at 1:10p.m. and 7:45 p.m. A round trip ticket sold for 60 cents. They also ran a Sunday excursion trip that left Tacoma at 3:30 p.m. and returned at 8:30 p.m. The Virginia V, built in 1922, was 120 ft. in length with a 24-foot beam and a capacity of 325 passengers. She operated between Tacoma and Seattle from 1922 to 1940 carrying passengers by way of the West Pass of Puget Sound. (T.Times 8/27/1937 p.5)
Ferries--1930-1940; West Pass Transportation Co. (Tacoma); Mass transit--1930-1940; Transportation--1930-1940;
Side view of "Virginia V" ferry on Tacoma waterway. Ferry owned by West Pass Transportation Company. Glimpse of Western Fibre Furniture Company building in background.
Ferries--1930-1940; West Pass Transportation Co. (Tacoma); Mass transit--1930-1940; Transportation--1930-1940;
Governors Review at Fort Lewis. Nine bi-planes flying in formation. These were from the 91st and 116th observation squadrons. They, along with the men of the 9th Corps. and the 5th Brigade, passed in review before Governors Charles D. Martin of Oregon, Clarence D. Martin of Washington and Roy E. Ayres of Montana and top military brass on August 21, 1937. Thousands of civilians journeyed to Fort Lewis to watch the military pageant. (T. Times 8-21-37, p. 1, 8-23-37, p. 1)
Biplanes; Military parades & ceremonies--Fort Lewis;
Tri-motored Stinson airplane crash at Tacoma Air Field. State Patrol Sgt. Lou Geer, patrolman Mike Wayno, Deputy Sheriff Lyle Lathrop and patrolman Cliff Tolson examine the tangled wreckage that killer 4 and injured 7 sight-seers. (T.Times, 10/25/37).
Tri-motored Stinson airplane crashed at Tacoma Air Field. Nightime scene. The sight-seeing flight over Puget Sound ended with four killed and seven critically injured. One wing is intact with "Fly 50" inscribed. (T. Times, 10/25/1937, p.5).
Offices of Mueller-Harkins Buick showing chairs, typewriter, glassed-in offices and advertising banner. The banner reads "When better automobiles are built, Buick will build them." Mueller-Harkins had been located at this address since 1918; they would move in 1948 to 455 St. Helens Ave.
Buick automobile; Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1930-1940; Offices--Tacoma--1930-1940; Mueller-Harkins Motor Co. (Tacoma);
ca. 1938. Two unidentified drivers stand next to two Edwards Fuel Company oil trucks parked outside the company's service station circa 1938. Company owner Leon Edwards is the man next to the automobile at the far right. His station was located in the 700 block of East 11th St., across the 11th Street Bridge. (T. Times)
ca. 1938. Truck manufactured for Cooney Transfer & Storage by the Highway Truck Co. Man in cab of truck; another man in frame work of flat bed holding machine and tools. Highway Truck Co. manufactured large, heavy duty work trucks. (T. Times 9/30/1938, pg. 8) (filed with Argentum)
New GMC Truck for Ohanapecosh Hot Springs, Mt. Rainier National Park, at Packwood. Probably taken behind Tacoma General Motors Truck Company, 307 Puyallup Ave. In 1924, N.D. Towers and Dr. A.W. Bridge constructed a small hotel and two bathhouses at a U.S. Forest Service campsite known as Ohanapecosh. The resort continued to develop and expand through the administration of the Ohanapecosh Hot Springs Co. until the contract was terminated in the early 1960s. By 1967, all of the resort facilities had been dismantled and the hot springs were allowed to return to their natural, pre-excavation condition.
General Motors trucks--1930-1940; Trucks--Tacoma--1930-1940; Ohanapecosh Hot Springs Co. (Packwood);
New GMC Truck for Ohanapecosh Hot Springs, Mt. Rainier National Park, at Packwood. Probably taken behind Tacoma General Motors Truck Company, 307 Puyallup Ave. In 1939 you could stay at Ohanapecosh Lodge for $4 a day and dinner cost $1. The lodge and public baths were run by the Ohanapecosh Hot Springs Co. and owned by Dr. Albert W. Bridge of Tacoma. They were a popular tourist facility and visitors came from afar to partake of the mineral waters of Ohanapecosh Hot Springs. The resort and hot springs operated until the 1960's. The Park Service bought the resort, removed the buildings and converted the springs back to their natural state. All that remains today are boggy seeps, remnants of the hot springs. (www.nps.gov/archives)
General Motors trucks--1930-1940; Trucks--Tacoma--1930-1940; Ohanapecosh Hot Springs Co. (Packwood);
Listed in Richards Photography records as "Hiway Truck Wrecking Company." This is possibly the Highway Truck Equipment Company at 3224 South Tacoma Way. The company is listed in the 1938 City Directory as auto wreckers. View of rebuilt truck for McLean's, pulling long, flatbed trailer. Parked at intersection. Billboard across highway advertising Super Pyro.
Photograph ordered by "Hiway Truck Wrecking Company." View of a rebuilt truck for McLean's, pulling a long, flatbed trailer. The truck is parked at an intersection beside a power pole and rural mailboxes. Billboard across the highway is advertising Super Pyro antifreeze, "it tames old man winter." A timber yard lies beyond the billboard. The company listed in the Richards records as "Hiway Truck Wrecking" is possibly the Highway Truck Equipment Company at 3224 South Tacoma Way. The company is listed in the 1938 City Directory as auto wreckers.
Unidentified man in dark suit poses with an Oldsmobile coupe automobile parked in front of the Seymour Conservatory in Wright Park. This photograph was taken on behalf of the American Automobile Association (A.A.A) on February 24, 1938.
American Automobile Association (Tacoma); Oldsmobile automobile; Seymour Conservatory (Tacoma); Wright Park (Tacoma); Parks--Tacoma--1930-1940; Greenhouses--Tacoma--1930-1940;
Artistic view of hanger, blimp and crew. Special hanger built at Fort Lewis to house the new 105 feet long airship.Men from across the United States make up the 125 member 3rd Balloon Company under Major M. E. McHugo. (T.Times, 3/11/1938, p.1).
Balloons (Aircraft)--Fort Lewis; Balloonists; Air pilots--Fort Lewis; Military personnel--Fort Lewis; Fort Lewis (Wash.);
Close-up of portrait of Army Air Corps blimp pilot Master Sergeant A. E. Miller seated in the two-man motorized undercarriage of the blimp. (T.Time, 3/11/1938, p. 1).
Balloons (Aircraft)--Fort Lewis; Balloonists; Air pilots--Fort Lewis; Military personnel--Fort Lewis; Fort Lewis (Wash.); Miller, A.E.;
On March 10, 1938 the soldiers of Fort Lewis' 125 member 3rd Balloon Company, under the command of Major M. E. McHugo test flew the newest addition to their arsenal. The new blimp was 105 feet lomg and could attain a top speed of 40 miles per hour. It was considered to be a great advance over the blimps used during the First World War. (T.Times, 3/11/1938, p.1).
Balloons (Aircraft)--Fort Lewis; Balloonists; Air pilots--Fort Lewis; Military personnel--Fort Lewis; Fort Lewis (Wash.);
Fort Lewis ground crew holding lines to the new blimp on its first flight since arriving on February 10. The crew is part of the 125 member 3rd Balloon Company. (T.Times 3/11/1938, p.1).
Balloons (Aircraft)--Fort Lewis; Balloonists; Air pilots--Fort Lewis; Military personnel--Fort Lewis; Fort Lewis (Wash.);
Fort Lewis's new 105 feet long blimp flies at forty miles per hour on its first flight since arriving at the army base on February 10. The new blimp serves as an observation balloon. (T.Times, 3/11/1938, p.1).
Balloons (Aircraft)--Fort Lewis; Balloonists; Air pilots--Fort Lewis; Military personnel--Fort Lewis; Fort Lewis (Wash.);
