ca. 1925. Neatly kept Craftsman-style house with vegetable garden on right. (WSHS- negative A915-0)

Houses--Tacoma;

ca. 1925. The Lorenz Building, 1552-56 Market St. The Lorenz Building was constructed in 1889 and was designed by architect R. L. Robertson. From 1899- 1914, it was home to the Astor House, also known as the Hiroshimaya Hotel, the first major Japanese Hotel in Tacoma. In the mid 1920's, the building housed the Columbus Hotel and the Tacoma Ju Jitsu School.

Lorenz Building (Tacoma); Columbus Hotel (Tacoma); Tacoma Ju Jitsu School (Tacoma);

ca. 1925. The 17 story Washington Building near completion. The building was officially opened at the end of June, 1925. The ground floor was occupied by the Brotherhood Cooperative Bank, Theodore Knutson's cigar store, Henrietta McNerthney's Purity Pharmacy and the "Orange Bower," the first orange mill in Tacoma. The orange mill's specialty was fresh squeezed orange juice, that you could watch being processed by a machine. (TNT 6/30/1925, pg. 13)(WSHS)

Washington Building (Tacoma);

ca. 1925. Washington Building as completed. Started 1919 by the Scandinavian-American Bank, unfinished when bank failed. The steel framework was completed by a group established for that purpose, the Washington-California Co. Frederick Webber, Original Architect; Doyle and Merriam, Architects for completion. The Washington Building opened at the end of June in 1925. (WSHS & Argentum)

Washington Building (Tacoma);

ca. 1925. The Washington Building, 1019 Pacific Ave., under construction. This modern structure was originally designed by Frederick Webber in the style of the Chicago School for the Scandinavian American Bank. Construction began in 1919 and halted when the bank failed. It was completed in 1925 when the Washington-California Co. purchased the steel skeleton and completed the building. At 17 stories, it was the second tallest building in the Northwest. When it opened, it contained 350 office suites, including its main occupant, the Brotherhood Co-Operative National Bank. (WSHS) (TDL 6/28/1925, pg. 2B)

Washington Building (Tacoma); Business districts--Tacoma--1920-1930;

The top of the Washington Building tower, circa 1925. At 17 stories, almost everyone had to look up at this building, it was the second highest in the Northwest. The Washington Building was innovative in grouping its tenants by fields and making offices specific to those fields. The top floors were dedicated to doctors and medical offices. Some floors were huge open spaces on completion, for large concerns who would dictate where partitions would be placed. (TNT 6/30/1925, pg. 1) (WSHS)

Washington Building (Tacoma);

9th & Broadway business district -downtown Tacoma- as seen in March of 1925. On the left in the center is the Fidelity Building, 949-55 Broadway. Built in 1890 as a six-story structure, an additional six stories were added in 1909. On its left is a portion of the Rhodes Brothers Department Store; on its right is the smaller Rust Building and the Washington Building, still under construction. G57.1-135

Business districts--Tacoma--1920-1930; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1920-1930; Fidelity Building (Tacoma); Rhodes Brothers Department Store (Tacoma); Rust Building (Tacoma); Washington Building (Tacoma); Office buildings--Tacoma--1920-1930;

In April of 1925, this was the view from the top of the flagpole on the Puget Sound National Bank building, 1117-19 Pacific Ave., looking down on the west side of Pacific Ave. between 11th and 12th. The photograph was snapped by professional steeplejack B.B. Florer with a Tacoma News Tribune employee's camera that was hoisted up to him. Mr. Florer had been engaged to paint the flagpole. (TNT 4/28/1925, pg. 9) (WSHS- negative A693-0)

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Street scene. This is the east side of Pacific Avenue at 10th St. as seen on April 3, 1925. Businesses visible included the American Savings & Loan Assn. (1001 Pacific Ave.); Martz Clothes Shop; American Mortgage & Safe Deposit Co. /First Mutual Savings Bank of Tacoma and Western Union. G61.1-044

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1920-1930; Business districts--Tacoma--1920-1930; American Savings & Loan Association (Tacoma); American Mortgage & Safe Deposit Co. (Tacoma); First Mutual Savings Bank of Tacoma (Tacoma);

This is South 11th St., looking east, from Broadway in April of 1925. The 11th St. Bridge (now called the Murray Morgan Bridge) is visible in the distance. On the left are the Fidelity Building, Rust Building, and nearly completed Washington Building. Across the street from the Washington Building is the Peoples Department Store and closer to the bridge, the Perkins Building at 11th & "A." G57.1-143

Business districts--Tacoma--1920-1930; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1920-1930; 11th Street Bridge (Tacoma); Fidelity Building (Tacoma); Rust Building (Tacoma); Washington Building (Tacoma); Peoples (Tacoma); Office buildings--Tacoma--1920-1930;

City Center skyline. This photograph, taken on April 13, 1925 from the Puget Sound National Bank Bldg. at 1117-19 Pacific Avenue, gives the viewer a good look at the massive office buildings located in the downtown commercial district. The building on the right with scaffolding is the Washington Building whose much-delayed construction would finally be completed and the building opened in July of 1925. Next to the Washington Building is the Rust Building (950 Pacific) designed by architects Sutton, Whitney & Dugan. Its neighbor is the Fidelity Building (949-55 Broadway). The last building on the extreme left is the Rhodes Brothers Department Store at 950 Broadway. Directly across the street from the Rust Building is the Equitable Building (1102-04 Pacific) which housed at that time the Pacific Savings & Loan Assoc. with Crown Drug Co. at one corner.

Business districts--Tacoma--1920-1930; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1920-1930; Washington Building (Tacoma); Rust Building (Tacoma); Fidelity Building (Tacoma); Rhodes Brothers Department Store (Tacoma); Puget Sound National Bank (Tacoma);

Photographer Marvin Boland peered out of one of the top floors of the Puget Sound Bank Building (1117-19 Pacific Avenue) on April 13, 1925, to capture the view of several massive buildings nearby in the midst of the downtown business district. The Rust Building, 950 Pacific, is the lighter-colored building across from the smaller Equitable Bldg. (1102-04 Pacific). Next to the Rust is the taller Fidelity Building with an actual address of 949-55 Broadway. On the far left in the photograph is the Rhodes Brothers Department Store. TPL-1907; G8.1-010

Business districts--Tacoma--1920-1930; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1920-1930; Puget Sound National Bank (Tacoma); Rust Building (Tacoma); Fidelity Building (Tacoma); Office buildings--Tacoma--1920-1930;

A person standing across the street on April 14, 1925, would be able to see the following establishments on the west side of Pacific Avenue near South 10th St. in downtown Tacoma: (L-R) the Rust Building (950 Pacific), Charles F. Lewis Hatters (948), Scobey's Cigars (946) with Naubert & Manning Billiards upstairs, Davis Men's Shop (944), Peterson & Cooksie Billiards (942-44), Haugen & Loney Tailors (942), and in the San Francisco Block building, the Regal Shoe Co. (938-40) with several businesses upstairs including the Chinese Medicine Co. and attorney G.B. Aldrich. TPL-5475; G61.1-048

Business districts--Tacoma--1920-1930; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1920-1930; Rust Building (Tacoma); Regal Shoe Co. (Tacoma);

Washington Building under construction in April of 1925. Started 1919 by the Scandinavian-American Bank and left unfinished when the bank failed, the building was completed and opened in June of 1925. At 17 stories, it was one of the skycrapers changing the skyline of Tacoma. The building is of steel framework, completed with glazed white terra cotta. The investment in the building was 1 1/2 million dollars. (filed with Argentum)

Washington Building (Tacoma); Office buildings--Tacoma--1920-1930; Building construction--Tacoma--1920-1930;

This two-story Colonial with basement, located at 1315 North 5th St., was on the market in May of 1925 with a reduced price of $7,750, including $1500 cash and $75 a month payments. The home apparently had alley access and garage. An ad placed in the Tacoma Sunday Ledger's May 3, 1925 edition listed the home as having a 20+-foot long living room, oak flooring, unique fireplace and French doors leading to the dining room. Three bedrooms were located on the second floor along with a bath. Interested buyers were asked to contact Gilmour Nicholls, realtor. G28.1-130; BU-10,145 (Tacoma Sunday Ledger Ad, 5-3-25, p. 7E)

Houses--Tacoma--1920-1930;

View looking up Saint Helens Ave. This photograph was taken from the top of the Winthrop Hotel, 773 Broadway, on May 15, 1925, the day before its grand opening. The view is of Saint Helens Avenue, just beyond the Bostwick Block (755-71 Saint Helens), the triangular shaped building next to the Winthrop. Visible businesses included the Montelius Music House (736 Saint Helens), the Gilliam & Steven Motor Co. (735 Saint Helens -street renamed Court C), and the Caswell Optical Co.(752-66 Saint Helens), on the far left edge. In the distance at the far left is Central School. G8.1-013

Business districts--Tacoma--1920-1930; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1920-1930; Central School (Tacoma); Montelius Music House (Tacoma); Gilliam & Steven Motor Co. (Tacoma); Caswell Optical Co. (Tacoma);

This view of South 9th Street looking west from the corner of Broadway and Saint Helens was taken on May 15, 1925 from the top of the Winthrop Hotel. At the bottom left is a part of the old Tacoma Theater. The ornate white building on the same side of 9th is the Rialto Theater, 310 So. 9th. Up the street is the First Baptist Church at 902 Market Street with its bell tower still under construction. On the north side of 9th is the Caswell Optical building, 752-66 St. Helens, in the foreground, followed by the white Exley Apartments at 309 So. 9th, originally the oldest existing house in Tacoma and later converted into apartments. The taller Rhodes Apartments, 311 So. 9th (now the Rialto Apartments), are next. Rising in the background are the Gothic towers of the Pierce County Courthouse, left, and the Central School building, right. G57.1-101

Business districts--Tacoma--1920-1940; Tacoma Theatre (Tacoma); Rialto Theatre (Tacoma); First Baptist Church (Tacoma); Caswell Optical Co. (Tacoma); Exley Apartments (Tacoma); Rhodes Apartments (Tacoma); Rialto Apartments (Tacoma);

Traveling on the Tacoma-Seattle Highway, photographer Marvin Boland captured views of rural communities such as the one pictured above on August 2, 1925. His notes indicate it was called "Woodmot," but this may have actually been the Woodmont Beach area located in South King County. Here a rustic bridge leads to several wood framed houses. G28.1-062

Houses--1920-1930; Pedestrian bridges;

This is a view of tree-lined North "I" St. at 9th looking south in August of 1925. There are only two parked cars and one far away in the distance. One woman is waiting at the corner further down the block, perhaps for a streetcar to come as the streetcar tracks are clearly visible. Part of the apartment house soon to be known as the Biltmore Apartments can be seen on the left with its distinctive turret. G60.1-051

Residential streets--Tacoma--1920-1930; Street railroad tracks--Tacoma--1920-1930; Apartment houses--Tacoma--1920-1930;

This home at 802 North Yakima Ave. was described by its architect, Kirtland Cutter, as a "quaint cottage in the German style of architecture" and not a design commonly seen in the Pacific Northwest. It was built originally for David K. Stevens in 1891. By 1925, it was the residence of civic leader and prominent businessman, Henry G. Shaw who had purchased the home from another pioneer businessman, John H. Scott. The house had been nominated as one of the most beautiful in the city in 1920. The apartment house in the background at 801-07 North "I" St. would be renamed the Biltmore Apartments in 1926. G28.1-129; BU10, 175

Houses--Tacoma--1920-1930; Apartment houses--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Large three-story plus daylight basement apartment house at the corner of 8th & North "I" St. This Queen Anne-styled building with turrets was to be renamed the Biltmore Apartments in 1926. It may have been called the Sound View Terrace Apartments prior to its renaming. The apartment house was built in 1889 with J.D. Warren as contractor and George A. Sumner as builder. Frederick A. Sexton was the architect. BU-10,522

Apartment houses--Tacoma--1920-1930;

This stucco Spanish-style bungalow with detached garage was located in then rural E. 72nd St. in 1925. The small one-story home had a landscaped front yard but the area surrounding the lot appears wooded and rough. A notice about its availability for purchase would be listed in the Tacoma Daily Ledger's September 27, 1925, edition. G28.1-056; BU-10,031 (TDL 9-27-25, p. E-6)

Houses--Tacoma--1920-1930;

View of two homes on an unidentified street in the Regents Park community taken during late summer in 1925. The house in the center with unusual porch belonged to Dr. and Mrs. J.A. Caswell, owners of Caswell Optical Co. Regents Park would become the Town of Fircrest in September of 1925. It had been developed by investors including Major Edward J. Bowes as a planned community back in 1907 whereby streets, sidewalks, roads and sewer systems were improved and installed. Regents Park was small in acreage and mostly residential. Homes like these two Colonial-style houses were substantial and well-maintained. G72.1-113

Houses--Fircrest--1920-1930; Caswell, J.A.--Homes & haunts; Regents Park (Fircrest);

Construction of the Allen C. Mason Intermediate School was well under way in September of 1925. The 600-pupil school was designed by the architecture firm of Hill & Mock and named in honor of pioneer Tacoma promoter and real estate developer Allen C. Mason. Its name would be changed to the Allen C. Mason Junior High School in 1928. The school was one of three intermediate schools opened for use in 1926. In all, six intermediate schools opened 1925-26 as the Tacoma school district moved toward a 6-3-3 grade model. Funds to build and/or remodel Tacoma schools were provided by a $2,400,000 bond issue authorized by voters in a special election held in October of 1923. (WSHS) (TNT 9/3/1925, pg. 17)

Building construction--Tacoma--1920-1930; Public schools--Tacoma--1920-1930; Mason Junior High School (Tacoma);

This section of Broadway near South 7th Street was "Auto Row" in September of 1925 with several automobile dealerships located side-by-side. L-R were: Griffith Motor Company selling Dodge Brothers motor cars; Mueller-Harkins Motor Company, a Buick dealer; Arthur Bryan Motor Company, a Chevrolet dealership and Richardson Motor Company, the Cleveland & Chandler dealership. Most, if not all, also had used car departments. TPL-1731; G59.1-025

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1920-1930; Griffith Motor Co. (Tacoma); Mueller-Harkins Motor Co. (Tacoma); Arthur Bryan Motor Co. (Tacoma); Richardson Motor Co. (Tacoma); Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Its grass grown tall on the front lawn, this Colonial/American Foursquare styled home located at 2121 North Fife St. was being offered as a forced sale at a price of $3,700 in 1925. The two-story home had a second-story balcony, dormer and four bedrooms and bath. The ground floor had a large front room, dining room, library and kitchen. A full basement contained a fireplace for the billiard room. It had been built around 1911 for Marvel Watson. Interested buyers could contact Hellar, Lyon & Co. G29.1-022; BU10,296 (TDL 8-20-25, p. 9-ad)

Houses--Tacoma--1920-1930;

North end apartments were available for rent in this elegant three-story turreted building in December of 1925. Built originally in 1889 and known as the "New York," it had been remodeled into a modern 18-suite apartment house in 1915. It was now known as the J.O. Hilliard Apartments. BU-10,523

Apartment houses--Tacoma--1920-1930;

ca. 1926. Unidentified one-story house with arched doorway on porch, fireplace chimney in front and large tree near porch. (filed with Argentum)

Houses--Tacoma--1920-1930;

ca. 1926. Unidentified one-story home for sale by Central Realty. Central Realty, owned by J. S. Taylor, was located at 1207 So. K St. They advertised: "We sell homes and ranches, exchange property, rentals and notary public work, we aim to meet your needs." (filed with Argentum)

Houses--Tacoma--1920-1930;

ca. 1926. Two one-story houses for sale by Central Realty. Both are very similar except the house on right has larger porch with open frame work. (filed with Argentum)

Houses--Tacoma--1920-1930;