ca. 1925. Construction on the Washington Building started in 1919 for the Scandinavian- American Bank, but halted when the bank went bankrupt. The steel framework sat deserted until it was purchased by the Washington-California Co. In 1925, the building was completed. The steel framework was clothed in white terra cotta, which was glazed. It was fireproof. It had 1925 technologically superior Otis elevators, which could take visitors from the bottom to the top in 16 seconds. The building was completed with an investment of 1 1/2 million dollars. (TNT 6/30/1925, pg.1) (WSHS)
Washington Building (Tacoma); Office buildings--Tacoma--1920-1930; Business districts--Tacoma--1920-1930;
Tacoma Safety Council Safety Show parade on Ninth Street. Pedestrians and automobiles on street with view of buildings from Commerce to A Streets. Motoramp Garage on left. McCormack's Hats neon sign on right. Decorative metal canopy covers sidewalk.
Business districts--Tacoma--1930-1940; Motoramp Garage (Tacoma);
Main Street, Sumner, Washington. View of commercial buildings including Berryland Confectionery, Sumner Pharmacy, Schafer's Variety Store, United Purity Store and other businesses. Pedestrians and automobiles in view. The town was named in 1876 after Senator Charles Sumner. (T. Times, Special Edition).
Commercial streets--Sumner; Berryland Confectionery (Sumner); Sumner Pharmacy (Sumner); Schafer's Variety Store (Sumner); United Purity Store (Sumner);
This photograph shows Pacific Avenue looking north from the corner of South 24th Street (Puyallup Avenue starts one block east) as it looked in January 1941. The large, two story building to the left, 2314-24 Pacific Ave., was the Tacoma Sears, Roebuck & Co. department store from 1928 until 1936, when they moved to 1148 Broadway. In 1941 the building was home to the Used Car Bargain Center, and the Pierce County Welfare Department. To the right is MacKenzie's Pharmacy, 2401 South Pacific Avenue.
Commercial streets--Tacoma--1940-1950; Used Car Bargain Center (Tacoma); MacKenzie's Pharmacy (Tacoma); Welfare facilities--Tacoma; Pierce County Welfare Department (Tacoma);
ca. 1907. Copy of photograph of Rhodes Department Store, circa 1907. View of three story building by Ambrose J. Russell and Frederick Heath, Architects, 1903. Photograph was taken after repairs to building. Richards Studio copy made on 11-31-1937. (filed with Argentum)
Commercial buildings--Tacoma--1900-1910; Department stores--Tacoma--1900-1910; Rhodes Brothers Department Store (Tacoma);
Looking down on Pacific Avenue at 11th Street from upper floors of old Pacific First Federal Building. The Rust Building is at the left, buses and automobiles; people on sidewalk. (T. Times, 2/8/1939).
Business districts--Tacoma; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1930-1940; Buses--Tacoma; Automobiles--Tacoma--1930-1940;
Pacific Avenue at 11th Street. Rust Building at left, Bank of California at right. People cross the intersection and head toward one of 95 buses operated by Tacoma Railway and Power Company. (T. Times, 2/8/1939, p. 21)
Looking up 11th street hill with its large high rise buildings--Tacoma Building (Weyerhaeuser), Washington, Rust and Fidelity Buildings. The street is void of activity and traffic. (T. Times, 2/8/1939.
View of Puyallup Avenue at Bay Street. Puyallup River Bridge with traffic. Resurfacing of Puyallup Avenue was the first of the new series of P.W.A. (Public Works Administration) contracts in Tacoma and first completed at a cost of $54,710. (T. Times, 10/20 p. 4,10/21 p. 20).
Commercial streets--Tacoma--1930-1940; Bridges--Tacoma; Puyallup Avenue Bridge (Tacoma); Depressions--1929; Public Works Administration (Tacoma);
This was how Puyallup Avenue appeared on October 20, 1938, looking east along the newly resurfaced street from Pacific Avenue to Bay Street and the bridge to the Seattle Highway. A stretch of 2601 feet of road, from East "G" Street to Pacific Avenue, was all new, including sidewalks, curbs and street surface. To construct the level 100- feet-wide road, the old asphalt was broken up and new concrete laid up to 20 inches thick. It was the first of the new series of Public Works Administration (PWA) contracts to be finalized and the first finished. The job took 60 days from start to finish and a ceremony was scheduled for October 21st to mark the record time. The newly surfaced road would bring traffic from the Seattle Highway directly into the downtown Tacoma shopping district. Standard Service Station and Firestone Store on left, OK Bakery and McKenzie Drug on right. (T. Times, 10/20/1938, p. 4).
Commercial streets--Tacoma--1930-1940; Bridges--Tacoma; Puyallup Avenue Bridge (Tacoma); Depressions--1929; Public Works Administration (Tacoma);
In 1938, buses replaced streetcars in Tacoma and major thoroughfares were repaved in concrete. Contractor Ray A. Moisio's crew resurfaced Puyallup Avenue from Pacific Avenue to East G Street in 60 days. Concrete, up to 20 inches thick, paved a level, 100-feet-wide and 2,601-feet-long section including sidewalks. The $54,710 contract, funded by the Public Works Administration, extended to the Seattle Highway and stimulated business in the downtown district. (T. Times, 10/20/1938, p. 4).
Commercial streets--Tacoma--1930-1940; Bridges--Tacoma; Puyallup Avenue Bridge (Tacoma); Depressions--1929; Public Works Administration (Tacoma);
View from Court C down 11th Street toward bridge. Fisher's Department Store on right, Rhodes Department Store, Fidelity, Rust, Washington, and Tacoma Buildings on left. Pedestrian and vehicle traffic downtown business district. (T. Times, 2/8/1939)
Commercial streets--Tacoma--1930-1940; Department stores--Tacoma--1930-1940;
Puyallup Avenue and Pacific Avenue intersection with Standard service station on left and MacKenzie Drug on right. To construct a level 100- feet-wide and 2,601 feet long road, old asphalt was broken up and new concrete laid up to 20 inches thick on Puyallup Ave.
Commercial streets--Tacoma--1930-1940; Standard Service Station (Tacoma); Vehicles--Tacoma; MacKenzie's Pharmacy (Tacoma);
Newly paved Pacific Avenue looking south from 9th Street. Automobiles and pedestrians are using the new street and sidewalks. A signal light hangs in the center of the intersection. Good view of buildings in 900 and 1000 blocks of Pacific Avenue.
This was the Pacific Avenue intersection of 17th St. Jefferson Ave./ Hood St. looking north in late August of 1939. Depot Service Station with Schenley Red Label billboard behind, Hotel Lewis on left; Sprague Block, on right. Streetcar tracks, railroad tracks crossing at angle.
Commercial streets--Tacoma--1930-1940; Depot Service Station (Tacoma); Hotel Lewis (Tacoma); Street railroad tracks--Tacoma--1930-1940;
The Anderson Building at the corner of 10th and Pacific was built in 1941, and in 1942 became the new home for Knapp College, the Federal Insurance Group, Gale's Rugs, and the Lutheran Service Center. Knapp's Modern Business College was founded in 1921 and for many years was the only fully accredited business training school in Tacoma. In 1965 they remodeled and expanded their building, and in 1975 they moved to 1001 North J Street. After being in business for almost 70 years, Knapp College declared bankruptcy and closed in 1990.
Anderson Building (Tacoma); Knapp College (Tacoma); Storefronts--Tacoma--1940-1950; Federal Insurance Group (Tacoma); Gale's Rugs (Tacoma); Lutheran Service Center (Tacoma);
This artistic rendering of the R.E. Anderson building on the southeast corner of 10th and Pacific was used to herald its opening in December of 1941. Albert Gardner of Los Angeles was tapped to draw up the plans. His modernistic design featured a center tower of cut stone granite lighted at night by spotlights. The 75 x 120 foot total structure was constructed of reinforced concrete. Knapp Business College took a lease on the entire second floor, with Gale's Rugs and S. Grimstead, Jeweler, relocating to the first floor. The modern design continued inside with all fluorescent lights and bronze trim. (T. Times 12/8/1941, pg. 4)
Anderson Building (Tacoma); Knapp College (Tacoma); Storefronts--Tacoma--1940-1950; Gales Rugs (Tacoma);
International Harvester Company. A view of the front of the International Harvester Company facilities, a one-story brick building. Signs on the front advertise "Motor Trucks".
Commercial facilities--Tacoma--1940-1950; International Harvester Co. (Tacoma);
Exterior of Rhodes Store, Olympic Ice. A five-story brick department store. Window displays of women's clothing are shown. Signs advertise War Bonds being sold at Rhodes. Miller's Furs and the Olympic Ice Cream stores are seen up the street on 11th. Pedestrian's images are blurred because they are walking and the camera's lens is open for a long time to get a good image of the building. Corner of 11th and Market.
Commercial buildings--Tacoma--1940-1950;Department stores--Tacoma--1940-1950; Rhodes Brothers Department Store (Tacoma); Miller's Furs (Tacoma); Olympic Ice Cream Co. (Tacoma);
Electrical Products Corporation, day and night, sign on Olympia Beer on Ingleside Cafe on Fort Lewis Highway. A view looking along North 2nd Street. Signal Gas station can be seen on the right side of the street. Trucks and automobiles can be seen driving and parked.
Buildings along the north side of Pacific Avenue, between 11th and 12th Streets. The businesses include Peoples Store, the Public Telephone Center, Walter C. Steel/Langlow Insurance (both in the Banker's Trust Building), Fine Art Studios, the State Savings and Loan Association, the Puget Sound National Bank Builidng, and the National Bank of Washington Building. The street shows automobiles, a bus and delivery trucks.
ca. 1943. Frederick C. Wolf & Son, Restaurant, Hotel and Institutional Supplies. Exterior of six-story brick building. Windows above the first floor have decorative panels at the top. Wolf & Son were manufacturers agents, offering among other things china, glassware, furniture and housewares. TPL-7134
Commercial facilities--Tacoma; Warehouses--Tacoma; Frederick C. Wolf & Sons, Inc. (Tacoma); Stores & shops--Tacoma--1940-1950;
ca. 1944. War Street. Downtown display of World War II artillery and military equipment. Large crowd of people meandering along the 900 block of Broadway where army trucks and other equipment are displayed. Stores in background include Kress 25 cent store, Leed's shoe store, Pay Less Drugs and the Bostwick Building in the mist at far right.
Commercial streets--Tacoma--1940-1950; Military vehicles--Tacoma--1940-1950;
Friden-Raymond Building. Charles T. Uhlman Block (Market Block) at South 9th and A Street, home of the Butler Hotel. This three story brick building has ornamental brickwork at the cornice, arched windows with Gibbs surrounds. The first story houses a barber shop, the Seattle Times, the Army Aid station, Friden Calculator Agency and Allen-Wales Adding Machine Agency. The upper stories have leaded-glass windows. Building by Pickles and Sutton, Architects, 1899. The building was razed in 1951.
Charles T. Ulhman Building (Tacoma); Hotels--Tacoma--1940-1950; Butler Hotel (Tacoma);
By October of 1941, the first phase of the 6th Avenue "face lift" was complete. The "jog" in the road at Sixth and Pine had been ironed out, eliminating a traffic bottleneck. The street had been widened and repaved. On the left is Central Bank (2816 6th Ave) and on the left is the Sixth Ave. Market (2809 6th Ave.) and Applings (2815 6th Ave.) The neon sign for the Sixth Ave. Bowling Center (2807 6th Ave.) can be seen in the right foreground. (T. Times 10/3/1941, pg. 7)
Business districts--Tacoma--1940-1950; Grocery Stores--Tacoma--1940-1950; Central Bank (Tacoma); Sixth Avenue Market (Tacoma); Sixth Ave. Bowling Center (Tacoma); Applings (Tacoma);
A view down the 1000 block of Broadway looking north featuring the six-story New York Building at 1117-19 Broadway where Broadway Furniture had been located. J.C. Penney and Fisher's Department stores are seen on the left in this June of 1950 photograph.
A view of the interior of the mezzanine of the New York Building where Broadway Furniture had been located. A few pieces of furniture are still stored here and on the ground floor. A wide stairway joins the mezzanine to the ground floor. The tin ceiling tiles can be seen as well as water pipes and chains and lighting fixtures.
This photograph of the Rust Building, at the corner of South 11th and Pacific, was taken in October of 1950, thirty years after it was built. Lundquist-Lily men's clothiers, Thom McAn shoes, Regal Shoe Company and C.P. Fawcett jewelers were located in the storefronts along Pacific Avenue. The neon sign advertising the name of the building can be seen on top of the 12- story building. The new F.W. Woolworth building can be seen behind the Rust Building on the far left side of the photograph. In 2003 it was renamed The Commerce Center. TPL-9495
Office buildings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Rust Building (Tacoma); Business districts--Tacoma;
This photograph of the west side of the 900 block of Pacific Avenue, looking south, was taken for a full page ad that ran in the December 13, 1950 Tacoma News Tribune. Sponsored by the Pacific Avenue Progress Club and the merchants of Pacific Avenue, the advertisement extolled the virtues of their street and stores for Christmas shopping. Many of the stores stayed open until 9 p.m. every evening from December 15 through the 24th. Pacific Avenue offered one-level shopping with "no hills to climb." Except for the Rust Building on the corner, all the buildings in the 900 block were torn down in the 1960s and replaced with a parking lot. (TNT 12/13/1950 p.B-1)
Commercial streets--Tacoma--1950-1960; Rust Building (Tacoma);
Exterior of office building at So. 13th & Broadway. The Happy Days Tavern is at 1302 So. Broadway and Dr. Steele's Dental Clinic is at 302 So. 13th St. The upper floors are occupied by the Le Roy Hotel, apartment units., 304 So. 13th St. The building is built on an incline, so that each office has a ground floor entrance on the 13th St. side, although it is on the upper floors on the Broadway side. The Le Roy has a fire escape on the 13th St. side. Street lights can be seen on both 13th & Broadway & the back of a city bus is visible in the foregound.
Office buildings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Fire escapes--Tacoma--1950-1960; Dental offices--Tacoma; Street lights--Tacoma--1950-1960; Buses--Tacoma--1950-1960; Bars; Eating & drinking facilities;
