An unidentified worker was photographed in November of 1920 in the corner of the Northern Novelty Manufacturing Co., 2909-13 So. Wilkeson, where the alder timber was sorted. Just in time for the holidays, the eight month old company was diversifying its production from tables to include wooden toys. They used the local alder to manufacture their patented specialties: the hubless and spokeless toy wheel and the "shimmy dog." (TDL 11/28/1920, pg. B6) G36.1-022 (also cataloged under G36.1 image 068)

Northern Novelty Manufacturing Co. (Tacoma); Toy industry--Tacoma--1920-1930; Cabinetmaking--Tacoma;

In November of 1920, Alice Moorefield was photographed working at the Northern Novelty Manufacturing Co., located at 2909-13 So. Wilkeson St. She was sharpening a wood chisel and was surrounded by the wood used by the eight month old company in their manufacture of wooden products. Miss Moorefield was rated as a "helper" and was able to handle any of the big machines used in finishing timber for the plant. The company, already successful in the construction of tables, was branching out into toy construction. They held patents on a hubless and spokeless wheel for mechanical toys and tea wagons and a toy called the "shimmy dog." They also held a contract to produce all the toys for the annual Tacoma Elks Christmas tree. (TDL 11/28/1920, pg. B6) TPL-1419; G32.1-011

Moorefield, Alice; Northern Novelty Manufacturing Co. (Tacoma); Toy industry--Tacoma--1920-1930; Women--Working class--1920-1930; Cabinetmaking--Tacoma;

An example of tables built by the Northern Novelty Manufacturing Co. was displayed outdoors in early November of 1920. The fold-down table was compact enough to fit in small places. Northern Novelty had opened for business in January of 1920 and by October of that year, had expanded their plant on South Wilkeson in order to manufacture wooden toys. G35.1-025

Northern Novelty Manufacturing Co. (Tacoma); Tables;

This photograph from November 1920 shows one of the huge 32 ton beams of the framework for the Scandinavian -American Bank nearing its resting place. The erectors stand on top of the beam, ready to secure it in position. The design for the bank called for 16 stories with 22 rooms per floor with 5,000 feet of rentable space. The 11th Street entrance would open on a 26 foot wide court with a huge colored glass dome forming the ceiling for the massive banking room below. The bank failed in January of 1921 and construction was halted. The building, after a re-design, was completed in 1925 and was renamed the Washington Building. (TDL 11/14/1920, pg. B-7) BU 10, 759, Boland B 3235

Scandinavian-American Bank (Tacoma); Building construction--Tacoma--1920-1930; Construction industry--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Jewelers at work at Mahncke & Co. By 1920, Mahncke & Co. had been in business at 914 Pacific Avenue for ten years. The pioneer jewelry firm, established in 1883, was owned and operated by Franz, William G., and Louis A. Mahncke. In 1923 the store would move a short distance away to 919 Broadway where it would remain for decades. Mahncke & Co. would be taken over by Friedlanders in 1956.

Mahncke & Co. (Tacoma); Jewelry stores--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Charles Blancherie, manager of S.B.& H. Candy Co., poses with his new Scripps-Booth automobile outside the Seymour Conservatory in Wright Park on November 11, 1920. He had recently accepted delivery of the vehicle from Tacoma Motors Co. Mr. Blancherie was a very satisfied Scripps-Booth owner; this model was his third purchase. (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 11-14-20, C-6) G11.1-044

Blancherie, Charles; Automobiles--Tacoma--1920-1930; Seymour Conservatory (Tacoma); Wright Park (Tacoma);

Silver display at Mahncke's. Rows of sterling silver and silver plate vases, tea sets, plates, trays and coffee pots were attractively displayed at pioneer jewelers, Mahncke & Co., in November of 1920. Mahncke & Co. was located at 914 Pacific Avenue. Established in 1883, it was "The Store That Quality Built." (TNT Ad -11-5-20, p. 4)

Mahncke & Co. (Tacoma); Jewelry stores--Tacoma--1920-1930; Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1920-1930; Tableware;

Star Iron & Steel Building at 435 E 11th St, Tacoma

Tideflats; Star Iron & Steel; Industries

For many, 1920 was the beginning of a "New Era," one of prosperity. For others, such as these three unidentified boys pictured in front of Burnett Brothers Jewelers, 934 Broadway, times were not so good. All three boys wear clothing that is torn and patched. This photograph was taken in December of 1920 in conjunction with a Red Cross Drive. Following the conclusion of World War I, the Red Cross expanded its health and welfare services, offering assistance locally to those in need. While the well publicized Hoover European Relief fund focused on the starving overseas, the Red Cross quietly helped those at home. G2.1-107; TPL-937

Burnett Brothers Jewelry (Tacoma); American Red Cross Pierce County Chapter (Tacoma); Boys--1920-1930;

Exhibit of Tacoma manufacturers. A small display of photographs, featuring Anne V. McRae as the "Petticoat Girl," discretely advertises the fitted petticoats manufactured by McRae's Petticoat Manufacturing Co. in 1920. The design was so revolutionary that it was patented. Since modesty prevailed, only sheets of sateens and silks were draped across the exhibit to indicate the fineness of materials used to manufacture superior quality merchandise. McRae's was located at 732-34 Market St., next to the Y.M.C.A. It was owned by Mrs. Estella M. McRae, believed to be pictured above in December, 1920. Her daughter Anne served as secretary in addition to modeling. McRae's Petticoats may have been selected to participate in the Tacoma Commercial Club's trade excursion to the Orient in January, 1921. The steamer Wenatchee was to carry businessmen and their wives to the ports of Yokohama, Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Manila in order to boost export of local products. G33.1-179 (TDL 10/10/1920 pg. B-6- article only)

Exhibit booths--Tacoma; McRae's Petticoat Manufacturing Co. (Tacoma);

Photographer Marvin Boland's notes indicate that this was the bank vault at the Scandinavian American Bank in December of 1920. At that time the bank was building a 16-story structure at 1019 Pacific Avenue. While the new building was being constructed, the bank conducted business at a temporary location at South 13th and Pacific. The bank failed in January of 1921 and construction stopped. The building remained unfinished until 1925 and is now known as the Washington Building. G34.1-019

Scandinavian-American Bank (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Vaults (Strong rooms)--Tacoma;

By the end of 1920 the Matthaei Bread Company located at 703 South Sprague Avenue had five White trucks and five "Dodge Brothers motor cars" in its fleet of delivery vehicles. The Matthaei Bread Company opened their bakery on South Sprague in April of 1913. Their building was known as "the plant of 150 windows". The Continental Baking Company moved into the building in 1930, and for over 70 years it was the home of Wonder Bread in Tacoma. BU-12471,

Matthaei Bread Co. (Tacoma); White trucks; Dodge automobile; Bakeries--Tacoma;

Miss Louise Bushnell White, sponsor, stood on the launching platform to pose for pictures on December 14, 1920 after smashing the customary bottle of champagne on the USS Omaha at Todd Shipyards in Tacoma. She was chosen to represent her home city of Omaha partially because she was a descendant of David Bushnell, inventor of the one-man submarine during the Revolutionary War. Posing with her on the platform are (order unknown) C.W. Wiley of Seattle, pres. of Todd Drydocks Inc., William H. Todd of NYC, pres. Todd Shipyards Corp. (believed to be left) and J.A. Eves of Tacoma, VP and general manager of Todd Drydock and Construction Corp. This was the 27th launching at the Todd yard. The Omaha was the longest vessel to be launched in the Northwest (at 550 feet, 6 inches) and the first ever to be launched bow first. It was a scout cruiser, the first of 10 scheduled to be built for the Navy, 3 currently under construction at Todd. The Omaha (CL4) was built as Hull #30 and delivered to the US Navy on February 24, 1923. It was scrapped in 1946. (TDL 12/15/1920, pg. 1+, 12/14/1920, pg. 1) G37.1-172; TPL-9554

White, Louise Bushnell; Launchings--Tacoma--1920-1930; Todd Dry Dock & Construction Corp. (Tacoma); Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1920-1930;

J.R. McKinnell opened the new Rose Theater at 514-16 South 11th Street in late December of 1920. The original Rose Theater was located at 905 South Tacoma Avenue (now Tacoma Avenue South) in the Lucerne Building. On the 28th of December the feature at the new Rose was "Ruth of the Rockies" starring Ruth Roland, one of the Queens of the early silent serials; she specialized in westerns and comedies. "Ruth of the Rockies" was one of her later films. The new movie house had been built by Tacoma contractors Wick and Johnson at an estimated price tag of $8,000 for a California client. It was constructed of reinforced concrete and was 22 feet high with a 35 x 65 foot footprint. The building was demolished July of 1996. (TDL 1/2/1921, pg. B6- photo, 12/12/20, pg. B-5 article) Boland B3470, BU-13,339, TPL-2394

Rose Theater (Tacoma); Motion picture theaters--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Six-piece Carmody's Orchestra. The six men, looking very alert, prepare to burst into music in this December 29, 1920, photograph. They may have been practicing for a New Year Eve's gig. TPL-1648; G40.1-041

Carmody's Orchestra; Musicians;

ca. 1921. St Paul's Catholic Cathedral, Yakima, WA. for Father Robert Armstrong, J.W. Maloney and J.E. McGuire, Associated Architects. Copy of architectural rendering of Spanish style church with decorated tower and large round window. (filed with Argentum)

St. Pauls Catholic Cathedral (Yakima); Catholic churches--Yakima; Architectural drawings;

ca. 1921. Pacific Luthern College's (later University) first building dominates the landscape in 1921. Designed by architect August Heide, the cornerstone was laid in 1891, one year after the college was founded. Known first as "Old Main," the landmark structure was renamed Harstad Hall for the school's first president, the Rev. B. A. Harstad. (B5709)

Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--1920-1930; Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--Buildings--1920-1930;

Includes a photo of one of the Willits Brothers manufacturing a canoe.

ca. 1921. The steamship "Indianapolis," one of two ships used in the Seattle to Tacoma steamship passenger service, docked at the Municipal Dock. The dock was located on the City Waterway (now the Thea Foss Waterway.) The ships would dock with their bows headed up the channel. The services of a tug would be required to turn the bow of the ships around to head back to Seattle. The Foss #12 and its captain William T. Case were assigned this duty. The "Indianapolis" was launched on May 5, 1904 as a Great Lakes steamship. Her inability to serve the large holiday crowds prompted her sale to the Puget Sound Navigation Co. in October of 1905. The vessel travelled around the Cape and began her new run in April of 1906. She served as a passenger transport from 1906-1938. She was converted in 1933 to a car ferry and scrapped in 1939. (photograph courtesy of the William T. Case collection) ("Ferryboats" by M.S. Kline and G.A. Bayless; "Puget Sound Ferries" Carolyn Neal & Thomas Kilday Janus)

Steamboats--Tacoma--1920-1930; Puget Sound Navigation Co. (Tacoma); Ferries--Tacoma--1920-1930; Marine terminals--Tacoma;

ca. 1921. Brown and Haley delivery trucks picking up a shipment behind the factory around 1921. At this time, the company was still manufacturing its candy under the name "Oriole Chocolates." The trucks have both the name Oriole, and the company's logo of an oriole bird, as well as Brown and Haley on the sides. One truck has printing proclaiming that Oriole Honor chocolates are the "Best in the West." In the center of the picture is one of the famous "All roads lead to Rhodes" street signs. TPL-4408

January 1, 1921 brought with it the proud news that the Tacoma branch of the Standard Oil Company had the enviable record of being 100 per cent accident free in their tank truck department. The eight trucks plus proud drivers and company officials were photographed lined up in front of what appear to be numbered garage doors. This record was especially notable since the trucks operated every day and night, delivering gasoline to the garages and service stations of the city. Their combined mileage was around 4,221 miles per month. They held the best record on the Pacific Coast. (TDL 1/9/1921, pg. 4-C) G66.2-137

Standard Oil Co. of California (Tacoma); Trucks--Tacoma--1920-1930; Fuel trade--Tacoma--1930-1940;

ca. 1921. View of Fairfax Bridge, AKA James R. O'Farrell Bridge, Carbon River Bridge, on State Route 165 spanning the Carbon River, 2.8 miles south of Carbonado, Pierce County. Built for $80,000 in 1921, the bridge was part of the nearly $500,000 Carbon River-Fairfax Road that connected the coal mining towns of Fairfax and Montezuma, Manley-Moore town, and the northwest corner of Mount Rainier National Park with the outside world. Prior to the bridge construction, the only way out was either through a long walk or by railroad. The bridge was closed in 1995 so that the approaches could be rebuilt and bridge redecked. It has survived other openings and closings due to landslides and fires; it went back into service in 1998. The Fairfax Bridge is one of only two extant three-hinged steel arches in the State of Washington. 494 feet in length, it has a 240-foot three-hinged spandrel braced rib deck arch, two 14-foot steel towers, and two timber trestle approach spans. At the time it was built, it was the highest bridge in the state. G15.1-036 (TNT 12-19-21, www.wsdot.wa.gov/environment/eao/culres/bridges/bridge_pierce_072.htm, www.nwhighways.amhosting.net/165.html)

Bridges--Washington; Fairfax Bridge;

Once considered one of the finest horse drawn busses in Tacoma, by January of 1921 this wooden coach had been reduced to being a woodcutters shed. Originally purchased in 1896 for the Tacoma Hotel for the astonishing price (at that time) of $1,200, it was sold to woodcutter T.B. Walker of Puyallup in late 1920 for $15. When equipped with a liveried driver and porter, and well-maintained with fresh coats of paint, the coach had presented an impressive view to the hotel's visitors. With the advent of the automotive age, however, the coach became obsolete and was eventually sold to the Tacoma Junk Co. where it languished in a vacant lot. Mr. Walker, standing at the open doorway, bought the tongueless old coach, outfitted it with a stove and stovepipe, and moved it to his wood lot in North Puyallup. Only the faded lettering on the side of the vehicle remained to hint of the coach's past glories. (TDL 1-23-21, A-12) Boland B3598, TPL-1421

Carriages & coaches--1920-1930; Axes; Fuelwood--Tacoma; Walker, T.B.;