At first glance, this 1921 photograph taken in downtown Tacoma appears to be of two separate streets; however, it is actually looking east down 11th Street toward the 11th Street (now Murray Morgan) Bridge. The composite picture shows the many pedestrians and occasional vehicles, including a streetcar. Prominent buildings to the left (and again on the right) are the Fidelity Building, Rust Building, and unfinished Scandinavian-American Bank Building (later completed and known as the Washington Building). The building in the center of the photograph is the Stone-Fisher Department Store, later to be known as the Bon Marche. TPL-6362; G57.1-137

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1920-1930; Business districts--Tacoma--1920-1930; Fidelity Building (Tacoma); Rust Building (Tacoma); Washington Building (Tacoma); Scandinavian-American Bank (Tacoma); 11th Street Bridge (Tacoma);

Four Mack trucks form a small convoy as they transport small tanks in May of 1921. Several soldiers are atop of the parked vehicles. The men, trucks and tanks were probably photographed at Camp Lewis. The Tacoma Sunday Ledger had reported on February 27, 1921, that one of the newest arrivals at Camp Lewis was the Fourth Company of Tanks, consisting of 25 tanks, 25 Bull Dog Mack trucks and 88 men and officers. The trucks were all 5-ton Macks which were used to transport the 6-ton American Renault-make tanks on long journeys and in actual warfare, would carry them to the frontline. All privates in the Fourth Company of Tanks were either machinists or automobile mechanics and would be fully capable of keeping the Mack trucks in top shape. TPL-2507; G69.1-153 (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 2-27-21, C-1-article)

Trucks--Camp Lewis; Mack trucks; Tanks (Military science)--Camp Lewis;

Parade marching north on Broadway. Group of U. S. Army soldiers, in uniform, are at the corner of 9th and Broadway. They are being followed by group of men from the U. S. Navy in their dress whites. Buildings include: Pantages Theater, Illington Hotel. Sign hangs from corner building for Malstom's Drugs. TPL-7060

Military parades & ceremonies--Tacoma--1920-1930; Pantages Theater (Tacoma)

Young band members sit in a long truck that is decorated with bunting and an American flag. There is a streetcar next to the truck. Photograph was taken on Pacific Ave. Shaw Supply Co. sign in background. TPL-7061

Floats (parades)--Tacoma--1920-1930;

On May 28, 1921, a long line of cars was photographed in front of People's department store, 1101-07 Pacific Ave, and extending down the street past the Bankers Trust Building and nearly to the Puget Sound Bank building. Each car has a sign in its windshield that says, "People's Store - Tacoma - Motor Club."

Peoples (Tacoma); Department stores--Tacoma--1920-1930; Automobiles--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Shipping operations. Piles of lumber are stacked at the St. Paul Docks in Tacoma in June of 1921. The big timber from St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. and the Puget Sound Lumber Co. will be exported via the waiting Japanese cargo ship, the "Genoa Maru," shown at far left. Two cranes would be used for this operation. It was her first visit to Tacoma. Another photograph of the ship and lumber is Boland B4201. G49.1-202 (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 6-12-21, B-8-article)

Shipping--Tacoma--1920-1930; Cargo ships--Japanese; Lumber industry--Tacoma--1920-1930; Piers & wharves--Tacoma--1920-1930; Hoisting machinery;

A large shipment of timber is waiting to be loaded onto the Japanese ship, the "Genoa Maru," in mid-June of 1921. The St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co., one of the largest mills in the area, had been shipping lumber, especially Douglas fir, overseas for years. The vessel was also to take on 750,000 feet of timber from the Puget Sound Lumber Co. The "Genoa Maru" had arrived on June 11th and was berthed at the St. Paul docks. The larger pieces of timber, consisting of 32 x 32" sq. and 40' long sections, were designated for the Japanese government and secured from Puget Sound Lumber. Two cranes were necessary to complete the loading. St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber's part of the cargo consisted of 1 million feet of lumber. Photograph ordered by the St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. G49.1-087 (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 6-12-21, B-8-article; Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 7-3-21, B-10-article)

Shipping--Tacoma--1920-1930; Cargo ships--Japanese; Lumber industry--Tacoma--1920-1930; Hoisting machinery;

Telephone company employees and their families enjoyed a festive picnic at Point Defiance in June of 1921. A long row of picnic tables is set along the sand on what is now called Owen Beach. The picnickers are dressed rather formally with men in suits and ties and women in dresses with hats. TPL-590; G41.1-063

Picnics--Tacoma--1920-1930; Point Defiance Park (Tacoma); Owen Beach (Tacoma);

This image is that of Tacoma's skyline in June of 1921. It was taken looking due west from the industrial Tideflats area. Pierce County Courthouse with spire is visible as well as the (new) Central School with tower. G27.1-067

Cityscapes; Pierce County Courthouse (Tacoma); Central School (Tacoma);

Pierce County agricultural scene. A curving dirt or gravel road is pictured in June of 1921 with a barn and farmhouse with additional buildings in the background. Wood-and-wire fences separate the barn and pasture from the other buildings. A variety of trees form a greenbelt to the back of the property.

Barns; Farms; Fences; Roads--Washington;

The ship "Liberator" is berthed at Terminal Dock while taking on cargo in June of 1921. Stadium High School, Stadium Bowl and the Washington State Historical Society building overlook the bay and the ship. The steamer had arrived from New York via ports on June 11th with a shipment of general cargo. The 6,027-ton ship sailed on June 13th for New York with a shipment of flour from Puget Sound Mills. TPL-6468; G49.1-064 (TDL 6-7-21, p. 7-article; TDL 6-10-21, p. 7-article)

Shipping--Tacoma--1920-1930; Piers & wharves--Tacoma--1920-1930; Cargo ships--Tacoma--1920-1930; Stadium High School (Tacoma); Stadium Bowl (Tacoma); Washington State Historical Building (Tacoma); Washington State Historical Society (Tacoma);

Solta The small fishing boat, the "Solta," cruises through the serene waters of Puget Sound in June of 1921. The unidentified man pictured above may be her skipper. The "Solta" was built by Visko Lisicich and was the first of three boats built by him. The others were the "Planet" and the "Helen L." The "Solta" was named after the island of Solta where Mr. Lisicich was born and raised. She was believed to have been built in Dockton on Vashon Island. In addition, the "Helen L." was named after Mr. Lisicich's daughter, Helen Lisicich Kokich. TPL-452; G34.1-083 (Additional information provided by a family member)

Fishing boats;

Unidentified building at Camp Murray as photographed in June of 1921. Railroad tracks located close by would make transporting men and equipment easier. Camp Murray was the home of the Washington National Guard and was located near American Lake. TPL-6466; G77.1-012

Camp Murray (Wash.); Railroad tracks--Camp Murray;

Arsenal at Camp Murray. The Arsenal was built on the grounds of Camp Murray in 1915 and nearly a hundred years later, is now the museum of the Washington National Guard. Here historical artifacts are collected and preserved to inspire and educate past and present Guardsmen and citizens alike. TPL-6467; G77.1-010

Camp Murray (Wash.); Arsenal (Camp Murray);

The upscale Ingleside Sunken Gardens was built in 20 days in 1921, with ground broken May 20 and the club opened early in June by owner/manager R.J. Fitzgerald. It was named the "Sunken Gardens" in tribute to Chicago's Green Mill Gardens, although it appears that there were no real gardens on the premises.Built at a cost of $20,000, the club would provide a location for dinner dances, theater parties and banquets for the Society Set. It was located on Pacific Highway in Lakewood, near the Country Club. The one story structure was mostly taken up by the large dining and dance hall with its 4000 square feet of hardwood dance floor. Twenty eight sets of French doors led from the dance floor to the promenade veranda that surrounded it, all enclosed with French windows. Kitchens and two banquet rooms took the remainder of the space. The dance hall had 120 specially designed tables that resembled flowers and seated 500 and a decorated balcony that housed the 6 piece orchestra. The "gardens" were eighteen miles of lattice work intertwined with $2,000 worth of ever-blooming artificial flowers. The club was open year round until it was destroyed by fire in 1936. (TNT 6/19/1921, pg. B-5- photo, 5/22/1921, pg. A-5) BU-13356

Ingleside Sunken Gardens (Lakewood); Dance halls--Lakewood; Taverns (Inns)--Lakewood;

Dining al fresco in heavily wooded Manitou Park on June 16, 1921 are two out-of-state tourists. Travelers came equipped with canvas tents, cooking supplies and even comfortable folding chairs all stuffed into their automobiles. Most visitors only stayed one night at the free campgrounds before moving on. 1921 was a busy summer camping season for Manitou Park: it was estimated that about 11,000 tourists visited the park in roughly 2,770 cars. It was a large increase from the previous year's totals of 3,600 visitors and 900 cars as word-of-mouth spread about the beauty of the Northwest and the welcome accommodations . (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 6-19-21, E-7; TNT 7-18-21, p. 3-article; TNT 9-21-21, p. 8-article )

Camping--Tacoma--1920-1930; Manitou Park (Tacoma);

This unidentified family of three is camped under the shade of tall trees at Manitou Park in South Tacoma in mid-June of 1921. A canvas tent is rigged over an automobile and folding chairs provided for relaxing. Two bottles of milk rest on top of a small table built onto the car's running board. Visitors to the park praised it for its beauty and cleanliness and it was a favorite stopping point for thousands of out-of-state tourists. The 10-acre Manitou Park was divided into three sections with three acres set aside for free camping for tourists only. Locals were invited to use a three-acre section for picnics or enjoy four acres of green lawns and shade trees. TPL-5859; G41.1-013 (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 6-19-21, E-7; TNT 7-18-21, p. 3-article)

Camping--Tacoma--1920-1930; Manitou Park (Tacoma);

Kitchen and dining room - Manitou Park, a ten-acre park located on the outskirts of South Tacoma. Three acres were set aside only for tourists for camping purposes. The Metropolitan Park board had erected a dining hall with ten tables, four stoves, piped-in water and made the ground level for tents. Surrounded by towering trees, the open-air kitchen featured a large fireplace while the adjacent dining room was framed on all sides. Although many visitors brought their own small portable stoves, they were welcome to use the camp's dining facilities, especially when it rained. G77.1-011 (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 6-19-21, E-7; TNT 7-18-21, p. 3-article)

Camping--Tacoma--1920-1930; Manitou Park (Tacoma);

Horse-drawn mail carts and 19th Century houses, seen in the background, were still prevalent in Tacoma's Central Business District when a postal employee posed with his rig in front of the 12th Street entrance to the Federal Building in June of 1921. The Federal Building housed the Main branch of the U.S. Post Office. The horse-drawn carts transported mail prior to the advent of motorized vehicles. TPL-164; G42.1-114

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1920-1930; Federal Building (Tacoma); Mail wagons--Tacoma--1920-1930; Postal service--1920-1930; Postal service employees--Tacoma--1920-1930; Letter carriers--Tacoma--1920-1930;

The Antlers Lodge, a historic hunting lodge located on the shores of the original Lake Cushman, as it appeared in June of 1921. On November 18, 1925, it was burned to the ground in a planned blaze intended to clear the Cushman Basin. Its location now lies under 160 feet of water in the expanded Lake Cushman created by the 1925 Cushman Dam that supplies power to Tacoma. The lodge was built by Russell Homan in the late years of the 19th century. Homan, the son of Erie Railway vice president Gilson Homan, and his partner Stanley Hopper, of the Singer sewing machine family, attracted a clientele of high society from New York, the East and the Northwest. The hotel's heyday was from 1890-1910, when the lodge was reached by stage coach and the average stay was one month. The popularity of the automobile shortened the trips to weekends and the lodge fell into disrepair. Homan was living nearby but no longer managing the Antlers at the time of its sale to Tacoma Public Utilities. (TNT 10/31/1925, pg. 1; 11/18/25, pg. 18)

Antlers (Lake Cushman); Lodges--Lake Cushman; Resorts--Lake Cushman; Cushman Dam #1 (Lake Cushman); Dams--Lake Cushman; Dam construction;

According to photographer Marvin Boland's notes, the above barn and chicken house were part of the Putnam Ranch in 1921. The exact location of the ranch was not given but is possibly the W.T. Putnam ranch which was the first settlement on the original Lake Cushman. Mr. Putnam sold his 300-acre ranch with farm house, barn, machine yard, water tower and misc. buildings to the City of Tacoma for $60,000. The property would be burned in late October of 1925 in preparation for the greater Lake Cushman as it would soon be under 160 feet of water. (TNT 10-31-25, p. 1-article on burning)

Barns; Poultry houses;

Unidentified group of buildings, probably part of a farm, as photographed in June of 1921. Water tower on right. G6.1-013

Farms; Water towers;

Several rowboats from the Antlers Lodge are moored on placid Lake Cushman in June of 1921. This is the original Lake Cushman prior to its expansion in 1925. The Antlers Lodge was a hunting lodge located on the shores of Lake Cushman which had catered to wealthy patrons. They had flocked to relax at the pristine lake which was fed by the icy waters of the Skokomish River. Fishing tackle and rowboats were supplied by the Antlers Lodge so that visitors could try their luck at the trout-filled lake. By 1921 the lodge had seen its heyday pass and in 1925 it would be deliberately set ablaze as part of the planned clearing of Cushman Basin. (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 6-19-21, C-1-article on Lake Cushman)

Rowboats; Lake Cushman (Wash.);

A veteran of the road, F.A. Read, is pictured in the "Official Car" of the Automobile Club of Western Washington. It was fortunate for him that on this rainy day in June of 1921 his 490 Chevrolet roadster with special built body came equipped with a hardtop. Automobile tires were much narrower then, as viewed above, and he prudently carried a spare which was mounted outside the driver's side. Mr. Read, an employee of the Automobile Club of Western Washington, spent most of his time mapping new roads which involved much travel. He appreciated his Chevrolet for its low operating cost and ability to roam where other vehicles may have had difficulty. G11.1-050 (T.Times 7-2-21, p. 10)

Chevrolet automobile; Tires; Read, F.A.;

Two of the entries in the 1921 Tacoma Speedway Classic are pictured above, with Tom Alley's #27 Frontenac lined up ahead of Eddie Hearne's #1 Revere. It was Mr. Alley's first visit to Washington State although he was a veteran driver and considered one of the pioneers of racing. Mr. Hearne's white Revere was the same car he drove in 1920 when he finished third. The finishing line in 1922 saw these two cars switched in position: Mr. Hearne finished fourth with a time of 2:39:42, an eye-blink ahead of Mr. Alley's 2:39:44. Finishing fourth garnered Mr. Hearne $1,750 and 80 championship driving points while Mr. Alley's fifth place finish won him $1,500 and 50 championship points. The field of nine fast cars saw Tommy Milton nose out Roscoe Sarles for the $10,000 first place prize. (TNT 7-5-21, p. 1,2-results) G52.1-018

Alley, Tom; Hearne, Eddie; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1920-1930; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1920-1930; Racing automobiles--1920-1930; Frontenac automobile; Revere automobile;

Frank Elliott was returning to race in the July 4th, 1921, Tacoma Speedway Classic after an absence of several years. His last appearance in Tacoma was the 1915 Inter-city race. He was replacing Howard Wilcox as the driver of a Leach Special in the 1921 race. Elliott began racing in 1914 as an amateur, driving a souped up Ford that he built himself. He is #56 on the All Time Champ Car World Series Victories, with 5 career wins. Speedway-091 (TDL 7/3/1921, pg. C-3)

Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1920-1930; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1920-1930; Elliott, Frank; Automobile racing drivers;

In 1921, Edward "Eddie" Miller was in Tacoma for his second local appearance at the July 4th Tacoma Speedway Classic. He had been slated to race in 1920, and then loaned his car out in a two way swap with Ralph DePalma and Eddie O'Donnell. He was accompanied by his bride of two weeks. Although Miller would be driving during the race, he had spent most of this career as a mechanic. Associated with the Duesenberg race team since 1916, he had riden as a mechanic with six drivers. He had also built twenty-three race cars, more than any other driver or mechanic. Speedway-126 (TDL 7/3/1921, pg. C-1)

Miller, Edward; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1920-1930; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1920-1930; Automobile racing drivers;

Novice driver Alton Soules, 28, posed at the Tacoma Speedway in July of 1921. Soules raced a Frontenac in the 1921 Speedway Classic where he had the lead from the second to the sixty-first lap when his old pistons failed and the connecting rod broke. The native of Toledo, Ohio had started racing as a driver in 1920, specializing in board tracks. Previously he had ridden as mechanic with racing greats Joe Thomas, Eddie Pullen, Wilbur D'Alene, Omar Toft and Hughie Hughes. He was the nephew of Charlie Soules, who held the world record for a 24 hour run on a dirt road. After the Tacoma race, Alton Soules was planning to race at Santa Rosa, Uniontown, San Francisco, Fresno and Los Angeles. He never made it to Los Angeles; Soules and his riding mechanic Harry Barner were killed in an accident on lap 75 at the Fresno Speedway on October 1, 1921. (TDL 7/3/1921, pg. C-6; TNT 7-5-21, p. 1,2--results; www.motorsportmemorial.org)

Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1920-1930; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1920-1930; Soules, Alton; Automobile racing drivers;

Kennedy's Tavern and Union Garage, Union, Mason county, Washington. Tavern was operated by Mack Kennedy. TPL-7062

Taverns (Inns)--Washington--Union--1920-1930; Kennedy's Tavern (Union); Garages--Washington--Union--1920-1930; Union Garage (Union);

Kennedy's Tavern, Union, Mason County, Washington. Sign on building at left for Union Garage. TPL-7063

Taverns (Inns)--Washington--Union--1920-1930; Kennedy's Tavern (Union);