A pile of slot machines awaits the sledgehammer of Chief Deputy Sheriff John Piper on October 9, 1929 at the county courthouse. These were a sample of the 39 slots ordered destroyed following seizure by county officers from various places of businesses in Pierce County. A total of $244.85 in nickels, dimes and quarters was taken from the machines. This amount, less $10 for trucking, was turned over to the county school fund. The machines, minus their cash, were taken to the waterfront and dumped into Commencement Bay. (TNT 10-10-29, p. 17) TPL-8466;

Utilities Commissioner Ira S. Davisson is flanked by Tacoma Mayor James G. Newbegin and U.S.S. Lexington commander, Capt. Frank D. Berrien, on December 16, 1929, as they happily examine hook-up plans that will allow the aircraft carrier to provide much needed power to Tacoma. Severe drought conditions caused Tacoma to take an unprecedented step in requesting the aid of the powerful ship in generating supplemental electricity. (T.Times, 12-16-29, p. 1)

Lt. Cdr. H.L. White, Chief Engineer, and U.S.S. Lexington commander, Capt. Frank D. Berrien, flank Tacoma Mayor James G. Newbergin on the deck of the massive aircraft carrier in December, 1929. The ship is berthed at Baker Dock and shortly will be pouring electricity into Tacoma's power lines. By the time the Lexington left in mid-January, it had generated over 4 million kilowatt hours.

Perched high above the flight deck of the U.S.S. Lexington on the 8-inch guns of the forward turrets, these young women do not appear at all nervous during their visit to the aircraft carrier in December, 1929. The Navy did permit tours of the ship which was tied up at Baker Dock from mid-December, 1929, to mid-January, 1930, to provide power to the City of Tacoma. Schoolchildren and Boy Scouts were among those who visited the large ship. On December 23, 1929, Freda Gardener, of the Tacoma Chamber of Commerce, Ethel Haasarud, RKO cashier, and Naomi Dykeman, head usher, Fox Rialto, were present to promote the Chamber of Commerce's big dance for the Lexington's enlisted men to be held on December 26 at the Greenwich Coliseum. They would be the judges awarding prizes to the most handsome, most happy and best dancer present at the dance. TPL-1774 (T.Times, 12-23-29, p. 1)

Sailors clean deck of U.S.S. Lexington while three young ladies watch, December 23, 1929. Tied up at Baker Dock, the Lexington's mission was to supply Tacoma with auxiliary power during the city's electrical crisis. Chores still had to be completed, however, even when guests were present. Ethel Haasarud, Freda Gardner and Naomi Dykeman appear amused at the switch in roles. They were aboard promoting the big Chamber of Commerce dance for enlisted Lexington personnel on December 26th; the women would act as judges in awarding prizes to the sailors chosen as the most handsome, most happy and best dancer. TPL-1776 (T.Times, 12-23-29, p. 1, TDL 12-24-1929 p.3)

3 young ladies looking at cannon of U.S.S. Lexington, December, 1929. The Navy did permit some tours of the ship which had come to Tacoma to assist in the production of auxiliary power. These young women appear intrigued at the size of the Navy's firepower. They had persuaded the ship's officers to lower the 8-inch guns so that they could more closely view the muzzles. Ethel Haasarud, Freda Gardner, and Naomi Dykeman were the panel of judges of the "Supreme Beauty Court of Tacoma." These ladies would choose the most handsome, most happy, and best dancer at the big Chamber of Commerce dance for enlisted personnel of the Lexington on December 26th. TPL-005 (T.Times, 12-23-1929, p. 1)

John MacKessy, 13, smiled for the camera from his stretcher during the trial run on December 24, 1929 for his big Christmas Day outing. It would be his first Christmas Day out of bed in three years. He and 125 other children were guests at a Christmas party on the USS Lexington, which was tied up at Baker Dock helping to supply electricity to Tacoma. The trip was supplied by the Tacoma Sciots, a Masonic social group, that took care of the boy. Pictured, left to right, were Maurice Raymond (club sec.), John G. Thorstenson (pres.), Chief of Police M.D. Guy and officer Dick Rodius who drove the boy. He was transported in a police paddy wagon. Young MacKessy suffered from inflammation in the bones of his feet, legs and hips and his family needed assistance to care for him properly. (TNT 12/24/1929, pg. 3)

ca. 1929. Pilot Harold Bromley and his wife and son prior to his failed July 28, 1929 attempt at a trans Pacific Tacoma to Tokyo flight. His son was approximately six years old at the time of this picture. Harold Bromley was born on November 10, 1898 in Victoria, B.C. As a teenager, he enlisted in the Canadian army and served as a machine gunner in World War I. He joined a Canadian unit of the Royal Air Force and made his first solo flight just as the war ended. He fell in love with flying. After a career as a barnstormer and stunt pilot, he settled in Olympia and operated a flying school in Tacoma in the twenties. He also worked as a test pilot for Lockheed in Burbank, California. Tacoma businessmen, headed by Canadian-born John Buffelen, financed numerous attempts by Bromley to fly across the Pacific. After two years and faced with the Depression, his Tacoma backers could not afford another flight. Bromley died at the age of 99 in a Palm Desert nursing home. He outlived his first wife and son and enjoyed a varied career as a pilot, aviation inspector, farmer and real estate salesman. BGN-310E (TNT 1/11/1998)

ca. 1929. Herb Fahey, Lockheed test pilot, presents Harold Bromley with a lucky rabbit's foot prior to Bromley's attempt to fly the Lockheed Vega monoplane the "City of Tacoma" from Tacoma to Tokyo. The woman standing between the men is believed to be Bromley's first wife. The rabbit's foot did not give off much good luck since Bromley was blinded by gasoline spewing from overfilled tanks and crashed during his first attempt at the trans Pacific crossing on take off. Fahey was the test pilot on the second "City of Tacoma" which crashed in September of 1929 during testing. Fahey suffered a broken arm and skull fractures. He recovered but was killed months later test piloting another Lockheed plane. BGN-019

ca. 1929. The first "City of Tacoma" monoplane poised at the top of a ramp designed to give the plane more momentum on take off. On July 28, 1929, Harold Bromley intended to enter the history books as the first pilot to fly solo and nonstop from Tacoma to Tokyo. The early dawn flight was scheduled to take off from Tacoma Field, an area that is now part of McChord Air Force base. The large orange Vega crashed on takeoff. BGN-310K

ca. 1929. Herb Fahey, Lockheed test pilot, presents Harold Bromley with his lucky rabbit's foot prior to Bromley's attempt to pilot the Lockheed Vega "City of Tacoma," shown in the background, from Tacoma to Tokyo. The monoplane crashed on take off July 28, 1929 when the tanks were overfilled and Bromley was blinded by flying gasoline. The plane was insured and Lockheed constructed a new plane, using some of the parts of the original. Fahey was the test pilot when the second plane crashed in September of 1929 during tests in California. Fahey was seriously injured but recovered, only to be killed months later in an unrelated Lockheed crash.

ca. 1929. Conjunction of Pacific Ave., and Commerce, Jefferson and South 17th Streets circa 1929. At the far left edge is the Carlton Hotel, 1552 Jefferson Ave. The building at 1701 Commerce St. (near lower center) was built on the site of the old Northern Pacific Railroad passenger station, dubbed "Villard Depot," which was subsequently moved across the street and demolished in 1909. The Teamsters & Chauffers Hiring Hall occupied the 1701 Commerce St. address from 1928-1977. In the 1500 block of Pacific Ave. (center) are the Hotel Croft and other businesses. Puget Sound National Bank's familiar spire is in the center background.

ca. 1929. Harold Bromley in cockpit of his Lockheed airplane the "City of Tacoma" prior to his ill-fated July 28, 1929 attempt at a trans Pacific Tacoma to Tokyo flight. The all wood low wing monoplane was painted bright orange. The original design was the Vega, designed for Capt. Hubert Wilkins' Antarctic expedition. It was modified to have a larger engine and to hold enough gasoline for what would be the longest single flight ever undertaken. The handsome Bromley, 29 at the time of the flight, was a dashing Lieutenant in the Royal Air Force, a former barnstormer and stunt pilot, who taught aviation at the fledgling Tacoma Airfield. The flight ended in disaster when spewing gasoline blinded Bromley in take off and the plane crashed nose down just off the runway, with Bromley's tail cockpit nine feet off the ground. Three more planes were built over the next 2 years, but Bromley never reached his goal of a record flight. He died at the age of 99 in 1997, after a full life as a pilot, a federal aviation inspector, a grape and date farmer and a real estate salesman. BGN-310J

ca. 1929. Harold Bromley posed in his Lockheed plane "City of Tacoma" at Tacoma Field, preparing for his July 28, 1929 flight from Tacoma to Tokyo. Excitement seized the nation as Charles Lindbergh conquered the Atlantic in 1927 and a flight across the Pacific beckoned as the next great prize. Bromley, then 28, persuaded a group of Tacoma businessmen headed by lumberman John Buffelen to financially support his efforts to make the alliterative "Tacoma to Tokyo" nonstop solo flight, putting their city's name on the aviation map. The "City of Tacoma," the low wing Lockheed monoplane created for the flight, weighed 8,850 pounds including its load, had an open cockpit near the wing, a Wasp 425 horsepower engine, a cruising speed of 150 miles per hour and carried 885 gallons of gasoline. There was a little room left over for three compasses, an inflatable raft, a flare gun and sandwiches. TPL-217

ca. 1929. Head of Commencement Bay while Sullivan Service at 101 Puyallup Ave. (lower left) was under construction. This aerial view was taken circa 1929. Visible landmarks and streets included: the Union Station at upper left corner; Albers Bros. Milling Co. at upper center (large darker building) ; Northwest Woodenware Co. at center along waterway; Wheeler-Osgood Co.'s saw mill at right center. The Sullivan Service was being built at this time facing Puyallup Ave. at left. Puyallup Ave., which runs horizontally left to right, also had the Independent Paper Stock Co. kitty-corner from Sullivan's at 132 Puyallup Ave. The Washington Gas & Electric Co. was also on the same side of Puyallup Ave. as the Independent Paper Stock Co., at 212-216, and was the large building near right. The street at lower bottom running left to right is South 25th St. E. (photograph torn at left corner)

January 1930 would have started off as a very dark year in Tacoma without the assistance of the U.S.S. Lexington, pictured here encircled by mist at Baker Dock. She arrived in Tacoma about December 17, 1929, and remained to mid-January, 1930, to provide electricity to the City of Tacoma. A severe drought in 1929 had left dams without sufficient water. After much negotiation, the fourth largest ship afloat (at that time) was ordered by the Navy to aid Tacoma; it was the first time in history that a ship had provided power for a city. The U.S.S. Lexington, badly damaged in the 1942 Battle of the Coral Sea by Japanese fire, would be sunk by the American destroyer, U.S.S. Phelps. TPL-006.

From mid-December, 1929 to mid-January, 1930 the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Lexington used its enormous generators to provide electricity for the city of Tacoma. It took four powerful navy tugboats assisted by three Foss tugs to push the 33,000 ton vessel into position at the Baker Dock. A severe drought had greatly reduced the amount of electricity available to Tacoma from the city's hydro-electric dams. During its month long stay the Lexington generated enough power to furnish 25% of the city's power needs. (T.Times, 12-16-29, p. 1)

Organist, Miss Esther Stayner sitting at the organ of the Broadway Theater. BU-11246

ca. 1929. U.S.S. Lexington at Baker Dock. This photograph is undated but was probably taken in the winter, mid-December to mid-January, of 1929-30 when the Lexington steamed into Commencement Bay and tied up at Baker Dock. The aircraft carrier was summoned to help Tacoma in their power shortage; it was the first time that a ship was used in this capacity. She would generate over 4 million kilowatt hours of electrical power. Bowen # 310-129

ca. 1929. U.S.S. Lexington in Puget Sound. This photograph is undated but may have been taken roughly in the winter of 1929-30 when the Lexington streamed into Commencement Bay and tied up at Baker Dock. The small dory alongside the ship possibly carried the mayor of Tacoma, James Newbegin, and other dignitaries. The aircraft carrier was summoned to help Tacoma in their power shortage; it was the first time that a ship was used in this capacity. She would generate over 4 million kilowatt hours of electrical power. The Lexington, known as the "Queen of the Flattops," was launched in 1925 and was armed with twelve five-inch .25 calibre anti-aircraft guns, 4 six-pounder saluting guns and eight three-inch .55 calibre breechloading rifles. She performed humanitarian relief efforts during the Nicaraguan earthquake of 1931 and also made a futile search for Amelia Earhart when the aviatrix disappeared in 1937. The ship was sunk during the Battle of the Coral Sea in 1942. (Marine Digest, 6-9-73, p. 11-16) TPL-009

Bremerton Navy yard in July of 1930.

Cranes at the Bremerton Navy Yard in July of 1930.

Bremerton Navy Yard in July of 1930.

Bremerton Navy Yard in July of 1930.

Bremerton Navy Yard in July of 1930.

Bremerton Navy Yard in July of 1930. USS New York in dry dock. The battleship New York saw service in both WWI and WWII.

A large crowd of baseball fans gathered outside the Tribune Publishing Company building to watch the box score of the World Series game between the Philadelphia Athletics and the St. Louis Cardinals on October 5, 1930. The News Tribune had a large scoreboard mounted on the front of their building which allowed fans to follow the game play-by-play. Although Cardinals pitcher Jesse Haines outdueled Lefty Grove 3-1 to tie the Series up at 2 wins apiece, the Athletics would ultimately prevail, winning the World Series 4 games to 2. BU-12852, TPL-2115

Pierce County Sheriff Tom Desmond stands next to the what is left of a $12,000 still at the County Courthouse on October 23, 1930. Somehow thieves managed to spirit away part of the still, a seven-foot contraption with twelve compartments and twelve faucets. The grain alcohol still, capable of producing 250 gallons of grain alcohol a day, was seized in a raid at Point Fosdick on October 18, 1930. It was put in a corridor of the courthouse near the entrance of the jail. The seven-foot part went missing on the night of the 20th. Consequently, two deputy sheriffs were fired for "gross carelessness." (TNT 10-23-30, p. 1)

ca. 1930. Harold Bromley's fourth airplane, the "City of Tacoma, " designed for his Tokyo to Tacoma flight. The red single engine high wing monoplane was built by Emsco Aircraft of Downey, California. It had a 60 foot "high lift" wing and was 35 feet from nose to rudder. The 425 horsepower Pratt & Whitney engine gave it a cruising speed of 115 mph. The plane could hold 1020 gallons of gasoline and 45 gallons of oil and would weigh over 10,000 pounds on take off. Bromley would now be accompanied on his flight by Australian Harold Gatty, serving as navigator, radio operator and co-pilot. The plane could fly 45 hours nonstop. Bromley reversed his trans-Pacific plans, now planning to fly Tokyo-Tacoma to take advantage of winds that would increase the plane's speed. They had the capability to fly 4,840 miles, the distance between the two cities was 4,779 miles, a 61 mile safety margin. (Bowen #269)

ca. 1930. Westminster Presbyterian Church, 4845 So. L St., Tacoma. Built in 1892 and remodeled in 1922.