ca. 1924. Progress photograph - State Legislative (Capitol) Building. Although construction on the Legislative Building in Olympia had begun in 1923, it was not the first attempt at the creation of a new state capitol building. Ernest Flagg of New York City had won a national competition in 1894 to become the project's architect. His design called for a compact structure facing south with "rusticated" ground floor, two main floors and an attic. The dome would have a "Gilded Age" appearance. Excavation and construction of foundations and basement, of brick and exterior gray Tenino stone, followed. However, a change of administration delayed the construction of a permanent state capitol building and the legislature instead moved into the Thurston County Courthouse in downtown Olympia until 1927. The lack of space in the courthouse instigated a call for the resumption of plans to build a new state capitol building. A richer, larger scale plan was sought which would include the Temple of Justice and future buildings grouped as necessary. Only 30 entries were submitted in 1911 with another New York City twosome, Walter Robb Wilder and Harry Keith White, emerging as the winners. The Temple of Justice and Insurance Building would be completed first, in 1920 and 1921 respectively. The Legislative Building would be constructed on the site of the Flagg foundations. Pictured above ca. 1924 are the foundations and monumental steps. The stone facing is of Wilkeson stone from quarries in Pierce County; lighter in color than Tenino or Chuckanut stone, it was felt that the off-white tones with cream and pink hints would provide a warmer appearance on cold, rainy days. Durable, Wilkeson stone was available in vast quantities and would be used during the years of construction. (Johnston: Washington's Audacious State Capitol and Its Builders)

Building construction--Olympia--1920-1930; Legislative Building (Olympia);

ca. 1927. View of State Capitol buildings after 1925. L-R are the Insurance Building, Legislative (Capitol) Building, and the Temple of Justice. All buildings utilized Wilkeson stone, a durable sandstone, from the quarries of Pierce County. The Temple of Justice was accepted by the state in August of 1920 at a total cost of $942,230. Located east of the Legislative Building, the Insurance Building was constructed in response to the increasing office space needs of the state government. Using elements of the Roman Doric order, the Insurance Building was occupied in 1921 by a variety of state offices including the governor's office. The Insurance Building cost more than the Temple of Justice - at slightly over a million dollars. ($1,032,000.) The Legislative Building was the last of the three to be officially completed in 1928 with its total cost $7,385,768.21, including nearly $600,000 in furnishings. Landscaping of the complex would follow. (Johnston: Washington's Audacious State Capitol and Its Builders)

Legislative Building (Olympia); Insurance Building (Olympia); Temple of Justice (Olympia);

ca. 1923. "Mastery," sculpture by Allan Clark located over the main doorway at the Suzzallo Library at the University of Washington, Seattle. In 1923, at the age of 27, sculptor Allan Clark of Tacoma was given his biggest commission, 21 statues intended for the new library at the University of Washington. Eighteen were terra cotta figures of famous men who had influenced history. The three largest statues were cast stone figures designed to embody the concepts of "Mastery, Inspiration and Thought." Photograph courtesy of Mrs. Harry P. Clark

Clark, Allan, 1896-1950--Associated objects; Sculpture--Seattle;

Mt. Rainier from the Ohop Valley

ca. 1910. Members of the A.S.M.W.I. A. (Amalgamated Sheet Metal Workers International Association), Local #99 of Seattle posed outside the Fisher Flouring Mills Co. circa 1910. Nearly all are dressed in overalls. Although the photographer, J.J. Kneisle has labeled the picture "A.S.M.W.I.A., " the union's name had changed to the Sheet Metal Workers International Alliance in 1903. The union movement was growing with membership of over 100 local unions and over 5000 people at the turn of the century. In 1924 the union's name would change again to the Sheet Metal Workers International Association. (www.smwia.org)

Labor unions--Seattle; Sheet Metal Workers (Seattle);

ca. 1926. As the Foss family expanded their operations into the Olympic Peninsula, Henry Foss rented the home on the extreme left when in the area to oversee the company's growth. It was also used by Foss employees when they were towing on the river. The cabin was located on Rialto Beach, out from the town of Mora, near the mouth of the Quillayute River. The large home on the right was the summer home of the magician "Alexander the Great," better known on stage as the one who "knows all, sees all." In 1926, Foss was awarded a contract by Washington Pulp & Paper Corporation of Port Angeles to tow a barge load per day of pulp wood from the Quillayute River on the Olympic Peninsula to the company's Port Angeles plant. The Foss #21 was assigned to this task and continued until the pulp wood camps there were closed in 1930. In 1926, Foss also purchased the Angeles Gravel & Supply Co. and took over their operations. Foss executive Henry Berg was placed in charge of the Port Angeles office. They continued to capitalize on future Peninsula towing opportunities, including the large scale movement of materials for the paving of what is now Highway 101. (photograph courtesy of the William T. Case collection) ("Foss: A Living Legend" by Bruce Johnson and Mike Skalley) (TDL 8/14/1927, pg. G-1)

Foss, Henry O., 1891-1986--Homes & haunts; Alexander--Homes & haunts; Cabins--Olympic Peninsula; Foss Launch & Tug Co. (Tacoma);

In April of 1924, the fifth grade students from Orting School were photographed in front of their school building. For a list of the names printed on the back of the photograph, see Series RUCSHNER Image 001B. Theresa Rucshner, front seated row 4th from left, was eleven years old in this photograph. (scanned copy only - no hard copy) Photograph donated by Shirley Frasl Sigafoos.

School children--Orting; Orting School--Group portraits; Rucshner, Theresa; Orting School (Orting); Public schools--Orting--1920-1930;

Santa Claus with a group of children and three men at the Christmas party given by the Lumber & Sawmill Workers Union in Tacoma. One of the girls has an accordion.

Accordions; Parties--Tacoma--1940-1950; Labor unions--Tacoma--1940-1950; Lumber & Sawmill Workers Union (Tacoma); Santa Claus--Tacoma;

Carol Glenn of Bethel High School was crowned the 1977 Daffodil Festival Queen in ceremonies held at Pacific Lutheran University on March 9, 1977. Miss Glenn, a senior, was the first top royalty selected from her school and the first African-American to receive that honor. There were a total of 18 princesses, each representing a public school in Pierce County. Miss Glenn, the daughter of retired Staff Sergeant and Mrs. Robert Glenn of Spanaway, was one of nine children. She planned to use the $1000 college scholarship awarded to the queen to further her studies at Pacific Lutheran University. (TNT 3-10-77, A-1, 3)

Glenn, Carol; Beauty contestants--Tacoma--1970-1980; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1977 : Tacoma); African American women--Tacoma--1970-1980;

1979 Daffodil Festival Queen. Curtis High School princess Paula Nelson had the honor of being her school's first representative to be selected Daffodil Festival Queen. Miss Nelson, 18, bore the title "Paula ll" as she was the second Paula named queen. At her March 12, 1979, coronation, she was draped with a royal cloak of velvet traced with sequins and a heavy gold crown mixed with amethysts and other semi-precious jewels was placed on her head by Pierce County Commissioner Joe Stortini. A scepter, a symbol of her reign, would be inscribed with her name. The daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William E. Nelson, Miss Nelson was chosen on the basis of her appearance, poise and speaking ability. (TNT 3-13-79, A-1, A-10)

Nelson, Paula; Beauty contestants--Tacoma--1970-1980; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1979 : Tacoma); Crowns; Scepters; Daffodils;

Bernice Shafer rang a small hand bell at the corner of south 11th and Broadway for the Volunteer Workers of America on December 18, 1929. The Volunteer Workers together with the Union Gospel Mission were collecting money to buy food for families during the holidays. Although overall the donations were down from the previous year, Bernice was doing better with the downtown shopping crowd, even receiving one donation of $5. (TNT 12/18/1929, pg. 1) BGN-642

Shafer, Bernice; Volunteer Workers of America (Tacoma); Fund raising--Tacoma--1920-1930; Charitable organizations--Tacoma--1920-1930; Community service--Tacoma--1920-1930; Holidays--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Employees of the Pacific Match Company, Tacoma, Washington, pose for an outdoors group company photograph for Tacoma's Golden Jubilee celebration. Tacoma held a massive celebration in July of 1939 of Washington's fifty years of statehood with a grand parade, water carnival, air show and pageant. Everyone got into the spirit of the jubilee by wearing hats and bonnets as proudly worn by Pacific Match's employees shown above. (Ron Neslund Collection)

Pacific Match Co. (Tacoma)--People; Washington State Golden Jubilee, 1939--Tacoma;

Herbert Ward, 2nd left, chief probation officer and head of Remann Hall, and five young boys, salute the American flag, a gift of members of American Legion Post No. 138. Post members from left to right are: Ed Faker, William (Bill) Miller, Carl Kruse, Vito Lanza, and Thomas Alongi. The facility opened in 1949 to provide care for dependent and delinquent children ranging in age from 4 days to 17 years. By 1953, most of the 91 residents living at Remann Hall had been placed there due to "disease, death, divorce or depravity" of a parent.

Reformatories; Juvenile delinquents; Abandoned children; Abused children; Runaway children; Boys; Veterans organizations; American Legion Tacoma Post No. 138 (Tacoma); Flags; Patriotism;

Bishop Edward J. O'Dea at dedication of St. Joseph's Catholic Church, 602 South 34th Street, on May 19, 1912. He was assisted by Rev. Father Paul Kern and Rev. Aloysius Mlinar, rector. Some of the 150 members appeared in this photograph with two young girls carrying large bouquets. St. Joseph's was the first Slovak Catholic church built in the Northwest. The building and ground were paid for entirely by Slavonian church members or those in the Slovak community. The church was built by its congregation who labored after finishing their regular jobs. It was estimated that this volunteer labor saved more than $10,000 in construction costs with the building costs initially set at $25,000. (TDL 5-19-12, p. 33-article)

St. Joseph's Slovak Catholic Church (Tacoma); Catholic churches--Tacoma--1910-1912; Church dedications--Tacoma;

ca. 1982. Doug Sutherland was elected mayor of Tacoma Nov. 7, 1981 and served two terms from 1982 to 1990. Born in Helena, Montana, Mr. Sutherland is a graduate of Central Washington University. Prior to and during his time as a city councilman and mayor, he owned Tacoma Tent & Awning Co. While mayor, Mr. Sutherland worked to clean up Tacoma's air and the Commencement Bay Superfund site. He was involved in the historic Puyallup land claims settlement, restoration of Union Station and the Pantages and construction of the Tacoma Dome. With his help, the University of Washington-Tacoma and the new Washington State Historical Museum were initiated. Mr. Sutherland became the first city manager of Sea-Tac after his last mayoral term expired with his imput being vital in the creation of a fully functioning city. He returned to Pierce County as Pierce County Executive from January 1993 to December 2000. Mr. Sutherland is now the Washington State Commissioner of Public Lands. ALBUM 16. (www.dnr.wa.gov/base/bio.)

Sutherland, Doug; Mayors--Tacoma--1980-1990

ca. 1880. Henry Drum was elected mayor of Tacoma May 1, 1888. He defeated A.C. Smith, the Republican candidate, by a 52-vote margin. Mayor Drum, a native of Girard, Illinois, was an industrious man who had been a teacher, brick manufacturer, stock raiser, and banker, all by the age of 24. He came to New Tacoma on Christmas Eve, 1883, and in conjunction with Walter J. Thompson, bought the bank of New Tacoma, which was renamed Merchants' National Bank. Mr. Drum was elected to the school board in 1887 and the following year became the mayor of Tacoma. This picture is from "History of Washington" edited by Julian Hawthorne, American Historical Publishing Co., 1893. p.61 ALBUM 16. (North Pacific History Co.: History of the Pacific Northwest, p. 307-308)

Drum, Henry; Mayors--Tacoma--1880-1890;

ca. 1894. Edward S. Orr was elected mayor of Tacoma on April 3, 1894. Born in Pennsylvania in 1853, Mr. Orr came to Tacoma in 1888. He was engaged in real estate and mining, and had served one term on the city council before being elected mayor. He had defeated Mayor Herbert S. Huson for the Republican nomination and would triumph over Angelo V. Fawcett in the general election. Ed Orr would travel on to Alaska during the gold rush days where he became involved in that state's politics after his Tacoma political career had concluded. This picture was published in The Tacoma Herald, April 7, 1894 p.1 ALBUM 16. (History of Washington, the evergreen state from early dawn to daylight),

Orr, Edward S.; Mayors--Tacoma--1890-1900

Johnson Nickeus was elected Mayor of Tacoma April 15, 1898. He served as mayor in 1898 and 1899. This picture of Mayor Nickeus is from the Tacoma Daily Ledger, March 29, 1898 p.5 He was born in 1851 in the District of Columbia. An experienced lawyer, Mr. Nickeus had served in the Dakota legislature, Dakota attorney general, and South American counsel prior to his arrival in Washington around 1892. He had defeated Cyrus A. Mentzer, a "silver republican," by 300 votes, in the April mayoral race. Mr. Nickeus' term was set to expire in April of 1900 but the previous August saw him under a grand jury indictment, charged with soliciting a $12,500 bribe . The grand jury deadlocked 6-6 in September of 1899. ALBUM 16. (Hunt: Tacoma Its History and Its Builders, II, p. 199; TDL 7-4-98; TDL 8-18-99)

Mayors--Tacoma--1890-1900; Nickeus, Johnson;

Y.M.B.C. (Young Men's Business Club) Water Carnival at Point Defiance. On April 24, 1938, the first water carnival was held as a farewell ceremony for the Tacoma- built fishing vessel "Western Explorer" (pictured center.) The event was planned by the Y.M.B.C. to promote Tacoma's shipbuilding industry, but it was so immensely popular that it became an annual event. View of the "Western Explorer" in front of the Point Defiance Pavilion. Crowds of people lined the railings of the Pavilion. (T.Times, 4/25/1938, p. 1).

Festivals--Tacoma--1930-1940; Young Men's Business Club (Tacoma); Piers & wharves--Tacoma; Point Defiance Park (Tacoma); Point Defiance Boat House (Tacoma); Fishing boats--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Two boys, who live at the Children's Industrial Home, and their dogs await the Rotary Club sponsored "Boy and His Dog Parade" to be held on Saturday April 27, 1929. The dogs will be competing in 20 classifications for prizes: longest tailed, shortest tailed, longest eared, cleanest, most comical, cockiest, best trick dog, cutest pup, oldest, youngest, most valuable, most worthless and the dog brought the longest distance on the day of the parade. The less pedigree a dog has, the more chance he has of walking off with an award. (TNT 4-16-1929, pg. 1)

Children's Industrial Home (Tacoma); Boys--Tacoma--1920-1930; Dogs--Tacoma--1920-1930; Rotary Club of Tacoma (Tacoma);

A federal agent stands beside one of the huge redwood vats found in the July 1931 raid of Benston's Farm in Graham, Wa., to demonstrate its awesome size. This vat was calculated to hold 7,500 gallons of fermenting mash. The Prohibition era illegal distillery set up in Benston's barn contained a total of eight of these vats. The still operated 24 hours a day, seven days a week and could manufacture 100 gallons of pure alcohol every hour. At a market value of $10 per gallon, the feds estimated that the plant produced $20,000 worth of alcohol every 24 hours. It was reported that the operation was set up by a California syndicate, that rented the barn from Benston, and that it was backed by local capital. (TNT 7/17-19, 1931, pg. 1)

Benston, J. Thomas--Associated objects; Prohibition--Graham; Stills (Distilleries); Police raids--Graham;

Tacoma Escalade at 1129 Broadway. Drizzle failed to shoo away the hundreds of spectators who had gathered on February 27, 1961, at the dedication of the new 100-foot, $205,000 escalade, or "moving sidewalk," next to the Giant 88 store in downtown Tacoma. They all wanted a chance to hop a ride onto the ramp that was built between Broadway and Commerce at 12th St. on the site of the former Blue Mouse Theater. This escalade was the first of four ramps designed to make climbing the steep hills of the downtown area a little easier for its pedestrians. It differed from a store escalator as there were no steps on the ribbed rubber surface but did have a moving handrail. The second escalade was scheduled to open in the near future between Pacific and Commerce about 10th St. A bond issue passed in 1958 had set aside $875,000 for moving sidewalks. TPL-6161 (TNT 2-27-1961, p. 1-article)

Belts & belting (Equipment); Pedestrians--Tacoma; Crowds--Tacoma--1960-1970; Giant 88 (Tacoma);

Mayor Ben Hanson on Tacoma Escalade at 1129 Broadway. The mayor and several city councilpersons including Mrs. Ellen Price (at his side), W.G. "Gerry" Bott and deputy mayor James Porter (behind them) were photographed in February, 1961, at the new 100-foot escalade that was built between Broadway and Commerce at 12th St. The $205,000 escalade was the first of four ramps planned for local pedestrians. Unlike store escalators, the "rubber belt" had no steps but did have a moving handrail. Its speed was about 120-feet a minute, a little slower than the average walking pace. This escalade, designed by local architects Lea, Pearson & Richards and built by the Jardeen Bros. Co., was meant to make downtown's steep hills a bit easier for pedestrians. There would be a week-long trial run before it was shut down for ten days for final tweaking. Mayor Hanson was reportedly not in town at the time of the February 27, 1961 escalade dedication so deputy mayor James Porter did the honors of snipping the three-inch white ribbon officially opening the escalade. This picture was probably taken either days before or after the actual dedication. (TNT 2-27-1961, p. 1-article; TNT 2-26-1961, A-1-article)

Belts & belting (Equipment); Pedestrians--Tacoma; Hanson, Ben; Mayors--Tacoma--1960-1970; Municipal officials--Tacoma--1960-1970; Price, Ellen; Bott, Gerry; Porter, James;

ca. 1911. Engine House No. 5 at 1215-17 South I Street. Engine House No. 5 received an 80-horsepower Seagrave combination hose and chemical wagon in 1911. The station was in service from 1890 to 1935. (Talbot & Decker, 100 Years of Firefighting in the City of Destiny, Tacoma, Washington, p. 52, p. 18)

Tacoma Fire Department (Tacoma); Tacoma Fire Department, Fire Station No. 5 (Tacoma);

ca. 1890. Copy negative of a Tacoma Fire Department horse-drawn steam pumper, circa 1890.

Tacoma Fire Department (Tacoma); Fire engines & equipment--Tacoma--1890-1900;

ca. 1893. North End developer and Tacoma promoter Allen C. Mason built his own mansion at 4301 No. Stevens St. in 1892. Designed by architects Hatherton & McIntosh, the palatial home was constructed of all Washington State materials. Mason was forced to give up the house during the financial panic of the mid-1890s. The house served as the main Whitworth College building from 1899 to 1912. It was demolished in 1920 to make way for the Weyerhaeuser Mansion, now occupied by the Northwest Baptist Seminary. TPL-6364

Houses--Tacoma--1890-1900; Mason, Allen C.--Homes & haunts;

ca. 1938. Dutch Colonial home, circa 1938, identified in records as 121 No. I St. Photograph ordered by A.E. Grafton. (There is no record in the 1938 or 1939 City Directory of a home at this address)

Houses--Tacoma--1930-1940;

House at 417 No. E St., Tacoma. Photograph was taken for a real estate ad and ordered by R.G. Walker & Co., realtors, in February of 1931. House was vacant at the time. The Georgian period Colonial home was built in 1906 for George Lewis Gower. It was designed by the architectural firm of Russell and Babcock. After Gower's death, the home was purchased in 1920 by Leonard Howarth. After the death of Mr. Howarth, the home was sold by Janie M. Rice, the Howarth housekeeper, to Mrs. Anita Thorne Corse, the daughter of Chester Thorne. After her marriage to General David Stone, the couple relocated to the family home Thornewood. She sold this Colonial in 1935 to J.P. Weyerhaeuser, Jr. In 1948, it was remodeled into apartments.

Gower, George Lewis--Homes & haunts; Howarth, Leonard--Homes & haunts; Houses--Tacoma;

107 South G Street was the home of Col. Marshall K. Snell, prominent Tacoma attorney for over 50 years. The woman on the porch may be his wife, Bertha, who became the first practicing woman lawyer in the State of Washington. Orphaned at an early age in Iowa, Col. Snell (born Marshall King) was adopted by William J. Snell whose last name he took. He worked his way through the University of Wisconsin, obtaining his law degree there, and moved to Tacoma in 1888. For a number of years Marshall Snell served as defense attorney in many famous murder and other criminal trials. He later moved into civil practice specializing in corporate law and also became known for his expertise as a railroad lawyer. Col. Snell was a man of many interests including farming, animal husbandry, and played a leading role in the good roads movement which made an adequate farm-to-market road system a reality in this state. He donated sites for county and village schools and churches and community centers. Unlike most of his compatriots, Col. Snell did not join fraternal organizations or clubs. He was, however, a life member of the Washington Historical Society and reportedly owned the finest private library of Northwest history in these parts. Marshall Snell passed away in Tacoma on April 19, 1939, age 79. (Downs, Encyclopedia of Northwest Biography, p. 109-110 -article)

Snell, Marshall K.--Homes & haunts;