Ship name: Grey Feather

Sailing ships;

Ship name: Glory of the Seas

Sailing ships; Clipper ships;

USS Constitution.

Sailing ships; Frigates;

Grainy December, 1929, photograph of the U.S.S. Lexington tied up at Baker Dock. After much discussion and negotiation, the U.S. Navy ordered the aircraft carrier to help the City of Tacoma by supplying auxiliary power. Severe drought conditions had rendered hydro plants inoperable and conservation methods employed were simply not enough to stave off a power crisis. The Lexington's monthlong stay would generate enough power for 25% of the city's needs. It allowed the city to turn on its streetlights, store lighting, and resume night shifts. (Tacoma Public Utilities Story: the First 100 Years: 1893-1993, p. 91-93)

U.S.S. Lexington (United States Navy); Aircraft carriers--United States; Power shortages--Tacoma;

Undated photograph of the stern-wheeler "Telegraph" docked at The Sumner Iron Works in Everett, Washington. She was built in Everett in 1903 for use in the Seattle-Tacoma run. The "Telegraph" was one of the last stern-wheelers built in Puget Sound. The slender vessel was 153.7 feet long. She was purchased by the Puget Sound Navigation Co. in 1910 and used regularly in routes from Seattle to Bremerton. On April 25, 1912, she was sunk by an errant steamer, the "Alameda," while docked at Seattle's Colman Dock. The "Alameda" had struck the dock, knocking its famous 72-foot tower into Elliott Bay and driving the "Telegraph" as far as the Grand Pacific Dock before sinking the stern-wheeler. The "Telegraph" would live to float another day; it was raised and repaired and remained in service for two more years before laying up. (Dorpat, "Steam Rolled," Seattle Times 3-17-2002; Findlay, Mosquito Fleet of South Puget Sound, p. 107)

Stern wheelers; Steamboats; Sumner Iron Works (Everett);

ca. 1955. Site preparation, excavation and demolition for construction of the new County-City Building began in 1955. In this elevated view, the Central Lutheran Church (originally First Presbyterian) is still standing at 1001 So. G St., at center. The old Pierce County Court House is just west of the church.

County-City Building (Tacoma); Central Lutheran Church (Tacoma); Pierce County Courthouse (Tacoma);

ca. 1904. U.S.S. Tacoma on maiden voyage to Tacoma after being commissioned on January 30, 1904. She was laid down on September 27, 1900, at Mare Island, California by Union Iron Works and launched on June 2, 1903. The ship was the second "Tacoma" and was Cruiser No. 18. She was under the command of Comdr. R.F. Nicholson. After her visit to Tacoma she voyaged to Hawaii in the spring of 1904 and then, after returning to San Francisco, proceeded to sail for Cape Horn. In the next couple of years the busy "Tacoma" voyaged to Hispaniola, Europe and the Mediterranean. She spent the next ten years providing service on the east coast and cruising the Caribbean and West Indies to protect American interests there. More cruising involving the Canal Zone, Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Honduras followed. After a short spell in reserve, she once again began patrolling in 1912 where she cruised the Gulf of Mexico, Nicaragua, Honduras and Guatemala. The "Tacoma" cruised the Mexican coast in 1914 and then to Haiti. After another stint in reserve in 1916 she was fully commissioned for patrol duty. The warship made five round trips to Europe protecting US convoys once the United States entered World War l. The "Tacoma" ran aground on January 16, 1924 near Vera Cruz. She was unable to be freed and her name was struck from the Navy list in February of 1924. (Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, p.7-8-article)

Cruisers (Warships)--United States--1900-1910;

Undated photograph of an unidentified pilot and what appears to be an experimental aircraft at the Washington Air College, located at Mueller-Harkins Airport. Photograph ordered by the Daily Ledger.

Airports--Lakewood; Mueller-Harkins Airport (Lakewood); Washington Air College (Lakewood); Airplanes; Monoplanes;

ca. 1927. Legislative Building. Great curving walkways connected the Legislative Building with other parts of the Olympia complex. This view of the massive building focuses on the large expanse of sidewalks and includes the sight of three 1920s automobiles parked at the foot of the wide steps. Apparently after much discussion of the campus' landscaping, the clearance, grading, paving, and planting was mostly completely by 1930. (Johnston: Washington's Audacious State Capitol and Its Builders)

Legislative Building (Olympia); Sidewalks--Olympia;

ca. 1907. This promotional illustration, circa 1907, advertised the Regents Park housing development which had already been subdivided into lots and was ready for sale. The firm of Bowes - Irwin Co., headed by Edward "Major" Bowes of Amateur Hour fame, was in charge. Regents Park was one of Tacoma's first suburbs, located west of the city, and was built on 200 acres of woodland. It had its own water system, sidewalks, sewers, and an artificial lake. Residents could hop onto a streetcar and get to work in downtown Tacoma in a mere 20 minutes. Regents Park would become the Town of Fircrest in 1925.

Real estate development--Fircrest; Regents Park (Fircrest); Maps; Advertising--Fircrest; Advertising--Regents Park;

ca. 1890. "scenery of Oregon and Washington Territory" Northern Pacific Railroad Brewery in the 1880s from an early stereopticon slide. (From the collection of Dan Kerlee, Seattle, Washington.) A driver is waiting, along with his team of horses, to transport barrels and bottles of brew. Another cart is empty next to a yard filled with lumber and possibly bottles. A empty cask lies on its side in the foreground. This brewery was built in Steilacoom on Starling Street in 1873 by Wolf Schaefer. It was acquired by the Northern Pacific Railroad shortly after the death of Mr. Schaefer in 1889. Two years later, the company closed the brewery. (Meier: "Breweries of Steilacoom," Brewed in the Pacific Northwest, p. 110-112)

Northern Pacific Railroad Brewery (Steilacoom); Brewing industry--Steilacoom--1880-1890;

On Sunday April 13, 1930, seven miners and mine inspectors, grimy with coal dust, gathered at one of the small flat bed cars used to carry workers back and forth in the mine at Carbonado. At 6 p.m. on April 12th, a terrific coal gas explosion on the 2nd level of the mine, about 1500 feet underground, had killed 17 miners. Rescue workers were kept back by coal gas fumes for almost 2 hours after the blast. They eventually reached the dead and injured miners about a mile from the mouth of the mine. Pictured, left to right, are John G. Schoning of the US Bureau of Mines; William R. Reese, chief state mine inspector; Robert Simson, superintendent of the mine; H.A. Wilson, general manager of the Pacific Coast Coal Co.; George T. Wake, deputy mine inspector. Seated are Martin Hamlin and William Williams, safety representatives of the mines. TPL-2783, BGN 363 (TNT 4-14-1930 p.1; TDL 4-14-1930, pg. 1)

Pacific Coast Coal Co. (Carbonado); Coal mining; Mine accidents--Carbonado; Explosions; Schoning, John G.; Reese, William R.; Simson, Robert; Wilson, H.A.; Wake, George T.; Hamlin, Martin; Williams; William;

John J. Lemon house on Day Island. Brick chimney, porch, wood exterior. According to the February, 1957, obituary of Charles Henry Lemon, son of John and Mary Ann Lemon, the family home site was purchased by Mr. John Lemon from an early Tacoma missionary. (Wheelock - Lemon collection)

Lemon, John J.--Homes & haunts; Houses--Day Island;

Raging flood waters caused plenty of damage in Pierce County, particularly the valley area, during the winter of 1933-34. Steps were taken to prevent damage in case of future high water. Large amounts of sheet pilings were used as barriers since the pilings would hold for ten years before natural decay set in. The above photograph may have been taken on the Stuck River, a 10-mile stream connecting the White River near Auburn with the Puyallup River near Sumner. (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 5-13-34, A-2)

Pilings (Civil engineering)--Sumner; Floods--Sumner;

ca. 1900. This was the West & Wert general merchandise store in Roy, Washington, circa 1900. The store was owned and operated by A.W. (Almon) Wert and his father in law, Mr. West. Mr. Wert, an Ohio native, came to Roy about 1892. He was to later own a hoop pole mill, farm, raise cattle, run a livery stable and organize the Roy State Bank. Standing on the store porch is Mabel Swanson with baby Ilma. Almon (A.W.) Wert is next to the lightpole. Charles Swanson is pictured driving the horse and wagon carrying material for Mr. Wert's hoop factory. "Pug" the dog is alertly standing guard outside the store. The Native American couple sitting on the porch and the other men are not identified. (Photograph and identification courtesy of Ilma Swanson Kandle) (Baccus, "Roy Area Pierce County, Washington," p. 29-30-article on Mr. Wert)

West & Wert Store (Roy); Wert, Almon W.; Swanson, Mabel; Swanson, Ilma; Swanson, Charles; Dogs--Roy; Carts & wagons--Roy;

ca. 1927. Seventeen children sit or stand on a fire truck in front of a fire station believed to be Fire Station #1 located at 425 Tacoma Ave. So. in this circa 1927 photograph. The station was built in 1919. In the background are the Leroy Apartments, 415 Fawcett Ave. (Additional information provided by a reader)

Tacoma Fire Department (Tacoma); Fire engines & equipment--Tacoma--1920-1930; Fire stations--Tacoma--1920-1930; Children--Tacoma--1920-1930; Leroy Apartments (Tacoma);

ca. 1910. House surrounded by flood waters in Wilkeson, Washington. Other buildings in background. Probably the Wilkeson flood of March, 1910. From the collection of N.P. Anderson. TPL-10401

Floods--Wilkeson--1910-1920; Houses--Wilkeson;

ca. 1910. Some of the damage in Wilkeson caused by the flood of March 1910. A line of men are standing on the railroad bridge that crossed Gail's Creek just south of town. The vehicle bridge next to the railroad bridge has been washed out by the flood. TPL-10402

Floods--Wilkeson--1910-1920; Bridges--Wilkeson--1910-1920; Railroad bridges--Wilkeson--1910-1920; Gail's Creek (Wilkeson);

ca. 1910. Residents of Wilkeson stand at the Wilkeson railroad bridge looking at the damage caused by the flood of March 1910. From the collection of N. P. Anderson. This photograph was sent as a post card. It is dated March 18, 1910. TPL-10404

Floods--Wilkeson--1910-1920; Bridges--Wilkeson--1910-1920; Railroad bridges--Wilkeson--1910-1920;

ca. 1910. Days of torrential rain and warm Chinook winds that raised the temperatures in the Cascades to the 40s brought floods throughout western Washington in March of 1910. In Wilkeson, Gail's Creek became a river, overflowing its banks and flooding the town. The Livesley & Dice General Merchandise store can be seen just beyond the railroad bridge that crossed the raging creek at Church and Davis Streets. (From the collection of N. P. Anderson.) TPL-9751

Floods--Wilkeson--1910-1920; Livesley & Dice General Merchandise (Wilkeson); Railroad bridges--Wilkeson--1910-1920; Gail's Creek (Wilkeson);

ca. 1907. Horse and wagon teams in front of the new concrete storage warehouse at 2302-12 East E St., circa 1907. The two story warehouse was built at a cost of $30,000 for developer W.P. Reynolds. The building, designed by architect and structural engineer I. Jay Knapp, was 75 x 140 feet at the foundation and was fireproof. On its completion, the Commercial Truck Co. moved into the building. They were a moving and storage company. They were sold in 1929 to the group owning AA Star Transfer of Aberdeen and became Star Commercial Moving and Storage. In 1941, Star dropped their storage business and became solely a moving company. The building was taken over by Terminal Warehouses, Inc. (photograph courtesy of Dan Powell) TPL-9834

Commercial Truck Co. (Tacoma); Moving & storage trade--Tacoma--1900-1910; Storage facilities--Tacoma; Carts & wagons--Tacoma--1900-1910; Horse teams--Tacoma;

ca. 1919. Advertising card for the Commercial Truck and Storage Co. of Tacoma, circa 1919. By 1913, Commercial Truck and Storage Co. had the largest transfer and storage equipment facilities on the west coast. Their holdings consisted of the two story fireproof concrete storage facility, left, at 2303-12 East E St., the Garretson-Woodruff-Pratt building, right, at 1754 Pacific Ave. and another brick warehouse, address unknown. The company had occupied the building on Pacific since 1910 and in 1919 they purchased it for $70,000. They also owned moving trucks and their own portable crane. (photograph courtesy of Dan Powell) TPL-9836

Commercial Truck Co. (Tacoma); Moving & storage trade--Tacoma--1910-1920;

ca. 1929. Daniel (Dan) Peterson and Ione (last name unknown) were pictured sitting on some large segments of logs and smiling for the camera. It is believed that Mr. Peterson came to Tacoma from Aberdeen when A.A. Star Transfer Co. of Aberdeen acquired the Commercial Truck Co. of Tacoma from owner James Garvin in 1929. The company incorporated as Star Commercial Moving and Storage Co. with J.E. Turnquist as president, J.E. Anderson as vice-president and Dan Peterson as secretary/treasurer. Mr. Peterson was the grandfather of Dan Powell, owner of Star Moving Co. in Tacoma. (photograph courtesy of Dan Powell.) TPL-9837

Peterson, Daniel; Star Commercial Moving and Storage Co. (Tacoma); Moving & storage trade--Tacoma--1920-1930;

ca. 1920. Undated photograph of Puget Sound Electric Railway's streetcars #512 and companion #525 at the Tacoma Depot, 702 A St. In the background left is the Park Hotel at 802 A St. These cars were used on the Seattle-Tacoma Interurban, which operated from 1902- 1928. The 512 was built by the St. Louis Car Co. in 1907 and was identifiable by its arched windows. Motor Coach 525 was built by the same company in 1910. It burned on the main line around 1921. (Photograph courtesy of the Tom Stenger Collection) ("To Tacoma by Trolley" by Warren W. Wing)

Puget Sound Electric Railway (Tacoma); Mass transit--Tacoma; Electric railroads--Tacoma; Transportation facilities--Tacoma; Park Hotel (Tacoma);

ca. 1888. Eight loggers pose with two large sections of logs that are sitting on a flat-bed railroad car. On the side of the railroad car are the words - W. F. McKay, Tacoma, Wash. T. One of the logs is larger in diameter then the out stretched arm of one of the loggers. Two loggers hold a long hand saw. The Puget Sound Directory for 1888 lists a William F. McKay as a logger.

Loggers; Logs; Lumber industry--Tacoma--1880-1890

ca. 1887. A group of ten men stand by a very tall picket fence. Beyond the fence can be seen a number of hop kilns. There is a large stack of wood to feed the fires used to dry to hops. The caption on the photograph only identified it as "Washington Territory".

Hops--Washington--1880-1890; Brewing industry--Washington--1880-1890; Fences