ca. 1920. The Sedro Box and Veneer Co. plant at Sedro Woolley, Washington. Stacks of completed fir panels sit waiting shipment to door companies such as Wheeler Osgood of Tacoma. By 1920, William J. "Cottonwood Bill" Royse, a legendary millwork veteran with a hearty handshake and a flamboyant air, and Clyde D. Lloyd, the consummate businessman, eased off the production of boxes and crates at their plant to begin manufacturing plywood panels. Business took off and by 1924 orders were piling up. Business boomed until the plant was destroyed by fire on December 4, 1924. ("The Plywood Age" by Robert M. Cour)

Sedro Box and Veneer Co. (Sedro-Woolley); plywood; Lumber industry--Sedro-Woolley--1920-1930; Mills--Sedro-Woolley--1920-1930;

ca. 1920. A forest of logs waits for processing at the Sedro Box and Veneer Co. plant at Sedro Woolley, Washington. Around the time that the company began gluing fir panels, wages were a dollar a day for 10 hours of work and peelers were available for $3 a thousand. The plant produced fir panels for doors and one-side good panels for drawer bottoms. By 1924, orders were piling up and the plant was running at full capacity. ("The Plywood Age" by Robert M. Cour)

Sedro Box and Veneer Co. (Sedro-Woolley); plywood; Lumber industry--Sedro-Woolley--1920-1930; Mills--Sedro-Woolley--1920-1930;

ca. 1920. The "veneer canal at Sedro-Woolley", part of the Sedro Box and Veneer Co. plant at Sedro Woolley, Washington. The Douglas fir peeler logs were floated on the Skagit River to the area of the plant and brought to the mill by this canal. The same river that brought in the logs also frequently flooded the plant, including a major flood in January of 1918 that cost the plant $20,000. ("The Plywood Age" by Robert M. Cour)

Sedro Box and Veneer Co. (Sedro-Woolley); plywood; Lumber industry--Sedro-Woolley--1920-1930; Mills--Sedro-Woolley--1920-1930;

ca. 1920. The mill and some employees of the Sedro Box and Veneer Co. at Sedro Woolley, Washington. This photograph was taken in the early 1920's before the plant burned to the ground. The plant began plywood panel production in 1919 and by 1924 business was booming. Wages were a dollar a day for 10 hours and peelers were available at $3 a thousand. The plant employed 125 men and operated 24 hours a day. Then on December 4, 1924, the entire plant was destroyed by fire. There was little insurance and that went to the bank that supplied the money for the rebuild after the 1918 fire. The owners thanked the volunteer firemen for their valiant effort to save the plant and went out of business. ("The Plywood Age" by Robert M. Cour)

Sedro Box and Veneer Co. (Sedro-Woolley); plywood; Lumber industry--Sedro-Woolley--1920-1930; Mills--Sedro-Woolley--1920-1930;

ca. 1920. The Sedro Box and Veneer Co. plant at Sedro Woolley, Washington. One of the pioneering companies in plywood production, the plant was started in 1905 by William J. "Cottonwood Bill" Royse, Clyde D. Lloyd and Charles Peterson. The plant originally made spice and coffee drums and berry baskets from the veneer made of the surrounding cottonwood trees. A fire destroyed the original plant in February of 1918 and the new, improved and larger plant included a panel department for the production of Douglas fir plywood panels. ("The Plywood Age" by Robert M. Cour)

Sedro Box and Veneer Co. (Sedro-Woolley); plywood; Lumber industry--Sedro-Woolley--1920-1930; Mills--Sedro-Woolley--1920-1930;

ca. 1920. The mill and some employees of the Sedro Box and Veneer Co. at Sedro Woolley, Washington. This photograph was taken in the early 1920's before the plant burned to the ground. Begun with an initial investment of $18,000, the Sedro plant was opened by William J. (Cottonwood Bill) Royse, Clyde D. Lloyd and Charles Peterson in 1905. The plant was jinxed from the very beginning. It was frequently flooded by the unpredictable Skagit River and the first plant burned to the ground on February 3, 1918. Local bankers put up $90,000 to rebuild, taking a mortgage on the plant. The new plant was larger and had a panel department. By 1924, business was booming. They employed 125 men and operated 24 hours a day. ("The Plywood Age" by Robert M. Cour

Sedro Box and Veneer Co. (Sedro-Woolley); plywood; Lumber industry--Sedro-Woolley--1920-1930; Mills--Sedro-Woolley--1920-1930;

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;

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;

A large crowd of soldiers are photographed leaving the (Liberty) Theatre at Camp Lewis in February of 1921. The men are bundled warmly against the cold and wet winter day. Movie posters partially obscured by the soldiers indicate that much laughter was on the bill with the silent-screen comedy team of (Eddie) Lyons and (Lee) Moran. G69.1-127 TPL-10310

Motion picture theaters--Camp Lewis; Crowds--Camp Lewis; Soldiers--Camp Lewis; Military life--Camp Lewis;

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;

Haering's Grocetorium celebrated the opening of its newest store, Store No. 4., in July of 1921. The latest Haering's, built at a cost of about $4,500 by P.C. Walesby, was located at the corner of E. 63rd and McKinley in the Hillsdale neighborhood. It was a one-story brick building, both fireproof and ratproof, and contained two store rooms. Nicolaus Haering (standing in front of the telephone pole) founded the successful chain in 1913. The stores were among the first in the Northwest to feature "help yourself service" (self service), on a cash only, no delivery basis. Skeptics became regular customers, drawn back by lower prices. The chain eventually operated 12 stores in the Tacoma area. G56.2-090; TPL-6349 (TDL 6-12-21, B-5-article)

Grocery stores--Tacoma--1920-1930; Haering's Grocetorium (Tacoma);

Haering's opened a new brick one-story grocery store in the Hillsdale neighborhood on the east side of town in July of 1921. It was the first of several new buildings to house the rapidly growing firm; more would be built in different parts of the city. The store was designed and built by P.C. Walesby for about $4500. Employees of the company are pictured above enjoying a celebratory banquet inside the store. Haering's Grocetorium promoted the "self-service" form of shopping as a means to keep prices low. As the signs inside the store indicated, smart shoppers could purchase five cans of Del Monte corn for $1.00, flour for $2.20, ginger snaps and citrus for 25 cents. "Help Yourself" seemed to be the store's byword. (TDL 6-12-21, B-5-article); TDL 7-11-21, p. 7-article)

Grocery stores--Tacoma--1920-1930; Haering's Grocetorium (Tacoma);

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);

A truckload of coal is being delivered to the Lucerne Block, 901 Tacoma Avenue South, by Economy Fuel in August of 1921. The fuel company's driver pauses his shifting of the coal to gaze at the camera. The coal is being deposited in the building's coal bin through a coal hole in the sidewalk. The buildings across the street would be demolished in the early 1950s so the County-City Building with jail could be built on the site. In the far background is Central School now used by the Tacoma School District as its Administrative Building.

Economy Fuel Co. (Tacoma); Fuel trade--Tacoma--1920-1930; Coalholes--Tacoma; Trucks--Tacoma--1920-1930; Central School (Tacoma);

The water tower pictured above in September of 1921 was located at the American Wood Pipe Co., 3200 So. Cedar St. The coils of wire in the foreground are to be used to wrap wooden irrigation pipes. American Wood Pipe Co. manufactured machine banded and continuous stave wood pipe for irrigation projects, municipal water systems and power plants. In addition, the company also manufactured American steam pipe casing for insulating underground steam pipe. The firm's officers included Vaughan Morrill, president, and Cyrus Happy, Jr., secretary. American Wood Pipe was located on six acres on Center Street which had a large manufacturing district at the time. The firm was organized in January of 1913 by Mr. Morrill and J.H. Regan, both of Tacoma, and did some $32,000 in business the first year. Some seven years later, the plant was considered the largest single wood pipe factory in the world and had done $1,000,000 in business the past year. In addition, American Wood Pipe had built its own cresoting plant in 1921 at a cost of $40,000 and installed a $20,000 sprinkling system. There were about 70 employees and a monthly payroll of $10,000. G36.1-106

American Wood Pipe Co. (Tacoma); Water towers--Tacoma; Wire; Pipes (Conduits)--Tacoma;

The shipping department at Brown and Haley in September of 1921. In their pre-Almond Roca days, before 1923, the company manufactured a wide range of chocolates, taffy, mints and hard candies. Many of the chocolates were still marketed under the company's original moniker "Oriole Chocolates." Here workers in a long, narrow room sort candy packages of many shapes and sizes for delivery. A large sign in the background admonishes "No Smoking." G33.1-123

Oriole Chocolates (Tacoma); Candy--Tacoma; Chocolate industry--Tacoma--1910-1920; Laborers--Tacoma; Brown & Haley (Tacoma);

The packing department at Brown and Haley, also known as Oriole Chocolates, in September of 1921. Eight women, garbed in sanitary white; some with hats reading "Oriole." The women are surrounded by large boxes of the foil wrapped delicacies and the smaller boxes into which they will be packaged for consumers. The lone man in the back of the picture appears to be sampling the product. G33.1-127

Oriole Chocolates (Tacoma); Candy--Tacoma; Chocolate industry--Tacoma--1910-1920; Laborers--Tacoma; Brown & Haley (Tacoma);

Candy manufacturing in 1921 at Brown & Haley. At this time, their candy was still marketed under the name of Oriole Candies. A number of workers pose in the factory. The women are dressed in pristine white dresses and matching hats, the men wear clean white aprons, but none of the workers wear gloves. The front group is gathered around an early assembly line. The candy comes down the belt where it is loaded by hand into trays. A woman with a dolly takes the trays away. It is unclear what the group in the back is doing, although the man on the right stands behind some kind of a vat. All Orioles candies at this time were made by hand. G33.1-140

Oriole Chocolates (Tacoma); Candy--Tacoma; Chocolate industry--Tacoma--1910-1920; Brown & Haley (Tacoma);

The packaging department at Brown & Haley in September of 1921. Young women garbed pristinely in white robes and nurses caps, inscribed with the name "Oriole," wrap the hand dipped chocolates in foil and place them in packages. Trays of chocolates sit in front of the woman at the right, while boxes sit beside the women to the left, showing the two operations being performed in this department. At this time, the chocolates were still marketed under the name "Oriole Chocolates." G33.1-125

Oriole Chocolates (Tacoma); Candy--Tacoma; Chocolate industry--Tacoma--1910-1920; Laborers--Tacoma; Brown & Haley (Tacoma);

A September, 1921, peek inside the salesroom of candy wholesalers Brown and Haley and a display of the many fine candies made by their company Oriole Chocolates. The walls are covered by the boxes of the various candies made by the company. The candies are boxed in ornate boxes, many with portraits of young women on the covers. One of the candies featured is their new line of "Kiss Me Quick." With their lovely packages, the products appear to be luxury items or gifts. G33.1-130

Oriole Chocolates (Tacoma); Candy--Tacoma; Chocolate industry--Tacoma--1910-1920; Brown & Haley (Tacoma);

Chocolate manufacturing at the Brown & Haley factory in September of 1921. At this time, most of the candy was made and packaged by hand. Automation was of the simple gear and pulley type shown here. Pulleys drive the machinery used to mix the chocolate. To the right are possibly the vats where the more solid chocolate is melted into a liquid, or large mixers where the liquid is mixed with the other ingredients for candy. The primary ingredients of chocolate candy are the liquid chocolate liquor, cocoa butter, sugar and milk. G33.1-126

Oriole Chocolates (Tacoma); Candy--Tacoma; Chocolate industry--Tacoma--1910-1920; Laborers--Tacoma; Brown & Haley (Tacoma);

By 1919, Brown & Haley had moved its factory operation into a converted shoe factory at 108-16 E. 26th Street. The company was manufacturing a full line of chocolates, with the most famous being a chocolate and nut confection with a vanilla cream center marketed as "Mount Tacoma." In Seattle the candy bar was sold under the name of Mount Rainier, due to an old rivalry over the name of our landmark mountain. The same candy bar is still sold today under the name of "Mountain Bar" and it is one of the oldest candy bars still manufactured in the US. All of the chocolates and candies were still made by hand requiring a work force of skilled laborers, such as the one shown in the picture. He is possibly working with the cocoa beans, which are processed into chocolate liquor. G33.1-122

Oriole Chocolates (Tacoma); Candy--Tacoma; Chocolate industry--Tacoma--1910-1920; Laborers--Tacoma; Brown & Haley (Tacoma);

In 1921, Brown & Haley was still marketing their candy under the name of Oriole Chocolates. They dipped their chocolate by hand. Female workers are pictured in September of 1921, dressed in spotless white dresses and matching hats, but without gloves. Each woman has one hand covered in chocolate, as she rolls the center piece in chocolate and places it on a tray to dry. G33.1-141; TPL-8700

Oriole Chocolates (Tacoma); Candy--Tacoma; Chocolate industry--Tacoma--1920-1930; Brown & Haley (Tacoma);

Candy making at Brown and Haley in September of 1921. The female workers are dressed in spotless white dresses, some with matching hats, but no gloves. They are working with the candy with their bare hands. The women in the back are possibly either wrapping medium size tubes of a harder candy, such as toffee or caramel, or unwrapping them and slicing them into nougats. The woman in the front is dipping something into a stainless steel pot beside her. A fan on the left cools her work. The chocolate covered candies to the right are possibly the finished product. G33.1-133

Oriole Chocolates (Tacoma); Candy--Tacoma; Chocolate industry--Tacoma--1910-1920; Brown & Haley (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

ca. 1921. Ole B. Lien, pioneer pharmacist on Tacoma Avenue since 1894, and partner Harry B. Selvig opened this drug store in 1901 in the 1888 Greer Building. The Queen Anne-style structure was designed by architects Farrell & Darmer and built by contractor H. M. Matheson. It was torn down in 1951 to make way for a modern addition to the Tacoma Public Library. B8252.

Drugstores; Pharmacists; Lien & Selvig (Tacoma);

Members of the Phantom Club enjoyed a banquet on April 1, 1922. The club, apparently consisting only of men, was made up of employees from the Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Co. G64.1-012

Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Co. (Tacoma)--Employees; Banquets--Tacoma--1920-1930;

April, 1922, view of one end of a large boiler, manufactured by the Birchfield Boiler Co., 2503 E. 11th St. The company had opened at this Tideflats site in March of 1921 and was run by H.E. Warren, President, and E.E. Birchfield, Vice-President. They built steel heating boilers and performed welding and boiler repairs. Birchfield boilers were in heavy demand in 1922. The company had been receiving orders at the rate of one per day since May 1st and the plant was forced to put on a double shift to handle the demand. Later they would expand into building steel ships. G36.1-136 (TDL 6-26-22, p. 6-article)

Birchfield Boiler, Inc. (Tacoma); Boilers; Boiler industry--Tacoma;

Built in 1914 at a cost of $10,000, this theater at 11th & Broadway was originally named the Apollo. Eight years later, it reopened as the Blue Mouse, operated by theater chain founder John Hamrick. The Blue Mouse was a favorite of Tacoma movie buffs until its demolition in 1960 to make way for a new street escalator. "A Connecticut Yankee" was the first movie shown at the Blue Mouse starting on April 15, 1922. In this April, 1922, photograph, a small boy in an usher's uniform stands outside the theater entrance while another uniformed man is next to the movie placard. The Blue Mouse was the first theater in Tacoma to show "talkies," running "The Jazz Singer" in January, 1928. Its sister theater, the Blue Mouse Junior, opened in the Proctor District in 1923. G64.1-027; TPL-6355 (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 4-2-22, E-5-article)

Blue Mouse Movie Theatre (Tacoma); Motion picture theaters--Tacoma--1920-1930; Marquees--Tacoma;