The Park Hotel stood at the corner of South 8th and A Street in downtown Tacoma for just short of 70 years. It was built in 1908 from plans by the architectural firm of Heath & Twitchell. The reinforced concrete building was the only structure in Tacoma included in the article "The Architecture of the Pacific Northwest" published by The Architectural Record in September, 1909. In its last years it had become a residence hotel for low income, elderly men and women. Considered to be "undistinguished as old buildings go," it was torn down in 1977 to make room for an 18-car parking lot.
Hotels--Tacoma; Park Hotel (Tacoma); Concrete construction;
During World War II, the vital wartime industries in Tacoma ran around the clock. Workers flooded the city, needing places to stay. The Lux Hotel at 1523 1/2 Broadway was remodeled to help provide a solution to the overcrowding problem. The rooms were all remodeled and furnished with twin beds. The hotel was able to house 37 men. (T.Times 2/24/1943, pg. 3)
Lux Hotel (Tacoma); Dormitories--Tacoma--1940-1950; World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma;
As Tacoma's war industries were hampered by a lack of manpower at the end of 1942, a cry went up for more housing for the needed workers. A conversion of the Lux Hotel, located at 1523 1/2 Broadway, into a dormitory for war workers was completed by the end of December of 1942. The manager of the converted property, A. J. Stewart (standing), talks to some of the 37 tenants of the renovated Hotel in the lobby. All of the rooms had been remodeled and furnished with twin beds. (T.Times 2/24/1943 p.3)
Lux Hotel (Tacoma); Dormitories--Tacoma--1940-1950; World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Stewart, A.J.;
Group picture from the annual joint convention of the Washington State Hospital Association, Washington State Association of Nurse Anasthetists and Washington State Association of Record Librarians, held April 25-28, 1941 at the Hotel Winthrop. Photograph appears to be taken on the roof of the hotel. (T. Times 4/25/1941, pg. 1)
Designed by Roland Borhek, the Hiroshimaya Hotel was built at the corner of 15th and Market in the heart of Tacoma's Japantown District. The Japantown District (Nihonmachi in Japanese) was bounded by Pacific Avenue and Market to the east and west, and by So. 11th and So. 17th to the north and south. Within the district there were numerous Japanese-American stores and several hotels. When this photograph was taken in 1941, the hotel was named the Baker Hotel, and it was operated by Seiishi Kano. In April of 1941 the building was purchased by the Tacoma Central Labor Council. After extensive remodeling, it opened in June 1942 as the Labor Temple. It was demolished during urban renewal in the 1960s.
Hickey Apartment Hotel, interior. Suite with telephone table, bedroom, and kitchen. Building by Roland Borhek, Architect, 1927. Renamed the Hickey Apartment Hotel in 1940, the eight-story, 68 apartment structure was originally called the Walker Apartments after its builder, Robert Walker of Walker Cut Stone. It was the first apartment house in the Northwest to be faced with stone. The Hickey name (after new owner J. Frank Hickey) did not last and the apartment hotel was sold in 1944. The Walker Apartments are on the City and National Register.
Hickey Apartment Hotel (Tacoma); Walker Apartments (Tacoma); Apartment hotels--Tacoma--1940-1950; Apartments--Tacoma--1940-1950;
Hickey Apartment Hotel (Walker Apartments), interior. Large dining room with seventeen tables and hardwood floor. Building by Roland Borhek, Architect, 1927. New owner J. Frank Hickey changed the apartment hotel's name to reflect his own in October of 1940. He had purchased the (then) Walker Apartments in January of 1938. Series of interior views taken in December of 1940.
Hickey Apartment Hotel ( Walker Apartments ), interior which appears to be the lobby. Building by Roland Borhek, Architect, 1927. J. Frank Hickey purchased the former Walker Apartments in October of 1938 and changed its name to his own two years later. The elegant apartment hotel had been built for $350,000 by the owner of Walker Cut Stone and was the first apartment house in the Northwest to feature an all-stone exterior. It was sold again in 1944 and the property is now on the City and National Registers.
Hickey Apartment Hotel (Tacoma); Walker Apartments (Tacoma); Apartment hotels--Tacoma--1940-1950; Lobbies--Tacoma--1940-1950;
Living room in Hickey Apartment Hotel (Walker Apartments). Building by Roland Borhek, Architect, 1927. Now known as the Hickey Apartment Hotel with the purchase of the former Walker Apartments in 1938, it remained a luxurious structure with amenities such as dumbwaiters, living room suites, and separate dining room facilities. This December, 1940, view of a living room within the apartment hotel displays comfortable chairs and sofa, tables, and a piano.
Hickey Apartment Hotel (Tacoma); Walker Apartments (Tacoma); Apartment hotels-Tacoma--1940-1950; Living rooms--Tacoma--1940-1950;
State Plumbers Convention at the Tacoma Hotel, on May 18, 1940. Group of men and women seated outside the "New" Tacoma Hotel on "A" Street. The entrance canopy had been salvaged or copied from the original Tacoma Hotel across the street which burned in 1935. This was the 45th annual convention which attracted about 150 master plumbers to Tacoma. The plumbers association promoted stricter plumbing codes to aid public health and sought more research into new plumbing methods and fixtures. A.E. Warren of Spokane was president and G.A. Weber of Tacoma the secretary/treasurer. (filed with Argentum) (T.Times 5-18-1940, p. 6-article only)
Tacoma Hotel (Tacoma); Hotels--Tacoma--1930-1940; Meetings--1940-1950; Delegations; Plumbers--Washington;
Hotel Greeters. Group at party at Olympus Hotel in this photograph dated March 9, 1940. Comical portrait of group holding a variety of objects including a rabbit, chicken, piglet, bag of onions, pumpkin and bouquet of flowers.
Hotels--Tacoma; Olympus Hotel (Tacoma); Group portraits--1940-1950; Animals--Tacoma--1940-1950;
ca. 1939. The view down Pacific Ave from the intersection of around 17th Street, after the streetcar tracks were removed and street was repaved. This is almost the same exact same view as A7875 image 1 after the paving was complete. Most prominent are the Hotel Lewis, on the left, at 1522 Pacific Ave and Hotel Croft, on the right, at 1519 Pacific Ave. The Hotel Croft was owned by Lee Croft who would later become Pierce County Sheriff. Also on the right hand side can be seen Schoenfelds on Pacific at 15th and the Puget Sound Bank building at 1119 Pacific Ave. (original photograph was unnumbered, number was assigned for cataloging purposes)
Hotel Lewis (Tacoma); Hotel Croft (Tacoma); Commercial streets--Tacoma--1930-1940;
ca. 1939. Elevated view of the Hotel Winthrop, circa 1939. By this time, the Winthrop had been open for 14 years, celebrating its grand opening on May 16, 1925. The eleven story hotel was named after explorer and writer Theodore Winthrop whose book "The Canoe and the Saddle" helped popularize the Northwest.
Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Hotels--Tacoma--1930-1940;
Mr.and Mrs. Alber's room at the Bonneville Hotel. Mr. Alber in chair by window alcove, couch and desk on left, daybed and chair on right. Building designed by Charles N. Daniels, Architect, as Hotel Rochester, circa 1888. The building was demolished in 1966. (filed with Argentum)
Bonneville Hotel (Tacoma); Apartment hotels--Tacoma--1930-1940; Bay windows--Tacoma;
Group of 35 businessmen planning United Tacoma Day sales at the Winthrop Hotel - ordered by Mr. Fetteroff of Chamber of Commerce. Photograph was taken in October of 1939. (filed with Argentum)
Meetings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);
The billboard for Schenly's Red Label towers above Pacific Ave., in this view from 17th and Pacific, looking north. On the west side of the street is the Depot Super Service Station, offering Mobilgas from General Petroleum, at 1548-52 Pacific and the Hotel Lewis at 1522 Pacific. On the east side of the street is the Hotel Savoy at 1535 Pacific and further down is Schoenfeld & Son's at 1423 Pacific Ave. TPL-2295
Hotel Lewis (Tacoma); Hotel Savoy (Tacoma); Depot Service Station (Tacoma); L. Schoenfeld & Sons (Tacoma); Commercial streets--Tacoma--1930-1940;
Exterior view of the Winthrop Hotel, ca. 1939. Neon sign for the Roxy (Pantages) on right. Tower of the old City Hall building in background left. (filed with Argentum)
Hotels--Tacoma; Business districts--Tacoma; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1930-1940; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);
On Saturday March 11, 1939, the Bachelor Club hosted a large ball and style show in the Crystal Ballroom of the Winthrop Hotel. The backdrop for the show as an elegant cityscape with outlines of skyscrapers, a large bridge and a late model sedan. (filed with Argentum) (T.Times 3/18/1939, pg. 9)
Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Bachelor Club (Tacoma); Fashion shows;
On March 11, 1939, the Bachelor Club of Tacoma hosted a large ball and style show in the Crystal Ballroom of the Winthrop Hotel. Several guests were photographed seated at a long banquet table watching the fashion show. More guests are seated on a landing above and to the right. (filed with Argentum)
Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Bachelor Club (Tacoma); Fashion shows;
On March 11, 1939, the Bachelor Club of Tacoma hosted a large ball and style show in the Crystal Ballroom of the Winthrop Hotel. Several guests were photographed seated around small round tables at the event. (filed with Argentum)
Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Bachelor Club (Tacoma); Fashion shows;
The view down Pacific Ave from the intersection of around 17th Street, where the streetcar tracks intersect on the road. Most prominent are the Hotel Lewis, on the left, at 1522 Pacific Ave and Hotel Croft, on the right, at 1519 Pacific Ave. The Hotel Croft was owned by Lee Croft who would later become Pierce County Sheriff. Also on the right hand side can be seen Schoenfelds on Pacific at 15th and the Puget Sound Bank building at 1119 Pacific Ave. The photograph was taken to record the Schenley's Red Label billboard for Sunset Advertising in Seattle.
Hotel Lewis (Tacoma); Hotel Croft (Tacoma); Commercial streets--Tacoma--1930-1940;
The view down Pacific Ave. from the intersection of around 17th Street, where the streetcar tracks intersect on the road. In the foreground left is the Depot Service Station at 1548 Pacific Ave. Further down Pacific is the Hotel Lewis, 1522 Pacific Ave. The photograph was taken to record the Schenley's Red Label billboard for Sunset Advertising in Seattle. (filed with Argentum) For additional photographs of this stretch of road, see D8807 image 3.
Hotel Lewis (Tacoma); Commercial streets--Tacoma--1930-1940; Depot Service Station (Tacoma);
ca. 1938. Presidential Suite at Winthrop Hotel with dining set for 8 in center and sofa, several chairs, and stools for sitting. Building by W.E. Stoddard and Roland Bohrek, Associated Architects, 1924.
Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Hotels--Tacoma--1930-1940;
