A driverless automobile is parked under towering trees with a sign advertising "The Lakes" on May 19, 1922. This is in reference to the Benbow Inn at The Lakes (Resort) located between Tacoma and Mount Rainier near Kapowsin. Cottages and a large inn were situated on the property along Lake Tanwax. They catered to families providing recreational activities and relaxation for all. This photograph was used in an article describing Benbow Inn which ran in the News Tribune a couple years later, on July 31, 1924. G38.1-057 (TNT 7-31-24, B-2)
Tanker "Socony" docked in Tacoma in mid-March of 1927 at what is possibly the City Waterway. Several large companies had tanks (receiving stations) on the City Waterway at this time: Shell Oil, Associated Oil, and Standard Oil. The three tanks in the picture may have belonged to the General Petroleum Co. G49.1-075 (TNT 4-2-26, p. 1-article on plants on waterway) Photograph ordered by Allen Lubricating Co.
The Washington Navigation Co. had requested photographs be taken of several ferries in May of 1927. The "Liberty" is pictured above, with several men standing on deck, on May 13, 1927. She carried at least two lifeboats and operated on steam. The "K' on her funnel possibly stands for Kitsap County Transportation Co. G78.1-109
A solemn pilot gazes from his uncovered cockpit in September of 1927. Advertising on this Bergen Bromley Flying Service plane in September of 1927 indicates that the plane is equipped with Tsungani "slipper" pistons. Tsungani pistons were manufactured by the Tsungani plant located at 625 E. 11th St. They made lightweight alloy pistons for automobiles, motorcycles and Liberty airplane engines. TPL-8076; G12.1-077
A long parade of Washington Co-operative Association trucks is making a turn onto what is believed to be the Western Washington Fairgrounds on September 22, 1927. Advertising on the vehicles state that the co-op sells food, and buys feed. G6.1-092
Trucks--1920-1930; Washington Co-op Egg & Poultry Association (Tacoma);
The "Pacific Spruce" was the first vessel to unload cargo at the new dock of the Washington Cooperative Egg & Poultry Association, which had recently taken over the Milwaukee grain elevator and dock on the Tacoma tideflats. The ship arrived on the evening of April 26, 1927, and completed discharging 360-370 tons of oyster shells the following day. This view shows bags of oyster shells (used in chicken feed) in the process of being transported from the "Pacific Spruce" to the dock by stevedores. In the days before cargo containers every bag of shells had to be moved by hand. Suited men standing by may be officials of Washington Cooperative. The dock would now be known as "Co-op" dock. The Egg & Poultry Assn. was building a new headquarters on the dock which was soon to be completed. (TNT 4-27-27, p. 18-article); G49.1-197; TPL-661 (copy made for Washington Co-op on 10-12-27)
Shipping--Tacoma--1920-1930; Cargo ships--Tacoma--1920-1930; Longshoremen--Tacoma--1920-1930; Washington Cooperative Farmers Association (Tacoma); Washington Co-op Egg & Poultry Association (Tacoma); Piers & whaves--Tacoma--1920-1930;
Fageol truck at Atlas Foundry. An unidentified driver sits behind the wheel of a Fageol Flyer truck on April 9, 1928 at the Atlas Foundry & Machine Co. plant, 3012 South Wilkeson St. in Tacoma. Fageol trucks were first manufactured in 1917 in Oakland, California. The models ranged from 1.5 tons to 10 tons. Fageol had recently opened a branch at 503 Puyallup Avenue to handle sales and service of their trucks. The Atlas Foundry truck shown above is believed to be a Fageol Flyer 6. It was light but built using heavy truck design. (TDL 4-17-1928, p. 5-full page ad, no photo)
Trucking of goods by highway was another method of shipping that became popular in the 1920's as roads and vehicles improved. Mack trucks, already known for their durability and reliability pre-and-post WWI, were used for quick delivery of freight. The company realized the demand for larger capacity and higher speed haulage and firms like the Olympia-Tacoma Auto Freight Co. were starting to use the sturdy Mack trucks for business. This Mack truck shown above on July 6, 1928, had an attached trailer, doubling the amount of goods that could be transported. For additional safety, both truck and trailer were equipped with Booster brakes to supplement regular braking equipment. G66.2-106B (www.macktrucks.com) (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 7-22-28, 4-G, alternate photograph & article)
Mack trucks; Olympia-Tacoma Auto Freight Co.; Shipping--1920-1930;
A tanker out of San Francisco, believed to be the "Tulsagas," is moored at the Associated Oil Co. terminal along the City (now Thea Foss) Waterway on May 29, 1929. She was making her first visit to Tacoma in nearly three years, this time to discharge a cargo of oil and gasoline. The air is hazy with smoke billowing from the many lumber and industrial plants in the Tideflats. Adjacent to the Associated Oil plant are Shell holding tanks and those of the Union Oil Co. TPL-5891; G49.1-048 (TNT 5-29-29, p. 14-small article on the "Tulsagas")
Three unidentified men stand inside the Tacoma Fire Boat No. 1, Tacoma's first fire boat, on June 10, 1929. The vessel had been successfully christened with ginger ale by Mrs. Dyer Dyment on June 8th and launched smoothly from the Coast Line Shipbuilding Co. plant. Shortly after launching the fire boat was moved to the Port of Tacoma piers where five gasoline engines were to be installed. Once operational, the fire boat would have speeds up to 18 mph and would be capable of issuing 10,000 gallons of water per minute from four centrifugal pumps. (TDL 6-8-29, p. 1-article; Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 6-9-29, p. 1-article) TPL-9899; G26.1-039
On August 12, 1929, men and women connected with Tacoma Airways aviation school lined up in front of two biplanes at the Mueller-Harkins airport with several automobiles further down the row. A Richfield service station is in the distance. TPL-532; G12.1-001
A City Fuel truck with a load of wood is third in line as this October 14, 1929, photograph was taken on an unidentified street. Sandwiched between the small City Fuel truck and a heavy-duty truck from the company is a large cement mixer. The mixer is on a trailer being hauled by the heavy-duty truck. Photograph ordered by City Fuel Co., 1947 Jefferson Ave. TPL-3669; G43.1-180
City Fuel Co. (Tacoma); Trucks--Tacoma--1920-1930; Fuel trade--Tacoma--1920-1930; Concrete mixers--Tacoma;
Two planes, one much smaller than the other, at an unidentified field the day after Christmas, 1929. The larger plane, a biplane, has tarp covering the open pilot cockpit and passenger seating. Photograph ordered by Tacoma Airways. G12.1-027
On April 1, 1933, the flagship of the Imperial Japanese fleet and another Japanese naval training ship arrived in Tacoma for a three day visit. The flagship Yakumo and the Iwate were moored at the Port of Tacoma Piers. The ships were open for tours on Saturday and Sunday drawing large crowds. Over 1500 officers and men were on the two ships and were released for leave in Tacoma. Just eight years later, with the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7,1941, Japan and the United States were at war. TPL-9080. Boland A11023. (TNT 4/1/1933, pg. 1; 4/3/1933, pg. 1)
In 1931, the Foss Launch & Tug Company operated the largest fleet of tugs on the Puget Sound out of their waterfront office building at 400 Dock Street. This photograph from July of 1931 shows twelve Foss tugs (and a small service boat) lined up by size next to the company's office building. The largest tug, at the far left, is the Andrew Foss, 97 feet long, built in 1905. The smallest tug, at the far right next to the service boat, is the Peggy Foss, 32 feet long, built in 1912. On Monday November 23, 1931 a fire destroyed the Foss company offices. They rebuilt at the same site, but in 1943 they moved to the Middle Waterway. TPL-7092
Japanese cruiser, probably either the Idzumo (sp) or the Iwate, at dock in Tacoma. Crowds gather to board the ship. Photograph was taken on September 6, 1932. TPL-7102
The ship "Seattle" of the Tacoma Oriental line is docked next to the Associated Oil Co.'s plant along the City (now Thea Foss) Waterway in early May of 1929, as she prepares to load fuel oil. Associated Oil was a relative newcomer to Tacoma as the company's plant was built in 1925. It was a major distributor of fuel and diesel oil and gasoline to all parts of southwestern Washington. TPL-6705; G49.1-047 (TDL 5-7-29, p. 13-mention of "Seattle")
Seven Tacoma Inter-city Auto Freight Co. delivery trucks and their drivers lined up in downtown Tacoma in August of 1919. The company's motto was apparently "You Need It (Service) We Give It." The freight company's address was listed as 2312 A Street in the 1919 telephone book. In the background of this photograph are the F.S. Harmon furniture company and Hunt & Mottet hardware and sporting goods store. G66.2-131
In November of 1930, the Washington Navigation Co. (WNC) ferry "Relief," shown above docked at Gig Harbor, was one of several ferries owned by the company plying the waters of the Puget Sound. She had been launched on July 17, 1930, at Skansie Shipbuilding in Gig Harbor. The "Relief" was 72-feet long with a 32-foot beam and 85 hp diesel engine. Befitting her name, she was used as a relief ship when other ferries were laid up for repairs. The Washington Navigation Co. was founded by Mitchell Skansie of Skansie Shipbuilding around 1926. When Pierce County could no longer afford to run its own ferry service to Gig Harbor, the service was contracted out to WNC. By the 1930's, the company had several ferries running on many routes in the South Sound. The company was almost ruined by the Great Depression and the opening of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge in 1940. When the bridge collapsed a scant seven months after construction, the ferry runs were restored and WNC began a bidding war with Puget Sound Navigation Co. for state ferry contracts. (Neal & Janus "Puget Sound Ferries"; TNT 7-17-30, p. 5-article) G66.1-089
Ferries--1930-1940; Washington Navigation Co. (Gig Harbor);
The schooner "Commodore," the last of the offshore sailing fleet in regular service on the Puget Sound, was photographed in September of 1936 while taking on a load of lumber at one of the mills in Tacoma. She was built in 1919 by the J.H. Price Construction Company, a Lake Washington shipyard, and by 1935 the wooden four masted schooner had fallen on hard times. In 1937 she was operating in Alaska as the Iniskin. She met her end in 1942. She was towed to South America and broken up for lumber to build houses. ("Marine History of the Pacific Northwest" H.W. McCurdy) G50.1-118, TPL-5845
Starboard view of the ferry, "The City of Tacoma," with several men on upper deck. A copy of this photograph was made on May 23, 1927 as requested by the Washington Navigation Co.; original date of print not known. The ferry made her maiden voyage in late December of 1921. G66.1-092
View of the ferry "Gig Harbor." Copy of photograph made on May 23, 1927, per request from the Washington Navigation Co. Date of original photograph is not known. Several passengers enjoy the fresh air and passing scenery aboard the ferry as she makes her way through calm waters. G66.1-086
A sleek new closed car Studebaker is parked outside of Home Electric Co., 1321-23 A Street, on September 13, 1923. Standing next to the Big Six coupe is Edward L. Salmson, president of the firm. He had bought a car from B. H. Kennedy, local Studebaker distributor, twelve years before and has just purchased this 1924 model. The Big Six coupes (5-passenger) sold for $2550, per Mr. Kennedy's ad in the Tacoma Sunday Ledger of September 23rd. Photograph ordered by B.H. Kennedy. G11.1-018 (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 9-23-23, G-5)
Studebaker automobile; Home Electric Co. (Tacoma); Salmson, Edward L.;
New Dodge on display. A shiny new Dodge touring car is parked outdoors on November 5, 1923, with a young man at the driver's seat and another man standing next to the front passenger's door. Photograph ordered by Griffith Motor Co., Dodge dealers.
A Cleveland Six convertible, with its top down and groaning under the weight of 19 staff members of the Richardson Motor Company, made the rounds of downtown Tacoma in February of 1924, inviting residents to guess the weight of the load, exclusive of the car. The person with the closest guess would win $25.00. The vehicle and its enormous load are shown stopped in front of Clarke's Tire Service at 731 St. Helens Ave. , one of its stops up and down the hilly streets. Benjamin Bailey's entry came the closest to picking the actual combined weight of 3,234.5 pounds, missing it by only 3.5 pounds, and he was awarded the $25 prize. Names of the Richardson staff were listed in the February 10th edition of the Sunday Ledger. G32.1-112; TPL-3700 (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 2-3-24, 2G; Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 2-10-24, G-7-article)
Automobiles--Tacoma--1920-1930; Richardson Motor Co. (Tacoma)--employees; Clarke's Tire Service (Tacoma); Contests--Tacoma--1920-1930;
Powerful winch used by Foss Launch & Tug Co. to raise the sunken steamer, "Rubaiyat," in March of 1924. The ship had sunk the previous year as she headed for Seattle. Four people aboard the vessel drowned. The tug, "Andrew Foss," is in the background. The winch, from the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway, had a six-foot in diameter drum with a two-inch steel cable. The winch enabled the hull, not seen since the September 30th sinking, to be visible . Four tugs towed the "Rubaiyat" toward the shore on March 12, 1924, and allowed her to rest just south of the Sperry Dock in about 60 feet of water. G50.1-147 (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 9-30-23, p. 1-article on capsizing; TDL 3-13-24, p. 10)
Raising of the "Rubaiyat." Part of the steamer "Rubaiyat" is visible on March 22, 1924, as she is slowly being raised from the deep waters of Commencement Bay. She had sunk after capsizing on September 29, 1923, on her way to Seattle. Initial attempts to haul her to the surface had failed. 8-10 feet of the stern became visible on Friday morning, March 21st. Hoses from a Foss Tug & Launch fireboat were used days earlier to undermine mud from beneath the hull so that heavy cables could be passed around to form a secure hold. Diver Walter McCray had removed most of the 20 tons of plaster from the "Rubaiyat" on March 17th. Plans were made to haul the ship to the beach on March 22nd and salvaged. The ship would then be floated to the Western Boat Building plant on the Wapato Waterway on March 25, 1924. None of the four bodies that went down with the ship in September were located and it was thought that they had been swept away by the tide after the sinking. G49.1-015 (TNT 3-18-24, p. 16-article; TNT 3-21-24, p. 21-article; TNT 3-24-24, p. 9-article; TDL 3-24-24, p. 1-article)
Three Garford heavy duty trucks are parked outside of the A. Holroyd Co. facilities on 5047 South Washington in March of 1925. The first truck in line, WA plate #363140, has a large bell attached over the grill. A. (Arthur) Holroyd was a dealer in building materials including sand & gravel, black soil, filling gravel, cement and cement block, stucco, and lath and plaster. The firm was founded in 1906 by Mr. Holroyd. G66.2-104
Trucks--Tacoma--1920-1930; Holroyd Co. (Tacoma); Building materials industry--Tacoma--1920-1930;
Well-known for its ability to haul heavy loads, a 5-ton White heavy duty truck carries equipment meant for installation at the $150,000 Cushman sub-station being constructed at 19th & Washington in late April of 1925. The large unit on the trailer was one of six 15-ton transformers to be installed. E.S. Frietch and William E. Becker, owners of two White trucks, were responsible for the hauling. The truck is parked with one man aboard and another kneeling nearby. Photograph ordered by the Hickey Motor Co., local distributors of White trucks. G43.1-044 (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 12-7-24, 8-E-article on Cushman sub-station; TDL 5-4-25, p. 3-article on transformers; Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 5-24-25, G-3)
