Columnist Roy Beckman published this picture under the headline "Fircrest Mystery Tunnel Lures Adventure Seekers" in the October 8, 1925, News Tribune. The story told of a tunnel mouth, located yards from University Ave., leading into a four foot wide, 2-3 foot high tunnel. Since it was located near where the expelled Chinese had settled in Fircrest, it was immediately assumed that the tunnel was their creation. Only one person could be found who had traversed it as a youth. He reported it as being 2 1/2 miles long and ending on a bluff above Salmon Beach. It had two large chambers, 20 x15 feet, shored up by timber and evidencing occupancy. It also had two branch tunnels leading off that were not explored. It was rumored that the tunnel had been used to smuggle opium or human contraband, but by the time of the newspaper article, a portion of the tunnel had been utilized by the community of Regents Park as a sewer and was uninhabitable due to sewer gas. (TNT 10/8/1925, pg. 6) TPL-999; G72.1-116

Tunnels--Fircrest; Smuggling--Fircrest;

This is Tacoma Avenue North at 1st Street as it looked in December of 1925. Construction of this $40,000 combination garage and store brick building was started in the spring of 1925. By early September of that year, the Hillcrest Garage and Tacoma Wicker Co. were both open. The Hillcrest Garage, a two-story garage and covered service station operated by William D. Smith and C.C. Duncan, actually fronted Broadway and had the address of 22 North Broadway. A public market, apparently to be called "Stadium Market" per its sign laid against the brick & tile building, was scheduled to open at the corner. In 1927 the new KVI radio studio would occupy a portion of the building. Today, the Harvester Restaurant occupies the northeast corner of this building. TPL-879; G62.1-067 (full page ad TDL 9-6-25, A-9)

Streets--Tacoma--1920-1930; Hillcrest Garage (Tacoma); Tacoma Wicker Co. (Tacoma);

A Japanese American wedding party with their many guests posed on December 6, 1925 outside the building at South 17th and Market Streets that housed the Tacoma Jujitsu School and the Columbus Hotel. The bride, groom and attendants, as well as guests, are all dressed in American attire. Rather then wear a traditional shiromuku wedding kimono, the bride appears to be completely and stylishly dressed in a contemporary white dress, including a long lace veil, and carries a large bouquet of flowers. No one, with the exception of the two youngsters on the far right, appears to be smiling. G39.1-184; TPL-1438.

Japanese Americans--Tacoma; Weddings--Tacoma--1920-1930; Wedding costume--1920-1930; Grooms (Weddings)--1920-1930; Brides--1920-1930;

The bridgetender was either in the process of raising or lowering the 800-ton lift span of the Hylebos Bridge on January 6, 1926, although no ship is visible. The bridge casts its reflection in the Hylebos Waterway, the most easterly of the waterways in the Port of Tacoma development of the Tideflats. The Hylebos Bridge was the only bascule type bridge in Pierce County at that time. Costing $80,000 and opened on October 15, 1925, it formed a link between Tacoma and the Browns Point and Dash Point communities of Northeast Tacoma. It replaced an old wooden drawbridge. The Hylebos Bridge was ordered closed by the federal government in 1935 due to insufficient clearance space. A new Hylebos was built in 1939, this time at the cost of $380,000. TPL-9633; G15.1-012 (NWR clipping file: TNT 11-3-25, TDL 5-28-39)

Bridges--Tacoma--1920-1930; Hylebos Bridge (Tacoma); Vertical lift bridges--Tacoma--1920-1930;

In January of 1926, an unidentified uniformed usherette stood at attention beside the ornate ticket booth within the exterior foyer of the Pantages Theater, the movie palace located at 901 Broadway. The silent film "A Lovers Oath" starring Ramon Navarro and Kathleen Key opened at the Pantages on January 16, 1926 and ran for the traditional one week. Loosely based on the "The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam," the film was Navarro's first starring role. It was made in 1922 and, unable to find a distributer, laid in the vault until after the 1925 release of "Ben Hur" with Navarro. Also advertised as "now playing" is the Pantages "Songolog" of Joy featuring Arnold Leverenz at the organ. The organ was used to provide musical accompaniment to the silent films. In the fifties, Leverenz would be a featured performer at Steve's Gay Nineties. In the back is a poster for Lew and Mad Wilson in "Nothing in the Mouth" and an advertisement for Mezzo Photography Studio in the Bernice Building. G65.1-021, BU-11192, TPL-10476

Pantages Theater (Tacoma); Movie theaters--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Unidentified man on Indian motorcycle in February of 1926. The young man has his sidecar filed with boxes, at least one containing National Mazda lamps. G66.1-142

Motorcycles--Tacoma--1920-1930; Delivering--Tacoma--1920-1930;

View of Saint Helens Avenue between 7th & 9th Sts. on March 4, 1926. Streetcar tracks are visible down Saint Helens. On the left are the Cleveland automobile dealership, Richardson's (734-36 Broadway), the Gilliam & Steven Motor Co. (at 735 Saint Helens, later street renamed Court C), Lindum Hotel (747-49 Saint Helens). Across the street are the Allyn Hotel (726-28 Saint Helens) and the Reliance Electric Fixture Co. (740 Saint Helens). G61.1-168

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1920-1930; Street railroad tracks--Tacoma--1920-1930; Richardson Motor Co. (Tacoma); Gilliam & Steven Motor Co. (Tacoma); Lindum Hotel (Tacoma); Allyn Hotel (Tacoma); Reliance Electric Fixture Co. (Tacoma);

Bustling 11th Street street scene. This is a view from the Perkins Building (1101 A Street) on May 29, 1926. Buildings on the left (front to rear) are: the Federal Building (1102 A Street) and the Peoples department store (1101-07 Pacific Ave.) The 17-story, two-winged skyscraper on the right is the Washington Building (1019 Pacific). Looking uphill from the Washington Building are the Rust Building (950 Pacific) and the Fidelity Building (949-55 Broadway). In the distance can be seen the Romanesque Pierce County Courthouse (1012 So. "G"). G57.1-124

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1920-1930; Business districts--Tacoma--1920-1930; Office buildings--Tacoma--1920-1930; Federal Building (Tacoma); Peoples (Tacoma); Washington Building (Tacoma); Rust Building (Tacoma); Fidelity Building (Tacoma);

Elks Temple. June, 1926, view of the Elks Temple as seen from Commerce Street. At this time, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Tacoma Lodge No. 174, had been at this location for 10 years. The elegant structure was one of Tacoma's showcases and its 64 Spanish steps, built to serve as a fire escape, were designed after the Scala di Spagna of Rome, steps that once led to the Spanish Embassy. The Tacoma Elks Lodge and Puyallup Lodge would be hosting the 1926 state Elks convention in Tacoma later in June. TPL-635; G17.1-046; BU-10,638 (TNT 6-17-26, 1-C)

Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Tacoma Lodge No. 174 (Tacoma); Elks Temple (Tacoma); Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1920-1930;

The McMurray Sisters represented Puyallup as one of the musical features at the June 1926 Elks State Convention held in Tacoma. They were pictured prior to the June 25, 1926 parade perched on their specially decorated automobile. The McMurrays were a saxophone jazz quartet; they wore fancy dress costumes for the parade. Puyallup had one of the largest delegations in the parade as well as three floats. 50,000 cheering spectators crammed into downtown Tacoma to watch the 22 lodges march by along with floats, drum corps and marching bands. (TNT 6/25/1926, pg. 1; T.Times 6-25-26, p. 1-article; T.Times 6-26-26, p. 1,2 -articles)

McMurray Sisters (Puyallup); Musicians--Tacoma--1920-1930; Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks (Puyallup); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1920-1930; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1920-1930; Celebrations--Tacoma--1920-1930;

An addition to the industrial facilities located in Tacoma's Tideflats was the Associated Oil Co. plant and offices, built in 1925 for $500,000, under the direction of E.F. Fitzgerald, superintendent of construction. They were located on the waterfront overlooking the City (now Thea Foss) Waterway. View of East "D" St. with smoke billowing from several mills; boat passing by Associated Oil plant. TPL-1348; G9.1-048

Associated Oil Co. (Tacoma); Industrial facilities--Tacoma--1920-1930; Petroleum industry--Tacoma--1920-1930; City Waterway (Tacoma);

Located at 7th & Broadway was the big Wilkeson Garage. The 120-feet by 131-feet concrete building was the largest of its kind on the Pacific Coast. The service station added a top level for parking in April of 1924, a few months after work was completed on the rest of the structure. Wilkeson Garage carried Goodyear Tires, General Gasoline, Watson Stabilators, Wold-Wilkeson Motor Oil. G59.1-026

Wilkeson Garage & Service Station (Tacoma); Automobile service stations--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Every nook-and-cranny in Stadium Bowl is jam-packed for 1926's 4th of July festivities. 40,000 witnessed the celebration of the 150th anniversary of American independence. Participants in the night's celebration included marines from the battleships in Commencement Bay and the guns of battery B, 10th Field Artillery from Camp Lewis. The program was sponsored by the American Legion and was held on Monday, July 5th. Stadium High School overlooks the Bowl on the left. BU11,616 (TDL 7-6-26, p. 1+) TPL-10131

Stadium Bowl (Tacoma); Stadium High School (Tacoma); Crowds--Tacoma--1920-1930; Spectators--Tacoma--1920-1930; Celebrations--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Miss Tacoma at Stadium Bowl. "Miss Tacoma's" face is not clear due to this double exposure where a young sailor's image has been blended with her own. She posed standing in a late-model automobile with a number of sailors surrounding her during the 1926 4th of July celebration at Stadium Bowl. Dorothy Rothermel was chosen as 1926's Miss Tacoma. TPL-2054; G42.1-136

Beauty contestants--Tacoma--1920-1930; Rothermel, Dorothy; Celebrations--Tacoma--1920-1930; Sailors--1920-1930; Automobiles--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Interior view of S.A. Andrews' residence. This may have been the sitting or living room filled with delicate and ornate furniture. Samuel and Valerie Andrews resided at 1008 North "I" St. in 1926. He owned a women's apparel firm at 9th & Broadway called the S.A. Andrews Co. The Andrews would move later to a two-story brick home on Lake Steilacoom that was designed by architect Silas E. Nelsen.

Andrews, Samuel A.--Homes & haunts; Houses--Tacoma--1920-1930; Chairs;

Cows on Western State Hospital land. These are believed to be Holsteins, capable of producing plenty of milk for hospital patients. Each cow with its distinctive black and white markings is hitched to a post. The hospital's herd was started in 1914 from blue ribbon prize winners who had been blacklisted from commercial diary production due to tb. By 1926, the year of this photograph, the herd was free of tb. The cows, as well as the hospital's poultry, swine, and gardens, were under the care of Western State's patients and staff. The many cars parked nearby in the above August 27, 1926, photograph may have belonged to county cattlemen who had come to Western State to see the hospital's fine stock. They also examined stables and equipment in addition to inspecting the hospital's purebred stock. There was currently a campaign in Pierce County for the improvement of breeding stock and the use of purebred bulls. (TDL 8-28-26, p. 3-article)

Cows--Washington; Western State Hospital (Lakewood);

Carstens Packing Co. crane with unidentified worker photographed in late August of 1926. The large meat packing firm was located in the Tideflats at 1623 East "J" St. TPL-5821; TPL-7935; G49.1-188; G34.1-165

Hoisting machinery; Carstens Packing Co. (Tacoma);

ca. 1920. Ralph DePalma and his "mechanician," believed to be nephew Peter DePaolo, in the French Ballot No. 2, circa 1920. The Ballot was the only foreign entry in the 1920 Tacoma Classic racing event held at the Tacoma Speedway on July 5, 1920. International star DePalma had raced for twelve successive years and was known for driving hard and giving spectators their money's worth. The Ballot broke down prior to the actual July 5th race but Mr. DePalma still managed to compete in a borrowed Duesenberg. TPL-131 (TNT 7-1-20, p. 1, 11-article)

DePalma, Ralph; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1920-1930; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1920-1930; Racing automobiles--1920-1930; Ballot automobile;

ca. 1920. Roscoe Sarles peeked around to be seen behind the grillwork of his Monroe racing car, circa 1920. Sarles was in Tacoma to compete in the Tacoma Classic on the board track of the Tacoma Speedway on July 5th, 1920. He drove car #5 and finished 5th in the race. He was a fearless driver and a ruthless opponent. He began racing by joining Louis Chevrolet's team in 1916. He had proved himself a successful competitor, but in September of 1922 his luck ran out. His Durant special snapped its steering wheel, swerved into another car, and was flipped over the edge of the track's rim, killing him. (TDL 7/4/1920,pg. 1C) TPL-113; Speedway 062

Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1920-1930; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1920-1930; Automobile racing drivers; Sarles, Roscoe; Monroe automobile;

ca. 1920. This is Art Klein, race car driver, in an informal outdoor portrait circa 1920. Mr. Klein had prior experience at the Tacoma Speedway when in 1914 he brought his King car directly from the Indy 500 to race alongside such contemporaries as Earl Cooper, Hughie Hughes and Wilbur D'Alene. He came in second in the 200-mile Golden Potlatch and third in the 250-mile Montamarathan. In 1920 he was part of the Frontenac team along with Joe Boyer, Jr. Mr. Klein, running on Oldfield tires, came in fourth with a $1700 payday. (TDL 7-6-20, p. 1-results)

Klein, Art; Automobile racing drivers; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Automobile racing--Lakewood--1920-1930;

ca. 1920. Race car driver Art Klein, circa 1920. Art Klein was competing in the 1920 Tacoma Classic at the Tacoma Speedway. He had just finished 5th at the Indy 500, which would turn out to be his best finish in that race. In Tacoma, he finished 4th in his Frontenac race car, numbered "8." He raced professionally from 1914-1917 and again from 1919-1923 and built his own Kleinart Indy car. Born in 1889, he managed to survive professional racing; he died in 1955. (TDL 7/4/1920, pg. 1C)

Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing drivers; Klein, Art;

ca. 1920. This is speed king Jimmy Murphy (at left) with his mechanic, Ernie Olson, on the board track of the Tacoma Speedway circa the summer of 1920. He had entered the 9th annual race as a newcomer to the Pacific Northwest but had already started to establish himself as a rising star in the world of auto racing. He and his mechanic are standing in front of his Duesenberg, one of four entered in the July 5th race. The 1920 Tacoma race was filled with veteran well-known drivers including 1920 Indy 500 winner Gaston Chevrolet, NW favorite Eddie Hearne, Roscoe Sarles, Eddie O'Donnell, Ralph DePalma, Cliff Durant, Ralph Mulford and the eventual winner, Tommy Milton. Mr. Murphy drove well and finished sixth, claiming a payday of $1,100. In 1922 he returned to the Tacoma Speedway and won the last big race held there. (Tacoma Sunday Ledger 6-20-20, 3B-article; TDL 7-6-20, p. 1+-results)

Murphy, Jimmy; Automobile racing drivers; Olson, Ernie; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1920-1930; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1920-1930; Racing automobiles--1920-1930; Duesenberg automobile;

The grand old man of racing Barney Oldfield posed with thirteen drivers on the board track of the Tacoma Speedway prior to the race on July 4th 1922. The 1922 Speedway Classic would turn out to be the last auto race held on the track. It was closed at the end of 1922. Only ten of the drivers would actually compete in the race. Oldfield led the pack as Pacemaker. Pictured, left to right, are Jimmy Murphy, Tommy Milton, unidentified, Frank Elliott, Roscoe Sarles, Jerry Wanderlich, Harry Hartz, Joe Thomas, unidentified, Barney Oldfield, unidentified, Eddie Hearne, Cliff Durant and Ralph Mulford. TPL-3177

Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Automobile racing--Lakewood--1920-1930; Racetracks--Lakewood--1920-1930; Automobile racing drivers;

J.R. McKinnell opened the new Rose Theater at 514-16 South 11th Street in late December of 1920. The original Rose Theater was located at 905 South Tacoma Avenue (now Tacoma Avenue South) in the Lucerne Building. On the 28th of December the feature at the new Rose was "Ruth of the Rockies" starring Ruth Roland, one of the Queens of the early silent serials; she specialized in westerns and comedies. "Ruth of the Rockies" was one of her later films. The new movie house had been built by Tacoma contractors Wick and Johnson at an estimated price tag of $8,000 for a California client. It was constructed of reinforced concrete and was 22 feet high with a 35 x 65 foot footprint. The building was demolished July of 1996. (TDL 1/2/1921, pg. B6- photo, 12/12/20, pg. B-5 article) Boland B3470, BU-13,339, TPL-2394

Rose Theater (Tacoma); Motion picture theaters--Tacoma--1920-1930;

On June 13, 1924, five usherettes, all with the latest in bobbed hair, posed in their new summer uniforms, blousy top and slacks in combinations of black and orange, in front of the Colonial Theater, 916-18 Broadway. The women were identified by the News Tribune as, left to right, Evelyn Durrin (head usher,) Mary Marko, Isobelle Pallis (assistant head usher,) Mildred Barnes and one unidentified usherette. The marquee advertised "The Last Hour" with Milton Sills, Carmel Myers, Walter Long and Pat O'Malley, which opened June 14, 1924 and ran at the Colonial for one week. "The Last Hour" was issued in 1923 by Mastadon Films. The Colonial Theater was designed by Roland Borhek and built in 1914. In the thirties, it became the Beverly Theater and in the 40's the Telenews Theater. It has since been demolished. Boland B10313, BU 11,145 (TNT 6/19/24, pg. 8)

Colonial Theater (Tacoma); Motion picture theaters--Tacoma--1920-1930; Ushers--Tacoma--1920-1930; Motion picture industry--1920-1930;

President Warren G. Harding, clutching his cane, was photographed in Tacoma on July 5, 1923, while on an hours-long visit to the city. The President was on his way to Alaska via the USS Henderson when he stopped in Tacoma. He was feted at a reception held at the elegant Tacoma Hotel and paid a visit to the US Veterans Hospital (Cushman) before being honored at the packed Stadium Bowl. President Harding never made another trip to Tacoma as he died 28 days later at the age of 57. TPL-5453

Harding, Warren G.; Presidents--United States; Visits of state--Tacoma--1920-1930; Guests--Tacoma--1920-1930;

ca. 1921. Pacific Luthern College's (later University) first building dominates the landscape in 1921. Designed by architect August Heide, the cornerstone was laid in 1891, one year after the college was founded. Known first as "Old Main," the landmark structure was renamed Harstad Hall for the school's first president, the Rev. B. A. Harstad. (B5709)

Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--1920-1930; Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--Buildings--1920-1930;

View of Western State Hospital in the 1920s. TPL-7068

Western State Hospital (Lakewood); Mental institutions--Lakewood--1920-1930;

Parked on a gravel roadway on May 6, 1924, is a Dodge sedan with two women and an infant inside. The industrial Tideflats are in the background. Photograph ordered by Griffith Motor Co., Dodge dealership. G11.1-023

Dodge automobile;

This aerial view of Tacoma is what the photographer Marvin Boland saw from the top of the 11th Street (Murray Morgan) Bridge in May of 1924. The elegant Tacoma Hotel at 913 A Street is positioned right-center. A covered walkway winds its way down the bluff that separates the Tacoma Hotel from the waterfront. To the left side is the Hotel Lawrence at 1011 1/2 A Street and the Washington Hardware Company warehouse. The Tacoma Municipal Dock is in the foreground. BU-11,931

Tacoma Hotel (Tacoma); Hotel Lawrence (Tacoma); Warehouses--Tacoma--1920-1930; Tacoma Municipal Dock (Tacoma); Aerial views; Aerial photographs;