ca. 1905. Families are pictured in this circa 1905 photograph enjoying a pleasant day at Point Defiance Park at what is now called Owen Beach. People dressed more formally back then with ladies and gentlemen in hats, suits and for women, long skirts. Even small children were not seen barefoot. The lack of benches did not prevent visitors from sitting on the somewhat rocky terrain to view the Sound. The beach would later be named Owen Beach in 1959 in honor of longtime Metro Parks employee, Floyd Owen. In the early days of the 20th century, the beach, then only accessible by boat or walking, was called "new" beach or sometimes "Picnic Beach." (metroparkstacoma.org)

Owen Beach (Tacoma); Beaches--Tacoma; Point Defiance Park (Tacoma);

ca. 1905. Stacks and rows of women's clothing, including coats, dresses and perhaps lingerie, on display at Peoples department store circa 1905. The store was probably getting ready for its annual spring white sales which attracted hordes of shoppers. Peoples opened in Tacoma in 1888 and remained a vibrant presence in downtown Tacoma until 1983.

Peoples (Tacoma); Department stores--Tacoma--1900-1910; Women--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1900-1910;

ca. 1905. James Delbert and Frank Armstrong (left to right) stand at the entrance to the Armstrong Bros. grocery store at 5648 So. Union Avenue (now So. Tacoma Way) in the early part of the 20th century. Vegetables fill the window space at left while paintings are on display at right. The store was earlier known as Armstrong & Baker.

Armstrong Bros. (Tacoma); Grocery stores--Tacoma--1900-1910; Armstrong, James Delbert; Armstrong, Frank;

ca. 1905. This drydock is believed to be the Dockton drydock on Vashon Island circa 1905. It was the only drydock in the south Puget Sound at that time for large boats. See TPL 1007 for another view of the drydock.

Boat & ship industry; Piers & wharves;

ca. 1905. Six unidentified men pose with their horses in front of the offices of the Commercial Truck Co. in the early 1900's. The Commercial Truck Co. first appears in the City Directory in 1903. The company occupied 717-19 Broadway after its construction in 1902. They listed their business as transfer, drayage, piano movers, livery and feed stables. The company was a predecessor of Tacoma's Star Moving Co. (photograph courtesy of Dan Powell)

Commercial Truck Co. (Tacoma); Moving & storage trade--Tacoma--1900-1910; Horses;

ca. 1905. An unidentified man calmed a rearing horse near the offices of the Commercial Truck Co. in the early 1900's. The Commercial Truck Co. first appeared in the 1903 Tacoma City Directory. S.J. Pollard was listed as president with J.W. Garvin as Secretary-Treasurer and A.W. Tuel as Manager. They listed offices at 717-719 South C and 718-720 Commerce St. (in TPL building index as 717-19 Broadway). The company moved into this building on its completion in 1902. They listed their services as transfer, drayage, piano moving, livery and feed stables. The company sold in 1929 to AA Star Transfer of Aberdeen and became Star Commercial Moving & Storage, a predecessor of today's Star Moving Co. (photograph courtesy of Dan Powell)

Commercial Truck Co. (Tacoma); Moving & storage trade--Tacoma--1900-1910; Horses;

ca. 1905. The steamer Fairhaven is in drydock for repairs at Quartermaster Harbor, Vashon Island, circa 1905. Built in Tacoma in 1889 and launched from the yards of Cpt. John Holland, the stern-wheeler was 130 feet long with 26-foot beam. She was built at a cost of $30,000 for the Fairhaven Land Co., of which Nelson Bennett was president. The wooden stern-wheel steamer was used by more than one company including the La Conner Trading & Transportation Co. and the Island Transportation Co. She had suffered several accidents during her long tenure on local waters including sinking in ten feet of water after striking a rock near Utsalady in 1902 and smashing her bow while caught by strong gales at Coupeville in 1907. Here the Fairhaven is undergoing repairs circa 1905 at Quartermaster Harbor, a nearly five-mile-long inlet which is formed by Vashon Island on the west and Maury Island on the east. The drydock was one of the largest in the Puget Sound. It could lift several large ships at a time and was in place until 1909. The Fairhaven was beached in 1918 after a fire and ended her days as a quasi-houseboat. (Carlaw, 'The Pickrell Brothers recall the Fairhaven,' The Sea Chest, XV1 (Dec. 1982-article)

Stern wheelers; Steamboats; Boat & ship industry; Quartermaster Harbor (Wash);

Snow & Burgess Built as a full-rigged ship at Thomaston, Maine in 1878 by Thomas Watts. Converted to a fiveΓÇômasted schooner on the West Coast in 1904. 1655 gross tons. Burned for junk in 1922 after arriving at Port Townsand from Manila with a broken back, a year earlier. (Gibbs, Jim. Pacific Square-Riggers : Pictorial History of the Great Windships of Yesteryear. 1987. Pg. 190.)

Sailing ships; Schooneers;

Harness gleaming and bedecked in garlands, the huge bays of Chemical Engine Co. No. 1 were ready to participate in the Tacoma Rose Carnival Parade on June 22,1905 . The parade was just one of the many activities in the three day festival which included band concerts, water pageants, a children's parade and a carnival ball. Chemical Co. No. 1, Engine Co. No. 1, and the hook and ladder Co. No. 1 from the Saint Helens station were chosen to represent the Tacoma Fire Department during the parade. Chief George McAlevy had wanted to furnish a larger display but reconsidered due to the city's need in case of fires. Chemical Engine Co. No. 1 was housed in the Fire Department headquarters at 9th & A Streets in downtown Tacoma. It would remain there until 1916 when it was put out of service. Photograph taken on June 22, 1905, by B. Waters. (Tacoma Daily News, 6-21-05, p. 3, Tacoma Daily News, 6-22-05, p. 1)

Tacoma Fire Department (Tacoma); Fire fighters--Tacoma--1900-1910; Fire engines & equipment--Tacoma; Horses--Tacoma; Parades & processions--Tacoma--1900-1910; Rose Carnival (Tacoma);

In 1905, Sarsaparilla, the pampered pooch of the Tacoma police force, was famous for using his ugly mug to "sweat" a confession out of suspects. "Sas," as he was known, had been left at the police station when only a few days old and was raised on a bottle. The bull dog was soon known as the ugliest dog in Tacoma. When a suspect was brought into Police Chief Malony's office for questioning, "Sas" only had to be called from his blanket in the Chief's office, fix his slanted eyes on the criminal and the information began to flow. (TDN 10/28/1905, pg. 17)

Bulldogs; Dogs--Tacoma--1900-1910; Police dogs;

ca. 1906. A fleet of new Ford automobiles is lined up outside the Washington Automobile Co., 710-12 Pacific Ave., circa 1906. The firm, operated by W.W. Pickerill, was the first automobile dealership in Tacoma. Prior to being occupied by the Washington Automobile Co., the building had been the home of the Tacoma Athletic Club and also served later as the Odd Fellows Temple.

Ford automobile; Washington Automobile Co. (Tacoma);

ca. 1906. John Mason house. John Mason and family including: (l to r, standing) Robert Mason, and Lyde Wilson Wray; (l to r, sitting) woman believed to be Robert Mason's wife, John Paul Mason, Virginia (Mrs. John Quincy) Mason, Anita Noel Mason (with Ted Mason on her lap), and John Quincy Mason. Anita Noel Mason was the wife of Thomas Mason, who is not pictured. This family portrait was taken circa 1906. Mrs. John Quincy Mason had designed this Colonial home which was built in 1905. Her pioneer husband would pass away in 1920 and she died in 1936. (From the collection of David Kenworthy) (Additional identification provided by a reader)

Mason, John--Homes & haunts; Mason, John--Family; Mason, Virginia; Mason, Robert; Wray, Lyde Wilson; Mason, John Paul; Mason, Anita Noel; Mason, Ted; Mason, John Quincy; Families--Tacoma--1900-1910;

ca. 1906. Copy negative of an early Tacoma Fire Department fire truck, circa 1900.

Fire engines & equipment--Tacoma--1900-1910; Tacoma Fire Department (Tacoma);

ca. 1906. A small crowd scattered on the sidewalk pauses to admire a fleet of new Fords lined up outside the Washington Automobile Co., 710-12 Pacific Ave., circa 1906. The Washington Automobile Co. was the first car dealership in Tacoma. It was operated by car enthusiast and entrepreneur W.W. Pickerill. The brick building housing the dealership had previously been home to the Chas. W. Langert Liquor Co. and the Tacoma Athletic Club and later became the Odd Fellows Lodge. The Washington Automobile Co. was in business there from 1905-1909.

Ford automobile; Washington Automobile Co. (Tacoma);

ca. 1906. Interior showroom of the Washington Automobile Co., 710-12 Pacific Avenue, circa 1906. It was the first automobile dealership in Tacoma and remained at this location until from approximately 1905-1909. Most of the gleaming cars shown were roofless although those on the left side had softcover tops that could be attached in case of rain.

Washington Automobile Co. (Tacoma); Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1900-1910; Ford automobile;

ca. 1906. Tacoma smelter smokestack. At the time of its completion in 1905, this was the largest concrete chimney in the world. It was located on the grounds of the American Smelting & Refining Co. (ASARCO) plant in Ruston. It would be superceded by the 571-foot smokestack completed in 1917. (Tacoma New Herald Annual NWR 917.97 T119N 1906)

American Smelting & Refining Co. (Tacoma); Smelters--Tacoma; Industrial facilities--Tacoma; Smokestacks--Tacoma;

ca. 1907. This building at 3636 E. "H" Street (now McKinley Avenue) was built by William J. Goellner and was the home of the McKinley Park Bakery from 1906 through 1914. Mr. Goellner also lived at this location. In 1915, he had moved his bakery to Pacific Ave, although his home was still listed at this address. By 1917, he had moved his home to North 25th Street. Mr. Goellner died June 27, 1942 in Sumner at the age of 64. He had been a resident of Tacoma for 53 years. He was the owner of the Northwestern Bakery and operated a chain of retail stores. He was survived only by his sisters. (TNT 7/14/1942, pg. 13; Tacoma City Directory)

McKinley Park Bakery (Tacoma); Goellner, William John; Bakeries--Tacoma--1900-1910;

ca. 1907. The W.D. Harney Photogravure Company of Racine, Wisconsin captured the beauty of Tacoma in a series of photographs taken in 1907, including this view looking south from the intersection of 9th and Broadway. The Tacoma Theater building (destroyed by fire in 1963) stands at right. A wall advertisement can be seen on the Pythian Temple building to the south. Horse drawn carriages and street cars still predominate over the new but increasingly popular automobile. (also Richards C164600-142 and TPL-5454)

Tacoma Theatre (Tacoma); Pythian Temple (Tacoma);

ca. 1907. As early as 1907, Commercial Truck Company was in business in Tacoma, filling the need for moving and storage. A young man posed with a wagon used for transport, pulled by two horses, in front of the concrete building at 2302-12 East E St. that the company took over in October of 1907. The reinforced concrete warehouse was two stories, 75 x 140 feet and provided fireproof storage. It was built at a cost of $30,000. The Commercial Truck Co. was a forerunner of Tacoma's Star Moving Co. of today. (photograph courtesy of Dan Powell)

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

ca. 1907. Business offices of the Commercial Truck Co. According to the City Directory and newspaper accounts, from 1902-1907 the company maintained offices at 717-19 Broadway. The building has since been demolished. In 1907, the company moved into a fireproof concrete building at 2302-12 East E. By 1910, their office staff had moved into the Garretson-Woodruff-Pratt Building, at 1754 Pacific Ave., now part of the University of Washington campus. By 1913, the Commercial Truck Co. was the largest transfer & storage equipment company on the west coast. Its holdings consisted of the offices at 1754 Pacific, 1 concrete warehouse at 2302-12 East E and another brick warehouse, address unknown. In the photograph, an unidentified man stands in front of an open safe. (photograph courtesy of Dan Powell) TPL-9832

Commercial Truck Co. (Tacoma); Moving & storage trade--Tacoma--1900-1910;

ca. 1907. Group portrait of the Tacoma Daily Ledger newspaper staff in front of their new offices in the Perkins Building circa 1907. These men were composing room employees, members of Typographical Union No. 170. S. A. "Sam" Perkins had just purchased the Ledger, adding it to his Perkins Press newspaper empire. At that time the Ledger was a morning and Sunday paper and the News, an afternoon paper. The Ledger merged into the Tacoma News Tribune in 1937. Harold S. Hagen, third from left in the middle row, was still working as a compositor at the Tacoma News Tribune in 1959, some 52 years after this photograph was taken. G40.1-115, G38.1-014 (Tacoma Labor Advocate, 9-4-1959, p. 11)

Newspaper industry--Tacoma--1900-1910; Typesetting--Tacoma; Printers; Labor unions--Tacoma; Hagen, Harold S.;

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. 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. 1907. Men and equipment of Fire Station No. 2, ca. 1907. The station was located at 2701 Tacoma Avenue So. and built in mid-1907. A 1889 Hayes 65' aerial was assigned to Truck Co. No. 2 along with a Continental 2nd size steam fire engine, 700 gpm, and a hose wagon No. 2, 1890 California apparatus. The fire station is still in use at the same location in 2004. It is on both the City and National Registries. Photograph from the collection of retired Tacoma Fire Department member, William Turner.

Tacoma Fire Department, Fire Station No. 2 (Tacoma); Fire stations--Tacoma; Fire engines & equipment--Tacoma;

ca. 1907. Belle Sharpe (left) and Lillian McPherson stand in front of the Elite Cafe in this circa 1907 photograph. The Elite Cafe was at 2405 Pacific Avenue, Tacoma. The proprietors of the cafe were C.W. Sharpe and Collin McPherson. From the collection of Beverly Knoll.

Elite Cafe (Tacoma); Cafes--Tacoma--1900-1910; Sharpe, Belle; McPherson, Lillian; Women--Tacoma--1900-1910;

ca. 1907. Dorcas Spalt rides through Wright Park in her 1906 Cadillac, driven by her son, Worthy Morris. Purported to be the first Cadillac in Tacoma. Man standing next to car was not identified except as a friend of Mr. Morris. (Original print owned by Allen Morris. No print copy on file.)

Cadillac automobile; Spalt, Dorcas; Morris, Worthy; Wright Park (Tacoma);

ca. 1907. Engine & Truck Co. No. 2. This sepia photograph is dated approximately 1907. The men of Engine & Truck Co. No. 2 stand proudly with their new Continental steam fire engine, 2nd size, 700 gpm. 1907 also saw Truck Co. No. 2 obtain the 1889 Hayes 65' aerial formerly belonging to Truck Co. No. 1, who had purchased a 75' Seagrave aerial. The firefighting apparatus was still pulled by sturdy horses. Engine Co. No. 2 and Truck Co. No. 2 were in new quarters that year with a station built at 2701 Tacoma Avenue South. (100 Years of Firefighting in the City of Destiny Tacoma, Washington, p. 42)

Tacoma Fire Department (Tacoma); Fire engines & equipment--Tacoma; Horses--Tacoma;

Dinner held at the Tacoma Hotel on September 7, 1907, in honor of William H. Taft during his visit to Tacoma while he was Secretary of War. 300 prominent members of the Chamber of Commerce and local businessmen accorded Secretary Taft a rousing welcome. Those included Everett G. Griggs, S.A. Perkins, Francis W. Cushman, T.J. Handforth, George F. Wright, Alexander Baillie, Thomas Carstens and Dave Gross among hundreds. This was the second address of the day for Secretary Taft who had arrived in Tacoma after inspection of the maneuver grounds at American Lake. He had praised the site as ideal for a military post with the only drawback being the cost of some of the privately held property. Secretary Taft spoke to a teeming crowd of some 12,000 Tacoma citizens at Wright Park at 5 p.m. that evening prior to the banquet. They had gathered to hear the potential successor to Teddy Roosevelt. Showing that he was held in high esteem by not only the well-to-do but the average working man, an impromptu escort of about 500 men just finished with their daily endeavors marched along the automobile carrying William Taft and his party to Wright Park. 2/3rds of them bore lunch pails and working garb. (TDL 9-7-1907, p. 1-article; Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 9-8-1907, p. 1, 23-article)

Banquets--Tacoma--1900-1910; Tacoma Hotel (Tacoma); Taft, William H.; Government officials--United States;

On October 2, 1907, loggers building a sawmill in the woods paused to have their photograph taken. The mill is being constructed using cut logs from the heavily forested hillside. The name of the logging company and the location of the mill were not provided.

Logs; Sawmills; Construction;

ca. 1908. Employees of the Rhodes Brothers delivery department, circa 1908. The men and boys were dressed in uniforms, including 1907 style "puttee" leggings. (Names written on the back of the photograph appear to be: Back row, left to right, "Butch" Smith, Bill Sinding, Ed Lasson, Art Nedevold, Roy Andesson and Carl Johnson. Center row: Ernie Smith, "Babe" Knutson, Art Lasson, Herb Johnson and Paul Day. Front row: Al Swanson, Kenny McKeen and Al James- two unidentified) When Rhodes Brothers opened in 1903, they employed four delivery wagons. Rhodes Brothers was painted in bold letters on the horse drawn wagons. A "special delivery" boy road with the driver and carried the packages to the houses. The boys would also deliver packages by streetcar. In 1912, the wagons were replaced by gas powered delivery trucks. (Photograph donated by the Rhodes Reunion Committee) (TDL 11/8/1903, pg. 17; "A History of Pierce County Washington", Vol. 3, pg 73-77)

Rhodes Brothers Department Store (Tacoma)--Employees; Department stores--Tacoma; Delivery boys;