Dredging operations on the City Waterway. View of clam shell dredging apparatus and log dump. The City Waterway (now Thea Foss Waterway) was being dredged in February of 1924 to make the waterway deeper so that industries located at the upper end of the channel would be accessible to ocean liners. One beneficiary of the deeper waterway would be the Wheeler-Osgood mill who would be able to load lumber directly onto the big liners from their own modern dock. Henry & McFee of Seattle had been awarded the $23,000 contract to remove about 78,000 cubic yards of material so that the new depth would be 19 feet at low tide. September 25th was the deadline to complete the work. G36.1-075 (TNT 1-21-24, p. 1-article; TNT 2-11-24, p. 5-alternate picture & article)

Dredging--Tacoma; Underwater drilling--Tacoma--1920-1930; City Waterway (Tacoma); Logs;

On February 12, 1924, the concrete work by contractors J.E. Bonnell & Sons on Jones Hall, the first building to be constructed on the new College of Puget Sound campus, was almost complete. The red tile roof was scheduled to be done next. The building was designed by the architecture firm of Sutton, Whitney & Dugan, as was the entire original campus. The school was patterned after the English educational institution of Cambridge. When completed, Jones Hall would represent an investment of $300,000. It was built completely of reinforced concrete with brick veneer, making the building fireproof. It was scheduled to be finished in early summer, in time for the college to transfer from 602 No. Sprague (now the site of Jason Lee) to this location and open for classes in the fall. (TNT 2/14/1924, pg. 10) BU -13585, G67.1-080

College of Puget Sound (Tacoma); Jones Hall (Tacoma)--Building construction; Progress photographs; Building construction--Tacoma--1920-1930; Universities & colleges--Tacoma--1920-1930; Sutton, Whitney & Dugan (Tacoma);

Cranes built by Star Iron & Steel for the ASARCO smelter at 5300 N 52nd St, Tacoma

Industries; Star Iron & Steel; ASARCO; Smelters;

Cranes built by Star Iron & Steel for the ASARCO smelter at 5300 N 52nd St, Tacoma

Industries; ASARCO; Star Iron & Steel; Smelters;

Circular tank located at Tacoma Gas & Fuel Co. property in the Tideflats on February 14, 1924. Standard Oil Co. plant in the distance. Construction had begun in late 1923 of a new $250,000 plant on 4 1/2 acres on South River Road. The above tank is a 250,000 cubic feet gas tank. The old Tacoma Gas & Fuel plant was to be abandoned next summer upon the connection of mains to the new plant. G35.1-046; TPL-258 (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 10-7-23, 8-E-article; TNT 1-24-24, p. 6-article)

Tacoma Gas & Fuel Co. (Tacoma); Fuel tanks; Storage tanks--Tacoma;

On February 19, 1924, this giant 40-foot log was successfully loaded onto a Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railroad freight car by employees of the St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. The log, measuring 72 inches in diameter, would be a prime exhibit when shown in the East and Midwest the following summer. The sheer size of the log would remind viewers that lumber from Tacoma mills came from logs similar to the one displayed. TPL-2375; G44.1-093

Lumber industry--Tacoma--1920-1930; Logs; St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. (Tacoma); Railroad freight cars--Tacoma; Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad Co. (Tacoma);

On February 19, 1924, workers at the St. Paul & Tacoma lumber mill were loading a giant log onto a Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railway car. The log was being sent on an exhibition tour. It would be shown at agricultural fairs and educational exhibits in the East and Midwest during the coming summer as a sample of the giant logs from which Tacoma mills got their lumber. The log was 72 inches in diameter and 40 feet long. (TNT 2/20/1924) G36.1-042

Lumber industry--Tacoma--1920-1930; St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. (Tacoma); Logs; Railroad freight cars--Tacoma; Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad Co. (Tacoma); Hoisting machinery;

Bare branches of a 30-foot weeping willow are silhouetted against gray February skies in the winter of 1924. The tree, located at 1115 North Oakes St., is related to a tree growing at the tomb of George Washington in Mount Vernon. The original tree at Washington's burial site is said to be grown from a cutting from a willow found near Napolean's grave at St. Helena. 1115 North Oakes was the home of Mrs. Ada Metsker. G60.1-122; G58.1-054 (TNT 2-22-24, p. 9)

Metsker, Ada--Homes & haunts; Willows--Tacoma; Trees--Tacoma;

Almost 1,000 individuals gathered to see the cornerstone laying ceremony on February 22, 1924 at Jones Hall, the first building to be constructed on the new campus of the College of Puget Sound at 1500 No. Warner St. At this time the college was located at 602 No. Sprague Ave. (now the site of Jason Lee Middle School.) To the extreme left is philanthropist Franke M. Tobey Jones, who was the donor of the building. It was dedicated to her late husband Charles H. Jones, one of the founders of the St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. To the left of the flag is D.D. Brown, presiding Elder at the time the first cornerstone was laid at the college's original location, and to the right is Dr.(Rev.) David G. LeSourd, one of the college's trustees and original planners. (TNT 2/23/1924, pg. 3) G67.1-035

College of Puget Sound (Tacoma); Jones Hall (Tacoma); Universities & colleges--Tacoma--1920-1930; Cornerstone laying--Tacoma--1920-1930; Jones, Franke M. Tobey; LeSourd, David G.; Brown, D.D.;

At around 9 a.m. on Saturday February 23, 1924, an explosion in the Stone-Fisher Co. machine shop or garage at 1115-17 Market Street sparked one of the largest fires that Tacoma had seen in years. Traffic was blocked and electric power was shut off as all of Tacoma's fire companies were called to battle the 3 alarm blaze. The five story brick building was occupied by the Greystone Hotel and a garage, machine shop and warehouse used by owner Stone-Fisher Co. The building was gutted, sustaining over $150,000 in damage and leaving the 60 guests at the hotel homeless. (TNT 2/23/1924, pg. 1) TPL-5510, BU-12618;

Greystone Hotel (Tacoma); Stone-Fisher Co. (Tacoma); Fires--Tacoma--1920-1930; Fire fighting--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Mask party at the R.C. Cunningham residence. Partygoers are dressed in a variety of costumes on February 23, 1924, while posing in the living room of Mr. and Mrs. R.C. Cunningham, 2719 North 26th St. Mr. Cunningham was the secretary/treasurer of the Hickox Paint Co. Dinner and bridge were the evening's highlights for the 24 guests. G20.1-021 (TDL 2-25-24, p. 5-article)

Cunningham, R.C.--Homes & haunts; Masquerades--Tacoma--1920-1930; Costumes;

By March 1st, 1924, Tacoma's old Chamber of Commerce Building at 773 Broadway had been demolished and work had begun on the foundation of the future Hotel Winthrop. The eleven story hotel, built by the Citizen's Hotel Corporation, was dedicated in May of 1925. With the chamber building gone, and the new hotel not yet built, this photograph provides an excellent view of the Bostwick Block, 755-71 Saint Helens, as it looked in March of 1924. At that time it was undergoing extensive remodeling; in July the exterior was covered with Duralite.

Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma)--Construction; Hotels--Tacoma--1920-1930;

In March of 1924, two young ladies at Stadium High School were breaking down the vocational barriers. Mary Fern Winfree (17), left, and Blanche Barnhart (18) were learning their way around a tool shop after enrolling in woodworking class. The educational pioneers had been warned that they would be expected to participate in shop clean up, help with heavy lifting and endure possibly condescending treatment by their male classmates. After one month in class, instructor E.A. Engebretsen had high praise for them; describing them as apt, independent and saying that they did not ask for favors. Outside of their one trade class, both girls were favoring a classical education, including English, French and music. (TNT 3/12/1924, pg. 11) TPL-5787; G47.1-030

Winfree, Mary Fern; Barnhart, Blanche; Woodworking; Stadium High School (Tacoma)--1920-1930; Students--Tacoma--1920-1930;

On March 12, 1924, Maj. General Edwin Burr Babbitt and his new bride, the former Miss Maud Ainsworth of Portland, returned from their two week honeymoon in Southern California to their newly remodeled home at Camp Lewis. Gen. Babbitt was Camp Commander and during his absence for his wedding and honeymoon, his grim and neglected bachelor quarters had been transformed into this neat, if unpretentious, home. The crowning glory was the bulb garden in front, planned by Gen. Babbitt for his new bride. (TNT 3/13/1924, pg. 11) G69.1-160 TPL-10313

Camp Lewis (Wash.); Fort Lewis (Wash.); Military camps--Tacoma--1920-1930; Babbitt, Edwin Burr--Homes & haunts;

Foss Launch crew involved in the raising of the sunken 80-ton steamer, "Rubaiyat," which had foundered on September 29, 1923. The 65-foot vessel had left Municipal Dock at 6 p.m. on her way to Seattle. She was heavily loaded with hundreds of cases of canned goods and capsized in Commencement Bay. Four persons died including one woman. The "Rubaiyat" sank within 30 seconds of capsizing and lay in 35 fathoms of water. Foss Launch immediately came to the rescue, putting five boats in the water, and reached the area at the same time as the lifeboat launched by the steamer "Fulton." Previous attempts in 1923 to raise the "Rubaiyat" had failed and the vessel was thought unsalvagable. The men pictured above on March 12, 1924, were successful in raising the ship from Commencement Bay's bottom: (L-R) Walter McCray, diver; H.F. (Fred) Berg of Foss Launch & Tug; Otto Kraus; William McDaniels; George Westerman, engineer; and O.F. Currey. McCray and Berg had obtained title to the hull since the sinking. G50.1-138 (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 9-30-23, p. 1-article); TDL 3-13-24, p. 10)

Foss Launch & Tug Co. (Tacoma)--employees; Foss Launch & Tug Co. (Tacoma); Tugboats--Tacoma--1920-1930; McCray, Walter; Berg, H.F.; Kraus, Otto; McDaniels, William; Westerman, George; Currey, O.F.;

Knights of the Log. Organized at the College of Puget Sound in the fall of 1923, the group resembled the national honorary fraternity, the Intercollegiate Knights. They worked to promote good fellowship and school pride by boosting student activities and leading pep rallies. The Knights sought to make C.P.S. "the best school in the West." This photograph was used in the 1924 school yearbook, the Tamanawas, and listed the last names only of the men. (1924 Tamanawas, p. 115) G67.1-031

Students--Tacoma--1920-1930; College of Puget Sound (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)

Foss Launch & Tug Co. (Tacoma); Tugboats--Tacoma--1920-1930; Hoisting machinery;

The cast of the Stadium High School opera, the "Sultan of Sulu," on stage. The opera, an annual presentation at Stadium High School, was the largest and according to the school yearbook "Tahoma," the "most important musical event of the year." In 1924, the musical comedy production of the "Sultan of Sulu" ran three nights from March 13-15, in order to accommodate the always large crowds. Although there was officially no leading role, good notices were received by Kearney Walton who played Kiram the Sultan and foreshadowing later roles in Hollywood, Herman Brix as Col. Jefferson Budd. After graduation, Herman Brix would become an Olympian and actor, later known as Bruce Bennett. (1924 Tahoma, p. 164-67) G64.1-073

Stadium High School (Tacoma)--1920-1930; Students--Tacoma--1920-1930; Actors--Tacoma--1920-1930; Operas & operettas--Tacoma--1920-1930; Walton, Kearney; Brix, Herman;

Exterior view of the Water Power Furniture Manufacturing Co., located on Steilacoom Lake, as pictured in March of 1924. The plant was situated on what is approximately 8700 Edgewater Dr. S.W., Lakewood. The firm was listed in the 1917-22 City Directories but not in the following 1923 or 1924 years. Edward C. Hill, president of the manufacturing company, had apparently moved on to the South Tacoma Mill Co. as its secretary/treasurer, per the 1923 City Directory. TPL-2700; G35.1-004

Water Power Furniture Co. (Lakewood); Furniture industry--Lakewood;

Water Power Furniture Manufacturing Co. Situated on the banks of Steilacoom Lake was the Water Power Furniture Manufacturing Co. facility per this March, 1924, photograph. Its approximate address was 8700 Edgewater Dr. S.W., Lakewood. G35.1-012

Water Power Furniture Co. (Lakewood); Furniture industry--Lakewood; Lake Steilacoom (Wash.);

Raising the sunken ship "Rubaiyat." Hart Construction Co. rig used in the raising of the sunken steamer "Rubaiyat" which went down with the loss of four hands on September 29, 1923. The ship, which sank within 30 seconds of capsizing in Commencement Bay, lay in 35 fathoms of water, or more than 200 feet, and was thought initially not able to be salvaged. The "Rubaiyat" was valued at $20,000. (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 9-30-23, p. 1-article) G49.1-017

Hart Construction Co. (Tacoma); Hoisting machinery;

Diving for the wrecked ship, "Rubaiyat." Diver Walter McCray prepares to resume the raising of the "Rubaiyat." After several unsuccessful attempts, raising of the sunken freighter "Rubaiyat" was once more underway in March of 1924. The ship had sunk the previous September when she capsized on an outbound journey from Commencement Bay. Diver Walter McCray and Foss Launch & Tug had tried before to haul the ship from the deep bay waters but she had become tangled with the sunken piling from the old 11th St. Bridge. Efforts to raise the ship were futile as cables slipped from the hull and the ship sank back into 378 feet of water. Attempts to raise the "Rubaiyat" halted at the end of November, 1923, until the following March. Drawing the attention of many interested Tacomans, the recovery process finally culminated in the raising of the "Rubaiyat," beaching her, and later successfully floating her to the Western Boat plant on the Wapato Waterway on March 25, 1924. Diver McCray and Fred Berg of Foss Launch & Tug had received title to the wreckage and were prepared to sell her "as is." They were instrumental in completing the deepest salvaging operation to date carried out on the Pacific Coast with the lifting of the "Rubaiyat" from depths of nearly 380 feet with 140 tons of freight aboard. (TDL 10-29-23, p. 1-article; TDL 11-1-23, p. 1-article; TDL 11-6-23, p. 1-article; TDL 12-1-23, p. 1-article; 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; TNT 3-25-24, p 16-article; TDL 3-25-24, p. 10-article) G49.1-018

Diving suits--1920-1930; Ships--Tacoma--1920-1930; McCray, Walter;

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)

Hoisting machinery; Ships--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Piles of logs waiting to be removed via railroad flatcars from a West Fork Logging Co. site in March of 1924. G75.1-088

Logs; West Fork Logging Co.;

Logging operations in the woods, in the Seabeck, Washington, area. West Fork Logging Co. apparatus on railroad tracks photographed on March 23, 1924. L.T. Murray was the president of the firm. Mr. Murray would move his logging operation to Lewis County in 1927. G75.1-089 (Additional information provided by a reader)

West Fork Logging Co.; Lumber industry--1920-1930;

On March 23, 1924, West Fork Logging Co. employees posed near the company's steam donkey on a sled. The donkeys were a replacement for the horse and oxen power formerly used to pull logs from the woods. This photograph was probably taken in logging areas near Seabeck where the company was then based. Logging operation would move to Lewis County three years later. G75.1-033 (for an earlier view of a steam donkey, see B2726) (Additional information provided by a reader)

West Fork Logging Co.; Lumber industry--1920-1930; Steam donkeys; Donkey engines;