With a thunderous roar, the loamy soil on the bluff overlooking Old Tacoma broke loose at 9:50 a.m. on January 10, 1923. Tons of earth crashed down the steep slope, sweeping along with it the home of the W.E. Claytons. The wood frame home which had stood at 2502 No. 29th St. was crumbled into matchsticks. Mr. Clayton, who had been in the chicken house at the time, was killed instantly - crushed by a stump. Mrs. Clayton, despite being aged, partially paralyzed and in the home at the time of the incident, was not seriously injured, suffering only cuts and shock. Mr. Clayton had resided in Tacoma about 15 years. He had, ironically, previously been employed by the government as a construction inspector and was involved with the construction at Fort Lewis. (TNT 1/10/1923, pg. 1; TDL 1/11/1923, pg. 1) G18.1-021
Clayton, William E.--Homes and haunts; Landslides--Tacoma; Disasters--Tacoma--1920-1930;
Tom Ross, a member of Tacoma's "dry squad," demonstrates the fine art of bar leaping on January 14, 1923. Because Washington had been dry since 1916, beer parlors were supposedly converted into soft drink parlors. However, it was estimated that 150+ stores, soft drink parlors, and hotels sold booze undercover. Officer Ross' technique would have been put into practice many times as not a day went by without some kind of booze bust. Although records for 1922 indicated that 44,575 quarts of illegal alcohol were confiscated and dumped in Tacoma, the dry squad members still insisted that Tacoma had less bootlegger trouble than any other city of its size on the coast. Tom Ross would later become Tacoma's Chief of Police in the 1940's. (Sunday Daily Ledger, Magazine section, 1-14-23) G45.1-083; TPL-9211
Prohibition--Tacoma; Ross, Tom; Law enforcement officers--Tacoma;
The 47-piece Lincoln High School band posed for a group portrait on January 19, 1923. Many of the band members are holding their instruments: cymbals, trumpets, drums, clarinents, horns and tubas. TPL-3197
Lincoln High School (Tacoma); Students--Tacoma--1920-1930; Youth bands--Tacoma--1920-1930;
Most of the children seated in this first grade classroom at Rogers (Elementary) School stare solemnly at the photographer on January 19, 1923. Their teacher stands in the back of the room. Blackboards for reading, writing and arithmetic stretch along at least two sides of the room. Rogers School was built in 1907 and was the first concrete school building in Tacoma. It was named in honor of Gov. John R. Rogers. Rogers School was closed in 2002. G46.1-052
Rogers School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma; School children--Tacoma--1920-1930; Teachers--Tacoma--1920-1930; Classrooms--Tacoma--1920-1930;
1923 downtown Tacoma street scene. This was Pacific Avenue near 12th St. in January of 1923. This view, looking north, shows the Delmonico Hotel on the right at 116 1/2 South 12th next to the familiar spire-topped Puget Sound Bank Bldg. (formerly National Realty Bldg.) Further in the background on the right is the uncompleted Scandinavian-American Bank Bldg. which would later become the Washington Building. Across the street on the left are numerous businesses including the Palace Hotel, Chicago Dentists, and the Dickson Bros. Co. G61.1-038
Commercial streets--Tacoma--1920-1930; Business districts--Tacoma--1920-1930; Delmonico Hotel (Tacoma); Puget Sound National Bank (Tacoma);
Ferry under construction in late January of 1923. Two men appear to be taking a breather from painting the ferry's exterior. Photograph ordered by Western Boat Co. (print has deteriorated)
Men following the example of instructor at Y.M.C.A. gym class. Arms spread wide, knees bent, 19 men proceed to vigorously exercise at the Y.M.C.A. , 714 Market St., in early February of 1923. G68.1-139
Young Men's Christian Association (Tacoma); Physical fitness--Tacoma--1920-1930;
1923 view of the Point Defiance Pagoda, then a streetcar depot. Its ornate, Japanese-styled roof, brick exterior, and view windows made the building a pleasant stopping point for park visitors. The convenience of streetcars to Point Defiance Park gave people the option of leaving their cars at home and enjoying the scenic route without the problems of driving. TPL-2360
Permits were taken out in late December of 1922 to construct a new lumber yard at 6030 South Tacoma Way (then called South Union Avenue). Fairhurst Lumber Co. would open for business in early 1923. G36.1-084; Bu12,859
This is the Point Defiance Pagoda as viewed in February of 1923. Built in 1914, the Point Defiance Pagoda with its ornate roof resembles a 17th century Japanese lodge. Its original use was as a streetcar station. Hard working Tacomans would flock to the park on Sundays, often the only day of rest, and were able to enjoy the elegant station with its couches, fireplace and comfortable chairs. The restrooms were truly awe inspiring with its enormous stalls, marble walls and in the ladies' room, an attendant equipped with hand towels. The streetcar station was in use until 1938 when motorized buses became common. Although the restrooms remained open for park visitors, the Pagoda slowly slipped into disrepair until a park district bond provided funds for restoration in the mid-80's. The Pagoda is still in use nearly a hundred years after its original construction as a beautiful site for weddings, receptions, banquets and family gatherings. G41.1-043 (Dutton: "Tacoma's Exotic Pagoda" Tacoma's Monthly, 2/94; www.metroparkstacoma.org)
View of Pacific Avenue looking south at 10th St. Streetcars and buses are blurred as they scud by along Pacific Avenue on a wintery day in 1923. Prominent among buildings is the unfinished Scandinavian-American Bank structure on the left; it would not be completed until 1925 for the Washington-California Co. and named the Washington Building. The spire-topped Puget Sound Bank Bldg. (formerly National Realty Bldg.) can be spotted beyond at 11th & Pacific. Among other businesses on the left are the Peerless Grill, Argonaut Hotel, Union Tailors, Parker E. R. System Dentists and Thomas Billiards. Across the street at 950 Pacific is the Rust Building. TPL-5837; G61.1-030 (photograph has been damaged on the left)
Commercial streets--Tacoma--1920-1930; Business districts--Tacoma--1920-1930;
Lumber has already been loaded onto Foss Launch & Tug Co. barges while large poles remain scattered on acreage belonging to City Lumber Co., 1001 E. "F" St. in February of 1923. The plant was located near the foot of the 11th St. Bridge (now Murray Morgan Bridge) and was headed by P.H. Johns as president and general manager. G36.1-045; BU14,076
City Lumber Co. (Tacoma); Lumber industry--Tacoma--1920-1930;
A wet, overcast day lends to this tranquil view of Sixth Avenue, looking west from Prospect Street, in February of 1923. The Sunset Theater, at left, was built in 1919 by Louis Perunko. It is now occupied by Speedy Auto Glass. The Red Cross Drug Store and F. C. Jonas Hardware occupied the building at the right. Several children on bicycles pause on the wet roadway while three men and a small boy huddle near the awning of the drugstore. G57.1-067; TPL-1797;
Sunset Theater (Tacoma); Red Cross Drug Store (Tacoma); F.C. Jonas Hardware (Tacoma); Bicycles & tricycles--Tacoma; Street railroad tracks--Tacoma;
Two women ride in side-cars as passengers of two daring motorcyclists on February 25, 1923. They are parked close to the City Hall Annex with the Northern Pacific headquarters in the rear. The men are operating Harley-Davidson bikes. It is possible that they were participating in the Tacoma Motorcycle Club's first reliability race of the season. 30 riders would make the 125-mile run from Tacoma to Olympia and back. They were required to maintain a 20 mph speed throughout the race. (TDL 2-24-23, p. 3) G66.1-165 TPL-10,033
Several days of winter storms in mid-February of 1923 brought 15 - 18 inches of accumulated snow to the streets of downtown Tacoma. Ray C. Smith, proprietor of the pony stables on Puyallup Ave, brought one of his antique cutters out of mothballs and was photographed on South 10th Street with the buildings in the 900 block of Pacific behind him. His well bundled guests enjoying the one horse sleigh ride were D.A. LaJose and Charles McManus. Dexter the horse arched his neck proudly to show off his jingle bell collar. With up to 24 inches of snow on the ground in the outlying areas, schools shut down and street car service was suspended for a time. Buses ran in the more highly populated areas but could only handle a portion of those wishing to ride. Complaints were received by the police department from riders who indicated that some bus drivers were overcharging for the rides, demanding as much as 25 cents for what should have been a nickel ride. (TNT 2-14-1923, p.1, TDL 2-15-1923, p. 1) G66.1-130; TPL-9658
S-T-U-D-E-B-A-K-E-R! Salesmen Tommy Burns, Tom Lea and Ben Johnson (l-r) are in fighting mode as they prepare to set Studebaker sales records for the month of March, 1923. The men were employed by the pioneer automobile dealership, B.H. Kennedy Company, located at 753 Broadway. Owned and operated by Burton "Bert" Kennedy, the firm had an up-to-date service department and competent Studebaker mechanics. The B.H. Kennedy Co. had sold $27,000 of Studebakers in February of 1923 and were confident of repeating their successful month. (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 3-11-23, C-1)
A regular ladder is far too short to reach the top of the Tacoma Gun Club tower so a hand-made one was a necessity in March of 1923. An unidentified man has managed to make his way to the very top and is pictured crouching inside next to a large barrel. The tower, approximately 10-feet high, was built for target shooting. Clay birds were hurled from the tower to simulate the flight patterns of ducks, especially teal, so that the shooter's eye could be improved. Targets were shot out at different angles. (TNT 3-10-23, p. 10)
Tacoma Gun Club (Tacoma); Towers; Ladders; Target practice;
Foster & Kleiser billboard advertising Tacoma as being the "gateway to Rainier National Park." The large billboard also lists "Mt. Tacoma" (Mt. Rainier) as the "Playground of the Northwest." Lights are fastened at the top of the billboard so that it can be seen at night. This sign greeting tourists was placed near the Seven Mile House on the Camp Lewis Rd. at a cost of $600. A group of business firms and professionals including the Hewitt Land Co., Puget Sound National Bank, Rhodes Bros., Standard Oil, Griffin Transfer and others contributed funds to place the sign as a means of promoting the city and nearby attractions. TPL-5694; G42.1-125 (TDL 4-11-23, p. 8)
Unidentified home with neatly manicured lawn as pictured on March 17, 1923. House number is 3601 but street is not given. The home has a large porch with brick-like pillars and an awning in front. There appears to be a small dormer and the roof is apparently shingled.
This unidentified home was photographed by Marvin Boland in March of 1923, one of a series of homes taken on the same day throughout what was probably Tacoma. The large wood frame house had a second story balcony facing the front of the home and a lattice with climbing plants nearly covering one of the sides. The building was situated on a corner lot.
This California bungalow was built in 1920 by Anton Anderson. Albin Berg of the shoe firm of Samuelson & Berg purchased the home late the same year. The two-story home had a shingled roof, deep porch and stone or concrete chimney. It appears to have occupied most of its lot with neighbors close by. G29.1-020; BU10,291
A Garford delivery truck constructed for W.D. Tucker & Co. Groceries stands outside the Garford Truck Co. at 313-15 Puyallup Ave (now 311 Puyallup Ave.) The grocery company was located at 1113 A Street. Their truck clearly claims "We want your business." Boland B7561 (Filed as BU-13385)
A quintet of musicians from the Camp Lewis Orchestra are captured on film just "clowning around" at an unidentified social event on March 21, 1923 for the 6th Engineers. They play on a saxophone, banjo, piano, fiddle and drums, while a variety of instruments lie about waiting to be used. The land on which Camp Lewis sat was given as a gift to the federal government in 1916 by the people of Pierce County. The camp built there was redesignated as a Fort in 1927. G40.1-040
Musicians--Tacoma--1920-1930; Camp Lewis (Wash.); Military camps--Tacoma--1920-1930;
This is a view of Tacoma Avenue North at North 1st St. in March of 1923 with utility pole wires and cable car lines bisecting the streets. To assist motorists, the city or business district had placed directional signs on a post nearby with arrows pointing to Point Defiance and Day Island and also to Stadium and Information (Auto Club). Stadium High School can be spotted on the far left overlooking Commencement Bay. Stadium Confectionery which also sold groceries, fruits and meats is at North 1st with a delivery truck parked outside. There is a billboard or mural on one of the walls of the grocery store with lights fastened at the top. The general site was later to become Rankos' Pharmacy. Photograph ordered by Foster & Kleiser. TPL-851; G62.1-071
Streets--Tacoma--1920-1930; Stadium High School (Tacoma); Stadium Confectionery (Tacoma); Billboards--Tacoma--1920-1930;
Miss Berg's first grade class at Lowell School. The children are all clutching small postcard-sized cards while one young man waits with an open bag. The classroom flag is hoisted by a boy dressed neatly in suit and tie. Miss Berg would later teach third grade at Lowell where one of her pupils was George Weyerhaeuser, victim in the 1935 famous kidnapping. TPL-5797; G46.1-054
School children--Tacoma--1920-1930; Lowell Elementary School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1920-1930; Berg, Lucille; Teachers--Tacoma--1920-1930; Flags--United States;
Harry Trewick of 620 South "J" St. knows engines. He is a traveling engineer for the Northern Pacific Railway Co. Selecting a new car on the basis of a well performing engine is the reason for his selection of a Chandler automobile from Richardson Motor Co. Mr. Trewick is pictured above on March 22, 1923, aboard his new Chandler which is parked next to a Northern Pacific locomotive. G44.1-053 (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 3-25-23, 8-C)
A new Dodge sedan is parked on an unpaved road next to a wood framed home on March 26, 1923. Neither the man standing next to the vehicle nor the house, with partial address of 3718, was identified. Photograph ordered by Griffith Motor Co.
The towering Tacoma Building, 1017-21 A Street, is festooned with banners and flags welcoming Rotary Club members to Tacoma in late March of 1923. The primary tenants at the time were the Weyerhaeuser Timber Co. and the Tacoma Commercial Club. TPL-6250; G17.1-04; BU10,495
Tacoma Building (Tacoma); Office buildings--Tacoma--1920-1930;
