Hundreds had gathered on October 25, 1925, on the bluff overlooking the Narrows, to watch the Cushman power lines being laid across the Narrows. Hydroelectric power from the Cushman Dam on the Skokomish River would travel on a 40-mile transmission line, including a suspension across the Narrows strait which spanned 6,244 feet of water. Work, under the direction of Star Iron & Steel, would proceed from October 21 to November 19th in stretching six big Cushman power steel cables across the Narrows from Point Evans to Tacoma. Tacoma had grown tremendously following WWI in both economy and population and more power was necessary to support the area. G43.1-030 (www.lib.washington.edu/Special Coll-article; TDL 10-21-25, p. 1-article; TNT 10-26-25, p. 16)

Spectators--Tacoma--1920-1930; Electricity--Tacoma; Hydroelectric power--Tacoma; Electric lines--Tacoma--1920-1930;

The "Silksworth" was docked at the Tidewater Mill, 3901 E. 11th St., the first stop of four, on November 19, 1925. She would continue on to the Defiance Lumber on November 22nd, and then on to Dickman and St. Paul mills. The Australian-bound vessel, on her first visit to Tacoma, was under the command of Captain R. Deans. The 429-foot "Silksworth" was a relatively new ship, in operation less than three years, and had a 53-foot beam. She would be taking 4,080,000 feet of lumber to Australia, 3 million feet of which would be loaded in Tacoma. As the ship is tied up at Tidewater, numerous logs, waiting to be processed, float in the waterway. The mill, located on the east side of the Hylebos Waterway, exported most of its timber. Because of its 750 feet of deep water moorage, Tidewater Mill was capable of loading several vessels at the same time. (photograph has been damaged) (TNT 11-21-25, p. 5-article on the "Silksworth")

Tidewater Mill Co. (Tacoma); Lumber industry--Tacoma--1920-1930; Logs; Cargo ships--1920-1930; Shipping--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Union Pacific freight house on the Tideflats as viewed on January 15, 1926. Large rectangular brick structure, two-stories, with loading dock. G45.1-003

Storage facilities--Tacoma--1920-1930;

This is 11th & Broadway looking south in early 1926. Cars are parked on both sides of the street while streetcars and a small 6th Ave. bus share the road. On the left side of the street is one of the McMillan Bros. drugstores. Besides being a pharmacy, the McMillan Bros. also sold Brunswick and Victor phonographs and Wurlitzer pianos. Among the establishments on the right side of the photograph is the Feist & Bachrach department store (1114-20 Broadway); the site would later become the J.C. Penney Co. department store. Photograph ordered by Foster & Kleiser. TPL-1582; G59.1-033

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1920-1930; Business districts--Tacoma--1920-1930; Street railroads--Tacoma--1920-1930; Street railroad tracks--Tacoma--1920-1930; McMillan Brothers (Tacoma); Feist & Bachrach (Tacoma);

This was busy, bustling Pacific Avenue near South 9th St. in January of 1926. Although there were stately office buildings on Pacific such as the 17-story newly completed Washington Building (center at 1019) and Puget Sound National Bank (1117-19), there were also many smaller establishments packed in as well. The Carlyle Cafeteria (ground floor of the Provident Building), the Thomas Billiard Parlor, Tabell's featuring chili and tamales, the Argonaut Hotel and Western Union were on the left side of Pacific with Dundee Woolen Mills Tailors, Bennett Typewriter Co., Samuelson & Berg's and Washington Hardware among others on the right. It was possible then to book a room, play pool, dine at a variety of restaurants, get a suit tailored, complete banking transactions, pickup tools for the home, and buy a pair of shoes all within a block or two. Streetcars were available for easy transport as an alternative to driving. G61.1-040

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1920-1930; Business districts--Tacoma--1920-1930; Washington Building (Tacoma); Puget Sound National Bank (Tacoma); Carlyle Cafeteria (Tacoma); Provident Building (Tacoma); Argonaut Hotel (Tacoma);

This view is of part of the growing 6th Avenue business district at the intersection of Oakes looking east in January of 1926. Streetcar tracks run down the middle of 6th and the 6th Avenue car is in sight. Businesses on the left include the 6th Ave. Furniture Co. in the Masonic Lodge (2609) and the Pollyanna Cafe. On the right are the Piggly Wiggly, Foultz Variety Store, Frederick Dean Drug Co., Prospect Market and the new Sixth Avenue Baptist Church. TPL-1798; G57.1-065 (TNT 1-21-26, p. 15)

Streets--Tacoma--1920-1930; Business districts--Tacoma--1920-1930; Street railroad tracks--Tacoma--1920-1930; Sixth Avenue Baptist Church (Tacoma); 6th Ave. Furniture Co. (Tacoma); Pollyanna Cafe (Tacoma); Piggly Wiggly (Tacoma);

Boland Studios were requested to photograph the North 15th and Prospect Streets for court evidence. This February 8, 1926, view of North Prospect at 15th, looking west, shows neatly trimmed yards and parking strips. The large home on the left is 1429 North Prospect, across the street is 1430 North Prospect. This part of town had sidewalks and curbs, amenities not enjoyed by all. The streets are nearly empty of traffic with only three parked cars visible. The "120 ft" noted in the lower left corner of the photograph may have been the distance to the intersection from the photographer's viewpoint. G58.1-062

Residential streets--Tacoma--1920-1930; Streets--Tacoma--1920-1930; Houses--Tacoma--1920-1930;

This is how Broadway looking south from 11th St. appeared in March of 1926. The large building on the right at 1104 Broadway is the Fisher Co. (formerly known as Stone-Fisher until October of 1925), Tacoma's oldest department store. It had been at that location since 1906 although the store had begun operations as Sanford & Stone on Tacoma Avenue in 1889. On the left were the E.R. Parker System (painless dentists) at 1103 1/2 Broadway and the French Drug Co. (1101-03) both in the Warburton Building with the relocated Blue Bird Electrical Shop (1105-07) next door. The main business districts were then still in the downtown Tacoma area where a variety of stores, restaurants and recreation outlets were available to the consumer. City buses had yet to supplant streetcars as a means of mass transit although automobiles were becoming more prevalent. G59.1-032 (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 10-11-25, 12-A-article on the Fisher Co.)

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1920-1930; Business districts--Tacoma--1920-1930; 0; Fisher's Department Store (Tacoma); E.R. Parker System (Tacoma); French Drug Co. (Tacoma); Blue Bird Electrical Shop (Tacoma); Warburton Building (Tacoma);

Ohop Valley with white capped Mount Tacoma (Rainier). Ohop Valley is south of the Puyallup River in south central Pierce County. G76.1-068

Rainier, Mount (Wash.); Ohop Valley (Wash.);

Aerial view of Tacoma's east side and Cushman Hospital. The hospital for veterans is the cluster of buildings in the center of this June, 1926, photograph. Surrounding homes are nestled in wooded lots.

Aerial views; Aerial photographs; Cushman Hospital (Tacoma); Hospitals--Tacoma--1920-1930; Neighborhoods--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Tacoma's entry in the June 25, 1926 parade celebrating the Elks State Convention held in Tacoma featured the musical stylings of Fausetti's Jazzettes. The all girl band seated on the back of the float under the clock was led by Ethel Fausetti. The musicians were Afifi Kelly, Virna Haffer, Vera Rynning, Ruth Mason and Madge Kelly. Two massive elk pulled the sleigh filled with musicians aboard the float which rolled past 50,000 excited spectators. (TNT 6/25/1926, pg. 1; T.Times 6-25-26, p. 1-article; T.Times 6-26-26, p. 1,2-article)

Fausetti's Jazzettes (Tacoma); Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Tacoma Lodge No. 174 (Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1920-1930; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1920-1930; Celebrations--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Elevated view of Associated Oil plant and extensive docks along the City Waterway (now Thea Foss Waterway), across from Commercial Dock #1. In June of 1926, the recently built Associated Oil Co. office and plant was located on the north end of East "D" in Tacoma's industrial Tideflats. F.E. McClaren was agent in charge. The oil storage and distributing plant for the Southwest Washington region had large tanks for holding fuel oil and gasoline plus a huge concrete warehouse for storing oil in steel drums. TPL-6485; G9.1-002 (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 1-3-26, 8-E-article)

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

These cattle were confined within the Carstens Packing Co.'s stockyards in July of 1926. Feeding troughs were built within the pens and many of the cattle pictured have their heads buried deep inside the bins. Carstens was a major meat packing firm located in the Tideflats since 1903. The stockyards had space for 1,200 cattle. The cattle would have been fattened up, slaughtered, and their meat processed by Carstens' large workforce. (TNT 3-31-27, p. 6-article on Carstens plant)

Cattle--Washington; Carstens Packing Co. (Tacoma); Meat industry--Tacoma--1920-1930; Stockyards--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Three ships on Commencement Bay visible through the trees. They are the battleships Tennessee (foreground) and Maryland along with U.S. supply ship, Arctic, who were all in town for a three-day visit in late July of 1926. In addition to the above three, six destroyers (not pictured) were tied up at Commercial Dock. The supply ship Arctic was commanded by Commander J. N. Ferguson and Captain G.L. P. Stone was in charge of the Tennessee. All ships sailed for Port Angeles on Monday, July 26th. G71.1-025 (TDL 7-24-26, p. 1-article; TNT 7-24-26, p. 1)

Government vessels--Tacoma; Commencement Bay (Wash.);

This July, 1926, view of the Associated Oil Co.'s Tideflats facilities was taken from Stadium Way. The large $500,000 plant was located at 250 East D Street overlooking the City (now Thea Foss) Waterway. Associated Oil distributed fuel and diesel oil and gasoline to all parts of southwest Washington. Barrels from Associated Oil's Avon refinery near Oakland were shipped by boat and unloaded at the company's extensive docks. The large tank on the left was capable of holding 80,000 barrels of fuel oil. The slightly smaller tank on the right had a 55,000 barrel capacity for gasoline. TPL-6704; G35.1-051 (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 1-3-26, 8-E-article; TNT 2-19-26, p. 12-article)

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

The local Washington Furniture Manufacturing Co. took part in the fifth annual Northwest Furniture Manufacturing Exposition in late July of 1926. 2000 furniture dealers were invited to the private showing of 50 northwest manufacturers primarily from Tacoma, Seattle and Portland who displayed their products. The Balfour-Guthrie dock, with its immense floor, was able to hold all exhibits. The display floor is packed with samples of the Washington Furniture Mfg. Co.'s furniture, including many large upholstered sofas and comfortable chairs. Rugs, tapestries and a variety of lamps helped to accentuate the furniture. G35.1-010 (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 7-25-26, 4-A-article)

Washington Furniture Manufacturing Co. (Tacoma); Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1920-1930; Sofas; Chairs; Exhibitions--Tacoma--1920-1930;

The C.E. MacDonald Co. of Tacoma had a large display of overstuffed davenports and chairs at the fifth annual Northwest Furniture Manufacturing Exposition held from July 26-31, 1926. Sofas in a wide variety of materials and prints were spread out over the exhibition floor. In many cases, the chairs and sofas were upholstered in the same colors and material. The company, manufacturers and wholesalers of upholstered furniture, was located at 2121 South Tacoma Way in a "furniture row" next to Northwest Chair and Gregory Furniture plants. They were one of the 50 furniture manufacturers from Portland to Seattle who displayed their lines of furniture for the benefit of 2000 furniture dealers. The exhibition, held at the Balfour-Guthrie dock, had the advantage of locating all exhibits on a single floor. It was not open to the public. G35.1-011 (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 7-25-26, 4-A-article)

C.E. MacDonald Co. (Tacoma); Sofas; Chairs; Exhibitions--Tacoma--1920-1930; Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1920-1930;

A large group of children enjoy the refreshing coolness of the circular Lincoln Park wading pool in late July of 1926. Both swimming suits and regular play clothes are in evidence. Several trees provide shade on these hot summer days and the flower gardens in the background present both beauty and scent for the enjoyment of all. G41.1-011

Wading--Tacoma; Pools--Tacoma; Lincoln Park (Tacoma);

A Tacoma bus, utilizing a Mack body, is parked near the North Star Mfg. Co., 2317-19 Pacific Ave., on August 13, 1926. A sign on the bus indicates that it travels to South Tacoma. Some of the windows are open on the steel bus; the driver does not appear to be present. Photograph ordered by Mack Truck. G66.1-028

Buses--Tacoma--1920-1930; Mack trucks;

McHugh & Johnson excavation in process on August 13, 1926. The company had several dump trucks on hand at this unidentified work site ready to remove dirt and debris. They are utilizing a crane labeled "Northwest" for the work. McHugh & Johnson, owned and operated by Frank McHugh and L.H. Johnson, were excavating contractors and steam shovel workers located at 2326 Fawcett Ave. G34.1-009

McHugh & Johnson (Tacoma); Excavation--1920-1930; Hoisting machinery; Trucks--1920-1930;

Herbert Hoover, then Secretary of Commerce, signed the Indian "Pledge to the Mountain" to honor Mt. Rainier on the rooftop of the Hotel Winthrop on August 21, 1926. An unidentified Indian maiden helps to unroll the scroll. Mr. Hoover, who would later become the 31st President of the United States, was given the name Chief Coolee-Chuck ("Running Water"). The pledge was administered entirely in the Chinook language. In it, Mr. Hoover swore and promised by the Great Spirit of the Mountain to journey whenever possible to the "Mountain that was God" in order to breathe in the pure air, drink the sparkling waters, and gaze upon its wondrous beauties. He promised to acquaint himself with the lore of the red men and learn about the legends of the mountain's origins and sacredness. Should he violate this solemn obligation, he could foresee his wickiup burning, racehorses dying and coyotes devouring all his rabbits. Secretary Hoover was in Tacoma as a guest of the Tacoma Chamber of Commerce and addressed a large group of about 300 businessmen at the Hotel Winthrop on the "Future of Foreign Trade." This photograph was modified by the photographer: a clearer view of Mount Rainier was added, and the Brotherhood Bank's signage reversed and building itself extended upward. TPL-5447; G68.1-028 (TNT 8-21-26, p. 1)

Hoover, Herbert; Indians of North America--Tacoma--1920-1930; Document signings--Tacoma; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

Shown at the rear of their two-ton White truck with attached 800-gallon tank are Thompson Lubricating Co.'s owners, H.E. Thompson (left) and his father H.A. Thompson, on August 31, 1926. The delivery truck was built 18 months ago for the firm and purchased from the J.F. Hickey Motor Co., the second White owned by the Thompsons. The company used Red Hat Gasoline for its customers and a retouched photograph of this gasoline truck with heavy use of emblems was used for national advertising. In 1926, Thompson Lubricating had four service stations in Tacoma. G35.1-043 (T.Times, 9-4-26, p. 10)

Thompson Lubricating Co. (Tacoma); Fuel trade--Tacoma--1920-1930; Trucks--Tacoma--1920-1930; White trucks; Thompson, H.E.; Thompson, H.A.;

Fire damage at Mineral Lake Logging Co. Camp 17 as viewed on September 3, 1926. In the right foreground are scorched tree stumps. G75.1-086 (photograph is marked B15570; however, correct image # should be B15569, per photographer Boland's notes.)

Mineral Lake Logging Co. Camp 17; Fires; Tree stumps; Logs; Lumber industry--Washington--1920-1930;

Terrible Teddy Tetzlaff and his "mechanician" in his Fiat #33 on the dirt racetrack at Tacoma Speedway during the July 1913 Montamara Festo program. Mr. Tetzlaff was the holder of the Montamarathon trophy in 1912, the first year of the track's existence. TPL-3164

Tetzlaff, Teddy; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Fiat automobile;

ca. 1914. S.F. Brock of Portland and his "mechanician" N.E. "Nervy" Green on the track at the Tacoma Speedway in July of 1914. His #24 car, a Wright, came in second in the InterCity 100-mile race, and garnered Mr. Brock a $350 prize. It was remarkable that his car raced at all; it had been heavily damaged prior to the race when it flipped after striking and killing R.C. Pollock, an onlooker at the practice races who had attempted to cross the track. The News Tribune reported that it was the second fatal accident in connection with Tacoma racing. In 1912 a rock kicked by a racer's tire struck a boy sitting in a tree who then fell and died from his injuries. TPL-1642 (TNT 7-2-14, p. 1-article; TNT 7-3-14, p. 1-results)

Brock, S.F.; Green, N.E.; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Wright automobile;

Joe Thomas of Seattle attempts to pass Jim Parsons' #7 car, a Frantz, during the July 3, 1914, InterCity 100-mile race at Tacoma Speedway. Mr. Parsons would hold off Mr. Thomas' Mercer to win the race and the $750 first place prize money for the second consecutive year. Last year he rode to victory in a veteran Stutz. In 1914 his time was faster by 14 minutes and he made only one stop to change a rear tire. TPL-3167 (TDN 7-3-14, p. 1-article; TDL 7-4-14, p. 9-article)

Parsons, Jim; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Thomas, Joe;

ca. 1915. At the wheel of the "Great Big Baked Potato Special" is driver Harry O'Brien. The #33 car was entered in both the InterCity 100-mile and Golden Potlatch 200-mile races at the Tacoma Speedway during the 4th of July holiday weekend in 1915. The "Baked Potato" was believed to be a Stutz and the Stutzs and Mercers entries had withdrawn from the InterCity race. The car also did not run in the Potlatch on July 5th as only eight cars started the race. TPL-128

O'Brien, Harry; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Racing automobiles--1910-1920;

ca. 1914. Californian Billy Taylor and his unidentified "mechanician" aboard the big #12 Alco "six" at the Tacoma Speedway in early July of 1914. Entry was submitted by A.H. Woolacott. The Alco raced in both the Golden Potlatch 200-miler on July 3rd and the grand finale Montamarathon 250-mile race on the 4th on the two-mile oval track. Mr. Taylor came in 5th place of the closing race, trailing winner Earl Cooper's Stutz, G.E. Ruckstell's Mercer, Arthur Klein's King, and Jim Parsons' Frantz. He had been dubbed a "daredevil of the (Billy) Carlson type" by the Tacoma Daily Ledger prior to the race and was, according to the newspaper, quickly becoming famous. (TDL 6-29-14, p. 2-article; TNT 7-5-14, p. 1-results)

Taylor, Billy; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Alco automobile;

ca. 1914. This young driver, sitting in his unnumbered race car, is believed to be Walter Grossman of Los Angeles. He and thirteen other racers had brought their "cycle cars," smaller and less powerful than regular race cars, to the Tacoma Speedway for special Labor Day competition in 1914. Mr. Grossman was also photographed in a "Red Devil" car of his own design and construction (see G51.1, image 120) which was far different from the car he is pictured in above. Although the boys were able to get in practice and speed trial times, rains on the actual day of competition cancelled the race. Mr. Grossman, part of a large contingent from Southern California, returned to his home after a second postponement.

Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Racing automobiles--1910-1920; Automobile racing drivers;

Switchboard operator at Camp Lewis photographed in September of 1918. The operator, taking messages, sits at a desk in front of a small switchboard. She listens to callers over a set of headphones fitted across her head on a band and speaks through a speaking tube that juts out from a band extended from her neck to her chest. In the background is a poster promoting the sale of war bonds. Camp Lewis was erected on 70,000 acres given by Pierce County to the government in 1916 for mobilization of troops in World War I. After the war was over, the camp was dismantled. In 1927, Fort Lewis was constructed on the same site. Boland B1330

Telephone operators--Tacoma--1910-1920; Telephone switchboards--1910-1920; Camp Lewis (Wash.);