On June 15, 1926, Tacomans gathered at Union Station to see T.A. (Tom) Swayze, Tacoma's Golden Rule representative to the Near East, and his wife off on a goodwill tour of several months abroad. On one Sunday a year, Americans were asked to forgo their usual Sunday dinner and contribute the money saved to the Near East Relief. By virtue of its donations, Tacoma had earned the title "Golden Rule City of America." Mr. Swayze had been chosen as Tacoma's official representative based on his participation in and the city's outpouring of support for "Golden Rule Sunday." Pictured standing on the train's platform are: (L-R) unidentified, Dr. Edward Todd of CPS, Mrs. Swayze, Tom Swayze, Rabbi Montague Cohen (Temple Beth Israel), Rev. Herbert B. Rhodes (First Methodist Church) and Mayor M.G. Tennent. In the crowd were representatives from all denominations, as well as Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, YMCA Boy Pioneers and Girl Reserves, and Campfire Girls. (TNT 6/16/1926, p.4) Boland # A7996 TPL-10212

Swayze, Tom; Todd, Edward H., 1863-1951; Cohen, Montague; Rhodes, Herbert B.; Tennent, Melvin Green; Mayors--Tacoma--1920-1930; Near East Relief (Tacoma); Boy Scouts (Tacoma)--1920-1930; Crowds;

Boy Scouts salute. Organized labor flexed its muscles as nearly 20,000 marchers participated in Tacoma's Labor Day parade on September 2, 1918. These young boys pictured above had plenty of opportunity to salute the American flag as nearly every group carried the Stars and Stripes. Every trade was represented in the parade including ironworkers, boilermakers, machinists and shipyard workers. Twelve bands and occasional floats were interspersed among the double lines of marchers. (TNT 9-2-18, p. 1) Boland B1324 TPL-9632 (photograph was marred with black marks)

Saluting--Tacoma; Boys--Tacoma--1910-1920; Parades & processions--Tacoma--1910-1920;

Automobile dealers of the 1920s built palaces of prestige to showcase their latest models. Architect C.F. W. Lundberg designed the Mutual Motors Building for pioneer Tacoma automobile dealer Edward P. Leonard. The Lincoln dealership opened in June 1925. Later, a giant milk bottle was installed on the building's roof to identify it as the Olympic Dairy Products plant. As of 2000, Washington Tent & Awning, Inc. occupies this building on Martin Luther King Way. B12455, BU-10023, TPL-5683

Automobile dealerships--Tacoma; Mutual Motors (Tacoma); Building construction;

This photograph from November 1920 shows one of the huge 32 ton beams of the framework for the Scandinavian -American Bank nearing its resting place. The erectors stand on top of the beam, ready to secure it in position. The design for the bank called for 16 stories with 22 rooms per floor with 5,000 feet of rentable space. The 11th Street entrance would open on a 26 foot wide court with a huge colored glass dome forming the ceiling for the massive banking room below. The bank failed in January of 1921 and construction was halted. The building, after a re-design, was completed in 1925 and was renamed the Washington Building. (TDL 11/14/1920, pg. B-7) BU 10, 759, Boland B 3235

Scandinavian-American Bank (Tacoma); Building construction--Tacoma--1920-1930; Construction industry--Tacoma--1920-1930;

One of the "erectors" dangles high in the air in this November 1920 photograph, attaching chains and wires that will pull the 60 foot column into position at the Scandinavian-American Bank (now the Washington Building) construction site. The skeleton of the building was put together by the erectors, who were followed by the riveters. As designed, the building would ascend to 16 stories. Over 1,000 tons of steel were used in the first 2 floors alone. (TDL 11/14/1920, pg. B-7) BU 10, 756, Boland B 3212

Scandinavian-American Bank (Tacoma); Building construction--Tacoma--1920-1930; Construction industry--Tacoma--1920-1930;

The foreman and crew of "erectors" for the Scandinavian-American Bank being built at 1019 Pacific Avenue were photographed during a pause in work in November of 1920. The erectors were responsible for raising the 32-ton beams and 60-foot steel columns into position. The 12 men were handpicked for their steady nerves, even tempers and ability to work as team players. The first two floors alone contained over 1,000 tons of steel. The planned 16 story building rose beam by beam until January of 1921 when the bank failed and construction was shut down. The building was eventually completed in 1925 for the Washington-California Co. and named the Washington Building. (TDL 11/14/1920, pg. B-7) BU-10760, Boland B 3244, TPL-9548

Scandinavian-American Bank (Tacoma); Building construction--Tacoma--1920-1930; Construction industry--Tacoma--1920-1930;

September 14,1926 was Pioneer Day at the Western Washington Fair in Puyallup. The guest of honor for the day was 95-year-old Ezra Meeker, the only survivor of the 103 men who registered donation land claims in Pierce County in the 1850s. He had been honored that morning in ceremonies that marked the unveiling of a bronze statue at Pioneer Park in Puyallup. The statue, by Alonzo Victor Lewis, was a likeness of the white-bearded pioneer; a crowd of 5,000 gathered to pay tribute to Mr. Meeker at the site of his first home in the Puyallup Valley. TPL-336A (TNT 9-14-26, p. 1) Boland A8286

Meeker, Ezra, 1830-1928; Western Washington Fair (Puyallup); Fairs--Puyallup--1920-1930;

Ezra Meeker at Western Washington Fair. Ezra Meeker is pictured on September 14, 1926, riding in a covered wagon on Pioneer Day at the Western Washington Fairgrounds. Earlier that day, a bronze statue was dedicated in his honor at Pioneer Park in Puyallup. The white-bearded Northwest pioneer was 95-years-old at the time. He had platted Puyallup in 1877 and had established hop fields that would bring the hops trade to world prominence. TPL-335A (History of Pierce County, Vol. 1, p. 66) TPL-9811 Boland A8285;

Meeker, Ezra, 1830-1928; Western Washington Fair (Puyallup); Fairs--Puyallup--1920-1930; Covered wagons--Puyallup; Horses--Puyallup;

ca. 1950. Val Fawcett, Tacoma mayor from 1946-50 and acting mayor during Harry P. Cain's military service in the mid-forties, is pictured with friends circa 1950. They may be at a sporting event, possibly a baseball game. Mr. Fawcett is seated second from the left; next to him is believed to be Howard R. Smith who was the Tacoma Athletic Commission president for several years. Frank Gillihan, school board member and active Tacoma Athletic Commission member, is seated at the far right. ALBUM 16

Fawcett, Clarence Valdo, 1900-1965; Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Gillihan, Frank J.;

This unidentified elderly lady and her parrot appeared in an article in the Tacoma Daily Ledger in February of 1922. The pair resided at the Ladies of the Grand Army (of the Republic) Home in Puyallup, 321 Pioneer Avenue East, the former mansion of Ezra Meeker. Twenty older women, several of them in their nineties, lived in the G.A.R. Widows Home. The home had opened in 1915 and was a refuge for the wives, daughters, nieces or sisters of any Grand Army veteran where the women could live out their twilight years in dignity. It was one of 27 social welfare institutions eligible for Community Chest assistance. A drive to raise funds for the Community Chest was staged March 18-28. In 1948 the association sold the home to the first of a series of doctors who used the building for a nursing home. In 1970, the old mansion was donated to the Meeker Historical Society. (TDL 2/11/22, pg. 7)

Ladies of the Grand Army Home (Puyallup); Older people; Parrots;