An open automobile with its two occupants chugs valiantly up the steep "K" Street hill in October of 1919. It was not an uncommon sight to see new vehicles test both the driver's skill and the car's capability on the hill, which headed north from Center Street. Four men stand near the top of the hill to witness the strength of this particular automobile. The unpaved dirt road, hampered by tall grass, was virtually impassable in wet weather. The hill was closed and traffic diverted to South "J" Street circa 1960. Photograph ordered by Pacific Car Co.

Dirt roads--Tacoma; Automobile driving--Tacoma--1910-1920; Automobiles--Tacoma--1910-1920;

The annual Western Washington Fair was a time when communities in the area could display with pride fine examples of produce, sewing, and artwork made and grown locally. Dieringer, Rhodes Lake, Connell's Prairie and Milton products are pictured above in this October, 1919, photograph. The 20th annual Puyallup Fair ran from September 30 to October 5th. G74.1-070

Western Washington Fair (Puyallup); Fairs--Puyallup--1910-1920; Exhibitions--Puyallup--1910-1920; Agricultural exhibits--Puyallup--1910-1920; Signs (Notices);

We Stood Behind Our Boys read the sign hung between corn stalks aboard a small float pulled by a dog while at the 1919 Western Washington Fair. The float was patriotically decorated with a flag and star-filled bunting. It contained foliage and pumpkins. This was probably an entry from the Fife community as two young ladies at the foreground wear sashes with that city's name. Two boys in newsboys caps carry prime specimens of farm produce under their arms. G74.1-083

Fairs--Puyallup--1910-1920; Western Washington Fair (Puyallup); Dogs--Puyallup;

The "K" Street hill climb, from Center Street heading north, was a popular place for testing both the skill of drivers and the strength of new automobiles. The steep, rugged road, impassable in wet weather, often refused to be conquered. An open car is pictured above in October of 1919 with its occupants contemplating the challenging climb while scattered spectators watch. The hill was closed and traffic was diverted to South J Street about 1960. G60.1-081, TPL-6156

Dirt roads--Tacoma; Automobile driving--Tacoma--1910-1920;

In November of 1919, Marvin Boland photographed this elevated view of the triangular shaped block on the west side of Pacific Avenue bordered by Jefferson and South 17th. In the center of the photograph was the recently constructed Depot Service Station. A small wedge of a brick building was apparently still under construction to the right of the service station. Tires were on sale and Union gasoline could be purchased there. In the right background was the Carlton Hotel, 1552 Jefferson Ave., which was built in 1909. In the upper left corner was the Pacific Storage & Transfer Co., located in the Dougan Block at 1721-25 Jefferson Ave., whose ad in the 1920 City Directory stated that they were distributors of pool cars. Depot Service Station remained at this location, with various changes of ownership and remodeling, until it was demolished around 2002. TPL-244; G8.1-017

Depot Service Station (Tacoma); Automobile service stations--Tacoma--1910-1920; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1910-1920; Carlton Hotel (Tacoma); Pacific Storage & Transfer Co. (Tacoma);

Extended view of St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. planing mill and "monorail" as pictured in November of 1919. This may be the aerial tramway constructed to transport lumber from dry kilns to various other parts of the plant, replacing the old horse-and-truck system. St. Paul & Tacoma were putting in improvements to their sawmill on the Tideflats totaling nearly half-a-million dollars. Two new dry kilns were being built as well as an aerial tramway. The improvements were expected to reduce the cost of plant operation. St. Paul & Tacoma employed about 800 men at the time including a considerable night shift. G36.1-155 (T.Times 8-22-19, p. 12-article; TDL 7-19-20, p. 6-article)

Lumber industry--Tacoma--1910-1920; St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. (Tacoma);

In November of 1919, the battle scarred World War I tank Ermentrude was in Tacoma for a recruitment drive. Posing with her in front of the offices of the Tribune Publishing Co. (711-13 St. Helens Ave.) were her travelling corps, left to right, Pvt. James G. Hall, Sergeant Joseph Appleby and Capt. Edgar Dade Gunning. Gunning was in charge of the tank and Hall was the pilot. Appleby had served overseas with the tank, which was a veteran of 18 fierce battles fought in St. Mihiel and Argonne. (TDL 11/20/1919, pg. 10) G70.1-005 TPL-10065

Tanks (Military science)--1910-1920; Armored vehicles--1910-1920; Hall, James G.; Appleby, Joseph; Gunning, Edgar Dade; World War, 1914-1918--Veterans--Tacoma ; World War, 1914-1918--Recruiting & Enlistment; Tribune Publishing Co. (Tacoma);

St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. yard as photographed on November 24, 1919. As reported in the August 22, 1919, Tacoma Times newspaper, St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber was spending nearly $500,000 in improvements to its sawmill on the Tideflats. An aerial tramway was constructed to carry lumber from dry kilns to other parts of the plant. This would facilitate handling of lumber in the mill. The company was established in 1888 and provided steady employment for many residents for decades. It would merge with St. Regis Paper Co. in 1957. G36.1-083 (T.Times 8-22-1919, p. 12-article)

St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. (Tacoma); Lumber industry--Tacoma--1910-1920;

ca. 1919. Montage of newspaper clippings regarding the 1919 Tacoma Speedway races from the Seattle Sunday Times, Tacoma Sunday Ledger, Tacoma Times and Oregon Sunday Journal. July 4, 1919, saw five of the nation's top drivers compete at the Tacoma Speedway for a one-day-only, three-big-races extravaganza of racing. The appearance of flying ace and speed pilot Eddie Rickenbacker who refereed, plus Dario Resta, Eddie Hearne, Louis Chevrolet, Ralph Mulford and Cliff Durant, all helped to attract the Speedway's largest crowd to that date of nearly 40,000 people. The Frontenacs driven by Ralph Mulford and Louis "Grandpa" Chevrolet took first place in all three races. (TNT 7-5-19, p. 1,13-results)

Newspapers--Tacoma--1910-1920; Clippings; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920;

ca. 1919. Knights of Columbus /Camp Lewis. The Knights of Columbus are a Catholic fraternal benefits organization that was incorporated in 1882. They had been involved in providing both spiritual and physical assistance to servicemen and women since before the Great War. This photograph, taken in the spring of 1919, shows a mixture of soldiers and civilian members at Camp Lewis. It may have been taken for the February 28, 1919, visit of Supreme Knight, James A. Flaherty. G70.1-003 (www.kofc.org- information on organization; TDL 2-26-19-, p. 2-article on Supreme Knight)

Knights of Columbus (Tacoma); Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1910-1920; Camp Lewis (Wash.);

ca. 1919. This photo, taken in April or May of 1919, shows the "Fort Jackson," the smaller ship in the center of the photograph, being launched at Todd Shipyards. Visiting dignitaries stand on the podium which is draped with striped bunting. G37.1-173, TPL-1435

Launchings--Tacoma--1920-1930; Todd Dry Dock & Construction Corp. (Tacoma); Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1920-1930;

ca. 1919. Smiling Ralph Mulford, early race car driver, was not smiling in 1911 when many felt that he won the first Indianapolis 500 by a lap instead of credited winner Ray Harroun. Mulford still managed to garner enough points to become the 1911 National Driving Champion, a feat that he repeated seven years later in 1918. In 1919, he won Tacoma Speedway's 40 mile race with a time of 24:02 and 100.2 mph, outracing Frontenac teammate Louis Chevrolet and Cliff Durant. Returning in 1920 for the 225 mile Tacoma Classic, he finished second in his Monroe racing car, numbered "3." Ralph Mulford retired from speed racing after 1922 but continued to compete in hill climbs. At one time, he held the record for climbing both Mount Washington and Pikes Peak. Mulford lived to a ripe old age, a rare feat for the early drivers; born in 1884, he died October 23, 1973. (www.hickoksports.com; TNT 7-3-19, p. 1; 6/29/1920) G52.1-027, Speedway 096, BOLAND-B2010

Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Mulford, Ralph; Racing automobile drivers;

ca. 1919. Tacoma architect C. Frank Mahon drew this delineation of Holy Rosary Church before construction began on the Catholic church in 1920. Located at 520 South 30th Street, its Gothic steeple has long been a Tacoma landmark. Mahon's architectural work for the Catholic Diocese included many schools and churches in Tacoma in addition to Marymount Boys School in Spanaway and St. Martin's College in Lacey. (B2308)

Holy Rosary Church (Tacoma); Catholic churches--Tacoma; Architectural drawings;

ca. 1919. Lindberg Grocery Co. delivery van circa 1919. The Lindberg Grocery Co. were wholesale distributors of "DelMonte," "Stadium," and "Linco" brands as well as cigars and candy. Their delivery van, parked along an unidentified street, had protective canvas over the sides and rear and the driver's cab was encased in tarp as well. Lindberg Grocery, owned and operated by Gustaf Lindberg, had been in Tacoma since about 1892. According to the 1920 City directory, the grocery store was located at South 23rd and "C" Streets and also imported Scandinavian specialties to serve the area's large Scandinavian population. TPL-1680; G34.1-141

Trucks--Tacoma--1910-1920; Lindberg Grocery Co. (Tacoma);

ca. 1919. Farmers, fruit growers and breeders of the Puyallup valley held an enthusiastic meeting on June 2, 1900, and formed the Valley Fair Association. Members changed the name to the Western Washington Fair Association on January 13, 1913. The purpose of the fair was to promote agricultural, horticultural, dairying, stock-raising and manufacturing industries of the valley. In this 1919 photograph, people in the small hamlets of Dieringer, Rhodes Lake, Connell's Prairie, and Milton exhibit their wares at the fair. Boland #B2321,

Fairs; Western Washington Fair (Puyallup); Exhibitions; Home food processing; Sewing--Puyallup; Art exhibitions;

ca. 1919. Columbia Breweries. The early day bottling machine was a tedious, hand-operated contraption. A production of 500,000 bottles per year was regarded as somewhat stupendous. Wide belts connected with drive shafts located at the ceiling level operate these early assembly-line machines. Ordered by Columbia Breweries in 1951. (TNT, 1/7/1952) (This was a copy print made by the Richards Studio of a Marvin D. Boland photograph #B4392). TPL-9628. Previously cataloged as WO58568-2.

Brewing industry--Tacoma--1910-1920; Columbia Brewing Co. (Tacoma); Machinery; Assembly-line methods--Tacoma--1910-1920; Columbia Brewing Co. (Tacoma)--People; Bottles;

ca. 1919. Driver Louis Chevrolet and his "mechanician" aboard his Frontenac race car circa 1919. The car is parked on a brick roadway. Louis Chevrolet, affectionately known as "Grandpa" due to his senior status in the racing world, would come to Tacoma to compete in the special five-car, one-day-only set of three races at the Tacoma Speedway on July 4th of 1919. Well known racers Dario Resta, Eddie Hearne, Cliff Durant, Ralph Mulford and Louis Chevrolet were in the mix for the $15,000 purse and championship points. The Frontenacs driven by Ralph Mulford and Mr. Chevrolet took first place in all three races, the 40, 60 and 80 mile events. Louis Chevrolet won the 60 and 80 mile races with average mph of 98.5 and 97.2 respectively. TPL-102; G51.1-124

Chevrolet, Louis; Frontenac automobile; Automobile racing drivers;

The Columbia Brewing Company was started in 1900 by three men with a capitalization of $50,000. William Kiltz was sales manager and Emile Kliese was owner, president and brewmaster. Their facilities, typical of the era, were primitive, but they were determined to make the finest beer possible. During the early stages of beer making malted barley was milled and the malt grain was mixed with pure water in a large wooden tub called a "mash tun". This "malt mash" was stired by hand with a long wooden paddle and then channeled or piped into large copper brew kettles where the "wort" was boiled with hops. This view shows the laboratory and mixing room in the bottling department of Columbia Brewing Company. The brewery was located in a newly built facility at 2120-32 South C Street. Copy ordered by Columbia Breweries, Inc., in 1951. (This was a copy print made by the Richards Studio of a Marvin D. Boland photograph #B4391) Another copy of this photograph was ordered under number C87485-42. TPL-7956. Previously cataloged as WO58568-1.

Brewing industry--Tacoma--1910-1920; Columbia Brewing Co. (Tacoma); Columbia Brewing Co. (Tacoma)--People;

The early racking room at Columbia Brewing Company, where draft beer was barreled, was a matter of wooden barrels, cumbersome hand maneuvering methods and inexact controls. A thick layer of frost can be seen on the pipes above the workmen's heads. They are wearing heavy clothes to work in the chilled cellars. Ordered by Columbia Breweries in 1951. (TNT, 1/7/1952) (This was a copy print made by the Richards Studio of a Marvin D. Boland photograph #B4394). Previously cataloged as WO58568-3.

Brewing industry--Tacoma--1910-1920; Columbia Brewing Co. (Tacoma); Barrels--Tacoma; Columbia Brewing Co. (Tacoma)--People;

ca. 1919. Park Lodge School's "Primary Grade" in 1919; copy of Cooke photograph made in April of 1923. Park Lodge School was located in Lakewood at 10020 Gravelly Lake Dr. S.W. These youngsters may have been in the kindergarten or first grade. TPL-4410

Park Lodge School (Lakewood); Public schools--Lakewood--1920-1930; School children--Lakewood--1920-1930;

Printing and bookbinding operations at Johnson-Cox Co., 726 Pacific Ave. According to the 1920 City Directory, the company was involved in book binding, blank books, and loose-leaf devices. It used the Acme Card Filing system. Tacoma in the early 1920's had at least seven printing companies. The Johnson-Cox Co., owned by L.A. Johnson and E.K. Cox, was located in the Italianate Maritime Building on Pacific Ave. G32.1-021

Printing industry--Tacoma; Johnson-Cox Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

The Tacoma Oratorio Society, under the direction of J. W. Bixel, performed Handel's "Samson" on January 28, 1920, at the First Presbyterian Church. The 125-voice group featured Mrs. Virginia Hutchinson of Portland as "Micah," Mrs. Donald Dilts of Tacoma as "Delila," Raymond Metz of Spokane as "Samson" and William Hedberg of Seattle as "Manoah." G40.1-103 (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 1-25-20, A-15, D-2-articles)

Tacoma Oratorio Society (Tacoma); Choirs (Music)--1920-1930; Singers;

Fifteen women and a small girl wear the costumes of a century ago as they posed outdoors on January 30, 1920. Among them are women dressed in Native American garb, patriotic wardrobe and a wedding dress.

Women--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1920-1930; Costumes;

Group portrait of well-dressed men and women on stage with piano and harpist, taken in late January of 1920. Photographer Marvin Boland's notes indicate that this is the "St. Cecelia Club." The St. Cecelia Club opened their season with a reception and musicale at the Tacoma Hotel on October 24, 1919, and would hold fortnightly receptions. Mrs. B.B. Broomell was president. (TNT 10-17-19, p. 11-article)

Men--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1920-1930; Women--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1920-1930; Harps; Pianos;

Wicker furniture and a stuffed sofa comfortably grouped around a floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace were located in Camp Lewis' Hostess House in 1920. The sitting room pictured above was decorated with garlands and other greenery which made the place more welcoming and less sterile. The YWCA had provided a hostess house with writing desks and entertainment. Built with stately pillars, the Hostess House would become the center of camp activities for soldiers and their guests. (TDL 12-25-21-article & photograph of exterior) G70.1-002

Wicker furniture; Fireplaces--Camp Lewis; Living rooms--Camp Lewis; Hostess House (Camp Lewis);

Non-commissioned Officers Club. This one-story building with extended covered wraparound porch served as the Non-commissioned Officers Club at Camp Lewis circa 1920. The commissioned officers had their own separate building. G69.1-152 TPL-10307

Military facilities--Camp Lewis;

Hostess House--Camp Lewis. This stately building was one of many established by the YWCA (through the American Red Cross) in military camps throughout the country during WW1. The Hostess House, with Mrs. Caroline Paxton in charge, was a refuge for wives and families visiting soldiers. It was a place to meet, share meals, and write letters. The Hostess House was also open to families of the military camp, patients at the camp hospital, and enlisted personnel of the entire camp. The Camp Lewis Hostess House would later become an officers' club. (www.historylink.org; www.gjenvick.com-article on Hostess Houses; TDL 12-25-21) G69.1-118 TPL-10308

Hostess House (Camp Lewis);

Bows ready, these violinists are prepared to play. This is believed to be the Dunkleberger Orchestra, photographed in February of 1920. The 1920 City Directory indicated that Mrs. Chauncey (Katherine) Dunkleberger was a violinist and music teacher. Mrs. Dunkleberger may be the woman in black in center of photograph.

Orchestras--Tacoma--1920-1930; Violins;

This spacious sitting room provided a welcome respite from the daily rigorous training by members of the Ninety-First Division at Camp Lewis. Wicker furniture was separated in several small groups to allow for quiet conversation or just solitude. A floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace was on one wall and an enormous freestanding mirror decked with garlands stood against another wall. A piano is set along a third wall. The building was built by the American Red Cross and established by the YWCA as a hostess house where entertainment and writing desks were provided and women visitors were welcomed. It would become the camp social center. G70.1-001 (TDL 12-25-21-article & picture of exterior) TPL-10306

Living rooms--Camp Lewis; Pianos; Fireplaces--Camp Lewis; Mirrors; Hostess House (Camp Lewis);

The Red Shield Inn (now the Fort Lewis Museum) was opened on December 7, 1919, by the Salvation Army to accommodate relatives visiting soldiers at Camp Lewis. Its name reflected the emblem of the Salvation Army. It was built across from the camp in the Greene Park recreation development at a cost of $107,000. The Salvation Army originally had provided sleeping quarters for visitors but need soon exceeded the limited space. The three-story Red Shield Inn, with 150 rooms, provided a welcome solution. It was turned over to the government, without strings, by the Salvation Army on July 1, 1921, so that it could be used as quarters for officers, their relatives and friends. The building is the only remaining structure of Greene Park. TPL-050 G69.1-116 (www.historylink.org; Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 12-14-19; TDL 6-22-21, p. 9-article)

Red Shield Inn (Camp Lewis);