ca. 1907. Dorcas Spalt rides through Wright Park in her 1906 Cadillac, driven by her son, Worthy Morris. Purported to be the first Cadillac in Tacoma. Man standing next to car was not identified except as a friend of Mr. Morris. (Original print owned by Allen Morris. No print copy on file.)

Cadillac automobile; Spalt, Dorcas; Morris, Worthy; Wright Park (Tacoma);

United Airlines office on Broadway at the Winthrop Hotel TPL-5541

Airlines--Offices--Tacoma--1940s; Winthrop; Broadway--Tacoma;

ca. 1929. Harold Bromley, on the right, and a second man, probably his benefactor John Buffelen, stand next to Bromley's Lockheed Vega monoplane, the "City of Tacoma." Between them they hold a map on which has been drawn the course that Bromley intended to fly, non-stop from Tacoma to Tokyo, a continuous trip of 4,700 miles. Buffelen and a group of Tacoma businessmen had funded the design and manufacture of the Lockheed plane, hoping to make Tacoma as famous as Lindbergh's "Spirit of St. Louis." The plan ended in disaster. The first plane crashed on take off in front of a crowd of 25,000 at the Tacoma Field. The second and third planes crashed during test flights, the third crash killing test pilot H. W. Catling. The fourth plane was manufactured by Emsco; the plan adjusted to fly from Tokyo to Tacoma, taking advantage of tail winds. It flew for 24 hours, before exhaust fumes forced Bromley and co pilot and navigator Harold Gatty to return to Japan. The plane was stored in a Japanese hangar and the Tacoma money men were stopped by the Depression from ever funding another attempt at the record.

Bromley, Harold; Airplanes--Tacoma--1920-1930; Aeronautics--Tacoma--1920-1930;

ca. 1929. Harold Bromley's airplane, the "City of Tacoma," being viewed at Tacoma Field by citizens in July of 1929. During the spring and summer of 1929, newspapers carried front page stories filled with the exciting news of Bromley's planned flight across the Pacific Ocean from Tacoma to Tokyo. Bromley and his backers had planned the flight for two years. The plane was being built by Lockheed in California, a bright orange low wing Vega monoplane. The final testing of the plane was done at the Muroc dry lake bed, 200 miles northeast of Burbank, but its flight to Tacoma was delayed. Finally on July 19, 1929, Bromley landed at Tacoma Field after a 8 hour and 17 minute flight from Los Angeles. Thousands cheered as the plane landed safely in Tacoma. Over 59,000 people made the trip out to the airstrip to view the plane prior to its July 28, 1929 inaugural flight.

Bromley, Harold--Associated objects; Airplanes--Tacoma--1920-1930; Aeronautics--Tacoma--1920-1930;

ca. 1928. A young woman wearing a flyers jacket, boots and flight cap is helped into a parachute while standing next to a Bergen Bromley Flying Service bi-plane. Photo probably taken at Mueller Harkins Airport. For more images of the same woman, see TPL images 7034 and 7035.

Airplanes--Tacoma--1920-1930; Bergen Bromley Flying Service (Tacoma);

Members of Tacoma's Drama League spend a lazy August day in 1925, paddling an Indian dug-out at the Olympus Manor on Hood Canal. A float plane rests on the water behind them. The Olympus Manor was begun in 1918 by local art instructor, world traveler and friend of the famous Orre N. Nobles. It was located on Hood Canal two miles northeast of Union. By the 1920's, the 16 room retreat was frequented by the local summer art colony and scores of the famous. It was decorated with Nobles' invaluable collection of Tibetan and Oriental art, furniture and artifacts. The two story retreat was destroyed by fire in 1952. No one was hurt, but the building and its priceless collection was destroyed and never rebuilt. (Shelton-Mason County Journal 7/31/1952; 8/7/1952) (photograph from the Erna Tilley Collection)

Olympus Manor (Hood Canal); Tacoma Drama League (Tacoma); Canoes; Nobles, Orre--Homes & haunts;

Undated photograph of gas powered ship the "Fossberg" in City Waterway (now Foss Waterway.) 11th Street bridge at left. This is believed to be the largest of Foss Launch & Tug Co.'s launches, a 15 ton, 100-hp engine and 64-feet in length. She was built in 1912 in Gig Harbor as a combination passenger and freight boat. Passengers and freight were able to be transported to and from ships. In addition, excursion parties and groups of workers were carried to destinations around the Tacoma area. The "Fossberg" also put in extra duty as a tug. (Skalley, Foss Ninety Years of Towboating, p. 32-article)

Foss Launch & Tug Co. (Tacoma); Launches--Tacoma; Boats--Tacoma; 11th Street Bridge (Tacoma);

ca. 1920. Foss launch identified by William L. Case as the "Tyee." The Foss family rowboat rental business, started by Thea Foss in 1889, was thriving at the turn of the century. With an eye for opportunity, Thea branched out into the business of supplying anchored and arriving ships in Tacoma with provisions. With the purchase of the family's first launch, sons Arthur and Wendell Foss were able not only to bring supplies, but also to ferry ship's personnel to land. By 1912, the company owned seven launches, the "Tyee" being one of the smallest. (photograph courtesy of the William T. Case collection) ("Foss: A Living Legend" by Bruce Johnson and Mike Skalley)

Launches--Tacoma; Foss Launch & Tug Co. (Tacoma);

Undated photograph of foot bridge over railroad tracks. Unidentified man on bridge waves his arms exuberantly while high above the ground. (Wheelock - Lemon collection)

Pedestrian bridges; Railroad tracks;

In July of 1931, the Publix Market and Garage at 1110-16 Pacific Ave. was under construction. North Coast Service Garage and Pacific Ave. Building Co. were the builders of the structure and Roberts & Johnson were the contractors. The structure was 9 stories with a "Z System" parking garage.

Garages--Tacoma--1930-1940;

City Refuse Department office in Tacoma's Old City Hall. Three women and three men are working in the office. Flowers decorate the office desks, and a calander from the Tacoma Savings & Loan Association hangs on the back wall. The "Spanish steps", next to the Elks Building, can be seen through the window.

City Refuse Department (Tacoma); Refuse disposal--Tacoma--1930-1940

ca. 1900. German immigrant Henry Mahncke, with partner Charles Muehlenbruch, built the Berlin Building in 1892. It was the American dream come true for Mahncke who had toiled in his Tacoma bakery since 1882. Losing everything but his dignity in the economic Panic of 1893, Mahncke became a janitor and elevator operator in the building he once owned. The Berlin Building was demolished in 1920 to make way for the present Washington Building. Mahncke went on to a successful career in real estate and died in 1937.

Office buildings--Tacoma--1900-1910; Berlin Building (Tacoma); Mahncke, Henry;

German-American Band in concert at the intersection of South 11th and Tacoma Ave. South during the 1910 4th of July celebrations. The News Tribune, in a segment titled "Pages from Tacoma's Family Albums," identified the band simply as "Adler's band." Names of the musicians were not available. The building on the right with flag and awning, 1101 Tacoma Avenue South, contained the Andrew Johnson Shoe Store on the lower level. There may have been apartments for rent above. In later years it would house many businesses including a series of restaurants: Anton's, Siri's and Kelly's (musician Red Kelly's) . The building has been remodeled and the Sidebar Bistro will be opening there in 2009. TPL-306 (TNT 4-13-34, p. 13)

Musicians--Tacoma--1910-1920; Andrew Johnson Shoe Store (Tacoma);

ca. 1915. Parish Rectory of St. Joseph's Church. This was the rectory, or home, of the parish priest of St. Joseph's Slovak Catholic Church. It was built in 1914, two years after the church itself was constructed at South 34th & Tacoma Avenue South.

Rectories--Tacoma; Houses--Tacoma--1910-1920;

Recent photograph of house at 916 So. Lawrence. Original photograph by Kathleen Earl. The Library does not have a negative for this image.

Houses--Tacoma

ca. 1939. Mrs. Beatice Neslund (top, left) and two unidentified employees work on one of the match boxing lines at the Pacific Match Company in Tacoma, Washington circa 1939. Pacific Match had been established near Center St. in 1924 and according to the Tacoma Labor Advocate back then, provided their employees with good working conditions. The company would close in 1964 due to competition from the Midwest. (Courtesy of the Ron Neslund Collection)

Neslund, Beatrice; Pacific Match Co. (Tacoma)--People; Assembly-line methods--Tacoma--1930-1940; Match industry--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Standing outside the Sumner Garage were two of the Valley's Conlon brothers, John W. and Peter, who were owners of the Sumner Tacoma Stage Co. in the 1920's and 30's. John was third from the left and Peter was at the far right. The other men in the photograph were not identified. When John Conlon died on March 18, 1935 at the age of 47, his obituary listed him as the president of the firm and a resident of this area for 40 years. Besides his wife Jeanette and four children, John Conlon was survived by his mother Mrs. Mary Conlon, four brothers (Peter and Frank of Sumner, Joe and Max of Oregon) and a sister, Mrs. Albert Rhyson of Firwood. (Photograph courtesy of the Jack Conlon collection) (John Conlon obituary - TDL 3-19-35)

Conlon, John W.; Conlon, Peter; Families--Sumner; Sumner Tacoma Stage Co. (Sumner); Sumner Garage (Sumner);

ca. 1910. A fleet of delivery wagons has gathered in front of the Hyson Apartments, 702-14 Saint Helens Ave., circa 1910. Two of them are associated with the Hoyt Doughnuts, 2713 Sixth Ave., with advertising proclaiming them the "Best Ever." The wagon on the far right is from Dickson Bros. Bakery.

Carts & wagons--Tacoma--1910-1920; Dickson Bros. Bakery (Tacoma); Hoyt Doughnut Co. (Tacoma); Hyson Apartments (Tacoma);

ca. 1907. This building at 3636 E. "H" Street (now McKinley Avenue) was built by William J. Goellner and was the home of the McKinley Park Bakery from 1906 through 1914. Mr. Goellner also lived at this location. In 1915, he had moved his bakery to Pacific Ave, although his home was still listed at this address. By 1917, he had moved his home to North 25th Street. Mr. Goellner died June 27, 1942 in Sumner at the age of 64. He had been a resident of Tacoma for 53 years. He was the owner of the Northwestern Bakery and operated a chain of retail stores. He was survived only by his sisters. (TNT 7/14/1942, pg. 13; Tacoma City Directory)

McKinley Park Bakery (Tacoma); Goellner, William John; Bakeries--Tacoma--1900-1910;

ca. 1920. At the time of this picture in 1920, Tacoma had four flour mills, Tacoma Grain Company (pictured), Sperry, Puget Sound Flouring Mills and Albers Brothers Company. Together the mills created the largest flour production west of Minneapolis and Kansas City. The Tacoma Grain Co., producer of Pyramid Flour, was built in 1890 by the Northern Pacific Elevator Co. at what is now 7 Schuster Parkway. Its main feature was the 210 foot smoke stack (left of buildings.) It became the Centennial Flouring Mills in 1934. A fire destroyed the mill in January of 1947, and although the company tried to rebuild for a few years, the buildings were razed in 1950. (TDL 12/27/1920, pg. 6) BU- 13987

Tacoma Grain Co. (Tacoma); Flour & meal industry--Tacoma--1910-1920;

Pacific Northwest Canning Co., 203 5th Ave. N.W., Puyallup. This exterior view of the business was taken on September 20, 1927.

Pacific Northwest Canning Co. (Puyallup); Food industry--Puyallup;

ca. 1890. This photograph of the Cascade Steam Laundry, 2124 A Street, was taken sometime in the 1890's. The laundry's fleet of delivery wagons, harnessed to horses, is lined up in front of the business. Cascade Steam Laundry employed 36 men and women in 1891 with a monthly payroll of $1800. Proprietor H.A. Durr had recently remodeled the building to increase the width by 12 feet and increase the height by one story. Appliances included six washing machines, one large mangler (ironer) with a new one to be installed shortly, one extractor (wringer) and one 18-rack dry room. The Cascade Steam Laundry was established in 1886. (copy of original) Bi-Centennial Project # 75346-33 BU-12654 G35.1-167 (TDL 10-9-1891, p. 3-article)

Cascade Steam Laundry (Tacoma); Cleaning establishments--Tacoma--1890-1900; Carts & wagons--Tacoma--1890-1900;

Unidentified lumber yard

ca. 1893. Tacoma smelter. This photograph of the Tacoma Smelting & Refining Co. (previously named the Ryan Smelter) was taken for the New England Magazine and published in their February, 1893, issue. The smelter was owned by prominent businessman William R. Rust who had purchased it four years before. The smelter was originally built to produce lead but in a few short years, would become a major supplier of copper. A comparison of an earlier view of the smelter, taken circa 1888, now shows a completed pier on the right and an additional large building on the property. In 1905 the American Smelting & Refining Co. (ASARCO) bought the company and it remained an important part of Tacoma's economy until its closure in 1985. (New England Magazine - February, 1893 p.800) (See Rutter, image 01, for view of smelter circa 1888)

American Smelting & Refining Co. (Tacoma); Smelters--Tacoma; Industrial facilities--Tacoma;

Damaged negative showning view of American Smelting & Refining Co. (ASARCO) looking toward Tacoma.

Smelters--Tacoma; American Smelting & Refining Co. (Tacoma);

ca. 1896. A woman believed to be Grace R. Moore and accompanied by a large dog, was photographed while reading in the law offices of her husband, Henry K. Moore, circa 1896. Grace R. Moore and several acquaintances formed a reading circle to share their love of books. This led to the formation of the Mercantile Library, the Tacoma area's first circulating library, which was initially housed in the Moore's home where Mrs. Moore served as librarian. The growing membership made it necessary to relocate the library to a more central location. The new site was the outer room of the law office of Mrs. Moore's husband in the Washington Bldg. where his stenographer helped give out books. Eventually, the Mercantile Library's collection was donated to the City of Tacoma and it became a new organization known as the Tacoma Public Library. A branch library named in honor of Mrs. Moore opened in June, 1950, on So. 56th St. near Pacific Ave. G7.1-001 (Bonney: "History of the Tacoma Public Library," History of Pierce County)

Books; Libraries--Tacoma; Public libraries--Tacoma; Dogs--Tacoma--1890-1900; Law offices--Tacoma;

ca. 1915. View of pond near entrance to Point Defiance Park as taken circa 1915. "Old" Ruston School and first tall ASARO smokestack in background This stack was replaced with a tall stack in 1917. Ruston Elementary School, 5227 No. Winnifred St., opened as Ruston School in 1902, before the area incorporated as Ruston. Large building to the far right is unidentified.

Ruston School (Ruston); Smokestacks--Tacoma; Lakes & ponds--Tacoma;

ca. 1911. South Tacoma Branch Library, corner So. 56th and Puget Sound Ave. This was the first branch library in a building of its own in the Tacoma Public Library System. The idea grew from the Women's Christian Temperance Union's South Tacoma Reading Room, opened in 1905 as an alternative to South Tacoma's numerous saloons. This branch library building opened in 1911, the same year as Union Station. It was designed by George Gove, Architect and W. K. Steele served as contractor. Cost of construction was $3,620. In 1958, the building was judged to be unsafe and obsolete. It was demolished and replaced in 1959 with a modern $112,000 library and fire station. TPL-4269

Tacoma Public Library, South Tacoma Branch (Tacoma); Public libraries--Tacoma;

ca. 1904. The Tacoma Public Library, built with funds from industrialist Andrew Carnegie, was dedicated in 1903. The stacks area, where most of the Library's books were shelved (shown at the rear of the picture,) was "closed," meaning that the librarian retrieved books for the patron. The librarians worked behind the wooden, windowed structure at the rear center of the picture much like tellers in a bank. Pictured in the foreground is the top of the white Vermont marble staircase. Above can be seen the decorative stained glass dome. Graceful Ionic columns support the high ceilings. The original glass dome was damaged in the 1949 earthquake. In 1952, a new main library was built adjoining the Carnegie building and the older building was used for storage and meeting rooms. A 5.1 million dollar renovation in 1990 remodeled the newer building and restored the Carnegie Library. This room is now home to the Library's NW Room/ Special Collection Department.

Public Libraries--Tacoma; Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma);