Log dump next to railroad tracks as pictured on August 14, 1925. G36.1-086

Logs; Railroad tracks--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Heisler locomotive on railroad tracks at Whitney Engineering Co. plant on October 10, 1925. Heisler was considered the fastest of the three most prevalent geared steam locomotives. It was manufactured until 1941. TPL-2126; G44.1-050 (www.gearsteamed.com/heisler/heisler.htm-article on locomotive)

Railroad locomotives--Tacoma--1920-1930; Railroad tracks--Tacoma--1920-1930; Whitney Engineering Co. (Tacoma);

Just after 6 p.m. on November 17, 1925, Northern Pacific passenger train #424 derailed about 2 miles west of Olympia. The train, travelling about 30-50 mph, plowed into the bank on the side of the track, burying itself in the earth before it turned over on its side, crushing veteran engineer Edward M. Putnam. Subsequent train cars were knocked off their wheels. Twenty-five people were injured, several critically, with passenger Laura Hahn dying of her injuries on November 21st. Days after the wreck, the cause of the accident was still undetermined. The track appeared to be in good condition and the engine was too badly damaged for further assessment. (TNT 11/18/1925, pg. 1-article; TNT 11-23-25, p. 9-obituary of Mrs. Hahn; TNT 11-30-25, p. 20-article) G77.1-068

Northern Pacific Railway Co. (Tacoma); Railroad companies--Tacoma--1920-1930; Railroad locomotives--1920-1930; Railroad accidents--Olympia--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;

ca. 1926. A piece of machinery manufactured by the Rowland Valve Company, Seattle, Washington. (WSHS)

Machinery; Rowland Valve Co. (Seattle);

ca. 1926. Rowland Valve Co., Seattle, Wa. (WSHS)

Machinery; Rowland Valve Co. (Seattle);

ca. 1926. Olympic Ice Cream Company. Interior of retail outlet showing freezer. Perhaps at Court C location or at Puyallup Fair. (filed with Argentum)

Olympic Ice Cream Co. (Tacoma); Dairy products industry--Tacoma--1920-1930; Ice cream & ices; Soda fountains--1920-1930;

ca. 1926. Wenatchee Apple display in window at Great Northern Railroad ticket office, located at Transportation Row. (alternate address 112-18 So. 9th St.) Placards in the window offer the information that "over 15,000 car loads of apples are shipped annually over the Great Northern Railway" and that "National Apple Week" is "October 31 through November 7th." The sign board below the "Tickets" neon sign has pictures of Paramount stars Jack Holt and Billie Dove eating Wenatchee apples while in the Cascades filming "Ancient Highway." (filed with Argentum)

Railroad companies--Tacoma; Offices--Tacoma--1920-1930; Facades--Tacoma--1920-1930; Ticket offices; Window displays; Great Northern Railway Co. (Tacoma);

ca. 1926. Wenatchee Apple display in window at Great Northern Railroad ticket office, located in Transportation Row. (alternate address 112-18 So. 9th) Two unidentified men pose in the window along with the apples advertising National Apple Week, October 31 to November 6. (filed with Argentum)

Railroad companies--Tacoma; Offices--Tacoma--1920-1930; Facades--Tacoma--1920-1930; Ticket offices; Window displays; Great Northern Railway Co. (Tacoma);

ca. 1926. A railroad crossing. A factory belches smoke in the distance. Photograph is labeled "No. 4." (WSHS)

Railroad crossings--1920-1930;

ca. 1926. Northern Pacific Railway, No. 1. Railroad crossing with man by stop sign, "Stop RRX" painted on street, tall industrial stack belching smoke in background. (filed with Argentum)

Northern Pacific Railway Co. (Tacoma); Railroad signals;

ca. 1926. Olympic Ice Cream Company. Interior of retail outlet showing freezer. (filed under Argentum)

Olympic Ice Cream Co. (Tacoma); Dairy products industry--Tacoma--1920-1930; Ice cream & ices; Soda fountains--1920-1930;

ca. 1926. The Northern Pacific Railway yard at "D" St., Tacoma, circa 1926. Two men were posed in front of the roundhouse office locker room, left. The two boxes with stacks on opposite sides of the tracks were "blow-down boxes." The Hostlers or the Engineers would pull the steam locomotives up to the boxes, lining up the blow down pipe at the bottom of the boiler and would release a strong jet of steam to clean out any debris in the boiler. The boxes served to protect anyone nearby, the steam being directed into the box and up the chimney to vent where it could not scald anyone. The coaling tower is in the background. Photograph is labelled "NO. 2." (WSHS) (identifying information supplied by a former railroad employee) image NO. 1 scanned as A1867 image 1

Railroad tracks; Railroads--1920-1930; Northern Pacific Railway Co. (Tacoma); Railroad locomotives;

ca. 1926. Boat under construction. M1400 being launched. (WSHS)

Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1920-1930; Launchings--Tacoma--1920-1930;

ca. 1926. Northern Pacific Railway Yard at "D" St., Tacoma, circa 1926. Photograph is labelled "NO. 3." A bridge and a factory can be seen in the distance. The roundhouse office locker room can be partially seen on the left. The boxes with stacks next to the tracks left are "blow-down boxes." The engineer would pull the locomotive up next to the boxes, so that the blow down pipe of the steam engine lined up with the box and release a strong jet of steam to clean out any debris in the boiler. The steam would be directed into the box and out the chimney, preventing anyone being scalded. (WSHS) (information provided by a former Northern Pacific employee) Image #1 scanned as A1867 image 1)

Railroad tracks; Railroads--1920-1930; Northern Pacific Railway Co. (Tacoma); Railroad locomotives;

On March 4, 1926, firefighters from seven companies fought desperately to save the building at 1953 So. C St. The structure, built in 1907, was home to the Henningsen Creamery Co. Flames swept through the three story brick and concrete building as firefighters worked with ladders and hoses from the outside. The fire broke out at 7:40 a.m. caused by the explosion of tar being heated on an oil stove by workmen. The workers were remodeling the lower floor of the building, installing an ice cream plant. Damages were estimated at $50,000 - 100,000. This restored building is now part of the University of Washington Tacoma campus. TPL-7959, BU- 12644, G26.1-078 (TNT 3/4/1926, pg. 1+, pg. 22-picture)

Henningsen Creamery Co. (Tacoma); Fires--Tacoma--1920-1930; Fire fighting--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Tacoma greets movie stars at the Union Depot. A hearty greeting from the City of Tacoma was offered to the actresses and actors appearing in the H.C. Weaver Productions studio film, "Totem Pole Beggar," on March 5, 1926. Shaking hands with star Wanda Hawley, wearing a voluminous fur coat, is believed to be A.D. Bjornstad. Mr. Bjornstad had attended school with Miss Hawley ten years previously and was currently employed as auditor at the Weaver Studios. The couple is flanked by two city policemen on motorcycles; the police officers are dressed for the cold weather with leather boots, gauntlets with long gloves and thick coats. "Totem Pole Beggar," whose title would later be changed to "Eyes of the Totem," would be the second film produced by the H.C. Weaver Productions studio. It would begin filming on March 8, 1926, and open at the Broadway Theatre on June 10, 1927. (TDL 3-6-26, p. 1)

Stacking lumber with the help of a stacker made by Star Iron & Steel.

Industries; Lumber; Star Iron & Steel; Machinery;

St. Paul Lumber Company crane loading a vessel at 1220 Saint Paul Ave, Tacoma

Industries; St. Paul Lumber Company; Cranes, Tideflats;

Star Iron &Steel machinery on track at their foundry at 435 E 11th St, Tacoma

Industries; Star Iron & Steel; Machinery; Tideflats;

On June 10, 1926, thirteen World War I era wooden warships lay at anchor in one of the shallow inlets of Henderson Bay. The vessels had been built by Seaborn Shipbuilding Co., Wright Shipbuilding Co. and Tacoma Ship Building Co. in Tacoma for the French and intended for service during World War I, but when the war ended, the work was stopped and none of the remaining ships were completed. They previously were moored in Lake Union, Seattle. They were purchased for salvage by Washington Tug and Barge Co. and towed to the mouth of Minter Creek and then out into the inlet at high tide. The cabins and super structure were broken up, doused in kerosene and at 11:45 p.m. would be set on fire. (photograph is damaged (line) upper right corner) TPL-125 (TNT 6/11/1926, pg. 1)

At dawn on June 11, 1926, blackened shells were all that remained of 13 wooden World War I warships anchored in an inlet of Henderson Bay. The ships, built by Seaborn Shipbuilding Co., Wright Shipbuilding Co. and Tacoma Ship Building Co. in Tacoma for the French and incomplete at the end of the war, had been moored in Lake Union in Seattle. After being sold for scrap, they were towed to the mouth of Minter Creek and floated out at high tide to an inlet on Henderson Bay. They were then broken up, doused with kerosene and set on fire. After the controlled blaze burned itself out, iron and other salvageable metals would be collected. TPL-127, Bowen 26393 (TNT 6/11/1926, pg. 1)

Shortly after midnight on June 11, 1926, the one and a half million dollar bonfire of World War I era warships was at its height. During WWI Seaborn Shipbuilding Co., Wright Shipbuilding Co. and Tacoma Ship Building Co. on the Tacoma tideflats had a contract to build 20 3,000-ton five-mast auxiliary schooners for France. When the war ended in 1918 thirteen partially completed ships still rested in the ways of the shipyard. Unfinished, they were towed to Seattle and moored in Lake Union until years later when they were sold for salvage. They were towed to the mouth of Minter Creek which feeds into Henderson Bay and set on fire. From midnight to dawn, a red glow from the fires lit up Tacoma's northwestern sky. When the fire had burned itself out, iron and other metals were collected from the ruins. (TNT 6/11/1926, pg. 1) TPL-126 Information provided by patron: The first few wrecks were burnt at Richmond Beach starting sometime after 1923, some wreckers including Nieman & Marcus continued working there up until the 1930s, while the one in Minter River was used at least twice, 13 ships were burnt in Jun 1926 and 5 ships were burnt in Aug. 1927. As late as 1930, residents complainined about the burning at Henderson Bay, preferring them to revert to Richmond Beach. I believe that the author of the Victoria Daily Times clipping (Victoria Colonist, Victoria B.C. 5/31/1926 p.8) with the ships names has gotten the location wrong, but they all are named as being laid up at Lake Union in 1921. Articles mentioned can be found in the clipping file TACOMA - INDUSTRIES - SHIPBUILDING

Henry McCleary Lumber Company crane isn McCleary, WA

Industries; Henry McCleary Lumber Company; Cranes; McCleary;

Bay City Lumber Company's crane in Aberdeen, WA

Industries; Bay City Lumber Company; Cranes; Aberdeen;

On July 26, 1926, the "Cacique," an oceangoing cargo ship was pictured at the Tidewater Mill Co. The ship is being loaded with lumber for export. The Tidewater Mill was located on the east side of the Hylebos Waterway, at the end of 11th St. Over 3/4 of its timber was destined for export. In the foreground can be seen several large logs being floated to the mill for processing. The Tidewater was only one of a few mills on the Pacific Coast able to process large logs. (TDL 12/22/1918, pg. B-8) G49.1-086

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

Photograph from the August 1926 grand opening of the Whistle Bottling Co.'s new $50,000 plant. The plant could turn out 30,000 bottles of soda a day thanks to modern machinery, such as the one shown in the picture. Filled bottles travelled around the plant on a conveyor belt, into machines which capped the bottles and labelled them. The factory produced beverages for Whistle, Nu-Grape, Hires, Green River and others. It was owned by the Cammarano Brothers. (TDL 8/22/1926, pg. A10-14) (filed with Argentum)

Beverage industry--Tacoma--1920-1930; Whistle Bottling Co. (Tacoma); Bottling industry--Tacoma--1920-1930; Cammarano Bros. (Tacoma);

New home for the Whistle Bottling Works, built in 1926 by the Cammarano Brothers. Interior showing machinery and potted plants. The new $50,000 plant was filled with modern equipment. After being "mixed" according to preset formulas, flavored syrups were poured into sterilized bottles on a conveyor belt. They travelled from machine to machine, where they were filled with carbonated water, capped and labelled. The plants and flowers were probably sent by well wishers for the plant's opening. (TDL 8/22/1926, pg. A10-14) (filed with Argentum)

Beverage industry--Tacoma--1920-1930; Whistle Bottling Co. (Tacoma); Bottling industry--Tacoma--1920-1930; Cammarano Bros. (Tacoma);

The second floor laboratory, or "mix" room, in the new $50,000 Whistle Bottling Co. plant. Interior shot showing vats, gallon bottles on shelves. The room had a long testing bench or counter with shelves above it filled with graduates, filters and a large assortment of concentrated syrups. A 100 gallon mixing tank was used for compounding "simple syrup" from boiling water and pure cane sugar. This tank was connected with mixing tanks, where the simple syrup was mixed with the concentrated syrups that gave the beverage its distinctive taste. The mixed syrup flowed down a pipe into the first floor machine room where it went into sterilized bottles that were topped off with carbonated water. (TDL 8/22/1926, pg. A10-14) (filed with Argentum)

Beverage industry--Tacoma--1920-1930; Whistle Bottling Co. (Tacoma); Bottling industry--Tacoma--1920-1930; Cammarano Bros. (Tacoma);

This was how the new Whistle Bottling Company factory, built for the Cammarano Brothers by Mcdonald & Michael contractors and located at 2314-18 A Street, appeared in August of 1926. At that time, the 5 year old company was moving to its new white $50,000 modern concrete plant. The two-story, 75 x 100 foot building was three times larger than the company's previous location at 301 East 25th. The new plant could turn out 30,000 complete bottles of "soda pop" a day: manufactured, bottled, capped and labeled. The company bottled Whistle, Nu-grape, Hires, Green River and others. The Cammarano Brothers, Phil, James, William and Ed, were self-made men; progressing from odd jobs to being the heads of their own factory. (filed with Argentum) (TDL 8/22/1926, pg. A10-14, TDL 7/11/1926, pg. E8)

Beverage industry--Tacoma--1920-1930; Whistle Bottling Co. (Tacoma); Bottling industry--Tacoma--1920-1930; Cammarano Bros. (Tacoma);