Several fishing boats stream into the calm waters of Gig Harbor's protected waterfront on December 26, 1926. Mt. Tacoma (Rainier) blends with the cloudy skies beyond the darkened forests. TPL-691; G72.1-125A

Harbors--Gig Harbor; Waterfronts--Gig Harbor; Fishing boats--Gig Harbor--1920-1930; Rainier, Mount (Wash.);

ca. 1927. Carnival vehicles and wagons for Pacific States Shows and Levitt- Brown- Huggins Shows. For C.W. Wells Inc., Seattle. (Argentum)

Automobiles--1920-1930; Trucks--1920-1930; C.W. Wells Inc. (Seattle);

The cargo ship "Tacoma" takes on lumber at the Defiance Mills dock in January of 1927

Lt. Commander Richard E. Byrd (later Rear Admiral), the "Conqueror of the North Pole," poses with a Franklin car on February 5, 1927 during his stay as Tacoma's guest. Commander Byrd stands beside the car with Gus Ledbetter at the far right. The man in the center is not identified. He would be speaking on February 5th at the First Baptist Church about his career as a noted aviator and explorer. He was riding a crest of fame created when he and Floyd Bennett proclaimed to the world that they had flown over the North Pole on May 9, 1926. The remainder of his life, after 1928, would be devoted to his exploration of Antarctica. He died in 1957. (TNT 2/5/1927 p.1; Ledger 2/6/1927, pg. 1)

Tanker "Socony" docked in Tacoma in mid-March of 1927 at what is possibly the City Waterway. Several large companies had tanks (receiving stations) on the City Waterway at this time: Shell Oil, Associated Oil, and Standard Oil. The three tanks in the picture may have belonged to the General Petroleum Co. G49.1-075 (TNT 4-2-26, p. 1-article on plants on waterway) Photograph ordered by Allen Lubricating Co.

Tankers--United States; Storage tanks--Tacoma--1920-1930;

The "Pacific Spruce" was the first vessel to unload cargo at the new dock of the Washington Cooperative Egg & Poultry Association, which had recently taken over the Milwaukee grain elevator and dock on the Tacoma tideflats. The ship arrived on the evening of April 26, 1927, and completed discharging 360-370 tons of oyster shells the following day. This view shows bags of oyster shells (used in chicken feed) in the process of being transported from the "Pacific Spruce" to the dock by stevedores. In the days before cargo containers every bag of shells had to be moved by hand. Suited men standing by may be officials of Washington Cooperative. The dock would now be known as "Co-op" dock. The Egg & Poultry Assn. was building a new headquarters on the dock which was soon to be completed. (TNT 4-27-27, p. 18-article); G49.1-197; TPL-661 (copy made for Washington Co-op on 10-12-27)

Shipping--Tacoma--1920-1930; Cargo ships--Tacoma--1920-1930; Longshoremen--Tacoma--1920-1930; Washington Cooperative Farmers Association (Tacoma); Washington Co-op Egg & Poultry Association (Tacoma); Piers & whaves--Tacoma--1920-1930;

On April 28, 1927, a group of interested businessmen made the first Tacoma to Paradise Valley tourist trip by air. They were inspecting the possibilities of regular tourist flights from Tacoma to "Mount Tacoma" (Mount Rainier), making sights usually available only to climbers possible for the average tourist. Pictured, left to right, are Paul H. Sceva (Assistant to the General Manager of Rainier National Park Co.), Frank E. Roberts (Tacoma News Tribune), Vernon Bookwalter (pilot) and Vern C. Gorst (President of Pacific Air Transport.) The flight was made on a six passenger Fokker monoplane owned by Pacific Air, the coast contract mail carrier. (TNT 4/29/1927, pg. 1)

The Kitsap Co. Transportation Co. ferry, believed to be called "Kitsap of Seattle," as viewed on May 13, 1927. This ferry would provide reliable service linking Seattle and the Kitsap peninsula. The Kitsap Co. Transportation Co. would be forced out of business in 1935 due to a strike. Photograph requested by the Washington Navigation Co. G78.1-110 (ws.dot.wa.gov/ferries--article)

Ferries--1920-1930;

The Washington Navigation Co. had requested photographs be taken of several ferries in May of 1927. The "Liberty" is pictured above, with several men standing on deck, on May 13, 1927. She carried at least two lifeboats and operated on steam. The "K' on her funnel possibly stands for Kitsap County Transportation Co. G78.1-109

Ferries--1920-1930;

This is possibly the ferry "Suquamish" as pictured on a foggy day in May, 1927. Photograph taken on behalf of the Washington Navigation Co.

Ferries--1920-1930;

In June of 1927, Seattlite and frequent Tacoma visitor Esther Landstrom (in coat) was pictured with her new Willys-Knight 70-A coupe in front of the First Presbyterian Church at 20 Tacoma Avenue South. Her small dog stands on the running board. Her friend Dolly Wescott, a bookkeeper at Manley Motors, was at the wheel. Mrs. Landstrom had recently purchased her car from Manley Motor Company, 956-58 Fawcett Avenue, in Tacoma. Manley Motors were the authorized dealers of Overland, Willys-Knight, and Whippet automobiles. (TDL 6/19/1927, pg. G2) (WSHS)

Automobiles--Tacoma--1920-1930; Presbyterian churches--Tacoma; First Presbyterian Church (Tacoma); Landstrom, Esther; Wescott, Dolly; Willys-Knight automobile; Dogs--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Fleet in Commencement Bay. This long-distance view of several ships cruising about Commencement Bay was taken in July of 1927. Twelve American warships were due the weekend of July 16th including nine vessels of the destroyer squadron No. 11 and three battleships. The fleet would make Tacoma headquarters until August 20th and would cause the city's population to swell temporarily by the addition of 300 officers and 5000 enlisted men. G71.1-036 (TNT7-16-27, p. 1-article)

Commencement Bay (Wash.); Ships--Tacoma--1920-1930; Warships--Tacoma--1920-1930; Government vessels--Tacoma;

Raudenbush Motor Co. Mrs. DesLys with Whippet. Raudenbush Motor Co. was an automobile dealer located at 314 Puyallup Ave. Mrs. Norah DesLys was the vice president of the Bon-Des-Lys Candy Makers, 2407 Pacific Ave. The Whippet automobile was manufactured from 1926-1931 by Willys Overland. On June 4, 1927, 25 year old actress and entertainer Norah Elizabeth Deslys married Tacoma candy manufacturer John T. Bond. She gave up the stage, after 18 years, to work with her husband in their recently incorporated Bon-Des-Lys (invented from the compound of both last names) candy company. Both Norah and her performance partner, her sister Essie, would maintain a home in Tacoma as well as Hollywood. (TNT 6/6/1927, pg.5) (WSHS)

Whippet automobile; Deslys, Norah;

On September 7, 1927, direct airmail and passenger service was inaugurated at Tacoma's Mueller-Harkins airport. After the first bag of air mail arrived, Postmaster Clyde J. Backus, right, turned it over to department employee Alfred Bottiger, left, who carried it to the city by automobile. Pictured in the center is R. A. Mueller. Over 2500 people waited two hours at the airport to cheer the arrival of the first airmail plane of the Pacific Air Transport Co. (TDL 9/8/1927, pg. 1 & pg. 3- picture) (photograph courtesy of Ted Bottiger, Port of Tacoma Commissioner)

Backus, Clyde J.; Bottiger, Alfred; Mueller, Rudolph A.; Mueller-Harkins Airport (Lakewood); Air mail service--Tacoma--1920-1930;

A solemn pilot gazes from his uncovered cockpit in September of 1927. Advertising on this Bergen Bromley Flying Service plane in September of 1927 indicates that the plane is equipped with Tsungani "slipper" pistons. Tsungani pistons were manufactured by the Tsungani plant located at 625 E. 11th St. They made lightweight alloy pistons for automobiles, motorcycles and Liberty airplane engines. TPL-8076; G12.1-077

Airplanes--Tacoma--1920-1930; Bergen Bromley Flying Service (Tacoma); Advertising--Tacoma--1920-1930; Tsungani Piston Co. (Tacoma);

A long parade of Washington Co-operative Association trucks is making a turn onto what is believed to be the Western Washington Fairgrounds on September 22, 1927. Advertising on the vehicles state that the co-op sells food, and buys feed. G6.1-092

Trucks--1920-1930; Washington Co-op Egg & Poultry Association (Tacoma);

ca. 1928. A Texaco fuel truck is parked in front of a tri-motor airplane with a Texaco logo on its wing. Two men appear to be fueling the airplane.

Airplanes--Tacoma--1920-1930; Trucks--Tacoma--1920-1930; Fuel tanks;

ca. 1928. Two men stand next to a biplane with the name Tacoma painted on its side. A third man sits in the rear cockpit of the plane which sits in a grassy field. The plane may belong to the Tacoma Airways aviation school.

Biplanes--Tacoma--1920-1930;

ca. 1928. Young woman in flying jacket, flying cap, and parachute stands on wing of Bergen Bromley Flying Service bi-plane. Photograph probably taken at Mueller Harkins Airport. For more images of the same person, see TPL images 7034 and 7036.

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

ca. 1928. A man with a fuel can stands next to a Red Crown Gasoline truck as two men work at fueling a biplane.

Biplanes--Tacoma--1920-1930; Fuel tanks;

ca. 1928. Young woman wearing 1920s style flight suit and parachute stands on wing of a bi-plane. She may be practicing for a parachute jump. The plane is sitting on the ground, probably at Tacoma Field. The plane has a winged logo that says, "Bergen Bromley Flying Service." Next to the pilots cockpit, on the side of the plane is the name R. N. Bergen. His partner was Harold Bromley, best remembered for his failed attempts to fly from Tacoma to Tokyo.

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

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);

ca. 1928. The ship "President Jefferson" lies at dock next to the Sperry Mill probably in July or August of 1928

Blond Hollywood actress Ruth Taylor is pictured shaking hands with Mayor M.G. Tennent while the mayor is aboard the "City of Tacoma" airplane at the Mueller-Harkins airport (site of the present day Clover Park Technical College) on February 8, 1928. Miss Taylor, star of the silent film "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes," was briefly in Tacoma while on a nationwide tour promoting the film. She would make a personal appearance at the Broadway Theater where her film would be shown shortly. The other three men in the photograph were not identified although one of them is believed to be J. Barton ("Jack") Story, pilot, and president of the newly organized Olympic Aeronautical Corporation. On January 31, 1928, Olympic Aeronautical announced plans to fly tourists around Mt. Tacoma (Rainier) beginning May 1st. Photograph ordered by the Olympic Aeronautical Corporation. (TNT 1-31-28, p. 1-article on Olympic Aeronautical; TDL 2-8-28, p. 2-article on Miss Taylor) TPL-5030; G12.1-082

Airplanes--Tacoma--1920-1930; Tennent, Melvin Green; Mayors--Tacoma--1920-1930; Olympic Aeronautical Corporation (Tacoma); Taylor, Ruth; Actresses;

Using both hands, actress Ruth Taylor holds onto the propeller of the "City of Tacoma" aircraft on February 8, 1928. She is wearing protective goggles and headgear. Additional photographs in this series show Miss Taylor as a passenger aboard the plane; the goggles and headgear would be necessary since the passenger seat was not under cover. (See B18045, B18049) The plane was parked at the Mueller-Harkins airport on Steilacoom Blvd., current site of Clover Park Technical College. Miss Taylor was making a brief stop in Tacoma while on a nationwide tour promoting her new movie, "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes." TPL-8077; G12.1-048B. Photograph ordered by the Olympic Aeronautical Corporation. (TDL 2-8-28, p. 2-brief article on Miss Taylor's visit)

Airplanes--Tacoma--1920-1930; Women--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1920-1930; Taylor, Ruth; Actresses;

Hollywood actress Ruth Taylor cheerfully waves as she is seated in the passenger seat of the "City of Tacoma" aircraft on February 8, 1928. The plane is parked at the Mueller Harkins airport outside the Olympic Aeronautical Corporation hangar. Miss Taylor, a product of Portland schools, was chosen to star as "Lorelei" in the silent film "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" after a nationwide search. The petite blonde was in town to make a personal appearance at the Broadway Theater where her film would be showing in the near future. She was known for her trademark spit curls and had been a Mack Sennett Bathing Beauty. Her son, Buck Henry, born in 1930, would become a well known actor and writer. Photograph ordered by the Olympic Aeronautical Corporation. G12.1-048A (TDL 2-8-28, p. 2-article on Miss Taylor's visit; Imdb.com-information on Miss Taylor)

Airplanes--Tacoma--1920-1930; Taylor, Ruth; Actresses;

Fair-haired actress Ruth Taylor, currently in Tacoma promoting her new film, "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes," rides aboard the "City of Tacoma" airplane on February 8, 1928. The aircraft is parked outside the hangar of the Olympic Aeronautical Corporation (which had succeeded the Eagle Rock Sales Corporation) at the Mueller-Harkins airport. Photograph ordered by the Olympic Aeronautical Corporation, newly organized and headed by J. Barton ("Jack") Story, president and well known pilot. (TNT 1-31-28, p. 1-article on Olympic Aeronautical Corporation; TDL 2-8-28, p. 2-article on Miss Taylor's visit)

Airplanes--Tacoma--1920-1930; Olympic Aeronautical Corporation (Tacoma); Taylor, Ruth; Actresses;

On March 24, 1928, 10,000 cases of eggs were loaded onto the Blue Star liner "Gothicstar" bound for Buenos Aires, Argentina. The eggs were delivered by the Washington Cooperative Egg & Poultry Assn. to its dock, "Co-op Dock" (formerly the Milwaukee dock). "Gothicstar" was one of the biggest refrigerator ships traveling between South America and the United States. It was scheduled to pick up another 40,000 crates of eggs from other ports nearby. This was a new egg market for Northwest producers as previously the East Coast had provided South America with eggs. G6.1-095 (T.Times 3-23-28, p. 10-article)

Shipping--Tacoma--1920-1930; Cargo ships--Tacoma--1920-1930; Washington Co-op Egg & Poultry Association (Tacoma); Eggs; Piers & wharves--Tacoma--1920-1930;

A cordial invitation for "Hotel-Men" to meet in Tacoma, the "lumber capitol of the world," on May 8-9, 1928, was attached to the rear of a black sedan in early April of 1928. "Al" (Albert C.C. Gamer) was listed as the "official scout" and was preparing to depart for California to invite other hotel executives to the two-day convention at the Winthrop. The 20th annual convention of the Washington State Hotel Association with Oregon State Hotel Association participating, opened on Tuesday, May 8th. Pointing to the vehicle's advertisement are managers: (l-r) Ray Clark of the Winthrop Hotel, A.C.C. Gamer of the Olympus Hotel, and Emerson Wakefield of the Carlton Hotel. G24.1-026 (for another view of men and car, see Boland B18312) (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 5-6-28, 4-A, article & alternate photograph)

Automobiles--Tacoma--1920-1930; Signs (Notices); Gamer, Albert C.C.; Wakefield, Emerson; Clark, Ray;

Gesturing toward an oval advertisement on the back of a parked sedan in April of 1928 are three well known hotel managers: (l-r) Emerson Wakefield of the Carlton Hotel, A.C.C. ("Al") Gamer of the Olympus and Ray Clark of the Winthrop. The sign invites "Hotel-men" to convene in Tacoma, the "Lumber Capitol of the World," May 8-9th. "Al" is the "official scout." He would be making a tour throughout California in the vehicle to invite other hotel managers to the convention. The gathering will take place at the Winthrop Hotel. G31.1-103 (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 5-6-28, 4-A)

Automobiles--Tacoma--1920-1930; Signs (Notices); Gamer, Albert C.C.; Wakefield, Emerson; Clark, Ray; Meetings--Tacoma--1920-1930;