Photographer Marvin Boland took a series of pictures of Tacoma's downtown business district on August 22, 1924 where he focused on the numerous business establishments, large and small, packed into a few city streets. This view is of Pacific Avenue near South 11th Street. L-R are the 12-story Rust Building (950 Pacific) with one of their tenants, Lundquist-Lilly (men's clothing store); Scobey's Cigars at 946 Pacific with the Naubert & Manning Billiard parlor upstairs; Davis Men's Shop, M&M Hat, Friedman's (Jewelers) all at 942-44 Pacific with Peterson & Cooksie Billiards above; and the Regal Shoe Co. at 938-40 Pacific. TPL-225; G61.1-016

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1920-1930; Business districts--Tacoma--1920-1930; Rust Building (Tacoma); Office buildings--Tacoma--1920-1930; Scobey Cigar Co. (Tacoma); Naubert & Manning Billiards (Tacoma); Peterson & Cooksie Billiard Parlor (Tacoma);

This view is of Broadway at 9th looking south in August of 1924. On the right foreground is a portion of the massive Tacoma Theater building (902-14 Broadway) with new tenant Frank C. Hart & Sons (jewelers) sign and the Electro Dental Parlors (former practice of dentist John Austin). The Colonial Theater (916-18 Broadway) is next, then showing for the second week the movie "The Covered Wagon." The Pythian Temple (924-26 Broadway) and Burnett Brothers jewelry store (932 Broadway) follow. At the end of the block is the Rhodes Brothers Department Store (950 Broadway). On the left side of Broadway several businesses are visible: the Hotel Illington and the McMillan Bros. Drugstore in the Jonathan Smith Bldg. (911-13 Broadway); Lou Johnson (ladies apparel) in the Collier-Hardenberg Bldg (915-17 Broadway); Pierce Hotel (912 1/2 Broadway); and further down the street, the Lewis Brothers clothing store (935-41 Broadway). G59.1-030

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1920-1930; Colonial Theater (Tacoma); Pythian Temple (Tacoma); Tacoma Theater (Tacoma);

This is 11th St. at the bridge looking west as pictured on August 22, 1924. On the left is the Perkins Building at 1101 A Street, Tacoma's first fireproof building; on the right is the Tacoma Building, 1017-21 A Street, home to the Weyerhaeuser Timber Co. The unfinished Scandinavian-American Bank building (later known as the Washington Building) is in the distance also on the right. G57.1-133

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1920-1930; Business districts--Tacoma--1920-1930; Perkins Building (Tacoma); Tacoma Building (Tacoma); Washington Building (Tacoma);

Pacific Avenue at South 9th St. looking south. Barricades from the Consumers Central Heating Co. are positioned in the center of South 9th St. Street construction and/or repair were occurring during this part of August, 1924, in this area. Notable downtown buildings visible include the Provident Building (917 Pacific Ave.), the unfinished Scandinavian-American Bank Bldg (later called the Washington Building at 1019 Pacific Ave.) and Puget Sound National Bank (1117-19 Pacific Ave). G61.1-037

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1920-1930; Business districts--Tacoma--1920-1930; Barricades--Tacoma; Provident Building (Tacoma); Puget Sound National Bank (Tacoma);

Rose garden, Point Defiance Park. Point Defiance Park has more than an acre of rose gardens for the public to enjoy. This view of the park in 1924 shows gardens neatly laid out with benches strategically placed for people to sit and gaze at the many varieties of roses. The oldest of the gardens was planted in 1895. TPL-10531

Point Defiance Park (Tacoma); Roses--Tacoma; Gardens--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Bridge over Lake Steilacoom. A wood trestle bridge, flanked by towering firs, spans Lake Steilacoom in this August, 1924, photograph. The bridge is barely wide enough to fit two touring cars of the 1920s. Once over the bridge, automobiles could proceed toward American Lake. The TPL-049; G38.1-060

Lake Steilacoom (Wash.); Bridges--Lakewood;

Lake Steilacoom as seen through tall trees on August 25, 1924. The fresh water lake was created from a series of ponds in the 1850s by the building of a dam to provide water for Byrd Mill, located on Steilacoom Creek. G38.1-061

Lake Steilacoom (Wash.);

Facing in opposite directions are two different methods of transportation popular in the 1920s - a "stage" or bus and a streetcar. The streetcar, bound for the McKinley Park area of Tacoma, was operated by Tacoma Rail & Power. The stage left for Olympia every half-hour from Tacoma. TPL2385; G66.2-006

Street railroads--Tacoma--1920-1930; Buses--Tacoma--1920-1930; Mass transit--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Side view of Buckley Public School bus No. 3 as photographed on August 30, 1924. G7.1-062B

School buses;

By August of 1924, only one year after it opened to the public, "The Oakes" on Lake Steilacoom was attracting "regular Sunday crowds" that numbered in the hundreds. "The Oakes" offered boating, bathing, and picnic grounds; there was dancing in the Pavilion on Sunday afternoons and both Sunday and Wednesday evenings. Row boats and canoes were available for rental and aquatic equipment included a high, long slide and a platform diving tower. The water stadium was used for competitive swimming events including the Olympic trials for 1924. By 1934, renovation was underway to turn the Pavilion into a night spot called the Towers. In 1938, Norton Clapp converted it to the Lakewood Ice Arena. The Arena was demolished in 1982 to make room for lake front condominiums. (TNT 8/14/1924, pg. B1) BU 13522, Boland # A5430

Oakes Pavilion (Lakewood); Ballrooms--Lakewood; Swimming; Swimmers; Rowboats;

Publicity for Woodmen of the World (W.O.W) Picnic at Spanaway Lake on August 3, 1924. Family group holding banners, one upside-down. (Argentum)

Woodmen of the World (Tacoma); Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1920-1930; Picnics--Tacoma--1920-1930;

The Y.M.C.A. provided a comfortable setting in their lobby for reading and tinkling the keyboards. Four unidentified men are pictured on September 2, 1924, enjoying some free time by perusing the latest newspapers and books and performing a duet on the organ and piano. The $5000 pipe organ was donated to the Young Men's Christian Association's convalescent ward at the Camp Lewis base hospital by Mrs. W.R. Rust of Tacoma. When the building was dismantled in 1919, the organ was moved to the lobby of the Market St. Y.M.C.A. building. The organ was made by the Estey Organ Co. of Brattleboro, Vt., and was equipped with a mechanism similar to one on a "player piano" that made it possible for anyone to play it. TPL-8755; G68.1-136

Young Mens Christian Association (Tacoma); Lobbies--Tacoma--1920-1930; Reading--Tacoma; Pianos; Organs;

The City College Employment Department sought to help people obtain jobs. It was a free service offered in 1924 by the Y.M.C.A. primarily for students and members. Employers were welcome at any time and given immediate attention by staff. Two men are pictured above on September 2, 1924, utilizing the services of the employment department. Their names, and the name of the interviewer, were not given.

Employment agencies; Young Mens Christian Association (Tacoma);

This is how the east side of Pacific Avenue, near South 10th & 11th Sts., appeared in September of 1924. Buildings were tightly built side-by-side with no space in between for parking lots. From L-R were: First Mutual Savings Bank's Deposit Vaults (1005 Pacific); Western Union Telegraph Co. (1007 Pacific); Keystone Printing Co., Peerless Grill and the Tourist Hotel Annex (1009 Pacific); and Shaw Supply Co.'s three-story brick building (1015 Pacific). The Tourist Hotel Annex would be demolished later to make way for the Bank of California. G61.1-019 TPL-10075

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1920-1930; Business districts--Tacoma--1920-1930; Tourist Hotel Annex (Tacoma); Western Union Telegraph Co. (Tacoma); Keystone Printing Co. (Tacoma); Peerless Grill (Tacoma); Shaw Supply Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

A small motorcade in support of State Senator E.L. French traveled on the east side of A Street, looking south, on September 5, 1924. Senator French, of Vancouver, sought the Republican gubernatorial nomination in the upcoming elections. A large banner on the first touring car announced that "Pierce County Solid For French." His carvan made stops that day at Auburn, Enumclaw, Buckley, Sumner, Puyallup, Kapowsin and Eatonville. Senator French would speak at a rally held on his behalf on September 6th at the Tacoma Theater. However, Roland Hartley, Republican lumberman from Everett, would go on to defeat him in the primaries . Col. Hartley was to be elected governor and serve two terms. TPL-757; G58.1-091 (photograph is damaged) (TNT 9-5-24, p. 13-article; TDL 9-6-24, p. 3)

Political campaigns; Political parades & rallies--Tacoma--1920-1930; Motorcades--Tacoma; Banners;

An unidentified driver is at the wheel of the Brown & White Cab Co. taxi on September 5, 1924. According to the 1924 City Directory, the firm was located at 1013 Pacific Avenue and was owned and operated by E.J. Shaw and C.T. Taylor. G66.2-088

Taxicabs--Tacoma; Taxicab drivers;

H.L. Phillips and Willliam Farrar of the city dry squad are shown emerging from the tunnel dug under the home at 7813 A St. on September 6, 1924. The residence was raided that Saturday afternoon and after two hours of searching, elaborate moonshine stills were discovered and confiscated. Barrels, bottles and other distillation apparatus along with a shovel are pictured above. The stills and other equipment, including 200 gallons of finished moonshine, were taken as evidence. One man was arrested in the raid. (TDL 9-8-24, p. 1) G24.1-073

Stills (Distilleries); Phillips, H.L.; Farrar, William; Tunnels--Tacoma;

On September 6, 1924 the Tacoma "Dry Squad" dug out an elaborately concealed illegal bootlegging operation that was hidden in a "cave" under the house at 7813 A Street. Two stills were found, each with a capacity of 50 gallons. One man was arrested and 200 gallons of finished moonshine seized. The Dry Squad members who took part in the raid were: (l to r) Captain Adam Wiley, R.C. Mowre, H.L. Phillips, William Farrar, William Blacksmith and W.H. Warren. The Dry Squad had been in business since May 15, 1923. (TDL 9-8-24, p. 1) TPL-9488; G24.1-078

Stills (Distilleries); Wiley, Adam; Mowre, R.C.; Phillips, H.L.; Farrar, William; Blacksmith, William; Warren, W.H.;

Scene of fatal accident, east end of Puyallup River Bridge, taken on September 9, 1924, for court evidence. Two cars can faintly be seen closer to the far end of the bridge. Signs tacked to the utility pole indicate a speed limit of 20 mph while traveling on the bridge. The east end of the bridge would also be the city limits of Tacoma. An allegedly speeding vehicle missed the approach to the bridge on Saturday night, August 30, 1924, and crashed into the telephone pole on the right side. Driver Mike Gunns was slightly injured; one of his passengers, 18-year-old Charles Rauen, was killed. (TDL 9-1-24, p. 1) G15.1-017

Puyallup River Bridge (Puyallup); Traffic accidents--Puyallup; Signs (Notices);

In September of 1924 the Sprague Building and its extension took up the whole block between South 15th Street and South 17th on the east side of Pacific Avenue. Built in 1888, the original Sprague Building was home to the Hotel Savoy in the 1920s when this photograph was taken. Later it was home to many businesses including the Croft Hotel in the 1930s, the Lutheran Welfare Mission & Service Club in the 1940s and the Full Gospel Tabernacle in the 1960s. It was torn down in the late 1960s. The Sprague Building Annex, now simply known as the Sprague Building, still stands at the corner of South 15th and Pacific. It is listed on both the city and national registers of historic buildings. Boland B10931, BU-10735;

Hotel Savoy (Tacoma); Hotels--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Rickenbackers on display. On September 12, 1924, a fleet of five Rickenbacker automobiles are photographed lined up alongside an unidentified street. Their drivers are casually posed next to them. Each vehicle has a "Defender" sign on the front windshield. September 12th was declared "Defenders' Day, " a legal holiday, by Governor Louis F. Hart. The date had been set aside nationally for citizens' response to national defense. 6000 people would march and otherwise take part in a parade from Pacific Avenue to Stadium Bowl. Photograph ordered by Sound Motor Co., Tacoma Rickenbacker dealership. TPL-8092; G11.1-045 (TNT 8-27-24, p. 1-article; TDL 9-4-24, p. 1-article; TNT 9-12-24, p. 3; TDL 9-13-24, p.1-article)

Rickenbacker automobile;

A military band from the 6th Engineers plays as spectators quietly watch at a Defense Day concert held in Steilacoom on September 12, 1924. Small flags decorate a wood platform on which the band stood. The elderly white haired woman at the extreme left wearing a light colored jumper over a black skirt is Lucia Rose Rigney O'Donnell, early Pierce County pioneer. September 12th was the date chosen for a national defense test. In Washington State, Governor Louis F.Hart officially made the day, called Defenders' Day here, a legal holiday. G73.1-139 (TNT 8-27-24, p. 1-article; TNT 9-12-24, p. 3-article)

Military bands--United States; O'Donnell, Rose Rigney;

The unidentified director of a military band addresses the crowd at a Defense Day concert held in Steilacoom on September 12, 1924. Among those listening were Pierce County pioneers Lucia Rose Rigney O'Donnell and her husband, Judge William O'Donnell (elderly man with goatee and cane). Here in Washington State Governor Louis F. Hart proclaimed Defenders' Day a legal holiday. Nationally the country held defense tests on September 12th. G73.1-138 (TNT 8-27-24, p. 1-article; TNT 9-12-24, p. 3-article)

Military bands--United States; O'Donnell, Rose Rigney; O'Donnell, William;

Famed orator, presidential candidate, and Secretary of State (under Woodrow Wilson), William Jennings Bryan visited Tacoma in September of 1924. Mr. Bryan is shown shaking hands with William R. Lee, Democratic nominee for Lt. Gov., in front of the Tacoma Hotel, 913 A Street, where an invitation-only breakfast was held in his honor. Mr. Bryan would later lecture at the First Methodist Church on "Problems confronting government, society, and religion." He also made a brief radio address on KGB, the Tacoma Ledger broadcasting station. Mr. Bryan was on his farewell lecture tour to the West; he died July 26, 1925. The man on the right has been identified as attorney Robert E. Evans. He was the president of the newly organized Young People's Democratic Club of Tacoma. Mr. Evans was a longtime member of the Tacoma bar and was later appointed Pierce County Superior Court Judge by Governor Clarence Martin. He was a partner in the well-known law firm of Ellis, Fletcher and Evans; all of whom became judges. Robert E. Evans was the last survivor of this pioneer legal firm and passed away after a long illness on December 7, 1941. (TDL 9-16-24; TNT 9-15-24, p. 1; T.Times obituary 12-8-41) G67.1-134

Bryan, William Jennings, 1860-1925; Evans, Robert E., 1876-1941; Lee, William R.; Shaking hands--Tacoma; Lawyers--Tacoma;