William Jennings Bryan visited Tacoma in Sept of 1924. This photograph was taken outside the Tacoma Hotel, 913 A St., where an invitation-only breakfast was held in his honor. The famed orator had been a Presidential candidate and Woodrow Wilson's Secretary of State. Mr. Bryan was on a farewell lecture tour of the West and stopped in Tacoma to give an address at the First Methodist Church and a brief talk on local radio station KGB. He would pass away the following year on July 26th, at the age of 65. (TDL 9-16-24; TNT 9-15-24, p.1-article)

Bryan, William Jennings, 1860-1925;

The Bienville at finishing dock of Todd Drydock. Once completed, she will have two stacks - one is in position now. The SS Bienville was launched at Todd Drydock & Construction (Shipyards) in Tacoma on July 16, 1924, less than five months after her keel was laid. She was built for the Atlantic Steamship lines of Southern Pacific. The combination freight and passenger vessel, 445 feet in length, had accommodations for 236 first class passengers and 110 third class passengers. The ship was sponsored by Dorothy Maxson, daughter of Capt. and Mrs. C.P. Maxson; Maxson was the commodore of Southern Pacific lines and would be the ship's master. The Bienville was expected to be delivered to Southern Pacific's New York location on December 7, 1924. She was the 38th big ship built in Todd yards since the shipyard's 1917 establishment. During the war era of 1917-20, Todd built 32 steel freight vessels for the U.S. Shipping Board. (TNT 7-16-24, p. 1; TNT 9-18-24, p. 5) G50.1-090

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

On September 18, 1924, Nalley's showcased a variety of products at the South Tacoma Fair. Their exhibition booth with large sign "If It's Nalley's It's Good" offered samples of the large Nalley's menu. Nalley's manufactured mayonaise, salad dressing, sandwich spreads, honey, syrups, and their well known potato chips. The third annual South Tacoma (Community) Fair was held from September 15-20 in the DeLuxe Motor Building, 5622-26 Union Ave. (later known as South Tacoma Way) 25,000 people were expected to attend to view the more than 65 booths featuring local products and businesses. The fair was held to advertise the community of South Tacoma and its merchants and products. TPL-2798 (TNT 9-10-24, p. 14-15-article)

Exhibit booths--Tacoma; South Tacoma Fair (Tacoma); Nalley's, Inc. (Tacoma); Signs (Notices);

Three unidentified employees of Coast Iron & Machine Works pose in the firm's Dock St. plant on September 24, 1924. One man fits neatly inside one of Coast Iron's products. G35.1-087

Coast Iron & Machine Works (Tacoma);

Tahmamaiwis, a Native American drama, was presented under the auspices of Tacoma Temple No. 58, Pythian Sisters, at Castle Hall on September 25, 1924. Castle Hall was located in the Knights of Pythias Commencement Lodge #7, 924-26 Broadway. The play was written by Mrs. Laura B. Downey Bartlett of Tacoma in what the Daily Ledger called the "inter-tribal" language. Examples of tribal baskets are also on display. G23.1-069 (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 9-28-24, 6B)

Knights of Pythias, Commencement Lodge #7 (Tacoma); Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1920-1930; Tacoma Temple No. 58, Pythian Sisters (Tacoma); Theatrical productions--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Entertainment at the Trinity Church parish house. Photographer Marvin Boland's notes do not indicate in which Trinity Church of the three in Tacoma this entertainment took place on September 26, 1924. Several young ladies, dressed in Asian costumes, may be prepared to sing while a man accompanies them with a yue qin, a Chinese short-necked lute. Photographs and Asian artifacts are on display next to the group. Scrolls filled with Japanese calligraphy hang on the wall. There are also posters of various ethnic groups - Japanese, Chinese, Filipino and Puerto Rican -proclaiming them to be "Neighbors" and a final poster reminding all that the "Love of Christ Makes Neighbors of God's Children."

Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1920-1930; Scrolls (Visual works); Posters; Costumes; Entertainment--Tacoma;

Spacious Port of Tacoma warehouse as viewed in September of 1924. Piles of lumber and unidentified sacks are stacked neatly inside the structure.

Warehouses--Tacoma--1920-1930; Port of Tacoma (Tacoma);

On September 27, 1924, this Port of Tacoma warehouse was found to be full of sacks and wood. Some of the sacks may be bound for the Northern Pacific Railway. G49.1-182

Warehouses--Tacoma--1920-1930; Port of Tacoma (Tacoma);

The first real "egg machine" ever displayed on the Pacific Coast drew lines of interested Western Washington fairgoers on October 2, 1924, Egg Day at the fair. Visitors were encouraged to take a free peek at the "most wonderful mechanism in all the world." No one appeared disappointed in discovering the secret behind the enclosed stand: the remarkable "egg machine" was a Leghorn hen on her nest. The "egg machine" was on display at the Western Washington Fair in Puyallup from September 29 to October 5, 1924. G74.1-079 (print has been damaged) (TNT 10-3-24, p. 15)

Western Washington Fair (Puyallup); Fairs--Puyallup--1920-1930; Exhibitions--Puyallup--1920-1930;

An unidentified employee of Royal Dairy (Royal Ice Cream & Milk Co.), 912-14 A St., is shown on October 4, 1924, washing metal milk cans. The company was well known for its slogan, "It's the Cream," as they sold quality ice cream, milk and cream. All products were manufactured in a sanitary plant in Tacoma, made for and by Tacoma people. G6.1-067

Royal Ice Cream & Milk Co. (Tacoma); Dairying--Tacoma--1920-1930;

On October 4, 1924, an unidentified employee of Royal Dairy (Royal Ice Cream & Milk Co.) examines one of three similar machines at the plant located at 912-14 A St. Royal Ice Cream, run by Bert H. Walker, had been in business since about 1900 and sold ice cream, milk and cream products. This was a locally owned business whose ad in the 1924 City Directory stated that its (cream) was a "quality cream manufactured in a sanitary plant" by "Tacoma people" and "not shipped in from outside sources." Special flavors and designs could be made for all occasions. G6.1-068

Royal Ice Cream & Milk Co. (Tacoma); Dairying--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Mary Baker Eddy founded the Christian Science Monitor in 1908. In 1922, the newspaper underwent a major reorganization and by the end of 1924 it had reached a circulation of 130,000. That year, a booth at the Western Washington Fair publicized the family-friendly newspaper and its mission: "truthful, constructive daily news without crime, scandal or disease." Copies were distributed without charge. G40.1-106; TPL-6281

Newspapers; Advertisements; Christian Science Monitor; Exhibit booths--Puyallup; Western Washington Fair (Puyallup);

On October 10, 1924, the large staff, mostly male, of the U.S. Internal Revenue office posed for a group portrait in front of the Tacoma Public Schools' Central Building at South 8th & Tacoma Avenue South. The Internal Revenue in Tacoma was headed by Collector Burns Poe. G24.1-018

Government employees--Tacoma; Internal Revenue Service (Tacoma);

Kimball's Gun Store. On October 15, 1924, the window display at Kimball's Gun Store featured Remington products, including rifles, shotguns, game loads, gun grease plus an assortment of hatchets, knives, and lanterns. In addition, Kimball's also carried socks, tennis, baseball and golf goods. Kimball's was believed to be owned by Howard A. Steele. G56.1-030

Kimball's Gun Store (Tacoma); Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1920-1930; Window displays--Tacoma--1920-1930; Rifles;

A two-tiered stand of cigarettes is dramatically highlighted against a black background in this October 15, 1924, photograph by Marvin Boland. Both tiers, believed to be made of wood, are octagon-shaped and may revolve. The stand features the Chesterfield brand of cigarettes. Photograph ordered by Northwest Grocery. G32.1-041

Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1920-1930; Cigarettes;

This arched entranceway leads to the auditorium on the new campus of the College of Puget Sound, 1500 North Warner St., in October of 1924. A large lobby with two framed paintings precedes the entranceway. The campus had relocated to the North Warner location from 602 No. Sprague Ave. (now site of Jason Lee Middle School). G67.1-012

College of Puget Sound (Tacoma)--1920-1930; Auditoriums--Tacoma--1920-1930; Lobbies--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Curved upholstered bench built by the Puget Sound Manufacturing Co. The furniture, meant for a library, was sturdily crafted with wood carvings at the ends. G35.1-034

Benches--Tacoma; Seating furniture--Tacoma;

On October 29, 1924, a group of city and railroad officials met in Mayor A.V. Fawcett's office in (Old) City Hall, 625 Commerce St., to sign Belt Line contracts. The municipal carline was now the industrial belt line, effective November 1st. Mayor Fawcett is seated at far left; also seated are City Attorney E.K. Murray and chairman Ernest Dolge of the traffic bureau. Among others present was the mayor's son, and future mayor, Val Fawcett, second man standing in rear at left. The sole woman in the group is city clerk, Genevieve Martin. (other officials are listed in the Tacoma Daily Ledger article, 10-30-24, p. 4) TPL-10461

Mayors--Tacoma--1920-1930; Fawcett, Angelo Vance; Fawcett, Clarence Valdo, 1900-1965; Municipal officials--Tacoma--1920-1930; Contracts; Martin, Genevieve; Dolge, Ernest; Murray, E.K.;

Interior of the Community Theatre. This is an elevated interior view taken in October of 1924 from the rear of the then-suburban theater located at 5441 South "M" St. Built and managed by S.R. Stalcup in 1924 at a cost of $40,000, the theater served the growing south end population. It was opened for business on August 20, 1924, with "Lights Out" as the first feature shown. B.W. Reeve was the general contractor of the tile, brick and concrete structure. Decorated in blue and gold tints with white woodwork, the ultra-modern theater had room for 500 customers who were able to sit on comfortably uphostered seats. (TNT 8-13-24, p. 20-article; TNT 8-20-24, p. 8, 9-article)

Community Theatre (Tacoma); Motion picture theaters--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Officers of the dirigible USS Shenandoah stand in front of the mooring mast at Camp Lewis in October, 1924. The Shenandoah was the first rigid airship built on US soil. It was first airborne in September of 1922, one of a proposed fleet of German Zeppelin-like lighter than air craft. It came to a tragic end in September of 1925 when it broke apart during a thunderstorm, killing 14.

Military air pilots; Airships; Mooring masts;

Officers and crew of the dirigible "Shenandoah" pose in front of the mooring mast at Camp Lewis in October of 1924. The mooring mast was constructed by the Navy for this two day visit. The Shenandoah was the first rigid airship built in America. Commissioned by the Navy, it was a copy of the German Zeppelin that so impressed our military in World War 1. The Shenandoah was first airborne in 1922. It came to a tragic end in September of 1925 when it broke apart in a thunderstorm with 43 persons aboard, killing 14.

Military air pilots; Airships; Mooring masts;

The dirigible "Shenandoah," commissioned by the US Navy, paid a two day visit to Camp Lewis in October of 1924. A special 165 foot tall striped mooring mast was specially constructed for the visit. The giant dirigible, patterned after a German Zeppelin captured by the French in 1917, hovered silently in the air over gawking spectators and their automobiles. On September 3, 1925, a mere nine months later, the airship was caught in a thunderstorm and torn to pieces over Noble County, Ohio. Miraculously, 29 of its 43 crew members survived. The mast stood at Fort Lewis until 1936. (Richards copy negative)

Airships; Mooring masts; Camp Lewis (Wash.); Military camps--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Bethany Presbyterian Church. The original Bethany Presbyterian Church, located on the same site, was destroyed by fire in early November of 1923. The ruins were razed and a new Bethany Presbyterian rose from the ashes of the old in remarkably quick time. Construction was started in April of 1924 and the church was completed less than seven months later at a cost of $35,000. The new Bethany Presbyterian had a brick veneer trimmed in stone and stained glass windows retrieved from the Allen C. Mason mansion. The imposing structure stood at the corner of Verde and North 41 St. G22.1-148 (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 9-21-24, 4B-article)

Bethany Presbyterian Church (Tacoma); Presbyterian churches--Tacoma;