ca. 1925. The Washington Building under construction. Construction on the modern American skyscraper in downtown Tacoma began in 1919 for the Scandinavian American bank, but halted a couple of years later when the bank closed. The steel structure sat deserted until it was completed in 1925 for the Washington-California Co. and dedicated on June 29, 1925. At 17 stories, it was the second tallest building in the Northwest. (WSHS)
Washington Building (Tacoma); Office buildings--Tacoma--1920-1930; Business districts--Tacoma--1920-1930;
ca. 1925. Washington Building at 1019 Pacific Ave. and on the left, the Rust building at 950 Pacific Ave.The Washington Building was finished in 1925. At 17 stories, it was the second tallest building in the Northwest. The Rust building measures in at 12 stories. It is named after its builder William R. Rust. (WSHS-negative A695-0)
Washington Building (Tacoma); Rust Building (Tacoma);
ca. 1925. Winthrop Motor Company, REO automobile dealership, general view of building from northwest. Brick structure with overhanging shed roof and exposed beam ends. Garage doors on both elevations, automobile visible in showroom window. (WSHS)
Winthrop Motor Co. (Tacoma); Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950;
ca. 1925. Artist's rendering of design that would later become the Winthrop Hotel, 773 Broadway, designed by architect W.L. Stoddard and associate architect Roland E. Borhek. The hotel opened in May of 1925. The image appears to be reversed, since "New Tacoma Hotel" is printed backwards near the bottom of the drawing. (filed with Argentum)
ca. 1925. Interior shot of a bedroom with two twin beds. Two desks sit in front of a sunny window. A small dog stares at the camera from the bed in the foreground. (WSHS)
ca. 1925. Bekins Transfer Company, moving and storage. A. M. Oswald, manager. This concrete structure was designed in 1916 by Lundberg & Mahon; it was the home to the City Transfer & Storage Co. from 1916-1921. In 1921, the business became McLean Moving and Storage Co. By 1925, it had sold to Bekins. (WSHS)
ca. 1925. Tacoma Railway & Motor Co. Power House. This building was built in 1889 and was designed by architect J.H. Cummings. It began life as a streetcar facility, housing the huge wheels that ran the cable car drive and the machine shops that kept the cars in running order. When the streetcars were retired in 1938, the facility became the Tacoma Transit Co. Garage for the new buses. It was razed in 1959 and the area became a parking lot. It is now the site of the Columbia Bank Center.
Mass transit--Tacoma; Cable railroads--Tacoma; Street railroads--Tacoma; Tacoma Railway & Power Co. (Tacoma);
ca. 1925. Annie Wright Seminary, circa 1925. Interior view of library showing fireplace, book stacks, girls studying at round tables. Building by Sutton, Whitney and Dugan, Architects, 1924. (filed with Argentum)
ca. 1925. A group of law officers, dressed in uniforms with badges and topped off with straw skimmers, pose in front of the B.P.O.E. (Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks) lodge. The man to the left is possibly Pierce County Sheriff John Bjorklund. The picture is probably related to the celebration of Straw Hat Day circa 1925. (WSHS- negative A844-0)
Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Tacoma Lodge No. 174 (Tacoma); Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1920-1930; Straw Hat Day (Tacoma); Hats--1920-1930; Law enforcement officers--Tacoma--1920-1930;
ca. 1925. Foster & Kleiser billboard advertising church attendance. The billboard reads "Our churches cordially invite you to attend their services. A hearty welcome awaits you." Notes indicate that the billboard was located on Division Ave. (WSHS-negative A671-0)
ca. 1925. A price list from the Commercial Photographer's Association of Tacoma, scheduled to take effect March 4, 1925. The last signature is Paul Richards. Elements covered include negatives, prints, wait time per hour and travel time. (WSHS)
ca. 1925. In 1925, the building at 3514-18 McKinley Ave. housed (left to right) Phipps Notions, a dry goods store at 3518 owned by Gertrude Phipps, Holly Meat Market at 3516 and Skaggs United grocery store at 3514 McKinley Ave. The building was built in 1924 by Peter Steiro. It was later demolished and in 1965, the National Bank of Washington built its McKinley Hill branch here. In 1925, the McKinley Ave district was a settlement of 8,000 people. Area businesses included the Northern Pacific Hospital, three grade schools, five churches, 15 grocery stores, six butcher shops, two hardware stores and a drugstore. (TNT 6/26/1925, pg. 9) (WSHS)
Skaggs United Stores (Tacoma); Phipps Notions (Tacoma); Business districts--Tacoma--1920-1930;
ca. 1925. Two soldiers and two civilians in front of a steam shovel. Parts of the lettering on the shovel can be seen; it says "-HNSON" "-TING" AND "RACTORS" "TACOMA, WA." In 1925, the City Directory lists a Lee H. Johnson, General Contractor, on 1711 S. 9th. Their specialties are listed as steam shovel, grading, paving and building. (WSHS- negative A889-0)
ca. 1925. A large stone is being lifted by a crane at this rock quarry and will be lowered according to directions from a man standing on a stone below and to one side. The location of the quarry in this circa 1925 photograph is unknown but the area is timbered and hilly. Houses or cabins lie in the valley beyond the quarry.
ca. 1925. The new Washington Building had its Grand Opening in June of 1925. Construction of the building was begun in 1919 for the Scandinavian American Bank and halted in 1921 when the bank failed. It was completed in 1925 and was, at that time, the second tallest building in the Northwest. The main tenant at its opening was the Brotherhood Cooperative National Bank. The Cooperative Bank was the first of its kind in any Northwest City. Although it was part of the Brotherhood group of banks, strong in the eastern part of the country, the local bank had local supporters, management and share holders, many of them working men. It was approved by both the Federated Improvement Clubs of Tacoma and the labor unions. (TNT 6/30/1925, pg. 14)(WSHS)
Washington Building (Tacoma); Brotherhood Cooperative National Bank (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma--1920-1930;
ca. 1925. Construction on the Washington Building started in 1919 for the Scandinavian- American Bank, but halted when the bank went bankrupt. The steel framework sat deserted until it was purchased by the Washington-California Co. In 1925, the building was completed. The steel framework was clothed in white terra cotta, which was glazed. It was fireproof. It had 1925 technologically superior Otis elevators, which could take visitors from the bottom to the top in 16 seconds. The building was completed with an investment of 1 1/2 million dollars. (TNT 6/30/1925, pg.1) (WSHS)
Washington Building (Tacoma); Office buildings--Tacoma--1920-1930; Business districts--Tacoma--1920-1930;
ca. 1925. The Motoramp Garage, 745 Commerce, under construction in the foreground. Construction began in April of 1925. The large building located behind the construction is the Winthrop Hotel, 773 Broadway, which had its Grand Opening on May 16, 1925. The Motoramp Garage was built as a multi-story parking garage with a 325 car capacity. Designed by architect A.J. Russell and constructed by the Hurley-Mason Co., it was built on the site of the Fife Hotel/Hotel Donnelly. (filed under Argentum)
Construction--Tacoma--1920-1930; Motoramp Garage (Tacoma); Parking garages--Tacoma; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Hotels--Tacoma--1920-1930;
ca. 1925. View of front of two story house at 4302 So. Bell. The house was built in 1925 by builder William T. Post. In November of 1926, the Tacoma Daily Ledger called Mr. Post the "champion builder of the state." In the previous eight years, he had constructed 300 houses and three apartment buildings. His specialty was housing developments, rather than single homes. He built 60 houses on Pacific Ave. between 43rd & 48th and was consulted by the School Board and city regarding the site for Stewart Middle School. (WSHS) (TDL 11/7/1926, PG. 11-E article on Wm. T. Post)
ca. 1925. Side view of the home of John J. Hewitt. The English cottage style home was designed by Delano & Aldrich, with local architects Sutton, Whitney & Dugan serving as associate architects. Mr. Hewitt was the president of the Hewitt Land Co. and the secretary-treasurer of Hewitt-Lea-Funck Co. (WSHS- negative A652-0)
Houses--Tacoma--1920-1930; Hewitt, John J.--Homes & haunts; Estates--Tacoma;
ca. 1925. Side view of the home of John J. Hewitt. The English cottage style home was designed by Delano & Aldrich, with local architects Sutton, Whitney & Dugan serving as associate architects. Mr. Hewitt was the president of the Hewitt Land Co. and the secretary-treasurer of Hewitt-Lea-Funck Co. (WSHS- negative A653-0)
Houses--Tacoma--1920-1930; Hewitt, John J.--Homes & haunts; Estates--Tacoma;
ca. 1925. View of the home of John J. Hewitt. The English cottage style home was designed by Delano & Aldrich, with local architects Sutton, Whitney & Dugan serving as associate architects. Mr. Hewitt was the president of the Hewitt Land Co. and the secretary-treasurer of Hewitt-Lea-Funck Co. (WSHS- negative A654-0)
Houses--Tacoma--1920-1930; Hewitt, John J.--Homes & haunts; Estates--Tacoma;
