ca. 1925. The 17 story Washington Building near completion. The building was officially opened at the end of June, 1925. The ground floor was occupied by the Brotherhood Cooperative Bank, Theodore Knutson's cigar store, Henrietta McNerthney's Purity Pharmacy and the "Orange Bower," the first orange mill in Tacoma. The orange mill's specialty was fresh squeezed orange juice, that you could watch being processed by a machine. (TNT 6/30/1925, pg. 13)(WSHS)

Washington Building (Tacoma);

ca. 1925. Washington Building as completed. Started 1919 by the Scandinavian-American Bank, unfinished when bank failed. The steel framework was completed by a group established for that purpose, the Washington-California Co. Frederick Webber, Original Architect; Doyle and Merriam, Architects for completion. The Washington Building opened at the end of June in 1925. (WSHS & Argentum)

Washington Building (Tacoma);

ca. 1925. The Washington Building, 1019 Pacific Ave., under construction. This modern structure was originally designed by Frederick Webber in the style of the Chicago School for the Scandinavian American Bank. Construction began in 1919 and halted when the bank failed. It was completed in 1925 when the Washington-California Co. purchased the steel skeleton and completed the building. At 17 stories, it was the second tallest building in the Northwest. When it opened, it contained 350 office suites, including its main occupant, the Brotherhood Co-Operative National Bank. (WSHS) (TDL 6/28/1925, pg. 2B)

Washington Building (Tacoma); Business districts--Tacoma--1920-1930;

ca. 1925. A large log is displayed on what appears to be a decorated logging truck in front of the Wood Products Company. The Wood Products Co. of Tacoma was located at 1612 Center St. They were a sash and door company. G.W. Duncan was the president and manager of the company. (WSHS)

Wood Products Co. (Tacoma); Logs; Lumber industry--Tacoma--1920-1930;

ca. 1925. Duct work and pipes (WSHS)

Back of Photo:
Post Card
Auburn H. S.

ca. 1925. Prohibition came early to Washington State, being enacted in 1916, three years before the nation ratified the 18th Amendment forbidding the manufacture, transportation, sale and possession of alcoholic beverages . Here the "Dry Squad" displays a still from a big raid in Auburn about 1925. The unpopular law was difficult to enforce before repeal came in 1933.

ca. 1925. Press room - probably Tacoma News Tribune - circa 1925. Man at front, right is Leo G. Sauers who worked for the News Tribune for 55 years. Mr. Sauers, born in Kenton, Michigan, spent most of his life in the Tacoma area. He began his apprenticeship as a pressman for the former Tacoma Ledger. He retired as a pressroom foreman for the Tacoma News Tribune about 1973 and died in December of that year at the age of 76. (TNT 12-22-1973- obit.)

Newspaper industry--1920-1930; Sauers, Leo G.;

ca. 1925. Members of the Epworth Methodist Church attend a retreat in the woods, possibly on Mount Rainier. To the right is a rough assembly hall and in the left background is a tent. Photograph is torn upper left. TPL-7075

Epworth Methodist Church (Tacoma); Methodist churches--Tacoma--1920-1930;

New floors at City Hall. The flooring in this January 13, 1925, photograph appears to be hardwood. City Hall in 1925 was still at 625 Commerce St., situated in a six-story building designed in the Italian Renaissance style. G67.1-011

Old City Hall (Tacoma); Floors--Tacoma--1920-1930;

8A Class - Sheridan School. On January 19, 1925, the 8A class of Sheridan School posed for what was probably the class graduation picture. Its teacher and/or school principal are also included. Sheridan (Elementary) School was located at 5317 McKinley Ave. The school, which had been built in 1908 to replace an older building, was named in honor of Civil War General Philip H. Sheridan.

School children--Tacoma--1920-1930; Public schools--Tacoma--1920-1930; Sheridan School (Tacoma);

Stadium High School Student Council. Elected members of Stadium High School's Student Council posed in front of the school on January 19, 1925. The energetic council put forth many improvements during the school year, including organization of the Sophomore Class, planning for the annual Night Shirt Parade, funding matinee dances, and painting and repairing projects including fixing the drainage system on the corner of North 1st and Tacoma Avenue. The Tahoma, school annual, noted that the council's greatest accomplishment may have been the establishment of an Honor Society. President of the Student Council was junior class president, Joseph Griggs. Mr. Griggs is believed to be in the second row, extreme left. TPL-6720; G47.1-029 (1925 Tahoma, p. 143-44)

Stadium High School (Tacoma); Students--Tacoma--1920-1930; Student organizations--Tacoma--1920-1930;

In January of 1925, the 8A class of Sheridan School, along with their teacher and/or school principal, posed for a group portrait in front of the school doors. Another very similar view of the children is Boland B11668. These elementary school children would be graduating and moving onto high school. G46.1-141

School children--Tacoma--1920-1930; Public schools--Tacoma--1920-1930; Sheridan School (Tacoma);

Frances and Violet (last names unknown) from the Childrens' Industrial Home appeared on the front page of the January 29, 1925 Tacoma News Tribune, along with a copy of their handwritten thank you letter and appeal for funds addressed to "Mr. and Mrs. Tacoma." They were thankful for their happy home and asked for financial support for the upcoming Community Chest campaign, February 2-14. The Children's Industrial Home, located at 3000 So. Washington St., was supported by the Community Chest, a forerunner of the United Way. The home housed 70 youngsters, ages infant through 14; some were orphans and others were placed there when parents were unable to make a living and take care of the child. They had around 28 applications each month for only 2-3 vacancies. (TNT 1/29/1925, pg. 1)

Charitable organizations--Tacoma--1920-1930; Children's Industrial Home (Tacoma); Foster home care--Tacoma; Orphanages--Tacoma; Orphans--Tacoma; Abandoned children;

This is the 8A class of Fern Hill School as pictured on January 22, 1925. They are posed in front of the entrance to the brick school building located at 8442 South Park Avenue. Mont Downing, principal of Fern Hill, is in the back row. TPL-9716; G46.1-082

School children--Tacoma--1920-1930; Public schools--Tacoma--1920-1930; Fern Hill School (Tacoma); Downing, Mont; School principals--Tacoma;

Side view of Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad Co. locomotive #9505 showing wheels. Photograph was taken on January 23, 1925. G44.1-043

Railroad locomotives; Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad Co.;

Nearly leaping off the Rialto Theatre stage is the drummer of a 8-piece jazz band pictured above. His band mates pose more sedately with their instruments on January 23, 1925. This may be Eddie Hillabrand and his Hollywood Studio Jazz Band who shared the bill with the Glenn Hunter film, "Merton of the Movies." Hillabrand's band performed three times daily, at 3, 7 and 9 pm. The massive organ in front of the stage would have provided accompanying music for the silent films of that era. (This print has been sliced and torn.) G40.1-010

Musicians--Tacoma--1920-1930; Rialto Theatre (Tacoma); Organs; Musical instruments--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Governor Roland H. Hartley and Scott Z. Henderson, Afifi Potentate, are flanked by two rows of saluting Afifi Shriners under the command of Capt. J. Middlesworth on January 24, 1925. Governor Hartley, also wearing a fez, is on the right. The Afifi Shriners joined a 32-car caravan from their temple to Vancouver, Washington. They swung by the Insurance Building in Olympia to pick up Governor Hartley, also a Shriner. After initiation of 17 new members, the caravan continued on to Portland to inspect the Shriners Crippled Children's Hospital. TPL-8746; G23.1-075A (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 1-25-25, p. 1, 4A-article; TDL 1-26-25, p. 3)

Hartley, Roland H.; Governors; Henderson, Scott Z.; Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (Tacoma); Saluting--Olympia; Insurance Building (Olympia);

A long row of Shriners from Afifi Temple was photographed on January 24, 1925, alongside the (old) Governor's Mansion in Olympia. Heading the line are leading officials, including the Potentate, Scott Z. Henderson. 32 car loads of Shriners had arrived in Olympia on Saturday, January 24th, to pick up Governor Roland Hartley and his staff on their way to Vancouver (Washington) and Portland. The Shriners had first stopped at the (old) Governor's Mansion but soon found out that Gov. Hartley had already left for his executive office in the Insurance Building. A photograph was taken anyway of members lined up outside the mansion; the woman is believed to be Mrs. Hartley. G23.1-076 (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 1-25-25, p. 1, 4A-article)

Fraternal organizations; Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (Tacoma); Henderson, Scott Z.; Mansions--Olympia; Capitols--Olympia; Houses--Olympia--1920-1930;

Washington Governor Roland H. Hartley stands at the entrance to Olympia's Insurance Building watching as uniformed Afifi Shriners offer a salute on January 24, 1925. Governor Hartley is the shorter man on the right. The blurred figure next to him is Afifi Temple Potentate Scott Z. Henderson. The Shriners were in town to pick up Governor Hartley and his staff and accompany them to Vancouver, Washington, for Shriner initiation ceremonies and then travel onward to Portland to view the Crippled Children's Hospital. Although a Saturday, the governor was hard at work in his executive office when the Afifi Temple Shriners arrived. G23.1-075B (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 1-25-25, p. 1, 4A-article)

Hartley, Roland H.; Governors; Henderson, Scott Z.; Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (Tacoma); Saluting--Olympia; Insurance Building (Olympia);

On January 24, 1925, Governor Roland H. Hartley was photographed overseeing two rows of uniformed Afifi Shriners. He is pictured on a first floor balcony of the Insurance Building along with two Potentates. Governor Hartley is on the right and Afifi Temple Potentate Scott Z. Henderson is at the extreme left. The other man was not identified. (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 1-25-25, p. 1, 4A-article)

Hartley, Roland H.; Governors; Henderson, Scott Z.; Fraternal organizations; Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (Tacoma); Insurance Building (Olympia);

Dressed in their best on picture day in 1925 is the 8A class of Washington School. Boys were neatly attired in suits and pullovers, and girls with bobbed hairdos wore middy-blouses and skirts. Washington (Elementary) School is still located at 3701 North 26th St., across from the Tacoma Public Library's Wheelock Branch Library. TPL-9718; G46.1-150

School children--Tacoma--1920-1930; Public schools--Tacoma--1920-1930; Washington School (Tacoma); Children--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1920-1930;