Side view of Blewett tractor No. 301 photographed near Union Station on January 15, 1921. The 1921 City Directory lists Arthur R. Blewett as president of the Blewett Tractor Co. and its location as 21st St. at the SW corner of A. G32.1-081; TPL-9432

Blewett Tractor Co. (Tacoma); Tractors--Tacoma--1920-1930; Machinery--1920-1930; Union Station (Tacoma);

Stadium High School as captured in print by photographer Marvin Boland on January 15, 1921. The building had started as a hotel in 1890, never completed as such, and converted to a high school in 1905. It opened in 1906 as Tacoma High School with its name changing to Stadium High school in 1913. The brick structure strongly resembled an old French castle with its turrets and steep roofs.

Stadium High School (Tacoma)--1920-1930; Public schools--Tacoma--1920-1930;

This was the recently built home of Mr. and Mrs. Homer Tinker as pictured in January of 1921. Mr. Tinker was the head of Puget Sound Bank & Trust. The modified English style home was located at 44 Orchard Rd. on Prospect Hill. Built on an elevated lot with an unobstructed marine view, the home featured hollow tile and cream colored stucco. The Tinkers did not stay long at this elegant residence; Mr. Tinker would die in Florida in 1925 but not before selling his North End home in 1923 to Bertrand & Dorothy Buckmaster. Mr. Buckmaster was also in the banking business as the president of Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan and North Pacific Bank Note Co. G29.1-045; BU-10,363 (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 2-6-21, B-5)

Tinker, Homer--Homes & haunts; Houses--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Once considered one of the finest horse drawn busses in Tacoma, by January of 1921 this wooden coach had been reduced to being a woodcutters shed. Originally purchased in 1896 for the Tacoma Hotel for the astonishing price (at that time) of $1,200, it was sold to woodcutter T.B. Walker of Puyallup in late 1920 for $15. When equipped with a liveried driver and porter, and well-maintained with fresh coats of paint, the coach had presented an impressive view to the hotel's visitors. With the advent of the automotive age, however, the coach became obsolete and was eventually sold to the Tacoma Junk Co. where it languished in a vacant lot. Mr. Walker, standing at the open doorway, bought the tongueless old coach, outfitted it with a stove and stovepipe, and moved it to his wood lot in North Puyallup. Only the faded lettering on the side of the vehicle remained to hint of the coach's past glories. (TDL 1-23-21, A-12) Boland B3598, TPL-1421

Carriages & coaches--1920-1930; Axes; Fuelwood--Tacoma; Walker, T.B.;

Mounted artillery in semi-circle, probably at Camp Lewis. The Great War was over but this shining array of military might provided a reassuring sight for soldiers and civilians alike. G69.1-166

Artillery (Weaponry);

On February 5, 1921, soldiers at Camp Lewis enjoy reading at the Liberty Library located near the camp's Hostess House. Books, magazines and newspapers were supplied without charge. The Liberty Library opened in November of 1917 with 6000 donated books. The collection had grown to roughly 50,000 volumes a mere six months later. Books were supplied through the auspices of the American Library Association. Camp librarian Arthur Beardsley later indicated that the library had circulated 62,682 volumes in a camp with approximate population of 7094 in 1921. An 40-foot square addition to the original one-story library was made about 1918 as the library needed more space for materials and for patron usage. This addition was a periodical reading room, perhaps shown above, which was attached to the center of the original building. Racks for 150 periodicals and about 50 newspapers were provided and good chairs and tables furnished by the Army and its friends. (www.historylink.org; Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 1-29-22, 10E) TPL-10309

Soldiers' libraries--Camp Lewis; Libraries--Camp Lewis;

The Castle Hall at the Knights of Pythias, Commencement Lodge #7. Members of the fraternal organization are posed wearing Romanesque regalia. The robes illustrate the story of Damon and Pythias, on which the beliefs of the order are based. The order was founded on the principles of friendship, charity and benevolence. Built in 1906-1907 and carefully preserved, the Pythian Lodge is one of the most beautiful in the nation. The Lodge is currently on the city and national historical registry. TPL-1682, BU-12215, Boland #B3765

Knights of Pythias, Commencement Lodge #7 (Tacoma); Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1920-1930;

A Marion Shovel, Model 21, is stopped alongside an unidentified Tacoma street in February of 1921. The shovel was operated by the City of Tacoma's Public Works Department. G43.1-179; TPL-3667

Steam shovels; Machinery;

A large crowd of soldiers are photographed leaving the (Liberty) Theatre at Camp Lewis in February of 1921. The men are bundled warmly against the cold and wet winter day. Movie posters partially obscured by the soldiers indicate that much laughter was on the bill with the silent-screen comedy team of (Eddie) Lyons and (Lee) Moran. G69.1-127 TPL-10310

Motion picture theaters--Camp Lewis; Crowds--Camp Lewis; Soldiers--Camp Lewis; Military life--Camp Lewis;

Construction workers take a moment to pose for a photograph at the site of the Tacoma Speedway in February of 1921. G34.1-012

Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Construction workers--Lakewood;

In March of 1921, Herman "Burt" Pagel, a driver for the Betsy Ann Bakery, was photographed with one of the bakery's small fleet of delivery trucks. The Betsy Ann Bakery, then located at 2513-15 Sixth Avenue, was founded by Edward Hall, Edward Pickert and Napoleon Raquer in 1920. The company quickly outgrew its building and built a new bakery at 2805-07 Sixth Avenue which opened in 1922. Betsy Ann's was in business until 1933. Photograph ordered by the Griffith Motor Co. TPL-910; G33.1-001 (Additional identification provided by a reader)

Dodge trucks; Pagel, Herman; Betsy Ann Bakery (Tacoma);

Jefferson Avenue near Pacific. A few vehicles, including a Tacoma Power & Rail street car, are captured in motion on Jefferson Avenue in early March of 1921. The stately Hotel Carlton is on the right. TPL-5538; G60.1-075

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1920-1930; Carlton Hotel (Tacoma); Hotels--Tacoma--1920-1930; Mass transit--Tacoma--1920-1930; Electric railroads--Tacoma--1920-1930;

A streetcar climbs Jefferson Avenue as it makes its daily rounds on March 3, 1921. The Wickersham Triangle Building at 1702 Jefferson Avenue is to the far left; it was demolished in 1936. To the right of the Wickersham is the Hotel Carlton, 1552 Jefferson, now known as the Carlton Center. It was built in 1909 by Anton Huth, based on a design by C.A. Darmer, Architect. In the far background is the skyline of the 1500 block of Pacific Ave., much of which has been demolished. This curving intersection is one of the few sections of road in downtown Tacoma that resembles the unique street plan for Tacoma created by Frederick Law Olmstead; the design was rejected as impractical. G60.1-078;

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1920-1930; Carlton Hotel (Tacoma); Hotels--Tacoma; Mass transit--Tacoma--1920-1930; Electric railroads--1920-1930;

An unidentified mill in Tacoma's Tideflats was photographed by Marvin Boland in March of 1921. No workers are in sight. Piles of lumber are stacked throughout the yard. G36.1-043

Lumber industry--Tacoma--1920-1930; Mills--Tacoma;

At first glance, this 1921 photograph taken in downtown Tacoma appears to be of two separate streets; however, it is actually looking east down 11th Street toward the 11th Street (now Murray Morgan) Bridge. The composite picture shows the many pedestrians and occasional vehicles, including a streetcar. Prominent buildings to the left (and again on the right) are the Fidelity Building, Rust Building, and unfinished Scandinavian-American Bank Building (later completed and known as the Washington Building). The building in the center of the photograph is the Stone-Fisher Department Store, later to be known as the Bon Marche. TPL-6362; G57.1-137

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1920-1930; Business districts--Tacoma--1920-1930; Fidelity Building (Tacoma); Rust Building (Tacoma); Washington Building (Tacoma); Scandinavian-American Bank (Tacoma); 11th Street Bridge (Tacoma);

Four Mack trucks form a small convoy as they transport small tanks in May of 1921. Several soldiers are atop of the parked vehicles. The men, trucks and tanks were probably photographed at Camp Lewis. The Tacoma Sunday Ledger had reported on February 27, 1921, that one of the newest arrivals at Camp Lewis was the Fourth Company of Tanks, consisting of 25 tanks, 25 Bull Dog Mack trucks and 88 men and officers. The trucks were all 5-ton Macks which were used to transport the 6-ton American Renault-make tanks on long journeys and in actual warfare, would carry them to the frontline. All privates in the Fourth Company of Tanks were either machinists or automobile mechanics and would be fully capable of keeping the Mack trucks in top shape. TPL-2507; G69.1-153 (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 2-27-21, C-1-article)

Trucks--Camp Lewis; Mack trucks; Tanks (Military science)--Camp Lewis;

Parade marching north on Broadway. Group of U. S. Army soldiers, in uniform, are at the corner of 9th and Broadway. They are being followed by group of men from the U. S. Navy in their dress whites. Buildings include: Pantages Theater, Illington Hotel. Sign hangs from corner building for Malstom's Drugs. TPL-7060

Military parades & ceremonies--Tacoma--1920-1930; Pantages Theater (Tacoma)

Young band members sit in a long truck that is decorated with bunting and an American flag. There is a streetcar next to the truck. Photograph was taken on Pacific Ave. Shaw Supply Co. sign in background. TPL-7061

Floats (parades)--Tacoma--1920-1930;

On May 28, 1921, a long line of cars was photographed in front of People's department store, 1101-07 Pacific Ave, and extending down the street past the Bankers Trust Building and nearly to the Puget Sound Bank building. Each car has a sign in its windshield that says, "People's Store - Tacoma - Motor Club."

Peoples (Tacoma); Department stores--Tacoma--1920-1930; Automobiles--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Shipping operations. Piles of lumber are stacked at the St. Paul Docks in Tacoma in June of 1921. The big timber from St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. and the Puget Sound Lumber Co. will be exported via the waiting Japanese cargo ship, the "Genoa Maru," shown at far left. Two cranes would be used for this operation. It was her first visit to Tacoma. Another photograph of the ship and lumber is Boland B4201. G49.1-202 (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 6-12-21, B-8-article)

Shipping--Tacoma--1920-1930; Cargo ships--Japanese; Lumber industry--Tacoma--1920-1930; Piers & wharves--Tacoma--1920-1930; Hoisting machinery;

A large shipment of timber is waiting to be loaded onto the Japanese ship, the "Genoa Maru," in mid-June of 1921. The St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co., one of the largest mills in the area, had been shipping lumber, especially Douglas fir, overseas for years. The vessel was also to take on 750,000 feet of timber from the Puget Sound Lumber Co. The "Genoa Maru" had arrived on June 11th and was berthed at the St. Paul docks. The larger pieces of timber, consisting of 32 x 32" sq. and 40' long sections, were designated for the Japanese government and secured from Puget Sound Lumber. Two cranes were necessary to complete the loading. St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber's part of the cargo consisted of 1 million feet of lumber. Photograph ordered by the St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. G49.1-087 (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 6-12-21, B-8-article; Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 7-3-21, B-10-article)

Shipping--Tacoma--1920-1930; Cargo ships--Japanese; Lumber industry--Tacoma--1920-1930; Hoisting machinery;

Telephone company employees and their families enjoyed a festive picnic at Point Defiance in June of 1921. A long row of picnic tables is set along the sand on what is now called Owen Beach. The picnickers are dressed rather formally with men in suits and ties and women in dresses with hats. TPL-590; G41.1-063

Picnics--Tacoma--1920-1930; Point Defiance Park (Tacoma); Owen Beach (Tacoma);

This image is that of Tacoma's skyline in June of 1921. It was taken looking due west from the industrial Tideflats area. Pierce County Courthouse with spire is visible as well as the (new) Central School with tower. G27.1-067

Cityscapes; Pierce County Courthouse (Tacoma); Central School (Tacoma);

Pierce County agricultural scene. A curving dirt or gravel road is pictured in June of 1921 with a barn and farmhouse with additional buildings in the background. Wood-and-wire fences separate the barn and pasture from the other buildings. A variety of trees form a greenbelt to the back of the property.

Barns; Farms; Fences; Roads--Washington;

The ship "Liberator" is berthed at Terminal Dock while taking on cargo in June of 1921. Stadium High School, Stadium Bowl and the Washington State Historical Society building overlook the bay and the ship. The steamer had arrived from New York via ports on June 11th with a shipment of general cargo. The 6,027-ton ship sailed on June 13th for New York with a shipment of flour from Puget Sound Mills. TPL-6468; G49.1-064 (TDL 6-7-21, p. 7-article; TDL 6-10-21, p. 7-article)

Shipping--Tacoma--1920-1930; Piers & wharves--Tacoma--1920-1930; Cargo ships--Tacoma--1920-1930; Stadium High School (Tacoma); Stadium Bowl (Tacoma); Washington State Historical Building (Tacoma); Washington State Historical Society (Tacoma);

Solta The small fishing boat, the "Solta," cruises through the serene waters of Puget Sound in June of 1921. The unidentified man pictured above may be her skipper. The "Solta" was built by Visko Lisicich and was the first of three boats built by him. The others were the "Planet" and the "Helen L." The "Solta" was named after the island of Solta where Mr. Lisicich was born and raised. She was believed to have been built in Dockton on Vashon Island. In addition, the "Helen L." was named after Mr. Lisicich's daughter, Helen Lisicich Kokich. TPL-452; G34.1-083 (Additional information provided by a family member)

Fishing boats;

Unidentified building at Camp Murray as photographed in June of 1921. Railroad tracks located close by would make transporting men and equipment easier. Camp Murray was the home of the Washington National Guard and was located near American Lake. TPL-6466; G77.1-012

Camp Murray (Wash.); Railroad tracks--Camp Murray;

Arsenal at Camp Murray. The Arsenal was built on the grounds of Camp Murray in 1915 and nearly a hundred years later, is now the museum of the Washington National Guard. Here historical artifacts are collected and preserved to inspire and educate past and present Guardsmen and citizens alike. TPL-6467; G77.1-010

Camp Murray (Wash.); Arsenal (Camp Murray);

The upscale Ingleside Sunken Gardens was built in 20 days in 1921, with ground broken May 20 and the club opened early in June by owner/manager R.J. Fitzgerald. It was named the "Sunken Gardens" in tribute to Chicago's Green Mill Gardens, although it appears that there were no real gardens on the premises.Built at a cost of $20,000, the club would provide a location for dinner dances, theater parties and banquets for the Society Set. It was located on Pacific Highway in Lakewood, near the Country Club. The one story structure was mostly taken up by the large dining and dance hall with its 4000 square feet of hardwood dance floor. Twenty eight sets of French doors led from the dance floor to the promenade veranda that surrounded it, all enclosed with French windows. Kitchens and two banquet rooms took the remainder of the space. The dance hall had 120 specially designed tables that resembled flowers and seated 500 and a decorated balcony that housed the 6 piece orchestra. The "gardens" were eighteen miles of lattice work intertwined with $2,000 worth of ever-blooming artificial flowers. The club was open year round until it was destroyed by fire in 1936. (TNT 6/19/1921, pg. B-5- photo, 5/22/1921, pg. A-5) BU-13356

Ingleside Sunken Gardens (Lakewood); Dance halls--Lakewood; Taverns (Inns)--Lakewood;