Elevated view of Associated Oil plant and extensive docks along the City Waterway (now Thea Foss Waterway), across from Commercial Dock #1. In June of 1926, the recently built Associated Oil Co. office and plant was located on the north end of East "D" in Tacoma's industrial Tideflats. F.E. McClaren was agent in charge. The oil storage and distributing plant for the Southwest Washington region had large tanks for holding fuel oil and gasoline plus a huge concrete warehouse for storing oil in steel drums. TPL-6485; G9.1-002 (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 1-3-26, 8-E-article)
Fleharty Meat Market, Seattle, circa 1926. View through windows into meat market. Man and woman, likely Mr. and Mrs. George Fleharty, behind counter, fresh meat case, scale, flowers and plants, calendars on back wall . (filed with Argentum)
The poster boys for "service with a smile" in a July 1926 Tacoma Gas and Fuel Co. advertisement were Charles "Mac" MacLaughlin, left, and Harry Thessen. Mac had been with the company five years and served North Tacoma. Harry, with ten years with the company, served the south end of Tacoma, American Lake, Fircrest, Camp Lewis and Dupont. The busy pair installed meters and investigated leaks and gas appliance problems and performed service calls. (filed with Argentum) (TNT 7/29/1926, pg. 18-advertisement)
MacLaughlin, Charles; Thessen, Harry; Tacoma Gas & Fuel Co. (Tacoma);
Harry Thessen, left, and Charles "Mac" MacLaughlin of the Tacoma Gas and Fuel Company stood beside their company service cars in July of 1926. The men posed for a set of photographs for an advertising campaign emphasizing the company's service. Harry had been with the company for ten years and served the southend of Tacoma as well as American Lake, Fircrest, Camp Lewis and Dupont. Mac had five years with the company and served the north end of Tacoma. The pair installed new meters, investigated leaks and gas appliance problems and performed service calls. Tacoma Gas and Fuel Company sold coal gas which it produced in its plant on Tacoma's tideflats. (WSHS) (TNT 7/29/1926, pg. 18-advertisement)
Thessen, Harry; MacLaughlin, Charles; Tacoma Gas & Fuel Co. (Tacoma);
In July of 1926, this three year old bungalow at 1607 No. Alder was on the market. It is pictured with the "For Sale" sign at the front of the house. Photograph ordered by the Melendy Company, real estate. The house had been built for the current owner, Anton C. Schwarz, and was located near the entrance of the College of Puget Sound campus. The listing in the Tacoma Daily Ledger described the 14x20 living room with fireplace, music room or den separated from living room by french doors, 14 x 14 dining room, kitchen, breakfast room and two downstairs bedrooms and a bath. The basement was 28 x 35 and contained the laundry. The second floor had one bedroom and an attic for storage. Floors were of triple construction, 2 of fir with an oak overlay. The garage was detached from the home. The asking price in 1926 was $6,850. (filed with Argentum) (TDL 7/11/1926, pg. E-5)
Houses--1920-1930; Schwarz, Anton C.--Homes & haunts;
Exterior view of Puget Sound National Bank Building in July of 1926. This block of Pacific Avenue was home to many prominent businesses including (L-R) the Washington Building, Peoples department store, the Bankers Trust Building, building at 1115 Pacific Ave. built as annex/addition to the National Realty Bldg., Puget Sound National Bank Building and the National Bank of Tacoma. When completed in 1910, the 16-story Puget Sound National Bank Building (then called the National Realty Building) was the tallest on the West Coast and the first built on the West Coast to withstand earthquakes. It was also the first in Tacoma to use cantilevered beam construction. Puget Sound Bank purchased the building in 1920. Some 80+ years later, Heritage Bank now occupies the structure. G61.1-041
Commercial streets--Tacoma--1920-1930; Business districts--Tacoma--1920-1930; Puget Sound National Bank (Tacoma); National Bank of Tacoma (Tacoma); Washington Building (Tacoma); Peoples (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Office buildings--Tacoma--1920-1930;
Located at 7th & Broadway was the big Wilkeson Garage. The 120-feet by 131-feet concrete building was the largest of its kind on the Pacific Coast. The service station added a top level for parking in April of 1924, a few months after work was completed on the rest of the structure. Wilkeson Garage carried Goodyear Tires, General Gasoline, Watson Stabilators, Wold-Wilkeson Motor Oil. G59.1-026
Wilkeson Garage & Service Station (Tacoma); Automobile service stations--Tacoma--1920-1930;
Submarine S-27 visits Tacoma in July, 1926, along with several warships. Skippered by Lt. Carlye Craig, one of the country's newest submarines paid a visit to Tacoma in early July, 1926. The 219-foot long submarine, pictured above probably resurfacing, carried a crew of four officers and 39 enlisted men. It was capable of reaching depths of 300 feet. 38 members of the Tacoma Engineers Club were lucky enough to tour the bottom of Commencement Bay, 50 feet below the surface, courtesy of the S-27 on July 1st. Most of the engineers concurred with the opinion of a relieved member who was happy to take the tour but happier to be once again on top of the water and breathing in fresh air. (TNT 7-2-26, p. 1, 13)
The U.S. Navy submarine S-27 paid a visit to Tacoma in early July 1926 along with several warships. The 219-foot long submarine was one of the newest in the Navy's fleet having been commissioned in January 1924. It carried 12 torpedoes and had a top designed underwater speed of 11 knots. It was helmed by Lt. Carlye Craig. (TNT 7-2-26, p. 1, 13)
Miss Tacoma at Stadium Bowl. "Miss Tacoma's" face is not clear due to this double exposure where a young sailor's image has been blended with her own. She posed standing in a late-model automobile with a number of sailors surrounding her during the 1926 4th of July celebration at Stadium Bowl. Dorothy Rothermel was chosen as 1926's Miss Tacoma. TPL-2054; G42.1-136
Every nook-and-cranny in Stadium Bowl is jam-packed for 1926's 4th of July festivities. 40,000 witnessed the celebration of the 150th anniversary of American independence. Participants in the night's celebration included marines from the battleships in Commencement Bay and the guns of battery B, 10th Field Artillery from Camp Lewis. The program was sponsored by the American Legion and was held on Monday, July 5th. Stadium High School overlooks the Bowl on the left. BU11,616 (TDL 7-6-26, p. 1+) TPL-10131
Stadium Bowl (Tacoma); Stadium High School (Tacoma); Crowds--Tacoma--1920-1930; Spectators--Tacoma--1920-1930; Celebrations--Tacoma--1920-1930;
Four of Dairy & Producers Market fleet of "Step-In-And-Shop" trucks on display on July 6, 1926. The market itself was located at 1117 Market St. in downtown Tacoma but these rolling stores would "Stop-At-Ur-Door" for more convenient shopping. Customers would find the some of the same items on sale as in the market itself. G6.1-074
Young evangelist Mary Agnes Vichestain on 1926 visit to Tacoma in full preaching pose. Described as a modern girl preaching the old-fashioned gospel, Pittsburgh's Mary Agnes Vichestain, age 18, preached to a full house at the Gospel Tabernacle on July 8, 1926. Accompanied by her newspaper publisher father, V.H. Vichestain, Miss Vichestain stopped in Tacoma on her way to the West Coast. Her father reminisced that her favorite occupation as a child was to corner a family member and vigorously preach. Her first public appearance as a preacher came at age 9; she has since then spoken to audiences as large as 25,000. Miss Vichestain devotes most of her efforts to work in missions in order to help the less fortunate find salvation. (TNT 7-9-26, p. 14)
Young female evangelist, Mary Agnes Vichestain and her father, wealthy newspaper publisher J.H. Vichestain, made a return visit to Tacoma in July, 1926. Pittsburgh's "girl preacher" was known for preaching the old-fashioned gospel. An ordained Baptist minister, she spoke to a full house at the Gospel Tabernacle on July 8, 1926. Miss Vichestain planned to go on to Everett and then spend a month in Los Angeles before returning to Pittsburgh for her college education. Preaching had been her passion since age 4 when she preached to her grandfather. Her first public appearance was at age 9 when a mission leader allowed her to preach before a congregation. She also had a deep interest in politics and contemplated running for the Pittsburgh mayor's position. (TNT 7-8-26, p. 11, TNT 7-9-26, p. 14)
These cattle were confined within the Carstens Packing Co.'s stockyards in July of 1926. Feeding troughs were built within the pens and many of the cattle pictured have their heads buried deep inside the bins. Carstens was a major meat packing firm located in the Tideflats since 1903. The stockyards had space for 1,200 cattle. The cattle would have been fattened up, slaughtered, and their meat processed by Carstens' large workforce. (TNT 3-31-27, p. 6-article on Carstens plant)
Unidentified Carstens Packing Co. employee stands in front of a heavy duty truck with trailer on July 10, 1926, at the company plant, 1623 East J St. in the Tideflats. The truck and accompanying trailer are labeled "Carstens Products" and state that the U.S. government has inspected meats processed by the firm. Customers could be assured that the meat was safe to eat, no small worry after the horrors of the meat packing industry uncovered decades before by novelist Upton Sinclair.
Fred S. Stover, national commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), upon his arrival in Tacoma on July 11, 1926. Mr. Stover, a prominent businessman from Butler, Penn., (L in picture) is met at Union Station by commanders of local posts. Shaking hands with Mr. Stover is W.A. Gartley, Wild West Post No. 91 commander; standing between them is Paul J. Roberts, South Tacoma post commander. Mr. Stover is on a tour of the Pacific Northwest in the interest of Foreign Veterans. Tacoma would be his temporary headquarters as he would take a tour of the city and trout fishing his first day here, then go to Seattle to meet with veterans there on July 12th. His plans included visits to local veterans hospitals and a banquet in his honor. (TNT 7-11-26, p. 1)
Stover, Fred S.; Roberts, Paul J.; Gartley, W.A.; Veterans of Foreign Wars (Tacoma); Shaking hands--Tacoma;
On July 14, 1926, Vaudeville performer "Countess Sonia," at the wheel of her new Hudson Brougham, posed with her fellow thespian Alex Sherer outside of the Pantages Theater, 901 Broadway. Their act entitled "Countess Sonia in the Revue Satiricon with Alex Sherer" was packing them in at the theater through Sunday. They purchased the Hudson in Seattle the previous week and continued the rest of their trip over the vaudeville circuit in it, ending up back in New York City in the fall. The 1926 Hudson sold over 228,000 units and was the first vehicle to introduce the starter button on the instrument panel. By 1929, the company was third in sales, behind General Motors and Ford. The local distributor for the Hudson was the Allen Motor Co. Photograph ordered by Allen Motor Co. (Tacoma Sunday Ledger 7/18/1926, pg. G-4) G67.1-140
Camp Madrona Resort consisted of these waterfront cottages in July of 1926. The resort was located near Union on Hood Canal between Gig Harbor and Hoodsport. The houses were built side-by-side on stilts, close to the water.
Three ships on Commencement Bay visible through the trees. They are the battleships Tennessee (foreground) and Maryland along with U.S. supply ship, Arctic, who were all in town for a three-day visit in late July of 1926. In addition to the above three, six destroyers (not pictured) were tied up at Commercial Dock. The supply ship Arctic was commanded by Commander J. N. Ferguson and Captain G.L. P. Stone was in charge of the Tennessee. All ships sailed for Port Angeles on Monday, July 26th. G71.1-025 (TDL 7-24-26, p. 1-article; TNT 7-24-26, p. 1)
Government vessels--Tacoma; Commencement Bay (Wash.);
This July, 1926, view of the Associated Oil Co.'s Tideflats facilities was taken from Stadium Way. The large $500,000 plant was located at 250 East D Street overlooking the City (now Thea Foss) Waterway. Associated Oil distributed fuel and diesel oil and gasoline to all parts of southwest Washington. Barrels from Associated Oil's Avon refinery near Oakland were shipped by boat and unloaded at the company's extensive docks. The large tank on the left was capable of holding 80,000 barrels of fuel oil. The slightly smaller tank on the right had a 55,000 barrel capacity for gasoline. TPL-6704; G35.1-051 (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 1-3-26, 8-E-article; TNT 2-19-26, p. 12-article)
The local Washington Furniture Manufacturing Co. took part in the fifth annual Northwest Furniture Manufacturing Exposition in late July of 1926. 2000 furniture dealers were invited to the private showing of 50 northwest manufacturers primarily from Tacoma, Seattle and Portland who displayed their products. The Balfour-Guthrie dock, with its immense floor, was able to hold all exhibits. The display floor is packed with samples of the Washington Furniture Mfg. Co.'s furniture, including many large upholstered sofas and comfortable chairs. Rugs, tapestries and a variety of lamps helped to accentuate the furniture. G35.1-010 (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 7-25-26, 4-A-article)
Washington Furniture Manufacturing Co. (Tacoma); Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1920-1930; Sofas; Chairs; Exhibitions--Tacoma--1920-1930;
On July 26, 1926, the "Cacique," an oceangoing cargo ship was pictured at the Tidewater Mill Co. The ship is being loaded with lumber for export. The Tidewater Mill was located on the east side of the Hylebos Waterway, at the end of 11th St. Over 3/4 of its timber was destined for export. In the foreground can be seen several large logs being floated to the mill for processing. The Tidewater was only one of a few mills on the Pacific Coast able to process large logs. (TDL 12/22/1918, pg. B-8) G49.1-086
At 18 feet wide and 20 feet long, the cottage owned by architect Silas E. Nelsen and his wife, Gerda, located at 407 South Sheridan Avenue, was the "smallest complete home in the city" when it was built in 1926. Although the foundation was intended to be used for a two car garage on one of Mr. Nelsen's two vacant lots, he finished it as a home and his family of three lived there for a few years while they planned and built their larger home. The contractor for both homes was Henry "Chips" Querette. Both men and the home were featured in an article in the August 1928 Better Homes & Gardens magazine, "My home is My Fo'castle." The two story English style cottage, which was called the "Fo'castle," had four rooms and all the features of a larger home including a bath, kitchen and tiny breakfast nook. It was a pioneer in space saving features. (filed with Argentum) (TDL 8/8/1926, pg. A9, Better Homes & Gardens, August 1928, pg. 21)
