New home for the Whistle Bottling Works, built in 1926 by the Cammarano Brothers. Interior showing machinery and potted plants. The new $50,000 plant was filled with modern equipment. After being "mixed" according to preset formulas, flavored syrups were poured into sterilized bottles on a conveyor belt. They travelled from machine to machine, where they were filled with carbonated water, capped and labelled. The plants and flowers were probably sent by well wishers for the plant's opening. (TDL 8/22/1926, pg. A10-14) (filed with Argentum)

Beverage industry--Tacoma--1920-1930; Whistle Bottling Co. (Tacoma); Bottling industry--Tacoma--1920-1930; Cammarano Bros. (Tacoma);

The second floor laboratory, or "mix" room, in the new $50,000 Whistle Bottling Co. plant. Interior shot showing vats, gallon bottles on shelves. The room had a long testing bench or counter with shelves above it filled with graduates, filters and a large assortment of concentrated syrups. A 100 gallon mixing tank was used for compounding "simple syrup" from boiling water and pure cane sugar. This tank was connected with mixing tanks, where the simple syrup was mixed with the concentrated syrups that gave the beverage its distinctive taste. The mixed syrup flowed down a pipe into the first floor machine room where it went into sterilized bottles that were topped off with carbonated water. (TDL 8/22/1926, pg. A10-14) (filed with Argentum)

Beverage industry--Tacoma--1920-1930; Whistle Bottling Co. (Tacoma); Bottling industry--Tacoma--1920-1930; Cammarano Bros. (Tacoma);

This was how the new Whistle Bottling Company factory, built for the Cammarano Brothers by Mcdonald & Michael contractors and located at 2314-18 A Street, appeared in August of 1926. At that time, the 5 year old company was moving to its new white $50,000 modern concrete plant. The two-story, 75 x 100 foot building was three times larger than the company's previous location at 301 East 25th. The new plant could turn out 30,000 complete bottles of "soda pop" a day: manufactured, bottled, capped and labeled. The company bottled Whistle, Nu-grape, Hires, Green River and others. The Cammarano Brothers, Phil, James, William and Ed, were self-made men; progressing from odd jobs to being the heads of their own factory. (filed with Argentum) (TDL 8/22/1926, pg. A10-14, TDL 7/11/1926, pg. E8)

Beverage industry--Tacoma--1920-1930; Whistle Bottling Co. (Tacoma); Bottling industry--Tacoma--1920-1930; Cammarano Bros. (Tacoma);

The meat counter at Dan's Market, 85 Pike St., Seattle. Among the items offered are Corned Beef at 10 cents per pound, wieners at 20 cents per lb and sausage. Whole chickens and other meats hang from the ceiling above the counter. (WSHS)

Dan's Market (Seattle); Meat; Butcher shops--Seattle; Grocery stores--Seattle;

Seven usherettes in bat capes and bat ears line up outside the Rialto Theatre where the silent film version of "The Bat," the world's greatest mystery play, was showing in 1926. L-R: Rose Travaglio, Mary Marko, Lillian Hansen, Ann Brower, Irene Carnahan, Helen Morley (chief usherette) and Florence Lloyd. They received many favorable comments on their costumes from patrons of the theater. Based on Mary Roberts Rinehart's 1920 play which ran an impressive 867 performances at the Morosco Theatre on Broadway, "The Bat" was produced and directed by Roland West. It features a mysterious masked master criminal called The Bat whose identity is unveiled only in the last moments of the movie. Cartoonist Bob Kane was so impressed with the film when he saw it as a young boy that his memories of its images formed the basis for his cartoon character Batman. The film opened in Tacoma to rave reviews and could be seen at the matinee for 35 cents or in the evenings for 50 cents, 10 cents for kiddies. (TNT 8-17-26, p. 8) Boland B15500, TPL-2038

Rialto Theatre (Tacoma); Motion picture theaters--Tacoma--1920-1930; Ushers--Tacoma--1920-1930; Motion picture industry--1920-1930; Morley, Helen; Travaglio, Rose; Marko, Mary; Hansen, Lillian; Brower, Ann; Carnahan, Irene; Lloyd, Florence;

Two C.S. Barlow & Sons Mack trucks parked at wooded site in Gig Harbor in August of 1926. Barlow & Sons was an old Tacoma firm, established in 1882, which dealt in building material and supplies including coal, sand, gravel and blasting powder. The sturdy Mack trucks were capable of heavy duty hauling work, which often included plowing through thick muddy terrain. G66.2-148

Mack trucks; C.S. Barlow & Sons, Inc. (Tacoma);

Initiating officers of the Knights of Pythias posed at Cushman Dam on August 8, 1926. From L-R: Ben Lunan, Charles Rohrs, Ed Beamer, George Ball, R. Ray, Arthur Rowen and Ralph Towne. They had brought several candidates including Tacoma mayor M.G. Tennent and Winthrop Hotel manager Ray Clark to the new dam. The Knights of Pythias had established a custom of initiating candidates in unusual places, including on a high peak adjacent to Mount Tacoma (Rainier). The initiating officers are standing next to Mr. Ball's Chrysler and by a bronze marker which lists the name of the project, chief engineers and contractors, and also proclaims "Built by the Light Department City of Tacoma 1925." Cushman Dam was officially opened on Monday, May 24, 1926 when President Calvin Coolidge pressed a telegraph key manufactured by Lincoln High School and brought to Washington D.C. by high school baseball star James Mosolf. G24.1-150 (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 8-15-26, 14-G-article & alternate photograph)

Knights of Pythias; Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1920-1930; Chrysler automobile; Cushman Dam #1 (Lake Cushman); Dams--Lake Cushman; Historical markers;

Old Mack truck at South 23rd and Pacific in August of 1926. This empty truck was probably used as a bus for the South Tacoma area. One of the front tires is flat. Another photograph of the same vehicle was taken a few days later at the same location, see Boland B15463. The tire has been repaired. Photograph ordered by Mack Truck. G66.1-027

Mack trucks; Buses--Tacoma--1920-1930;

A Tacoma bus, utilizing a Mack body, is parked near the North Star Mfg. Co., 2317-19 Pacific Ave., on August 13, 1926. A sign on the bus indicates that it travels to South Tacoma. Some of the windows are open on the steel bus; the driver does not appear to be present. Photograph ordered by Mack Truck. G66.1-028

Buses--Tacoma--1920-1930; Mack trucks;

McHugh & Johnson excavation in process on August 13, 1926. The company had several dump trucks on hand at this unidentified work site ready to remove dirt and debris. They are utilizing a crane labeled "Northwest" for the work. McHugh & Johnson, owned and operated by Frank McHugh and L.H. Johnson, were excavating contractors and steam shovel workers located at 2326 Fawcett Ave. G34.1-009

McHugh & Johnson (Tacoma); Excavation--1920-1930; Hoisting machinery; Trucks--1920-1930;

Bathers. National Bank of Tacoma annual picnic at Tacoma Golf and Country Club.The Club purchased this land on the shores of American Lake in 1904. (Argentum)

Swimmers--1920-1930; Bathing suits--1920-1930; National Bank of Tacoma--People; Picnics--1920-1930; Tacoma Country & Golf Club (Tacoma);

Exterior view of Pinky Young's gas station in August of 1926. According to photographer Marvin Boland's notes, the business was located at South 72nd and Park Avenue. They guaranteed their repair work, sold tires and tubes, provided air and water and even had a supplemental business in soft drinks, groceries, cigars and school supplies. Jersey Milk products were also available.

Automobile service stations--Tacoma--1920-1930; Pinky Young's Station (Tacoma);

Interior view of S.A. Andrews' residence. This may have been the sitting or living room filled with delicate and ornate furniture. Samuel and Valerie Andrews resided at 1008 North "I" St. in 1926. He owned a women's apparel firm at 9th & Broadway called the S.A. Andrews Co. The Andrews would move later to a two-story brick home on Lake Steilacoom that was designed by architect Silas E. Nelsen.

Andrews, Samuel A.--Homes & haunts; Houses--Tacoma--1920-1930; Chairs;

Exterior view of large Carstens Packing Co. plant taken in mid-August of 1926. The meat packing firm was located at 1623 East "J" St. in the Tideflats, now the site of the Northwest Detention Center. Carstens relocated to Tacoma in 1903 and would later be known as the largest meat packing company on the West Coast with plants in Tacoma, Spokane and Seattle. In 1926 Carstens put forth plans to build a new four-story unit to hold the sausage factory, sausage coolers, lard refinery and smoke houses, beef coolers and beef sales coolers. The company sought to replace annually older, outdated buildings with permanent reinforced concrete construction. The gradual replacement meant that no sections of the plant would be out of commission before their replacements were erected. Fires in 1914, 1916 and shortly after caused the company to incur $750,000 in losses. The replacement of wooden buildings by concrete structures would make the plant more modernized as well as fireproof. (TDL 3-27-26, p. 10-article; TNT 3-31-27, p.6-article)

Carstens Packing Co. (Tacoma); Meat industry--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Herbert Hoover, then Secretary of Commerce, signed the Indian "Pledge to the Mountain" to honor Mt. Rainier on the rooftop of the Hotel Winthrop on August 21, 1926. An unidentified Indian maiden helps to unroll the scroll. Mr. Hoover, who would later become the 31st President of the United States, was given the name Chief Coolee-Chuck ("Running Water"). The pledge was administered entirely in the Chinook language. In it, Mr. Hoover swore and promised by the Great Spirit of the Mountain to journey whenever possible to the "Mountain that was God" in order to breathe in the pure air, drink the sparkling waters, and gaze upon its wondrous beauties. He promised to acquaint himself with the lore of the red men and learn about the legends of the mountain's origins and sacredness. Should he violate this solemn obligation, he could foresee his wickiup burning, racehorses dying and coyotes devouring all his rabbits. Secretary Hoover was in Tacoma as a guest of the Tacoma Chamber of Commerce and addressed a large group of about 300 businessmen at the Hotel Winthrop on the "Future of Foreign Trade." This photograph was modified by the photographer: a clearer view of Mount Rainier was added, and the Brotherhood Bank's signage reversed and building itself extended upward. TPL-5447; G68.1-028 (TNT 8-21-26, p. 1)

Hoover, Herbert; Indians of North America--Tacoma--1920-1930; Document signings--Tacoma; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

On August 21, 1926, H.T. Moore of the Moore Amusement Company, owner of the Rialto and Colonial Theaters, joined forces with the new Pacific Northwest Theaters Inc. Moore, left, is shown shaking hands with Harry C. Arthur of Los Angeles, president of the new organization, in front of H.C. Weaver Productions, Inc., movie studio at Titlow Beach. H.C. Weaver, head of the studio, stands with his hands in pocket, on far right in this sepia photograph. Left to right, the group includes J.F. Douglas, Moore, G. C. Kirley, Arthur, L.S. Hamm and Weaver. The group, which was organized to consolidate motion picture distribution in the Pacific Northwest, was touring the studio. The studio was built in 1924. Weaver Productions hoped to lure Hollywood to film extensively in the Northwest; however, the studio apparently only made three motion pictures in their four-year existence. It closed in 1928 and was later converted into a dance hall in 1932 before being destroyed by fire that same year. Boland B15513, BU-13759, TPL-8182 (TNT 8/23/1926, pg. 6)

Motion picture studios--Tacoma; Weaver, H.C.; Shaking hands--Tacoma; H.C. Weaver Productions, Inc. (Tacoma);

Miss Tacoma, Dorothy Rothermel, smiles graciously at hundreds gathered outside the new Hotel Winthrop on August 26, 1926. She was making her last local appearance before leaving by train for Atlantic City and the "Miss America" pageant. Miss Rothermel was honored at a dance held at the Winthrop and those in attendance were able to see her pageant wardrobe on display as well as the beautiful float of snow capped Mount Tacoma, unveiled for the first time. Miss Rothermel, dressed in green and silver, stood on the float which would be used for the famous boardwalk parade. She threw real snowballs at the crowd, a stunt which was scheduled to be repeated in Atlantic City. Mayor Melvin G. Tennent, in tuxedo on the right, introduced Miss Rothermel. She was a Stadium High School graduate and a dancer. (T.Times, 8-26-26, p. 1, TDL 8-27-26, p. 3) G42.1-138; TPL-1484

Rothermel, Dorothy; Beauty contestants--Tacoma--1920-1930; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1920-1930; Tennent, Melvin Green; Mayors--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Barns at Western State Hospital. The hospital opened in 1871 in buildings that formerly were used as Fort Steilacoom. In 1886, the hospital was officially recognized as the "Western Washington Hospital for the Insane," shortened to Western State in 1915. The hospital maintained both a farm and animals almost from the beginning. Much of the labor was supplied by patients, in return the farm supplied most of the food used by the hospital. The farm closed in 1959. TPL-7079

Barns--Lakewood--1920-1930; Western State Hospital (Lakewood); Mental institutions--Lakewood--1920-1930;

Cows on Western State Hospital land. These are believed to be Holsteins, capable of producing plenty of milk for hospital patients. Each cow with its distinctive black and white markings is hitched to a post. The hospital's herd was started in 1914 from blue ribbon prize winners who had been blacklisted from commercial diary production due to tb. By 1926, the year of this photograph, the herd was free of tb. The cows, as well as the hospital's poultry, swine, and gardens, were under the care of Western State's patients and staff. The many cars parked nearby in the above August 27, 1926, photograph may have belonged to county cattlemen who had come to Western State to see the hospital's fine stock. They also examined stables and equipment in addition to inspecting the hospital's purebred stock. There was currently a campaign in Pierce County for the improvement of breeding stock and the use of purebred bulls. (TDL 8-28-26, p. 3-article)

Cows--Washington; Western State Hospital (Lakewood);

View across field of main buildings at Western State Hospital. TPL-7080

Mental institutions--Lakewood--1920-1930; Western State Hospital (Lakewood);

Carstens Packing Co. crane with unidentified worker photographed in late August of 1926. The large meat packing firm was located in the Tideflats at 1623 East "J" St. TPL-5821; TPL-7935; G49.1-188; G34.1-165

Hoisting machinery; Carstens Packing Co. (Tacoma);

On August 30, 1926, Miss Tacoma, Dorothy Rothermel, boarded the Oriental Limited at Union Station for Atlantic City. She was Tacoma's first entry in the fledgling Miss America contest. In 1926 the Miss America contest was not limited to one contestant from each state. Miss Rothermel was accompanied by her official chaperone Mrs. Bernice E. Newell. She stopped for three days in Philadelphia as guest of the John B. Stetson Hat Company. On September 7th, she boarded the "American Beauty Special" with the other seventy plus contestants for Atlantic City. Although Miss Rothermel did not win the Miss America crown for 1926, which went to Miss Tulsa, she was awarded third place in the Western division. She also left a lot of people wondering "Where the heck is Tacoma?" Dorothy May Rothermel would marry Gareld Bentley Banta six months after competing in the Miss America pageant. (TNT 8/30/1926, pg. 2; 8/31/26, pg. 1) G44.1-098 (Additional information provided by a reader)

Rothermel, Dorothy; Beauty contestants--Tacoma--1920-1930; Newell, Bernice; Arrivals & departures--Tacoma--1920-1930; Railroads--Tacoma--1920-1930; Railroad stations--Tacoma--1920-1930;

In August of 1926, Killian Van R. Schermerhorn, standing, and Wilmot McCune spent a week rowing 80 nautical miles from Point Defiance to Olympia and back. The Stadium High School juniors travelled in a double-oared "clinker" that they rented from the park's boathouse. They rowed in sunshine, moonlight and even a storm that landed them on McNeil Island. Once they convinced the guards that they were not part of a prison break, they were treated royally. Throughout the trip, the boys stayed close to shore or rowed from island to island, camping as they tired. (TNT 9/3/1926, pg. 1) BGN-053

In August of 1926 Killian Van R. Schermerhorn, in boat, and Wilmot McCune, on log, spent a week rowing 80 nautical miles from Point Defiance to Olympia and back in a double oared "clinker" they rented from the Park's boathouse. They stayed close to shore or hopped from island to island, camping when they needed rest. They even rowed in a storm, that capsized them on McNeil Island. After convincing the prison guards that they were not trying to "break anyone out," the guards fed, clothed and housed them until the storm was over. (TNT 9/3/1926, pg. 1) TPL-588 , BGN-054

Shown at the rear of their two-ton White truck with attached 800-gallon tank are Thompson Lubricating Co.'s owners, H.E. Thompson (left) and his father H.A. Thompson, on August 31, 1926. The delivery truck was built 18 months ago for the firm and purchased from the J.F. Hickey Motor Co., the second White owned by the Thompsons. The company used Red Hat Gasoline for its customers and a retouched photograph of this gasoline truck with heavy use of emblems was used for national advertising. In 1926, Thompson Lubricating had four service stations in Tacoma. G35.1-043 (T.Times, 9-4-26, p. 10)

Thompson Lubricating Co. (Tacoma); Fuel trade--Tacoma--1920-1930; Trucks--Tacoma--1920-1930; White trucks; Thompson, H.E.; Thompson, H.A.;