ca. 1929. U.S.S. Lexington, aircraft carrier, who came to the aid of the City of Tacoma and provided electricity from mid-December, 1929, to mid-January, 1930. The ship was berthed at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton with Capt. Frank D. Berrien in command. The fourth Navy ship to bear that name, she had been built by the Fore River Shipbuilding Corporation of Quincy, Mass. Her overall length was 888 feet and she had four turbo-generators. TPL-1937

U.S.S. Lexington (United States Navy); Aircraft carriers--United States;

ca. 1929. Wooden ramp built at the Tacoma Field to be used by Harold Bromley to help get his monoplane "City of Tacoma" airborne during its attempt at a transPacific Tacoma to Tokyo flight. Tacomans were so enthused with Bromley's proposed flight that they voted a $300,000 bond to build a 5,400 foot airstrip at the Tacoma Field, now part of McChord Air Force Base. The ramp was 100 feet and built of wood. It was designed to add enough speed to be the equivalent of 1,000 feet of additional runway. Bromley's huge monoplane weighed 8,850 pounds when loaded and would need the extra lift.

Bromley, Harold--Associated objects; Tacoma Field (Lakewood); Airports--Lakewood--1920-1930; Aeronautics--Tacoma--1920-1930;

ca. 1929. Harold Bromley, on the right, and a second man, probably his benefactor John Buffelen, stand next to Bromley's Lockheed Vega monoplane, the "City of Tacoma." Between them they hold a map on which has been drawn the course that Bromley intended to fly, non-stop from Tacoma to Tokyo, a continuous trip of 4,700 miles. Buffelen and a group of Tacoma businessmen had funded the design and manufacture of the Lockheed plane, hoping to make Tacoma as famous as Lindbergh's "Spirit of St. Louis." The plan ended in disaster. The first plane crashed on take off in front of a crowd of 25,000 at the Tacoma Field. The second and third planes crashed during test flights, the third crash killing test pilot H. W. Catling. The fourth plane was manufactured by Emsco; the plan adjusted to fly from Tokyo to Tacoma, taking advantage of tail winds. It flew for 24 hours, before exhaust fumes forced Bromley and co pilot and navigator Harold Gatty to return to Japan. The plane was stored in a Japanese hangar and the Tacoma money men were stopped by the Depression from ever funding another attempt at the record.

Bromley, Harold; Airplanes--Tacoma--1920-1930; Aeronautics--Tacoma--1920-1930;

ca. 1929. Harold Bromley's airplane, the "City of Tacoma," being viewed at Tacoma Field by citizens in July of 1929. During the spring and summer of 1929, newspapers carried front page stories filled with the exciting news of Bromley's planned flight across the Pacific Ocean from Tacoma to Tokyo. Bromley and his backers had planned the flight for two years. The plane was being built by Lockheed in California, a bright orange low wing Vega monoplane. The final testing of the plane was done at the Muroc dry lake bed, 200 miles northeast of Burbank, but its flight to Tacoma was delayed. Finally on July 19, 1929, Bromley landed at Tacoma Field after a 8 hour and 17 minute flight from Los Angeles. Thousands cheered as the plane landed safely in Tacoma. Over 59,000 people made the trip out to the airstrip to view the plane prior to its July 28, 1929 inaugural flight.

Bromley, Harold--Associated objects; Airplanes--Tacoma--1920-1930; Aeronautics--Tacoma--1920-1930;

ca. 1929. John and Hazel Hewitt house. Exterior view of side entry, fireplace extending from second floor. Landscape includes large shade tree and boxwood hedge. Brick exterior of house painted white. The English cottage style home was built in 1925 and designed by the Eastern architect firm Delano & Aldrich, with Sutton, Whitney & Dugan serving as associate architects. John J. Hewitt was the president of Hewitt Land Co. among other business ventures. (WSHS) filed as 1-2

Hewitt, John J.--Homes & haunts; Estates--Tacoma; Houses--Tacoma--1920-1930;

ca. 1929. David C. and Sarah T. Scott house and gardens, known as "Belleterre". Front view of Chateau-style house through the trees, a stucco covered mansion with gabled roofs and ornamented doorway. Edwin J. Ivey, Architect, 1924. (WSHS, filed as 12-5)

Scott, David C.--Homes & haunts; Estates--Lakewood; Gardens--Lakewood;

ca. 1929. Sarah (Mrs. David C.) Scott's gardens. A glimpse of the Scott house, a large two-story home, is seen through a grove of fir trees. Estate known as "Belleterre." (WSHS, filed as 12-6)

Scott, David C.--Homes & haunts; Estates--Lakewood; Gardens--Lakewood;

ca. 1929. Harry L. and Alpharetta Brown house. Story-book entry with sloping section of roof extending over entry. Recessed entry with arched door and side light. Elaborate door features glass in clover-leaf design. Stucco exterior, canvas awnings. (WSHS- filed as 3-4)

Brown, Harry--Homes & haunts; Brown & Haley (Tacoma); Houses--Tacoma--1920-1930;

ca. 1929. A stone path, edged with moss and ornamental shrubs, leads to the lake on David C. and Sarah T. Scott's property known as "Belleterre" or on their neighbor's property. (WSHS)

Scott, David C.--Homes & haunts; Estates--Lakewood; Gardens--Lakewood;

ca. 1929. Office and officers of the Pacific Match Co. Inc. in 1929. Seated at desk, Osee V. Snyder, president-general manager. Standing, 2nd from left, John O. Pasnick, bookkeeper; 6th from left, Tobi J. Anderson, bookkeeper; 5th from right, Fredrick J. Cronkhite, secretary-treasurer. From the collection of N.P. Anderson.

Match industry--Tacoma--1920-1930; Pacific Match Co. (Tacoma);

ca. 1929. Navy bi-plane with identification number 1SD (or O)-P-1 sits in field with crowd in background. Photograph probably taken at Tacoma Field.

Airplanes--Tacoma--1920-1930;

ca. 1929. U.S.S. Lexington at Baker Dock. This photograph is undated but was probably taken in the winter, mid-December to mid-January, of 1929-30 when the Lexington steamed into Commencement Bay and tied up at Baker Dock. The aircraft carrier was summoned to help Tacoma in their power shortage; it was the first time that a ship was used in this capacity. She would generate over 4 million kilowatt hours of electrical power. Bowen # 310-129

ca. 1929. U.S.S. Lexington in Puget Sound. This photograph is undated but may have been taken roughly in the winter of 1929-30 when the Lexington streamed into Commencement Bay and tied up at Baker Dock. The small dory alongside the ship possibly carried the mayor of Tacoma, James Newbegin, and other dignitaries. The aircraft carrier was summoned to help Tacoma in their power shortage; it was the first time that a ship was used in this capacity. She would generate over 4 million kilowatt hours of electrical power. The Lexington, known as the "Queen of the Flattops," was launched in 1925 and was armed with twelve five-inch .25 calibre anti-aircraft guns, 4 six-pounder saluting guns and eight three-inch .55 calibre breechloading rifles. She performed humanitarian relief efforts during the Nicaraguan earthquake of 1931 and also made a futile search for Amelia Earhart when the aviatrix disappeared in 1937. The ship was sunk during the Battle of the Coral Sea in 1942. (Marine Digest, 6-9-73, p. 11-16) TPL-009

ca. 1929. Harold Bromley and a second man, most probably his benefactor John Buffelen, stand next to Bromley's Lockheed Vega monoplane, the "City of Tacoma." Between them they hold a map that shows Bromley's proposed course for his non-stop flight from Tacoma to Tokyo. The route would follow the Great Circle and call for a continuous flight of 4,700 miles. The plane would never get off the ground, crashing on take off.

Bromley, Harold; Airplanes--Tacoma--1920-1930; Aeronautics--Tacoma--1920-1930;

The "Lillian Luckenbach" was in town on February 8, 1929, to take on a load of pulp from the Union Bag & Paper Co. plant. She was one of the largest in the Luckenbach fleet and was able to load nearly 1000 tons of paper pulp bound for Union Bag's Hudson Falls, N.Y. location. It was the company's first shipment sent from Tacoma by water. Built in 1919 by the Sun Shipbuilding & Drydock Co. of Chester, Pennsylvania, the freighter was sunk in a collision with Cape Henlopen in March of 1943. G49.1-096 (TDL 2-8-29, p. 1-article; TDL 2-9-29, p. 1-article)

Cargo ships--Tacoma--1920-1930; Shipping--Tacoma--1920-1930;

The freighter "Lillian Luckenbach," part of the Luckenbach Steamship Co. fleet, was dockside on February 8, 1929 at the St. Paul mill dock #2. She was here to pick up the first shipment of paper pulp sent by water by the new Union Bag & Paper Co. Tacoma plant which had commenced operations in January. The nearly 1000 tons were loaded onto the ship through four hatches. The cargo was headed to Hudson Falls, N.Y., the location of a Union Bag plant. The ship was commanded by Captain G.C. Bown of Tacoma. G49.1-110 (TDL 2-8-29, p. 1-article; TDL 2-9-29, p. 1-article)

Cargo ships--Tacoma--1920-1930; Shipping--Tacoma--1920-1930; Piers & wharves--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Street scene showing snow and slush on South 9th Street looking up from Pacific on an early day in February of 1929. Main building shown in photograph is the Motoramp Garage (745 Commerce Street) on right.

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1920-1930; Motoramp Garage (Tacoma); Snow--Tacoma;

January and February of 1929 brought severe winter weather to Tacoma with heavy snow and temperatures that dropped into the teens. Snow and slush piled up in the gutters of downtown Tacoma. This early February street scene shows Saint Helens Avenue looking north from So. 7th. Buildings shown include: the Tacoma Radiator & Fender Works, 615 Saint Helens Ave.; the George W. Hess Auto Surgeon, 617 Saint Helens Ave.; and the Webster Apartments, 629 Saint Helens Ave.

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1920-1930; Tacoma Radiator & Fender Works (Tacoma); George W. Hess Auto Surgeon (Tacoma); Webster Apartments (Tacoma); Snow--Tacoma;

Travel was hard going as this street scene from February of 1929 shows snow and slush on 11th Street, looking up 11th from Commerce. Buildings in view include French Drug Co. (1101 Broadway) and Fisher's Department Store (1104 Broadway). The harsh weather did not deter pedestrians and some sturdy vehicles.

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1920-1930; French Drug Co. (Tacoma); Fisher's Department Store (Tacoma); Snow--Tacoma;

"Working Broadway" was the caption given to this February 13, 1929, scene of ice and snow. Two unidentified businessmen are prepared to shovel the chunks of ice and snow along Broadway. They are across the street from the A.H. McConnell Co., 728-30 Broadway, dealers in Dodge Bros. cars and Graham trucks. Tacoma was just emerging from three weeks of heavy snow and icy conditions about the time this photograph was taken. The cost to the city of (street) repairs and loss of business may have run as high as $100,000, a huge expense in 1929. G59.1-019 (TNT 2-19-29, p. 1-article on economic loss)

Shovels; Ice--Tacoma; A.H. McConnell Co. (Tacoma);

Pacific Coast Steel plant, Seattle. This is an elevated view taken in February of 1929 of the Pacific Coast Steel Co. facilities in what is believed to be West Seattle. The plant had announced plans in October of 1928 for a $1.5 million dollar increase and doubling of a $1 million dollar annual payroll. The steel plant planned to produce larger sizes of structural steel. The new construction, at the photograph's right, was progressing steadily. Pacific Coast Steel grew out of a 1913 merger between Seattle Steel, founded by PACCAR's William Pigott, and a San Francisco firm. By 1927, the plant had more than 500 employees. It would be purchased by Bethlehem Steel in 1930 who operated it for more than 50 years. (historylink.org) (TNT 10-30-28, p. 19-article on expansion) G73.1-094

Pacific Coast Steel Co. (Seattle); Steel industry--Seattle; Building construction--Seattle--1920-1930;

This view is that of the intersection of Meridian and Valley Road near Puyallup as it appeared on February 25, 1929. The Charles Service Station, dealer in Texaco products, is on the right. Photograph taken for court evidence. G73.1-044

Streets--Puyallup; Charles Service Station (Puyallup);

On February 25, 1929, the Boland Studios were asked to take photographs of the intersection of Meridian and Valley Road near Puyallup to be used as court evidence. This view is just beyond the Charles Service Station. House on the left of the curving road; sign on the right indicates the presence of a "private road -use at your own risk." See Boland B20388 for additional view of intersection. G73.1-046

Streets--Puyallup; Signs (Notices); Houses--Puyallup--1920-1930;

Street scene in March of 1929; view of buildings on east side of Broadway looking south on Broadway from the corner of 9th & Broadway. The Pantages Theater at far left has electric signage " Pantages Vaudeville & Pictures." Buildings include: the previously mentioned Pantages Theater (901 Broadway) on left, Illington Hotel (911 1/2 Broadway) a few buildings down, and the Broadway Theater (902-914 Broadway) on the right. The Broadway was known as the Tacoma Theater prior to 1927. It burned in 1963.

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1920-1930; Pantages Theater (Tacoma); Illington Hotel (Tacoma); Broadway Theater (Tacoma);

This is a March of 1929 street scene looking down 11th street toward the Eleventh Street (now Murray Morgan) Bridge. Buildings on left side of the photograph are the Rust Building (950 Pacific Ave.) and the Washington Building (1019 Pacific Ave.). On the right is a sign for Manning's Market and another sign for Merrick & Race Jewelers.

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1920-1930; Rust Building (Tacoma); Washington Building (Tacoma); 11th Street Bridge (Tacoma);

1929 street scene view looking down 9th street (toward the east) taken for the Tacoma Chamber of Commerce. The marquee for the Broadway Theater (902-14 Broadway) is to the right. The Hotel Winthrop (773 Broadway) is on the left. The Tacoma Theater closed down for a remodel and reopened in 1927 as the Broadway Theater. In 1933, under new management, it became the Music Box. It was destroyed by fire in April of 1963.

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1920-1930; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Theaters--Tacoma; Broadway Theater (Tacoma);

This view of Tacoma's Federal Building, 1102 A Street, which is home to the Main Branch of the U. S. Post Office, is from the corner of So. 12th and A St. The Federal Building, built to house the Federal courts and the main post office in Tacoma, was formally dedicated in July of 1910 after years of delays and construction problems. The initial plans for the building were shown to the public in 1906, but the foundation was not started until September, 1908. In May of 1929, shortly after this photograph was taken, the 12th Street entrance was remodeled to provide a parcel post room . The Federal courts moved out of the building to their new home at the Union Depot in 1992.

Federal Building (Tacoma);