St. Leo's Halloween party. St. Leo's Halloween party for children in 1923 was a popular success with many children garbed in various costumes. St. Leo's parochial school and friends were invited to the Halloween activities held at the St. Leo's Social Hall. Prizes were awarded for the best character impersonation and the most comic costume. G47.1-103 (TNT 10-27-23, p. 3-article)

Halloween--Tacoma; School children--Tacoma--1920-1930; Costumes;

Olene brothers. The brothers Olene both played football at the College of Puget Sound with Melvin (left) in the Class of '24 and Leonard in the Class of '27. Similar in weight and height, they were high-powered fullbacks. The 1924 C.P.S. yearbook, the Tamanawas, listed their nicknames as "Vas" (Melvin) and "Gas" (Leonard). Melvin, a transfer from Albany College, was senior class president and graduated with a degree in chemistry that year. The Olenes were from Albany, Oregon. G54.1-005 (1924 Tamanawas; TNT 11-2-23, p. 23)

Football players--Tacoma--1920-1930; Olene, Melvin; Olene, Leonard;

Feed belts at Tacoma Smelter. The belts were located under the ore dock where concentrates and ore were received from ships. View of smelter operations taken in November of 1923. G37.1-193 (Additional information provided by a reader)

American Smelting & Refining Co. (Tacoma); Smelters--Tacoma--1920-1930;

New Dodge on display. A shiny new Dodge touring car is parked outdoors on November 5, 1923, with a young man at the driver's seat and another man standing next to the front passenger's door. Photograph ordered by Griffith Motor Co., Dodge dealers.

Dodge automobile;

Stadium High School's football players. This is Stadium High's first team in the 1923 season. Unlike the previous year which began with only three veterans on the team, Stadium was able to send eleven experienced men to battle cross-town rival Lincoln. Stadium would go on to defeat Lincoln High School three times in tightly contested games. Stadium was led by Captain Bayard Mosher (seated, third from left holding ball) and coached by Myron Carr (standing in dark jersey with cap) and Vern Clark (standing extreme right in second row). (1924 Tahoma yearbook; T.Times 11-19-1923, p. 10) G46.1-034

Football players--Tacoma--1920-1930; Students--Tacoma--1920-1930; Stadium High School (Tacoma); Mosher, Bayard; Carr, Myron; Clark, Vern;

Model Bakery's motto was "Where Quality and Purity Counts." Their delivery truck and driver are pictured on a foggy November day in 1923. Model Bakery was located at the corner of So. 38th & Yakima Ave. It was owned by Gust and Thora Westerdale. Because the bakery had previously been pleased with other dependable Dodge commercial vehicles, they decided to purchase a new model due to its improved appearance, larger seats, and easier riding. TPL-951; G33.1-002 (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 11-18-23, 8-G)

Trucks--Tacoma--1920-1930; Dodge trucks; Model Bakery (Tacoma);

Forms are in place for the pouring of concrete at the construction site for the new C.H. Jones Hall at the College of Puget Sound. Groundbreaking for the new campus at N. 15th & Warner St. had occurred on May 22, 1923, and Jones Hall was to be the first of many major campus buildings. The administration building, Jones Hall, is named after Tacoma lumberman Charles H. Jones whose widow gifted the school $200,000 on the day of its groundbreaking. The Jones family had previously donated $50,000 to the school just the year before. Sutton, Whitney & Dugan designed the college campus and J.E. Bonnell & Son were the contractors. (TNT 5-23-23, p. 6- Jones' gift)

Progress photographs; Building construction--Tacoma--1920-1930; College of Puget Sound (Tacoma)--1920-1930; College of Puget Sound (Tacoma)--Buildings; Jones Hall (Tacoma)--Building construction;

American Legion members joined in a flagpole raising in Yelm on Armistice Day, November 11, 1923. The American Legion was chartered by the U.S. Congress on September 16, 1919, as a patriotic war-time veterans organization. The Yelm community, Yelm Legioneers, neighboring posts and volunteer workers from Olympia's building trades unions all came together to erect a $15,000 home for the Yelm post in one single day. It appears that the raising of the flagpole was the first business of the day. This would be the permanent home of the Joseph Redberg Post No. 164, American Legion, Yelm. G23.1-043A (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 11-11-23, 8-E-article; TDL 11-12-23, p. 1-article)

American Legion (Yelm); Patriotic societies--Yelm; Veterans organizations--Yelm; Flagpoles--Yelm;

The 6th Engineers band from Camp Lewis plays as the American flag flies on the new American Legion flagpole successfully raised in Yelm on November 11, 1923. Legion members and members of the community had worked together to raise and anchor the flagpole and build a new home for the Yelm Legioneers. The Yelm post did not have a permanent home until the one-day erection of their American Legion building on Armistice Day in 1923. The small group, numbering only 27 active members, was supplemented with help from other local American Legion posts, members of the Yelm community, and 150 members of the building trades union from Olympia in constructing their new home. The building was worth approximately $15,000 but just about all costs were covered with the donation of land from McKenna Mill Co. and architectural design by Tacoma architects Shaw & Shaw. Labor was also donated and supervised by skilled workmen from the Hurley-Mason Co. of Tacoma. Elmer Fristo was the commander of the Joseph Redberg Post No. 164, American Legion, Yelm. G23.1-043B (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 11-11-23, 8-E-article; TDL 11-12-23, p. 1-article)

American Legion (Yelm); Patriotic societies--Yelm; Veterans organizations--Yelm; Flagpoles--Yelm; Flags--United States; Military bands--United States;

This assembled crew helped to build the new American Legion hall in Yelm in November of 1923. American Legion members had raised the flag on the new flagpole planted on the building site. (see B8864 & B8865) The American Legion was then a fairly new veterans organization as it was founded in Paris in March of 1919 and then chartered by the U.S. Congress in September of the same year. The Yelm post had 27 active members situated in this small town of about 600 people. Their new hall was built in a single day (foundation being prepared the week before) with help from other American Legion posts and the Yelm community. The hall was on three acres of donated land from the McKenna Mill Co. There was virtually no cost to legion members as various companies donated their time and expertise to this veterans organization. More than 500 workers participated in the event, including 150 members of the building trades union from Olympia. G23.1-049 (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 11-11-23, 8-E-article; TDL 11-12-23, p. 1-article)

American Legion (Yelm); Patriotic societies--Yelm; Veterans organizations--Yelm; Building construction--Yelm;

Rotary club members presented two productions of "Deestrik Skule," the first at Immanual Presbyterian Church on November 23, 1923, and another performance at the Scottish Rite Cathedral on December 6th. G23.1-137; G64.1-036

Rotary Club of Tacoma (Tacoma); Comedies; Theatrical productions--Tacoma--1920-1930; Clubs--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Legendary fighter pilot and race car driver, Eddie Rickenbacker, established his own automobile manufacturing company for a short time which produced coupes and sedans named after himself. To drum up publicity for his new car, three local women drivers were used to handle a seven-day continously run endurance marathon as pictured above in December of 1923. Margaret Hickey was the first driver when the endurance run began at 12:31 p.m. in front of City Hall on December 3, 1923. Irma Mottau and Helen Selden would take over at 4-hour intervals. The women did not break speed limits and were not limited to particular routes so drove from Des Moines to Olympia and points between in often rough weather. To ensure that the motor was not tampered with, and not turned off, Sheriff Tom Desmond and Police Captain Fred Gardner sealed the hood of the Rickenbacker coupe prior to the start of the run. The seal would not be broken until the end of the run, at 12:31 p.m. on December 10th. The three women, with Helen Selden as the finishing driver, were greeted at the finish line by over 500 people at the conclusion of the 2,642 mile marathon. A classic 4-passenger coupe like the above sold for $2325 at the time of the race. Local distributor of the Rickenbacker was the Sound Motor Co., Sixth & Tacoma, who sponsored the race. G11.1-006 (photograph is also labeled B9060) (TDL 12-11-23, p. 5)

Rickenbacker automobile; Signs (Notices);

General view of the sprawling Wheeler-Osgood plant taken from the Washington Parlor Co. site on December 3, 1923. Its primary product was wood doors as its large sign proclaimed. The firm was established in 1889 and was in business for over 60 years before closing in 1952. G9.1-032

Wheeler, Osgood Co. (Tacoma); Lumber industry--Tacoma--1920-1930; Industrial facilities--Tacoma;

Sheriff Tom Desmond and Police Captain Fred Gardner were photographed in early December, 1923, sealing the hood of a black Rickenbacker coupe with General Cords that bears the sign "Non-stop Endurance Run Car/Seven Day Continuous/Driven Only By Women/Rickenbacker of course." The seal on the hood would not be broken by the police officers until the end of the race at 12:31 p.m., 7 days later. The engine would run continuously. The Rickenbacker was named after war ace and racer, Eddie Rickenbacker. Three women, Margaret Hickey, Helen Selden and Irma Mottauare are seated in the car. All daughters of prominent Tacoma families, they would each take 4-hour driving shifts during the 7-day/168 hour endurance run. Women were chosen instead of more experienced male drivers to prove the Rickenbacker's reliability and ease of handling. TPL-180; G11.1-052 (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 12-2-23, G-5, 8-G, 9-G-articles; Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 12-9-23, G-3; TDL 12-11-23, p. 5-article)

Rickenbacker automobile; Signs (Notices); Desmond, Tom; Gardner, Fred; Hickey, Margaret; Selden, Helen; Mottau, Irma;

This motorcyclist on an Indian motorcycle with sidecar is believed to be Henry Thaut who was photographed outside the Hewitt Cycle Co. store in December of 1923. His sturdy leather gauntlets, high-top leather boots, thick wool peacoat and newsboy-styled cap made riding in the elements a little more comfortable. Hewitt Cycle, owned by Wilmer C. Hewitt, sold Indian motorcycles and Indian Snell bicycles as well as cycling supplies and repairs. The 1923 City Directory indicates that the store was located in the Masonic Building at 734-36 Saint Helens Avenue. G66.1-143

Motorcycles--Tacoma--1920-1930; Men--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1920-1930; Hewitt Cycle Co. (Tacoma);

Business is booming at the Port of Tacoma in December of 1923 as shipments of lumber wait to be loaded onto vessels heading for the Orient and points elsewhere. More than four ships are docked on this winter day as demand for the Northwest's lumber remained high. The day of this photograph Japanese steamers Kiso Maru and Somedono were loading at Pier 2 for the Orient and the two-stacked United American liner Mount Clinton was taking on lumber for the east coast. At Pier 1 was the Japanese steamer Yehime Maru, the British steamer Tyndareus and the motorship Donna Lane. The lumber on display was just a sample of the millions of feet of lumber in storage at port facilities. G49.1-205 (TNT 12-11-23, p. 13)

Port of Tacoma (Tacoma); Shipping--Tacoma--1920-1930; Cargo ships--1920-1930;

The junior class of Annie Wright Seminary presented as its class play, "Innman's Ranch," in December of 1923. All the characters were played by the female students including the male roles. G10.1-098

Theatrical productions--Tacoma--1920-1930; Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1920-1930;

This is the Tacoma Tile & Brick Company brick plant at 5005 North Orchard Street just days prior to its December 1923 start of operations. The old F. H. Goss Brick Co. property in Ruston was purchased in the summer of 1923 by John Buffelen, the owner of the Buffelen Company. The Goss brickyard, which was located just south of the Tacoma Smelter (ASARCO), had been closed for nearly ten years and much of the brick used in Tacoma had to be imported at great expense. Once open, the newly acquired and updated brickyard employed about 40 people. The Buffelen name had been strongly attached previously to the production of wood doors and plywood. G33.1-092 (TDL 7-3-23, p. 1-article; TNT 12-14-23, p. 11-article & alternate photograph)

Industrial facilities--Ruston; Brick industry--Ruston; Building materials industry--Ruston; Tacoma Tile & Brick Co. (Tacoma);

ca. 1924. The National Bank of Tacoma. Several men in overcoats gather around the exterior of the National Bank of Tacoma. The National Bank of Tacoma had its main branch at 1123 Pacific and two branches, one on "K" St. and one at 713 So. 38th St. (WSHS- negative A616-0)

National Bank of Tacoma (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma--1920-1930;

ca. 1924. Group of young people being served by uniformed woman. (WSHS- negative A631-0)

Students--Tacoma--1920-1930; Servants--Tacoma--1920-1930; Women domestics;

ca. 1924. This wood framed home with deep covered porch was photographed in Tacoma's south end in early summer of 1924. It was located on an elevated corner lot with landscaping yet to be completed. The home was built by the M.W.F. Wallace Co. who may have also been developing the lot next door. This was a modern 5-room bungalow, brand new and ready to be occupied. The home had hardwood floors in the living room, a separate dining room, fireplace, two bedrooms and a 3-piece bath. Neither the sales price nor the actual street location were listed in the advertisement which ran in the News Tribune's May 30, 1924, edition. G29.1-064 (TNT 5-30-24, p.23-ad)

Houses--Tacoma--1920-1930;

ca. 1924. West side of Gig Harbor in the 1920s. The Skansie Shipbuilding Co. buildings are in the center of the circa 1924 photograph. The company was formed by four Yugoslavian brothers, Pete, Mitchell, Andrew and Joe Skansie, in 1912. Skansie Shipbuilding was building ferries at the time, having completed the motor ferry "Elk" in 1921 and probably in the process of constructing the ferry "Wollochet" which would be put into service in 1925. TPL-2546

Skansies Shipbuilding Co. (Gig Harbor); Boat & ship industry--Gig Harbor;

ca. 1924. The Rt. Rev. Frederic W. Keator, Bishop of the Episcopal diocese of Olympia from 1902-1924, embracing all the territory of Washington west of the Cascades. Rev. Keator was born October 22, 1855. He was a lawyer in Chicago before he was called to enter the ministry. He served for 22 years in our state, during which time he resided in Tacoma. Aside from his duties as a prelate, he was also active in several civic and social positions. He was president of the Tacoma Public Library Board from 1907-1910 and 1912-1923, as well as serving on the boards of Annie Wright Seminary and Whitman College. He was an honorary chaplin for the Washington State Guard and a dedicated Mason, instrumental in the founding of the Shriners Hospital for Children in Portland. He died January 31, 1924 of heart trouble in a hospital in New Haven, Conn., where he had gone to visit his son. (TNT 2/1/1924, pg. 1)

Keator, Frederic W.; Bishops--Tacoma; Prelates--Tacoma;