ca. 1880. Henry Drum was elected mayor of Tacoma on May 1, 1888. Mayor Drum, a prominent banker and staunch Democrat, defeated A.C. Smith by a majority of 52 votes out of a total of 1,712. Mr. Drum had arrived in New Tacoma only five years before his mayoral election and had immediately immersed himself in the business and social functions of this growing city. He was a stockholder and director in many businesses including the Skagit Railway & Lumber Co., Fidelity Trust Co., and Tacoma Lumber & Manufacturing Co. as well as one of the organizers of the First Unitarian Society in Tacoma and was an active Mason. Mr. Drum served one term as mayor, choosing not to run for re-election. He became the only Democrat elected to the first state Senate and served several terms. This picture is from William F. Prosser's "A History of the Puget Sound Country" The Lewis Publishing Company, 1903. opp p.96 (North Pacific History Co.: History of the Pacific Northwest, p. 307-309) ALBUM 16. Also G1.1-055

President Warren G. Harding and his wife visited Tacoma on July 5, 1923. A crowd estimated at 25,000 in the Stadium Bowl braved drizzling rain to give President Warren G. Harding and his wife a very warm welcome. Those in attendance had been asked to bring small American flags to wave upon the President's arrival in the Stadium. Thousands more had stood for hours on Pacific Avenue awaiting the Presidential special at Union Station. The Presidential party, including Cabinet Secretaries Herbert Hoover and Henry C. Wallace, motored to the Tacoma Hotel for a public reception after which President and Mrs. Harding visited the disabled veterans at Cushman Hospital prior to the Stadium appearance. The Hardings left Tacoma via the transport USS Henderson, which circled the bay close to Stadium, so that the crowds could give one last cheer. (TDL 7-5-23, p. 1) B8286; G68.1-074; TPL-901

Harding, Warren G.; Presidents--United States; Stadium Bowl (Tacoma); Guests--Tacoma--1920-1930; Crowds--Tacoma--1920-1930;

President Warren G. Harding, clutching his cane, was photographed in Tacoma on July 5, 1923, while on an hours-long visit to the city. The President was on his way to Alaska via the USS Henderson when he stopped in Tacoma. He was feted at a reception held at the elegant Tacoma Hotel and paid a visit to the US Veterans Hospital (Cushman) before being honored at the packed Stadium Bowl. President Harding never made another trip to Tacoma as he died 28 days later at the age of 57. TPL-5453

Harding, Warren G.; Presidents--United States; Visits of state--Tacoma--1920-1930; Guests--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Informal portrait of President Warren G. Harding believed to have been taken in July of 1923. President Harding and his wife visited Tacoma on July 5, 1923 and were given a warm welcome at Stadium Bowl where 25,000 people stood in the drizzling rain just to greet the presidential couple. The President was on his way to Alaska via the naval transport the USS Henderson and would not return to Tacoma. He died 28 days later, at the age of 57, of a heart attack.

Harding, Warren G.; Presidents--United States; Guests--Tacoma--1920-1930; Visits of state--Tacoma--1920-1930;

On August 13, 1924, Mayor A.V. Fawcett was pictured shaking hands with the driver of a Ford touring car who was promoting traveling on the Lincoln Highway from New York to San Francisco. The Lincoln Highway was America's first transcontinental highway created with the car in mind. The era of dirt roads was to end, superceded by concrete roads that made traveling easier and encouraged purchase of automobiles. This car, piloted by race driver Frank Kulich, was the 10,000,000th Ford car to roll off the assembly line. The number 10,000,000 is stamped on its engine. It arrived in Tacoma at 2:30 pm and headed a procession of some 100 Fords to end at City Hall. After an overnight stopover, the 10,000,000th Ford left en route to Seattle. TPL-157; G11.1-053 (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 8-10-24, 10-G-article; TDL 8-14-24, p. 3-article)

Fawcett, Angelo Vance; Mayors--Tacoma--1920-1930; Ford automobile; Shaking hands--Tacoma;

On October 29, 1924, a group of city and railroad officials met in Mayor A.V. Fawcett's office in (Old) City Hall, 625 Commerce St., to sign Belt Line contracts. The municipal carline was now the industrial belt line, effective November 1st. Mayor Fawcett is seated at far left; also seated are City Attorney E.K. Murray and chairman Ernest Dolge of the traffic bureau. Among others present was the mayor's son, and future mayor, Val Fawcett, second man standing in rear at left. The sole woman in the group is city clerk, Genevieve Martin. (other officials are listed in the Tacoma Daily Ledger article, 10-30-24, p. 4) TPL-10461

Mayors--Tacoma--1920-1930; Fawcett, Angelo Vance; Fawcett, Clarence Valdo, 1900-1965; Municipal officials--Tacoma--1920-1930; Contracts; Martin, Genevieve; Dolge, Ernest; Murray, E.K.;

ca. 1924. Progress photograph - State Legislative (Capitol) Building. Although construction on the Legislative Building in Olympia had begun in 1923, it was not the first attempt at the creation of a new state capitol building. Ernest Flagg of New York City had won a national competition in 1894 to become the project's architect. His design called for a compact structure facing south with "rusticated" ground floor, two main floors and an attic. The dome would have a "Gilded Age" appearance. Excavation and construction of foundations and basement, of brick and exterior gray Tenino stone, followed. However, a change of administration delayed the construction of a permanent state capitol building and the legislature instead moved into the Thurston County Courthouse in downtown Olympia until 1927. The lack of space in the courthouse instigated a call for the resumption of plans to build a new state capitol building. A richer, larger scale plan was sought which would include the Temple of Justice and future buildings grouped as necessary. Only 30 entries were submitted in 1911 with another New York City twosome, Walter Robb Wilder and Harry Keith White, emerging as the winners. The Temple of Justice and Insurance Building would be completed first, in 1920 and 1921 respectively. The Legislative Building would be constructed on the site of the Flagg foundations. Pictured above ca. 1924 are the foundations and monumental steps. The stone facing is of Wilkeson stone from quarries in Pierce County; lighter in color than Tenino or Chuckanut stone, it was felt that the off-white tones with cream and pink hints would provide a warmer appearance on cold, rainy days. Durable, Wilkeson stone was available in vast quantities and would be used during the years of construction. (Johnston: Washington's Audacious State Capitol and Its Builders)

Building construction--Olympia--1920-1930; Legislative Building (Olympia);

Governor Roland H. Hartley and Scott Z. Henderson, Afifi Potentate, are flanked by two rows of saluting Afifi Shriners under the command of Capt. J. Middlesworth on January 24, 1925. Governor Hartley, also wearing a fez, is on the right. The Afifi Shriners joined a 32-car caravan from their temple to Vancouver, Washington. They swung by the Insurance Building in Olympia to pick up Governor Hartley, also a Shriner. After initiation of 17 new members, the caravan continued on to Portland to inspect the Shriners Crippled Children's Hospital. TPL-8746; G23.1-075A (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 1-25-25, p. 1, 4A-article; TDL 1-26-25, p. 3)

Hartley, Roland H.; Governors; Henderson, Scott Z.; Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (Tacoma); Saluting--Olympia; Insurance Building (Olympia);

Washington Governor Roland H. Hartley stands at the entrance to Olympia's Insurance Building watching as uniformed Afifi Shriners offer a salute on January 24, 1925. Governor Hartley is the shorter man on the right. The blurred figure next to him is Afifi Temple Potentate Scott Z. Henderson. The Shriners were in town to pick up Governor Hartley and his staff and accompany them to Vancouver, Washington, for Shriner initiation ceremonies and then travel onward to Portland to view the Crippled Children's Hospital. Although a Saturday, the governor was hard at work in his executive office when the Afifi Temple Shriners arrived. G23.1-075B (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 1-25-25, p. 1, 4A-article)

Hartley, Roland H.; Governors; Henderson, Scott Z.; Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (Tacoma); Saluting--Olympia; Insurance Building (Olympia);

On January 24, 1925, Governor Roland H. Hartley was photographed overseeing two rows of uniformed Afifi Shriners. He is pictured on a first floor balcony of the Insurance Building along with two Potentates. Governor Hartley is on the right and Afifi Temple Potentate Scott Z. Henderson is at the extreme left. The other man was not identified. (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 1-25-25, p. 1, 4A-article)

Hartley, Roland H.; Governors; Henderson, Scott Z.; Fraternal organizations; Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (Tacoma); Insurance Building (Olympia);

ca. 1925. Large group of men in business suits outside of the Mayor's office in the (Old) City Hall at 625 Commerce St. The men are unidentified in this circa 1925 photograph with the exception of the man seated second to the right who is thought to be Dr. Hinton Jonez, prominent Tacoma physician.

Municipal government--Tacoma--1930-1940; Old City Hall (Tacoma);

Early in January of 1926, Tacoma voters were flooding into the Registrar's office on the third floor of City Hall to qualify to vote in the upcoming city primary and general elections. The throng included three new voters, pictured center of the counter. The trio was composed of Ingeborg Ekberg, Alice Raymond and Vera Landers, all students at the College of Puget Sound and all having just turned 21. According to city clerk Genevieve Martin almost 9,000 voters had registered in the first five days for the elections, which included another run for the Mayor's office by four time incumbent Angelo Vance Fawcett. TPL-3209 (TNT 1/11/1926, pg. 17- cropped picture, TNT 1/9/26, pg. 14-article on registration)

C.H. Ranschler, Superintendent of Elections, taught new voter Clara Hill how to use a voting machine in anticipation of the Primary Elections taking place in February of 1926. A record voter turnout, estimated to exceed 30,000, was expected at Tacoma's 101 polling places. At stake were the elections of the mayor and two City Councilmen. Five candidates had thrown their hats into the ring for the mayoral election and the two with the most votes in the February 23rd primary would run head-to-head in the March general election. Likely taken on the 2nd floor of the Old City Hall building.TPL-3206 (TNT 2/22/1926, pg. 16)

On March 9, 1926, Tacomans voted a new "tennent" into the Mayor's office when M.G. Tennent defeated four time Mayor Angelo G. Fawcett by a wide margin of 5,235 votes. At that time, the election had the heaviest vote ever cast in Tacoma with Tennent elected by the largest vote ever given a candidate for the office of Tacoma Mayor. The newly elected Mayor Tennent was photographed on the front steps of his home with his dog. Elderly Mayor Fawcett could not compete with the younger, more progressive Tennent. Mayor Tennent would serve two consecutive terms before being defeated himself by Harry P. Cain. TPL-1493 (TNT 3/10/1926, PG. 1)

On the morning of June 7, 1926, Tacoma saw a change in city government from "business as usual." The March 1926 election had brought defeat to all City Council incumbents up for re-election. Photographer Chapin Bowen captured the moment as the old Council stepped out and the new took their seats for their first meeting. Pictured around the table, left to right, are Jesse W. Silver- Public Works, newly elected A.S. Walters - Finance, newly elected Mayor Melvin G. Tennent, Ira Davisson- Light & Water and newly elected H. Dyer Dyment- Public Safety. Seated to the right is City Clerk Genevieve Martin. (TNT 6-7-26, p. 1-photograph is flipped in newspaper) Bowen 26375, TPL-9549

Four-time Tacoma mayor Angelo Vance Fawcett, right, turns over the reins of city government to new mayor Melvin G. Tennent on June 7, 1926. A. V. "Fighting" Fawcett was defeated by M. G. "Smilin'" Tennent in the election of March, 1926. By June, there was a new "Tennent" in City Hall. Fawcett was preparing to retire to his home at Greene Park after over 30 years of nearly continuous service and activity in city and county politics, including terms as Mayor 1896-97, 1910-11, 1914-19 and 1922-26. He introduced Tennent at the first meeting of the new city council by stating that he hoped and believed that Tennent would make a good mayor. Tennent, in response, extolled the retiring mayor and said that he would always be welcome to come back to the city council and give his advice. (TNT 6-7-26, p. 1) Bowen 26376 TPL-6320,

Mayor M.G. Tennent (extreme left with hat) and a contingent of football fans were on hand to greet the Gonzaga University football team at Union Depot on November 10, 1926. 22 "Bulldogs," led by coach "Clipper" Smith plus a manager and trainer, posed for a group portrait before traveling by car to the Winthrop Hotel. The Gonzaga team would face a local independent team comprised of Tacoma Athletic Commission athletes at Stadium Bowl for an Armistice Day game. The college students were heavy favorites and would indeed go on to defeat the Tacomans 41-0. (TDL 11-11-26, p. 7; TDL 11-12-26, p. 8-article)

Mayors--Tacoma--1920-1930; Tennent, Melvin Green; Football players--Tacoma--1920-1930; Students--Tacoma--1920-1930; Union Station (Tacoma);

ca. 1926. Mayor Melvin G. Tennent presents a key to the city to an unidentified military man. (WSHS)

Mayors--Tacoma--1920-1930; Tennent, Melvin Green; Keys (Hardware);

Washington Governor Roland H. Hartley (center with white handkerchief and watch chain) and Lt. Governor W. Lon Johnson (far right) are on the rostrum in legislative chambers on March 7, 1927. Their spouses are believed to be standing next to them. The third couple on the far left was not identified. Roland Hartley was elected governor twice, serving from 1924-32. Lon Johnson, a former state senator, served a single term as Lt. Gov. and later became a Superior Court Judge. Both men were Republicans. G74.1-193

Hartley, Roland H.; Governors; Johnson, W. Lon; Government officials--Washington;

ca. 1927. Legislative Building. A glimpse of the Legislative (Capitol) Building is partially obscured by towering firs in this ca. 1927 photograph. The Corinthian columns on the building's two porticoes are visible as well as the majestic dome. Care was taken to plan landscaping of the governmental complex to include great areas of lawn and placement of trees and other shrubs.

ca. 1927. Legislative Building. The final years of the Legislative Building project, which had begun with the laying of the building's cornerstone in 1922, primarily were concerned with interior work. As this view of the rotunda indicates, marble was extensively used within the Legislative Building as befitting its rich atmosphere. A contract for $850,000 was awarded the Vermont Marble Co. whose Tacoma plant was responsible for the cutting and polishing. A national search for marble setters had to be conducted since this specialized skill was not found locally. The Great Seal of the State of Washington, cast in bronze, was set into the marble stair landing directly under the dome. Until the late 1930's, the Great Seal remained unenclosed and thousands unintentionally trod upon the visage of George Washington, their feet wearing off his nose. Besides the light gray Alaska marble, bronzework was found throughout the rotunda with the railings of the fourth floor balcony (believed to be shown above) incorporating replicas of the state seal. Replicas of Roman firepots used for indirect lighting, also cast in bronze, were located at each corner of the rotunda. (Johnston: Washington's Audacious State Capitol and Its Builders)

ca. 1927. State Reception Room. Imported marble was used in the columns found in the State Reception Room of the Legislative Building. A decision was made by the project's co-architect, Walter Wilder, that the State Reception Room was to be the most ornate in the building. He chose Bresche Violet marble from Italy which had a creamy background interspersed with red, lavender and green veins. The floor was finished with teak and covered with a specially woven seamless rug. Adding to the ceremonial tone of the room, heavily lined velvet drapes with matching valences and silk cable tasseled ties were appropriate window coverings. A 7-foot round table was placed in the middle of the room surrounded by elaborately patterned chairs. High back chairs of the same pattern were lined up against the marble columns. The legislature had authorized a budget of some $600,000 for furnishings and opened the bidding to the nation. The New York City firm of W. and J. Sloane was chosen, with the cost of the enormous 7-foot table coming in at (then) an astonishing $1000. (Johnston: Washington's Audacious State Capitol and Its Builders)

ca. 1927. Legislative Building. Olympia's Legislative Building as seen circa 1927. This view is mainly of the right wing which included the House chambers. Both the House and Senate chambers would be finished in imported marble. The marble used in the House chamber was of French Escalette whose creamy look and blends of yellow, pink and red gave the chamber a warmer, lighter look than the more somber tones of the Senate chamber. (Johnston: Washington's Audacious State Capitol and Its Builders)

Legislative Building (Olympia);

ca. 1927. Legislative Building. Great curving walkways connected the Legislative Building with other parts of the Olympia complex. This view of the massive building focuses on the large expanse of sidewalks and includes the sight of three 1920s automobiles parked at the foot of the wide steps. Apparently after much discussion of the campus' landscaping, the clearance, grading, paving, and planting was mostly completely by 1930. (Johnston: Washington's Audacious State Capitol and Its Builders)

Legislative Building (Olympia); Sidewalks--Olympia;

ca. 1927. Legislative Building. The stately Legislative (Capitol) Building in Olympia looks complete in the above photograph taken about 1927. The building had Doric-colonnaded wings to the north and south and central colonnaded and pedimented entrance porticoes between. Its walls were thick, 12 inches of stone facing together with brick or concrete backing with an overall thickness of 2 feet, 5 inches. The large oval in front of the massive steps appears to be a lush grass lawn. (Johnston: Washington's Audacious State Capitol and Its Builders)

Legislative Building (Olympia);

ca. 1927. View of State Capitol buildings after 1925. L-R are the Insurance Building, Legislative (Capitol) Building, and the Temple of Justice. All buildings utilized Wilkeson stone, a durable sandstone, from the quarries of Pierce County. The Temple of Justice was accepted by the state in August of 1920 at a total cost of $942,230. Located east of the Legislative Building, the Insurance Building was constructed in response to the increasing office space needs of the state government. Using elements of the Roman Doric order, the Insurance Building was occupied in 1921 by a variety of state offices including the governor's office. The Insurance Building cost more than the Temple of Justice - at slightly over a million dollars. ($1,032,000.) The Legislative Building was the last of the three to be officially completed in 1928 with its total cost $7,385,768.21, including nearly $600,000 in furnishings. Landscaping of the complex would follow. (Johnston: Washington's Audacious State Capitol and Its Builders)

Legislative Building (Olympia); Insurance Building (Olympia); Temple of Justice (Olympia);

ca. 1927. Group of men standing in front of a brick or stucco building. In the very back are believed to be, left to right, Commissioners Jessie Silver (Public Works) and H. Dyer Dyment (Public Safety.) An unidentified man pours into a glass held by Mayor Melvin Tennent (right.) (WSHS)

Mayors--Tacoma--1920-1930; Tennent, Melvin Green; Silver, Jesse; Dyment, Dyer; Municipal officials--Tacoma--1920-1930;

ca. 1927. Legislative Building. The most complex structural element was the building's dome. Possibly the fourth highest dome in the world, the dome was one of the last great self-supporting masonry domes built. New York City architects Walter Wilder and Harry White envisioned the creation of three domes, blending them into a structure 176 feet above a base 102 feet above the ground. The overall height of the dome would be 278 feet, resting on a 130-foot monolith foundation of concrete and steel which supported four massive corner piers. Topping-out ceremonies, in which the final stone was set into place on the lantern, occurred on October 13, 1926. (Johnston: Washington's Audacious State Capitol and Its Builders)

Legislative Building (Olympia);

ca. 1927. Interior of rotunda - Legislative Building. This view of the rotunda's interior was believed to have been taken shortly after its completion. The rotunda was located directly beneath the Legislative Building's dome. After much discussion, it was decided not to use all marble in the interior of the rotunda but to use plaster as the interior finish. Besides the cost, it was felt that the presence of too much marble would make it too austere. The marble that was used in the rotunda was from Alaska with its light gray tones; the same was used in entrances, staircases and corridors. Richer, more expensive imported marble would be utilized in the legislative chambers and in the state reception room. (Johnston: Washington's Audacious State Capitol and Its Builders)

Legislative Building (Olympia); Rotundas--Olympia;

ca. 1927. Portico on Legislative Building. This is believed to be at the south entrance. Most of the ornamental carvings on stonework was done after the stone was in place. The columns were positioned first in a raw state prior to stone carvers shaping them into elaborate designs. Stone carving was such a specialized profession that crews were assembled drawn from all parts of the nation, including many Scotsmen. A combination of hand tools and sandblasting equipment was used by the craftsmen who had to carve the capitals from high scaffolding. (Johnston: Washington's Audacious State Capitol and Its Builders)