On August 22, 1934, several men standing on the roof of the Jones Building (now known as the Pantages) craned their necks to watch the airship Macon fly over the downtown skyline. Thousands lined the streets and rooftops of buildings to watch the dirigible make a wide circle over the city around 8 a.m. Construction of the dirigible cost the US two and a half million dollars. Tacoma was also visited by airships Shenandoah in 1924 and Akron in 1932. The Macon was lost over the Pacific Ocean offshore of Point Sur Feb. 12, 1935. (T. Times 8/22/1934, pg. 1)
Airships--Tacoma; Jones Building (Tacoma); Historic buildings--Tacoma;
The ghostly USS Macon, a dirigible, flew over the Jones Building (now known as the Pantages) in downtown Tacoma on August 22, 1934. The eerie airship was almost disguised by the clouds. Thousands of spectators lined the streets and rooftops of buildings to watch the dirigible make a wide circle over the city around 8 a.m. The Daily Ledger called the airship "a great silver fish of the skies." The Macon was lost over the waters of the Pacific Ocean offshore from Point Sur on February 12, 1935. (T. Times 8/22/1934, pg. 1)
Airships--Tacoma; Jones Building (Tacoma); Historic buildings--Tacoma;
ca. 1936. An unidentified man wearing a cap and leather jacket stands beside a sleek two-door automobile parked in front of the Tacoma totem pole. The Mason Block building and top of the 11th Street Bridge are in the background. Richards Studio notes describe this photograph as "Dick Rodius." (WSHS)
Automobiles--1930-1940; Totem poles--Tacoma; Sheard & Thorne Totem Pole (Tacoma); Tacoma Totem Pole (Tacoma);
The Outcalt leaving for Red Bluff Camp, July 5, 1933. On the boat are some adult males, but mostly young men or boys, possibly Sea Scouts. (filed with Argentum)
Ship "Phoenix" in Tacoma. Large cargo vessel with small superstructure amidships, another with funnel at the stern. Wooden warehouses on pier, lumber mills and Tacoma skyline in background, pod of logs floating in foreground. (filed with Argentum)
Ship "Phoenix," a large cargo vessel with small superstructure amidships, another with funnel at the stern, being helped to pier by tugboat. Warehouses on pier, lumber mills and Tacoma skyline in background, pod of logs floating in water. (filed with Argentum)
A large cargo vessel being helped to pier by tugboat. Warehouses on pier, lumber mills and Tacoma skyline in background, pod of logs floating in water. (filed with Argentum)
ca. 1932. Front view of an automobile parked in front of the Edward B. Rhodes Post, American Legion Memorial Building, an art deco structure designed by Heath, Gove and Bell, Architects in 1929. Since 1991, this building has been home to the Karpeles Manuscript Library. (filed with Argentum)
Automobiles--1930-1940; American Legion Edward B. Rhodes Post No. 2 (Tacoma); Patriotic societies--Tacoma--1930-1940;
In November of 1934, part of the fishing fleet was pictured moored at the Port Commission Docks. Tacoma at this time was home to about 45 fishing vessels. Among the fleet were the "Sima", the "Argo", and the "Sapho". A motorboat, the "Hazel" was tied to the Port walkway. The November 20th Tacoma Times published an editorial advocating that Tacoma build a larger Marina for the fleet, one that could dock upwards to 300 boats. The area suggested was along the south strip of the Port of Tacoma, near the Port Piers. (T. Times 11/20/1934, pg. 1) (WSHS)
This view of Tacoma's fishing fleet, moored at the Port Commission Docks dates from November of 1934. At that time, about 45 fishing vessels called Tacoma their home port. A long row of fishing boats was photographed, their images reflected on the still water. Among the boats tied to the dock are: the "Chancellor", the "Blanco", the "Orbit" and the "Falcon." An editorial on page one of the November 20th Tacoma Times supported Initiative 77 banning fish traps. The newspaper championed building a larger marina in Tacoma that could support an expanded fleet of boats. A strip of land belonging to the Port of Tacoma, near the Port Piers, was proposed for the site of the new facility that could be the home of up to 300 boats. (T. Times 11/20/1934, pg. 1)
This new oil delivery truck, with Clifford Griffin at the wheel, had just been purchased by the Griffin Fuel Company in August of 1940. It was made especially for quick small deliveries and had a visible recording meter. The Griffin Fuel Co. was a pioneer Tacoma firm founded in 1889. The truck is parked outside the company offices at 1910 Commerce Street. The building to the right was the Snoqualmie Falls Power Company Transfer House, 250 South 19th Street. The Transfer House is now part of the Library at the University of Washington Tacoma; the Griffin Fuel Co. building has been demolished. (T.Times 8-15-40, p. 4) (Additional identification provided by a reader)
Griffin, Clifford; Griffin Fuel Co. (Tacoma); Trucks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Snoqualmie Falls Power Co. Transfer House (Tacoma);
Ace Furnace & Steel Co., truck loaded with two boilers, a fan and tanks. Ace Furnace was located at 3740 So. Union Ave. and was owned by Alvin T. Davies. Davies was also president of Birchfield Boilers. Ace manufactured industrial products out of steel. Their product list included boilers, furnaces, tanks and pre-fabricated gas stations.
Ace Furnace & Steel Co., truck loaded with two boilers, a fan and tanks. Ace Furnace was located at 3740 So. Union Ave. and was owned by Alvin T. Davies. Davies was also president of Birchfield Boilers. Ace manufactured industrial products out of steel. Their product list included boilers, furnaces, tanks and pre-fabricated gas stations.
Exterior -Packard Bell Co. Delivery trucks and vans stand ready at the Packard Bell Co., 2515 Tacoma Avenue South, on April 17, 1957. They provided in-home factory service and repairs of Packard Bell televisions. According to the 1957 City Directory, Hjalmer E. Olson was manager of the store. Packard Bell shared space in the building with the T.W. Heckel Co., also dealers in television equipment. Packard Bell had previously been located nearby at 2329 Tacoma Avenue South. Photograph ordered by Bozell & Jacobs.
Packard Bell Co. (Tacoma); Trucks--Tacoma--1950-1960; Televisions--1950-1960;
Mansfield Corporation, located at 2928 South "K" St., were boat builders. An example of their boat construction was this Mansfield Custom Line pleasure craft on display at 2201 Pacific Avenue. It was either 16 feet or 20 feet long. This sleek model may have been a speed boat. Other boats can be seen dimly in the building's garage. Photograph ordered by Mansfield Corporation.
ca. 1941. Abbott Petroleum Co.'s "Deluxe Gasoline" truck parked in front of company offices circa 1941. The Abbott Co. were distributors of Sunset Oil Co. products.
