ca. 1906. A fleet of new Ford automobiles is lined up outside the Washington Automobile Co., 710-12 Pacific Ave., circa 1906. The firm, operated by W.W. Pickerill, was the first automobile dealership in Tacoma. Prior to being occupied by the Washington Automobile Co., the building had been the home of the Tacoma Athletic Club and also served later as the Odd Fellows Temple.

Ford automobile; Washington Automobile Co. (Tacoma);

ca. 1906. A small crowd scattered on the sidewalk pauses to admire a fleet of new Fords lined up outside the Washington Automobile Co., 710-12 Pacific Ave., circa 1906. The Washington Automobile Co. was the first car dealership in Tacoma. It was operated by car enthusiast and entrepreneur W.W. Pickerill. The brick building housing the dealership had previously been home to the Chas. W. Langert Liquor Co. and the Tacoma Athletic Club and later became the Odd Fellows Lodge. The Washington Automobile Co. was in business there from 1905-1909.

Ford automobile; Washington Automobile Co. (Tacoma);

ca. 1907. Dorcas Spalt rides through Wright Park in her 1906 Cadillac, driven by her son, Worthy Morris. Purported to be the first Cadillac in Tacoma. Man standing next to car was not identified except as a friend of Mr. Morris. (Original print owned by Allen Morris. No print copy on file.)

Cadillac automobile; Spalt, Dorcas; Morris, Worthy; Wright Park (Tacoma);

ca. 1915. Sepia photograph of a man, possibly J. Frank Hickey, standing next to Tacoma Transit Co. bus parked outside the Donnelly Hotel, 9th & Pacific, ca. 1915. The small bus apparently had a Puyallup-Tacoma route. Tacoma Transit was the first bus line in Tacoma and was started by J. Frank Hickey in 1913. Mr. Hickey would also become the president of the elegant Tacoma Hotel.

Buses--Tacoma; Tacoma Transit Co. (Tacoma);

ca. 1915. Firestone tire service truck at Tacoma Speedway circa 1915. The location was the Tacoma Speedway, about seven miles from Tacoma. The occasion was probably the three auto races which composed a great part of the summer Montamara Festo. The Firestone service vehicle was there in all likelihood to supply replacement tires to the cars which raced 100, 200, and 250 miles respectively. A new "lattice" track was in use. It had replaced the old dirt track in 1914 but racers still had to deal with unexpected difficulties such as splinters. Two million feet of lumber, board measure, consisting of Washington fir, were used for the new track. Speedway construction was a relatively new process at that time. (speedway construction information: Standard Oil Bulletin, Vol. 3, ca. 1915)

Firestone Tire; Trucks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920;

ca. 1916. J.E. "Ed" Hahn and Bill Gray (behind steering wheel), foreman and sales manager, respectively, of the Gerlinger Motor Car Co., are seated on a Gersix truck ca. 1916 while a band plays in the rear. The Gerlinger Motor Car Company, 3011 South Fife Street, manufactured 6-cylinder, structural steel trucks in Tacoma beginning in 1915. This particular truck may have been the third truck manufactured by the Tacoma Company. Gerlinger Motor Car Co. eventually became the Kenworth Motor Truck Co., a leading producer of custom trucks. A Kenworth dealership opened in Tacoma in 1929 and both Bill Gray and Ed Hahn worked there for many years. Mr. Gray left in 1940; Mr. Hahn stayed until 1950. Photograph provided by Robert (Bob) Hahn, Ed Hahn's son.

Hahn, J.E.; Gray, Bill; Trucks--Tacoma--1910-1920; Gerlinger Motor Car Co. (Tacoma);

ca. 1916. Gersix truck manufacturing plant at 3011 South Fife in Tacoma. View of 6-cyclinder, structural steel framed trucks. The Gerlinger Motor Car Co. was the manufacturer of Gersix trucks; the firm was managed by Edward E. Gerlinger. The company was later sold to Edgar Worthington and Cpt. Frederick Kent who renamed it the Gersix Motor Co. After reincorporation in 1923, Ken-Worth (named after the two principal shareholders, Worthington and Frederick Kent's son, Harry) was created. Kenworth Motor Truck Co. established its headquarters in Seattle and became known for their custom trucks. Photograph provided by Robert (Bob) Hahn, whose father, J.E. (Ed) Hahn, worked for many years at Gerlinger Motor Car Co. and later Kenworth. (www.kenworth.com/7100_ken.asp)

Gerlinger Motor Car Co. (Tacoma); Trucks--Tacoma--1910-1920;

A Blue Line Stage Co. bus is parked outside the Washington Dye Works, located downtown about 9th & Pacific, in March of 1919. The vehicle had tarp-like material covering one side of the windows and tires apparently manufactured by the U.S. Rubber Co. According to Bonney's History of Pierce County, the Blue Line Stage was established by William Hummon, Sumner resident, who had previously operated a livery business. The Blue Line Stage ran between Sumner and Tacoma. Two months later in May of 1919, there would be a new big White bus on this route. The Blue Line Stage would add a new 20-passenger car, mounted on a 2-ton White chassis, to its service. G66.1-025 (Bonney: History of Pierce County, Washington, Vol. III, p. 133-34; TDL 5-25-19, 4C-article & picture of new bus)

Buses--Tacoma--1910-1920; Blue Line Stage;

Miss Vera Jedlick proudly posed on March 21, 1919 with her new Essex automobile. She boasted of being the first Essex owner in Tacoma. The Essex first appeared on the market in 1919 and Miss Jedlick thought it was the finest car around. It took her five minutes after driving the Essex five blocks to decide to buy it. The Essex was a lighter and less expensive Hudson auto and was sold in Tacoma by the Pacific Car Co., at No. 2nd and G St. Miss Jedlick donated her car and her considerable driving talents two days a week to the Red Cross Motor Corps. She is wearing the Motor Corps uniform; the long coat and overseas cap. In the background is the large stone drinking fountain donated by Mayor Angelo Vance Fawcett to the city of Tacoma in 1908. It was originally installed at the intersection of 9th, Broadway and St. Helens Ave., but was later moved by another administration to 8th and A St. on a corner of Fireman's Park. It eventually obtained the euphonious nickname "Fawcett's Faucet." TPL-1681; G11.1-071 (TDL 3/30/1919, pg. C-13; TDL 3-16-19, "Pacific Car Company Chatter," Automotive section-small article)

Automobiles--Tacoma--1910-1920; Jedlick, Vera; Essex automobile; Community service--Tacoma--1910-1920; American Red Cross Pierce County Chapter (Tacoma); Drinking fountains--Tacoma--1910-1920;

A man exits Tacoma Transit Co. bus #105 near the 900 block of Pacific Ave. on June 8, 1919. The bus ran on sturdy Goodyear Cord tires and was used on the Tacoma-Puyallup route. The Moose cigar and tobacco store is on the near left; the Eau-Claire Apartments and Auto Parts Supply Co. in right rear. Photograph ordered by Goodyear. G66.1-056, TPL-1630

Buses--Tacoma--1910-1920; Tacoma Transit Co. (Tacoma); Tires--Tacoma;

125 convalescents from the Camp Lewis hospital along with 125 girls journeyed in Army trucks as far up Mt. Tacoma (Rainier) as possible on Sunday, June 22, 1919, stopping to have their photograph taken in Ashford. The excursion was sponsored by the Tacoma Council of Knights of Columbus. Every soldier at Camp Lewis was given the chance to enjoy the beautiful mountain and national park that summer courtesy of the Knights of Columbus. Picnic lunches were provided and various activities such as tobogganing and snowballing were scheduled. Bu-12656 (TNT 6-25-19, p. 13)

Trucks--1910-1920; Sightseers; Military personnel--1910-1920;

Seven Tacoma Inter-city Auto Freight Co. delivery trucks and their drivers lined up in downtown Tacoma in August of 1919. The company's motto was apparently "You Need It (Service) We Give It." The freight company's address was listed as 2312 A Street in the 1919 telephone book. In the background of this photograph are the F.S. Harmon furniture company and Hunt & Mottet hardware and sporting goods store. G66.2-131

Tacoma Inter-city Auto Freight Co. (Tacoma); Trucks--Tacoma--1910-1920; Moving & storage trade--Tacoma--1910-1920;

ca. 1919. Lindberg Grocery Co. delivery van circa 1919. The Lindberg Grocery Co. were wholesale distributors of "DelMonte," "Stadium," and "Linco" brands as well as cigars and candy. Their delivery van, parked along an unidentified street, had protective canvas over the sides and rear and the driver's cab was encased in tarp as well. Lindberg Grocery, owned and operated by Gustaf Lindberg, had been in Tacoma since about 1892. According to the 1920 City directory, the grocery store was located at South 23rd and "C" Streets and also imported Scandinavian specialties to serve the area's large Scandinavian population. TPL-1680; G34.1-141

Trucks--Tacoma--1910-1920; Lindberg Grocery Co. (Tacoma);

On March 5, 1920, Dorothy (Mrs. Allen B.) Conrad and small son, Allen B., Jr., were prepared to take a spin in their new Stephens Six, purchased recently from the R.L. Stephens Motor Co. Mrs. Conrad, with fur stole, is seated behind the wheel of the roadster. The little boy is standing on the car's running board next to the open passenger door. Mr. and Mrs. Conrad were proprietors of the Blue Bird Electric Shop and resided at 3112 N. 17th St. (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 3-21-20, C-4) G11.1-022

Automobiles--Tacoma--1920-1930; Conrad, Dorothy; Conrad, Allen B.; Families--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Three delivery trucks are parked along the side of the South Tacoma "Road" in March of 1920. Two of the three drivers stand near their vehicles while the third remains in the truck. The first truck in line, "No. 2," apparently has its route listed on the exterior of the truck, extending from Hoquiam to Seattle. The trucks may have been sold by the J.F. Hickey Motor Co. of Tacoma. G66.2-136

Trucks--Tacoma--1920-1930;

City of Tacoma Light Department's "Trouble Car" parked outside Griffith Motor Co., 728 Broadway, in early August of 1920. Griffith Motors was a Dodge dealership. The newly purchased Dodge automobile would probably be used to transport utility workers to locations experiencing problems. It was one of many Dodges placed in public service. TPL-6701; G43.1-028 (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 8-22-20, C-8)

Dodge automobile; Griffith Motor Co. (Tacoma); Tacoma City Light (Tacoma);

Charles Blancherie, manager of S.B.& H. Candy Co., poses with his new Scripps-Booth automobile outside the Seymour Conservatory in Wright Park on November 11, 1920. He had recently accepted delivery of the vehicle from Tacoma Motors Co. Mr. Blancherie was a very satisfied Scripps-Booth owner; this model was his third purchase. (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 11-14-20, C-6) G11.1-044

Blancherie, Charles; Automobiles--Tacoma--1920-1930; Seymour Conservatory (Tacoma); Wright Park (Tacoma);

By the end of 1920 the Matthaei Bread Company located at 703 South Sprague Avenue had five White trucks and five "Dodge Brothers motor cars" in its fleet of delivery vehicles. The Matthaei Bread Company opened their bakery on South Sprague in April of 1913. Their building was known as "the plant of 150 windows". The Continental Baking Company moved into the building in 1930, and for over 70 years it was the home of Wonder Bread in Tacoma. BU-12471,

Matthaei Bread Co. (Tacoma); White trucks; Dodge automobile; Bakeries--Tacoma;

ca. 1920s. Buses of the Sumner Tacoma Stage Co. parked in front of the bus depot on Main St. and Ryan Ave. in Sumner, Washington in the 1920's. The bus company was owned by Peter "P.O." Conlon and his brother John W. Conlon. The people who can be identified in this picture are (l to r) Pete Gratzer, Frank Conlon, Peter Conlon, John W.Conlon, Charley Marquardt, and Mac Wilson. The small buses at the far right in the picture were tourist buses that were used to take riders to Wilkeson and Carbonado, Washington. (Photograph courtesy of the Jack Conlon collection)

Buses--Sumner; Bus drivers--Sumner; Sumner Tacoma Stage Co. (Sumner); Gratzer, Pete; Conlon, Frank; Conlon, Peter; Conlon, John W.; Marquardt, Charley; Wilson, Mac;

ca. 1920. Enclosed Ford delivery van, belonging to the Washington Hand Laundry, parked in front of the Valhalla Temple at 1216 Martin Luther King Jr. Way. J.P. Bernard, owner of the laundry, bought one of the first enclosed Ford delivery vans in the city. He was very loyal to the Ford brand; in 1913, he bought one of the first Ford delivery trucks in the city. It was still supplying his company with continuous service. Mr. Bernard was a well known member of the "K" Street Boosters, a group of local merchants located on "K," now Martin Luther King Jr. Way. (TDL 5/2/1920, pg. C-10) BU-13811 G35.1-157 TPL-10093

Washington Hand Laundry (Tacoma); Valhalla Temple (Tacoma); Ford trucks;

In March of 1921, Herman "Burt" Pagel, a driver for the Betsy Ann Bakery, was photographed with one of the bakery's small fleet of delivery trucks. The Betsy Ann Bakery, then located at 2513-15 Sixth Avenue, was founded by Edward Hall, Edward Pickert and Napoleon Raquer in 1920. The company quickly outgrew its building and built a new bakery at 2805-07 Sixth Avenue which opened in 1922. Betsy Ann's was in business until 1933. Photograph ordered by the Griffith Motor Co. TPL-910; G33.1-001 (Additional identification provided by a reader)

Dodge trucks; Pagel, Herman; Betsy Ann Bakery (Tacoma);

Four Mack trucks form a small convoy as they transport small tanks in May of 1921. Several soldiers are atop of the parked vehicles. The men, trucks and tanks were probably photographed at Camp Lewis. The Tacoma Sunday Ledger had reported on February 27, 1921, that one of the newest arrivals at Camp Lewis was the Fourth Company of Tanks, consisting of 25 tanks, 25 Bull Dog Mack trucks and 88 men and officers. The trucks were all 5-ton Macks which were used to transport the 6-ton American Renault-make tanks on long journeys and in actual warfare, would carry them to the frontline. All privates in the Fourth Company of Tanks were either machinists or automobile mechanics and would be fully capable of keeping the Mack trucks in top shape. TPL-2507; G69.1-153 (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 2-27-21, C-1-article)

Trucks--Camp Lewis; Mack trucks; Tanks (Military science)--Camp Lewis;

A veteran of the road, F.A. Read, is pictured in the "Official Car" of the Automobile Club of Western Washington. It was fortunate for him that on this rainy day in June of 1921 his 490 Chevrolet roadster with special built body came equipped with a hardtop. Automobile tires were much narrower then, as viewed above, and he prudently carried a spare which was mounted outside the driver's side. Mr. Read, an employee of the Automobile Club of Western Washington, spent most of his time mapping new roads which involved much travel. He appreciated his Chevrolet for its low operating cost and ability to roam where other vehicles may have had difficulty. G11.1-050 (T.Times 7-2-21, p. 10)

Chevrolet automobile; Tires; Read, F.A.;

Parked outside Griffith Motor Co. on August 16, 1921, is a Dodge Bros. automobile with oversized Federal brand evaporated milk can on display. The Federal Condensed Milk Co. advertised that their milk was safe for all to drink with the slogan "It's Pure That's Sure." W.J. Clifford, advertising manager for the milk company, has his hand on the steering wheel while peering out the glassless window frame. Mr. Clifford has had his Dodge for two years and indicates that he finds the vehicle most satisfactory and well suited for his travels through Washington, Oregon and Idaho. G6.1-075; TPL-912 (T.Times 8-27-21, p. 7)

Griffith Motor Co. (Tacoma); Dodge automobile; Advertising--Tacoma--1920-1930; Clifford, W.J.;

A new Dodge coupe, with Tacoma businessman H.J. Salmela at the wheel, is parked on the brick roadway outside the Griffith Motor Co., 728-30 Broadway, on February 11, 1922. Griffith Motors was the authorized dealer for Dodge Brothers motor cars. A new car was still a relative rarity back in the early 20s and local newspapers often ran photographs of happy customers with their new purchases. Mr. Salmela was already the owner of three six-cylinder cars but chose the Dodge coupe for a practical purpose, as best suited for a motor trip to San Diego and a tour of the entire state of California. (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 2-26-22, 4-C)

Salmela, H.J.; Dodge automobile; Griffith Motor Co. (Tacoma); Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1920-1930;

This stray dog eyes the new 1922 Dodge sedan driven by Griffith Motor Co. president, Walter Havelock Campbell Griffith, as it is parked by the City Pound Office at South 27th & "D" on February 18, 1922. The man holding onto the excited dog is unidentified. The Community Chest was gearing up for its annual fund raiser in support of 28 relief agencies including the Tacoma Humane Society. Mr. Griffith had donated the use of several of his new Dodges to transport photographers and writers in order that the need for animal care could be better publicized. (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 2-26-22, 1-C)

Griffith, Walter Havelock Campbell; Dodge automobile; Dogs--Tacoma--1920-1930; Tacoma Community Chest (Tacoma); Charitable organizations--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Parked outside the City Pound's office at So. 27th & D on February 18, 1922, is a new 1922 Dodge closed-car sedan with Walter Havelock Campbell Griffith, president of Griffith Motor Co., standing nearby. A sign fastened to the rather decrepit building warns of a "vicious dog" inside. Mr. Griffith had graciously donated use of his Dodge cars for photographers and writers to use that month in documenting animal care in Tacoma, focusing on the Tacoma Humane Society, a Tacoma Community Chest agency. G10.1-064 (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 2-26-22, 1-C)

Griffith, Walter Havelock Campbell; Dodge automobile; Tacoma City Pound (Tacoma); Signs (Notices); Tacoma Community Chest (Tacoma); Charitable organizations--Tacoma--1920-1930;

The Wilson-Dawson-McFarland Co. Dodge van is parked outside of the two-story cottage at 514 North "G" St. on April 1, 1922. Four men, including the driver, solemnly gaze at the photographer. The painters have their ladders ready to possibly paint the cottage which was built circa 1890. Photograph ordered by the Griffith Motor Co. TPL-1842; BU10, 150; G37.1-098 (also the same as G28.1-172 and G66.2-121)

Dodge automobile; Houses--Tacoma--1920-1930; Painting--Tacoma--1920-1930;

A driverless automobile is parked under towering trees with a sign advertising "The Lakes" on May 19, 1922. This is in reference to the Benbow Inn at The Lakes (Resort) located between Tacoma and Mount Rainier near Kapowsin. Cottages and a large inn were situated on the property along Lake Tanwax. They catered to families providing recreational activities and relaxation for all. This photograph was used in an article describing Benbow Inn which ran in the News Tribune a couple years later, on July 31, 1924. G38.1-057 (TNT 7-31-24, B-2)

Automobiles--Kapowsin; Trees--Kapowsin; Signs (Notices); Benbow Lakes Resort (Kapowsin);

Display of Maxwell automobiles. Hoisted on top of a small stage is a Maxwell touring car. The Maxwells were distributed in Southwest Washington by the American Automobile Co. The tops were removable if so desired and the new "California" or all weather top, dark maroon in color, was guaranteed to last the lifetime of the car. The Maxwell automobile also came in enclosed models. This display of automobiles may have been in preparation for the Wesern Washington Fair, October 2-9, where new 1923 cars would be exhibited at the Auto Show. G32.1-135 (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 4-30-22, C-3-article; Tacoma Sunday Ledger 4-23-22, C-5-article)

Maxwell automobile; Automobile shows;