This photograph of Vern's Sandwich Shop at the corner of 9th and Pacific was taken in November of 1953. Owned and operated by C. Vern Powell, Vern's was a fixture in downtown Tacoma for over thirty years. Located on the ground floor of the Motoramp Garage at 745 Commerce St., Vern's Sandwich Shop opened in the early 1940s. The name of the restaurant was later changed to Vern's Charbroiler; in 1963 Vern remodeled and added the Golden Room. During his long career in the restaurant business, Mr. Powell served as president of both the Washington State and the Pierce County restaurant associations. Vern's closed in the late 1970s and C. Vern Powell died in 1991 at the age of 91.
Motoramp Garage had been at its Commerce Street location since 1925. It was probably one of Tacoma' s first multi-story parking garages. Large signs identify the building, making it clear that covered parking was available for downtown customers. View of garage on Commerce close to 9th Street; Moose Temple is next door with Ben-Dew's restaurant at opposite end. Photograph ordered by Al Taylor, Standard Oil of California. TPL-1732
Two men sit on a bench on the first floor of the Motoramp Garage possibly waiting for their cars to be repaired in this January, 1953, photograph. The Motoramp was a multi-story parking garage located downtown on Commerce Street; it had parking available for over 300 cars. Besides covered parking, the Motoramp also offered car repairs, lubrication and the chance to purchase batteries and Prestone anti-freeze. No need to run to the gas station: the Motoramp also had at least two pumps for outgoing patrons. Photograph ordered by Al Taylor, Standard Oil of California.
System Auto Parks; interiors of motoramp garage. Clarence Espinosa was manager in 1955. The facility was originally built in 1925 as Motoramp Garage with 5 stories and a capacity of 325 cars. System Auto Parks was both a garage and a facility for washing, oil changes and lubrication. Here a man washes a car by hand in the cement confines of the garage.
Parking garages--Tacoma--1950-1960; System Auto Parks (Tacoma); Motoramp Garage (Tacoma);
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.
System Auto Parks; interiors of motor ramp garage. Cars head up a ramp to find a parking place in one of the stalls of the garage. The lot appears to be full on this floor. The car will probably need to head up the ramp at the rear of the picture to the next floor. The structure was originally built in 1925 with 7 stories and a capacity of 325 cars. System Auto Parks was both a garage and a facility for washing, oil changes and lubrication.
Parking garages--Tacoma--1950-1960; System Auto Parks (Tacoma);
System Auto Parks; exteriors of motoramp garage. Cars line up to park in the multi story structure on Commerce. Clarence Espinosa was the manager in 1955. The structure was originally built in 1925 as Motoramp Garage with 5 stories and a capacity of 325 cars. System Auto Parks was both a garage and a facility for washing, oil changes and lubrication.
Parking garages--Tacoma--1950-1960; System Auto Parks (Tacoma); Motoramp Garage (Tacoma);
System Auto Parks; interiors of motor ramp garage. This area is the oil change pit for the Garage. Work could be done underneath the car from the pit. The garage was originally built in 1925 with 7 stories and a capacity of 325 cars and named Motoramp Garage. Its name came from the d'Humy Motoramp System. System Auto Parks was both a garage and a facility for washing, oil changes and lubrication.
Parking garages--Tacoma--1950-1960; System Auto Parks (Tacoma);
Motoramp Garage was built in 1925 as a multi-story parking garage with a 325 car capacity. Designed by architect A.J. Russell and constructed by the Hurley-Mason Co., it was built on the site of the Fife Hotel/Hotel Donnelly. Ben-Dew's, who served fried chicken, sandwiches and spaghetti and Vern's Sandwich Shop were two eating establishments located on the ground floor in the Motoramp building. A sign high up on the building directed passersby to the Hotel Winthrop a block away. Photograph ordered by Al Taylor, Standard Oil of California.
International Rally of I.O.O.F. (Independent Order of Odd Fellows), Tacoma, Washington, September 4-6, 1926.The biggest event was a parade through downtown Tacoma with over 2,000 participants on September 4, 1926. The South Tacoma Lodge No. 89 float is bearing signs, "The God of Nations is the Father of All Men" and "All Men Are Brothers". Lefebvre Auto Laundry in background. (filed with Argentum)
Fraternal organizations--Tacoma; Clubs--Tacoma; Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Lodge No. 89 (Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1920-1930; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1920-1930;
Sidewalk in front of Motoramp Garage. The Motoramp Garage was designed by architect A. J. Russel and built in 1925. It is five stories high and can hold 325 cars. For many years it was the largest garage in Tacoma.
