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)

ca. 1927. This handtinted photograph of the Tacoma Hotel was taken circa 1927. Built in 1884, and considered by many Tacoma's showcase, the elegant hotel had welcomed many distinguished guests over the decades including Presidents of the United States, actors and sports idols. Magnificent views of The Mountain, Commencement Bay and the City Waterway greeted these visitors. The massive modified Tudor structure occupied an entire block in downtown Tacoma. It was destroyed by fire on October 17, 1935 and not rebuilt. The Tacoma Hotel Annex at 904-06 A St. was remodeled after the fire to serve as the new Tacoma Hotel but never reached the acclaim of the original.

ca. 1927. General view of unidentified poultry farm circa 1927. In addition to the chickens meandering about, the farm also produced crops. G6.1-081

Poultry industry; Poultry; Poultry houses;

Norton Memorial. Erected by a grateful city, the Norton Memorial stands on a grassy plot at St. Helens and Tacoma Avenue and 1st St. South. A likeness of Percy Dunbar Norton, public servant and pioneer businessman, is engraved upon the stone. A small drinking fountain (later removed prior to WWII when scrap metal was essential for national defense) is attached. Percy Norton, related by marriage to two of the founders of the St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co., served as manager of the firm as well as Tacoma City Council president at the time of his death, age 44, in April of 1900. Flags were flown at half mast at City Hall, colors lowered on mastheads of vessels loading at the St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. dock, as well as the emblem on the lumber company offices' flagpole. His desk at council chambers would be draped in mourning for 30 days. The Tacoma Ledger in its April 14, 1900, tribute to Mr. Norton praised his "indomitable pluck, courage, and ability" in the building up of Tacoma and his "business sagacity and management" on the city council in enabling the city to "weather the hard times with its credit untouched." The Norton Memorial still partially remains at the same site, now called the Norton Memorial Park at 99 Tacoma Avenue South. (Tacoma Ledger, April 14, 1900, p. 1-article on Mr. Norton) TPL-3650; G38.1-079

Norton Memorial (Tacoma); Monuments & memorials--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Seven small children stand in front of the massive Roosevelt Elementary School, 3550 E. Roosevelt Ave., on January 12, 1928. This was the second building on this site as the original structure, built in 1904, was sold and removed upon the construction of a new brick building in 1921. Roosevelt Elementary was named in honor of President Theodore Roosevelt. The second Roosevelt Elementary would be subsequently remodeled and added onto in later years. BU-11341

Roosevelt Elementary School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Members of the Washington Co-op Egg & Poultry Association display their dividend checks in front of the Association's headquarters on January 12, 1928. G6.1-089

Washington Co-op Egg & Poultry Association (Tacoma);

This is Madison Elementary School, 3102 South 43rd St., as seen in January of 1928. The six-room school, designed by architects Hill & Mock, was completed in October of 1924 at a cost of approximately $35,000. It had replaced two portable buildings on the same site. The school doubled in size in 1957 and improvements made in 1967 and 1979. Madison is no longer an elementary school but currently houses Headstart and Early Childhood Education programs. BU-11,329 (Olsen: For the Record, p. 119)

Madison Elementary School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1920-1930;

These two small portable buildings made up Larchmont Elementary School in 1928. Parents in the Larchmont area had asked for a school in their neighborhood as far back as 1915 as they felt Fern Hill School was not within walking distance for small children. In 1920 the School Board authorized purchase of 2 1/2 acres of land near South 96th & B Streets for $2000 and placed one portable on the property. Another portable and a second teacher were added in 1924 due to increased enrollment. Larchmont was closed in 1932 during the Great Depression and reopened in 1935 only as a primary school, serving grades one through three. It closed again in 1939 and structures removed. The school opened once again in 1953, again in portables, but it was not until 1969 when a new "one-room" school was built at 8601 East B. G46.1-095 (Olsen: For the Record, p. 117-118-article)

Larchmont Elementary School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Grant School. Overcrowded almost as soon as it opened, the wood framed Grant School, 1018 North Prospect, opened in 1900. It was named in honor of Ulysses S. Grant, Civil War general and President of the United States. In 1920 a brick building was erected at the same site with the intention of removing the 1900 portion. It was not until 1955, when the present Grant School was constructed, that the oldest section of the school was removed. (Olsen: For the Record, p. 79-80)

Grant School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1920-1930;

This group of 16 men shown dining at the Tacoma Hotel on January 15, 1928, is believed to have been associated with the Lidgerwood Pacific Company. The firm, with general offices and works in the Tideflats, manufactured steam, gas and electric logging, hoisting and dredging machinery. G31.1-002

Tacoma Hotel (Tacoma); Hotels--Tacoma--1920-1930; Eating & drinking--Tacoma--1920-1930;

On January 18, 1928, two unidentified Native American women were photographed weaving baskets while seated outside a wood-framed building. They have their heads down as they concentrate on their work. TPL-1546; G4.1-048

Indigenous peoples; Basket making;

Newly constructed building at Camp Murray. This one-story concrete structure was located near railroad tracks at Camp Murray in January of 1928. Camp Murray is the home of the Washington National Guard. G77.1-005

Camp Murray (Wash.);

Close-up view of recessed entryway of newly constructed building located at Camp Murray in January of 1928. See B17968 for general view of concrete building. G77.1-004

Camp Murray (Wash).; Doors & doorways--Camp Murray;

January of 1928 progress photograph. This is believed to be the site of the planned $2,000,000 pulp mill to be erected by Union Bag & Paper Power Corp. of New York. A 120-ton pulp mill is scheduled to be built on the Tideflats adjoining a new sawmill for cutting hemlock logs to be constructed by St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber. In a cooperative venture, the pulp mill will use waste from the sawmill. These two new plants are to add some 500 men to the industrial workforce in Tacoma. The pulp mill and sawmill will be situated on a 30-acre site north of East 11th St. The location would have easy water access, cheap electric power, and direct rail connections with principal transcontinental railroads. Union Bag & Paper Power was at that time believed to be the largest manufacturer of paper bags in the United States. (TNT 9-1-27, p. 1-article on new mill)

Progress photographs; Union Bag & Paper Power Corporation (Tacoma); Mills--Tacoma--1920-1930; Sawmills--Tacoma--1920-1930; St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. (Tacoma);

Cast members of play presented by Gault Intermediate School pose on stage in late January of 1928 during what was probably dress rehearsal. "The Little Princess" was performed by Gault 9th graders as a feature of graduation exercises. The play was first presented on Wednesday afternoon, January 25th, for school pupils. Most, if not all, intermediate schools (later called junior highs) put on at least one play during the school year. Gault Intermediate was renamed Gault Junior High also in 1928. G47.1-059 (TNT 1-25-28, p. 4-article)

Gault Junior High School (Tacoma); Students--Tacoma--1920-1930; Theatrical productions--Tacoma--1920-1930;

In the foreground is the pond to the right of the pergola at the Sheridan Street entrance to Wapato Park. The pergola was built as part of a WPA project in the mid to late 1930s. At that time, they built three entrances, improving the one at Wapato Lake Drive and 64th, and adding one at S. Sheridan Ave and S. 72nd Street.

Henry Huseby, behind the wheel of a new 1928 Model A Ford, was stopped by officer Mike Wayno in January of 1928. Mr. Huseby was not receiving an order to appear in court; the car he was driving was so attractive that Washington State Highway Patrol officer Mike Wayno stopped it so he could place an order for one for himself. Henry Huseby was a veteran salesman for the V.R. Dudley Motor Company at 8223 Pacific Avenue in Fern Hill. In 1928, Ford stopped production on its twenty year old Model T in favor of the more streamlined and powerful Model A. The vehicle could produce 40 horsepower and its starting price at around $460. The V.R. Dudley Motor Co. was an authorized Ford dealership. (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 1/29/1928, pg. G-4)

Ticketing; Law enforcement officers--Tacoma; Motorcycles; Wayno, Mike; Automobiles--Tacoma--1920-1930; Ford automobile; Huseby, Henry;

Window display of News Tribune newspaper on February 1, 1928, featuring clippings on Fleischmann Yeast's $10,000 contest. Two $1000 prizes and 774 other awards would be issued to the best letter writers regarding the topic of yeast and health. Original full page announcement of contest appeared in the January 17, 1928, News Tribune. G40.1-107 (TNT 1-17-28, p. 9)

Window displays--Tacoma--1920-1930; Newspapers--Tacoma--1920-1930; Tacoma News Tribune Publishing Co. (Tacoma); Clippings; Contests--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Blond Hollywood actress Ruth Taylor is pictured shaking hands with Mayor M.G. Tennent while the mayor is aboard the "City of Tacoma" airplane at the Mueller-Harkins airport (site of the present day Clover Park Technical College) on February 8, 1928. Miss Taylor, star of the silent film "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes," was briefly in Tacoma while on a nationwide tour promoting the film. She would make a personal appearance at the Broadway Theater where her film would be shown shortly. The other three men in the photograph were not identified although one of them is believed to be J. Barton ("Jack") Story, pilot, and president of the newly organized Olympic Aeronautical Corporation. On January 31, 1928, Olympic Aeronautical announced plans to fly tourists around Mt. Tacoma (Rainier) beginning May 1st. Photograph ordered by the Olympic Aeronautical Corporation. (TNT 1-31-28, p. 1-article on Olympic Aeronautical; TDL 2-8-28, p. 2-article on Miss Taylor) TPL-5030; G12.1-082

Airplanes--Tacoma--1920-1930; Tennent, Melvin Green; Mayors--Tacoma--1920-1930; Olympic Aeronautical Corporation (Tacoma); Taylor, Ruth; Actresses;

Using both hands, actress Ruth Taylor holds onto the propeller of the "City of Tacoma" aircraft on February 8, 1928. She is wearing protective goggles and headgear. Additional photographs in this series show Miss Taylor as a passenger aboard the plane; the goggles and headgear would be necessary since the passenger seat was not under cover. (See B18045, B18049) The plane was parked at the Mueller-Harkins airport on Steilacoom Blvd., current site of Clover Park Technical College. Miss Taylor was making a brief stop in Tacoma while on a nationwide tour promoting her new movie, "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes." TPL-8077; G12.1-048B. Photograph ordered by the Olympic Aeronautical Corporation. (TDL 2-8-28, p. 2-brief article on Miss Taylor's visit)

Airplanes--Tacoma--1920-1930; Women--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1920-1930; Taylor, Ruth; Actresses;

Hollywood actress Ruth Taylor cheerfully waves as she is seated in the passenger seat of the "City of Tacoma" aircraft on February 8, 1928. The plane is parked at the Mueller Harkins airport outside the Olympic Aeronautical Corporation hangar. Miss Taylor, a product of Portland schools, was chosen to star as "Lorelei" in the silent film "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" after a nationwide search. The petite blonde was in town to make a personal appearance at the Broadway Theater where her film would be showing in the near future. She was known for her trademark spit curls and had been a Mack Sennett Bathing Beauty. Her son, Buck Henry, born in 1930, would become a well known actor and writer. Photograph ordered by the Olympic Aeronautical Corporation. G12.1-048A (TDL 2-8-28, p. 2-article on Miss Taylor's visit; Imdb.com-information on Miss Taylor)

Airplanes--Tacoma--1920-1930; Taylor, Ruth; Actresses;