TacomaLibrary_NW_History

In January of 1955, announcer Bob Gleason (left) and an unidentified butcher stood behind a counter on the Shop Rite Food Centers set in the KTNT studio while the production staff broadcast a live commercial into Tacoma's homes. Bob Gleason was the program director of KTNT- Channel 11's noontime homemaker's show. To the far left…

These power and utility poles in front of the Liquefied Gas Corporation, 9611 E Marginal Way, could not stand up to the winds that hit the Seattle-Tacoma area on January 15, 1951. With peak winds of 65 mph, the winter storm disrupted power service throughout the area. During the early morning hours, the temperature increased…

With a thunderous roar, the loamy soil on the bluff overlooking Old Tacoma broke loose at 9:50 a.m. on January 10, 1923. Tons of earth crashed down the steep slope, sweeping along with it the home of the W. E. Claytons. The wood frame home which had stood at 2502 N 29th St was crumbled…

Tom Ross, a member of Tacoma's "dry squad" demonstrates the fine art of bar leaping on January 14, 1923. Because Washington had been dry since 1916, beer parlors were supposedly converted into soft drink parlors. However, it was estimated that 150+ stores, soft drink parlors, and hotels sold booze undercover. Officer Ross' technique would have…

H.C. Weaver Productions, Inc., motion picture set of "Hearts and Fists", ca. 1925. Unidentified woman standing on planked sidewalk outside of "Slim's Nugget Bar;" a shoemaker's shop is further in the background. Set was still under construction as the log exteriors are basically false fronts. This Weaver Corporation's first film was set in Washington's lumber…

Members of the Deacon Club met at Jack's Lakeside Park on Fivemile Lake to celebrate the beginning of a new decade. This photograph taken on December 31, 1949 shows (from l to r) Alice Edwards, Tom Rigney, Shirley Larson and Don Septon greeting the new year with party hats, horns and lots of confetti and…

Harry Clark, 65, who lived at 3823 E. J St. is shown sitting at the throttle of a Northern Pacific locomotive in this photograph from December 1938. Mr. Clark had just retired after working for over 48 years as a railroad engineer and "truckman." A truckman repaired broken parts on locomotives. His many years as…

Henrietta Acheson had been a chocolate dipper at Brown & Haley for 25 years when photographed, one hand in motion, on Christmas Eve, 1972. At one time Mrs. Raymond L. Acheson would hand dip two or three pieces per second but in more recent days has relinquished her skills to a modern machine. Mrs. Acheson…

Fritz and Georgia Glenewinkle's Collie dog presented the family with 9 puppies. When the puppies were old enough, the Glenewinkles placed them in dish towels, or diapers, and hung them from a clothesline strung across their kitchen. See more featured images and posts…

Color photograph ordered by the J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp. of the tuna seiner, "Mary Antoinette" as she churns through the waters of Commencement Bay during ship trials on December 15, 1969. The white ship makes a striking appearance as waves break over her bow; in contrast to the white fishing boat, the blue of the…