| © 2006-2010 Stephen Thompson All rights reserved. |
 |  |  |  |  |  |
Foss Boat House Co. and coal dock shown, along
with the north end of the Northern Pacific Ry's
Half Moon Yard and Sunday strollers on the
boardwalk leading up to Pacific Avenue. Image
from original glass plate negative purchased at a
"thrift" store in Tacoma, 1966!
Available from Zazzle; Poster Print
with the north end of the Northern Pacific Ry's
Half Moon Yard and Sunday strollers on the
boardwalk leading up to Pacific Avenue. Image
from original glass plate negative purchased at a
"thrift" store in Tacoma, 1966!
Available from Zazzle; Poster Print
| Click on Thumbnails for a larger images! |
Northern Pacific Railroad's west coast
headquarters building is on the far right,
overlooking the "Half Moon Yard" below. From
the many strollers on the boardwalk, I'd guess this
is a sunny Sunday afternoon. Slightly to the left of
the NP HQ building can be seen the high speed
interurban cars that ran to Seattle. This makes a
nice large print, with a great deal of detail to study!
Image from original glass plate negative purchased
at a "thrift" store in Tacoma, 1966!
Available from Zazzle; Poster Print
headquarters building is on the far right,
overlooking the "Half Moon Yard" below. From
the many strollers on the boardwalk, I'd guess this
is a sunny Sunday afternoon. Slightly to the left of
the NP HQ building can be seen the high speed
interurban cars that ran to Seattle. This makes a
nice large print, with a great deal of detail to study!
Image from original glass plate negative purchased
at a "thrift" store in Tacoma, 1966!
Available from Zazzle; Poster Print
Photo is looking east down 11th St in Tacoma
Washington, July 4th, 1928. Wow, are the streets
crowded. The 11th st. bridge, now the Murry
Morgan Bridge, can be seen in the background
Photo by my great uncle, Albert Discoe.
Available from Zazzle; Post card
Washington, July 4th, 1928. Wow, are the streets
crowded. The 11th st. bridge, now the Murry
Morgan Bridge, can be seen in the background
Photo by my great uncle, Albert Discoe.
Available from Zazzle; Post card
Growing up in Tacoma, in the 1950's and 60's, there were still many things left over from it's early days. Many streets still had visible
streetcar tracks, road bridges across the railroad tracks had 90 degree turns the unwary could nose dive off of through flimsy guard rails, and
old folks still called the Mountain, Mt. Tahoma. It was a dirty town, an industrial town....the smelter spewed fumes that were like breathing
over a fizzled match and the pulp mill? Well, somebody wrote a minor Hit song, "The Aroma of Tacoma".
Still, it was an interesting place to grow up! Lots of trains, boats and planes, thanks to four railroads, a major deepwater port and McCord
Airforce Base. Lumber was still King and trainloads of logs poured in and lumber poured out. I've collected photos from many sources over
the years, and, of course, there's all my father's images of trains, ships and the town itself.
streetcar tracks, road bridges across the railroad tracks had 90 degree turns the unwary could nose dive off of through flimsy guard rails, and
old folks still called the Mountain, Mt. Tahoma. It was a dirty town, an industrial town....the smelter spewed fumes that were like breathing
over a fizzled match and the pulp mill? Well, somebody wrote a minor Hit song, "The Aroma of Tacoma".
Still, it was an interesting place to grow up! Lots of trains, boats and planes, thanks to four railroads, a major deepwater port and McCord
Airforce Base. Lumber was still King and trainloads of logs poured in and lumber poured out. I've collected photos from many sources over
the years, and, of course, there's all my father's images of trains, ships and the town itself.
Pacific Avenue in Tacoma with the City Hall
building in the background. A few of these
buildings, including the city hall still exist 100 years
later.
Available from Zazzle; Poster Print
building in the background. A few of these
buildings, including the city hall still exist 100 years
later.
Available from Zazzle; Poster Print
Circa 1915 postcard view from 11th St. Bridge
Downtown Tacoma from about 21st and
commerce with new 11st bridge, trolley barn and
NP's prairie line in the picture. From a real photo
postcard
commerce with new 11st bridge, trolley barn and
NP's prairie line in the picture. From a real photo
postcard
The "New" 11th st. Bridge, now Murray Morgan
Bridge, opened in 1913. the 1,748 foot steel truss
is a vertiacal lift-span.
Bridge, opened in 1913. the 1,748 foot steel truss
is a vertiacal lift-span.
The 15th st. bridge was pretty unique, and always
kind of fun to cross. It had a swing span to allow
boats through, but what made it special was that it
was a railroad bridge in the center, with 1 lane of
vehicle traffic on each side. It was narrow, and
had only flimsy wooden guard rails. D street log
dump can be seen in the background. Yes they
still moved log rafts around the Sound when this
photo was taken in the early 1970's. Photo by
Stephen Thompson
kind of fun to cross. It had a swing span to allow
boats through, but what made it special was that it
was a railroad bridge in the center, with 1 lane of
vehicle traffic on each side. It was narrow, and
had only flimsy wooden guard rails. D street log
dump can be seen in the background. Yes they
still moved log rafts around the Sound when this
photo was taken in the early 1970's. Photo by
Stephen Thompson
Franklin "Horseless Carriage" in Tacoma
Washington, coming up McCarver St. Hill with
30th st. being the crossroad below and Puget
Sound in the Background. From original glass
plate negative bought at a Tacoma thrift store in
1966.
Available from Zazzle: Postcard
Washington, coming up McCarver St. Hill with
30th st. being the crossroad below and Puget
Sound in the Background. From original glass
plate negative bought at a Tacoma thrift store in
1966.
Available from Zazzle: Postcard
Pacific Avenue, Tacoma Washington, circa 1910
from a vintage, real photo postcard
from a vintage, real photo postcard