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From our collection comes this Tacoma High School Diploma for Dorothy G. Martenis, dated January 27, 1910.
We often utilize the wonderful local history resources at the Tacoma Library to help share stories from our city's past. Today, though, we share some history of the library itself!
The cooks and waitresses of the Husk Cafe at 1211 Pacific Avenue posed at 3:30 pm on January 25, 1943 following the lunch hour rush. They are standing behind the lunch counter with its miniature jukebox selectors. C. Isabelle Hardwick and Thomas C. Hardwick opened the Husk in 1934. According to a posted sign under the clock, customers could not get counter service unless they were prepared to spend at least 10 cents. For 20 cents, you could get a bowl of hot chili or some pie and ice cream to go with your coffee. The Husk Cafe closed in the late 1950s.
The Nobu Yoshida family posed for a home portrait on January 24, 1957. The six adults and two children are formally dressed in suits and dresses. They are standing in front of a framed picture of possibly Mt. Rainier and a Japanese print. According to the 1957 City Directory, the Yoshidas owned and operated the Fuji Grocery. Mr. Yoshida and his wife Hanako resided at 2702-1/2 South Yakima in close proximity to their store.
Ruth DuCharme and Orville Fuller posed in January of 1926 surrounded by Bill Winder (extreme left) and his Hotel Winthrop Orchestra. The pair was taking part in the Southwest Washington Championship Ho-down Ballroom Charleston competition which kicked off on January 23, 1926. The contest was sponsored by the Rialto Theater and the Hotel Winthrop and took place over 4 weeks. It featured dancers from Tacoma, Aberdeen, Chehalis, Centralia and Olympia. Winners were decided by popular applause. When all the shouting was over, Mrs. DuCharme and Mr. Fuller were the Tacoma champions. This was the first big ballroom Charleston contest to be held locally.
Standing just south of the corner of South 19th Street and Pacific Avenue on the west side of the street, this was the view looking north on January 22, 1941. Two sets of streetcar tracks, set in brick and cobble stones, run down the center of the street. The Goodyear Tire sign on the left marks what is now the main entry way of the @uwtacoma campus. Union Station is at right.
South Tacoma business leaders appealed to the Tacoma Transit Company to save the cross-town bus line. It was announced January 21, 1948, that a cross-town bus service would begin a 60-day trial. This run had been tested twice before and failed. The service would connect the College of Puget Sound to South Tacoma Way along Alder, Cedar and Union, past Bellarmine, to South 56th. It was reported on March 29th that the service would be discontinued due to poor patronage. The average passenger per mile usage was 2.02, short of the 3.0 passenger/mile needed to cover the costs of the service. A last minute appeal was made by the South Tacoma Business Men's Club and the 6th Avenue Commercial Club. They were unsuccessful in their attempt. Bus fares were 10 cents at this time.
Tacoma businessman Anthony L. "Tony" Ricono is shown at his desk in a January, 1953, photograph. Ricono, along with his sister Virginia, owned Lincoln Electric, an appliance and furniture store on South 38th and Park Avenue. Lincoln Electric celebrated its grand opening at its new location in the Lincoln District in December, 1952. Ricono, 31 at the time of the photograph, was a graduate of Tacoma schools, Stanley, McCarver and Lincoln. After his discharge from the Army in 1944, he remodeled a store at 767 S. 38th and started to sell appliances. In 1949 he and Virginia built a 9,000 square foot building at 3737 S. Yakima. Business improved to the extent that the Riconos opened a 20,000 square foot business with added juvenile and furniture departments. Along with sister Beverly, credit manager, Tony and Virginia Ricono dedicated the grand opening to their parents, George and Caroline Ricono.
The exact mill location is unknown, but the stunning detail in this photograph makes it well worth sharing. Asahel Curtis captured this image on January 19, 1909, as several men can be seen working atop lumber which is being loaded onto waiting ships.

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