The Crescent Ballroom
–by Elizabeth Franklin If you were to walk by this pair of buildings today, I would bet that you’d have no idea what incredible history has taken place right there. A short time ago, I too certainly would have never known that this spot, just up the hill from my college campus, once hosted an incredibly vast selection of concerts and Tacoma history. These buildings … Continue reading The Crescent Ballroom
Girl Trouble: A Melting Pot of Music
— by Olivia Thompson Have you discovered the unique band Girl Trouble yet? From the time they formed in 1983, they have been producing some of the most radical and interesting music. Described as a mixture of garage, grunge, rock, and surf, the members of the band take elements of many types of music and combine them into songs that make you want to rock … Continue reading Girl Trouble: A Melting Pot of Music
Stadium Bowl: from Bands to Disney Stardom
–by Henry Nguyen Tacoma is known for its rich history and that is reflected through the historical buildings that can be found still standing today. Taking a stroll through the Stadium district there is a sense of the old world that can’t be found anywhere else in Tacoma. At the center of the Stadium district, you’ll find an iconic landmark that overlooks Commencement Bay. You … Continue reading Stadium Bowl: from Bands to Disney Stardom
The Bald Headed Rail Fan at Camp 6
by Ed Mattison This story takes place on a dry summer day, yes they do happen. I arrived early to learn about getting the train running for the day. Vance was getting ready to move the Shay out of the engine house when I pedaled in on my bike. I was in good shape back then and often took the bike to places around town. … Continue reading The Bald Headed Rail Fan at Camp 6
The Almost Great Train Robbery at Camp 6
By Ed Mattison One of the things I discovered at Camp 6 is that railroaders love to tell stories. The difference between fishermen and railroaders is that most of their stories are true. And yes I did say most. This is a story I was told by Larry our fireman. This happened before I started and it is a true story. The morning in question … Continue reading The Almost Great Train Robbery at Camp 6
A 1914 Nightmare
By Russell Holter (THS member and author) Reprinted with permission. Originally published by Holter, Russell H. “A 1914 Nightmare.” Tall Timbers Short Lines, Number 59, April 1999; Pacific Coast Logging Historical and Technical Society, Tacoma, WA. The day was typical of a summer Friday. Children played in the streets as the men of the Bismarck Lumber Mill toiled hard in the sweat and sawdust filled … Continue reading A 1914 Nightmare
Clayton’s Memories
Early-day Tacoma remembered as a busy, pleasant place Clayton Rubidge was born in Tacoma in 1902 and lived here all his life. His recollections give us a look at the city at the time. A lifelong Tacoman, Clayton Rubidge dictated his memories about the Tacoma of his boyhood to Joan Hokanson Harelson an unknown number of years ago. In 2015 she sent the memoir to … Continue reading Clayton’s Memories
Nettie Asberry: Keeping Harmony in Tacoma
— by Hannah Currie Nettie Asberry was a shining public figure and musician in Tacoma history. She paved the way for many people of color and was never afraid to speak her mind. Her social activism permeated all facets of her life, including her music. This article addresses her life, her affects on her community and her connection to her art and her purpose. Nettie was … Continue reading Nettie Asberry: Keeping Harmony in Tacoma
Temple of Music, Center of Yesteryear
— by Kim Davenport In February of 1967, an article appeared in the Tacoma News Tribune and Sunday Ledger under the headline: Temple of Music, Center of Yesteryear, Intact on BroadwayFeatures Included Stained Glass, Wine-Colored Carpets Before I delve into more of the history of the grandly-named Temple of Music, a few paragraphs from that article will set the stage for today’s Tacoma music mystery: … Continue reading Temple of Music, Center of Yesteryear
Silas and his Mandolin
–by Kim Davenport Silas Seth Weeks was born in Vermont, Illinois in 1868. His father Thomas, a barber, recognised his musical talent early and encouraged him to pursue a musical education. Seth began with the violin, but soon gravitated towards the guitar, and would eventually focus his attentions on his favorite instrument, the mandolin. After fifteen years of devoted study, he would go on to a … Continue reading Silas and his Mandolin
Tales of Tacoma 