This evening I went to a function at the Foss Waterway Seaport at 705 Dock Street, Tacoma. The museum aims to be the Puget Sound’s premier maritime education and recreation center. It features exhibit space, a Discovery Wharf (children’s activity area), guest moorage (closed for repair) and meeting spaces.
http://www.fosswaterwayseaport.org/index.php?p=WELCOME
It was good to see the children play at Franklin Park today. The park opened in 1941. So I thought it was kind of a plain park until I read about its history at the Metro Parks Tacoma link (see below). It talked about the now filled Franklin Lake, which sadly was filled in 1969.
“Hoodlum Lake, later called Franklin Lake, was the “old swimming hole” to many boys in the West side of Tacoma. The lake was reputed to have been discovered in the early 1880s by “Biz” Burnham and his brother Nick. Sheltered by a forest of second growth timber and brush and far from the beaten path, it was an ideal place for boys to learn to swim. Some who learned to swim there recalled that it seemed like almost a five-mile walk from the residential district to the lake. John Westover, a sort of combination truant officer and patrolman, tried to make the boys wear bathing suits but the lads ignored his efforts until one day he found their hidden clothes, gathered them up, and would not relinquish them until the boys promised to wear swimming suits. Many of them then began appearing in flour sacks, with holes cut for the legs. “Pillsbury’s Best” in large red letters was splashed across the back of many an improvised bathing suit.”
Now I like Franklin Park even more!
http://www.metroparkstacoma.org/page.php?id=660
Sometime during the dreary winter months, this wonderful art project appeared on the side of the Merit Building at 951-959 S Market Street in downtown Tacoma. There is an associate Youtube video to be watched here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qE-D3nA7vTQ
The Merit Building is available for sale for $1,000,000 (bring your best offer). Per the listing information the building was constructed in 1909, has 32,000 square feet and has been gutted down to the frame. I remember going to a restaurant in the building which I believe was called the Judicial Annex and having the best split pea soup!
If you’d like to buy the Merit Building, the listing can be found here http://www.commercialmls.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=inventory.biodetailFS&ln=462987&eofficeid=&eagentid=22193
Over the building’s long life, it has been home to many businesses included the Hotel Kingston, Federal Tire Sales Co., Auto Tire Co., Hollywood Apparel Shop, Olympic Dairy Store & Ice Cream Parlor, Second Closet Thrift Shop, Know They Self Book Center, Afrikan Book Center and the African American Museum. One of the employees of the Ice Cream Parlot later started the Baskin Robbins chain.
To see how the building looked in its glory days (1928), follow this link to the Tacoma Public Library
http://search.tacomapubliclibrary.org/buildings/bldg1image.asp?j=1&o=4&n=2095&i=4290#text
The Battle for Fort Steilacoom was fought yesterday and today in Fort Steilacoom Park, 8714 87th Ave. S.W., Lakewood, WA, 98499. The Washington Civil War Association produced this event and it was very well done. There were hundred of reenactors in their Civil War garb. They were playing instruments, fighting battles, making speeches, drilling, cooking and selling their wares. It was a pleasure to stroll around in the sunshine and visit with these fine folks.
The website for the group is here http://www.wcwa.net/
What a lovely, much needed Spring Day. The sun was shining all day and it was in the upper 60s! Heaven. I was compelled to be outside, so it was just perfect that I had a date with some friends to visit the 20 acre Kubota Gardens in South Seattle. These gardens were developed by Fujitaro Kubota. In 1987, the gardens were acquired by the City, fulfilling the desired of the Kubota family. There are ponds, waterfalls and of course, many types of flora. While I was there a young couple was having photographs professionally taken, I’m assuming for their wedding.
http://www.tpl.lib.wa.us/Page.aspx?hid=239
It was the first time that I had been in a Tacoma Public Library on a Sunday and it felt good to see all the people there. The history of the library can be found here.
http://www.tpl.lib.wa.us/page.aspx?hid=42
Currently in the gallery of the library there is an exhibit of art tiles, old and new, that is well worth seeing. That link can be found here http://www.tpl.lib.wa.us/Page.aspx?nid=64
Per the Metro Parks Tacoma website “the Pagoda was built in 1914 as a replica of a 17th century Japanese Lodge. It was originally a waiting room for streetcars. Now this magnificent structure functions as a rental facility for weddings and other private parties as well as a venue for garden shows, lectures and concerts.”
http://www.metroparkstacoma.org/page.php?id=62
Update 4/15/2011 the pagoda was badly damaged by a suspicious fire.
http://www.thenewstribune.com/2011/04/15/1627154/report-tacoma-fire-responding.html
Update 12/5/12 A community grand re-opening celebration is scheduled for January 12, 2013.
The tea was an experience! Much more refined than our usual Starbucks break with a gorgeous, classic interior and dignified, warm service. They seated us by the window and we happily visited and watched the city walking by us. There was a pianist for most of the time that we were there.
As for the tea, it included five types of finger sandwiches, a marvelous scone and assorted treats. I’m embarrassed to say that we ate almost all of it! We were sent home with two boxes of tea to help us recreate the experience
http://www.fairmont.com/empress/GuestServices/Restaurants/AfternoonTea.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Empress_%28hotel%29
The newspaper yesterday talked about how the Kalakala was in danger of sinking because it is taking on water. I had just asked my husband last week if the vintage ferry boat was still at the port. We had gone to see it years ago and hadn’t heard much about it since.
I have no idea about the financial feasibility of restoring this ferry, which is in pretty bad shape, but I’ sure wish it could be brought back to its former glory. It was spectacular!
The website for the ferry has abundant information about it. http://www.kalakala.org/index2.html
I took a couple of shots from where it is docked and then went across the way to photograph it from across the Hylebos Waterway.
For a photo of the Kalakala when it was in Tacoma in the 1940s, see this webpage from the Tacoma Public Library.
Tumwater Historical Park is the sister park to Tumwater Falls Park, which was my new place of the day on October 17, 2010 (see http://blog.firsttries.com/?p=1407)
This park, which is situated on the Deschutes River, features a wonderful view of the now defunct Olympia Brewing Company. The park is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In addition to the lovely setting, there are big toys for the kids and restrooms. Of note is a sign that says the lake is closed because of the New Zealand Mud snails, an invasive species. The City of Tumwater is attempting to quarantine Capital Lake and this lower part of the Deschutes River to stop the spread of the snails.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Zealand_mud_snail
http://www.olytumfoundation.org/park.asp
http://www.ci.tumwater.wa.us/historicaldistrictboundaries.htm
