Engine House No. 5 is located at 1453 Earnest S. Brazil St., Tacoma, and was constructed in 1935 and listed on the National Register in 1984. It is one of 17 fire stations in Tacoma. http://www.cityoftacoma.org/Page.aspx?hid=8023
The City of Tacoma placed 11 individual fire related properties (9 stations, 1 ship and an alarm system) on the national historical register in 1983. The nomination form is located here: http://pdfhost.focus.nps.gov/docs/NRHP/Text/64000904.pdf
The Connelly Law Office is located in a beautifully restored historic building at the corner of North 30th and North Carr Street (2301 North 30th). I confessed to knowing nothing about the firm except I like their mission statement “Seeking Justice for our Clients by holding Corporations, the Insurance Industry and Government Agencies Accountable.” Their web address is: http://www.connelly-law.com/
I had several fine meals in the building when it was painted a bright green and was Grazie’s Ristorante. The original name of the building is Carr’s Hall and it was built in 1888 and restored in 1983. A photo of how it looked in 1978 can be found here http://search.tacomapubliclibrary.org/buildings/bldg1image.asp?j=1&o=1&n=29375&i=8948#text
Over its life, the building has been Knights of Pythias Temple, Bethel Mission Presbyterian Sunday School, Star Grocery Store, Anton Bush’s Grocery Store, apartments, Grazie Caffe Italiano in Aug. 1983 and now a law center.
I have to confess that I keep a list of Pierce County properties on the historic register in my car. I suspect that isn’t normal, but I’m alright with it! This lovely house at 605 South G is a Stick Style home built in 1889, 1890 or 1906 depending on the source. It is called the James Agnew Residence. It has been used as an attorney’s office. To see how the property looked in 1986, you can go here http://search.tacomapubliclibrary.org/buildings/bldg1image.asp?j=1&o=1&n=15292&i=1939#text
Fireboat #1 is one of five fireboats in the country to be a historic landmark. The boat, which is now dry docked along Ruston Way was constructed in 1929 and had served for 54 years.
Information from the Tacoma Park’s Department can be found here: http://www.metroparkstacoma.org/page.php?id=66
The detailed historic nomination form can be found here: http://www.nps.gov/maritime/nhl/fireboat.htm
On Sunday (I’m running a tad behind in my write ups!) we went to visit the Historic Thorp Mill in Thorp, WA, about 14 miles west of Ellensburg. I’ve always loved this historic mill but it is usually closed when I visit. This time, not only was it open, but there was a guide to take us through and explain everything. I wish I had gotten her name, because she was great! We learned that the mill was constructed in 1885. The farmers would bring their grain into the mill and the grain would go to the upper levels to be ground into various degrees of coarseness. Little scoops on a vertical conveyer belt took the grains up and gravity brought them back down. We also learned that the little town of Thorp was one of the first small towns to have electrical power because of the mill. Most importantly I was pleased that the two teens found it all so interesting!
Guided tours are available June through August. If you visit during the cooler months, there is a self guided tour around the building. There is no cost, but donations are gladly accepted.
The mural celebrating Doyle’s Public House is truly glorious! It is large scale reproduction of one of the original Guinness advertising signs. Per Wikipedia a slogan associated with Guinness in the 1940 was “Toucans in their nests agree/Guinness is good for you/Try some today and see/What one or toucan do.”
Doyle’s is located in the Stadium District at 208 Saint Helen’s Avenue and is a well regarded traditional Irish Pub which celebrates Saint Patrick’s Day every month on the 17th.
http://www.doylespublichouse.com/
Today I went to see the Norman Rockwall exhibit at the Tacoma Art Museum. What a career that man had! Amazing. Walking back to the car, I captured today’s new place, the Teamsters’ and Chauffeurs’ Union Building at 1701 Commerce Street in the Union Depot area of Tacoma. Per Tacoma’s Union Station Historic District Guide published by the City of Tacoma Economic Development Department, the triangular brick building was constructed in 1894 on the site of Tacoma’s first railroad passenger station. Per the guide “The building’s name recalls the Union hiring hall, which operated on the third floor for half a century”. It was renovated in 1983 by James Merritt, architect.
The property is now being used by the Gary E. Milgard Family Foundation. For more information about that foundation go here http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/
For more information about the building, go here http://www.tacomaculture.org/historic/resource/Union%20Station%20Dist%20Walk.pdf
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
Originally uploaded by Gexydaf
The Ford Building and Crescent Ballroom have always been a mystery to me. They are located on the edge of downtown, but not on a main drag and have been beautifully restored. According to the Tacoma Public Library the Ford Building portion of the structure was built in 1918 with E.J. Bresemann as the architect. The building originally housed the Manley-Thompson Ford Agency.
The Auditorium (that was its original name) had opened January 11, 1922. The Gothic structure was designed by Roland Borhek. It was the home to many dances, as well as appearances by such diverse performers as Rudolph Valentino, Duke Ellington, Paul Revere and The Raiders, Soundgarden and Nirvana. In 1931, the two buildings were remodeled, combined and renamed the Crescent Ballroom. This part of the property now functions as a warehouse. The mirrored ball from the original ballroom has been restored and now hangs in the South Park Community Center.
The importance of the Crescent Ballroom can be gleaned here.
http://pnwbands.com/crescent.html
TRA Medical Imaging purchased the property in 2007 for $2,500,000, and after considerable renovation opened it as their administrative office in July 2008.
