Buildings

Photo Archives

"Buildings"

Buildings001

Description

Date Taken

Notes

File No.

Buildings002

Buildings001A

Buildings004

Buildings005

Buildings006A

Buildings006

Buildings008

Buildings007A

Buildings007

Buildings008A

Buildings008B1

Buildings008B

Buildings010

Buildings009

Buildings010A

Waverly Hotel (formerly E. R. Rogers house)

Hattie Bair (?) and others standing on porch of the Waverly Hotel (magnified from Bulidings006 above)

Steilacoom School built in 1892 on Nisqually Street/

1890s

Steilacoom School built in 1892 on Nisqually Street

1890s

Steilacoom School as it appeared in 1892 - 1917; on Nisqually Street

New Steilacoom School built in 1916 with old school still standing behind; on Nisqually Street

1917

1890s

Steilacoom School built in 1916 with old school which used to stand behind it now gone; on Nisqually Street

1917

Steilacoom school for grades 1 - 8; located on Nisqually Street

Iron Springs Hotel viewed from west showing landscaping

Iron Springs Hotel on Starling Street

Iron Springs Hotel on Starling Street, formerly a sanatorium . W. W. and Hattie Bair standing on the porch.

1920

1920s

~1906

~1905

Iron Springs Hotel viewed from east. To the right can be seen the "Four Sisters" building and that, the present day "Columns"

1905

Iron Springs Hotel viewed from Starling Street

Iron Springs Sanatorium, formerly NPRR Brewery, converted to sanatorium by W. L. Bair

1895

1905

The Iron Springs Sanatorium became Ed Bair's aquarium in about 1912.

1905

After 1912

Ed Bair standing at entrance to his aquarium shown in Buildings008B above

Iron Springs Hotel, formerly NPRR Brewery, converted to a sanatorium by W. L. Bair and his brother, Ed. Note the sign saying "Grill Room"

Buildings012

Buildings011

Buildings013B

Buildings013A

Buildings013

Buildings015

Buildings014

Buildings017

Buildings016

Buildings017A

Buildings020

Buildings019

Buildings018

Buildings023

Buildings022

Buildings021

Buildings023A

Buildings025A

Buildings025

Buildings024

Buildings029

Buildings028

Buildings027

Buildings026

Buildings032

Photo missing

Iron Springs Hotel, formerly Iron Springs Sanatorium, and before that, NPRR Brewery. View of west side.

Iron Springs Hotel, formerly NPRR Brewery, converted to a hotel by W. L. Bair and his brother, Ed.

Methodist Episcopal Church. First protestant church north of Columbia River

First piano brought to Washington Territory. Shipped around Cape Horn from New York to Rev. J. F. DeVore in 1863. Rosewood. Displayed in Ferry Museum in Tacoma (unknown if still there.

Methodist Episcopal Church. First protestant church north of Columbia River

Bair Drug Store. First store built on Lafayette Street. Margareta Hubert Blyth ("Grandma Blyth") house to the right

Oberlin Congregational Church (now Steilacoom Tribal Museum) built at corner of Lafayette and Pacific Streets in 1902.

Presbyterian Church built in 1862 at corner of Rainer and Puyallup Streets. Used by Congregationalists 1883 - 1902

Harmon House Hotel restored by Hill Harmon. Corner of Commercial and Balch Streets.

Closeup of people in front of Bair Drug Store in photo Buildings017 above. W. L. Bair at left, John Bair at right.

Bair Drug Store featuring "Bair the Druggist" sign. Next to Post Office.

Steilacoom Aquarium. Ed Bair standing on porch. Officially known as the "Puget Sound adn Deep Sea Aquarium and Museum". Located at Saltar's Point.

Robert Thompson Barn and Stable, right across Lafayette Street from Bair Drugs. Street car tracks visible. Business later owned by Hill Harmon. "Dixie Queen advertisement.

West shore building on Commercial Street near Union Avenue

Log house on Commercial Street. Site of first Steilacoom School. Used as refuge during Indian wars.

Bair Drugs during restoration, showing condition of rocks used for foundation. Clyde Davidson with the shovel.

Steilacoom Town Hall, built in 1930.

Masonic Hall; Steilacoom Lodge #2. 1860 - 1908

West Shore building on Commercial Street near Union Avenue became the Neil Henly home. Photo shows waterfront before railroad was built.

Grist mill located on Chambers Creek. Formerly located at the curve in the road between the current boat storage facility and the paper mill. Photo from Tacoma Public Library archives.

Cates building and Lights store on Balch Street

Steilacoom Town Hall

Side view of Rundquist's Blacksmith Shop

Rundquist's Blacksmith Shop located at foot of Puyallup Street. Peter Rundquist standing at rear of wagon.

Commercial buildings on Lafayette Street: Bair Drugs, meat market, grocery store, "Wye" street car

1910

1980

`1905

Unk

1854

1895

1910

1865

1895

1900

1975

~1915

1876

1850s

~1900

1895

1990

1930

1890

~1890

1885

1893

~1900

Buildings031

Buildings030

Buildings033

Buildings036

Buildings035

Buildings034

Buildings039

Buildings038

Buildings037

Buildings040

Exterior of J. M. Smith's General Merchandise Store on Lafayette

Bair Pharmacy in Tacoma (which the Bair family ran before moving to Steilacoom)

The NPRR Brewery on Starling Street, built by Wolf Schafer in 1873

~1914

Early 1890s

~1880

Deep Sea Aquarium at Saltar's Point

Bayview Hotel and Balch Store on Balch Street with Balch Wharf in distance.

Smith's General Merchandise Store, Slim Krogh's Pool Hall on Lafayette Street

1890

1914

~1920

1895

Looking west on Commercial Street: Weller's Butcher Shop, Post Office, Vaughn's Livery Stable

Looking east on Commercial Street: Vaughn's Livery Stable, Post Office, Wellers Butcher Shop/Meat Market

1925

Buildings042

Buildings041

Looking northeast on Commercial Street: L. to R.: Bayview Hotel, Johnson Shoe Repair, Clendenin Store, Fannin Drug Store, and Eisenbeis Bakery.

Green's Soundview Hotel and Boat House at Saltar's Point

Territorial and County Jail built on Starling Street in 1858

Northern Pacific RR depot built at foot of Union Avenue in 1914

1914

1890

Buildings043

Territorial and County Jail built on Starling Street in 1858; roof had caved in at the time this photo was taken.

1930

Buildings044

Buildings046

Buildings045

Buildings048

Buildings047

Buildings050

Buildings049

Remodelling of NPRR Brewery as Iron Springs Sanatorium (later to be Iron Springs Hotel)

Hotel Waverly at corner of Wilkes and Commercial Streets. Built in 1893 by E. R. Rogers as his residence. Nick Doering Livery Stable shown across street at left side of photo.

~1900

Western State Hospital

Waverly Hotel as viewed from Commercial Street.

~1920

1910

Bradley Auto Sleeper, built in 1912 as hotel for NPRR workers, later used as apartments.

Tennis court clubhouse at Martin and 4th Street

Puget Sound Woolen Manufacturing Company near John Dower School; built 1870

~1910

~1920

~1890

Buildings051A

Buildings051

Buildings054

Buildings053

Buildings052

Buildings056B

Buildings056A

Buildings055

Buildings059

Buildings058

Buildings057

Buildings060

Buildings064

Buildings063

Buildings062

Buildings061

Buildings066

Buildings065

Buildings067

Buildings070

Buildings069

Buildings068

Buildings072A

Buildings072

Buildings071

Buildings074

Buildings073

Buildings076

Buildings075

Buildings079

Buildings078

Buildings077

Buildings080

Buildings080B

Buildings080A

Buildings082A

Buildings082

Buildings081

Buildings085

Buildings084

Buildings083

Buildings086

Buildings087B

Buildings087A

Buildings087

Buildings089

Buildings088

Buildings090

Buildings091A

Buildings091D

Buildings091C

Buildings091B

Buildings094

Buildings093

Buildings092

Buildings097

Buildings096

Buildings095

Buildings098

Buildings101

Buildings100

Buildings099

Masonic Hall and bell tower on Commercial Street. The bell tower was built to house the bell when the Methodist Episcopal Church was torn down in 1894.

1896

Buildings104

Buildings103

Buildings102

Buildings105

Buildings106

Buildings107

Buildings108

Buildings110

Buildings109

Buildings113

Buildings112

Buildings111

Buildings114B

Buildings114A

Buildings114

Buildings116

Buildings115

Buildings114C

Buildings117

Photo Missing

Buildings119

Buildings118

Buildings120

Buildings122

Buildings121B

Buildings121

Buildings123

Buildings124

Buildings125

Buildings126

Buildings129

Buildings128

Buildings127

Buildings130

Not Used

Buildings133

Buildings132

Buildings131

Buildings135

Buildings134

Buildings136

Buildings140

Buildings139

Buildings138

Buildings137

Buildings143

Buildings142

Buildings141

Buildings144B

Buildings144A

Buildings145A1

Buildings145A

Buildings145A1B

Buildings145A2

Buildings145B

Buildings145E

Buildings145D

Buildings145C

Buildings145H

Buildings145G

Buildings145F

Buildings150

Buildings148

Buildings147

Buildings146

Buildings149

Page 1 of 3

2, 3

McCaw and Rogers, and S. McCaw and Company The older building to the right, built in 1854, was torn down after the new building was erected.

McCaw and (E.R.) Rogers, first brick building in Washington Territory - 1859. On upper side of Commercial Street between Puyallup and Balch Streets.

St. Josephs Academy on Nisqually Street. Built by the Sisters of Charity of Providence

~1870

1860

~1890

1898

~1900

Catholic Immaculate Conception Church. Moved from Fort Steilacoom to Steilacoom in 1864 after the "Indian Wars"

Pierce County Court House on Martin Street, 1858 - 1880. Later a school, boarding house. Torn down around 1893

1893

Pierce County Court House on Martin Street, 1858 - 1880. Later a school, boarding house. Torn down around 1893

1893

Earlier "OK Restaurant", also owned by Catherine Hedges. On Commercial Street next to Balch Store

Eisenbeis Steilacoom Bakery on Commercial Street. Baker, Fred Eisenbise, standing in front wearing apron

1860

~1900

~1885

"OK Restaurant" owned by Catherine Hedges. On Commercial Street next to Balch Store

Thompson Hotel on Commercial Street. Build by Levant Thompson in approximately 1856

1860

Pierce County jail on Starling Street

1915

1920's

Pierce County jail on Starling Street

Pierce County jail on Starling Street surrounded by vegetation

Immaculate Conception Catholic Mission, photo from Main Street

St. Joseph Academy on Nisqually Street, Immaculate Conception Mission in background.

St. Joseph Academy on Nisqually Street. Photo may be been taken as the structure was being converted to a home. Group of unidentified people on the porch.

~1900

~1866

1890's

Immaculate Conception Catholic Mission, close-up of front door

Immaculate Conception Catholic Mission

1980s

1970's

1920s

Immaculate Conception Catholic Mission

1980s

Mill on Chambers Creek (zoom view of Buildings072)

Chambers Mill on Chambers Creek. For orientation, the current (2009) paper mill would be at the upper left corner of the photo. See also "Buildings110". Although there is no direct proof of whether this was Chamber's saw mill, or flour (grist) mill, it is most likely his grist mill which has been described as having four floors.

Iron Springs Hotel on Starling Street. Formerly Iron Springs Sanatorium. W. L. and Hattie Bair on porch.

1893

~1908

Oberlin Congregational Church at corner of Lafayette and Pacific Streets

1958

Not Used

Exterior of "new" Steilacoom School, built in 1916-7

1976

1920s

Not Used

Exterior of "new" Steilacoom School, built in 1916

1920s

Same photo as Buildings025

Exterior of Town Hall, dedicated October 4, 1930.

1930

Etching of E.R. Rogers Restaurant (see "Buildings080" above) after re-opening in 1978.

Initially E. R. Rogers, then Waverly Hotel, and here as the Waverly Restaurant, dedicated in April 21, 1975. New owner changed name to E. R. Rogers Restaurant in 1978.

Exterior of Town Hall, dedicated October 4, 1930. Sign says "Bicentennial Community"

1984

1975

Read an interesting tale about the E. R. Rogers Restaurant here.

Seven men lounging in front of the Bair Drug Store...John Dowling, W. L. Bair, Fred Doyne, Fred Chelius, Harry Gaul, Dike Rigney, Charlie Armstrong

Northern Pacific Railroad Brewery on Starling Street. Copyrighted by the Washington State Historical Museum.

Waverly Hotel (later E.R. Rogers Restaurant ,see "Buildings080" above)

1880s

April, 1960

1897

Lafayette Street businesses....Bair Drugs, Meat Market, Smith's Store. Pictured are Fred Chelius, Herman Gaul, Billy Austin, and Cub Bair

1912?

Close-up of seven men lounging in front of the Bair Drug Store (same photo as "Buildings082" above)

1897

The aging Bair Drugs, restored in the late 1800s, as it appeared in 1961

Newly rebuilt Bair Drugs and Derville Building on Lafayette Street

1961

1896

Promotional for the Deep Sea Aquarium at Saltar's Point

Charlie Murbarger's General Store on Lafayette Street, Charlie Murbarger pictured

Ed Bair showing an exhibit from the Deep Sea Aquarium

1925

1910

Promotional for the Deep Sea Aquarium at Saltar's Point

1915

Exterior of Deep Sea Aquarium at Saltar's Point

Deep Sea Aquarium at Saltar's Point

1920s

Deep Sea Aquarium at Saltar's Point

Interior of Deep Sea Aquarium at Saltar's Point

~1925

Deep Sea Aquarium at Saltar's Point

~1925

Side view of Deep Sea Aquarium at Saltar's Point

~1925

Ed Bair and his 1923 Ford advertising Deep Sea Aquarium at Saltar's Point

Not Used

~1925

Waterfront view of "Old Masonic Hall" on Commercial Street.

1885

The McCaw and Company Store. This was the first store owned by Samuel McCaw and E. R. Rogers

Balch Store (first store in Steilacoom). Lafayette Balch built his store in 1851 from wood pre-cut in his native state of Maine and shipped around the horn...there were no lumber mills in the northwest at the time.

Colorized post card of the Soles family home near Parkland. The building was originally a very early Hudson Bay Trading Post.

Unk

~1885

1885

The Soles family home near Parkland. Original copyrighted photo in the Special Collections of the University of Washington Library. See colorized post card of same building as Buildings098 above.

Unk

Not Used

Masonic Hall on Commercial Street

Fort Steilacoom barns, east of the main fort

1880

1860

Catholic Mission and Convent School

Site of Byrd School. In 1912, the landmark tree was fallen leaving the stump pictured in "Buildings104" above

Site of Byrd School (in 1912, and thereafter, this stump marked the site. Near intersection of Lakewood Drive and Steilacoom Boulevard/100th). In 2009, the site was undergoing excavation by a local history buff.

1912

Not Used

~1864

1912

Beer Hall, Butcher Shop, and Post Office. The beer hall was operated by Henry Rupp

Steilacoom Transfer Company with owner, Nick Doering, standing on wagon at right.

Byrd family barn and hop drying house at Fern Hill. Built in 1866, torn down in 1910

1880

1900

1910

Bair Drugs, front view before renovation.

Chambers Mill, operated by Judge Thomas Chambers, the person for which Chambers Creek is named. Chambers operated the first mills in Pierce County, this one on what was then the Steilacoom River, now Chambers Creek. See also "Buildings072"

1880

1975

1880

Photo Missing

Close-up side view of Bair Drugs druing start of renovation.

Bair Drugs, side view before renovation.

Bair Drugs, front view before renovation.

1975

Bair Drugs, side view before renovation. Nearly identical to "Buildings114" (two workers in 114A not present in 114B).

1859

1975

Photo Missing

Close-up side view of Bair Drugs during start of renovation. Lynn Sholes and Lyle Dunkin were involved with renovation, shown here on roof

Close-up of Catholic Church, snow on bushes

McCaw and Rogers Store, close-up of building. Photo labeled "Steilacoom 1859.

1970s

1980s

Front viewof Catholic Church

View of parade ground and surrounding buildings at original Fort Steilacom. Officer's quarters on far side of field.

~1940

1942

Civil Defense observation tower at Brown's Point

Bair Drugs with gas pump in front during period when the store sold much more than drugs.

Town Hall

Unk

1970

Bair Drugs with gas pump in front during period when the store sold much more than drugs.

Sketch of Bair Drugs by C. Mathias

Oct 13, 1974

1970

E. R. Rogers store on Lafayette Street

1900?

Not Used

O'Donnell building, later torn down and replaced by Smith's Grocery

1910

Immaculate Conception Catholic Mission Church

1970

Unk

Western State Hospital on site of former Fort Steilacoom

Deep Sea Aquarium at Saltar's Point

Immaculate Conception Catholic Mission Church

1943

1970

Bair Store with two gas pumps in front

Deep Sea Aquarium at Saltar's Point

1944

1943

1944

Old Pierce County jail being dismantled

Steilacoom Garage and gas station (Standard Oil) at grand opening. Sign in window says "Open for business April 1st - No foolin'!"

1944

1942

1944

Spectators watching old Pierce County jail being dismantled

Old jail crumbling

Spectators watching old Pierce County jail being dismantled

Deep Sea Aquarium being dismantled

1944

Steilacoom Garage being built at corner of Rainier and Union Streets, current site of Espresso by the Bay

Jan 1942

Chambers Creek lumber mill (which preceded paper mill at same site...see "Buildings142" above

Paper mill on Chambers Creek (Owned by Atibi in 2009, but not in use)

Unk, but before 1937

Oct 31, 1937

1960s

Bair Store, side view

Bair Store, front view

Photos "Buildings145A" through "Buildings145H" show Bair Store before and as it was being reconstructed to its original configuration as a drug store. The principal work crew included Lynn Scholes, Lyle Dunkin, Bob Anderson, and Bob Volkner.

1975

Bair Store, side view

1975

Bair Store, pouring the concrete foundation

Bair Store, corner view

Bair Store, side view

Bair Store, Bob Anderson and Bob Volkner working on roof

Bair Store, Lynn Scholes, Lyle Dunkin and "Foster"

1975

Bair Store, inside

Bair Store, front view

Bair Store, applying new siding

1975

Bair Store, inside

1975

Bair Store, dedication of new store

Bair Store, attaching new sign during reconstruction

1976

Catholic Church before renovation, showing picket fence in front

Bair Store, dedication of new store. Cub and Eudocia Bair

Dedication of new Bair Store. Lynn Sholes, president of the Steilacoom Historical Museum Association acting as moderator.

~1920

1976

See also Buildings001A, 002, 003, 241, and 242

See also Buildings001, 003, 241, and 242

Buildings003

Buildings014A

Buildings014B

Small piano purchased by Presbyterian Rev. Sloan, ____ by Beth Julian

Bair Store at beginning of reconstruction

Buildings145I

1975

Buildings112A

Bair Drugs, front view

1960s

Bair Store with two gas pumps in front

Buildings145J

~1905

~1920

~1880

Chambers Mill (see caption for Buildings111 below.

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