High-resolution, full color images available online
Search, browse, read, and print yearbook pages
View college, high school, and military yearbooks
Browse our digital annual library spanning centuries
Privacy, as we do not track users or sell information
Page 20 text:
“
THE TAHOMA
”
Page 19 text:
“
THE TAHOMA ll in the basement under cover, and the building was abandoned for the next four years. On October 11, 1898, at 7:15 p. rn. a mysterious fire broke out in the east wing of the building, and as at that time no watchman was kept the fire was far beyond control by the time a stream of water could be brought into play. People from miles around were attracted by the glare and the sparks from the flames. Firemen did everything possible to save the building but the entire inside of the unfinished hotel was burned. The only parts that remained were the strongly reinforced brick walls and six large boilers that had been stored in the west wing base- ment three floors underground. The total loss was estimated at S200,000, as the building was not insured. It was popularly believed tha.t the building was purposely set on fire. Finally, because public pride and need of a new high school, the school board, on recommendation of Architect Frederick Heath, bought the ruins of the castle-like hotel, with the sur- rounding nine acres of ground, for 334,500 on February 26, 1903. Work began immediately as at that time the old Tacoma High School was overcrowded with students. The architect changed the plans so that the building would look as if it had been originally planned for a high school, the architecture being of the French Renaissance type. So fast was the work rushed that the graduating Class of 1906 of the Tacoma High School was able to hold its graduating exercises in June in the just-completed auditorium. In Sep- tember of the same year when school opened everyone, both pupils and citizens of Tacoma, came to view the wonderful awe-inspir- ing modern high school, which had such gigantic boilers and air- breathing walls to take care of the ventilation. For days peo- ple thronged the building to view it. So well was this building constructed that even now, 20 years later, it is up-to-date in all respects. The total cost of the building at the time of its com- pletion amounted to S300,788.1S. It has been much changed and improved as the years have gone by.
Are you trying to find old school friends, old classmates, fellow servicemen or shipmates? Do you want to see past girlfriends or boyfriends? Relive homecoming, prom, graduation, and other moments on campus captured in yearbook pictures. Revisit your fraternity or sorority and see familiar places. See members of old school clubs and relive old times. Start your search today!
Looking for old family members and relatives? Do you want to find pictures of parents or grandparents when they were in school? Want to find out what hairstyle was popular in the 1920s? E-Yearbook.com has a wealth of genealogy information spanning over a century for many schools with full text search. Use our online Genealogy Resource to uncover history quickly!
Are you planning a reunion and need assistance? E-Yearbook.com can help you with scanning and providing access to yearbook images for promotional materials and activities. We can provide you with an electronic version of your yearbook that can assist you with reunion planning. E-Yearbook.com will also publish the yearbook images online for people to share and enjoy.
