Research the archive
Narrow 27,002 newspaper stories by words, years, place, newspaper and subject. See when and where they ran, then download what you find.
Put a phrase in quotes ("rent strike") or leave a word out with a minus (strike -baseball). Old scans misspell names, so when little is found, near-spellings are offered.
Refine2 on
Show the numbers
| Year | Stories |
|---|---|
| 1903 | 19 |
| 1904 | 845 |
| 1907 | 7 |
| 1909 | 747 |
1,618 stories
- Army Training at American Lake
A new target range constructed by soldiers near Hillhurst opens for service, preparing troops for future encampments.
- A New Shipping Route to Alaska Proposed for Tacoma
The Northwestern Commercial Company considers making Tacoma the primary port for its newly refurbished fleet of Alaska-bound liners.
- The Three-Foot Loophole: A Clever Workaround for Tacoma's Gambling Ban
Tacoma's Olympic Club skirts police edicts by raising the floor three feet to technically evade gambling restrictions.
- Social Club’s Liquor License Gambit Fails
A club for 'colored gentlemen' finds their strategy to circumvent licensing laws derailed by a bureaucratic oversight in their incorporation paperwork.
- The Runaway and the Judge's Mercy
After a judge shows leniency to a young bicycle thief, the boy absconds with his brother-in-law's money.
- Street Fight Ends in Court
A long-standing quarrel over an assault leads to a court appearance for a father and his two sons.
- The Great Balfour Dock Pie Heist
A group of hungry laborers were left with nothing but their pride when two men made off with their dessert, ignoring everything but the pastries.
- Blind Pig Raid at American Lake
Police seize evidence of illicit liquor sales near the rural retreat of American Lake, landing a local man in legal jeopardy.
- Tacoma Shippers Fear for the Shawmut
Global tensions from the Russo-Japanese War reach Tacoma as merchants worry about a local steamship being intercepted.
- A Citizen's Public Protest Against a Councilman
A local resident takes to the newspaper to shame an elected official over his opposition to telephone competition in the city.
- Youths Arrested for Binding Boy Near Interurban Bridge
Two teens were taken into custody after a game of 'play' left a younger boy tied to a structure near the Puyallup River for several hours.
- Street Hustlers Ordered Off Twelfth Street
Tacoma officials move to clear sidewalk congestion caused by street performers and vendors blocking access to the post office.
- City Council Delays Decision on Power Franchise
Tacoma officials postpone a hearing on the Tacoma Railway & Power Company's franchise request, leaving the city's utility future in flux.
- Late Night Hold-Up Near 26th Street
The proprietor of a local drug store is intercepted by an armed robber who spent time casually chatting while searching his pockets.
- A Case of Misspelling
Dr. Royal A. Gove files suit against the Sunset Telephone Company for losing him business after they misspelled his name in the directory.
- State Cracks Down on Deceptive Dairy Practices
Food Commissioner McDonald orders grocers to pull or label condensed milk artificially colored to suggest higher butterfat content.
- Police Pawn Shop Registry Catches Thief
An early technological shift in policing—the 'watch-book' system—allows detectives to track down stolen goods in record time.
- Tragic Snow-Clearing Death
A 71-year-old man died instantly after slipping on icy pavement while clearing snow in North Tacoma.
- The Notary and the Disputed Deed
Ida Jones’s charge that notary Charles C. Kramer impersonated a police officer over a disputed deed was dismissed.
- A Patrolman Quits Under Cloud of Suspicion
Facing humiliation over false accusations of wrongdoing, an officer on the waterfront beat turns in his badge.
- The Truancy Crackdown
A laborer is arrested by truant officers for keeping his son home from school to assist with the family's finances.
- The Northern Pacific Railroad Depot Gets a Deadline
Tacoma City Council forces the hand of the Northern Pacific, setting a firm date for the construction of a new passenger depot on Pacific Avenue.
- Saloon Watchman Fired After 'Alcoholic Exuberance'
A newly hired watchman and his companion turn an Old Standard saloon into their personal party space, leading to an arrest.
- Thief Caught Red-Handed at the Lansing Hotel
A young man looking for a room is thwarted by a vigilant saloonkeeper who catches him searching through hotel belongings.
- Pool Hall Proprietress Charged with Enabling Minors
A local woman faces charges for allowing youths to play games of chance in her South Tacoma establishment.