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1. A Bible in Every Schoolroom? The Epworth League's Careful Campaign in Western Washington

   Meeting in convention, Methodist delegates moved to demand Bible reading in the public schools — then softened the demand, and asked the legislature to put a constitutional amendment to a vote.

   Jun 21, 1895The Seattle Post-IntelligencerTacoma, Pierce CountyCity Hall

2. Tacoma Moves to Fill Its Tide Flats

   The Tacoma Land Company prepares to reclaim the mudflats under the state's tide-land law, with a Philadelphia backer footing the bill.

   Jun 27, 1895The Seattle Post-IntelligencerTacoma, Pierce CountyFollow the Money · Boom & Bust

3. Is There Gold Under Tacoma's School Land?

   A federal geologist is sent to sample the gravel of school section 16, where John G. McElroy claims a fortune in placer gold and the state says it is ordinary school land.

   Jun 30, 1895The Seattle Post-IntelligencerTacoma, Pierce CountyFollow the Money · City Hall

4. The Great Fourth of July Exodus: Tacoma’s Streets Empty as Seattle Claims the Holiday

   While Tacoma lay quiet and deserted on Independence Day, its residents flocked to Seattle for steamers, picnics, and political meetings, leaving behind only a few 'pocket pickets' and a marching army of women.

   Jul 5, 1888The Seattle Post-IntelligencerTacoma, Pierce CountyStrange But True

5. The Day the Streets of Tacoma Went Dark

   Burglars cut through the rear door of the city's post office in the Masonic Block, only to be foiled by a vigilant night watchman who heard the glass shatter.

   Jan 15, 1889The Seattle Post-IntelligencerTacoma, Pierce CountyTrue Crime

6. Centennial Holiday Brings Excursions to Seattle

   While the nation observed the Washington Centennial with parades and solemn ceremonies, Tacoma residents flocked to the docks for a holiday excursion to the bustling city of Seattle.

   May 1, 1889The Seattle Post-IntelligencerPacific Avenue, Tacoma, Pierce County

7. The Express Messenger Who Borrowed the Company’s Cash

   A Wells Fargo messenger in Tacoma finds himself in a pickle after a 'borrowed' funds scandal lands him in hot water with his superintendent.

   Sep 17, 1889The Seattle Post-IntelligencerTacoma, Pierce CountyWork & Pay · True Crime

8. Spokane Shut Out in Tacoma Baseball Blowout

   A combination of pitching woes, defensive errors, and a fined player turned a highly anticipated match into a lopsided victory for Tacoma.

   Aug 4, 1892The Seattle Post-IntelligencerTacoma, Pierce CountyNightlife

9. Smallpox Quarantine Lifted

   After local health officers determined the measure was a detriment to business, Seattle residents were once again permitted to travel to Tacoma despite the lingering smallpox outbreak.

   Aug 11, 1892The Seattle Post-IntelligencerTacoma, Pierce CountyCity Hall

10. The Pen and the Fist: A Political Brawl

    A physical confrontation between two local political figures in Tacoma ends with a heated, yet unresolved, public exchange.

    Sep 2, 1892The Seattle Post-IntelligencerTacoma, Pierce CountyCity Hall · Scandal

11. Victoria Cricketers Fall in Tacoma

    A representative gathering of cricket critics watched the Tacoma Cricket Club best their Victoria rivals in a high-stakes return match.

    Sep 18, 1892The Seattle Post-IntelligencerTacoma Hotel, Tacoma, Pierce CountyNightlife

12. The Failed Disruptor of Tacoma

    A political agitator attempts to shout down a Republican rally, only to find himself performing for an empty street.

    Sep 20, 1892The Seattle Post-IntelligencerTacoma, Pierce CountyCity Hall

13. The Drunken Leap at the Tacoma Rooming House

    A furniture salesman, searching for a companion named 'Alice,' broke into the wrong residence and was forced to jump from a second-story window to escape the homeowner's wrath.

    Sep 30, 1892The Seattle Post-IntelligencerTacoma, Pierce CountyScandal

14. Two Sailors Apprehended After Tacoma Stick-Up

    A pair of teenage sailors attempts an armed robbery in Tacoma, only to be captured after a pursuit by police and citizens.

    Jan 12, 1893The Seattle Post-IntelligencerNorth Yakima Avenue, Tacoma, Pierce CountyTrue Crime

15. Seattle High School Defeats Tacoma on the Gridiron

    A single touchdown settles a gritty, hard-fought contest between two nascent local high school football teams.

    Jan 15, 1893The Seattle Post-IntelligencerTacoma, Pierce CountyNightlife

16. A Night of Scandal in Edison

    A young woman's night out leads to an arrest in Edison, highlighting the era's severe social policing of young women and their behavior.

    Oct 3, 1893The Seattle Post-IntelligencerEdison, Tacoma, Pierce CountyScandal

17. The Gridiron Showdown: Seattle Triumphs Over Tacoma

    Twelve hundred spectators witnessed a nail-biting football match that pushed both sides to their physical limits, ending in a hard-fought victory for Seattle.

    Oct 29, 1893The Seattle Post-IntelligencerTacoma, Pierce CountyNightlife

18. The Lawyer Locked Out

    A prominent Tacoma politician finds himself stranded on the street in his gym clothes after a drafty gymnasium door leaves him quite exposed.

    Apr 8, 1894The Seattle Post-IntelligencerTacoma, Pierce CountyStrange But True

19. The World-Traveling Catcher

    Before major league stardom, Billy Earle brought baseball to the pyramids of Egypt and the streets of Rome.

    Feb 1, 1892The Seattle Post-IntelligencerTacoma, Pierce CountyNightlife

20. A Close Encounter in the Ridgedale Addition

    A carriage ride turns tense when a black bear crosses the road near the city's edge.

    Jul 7, 1892The Seattle Post-IntelligencerTacoma, Pierce CountyStrange But True

21. A Scandalous Midnight Marriage

    A Tacoma telegrapher, intoxicated and infatuated, defied social norms to marry a woman from a local brothel in the middle of the night.

    Sep 2, 1892The Seattle Post-IntelligencerTacoma Hotel, Tacoma, Pierce CountyScandal

22. Exposition Jewelry Heist

    A thief disguised as a farmer tricks a clerk during the Tacoma Industrial Exposition to steal jewelry.

    Sep 22, 1892The Seattle Post-IntelligencerTacoma, Pierce CountyTrue Crime

23. Theater Patron Swindled at The Comique

    A local man claims he was robbed by theater managers and a companion after purchasing wine and beer.

    Oct 17, 1892The Seattle Post-IntelligencerTacoma, Pierce CountyTrue Crime

24. The Senator Caught in the Act

    A Spokane politician attempts a quiet wedding in Tacoma, only to be ambushed by his colleagues.

    Jul 13, 1893The Seattle Post-IntelligencerTacoma Hotel, Tacoma, Pierce CountyScandal

25. The Salmon Fishing Prank

    A Tacoma society woman finds herself at the center of a Sunday prank involving a 27-pound skatefish.

    Oct 23, 1893The Seattle Post-IntelligencerOld Town, Tacoma, Pierce CountyStrange But True

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