The Trail Saloon Shut Down by City Council
In an attempt to standardize local nightlife, the Tacoma City Council has refused to renew the license for a downtown saloon.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
The Trail saloon, owned by B. O. Chase, at 113 South Twelfth street was put out of business last night. Chairman Jamleson of the police and license committee reported against renewing its license and the council unanimously upheld him. Jamleson says the Trail has not been up to the standard and it will be closed up as an object lesson to other saloonists who want renewing.
“Jamleson says the Trail has not been up to the standard and it will be closed up as an object lesson.”
The practice of using liquor licenses as a tool for moral or civic policing was standard practice in Tacoma well before Prohibition. Today, the site at 113 South 12th St. sits in the heart of downtown, blocks from the modern legal cannabis and alcohol districts, illustrating the shifting boundaries of what a city deems 'standard' behavior.
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