The Dirty Nine
SUZY STUMP: HISTORIC TACOMA WATCH LIST >>>
OK, you live in Tacoma. You get this nifty block system. You know where old City Hall is. Find the Heidelberg Brewery? Not a problem. You’re ready to take it to the next level. That’s right, saving the city's past. Keeping historic Tacoma alive. How can you help?
Historic Tacoma developed a Watch List of nine architecturally significant historic sites on its mind. These sites, Tacoma’s history, are undergoing transition: some are ready to collapse, some are for sale, some are facing demolition, some are target practice for birds.
“Through our Watch List, we want to increase awareness of sites that are vulnerable — these are the buildings and streetscapes that tell Tacoma’s story. We are literally watching these sites with concern and interest; each one contributes to Tacoma’s rich and unique built environment,” notes Historic Tacoma Board President, Sharon Winters, in a press release.
Historic Tacoma’s Watch List includes:
- Brewery District
- Pivotal buildings include the 1901-19 Pacific Brewing & Malting Company (for sale), Alt Heidelberg Brewery (facing demolition), 1927 Meadowsweet Dairy (for lease), 1910 City Shops & Stables, and the 1911 Nisqually Power Plan Substation
- Elks Lodge, 1901 (for sale)
- First Congregational Church, 1907-08 (vulnerable)
- Luzon Building, 1891 (rehabilitation in process)
- John R. Rogers Elementary School, 1907 (for sale)
- Murray Morgan Bridge, 1913 (in transition)
- Trinity United Methodist Church, 1913-15 (rehabilitation in process)
- Union Club, 1888 (for sale)
- Wedge Neighborhood (seeking historic district status) Pivotal buildings on S. Sheridan include the Titlow Mansion
Are these sites history?
Again, I refer to the press release, “Historic Tacoma does not currently have the means to purchase, restore, or otherwise save any of the listed sites. The organization is committed to bringing parties with the necessary resources and expertise together and to providing technical advice as requested. But some of the sites will only be preserved with the support of local and involved grass root advocates.”
Watch Historic Tacoma’s Watch List at its Web site. Keep an eye on it. Read the descriptions of each site. Maybe even save one of these sites yourself.
