Titlow Beach, Tacoma...

By
Industry Observer with ARFCO Media

My 2nd day this week in the South Sound... I'm here for meetings in Tacoma and Fife with my friend and coworker Cathi Mahan. Our first meeting was up on 6th Avenue at the top of the hill near the Narrows Bridge. You know me, not one to miss a photo opp, let's take a quick spin down the hill to Titlow Park on Puget Sound so I can take a few photos.


The pilings are from an old ferry terminal.

The park is named after Aaron R. Titlow who came to Tacoma in 1888. He was just out of law school and decided his opportunities might be greater out west in the Washington Territory instead of setting up practice in his home State of Ohio. His timing couldn't have been better, Washington became a state the next year on November 11, 1889 and life was booming in the City of Tacoma.

Titlow ran a successful law practice, got elected Prosecuting Attorney (1897-98), ran several successful businesses and loved real estate. Within in a few short years he owned around 300 town lots, several other large parcels and 3 farms in Pierce County.

Needless to say, Titlow did very well with his real estate holdings and in 1903 he purchased 30 acres of the Wilton land claim on Puget Sound in Tacoma's west end. Titlow died in 1923 and the land was purchased by the Metro Parks of Tacoma in 1926.

We didn't stay long, but I did have a few minutes to take several photos. These 3 were my favorites.

That's the Tacoma Narrows Bridge in the background. This is just a stone's throw from an earlier post I did back in February about Boathouse 19. Even on a rainy day, it's beautiful place.

A little more about Titlow Park...

History of the Titlow Beach Lodge

Titlow Park

 

Posted by

René Fabre

"Where there's conversation, there's opportunity."

Please Note - The views expressed herein reflect only the individual’s personal views and are not the views of the author’s employer.

The Blackberry Chronicles, a blog by Rene Fabre and his travels around the Greater Pacific Northwest and beyond. Connect w/ Rene Fabre on Google+. Rene Fabre on Twitter. Rene Fabre writes reviews on Yelp. Rene Fabre on Linkedin.com The Audiorium YouTube Channel by Rene Fabre. Facebook.com/renefabre Rene Fabre loves digital photography and here are his shares on Flickr. Rene Fabre is a musician and composer and shares some of his orginal music and recordings on Soundcloud. Rene Fabre shares his interests on Pinterest.

Comments (7)

Debi Braulik
www.roundrealestate.com - Maple Valley, WA
Selling Maple Valley to Fife WA Homes For Sale

Titlow is a great park. Love the lodge. And I agree. Even on a rainy day it's still beautiful.

Apr 05, 2013 06:32 AM
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

Thanks for the interesting local history. Most of us wish that we had purchased more real estate during our years of professional life.

Apr 05, 2013 06:58 AM
Rene Fabre
ARFCO Media - Renton, WA
Practicing Philosophical Eclectic of the Arts

Hi Debi... Me too, the lodge is a wonderful building. I did a little research and found out it was originally built as a 3 story luxury Hotel Hesperides (named for his 3 young daughters at the time) in 1911.

Roy: Thanks, I love local history. I was unaware of Mr. Titlow until after I took the photos and was curious about how the park got its name. Agreed, no matter the price, I can think of several opportunities to buy property many years ago, and I wish I would have!

Apr 05, 2013 08:29 AM
Myrl Jeffcoat
Sacramento, CA
Greater Sacramento Realtor - Retired

Those old ancient pilings lay testament to the history you reveal in your writings, Rene'. . .Wonderful stuff!  I hope you have a superb weekend!

Apr 05, 2013 10:20 AM
Tony & Darcy Cannon
Aubrey and Associates Realty - Layton, UT
The C Team

Rene, That is a great bit of history!  Those are some great photos, very beautiful area!  Have a great day!

Apr 06, 2013 01:28 AM
Rene Fabre
ARFCO Media - Renton, WA
Practicing Philosophical Eclectic of the Arts

Thanks Myrl... and those old pilings go pretty deep. 

Darcy: Proof positive it can be worth it when you're working on a project and you go down a few rabbit holes along the way! Enjoy the day.

Apr 06, 2013 03:20 AM
Anonymous
Ray Elliott

Hi René,  Nice post on Titlow Beach.  I'm doing a bit of research on the area and posted some of it on my blog, http://citiestownsandotherplaces.com.  I provided a link to this post.

Nice work,

Ray Elliott

Sep 13, 2013 04:59 AM
#7