On the corner of North 26th next to the Wheelock Library is Mason Pkaza. It's in memory of "Tacoma's Best Salesman", Allen C. Mason. There are 6 grand sandstone columns which came from Mason's 1890 mansion. There is a 4 ft diameter bronze recreation of The Star of Destiny that helped put Tacoma on the map.Mason was an Illinois school teacher & checked farmer who came to Tacoma in 1883 with $2.40 in his pocket. By the 1890's, his housing development had made him a multi-millionaire. He created the Tacoma Star of Destiny illustration as a marketing tool to reach people back east.The inside of the Star is filled with reasons to move to Tacoma. He built the 1st Street car line from downtown, through Proctor District on 26th & on to Pt. Defiance Park, which is the same route used by Pierce Transit today. He was the main developer of the North End. He also donated our 1st public library, developed several major bldgs, including the 1st Elk's Lodge. 1893 brought a financial panic & he personally bought back houses from anyone who asked and went broke doing so. ~ #Tacoma #253 #GritCity #CityOfDestiny #TacomaWashington #tacomawa #VisitTacoma #exploretacoma #movetotacoma #TacomaHistory #AllenCMason #StayStellarTacoma #StayStellar #LeeHeath @tacomatalks (at Tacoma, Washington)
