City of Destiny
The Baker story cannot be told without telling of Tacoma, for the family and the city have been
a part of one another for nearly a century. The city nestles in a
powerful setting: the waters of Puget Sound lap quietly at her
feet, the magnificent snow-capped
peak
of Mount Rainier
looms behind her, and the world knocks at her door.
Tacoma's history revolves around bold new ventures,
with the promise of a bright and extraordinary future beckoning
settlers, lumbermen, manufacturers, and ordinary folk to the
shores of Puget Sound. From the
earliest days, Tacoma
has been a hub of world trade and influence. The
Port
of Tacoma is Pierce County's
gateway to the globe. This is the sixth largest container
shipping port in North America. International trade through this city runs
into billions of dollars each year. Trade with the state of Alaska alone exceeds $3 billion.
Tacoma
is a city of progress, with a lively cultural scene that offers
something for every taste. Highlights include the Tacoma
Symphony Orchestra, Broadway Center
for Performing Arts, the historic Pantages Theater, and the
Rialto Theater, which is home to Tacoma Youth Symphony. Museums
abound, with the latest addition being the $48 million
Washington
State History
Museum next to historic
Union Station. The University
of Puget Sound and Pacific Lutheran
University are considered
to be among the top private liberal arts universities in the
nation.
A
Tacoma Legend
Every city has legends and
Tacoma
has her share. One of the quiet legends whose impact will be
felt for many decades to come is Elbert H. Baker II. From
boyhood, Elbert H. Baker IIs’ destiny was closely tied to the
development of Tacoma. Mr. Baker was a man of great vision
and influence, wielding power so skillfully that few in his
community knew how broad or far reaching his legacy would be.
This man guided Tacoma and environs along the path to
progress, quietly shaping the city through benevolence, working
to encourage education and art in his community.
A Newspaper Heritage
Just after the turn of the 20th century, the Cleveland Plain
Dealer was being published by one Elbert H. Baker. His son,
Frank S. Baker, followed in his father's footsteps to become a
newspaperman. In 1912 the younger Baker left the Boston Traveler
to purchase The Tacoma Tribune. From an early age Frank's son,
Elbert H. Baker II, followed in the family tradition, selling
newspapers on downtown
Tacoma
streets. Always entrepreneurial, young Elbert sold newspapers
competing with his father's paper, the Tacoma Tribune. This
phase of business ended for young Elbert when his father caught
on.
Elbert joined the Tacoma Tribune as a bill collector in 1932,
remaining actively involved in all aspects of the business until
1986. During the course of more than half a century he worked in
virtually every department at the paper. When Frank Baker died
in 1960, Elbert inherited the title of Publisher. The
newspaper's parent company, Tribune Publishing Co., flourished.
It encompassed a number of other enterprises, which included
radio and television stations and a cable television system.