Printed on front: First Congregational Church and First Christ Scientist Church, Tacoma, Washington.

Printed on front: First Congregational Church, Tacoma, Wash.

• First Congregational Church, located at 209 South J Street, was built in 1907. It is made of brick faced with Tenino sandstone. circa 1907.
• Printed on front: First Congregational Church, Tacoma, Wash.

Kitchen - First Congregational Church. The kitchen in the First Congregational Church was well equipped to handle hundreds of parishioners' dietary needs for church teas, luncheons, suppers, and receptions. The section of the kitchen shown in this September 17, 1957, photograph indicates that dishwashing would be fast and efficient. The Blakeslee Kitchen Machine may have been an industrial dishwasher. Photograph ordered by the Patrick Co., dealer in restaurant supplies.

Kitchens--Tacoma--1950-1960; First Congregational Church (Tacoma);

Preschool children on stage. On May 5, 1922, nine little tots in flower costumes held up letters spellling the word "PRESCHOOL" as they posed on stage at the First Congregational Church with ("Gardener" and wife) Mr. and Mrs. Randall Bubb and Mabel Walters. This "flower garden" had been asleep until awakened by the sprinkling of the woman holding a watering can on the extreme right. The children's skit was part of a preschool luncheon attended by 300 delegates to the Washington State P.T.A. and Congress of Mothers convention. They aptly fit the luncheon's theme of "The Child's Garden." TPL-5715; G47.1-101 (TNT 5-5-22, p. 6-article)

Children--Tacoma--1920-1930; Costumes; Bubb, Randall; Walters, Mabel;

First Congregational Church choir, circa November of 1937, with a pipe organ in the background. A cropped version of this picture appeared in the November 19, 1937 Tacoma Times. The choir was celebrating their 12th season with J.W. Bixel as conductor and Mrs. Walter McHaney as organist. During that time, the choir had presented 150 anthems and choruses, most of them by the master composers. In the photograph, Mr. Bixel and Rev. Holland F. Burr are standing in front of the choir. (T. Times 11/19/1937, pg. 3).

Congregational churches--Tacoma; First Congregational Church (Tacoma); Choirs (music); Bixel, John W.;

Easter Morning, March 28, 1937, at Tacoma Churches. Left to right, Jane Parker, Joan Finch, Seymour S. Todd, Marjory Long, Jean Williams, Kathryn Burr, Virginia Lee (Wendy) Wagner (later Weyerhaeuser) and Mollie Mae Morris outside of First Congregational Church. (T. Times 3/29/37 p. 1)

Congregational churches--Tacoma; First Congregational Church (Tacoma); Easter--Tacoma; Children--Tacoma--1930-1940; Parker, Jane; Finch, Joan; Todd, Seymour S.; Long, Marjory; Williams, Jean; Burr, Kathryn; Wagner, Virginia Lee; Morris, Mollie Mae;

Enjoying the sunshine on Easter morning in 1937 are churchgoers at the First Congregational Church, 209 So. J St. The many children present, all dressed in their Sunday best, seem to indicate that this may have been the various Sunday School classes at the church. A few of the girls have been identified as front row, left to right: Jean Williams (with lily plant), possibly Joan Finch, Marjory Long, possibly Kathryn Burr, Jane Parker, and Virginia Lee (Wendy) Wagner in polka-dotted dress with hands on wall. Seymour S. Todd (standing, second row at far left) was a teacher at Stewart Junior High School.

Easter--Tacoma; First Congregational Church (Tacoma); Congregational churches--Tacoma; Children--Tacoma--1930-1940; Todd, Seymour S.; Williams, Jean; Long, Marjory; Parker, Jane; Wagner, Virginia Lee;

This is the First Congregational Church Choir as they posed before the large pipe organ in November of 1937. Director of music, J.W. Bixel, was experiencing his twelfth season as conductor with Mrs. Walter McHaney as organist. During his tenure, the choir had performed 150 anthems and choruses. Rev. Holland F. Burr was pastor of First Congregational. He and Mr. Bixel are standing in the front row.

First Congregational Church (Tacoma); Congregational churches--Tacoma; Choirs (Music)--1930-1940; Bixel, John W.; Organs;

ca. 1925. Play at Congregational Church. A large group of actors, dressed in robes and headdresses, pose at the front of the church. A curtain has been hung across the altar, shielding most of a pipe organ. This is probably the First Congregational Church at 209 So. "J" St. (WSHS-negative under A600-0))

Congregational churches--Tacoma; First Congregational Church (Tacoma); Theatrical productions--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Easter at the churches. The First Congregational Church, 209 South J St., is decorated with lilies and other flowers for Easter in April of 1938. This dimly lit view of the church's interior shows the choir singing for an appreciate audience from below the massive pipe organ where a floral cross has been placed. First Congregational Church, built in 1907, was later remodeled in 1925 and also in the 1950's. (Additional identification provided by a reader)

First Congregational Church (Tacoma); Churches--Tacoma--1930-1940; Congregational churches--Tacoma; Easter--Tacoma;

Wedding of Joyce Rosene and Robert Ellett at First Congregational Church. The couple exchanged vows in a candlelight ceremony officiated by Rev. Joseph Weiss of Seattle on March 19, 1940. The bride wore a white taffeta gown with leg-o'-mutton sleeves and carried a single orchid surrounded by valley lilies. The new Mrs. Ellett graduated from Lincoln High School and attended Knapps and the Washington Art Institute. She is a member of Beta Phi Kappa national business sorority. Her husband is the son of Senator and Mrs. A.O. Ellett of Salt Lake City, Utah. He graduated from Springville High School in Spanish Fork, Utah and attended the University of Utah. The couple will make their first home in Salt Lake City. (filed with Argentum) (T.Times 3-20-1940, p. 11-article only; T.Times 3-23-1940, p. 4-alt. photo)

Rosene, Joyce Elizabeth--Marriage; Ellett, Rober Isaac; First Congregational Church (Tacoma); Weddings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Brides--1940-1950; Wedding clothing & dress--1940-1950; Grooms (Weddings)--1940-1950;

Wedding of Joyce Rosene and Robert Ellett at First Congregational Church. The bride and her attendants pose on the altar of the church on March 19, 1940. Joyce is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Luther W. Rosene of Tacoma and Robert, the son of Senator and Mrs. A.O. Ellett of Salt Lake City, Utah. Standing with the bride (order not determined) are: maid of honor Elinor Perkins, matron of honor Mrs. Austin Gibbons, bridesmaids Lillian Morisse, Mrs. Ernest J. Estes, Betty Donahue and Frances Newell, junior bridesmaid Betty Lou Babnick and flower girl Dorothy Ellen Babnick. Bernice Morse and Eunice Washburn also participated in the wedding as candlelighters. The best man (not pictured) was Glen Rosene, brother of the bride. (T.Times 3-6-1940, p. 9-announcement of wedding party; T.Times 3-20-1940, p. 11-article on wedding only) (filed with Argentum)

Rosene, Joyce Elizabeth--Marriage; First Congregational Church (Tacoma); Weddings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Brides--1940-1950; Wedding clothing & dress--1940-1950; Wedding attendants--Tacoma;

Tacoma Oratorio Society at First Congregational Church in "The Creation", J.W. Bixel, conductor. 51 people posed in an auditorium. (filed with Argentum)

Tacoma Oratorio Society (Tacoma); First Congregational Church (Tacoma);

In the wee hours of a Sunday morning in June of 1942, several soldiers are pictured still abed in the dormitory set up in the gymnasium of the First Congregational Church. Fort Lewis was swollen with soldiers preparing to leave for the battlefields of World War II and on weekend leave they came to Tacoma. There were not enough rooms in Tacoma for all of the soldiers, so area churches stepped up and provided beds over Saturday night and a hearty Sunday morning breakfast for a mere 55 cents. (TNT 7/5/1942, pg. 1)

Dormitories; World War, 1939-1945--Military life--Tacoma; First Congregational Church (Tacoma);

To show their appreciation for the men in uniform serving in wartime, Tacomans banded together to house and feed visiting soldiers from Fort Lewis and McChord during World War II. Beginning in the spring of 1942, some area churches were opened as dormitories on Saturday nights for military personnel. At the First Congregational Church on June 20, 1942, a group of people of all ages gathered in a commercial sized kitchen to prepare and serve breakfast for their military guests. Soldiers were offered as much pancakes, juice and coffee as they wanted for twenty cents. (TNT 7/5/1942, pg. 1; T. Times 5/21/1942, pg. 1)

Dormitories; World War, 1939-1945--Military life--Tacoma; First Congregational Church (Tacoma); Kitchens; Cookery;

On June 20, 1942, a young soldier donned an apron and offered to help with the dishes after dining and rooming at the First Congregational Church, 209 So. J St. In answer to an urgent call by Tacoma Mayor Harry Cain for weekend housing for the soldiers swelling the area military bases and coming to Tacoma for weekend entertainment, the Tacoma Ministerial Association opened three of the larger churches as dormitories. The first three to offer this service were First Presbyterian, First Congregational and First Christian. (T. Times 5/21/1942, pg. 1)

World War, 1939-1945--Military life--Tacoma; First Congregational Church (Tacoma);

Tower of the First Congregational Church, designed by George W. Bullard, Architect. The cornerstone was laid in September of 1907, with the first services being held in the building in 1908. Ordered by Rev. Harold Booch, Pastor.

Congregational churches--Tacoma; First Congregational Church (Tacoma); Stone buildings;

First Congregational Church. Exterior view of stone building with stained glass windows and bell tower. The cornerstone of the First Congregational Church was laid September 5, 1907. The first services were held in the Gothic structure a little over a year later on October 11, 1908. The building was designed by noted Tacoma architect George W. Bullard, class of '82 at the University of Illinois.

Congregational churches--Tacoma; First Congregational Church (Tacoma); Stone buildings;

The early Gothic facade of the First Congregational Church was built 1907-1908. It was designed by architect George W. Bullard and is of brick faced with Tenino sandstone. Ordered by Rev. Harold Booch, Pastor. [Also dated 04-18-1943]

Congregational churches--Tacoma; First Congregational Church (Tacoma); Stone buildings;

This photograph of the First Congregational Church, at the corner of Division and South J Street, was taken in April of 1943. The congregation of the First Congregational Church can trace its history in Tacoma back to 1873 when the first church members gathered in a tent in Old Tacoma. The cornerstone for the church at 209 South J was laid September 5, 1907 and the dedicatory services were held December 12, 1909. Designed by George W. Bullard, the church and its adjoining school building are brick faced with Tenino sandstone. Ordered by Rev. Harold Booch, Pastor. [Also dated 04-18-1943]

Congregational churches--Tacoma; First Congregational Church (Tacoma); Stone buildings;

The cornerstone for the Tudor First Congregational Church was laid September 5,1907 and the adjacent educational building was added in 1928. The buildings are of brick faced with Tenino sandstone.

Congregational churches--Tacoma; First Congregational Church (Tacoma); Stone buildings;

First Congregational Church Group. A woman sings into a microphone while accompanied by a man in uniform on an upright piano. There is a draped archway in the background.

World War, 1939-1945--Social aspects--Tacoma; First Congregational Church (Tacoma); Congregational churches--Tacoma;

Jeepcade, Margaret Gould School. Group of 36 children posed in front of a jeep. TPL-3851.

World War, 1939-1945--Children--Tacoma; Private schools--Tacoma--1940-1950; Margaret K. Gould School (Tacoma); Jeep automobile;

Norma Jean Jardeen wedding to Russell G. Peterson at First Congregational Church on November 30, 1951. Bride and Maid-of-Honor. Miss Jardeen wore a white lace over satin gown and double veil with pearl-trimmed lace coronet. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Norman Jardeen and the groom, the son of Godfrey Peterson. After their Canadian honeymoon, the couple resided in the local area. (TNT 12-9-1951, D-3 -photo of bride & groom)

Jardeen, Norma Jean--Marriage; Brides--1950-1960; Wedding clothing & dress--1950-1960; Wedding attendants--Tacoma;

After picture of new roof on First Congregational Church. Blair Construction, 3022 South 38th. The early Gothic/Tudor church was designed by architect George W. Bullard and had its cornerstone laid on September 5, 1907. While the first services were held in October, 1908, dedication of the church was delayed until December 12, 1909, after all debts were paid.

Congregational churches--Tacoma; First Congregational Church (Tacoma); Roofs--Tacoma; Stone buildings; Bullard, George W.; Blair Construction Co. (Tacoma);

After picture of new roof on First Congregational Church. Blair Construction, 3022 South 38th. This exterior photograph of the First Congregational Church, taken on July 10, 1950, shows portions of the new roof, the work of Blair Construction. Arched windows with stained glass adorn the stone building located at Division and J.

Congregational churches--Tacoma; First Congregational Church (Tacoma); Roofs--Tacoma; Stone buildings--Tacoma; Stained glass--Tacoma; Blair Construction Co. (Tacoma);