Congratulations are offered to the Matthew Merkles who were celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary in June, 1964. They were given a spin in a 1914 Stoddard-Dayton-Knight, courtesy of C.W. Wallerich, president of South Tacoma Motor Co, and the Merkles' original driver. The Merkles had attended morning low Mass at Church of the Visitation on June 20, 1964. The Merkles were married at this same church on June 24, 1914. They had always lived in Tacoma. Friends and family would honor them with a reception at the Lakewood Terrace following the mass. From L-R are C.W. Wallerich, Elias Rowe, Mr. and Mrs. Merkle, Father Arnold of Visitation and Regina Rowe, Mrs. Merkle's maid of honor. Photograph ordered by C.W. Wallerich. (TNT 6-14-64, D-9, TNT 6-21-64, C-17)

Merkle, Matthew; Merkle, Matthew--Family; Wallerich, Clarence W.; Rowe, Elias; Rowe, Regina; Automobiles--1910-1920; Church of the Visitation (Tacoma);

A group of unidentified boys in the choir at the Church of the Visitation, 3318 So. 58th St., dressed in white robes with high starched collars and large dark bows, sang during mass on Sunday June 26, 1955. The mass was conducted by Father Robert E. Zahn, who had just been ordained a priest of the Catholic Foreign Mission Society of America on June 11, 1955 in Maryknoll, New York. The son of Mrs. Elizabeth Zahn, of Tacoma, this was the Rev. Zahn's first solemn high mass. The Church of the Visitation was designed by C. Frank Mahon in the gothic style, and built in 1913.

Choirs (Music); Rites & ceremonies--Tacoma--1950-1960; Church of the Visitation (Tacoma);

Father Robert E. Zahn offers a kneeling parishioner communion during his first solemn high Mass on June 26, 1955. He places the Host on the woman's tongue while he holds onto the chalice. Assisting Rev. Zahn is believed to be Rev. Gabriel Donahue, pastor. Several men wearing slashes stand behind the row of communicants; it is possible that they are Knights of Columbus who were acting as ushers. Rev. Zahn's first Mass occurred at the Church of the Visitation. He was ordained a priest of the Catholic Foreign Mission Society of America on June 11, 1955, at Maryknoll Major Seminary, Maryknoll, New York. After celebrating his first mass in Tacoma, he would be assigned to missions in Japan. (TNT 5-29-55, D-6)

Zahn, Robert E.; Priests--Tacoma--1950-1960; Rites & ceremonies--Tacoma--1950-1960; Church of the Visitation (Tacoma);

Rev. Robert E. Zahn prepares for his first Mass at Visitation Church on June 26, 1955. The church itself is in the far rear. Rev. Zahn is dressed in special vestments and has his hands clasped together in this sepia photograph. He was ordained a priest of the Catholic Foreign Mission Society of America on June 11, 1955, in Maryknoll, New York. The son of Mrs. Elizabeth Zahn of Tacoma, he would be assigned to missions in Japan. (TNT 5-29-55, D-6)

Zahn, Robert E.; Priests--Tacoma--1950-1960; Church of the Visitation (Tacoma);

Ethel Ranger and Dolore Gilligan wedding at the Church of the Visitation. The newly married couple talks to their guests outside of the church. Dolore B. Gilligan was employed as a welder at the Seattle Tacoma Shipyards. Ethel Ranger was a beauty operator at the Little Paris Beauty Salon. (Also dated 08-10-1942)

Ranger, Ethel--Marriage; Gilligan, Dolore; Weddings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Church of the Visitation (Tacoma); Catholic churches--Tacoma;

Ethel Ranger and Dolore Gilligan wedding at the Church of the Visitation. The wedding party poses outside the church. Dolore B. Gilligan was employed as a welder at the Seattle Tacoma Shipyards. Ethel Ranger was a beauty operator at the Little Paris Beauty Salon. (Also dated 08-10-1942)

Ranger, Ethel--Marriage; Gilligan, Dolore; Weddings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Church of the Visitation (Tacoma); Catholic churches--Tacoma; Brides--1940-1950; Grooms (Weddings)--1940-1950;

Catholic Church of the Visitation. Thirty seven young boys standing in appropriate Catholic choir garb, holding hymn books, ready to sing. Building by C. Frank Mahon, Architect, 1913.

Churches - Catholic Churches - Tacoma - Church of the Visitation Music - Choral Music - Choirs - Church Choirs

Church of the Visitation was built in 1913 in the gothic style, C. Frank Mahon was the architect and Frazen was the contractor. Father Gabriel P. Donohue was the Pastor at Visitation in 1947. Father Donohue was ordained in 1934 at Saint Martin's Abbey in Lacey, Washington. Exterior view of Visitation Church, the Boy's Choir is gathered together to practice for Easter Masses.

Choirboys; Choirs (Music); Catholic churches--Tacoma; Religious services--Tacoma; Church of the Visitation (Tacoma);

Church of the Visitation was built in 1913 in the gothic style, C. Frank Mahon was the architect and Frazen was the contractor. Father Gabriel P. Donohue was the Pastor at Visitation in 1947. Father Donohue was ordained in 1934 at Saint Martin's Abbey in Lacey, Washington. Interior view of Visitation Church, altar in background with the Boy's Choir practicing for Easter Masses.

Choirboys; Choirs (Music); Children singing--Tacoma; Altars--Tacoma; Catholic churches--Tacoma; Religious services--Tacoma; Church of the Visitation (Tacoma);

This photograph of the interior of Visitation Church, 3318 So. 58th St., was taken on January 22, 1948. The sanctuary is filled with scaffolding to the top of the interior arches to make it ready for painting. Two unidentified man at the left watch as workmen from the Safway Steel Scaffolding Company build the complicated gridwork. The church was founded in 1892 and this building was dedicated in 1913. The architect was C. Frank Mahon. The churches stained glass windows are visible on both sides of the pews.

Church of the Visitation (Tacoma); Catholic churches--Tacoma; Interiors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Scaffolding--Tacoma--1940-1950; Safway Steel Scaffolding Co. (Tacoma);

The Church of the Visitation in South Tacoma is full as parishioners and guests observe the first solemn high mass sung by a recently ordained young priest on May 16, 1954. All attention is focused on the activity at the altar. The Rev. Timothy Lamm, 26, was ordained to the Catholic priesthood at St. James Cathedral in Seattle the day before. Father Timothy was one of three Benedictine monks from St. Martin's to be ordained that day. This elevated view of the altar, church dignitaries, and kneeling crowd was taken from the back of the church, perhaps a choir loft. Photograph ordered by the Rev. Gabriel Donohue. (TNT 5-13-54, A-10)

Priests--Tacoma--1950-1960; Rites & ceremonies--Tacoma--1950-1960; Church of the Visitation (Tacoma); Altars--Tacoma;

A proud moment in the life of a newly ordained priest is captured in a May 16, 1954, photograph. A celebratory banquet in his honor is being held with family members as special guests. The Rev. Timothy Lamm, 26, son of Mr. and Mrs. David J. Lamm, Sr. of Puyallup, had just conducted his first solemn high mass at Church of the Visitation. Father Timothy, a Benedictine monk, had been ordained the day before in St. James Cathedral, Seattle. He was valedictorian of his 1950 graduation class at St. Martin's College and later studied theology at Mt. Angel Abbey, Oregon. From left to right in the photograph are: Mary Lamm, Mrs. Laurence Thielen, Sister Mary Alita, Mrs. David Lamm, Sr., Father Timothy Lamm, O.S.B., David J. Lamm, Sr., Sister Ruthella, Frank and Raymond Lamm. Photograph ordered by the Rev. Gabriel Donohue. (TNT 5-13-54, A-10, TNT 6-6-54, B-4))

Priests--Tacoma--1950-1960; Rites & ceremonies--Tacoma--1950-1960; Lamm, Timothy; Banquets--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Marilyn Joan Taylor and Charles E. Bott were married August 9, 1952, at Visitation Church. The bride is the daughter of Joseph J. and Mary Lanz. The groom is the son of Romeo A. and Leona M. Bott. The Rev. Gabriel Donohue officiated. The bride wore a ballerina length gown of white embroidered organdy. She wore her mother's pearl rosary and carried a bouquet of white gladioli centered with pink roses. Patricia Taylor was the maid of honor and Margaret Weger and Florence McDonald were the bridesmaids. Best man was Richard Bott and ushers were William Bender and Andrew Litwin. (TNT, 8/29/1952, p.C-5)

Weddings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Brides--1950-1960; Grooms (Weddings)--1950-1960; Wedding costume--1950-1960; Altars--Tacoma; Church of the Visitation (Tacoma); Bonnets; Catholic churches--Tacoma; Taylor, Marilyn Joan--Marriage; Bott, Charles E.;

Visitation School's 1952 graduating Class of 42 students taken in church sanctuary. Visitation Church was designed by C. Frank Mahon, Architect, and constructed in 1913. The school was added in 1925 and opened on September 8th with an enrollment of 170 students, at a cost of $1.00 per month for in parrish families. The school was staffed by the Benedictine Sisters of St. Benedict's Convent in Minnesota. ("A History of Pierce County" V. 3)

Church schools--Tacoma; Students--Tacoma--1950-1960; Graduation ceremonies--Tacoma--1950-1960; Altars--Tacoma; Church of the Visitation (Tacoma); School of the Visitation (Tacoma);

Forty-one students are shown in the Visitation School 1951 graduating class. Ordered by Sister Rosevitha.

Church schools--Tacoma; Students--Tacoma--1950-1960; Graduation ceremonies--Tacoma--1950-1960; Altars--Tacoma; Church of the Visitation (Tacoma); School of the Visitation (Tacoma);

Slusher-McCarthy wedding. The Church of the Visitation was the site of the Maxine Slusher/Edward McCarty nuptials on October 13, 1951. The double-ring ceremony was officiated by the Rev. Father Anslem. The bride wore a ballerina length gown of white satin with an overdress of net and a lace apron. Her fingertip veil was edged with lace and attached to a coronet which contained seed pearls. She carried a bouquet of orchids and stephanotis. (TNT 10-28-51, D-2)

Weddings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Wedding costume--1950-1960; Brides--1950-1960; Grooms (Weddings)--1950-1960; Bouquets; Slusher, Maxine--Marriage; McCarty, Edward; Church of the Visitation (Tacoma);

Visitation School 1950 graduation class. The Rev. Gabriel Donohue, O.S.B., pastor of the Visitation church presented the diplomas and awards. Rev. Francis E. Duffy, S.J., principal of Bellarmine High School, delivered the commencement address. Donna Mae Woolery was the student speaker. The Chantal Choralers performed. Ordered by Sister Rosewitha. Names were listed in the newspaper. (TNT, 5/24/1950, p.19)

Church schools--Tacoma; Students--Tacoma--1950-1960; Graduation ceremonies--Tacoma--1950-1960; Altars--Tacoma; Church of the Visitation (Tacoma); School of the Visitation (Tacoma);

Harger-Malonowski Wedding. Miss Beverlyjean Theresa Harger, daughter of Jesse James and Mable Harger, and Mr. Henry Andrew Malanowski, son of Jack Malanowski of Chicago, were married October 8, 1949, at the Church of the Visitation. Rev. Fr. Anslum Lenzlinger performed the nuptial mass. The bride, shown standing on the steps at the altar, wore an old-fashioned gown of white satin, styled with a long train and hoop-skirt. Her veil of illusion was caught to a bonnet. She carried a basket-shaped bouquet of white chrysanthemums with streamers and orchids. (TNT, 10/16/1949, p.D-10) TPL-10136

Harger, Beverlyjean Theresa; Brides--1940-1950; Weddings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Wedding costume--1940-1950; Church of the Visitation (Tacoma); Bonnets; Catholic churches--Tacoma; Altars--Tacoma;

Graduation class at Visitation School, Tribune, Ernie Knight. Visitation graduated ten girls in commencement exercises June 6, 1949. The four young women graduating from high school are seated in the front wearing white graduation robes and motor boards and holding dark roses. Six young women graduating from 8th grade wear dark robes and motor boards holding white flowers stand in the back. Addresses were given by Miss Mary Brennan and the Reverand R.J. Herron. Names are listed in the newspaper. (TNT, 6/7/1949, p.9)

School of the Visitation (Tacoma); Graduation ceremonies--Tacoma--1940-1950; Religious education--Tacoma;

Church of the Visitation's school was planning their graduation ceremony for June 1, 1949. The graduates would attend mass and receive holy communion followed by a breakfast prepared by the Visitation Women's Club. Spiritual exercises would be presented by Father Michael Feeney, O.S.B., of St. Martin's College. View of Visitation School graduates on the altar.

Church schools--Tacoma; Students--Tacoma--1940-1950; Events--Tacoma; Graduation ceremonies--Tacoma--1940-1950; Altars--Tacoma; Church of the Visitation (Tacoma); School of the Visitation (Tacoma);