Mrs. Sigrid Holmberg, Mrs. Claude Purvis, and Mrs. Lee C. Garrison of Tacoma's Delphinum Garden Club shared smiles with master clock expert E.F. Farrens (right) and his assistant, Joe Mertz, as they held two of the old clock hands from the Old City Hall clock tower, 625 Commerce Street in May of 1962. The Delphinium Garden Club was working with Mr. Farrens to restore the tower clock, which had fallen into disrepair since 1959 when the city offices left the building for the new County-City Building on Tacoma Avenue South. New cedar clock hands were to be made by the city's woodworking shop. There had been talk about razing the dilapidated Italian Renaissance building, built of yellow brick; it managed to escape the wrecking ball and was added to the National Registry in 1974. Photograph ordered by Delphinium Garden Club. (TNT 5-22-62, p. 1, 5-27-62, p. 1) TPL-9181

Delphinium Garden Club (Tacoma); Clock towers--Tacoma; Old City Hall (Tacoma); Holmberg, Sigrid; Mertz, Joe; Farrens, E.F.;

ca. 1971. 1971 Richards color stock footage. Bell tower of Old City Hall. Designed in the style of "fifteenth-century Italian town hall architecture," the six-story building was constructed in 1892. It became "Old" City Hall upon the opening of the County-City Building in 1959. Saved from demolition, it was restored as a shopping center with grand opening in 1974. In 1980 it was converted into an office building. The 32-square foot tower had its bell chimes restored in late 1993. The Old City Hall is on the City, State, and National Registry. TPL-9206

Clock towers--Tacoma; Old City Hall (Tacoma);

ca. 1925. Large group of men in business suits outside of the Mayor's office in the (Old) City Hall at 625 Commerce St. The men are unidentified in this circa 1925 photograph with the exception of the man seated second to the right who is thought to be Dr. Hinton Jonez, prominent Tacoma physician.

Municipal government--Tacoma--1930-1940; Old City Hall (Tacoma);

City Clerk Genevieve Martin administers the oath of office to Public Safety Commissioner Holmes Eastwood at (old) City Hall on June 6, 1938. Mr. Eastwood replaced Frank T. Callender as head of Public Safety; Mr. Callender (not pictured) was present to greet his successor with a handshake. Mr. Eastwood was very dapper in a blue coat, white trousers and white shoes. Mr. Eastwood reportedly brought his own desk and chair to city government, "Should I get kicked out of here, they'll have to kick out my desk and chair, too." One of his first official acts as Safety Commissioner was to give out-of-city motorists a parking break by issuing cards allowing them to park on downtown streets without fear of overtime tickets It would be a means to encourage tourism in the city's core. (T. Times, 6-6-38, p. 14, 6-7-38, p.13)

Eastwood, Holmes; Oaths--Tacoma; Martin, Genevieve; Municipal government--Tacoma;

Newly elected Mayor Val Fawcett takes the oath of office from city clerk Genevieve Martin at (Old) City Hall on June 3, 1946. In May of 1943, Val Fawcett had assumed the office of Acting Mayor to allow Mayor Harry P. Cain to serve in the Army. Val Fawcett was elected mayor in 1946 and served until 1950. He had previously served several terms as Tacoma's Finance Commissioner. No stranger to politics, he was the son of A.V. ("Fighting") Fawcett, controversial four time Mayor of Tacoma. Miss Martin was a long term municipal employee who administered the oath to several of Tacoma's Mayors. TPL-4909. ALBUM 14. (T. Times 6-3-46, p. 1)

Fawcett, Clarence Valdo, 1900-1965; Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Oaths--Tacoma; Martin, Genevieve; Municipal government--Tacoma;

Tacoma City Council at (Old) City Hall. Mayor George Smitley at right center, by window. Portrait of Mayor A.V. Fawcett on wall, now hangs in Rare Book Room of Tacoma Public Library. (T.Times)

Mayors--Tacoma--1930-1940; Smitley, George A., 1872-1956;

Girl representing the Disabled American Veterans pins a Forget-Me-Not or "Buddy Poppy" on Mayor George A. Smitley at his office in (Old) City Hall. Miss Viola Wilson is holding a handful of paper poppies as she fastens the Forget-Me-Not to Mr. Smitley's lapel. Mr. Smitley helped to kick off the annual Forget-Me-Not sale by purchasing the first flower from Miss Wilson, who is the daughter of state disabled veterans commander Virgil Wilson. It was noted in the Tacoma Times article attached to the sepia September 25, 1935, photograph, that Mr. Wilson was seriously ill in a Seattle hospital suffering from the effects of wounds received in the war. ALBUM 11. (T. Times, 9-26-35, p. 5)

Mayors--Tacoma--1930-1940; Smitley, George A., 1872-1956; Fund raising--Tacoma--1930-1940; Patriotic societies--Tacoma; Veterans' organizations--Tacoma; Wilson, Viola;

Sepia 1937 photograph of Tacoma City Officials at (Old) City Hall. L to R: Frank Callender - public safety commissioner, C. Val Fawcett - finance commissioner, Tom Swayze - city controller, Mayor George Smitley, Genevieve Martin - city clerk, Abner Bergersen - public works commissioner, Ira Davisson - public utilities commissioner, and Howard Carothers- corporation counsel. Group is seated at a glass-top table with two spittoons on floor. Furnishings, including wood floor, appear plain and utilitarian. ALBUM 11.

Municipal government--Tacoma; Mayors--Tacoma--1930-1940; Smitley, George A., 1872-1956; Callender, Frank T.; Fawcett, Clarence Valdo, 1900-1965; Swayze, Tom; Martin, Genevieve; Bergersen, Abner R.; Davisson, Ira; Carothers, Howard;

Tacoma City Council at (Old) City Hall. Photographed in April of 1937 for the Tacoma Times but apparently not used. (T. Times)

Municipal officials--Tacoma--1930-1940; Meetings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Old City Hall (Tacoma);

Mayor Val Fawcett gives a warm welcome to Al Thrall (L) and Richard Williams visiting (Old) City Hall in the spring of 1947. Quick thinking on the part of the two 17-year-olds during the March 29th Daffodil Parade prevented injury and disruption of the annual event. Richard Williams, driving a float with Al Thrall assisting, warned the packed crowds and managed to stop his runaway float when its brakes failed. (T.Times 4-1-47, p. 7) ALBUM 14.

Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fawcett, Clarence Valdo, 1900-1965; Shaking hands--Tacoma; Teenagers; Thrall, Al; Williams, Richard;

Mayor George A. Smitley with Rhododendron Queen Myrtle Olson at his office in (Old) City Hall. Photograph taken for the Seattle Star. Miss Olson brought Mayor Smitley a bouquet of Washington's state flower and an invitation from Port Townsend's Mayor Bangerter for all Tacomans to attend Rhododendron Days on the Olympic Peninsula May 22-23, 1936. (T. Times 5/15/1936, pg. 1)

Smitley, George A., 1872-1956; Olson, Myrtle; Rhododendrons; Mayors--Tacoma--1930-1940; Festivals--Port Townsend--1930-1940;

Norman J. Maddex, a city light department wire man, is "re-lamping" the tower on Tacoma's Old City Hall, 625 Commerce St., in this photograph from November 1935. Sitting in a boatswain's chair, just a board slung in the loops of a bowline knot, he works at replacing burned out light bulbs and repairing defective wiring. The tower had 750 bulbs along the cornice rims, down the tower corners, and around the clock dial. (T. Times 11-15-1935 p.3)

City Hall (Tacoma); Maddex, Norman J.;

Newly installed Mayor John C. Siegle, center, stands with his fellow city councilmen on June 6, 1938, in (Old) City Hall. From L-R, Val Fawcett - Finance Commissioner, Holmes Eastwood - Safety Commissioner, Dr. Siegle, Ira Davisson - Public Utilities Commissioner and Abner Bergersen - Public Works Commissioner. Dr. Siegle, a leading dentist in Tacoma, was the city's first native-born mayor. The death of his father when the mayor was only ten caused him to drop out of Tacoma public schools; he later studied privately while becoming a card carrying member of the Machinists Union. He worked his way through Northwestern University and obtained his DDS. Mayor Siegle held many leadership titles in the community including being the Past Exalted Ruler of Tacoma Lodge No. 174, BPOE, past president of the Kiwanis Club, past president of the North End community club and past commander of the Edward B. Rhodes Post No. 2 of the American Legion. His platform urged civic improvement to make Tacoma an ever better city and campaigned for new industry and economic development, especially in the Tideflats. Dr. Siegle passed away on April 12, 1939, of cancer, having served as mayor for less than a year. ALBUM 11. (T.Times 6-6-38, p. 1)

Mayors--Tacoma--1930-1940; Siegle, John C., 1885-1939; Fawcett, Clarence Valdo, 1900-1965; Eastwood, Holmes; Davisson, Ira; Bergersen, Abner R.; Municipal government--Tacoma;

Tacoma (Old) City Hall building, with old jail on right, showing contrast before and after steam cleaning. As part of Tacoma's beautification plan, A. W. Bushy of Western Building Cleaning Co. was removing 41 years of grime accumulated on City Hall. The dingy portion on the right back is the portion that has not been cleaned. City Hall building designed by E.A. Hatherton, Architect, 1893. Hatherton was from San Francisco and worked on design of that city's City Hall. The building was cleaned in time for Tacoma to play host to the state during the Golden Jubilee celebration. (T. Times 7/26/1939, pg. 4)

Clock towers--Tacoma; Old City Hall (Tacoma);

Mrs. Lane Paskill is set to circle Saturday, September 7, 1940, on Mayor Harry P. Cain's office calendar as a reminder of the Club of Hearts Cabaret Sports Dance to benefit the Red Cross. The dance would be held in the Hotel Winthrop's Crystal Ballroom. Since the mayor's schedule was so often crowded, Mrs. Paskill visited him in mid-August to book the date. TPL-5177. ALBUM 12. (T.Times 8-24-40, p. 5)

Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979; Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Calendars; Paskill, Lane--Family; Fund raising--Tacoma--1940-1950;

A Mrs. Golden, part of the "Hormel" team, pays a visit to Mayor Harry P. Cain in March, 1941. The company was running a campaign to promote Spam and Hormel Chili Con Carne whereby roving "Hormel Girls and Men" would stop people at random and pay them either $1 or $2 if they could provide proof of Hormel's products. Mrs. Golden is pictured holding a Chili Con Carne label; it is not known whether the label belonged to Mayor Cain. ALBUM 12.

Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979;

Mayor Harry Cain at his office in (Old) City Hall with women from Messinger Post Auxiliary. Publicity for Poppy Sale. Also dated 05/23/1941.

Mayors - Tacoma - 1940-46 - US Senators - Washington State - 1947-53 - Harry P. Cain (1906-79)Organizations - Patriotic Organizations - Veterans of Foreign Wars - Tacoma - Elias J. Messinger Post No. 1428 - Auxiliary

Tacoma Mayor Harry P. Cain shakes hands with an Army officer in his office at (Old) City Hall in preparation for CCC Day, March 29, 1941, when selected CCC boys would take over the running of city government for a day. The officer may be Lt. Col. Lester A. Dougherty who commanded the five CCC camps in the Fort Lewis district. The mayor had issued an official proclamation that Saturday, March 29th, be "CCC Day in Tacoma." He urged Tacomans to visit the five nearest camps--Camps Electron, Lower Cispus, Quilcene, Moran and Glacier, the following week when open houses would be held to celebrate the CCC's eighth anniversary. Mayor Cain wears a button promoting the 1941 Daffodil Festival. ALBUM 12. (T.Times 3-28-41, p. 3)

Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979; Shaking hands--Tacoma; Civilian Conservation Corps (Tacoma);

On February 29, 1940, Mayor J.J. Kaufman wielded a knife to cut the first piece of apple pie in a promotional campaign for Apple Pie Week. Mrs. Agnes Phillips of the Northwest Food Exchange, Wenatchee, and three members of the Tacoma Bakers Commitee, held plates, waiting for their share of the large pie in the Mayor's office in (Old) City Hall. The mayor and his company got an early start on Apple Pie Week which was scheduled for March 4-9, 1940. L-R in the photograph are Mrs. Phillips, Ray Bolin of Weaver Pie Co., O.H. Oaks of Golden Rule Bakery, Wallace Macpherson of Federal Bakery and Mayor Kaufman. (T.Times 3-4-40, p. 5) ALBUM 11.

Mayors--Tacoma--1930-1940; Kaufman, Joseph J.; Pies; Phillips, Agnes; Bolin, Ray; Oaks, O.H.; Macpherson, Wallace A.;

Mayor J.J. Kaufman wields the knife in a promotional photo for Apple Pie Week, taken at his office in (Old) City Hall at 625 Commerce. The enormous pie is being cut with an equally enormous knife. Apple Pie Week was set for March 4-9, 1940. Preparing to dig in are members of the Tacoma Bakers Committee for the special week: Ray Bolin of Weaver Pie Co., O.H. Oaks of Golden Rule Bakery and Wallace Macpherson of Federal Bakery. Standing at the far left, next to Mr. Bolin, is Mrs. Agnes Phillips from the Northwest Food Exchange, Wenatchee. (T. Times 3-4-40, p. 5) ALBUM 11.

Mayors--Tacoma--1930-1940; Kaufman, Joseph J.; Pies; Phillips, Agnes; Bolin, Ray; Oaks, O.H.; Macpherson, Wallace A.;

Val Fawcett, acting mayor of Tacoma, looks up at a portrait of his father, colorful former Mayor A.V. Fawcett, hanging on the wall in Tacoma's (Old) City Hall at 625 Commerce St.. Val Fawcett assumed office to allow Mayor Harry Cain to serve in the Army. C.V. "Val" Fawcett took over as acting mayor in May of 1943. He was elected mayor in 1946 and served until 1950. The portrait of A.V. Fawcett is now hanging in the Rare Book Room of the Tacoma Public Library Main Branch. TPL6634 (T. Times 5/13/1943, pg. 1)

Fawcett, Clarence Valdo, 1900-1965; Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fawcett, Angelo Vance; World War, 1939-1945--Social aspects--Tacoma;

City Finance Commissioner and Acting Mayor Val Fawcett poses with V.F.W. Auxlliary Ladies for a Poppy Sale publicity photo in front of (Old) City Hall. The proceeds from the sale of the tiny red flowers go to support veterans' programs. (T. Times) ALBUM 14.

Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fawcett, Clarence Valdo, 1900-1965; Fund raising--Tacoma--1940-1950; Patriotic societies--Tacoma--1940-1950; Veterans organizations--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Eleanor Roosevelt, Assistant Director of the Office of Civilian Defense, makes an impromptu address over Radio Station KMO from the Mayor Harry Cain's office at City Hall on December 13, 1941. Mrs. Roosevelt answered questions over the air as presented by civilian defense council members. She was reportedly very affable and willing to be photographed and interviewed. She urged all Americans to assist in civil defense, stating that "defense is not a question of one individual or one organization." She repeatedly stressed the importance of volunteer groups and the invaluable assistance they could render. (TNT 12-13-41, p. 1) ALBUM 1.

Presidents' spouses; Roosevelt, Anna Eleanor, 1884-1962; Visits of state--Tacoma; World War, 1939-1945--Civil defense--Tacoma; Radio broadcasting--Tacoma; KMO Radio Station (Tacoma); World War, 1939-1945--Communications;

Actress Lana Turner with two very happy unidentified men in Mayor Harry P. Cain's office at (Old) City Hall where she appeared for a press interview on Friday June 12, 1942. Miss Turner was in Pierce County as part of a War Bond Sales junket. She would spend about 24 jam packed hours in the area, visiting Fort Lewis, the Seattle-Tacoma shipyard, dedicating Tacoma's "Liberty Center" and selling stamps and bonds at a Saturday rally. (T. Times 6/13/1942, pg. 1)

Turner, Lana, 1920-1995; Actresses; War bonds & funds--Tacoma--1940-1950;

On October 1, 1942, union leaders met with Tacoma Mayor Harry Cain in his office to map out plans for their involvement in the upcoming salvage drive. Seated are, left to right, John Jacobs, Teamsters #313 and collection chairman, and Mayor Harry Cain. Standing are Harry Saterlee, left, Teamsters, and Norman Shut, Building Service Employees Union. The plan that evolved was that the Teamsters would supply vehicles and drivers, and the Service Employees labor. On Sunday, November 1, this group would collect scrap from every parking strip in the city. (T. Times 10/2/1942, pg. 4)

Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979; Jacobs, John; Saterlee, Harry; Shut, Norman; World War, 1939-1945--Scrap drives; Labor unions--Tacoma;

Mayor C. Val Fawcett was buying Easter Seals from his grandchildren on March 19, 1949, in order to support the campaign that had just started. Easter Seals helped support disabled children; the Mayor wanted everyone in Tacoma to help support this organization. View of Mayor C. Val Fawcett with his two granddaughters, Linda and Valerie Knecht of Seattle, at the mayor's office in (Old) City Hall. (T. Times, 3/22/49, p. 3).

Grandparents; Fund raising--Tacoma--1940-1950; Community service--Tacoma--1940-1950; Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fawcett, Clarence Valdo, 1900-1965; Knecht, Linda; Knecht, Valerie;

Mayor John Anderson is the first civic official in the city's history to be named an honorary airline hostess. Maxine Gordon, a stewardess with Western Airlines, has pinned a pair of Western Airlines' wings to Mayor Anderson's lapel and she is also modeling the airline's new uniform. (TNT, 3/22/1952, p.17)

Anderson, John H.; Mayors--Tacoma--1950-1960; Offices--Tacoma--1950-1960; Airline industry; Western Airline (Tacoma); Flight attendants--Tacoma--1950-1960; Gordon, Maxine;

Mayor Val Fawcett looks at the proof sheets for the September, 1947 issue of Holiday Magazine, the State of Washington issue, in a promotional photo taken at his office in Tacoma's (Old) City Hall, 625 Commerce St.. H.N. Bergeron (in a light suit), sales representative of Curtiss Circulation Company, points out to Mayor Fawcett the photographs and articles that will highlight the industrial, civic, and cultural life of the Pacific Northwest. Edwin J. Schneebeck, a local magazine wholesaler, looks on. (T.Times, 8/19/1947, p.9) ALBUM 14.

Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fawcett, Clarence Valdo, 1900-1965; Periodicals; Holiday Magazine; Bergeron, H.N.; Schneebeck, Edwin J.; Publicity photographs; Offices--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Mayor Val Fawcett looks at the Holiday Magazine State of Washington issue in a promotional photo taken at his office in (Old) City Hall. Looking on are Curtiss Circulation Co. sales representative H.N. Bergeron and local magazine wholesaler Edwin J. Schneebeck. The upcoming September 1947 issue would highlight the City of Tacoma with 30 pages of information and photographs. ALBUM 14. (T. Times 8-19-47, p.9)

Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fawcett, Clarence Valdo, 1900-1965; Periodicals; Holiday Magazine; Bergeron, H.N.; Schneebeck, Edwin J.; Publicity photographs; Offices--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Mayor C. Val Fawcett studies a pre-publication copy of the September, 1947 issue of Holiday Magazine in his office in Tacoma's (Old) City Hall in August of 1947. Tacoma received three pages, including 5 photographs, in the 36 page section of the issue devoted to Washington State. The long article, written by northwest author Nard Jones, included over 90 photographs of scenic views, Washington industries and her people. Enjoying the sneak peek along with Mayor Fawcett are Curtiss Circulation Company sales representative H.N. Bergeron (left) and local magazine wholesaler Edwin J. Schneebeck. (T.Times 8-19-47, p. 9-alt. photograph) ALBUM 14.

Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fawcett, Clarence Valdo, 1900-1965; Periodicals; Holiday Magazine; Bergeron, H.N.; Schneebeck, Edwin J.; Publicity photographs; Offices--Tacoma--1940-1950;