1939 Commerce Street Dog Parade. Children and their dogs follow a marching band and "Dog Show" banner in front of Jacks Griddle Restaurant at 912-14 Commerce St. Two children wear signs on their backs: "Berg's Tavern" and "Booths for Ladies." (T. Times, 4/24/39)

Commerce Street Business Men's Club (Tacoma); Dogs--Tacoma--1930-1940; Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Children & animals; Jacks Griddle (Tacoma);

The Commerce Street Dog Parade was held on April 22, 1939. A young girl with her puppy, tagged number 73, receives a Tacoma policeman's admiration. Another girl holds her sleeping puppy and does not seem to approve of the attention. Any child 16 and under could parade with their dog and over 1,000 turned out to compete for over 75 special prizes. (T. Times, 4/24/1939, p. 1)

Commerce Street Business Men's Club (Tacoma); Dogs--Tacoma--1930-1940; Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Children & animals; Tacoma Police Department (Tacoma);

The Commerce Street Business Men's Club Dog Parade was held on April 22, 1939. The grand prize winner, Shirley King poses with 14-year-old Bummer and runner-up Donald Grassfield, right. A man announces the winner of the dog parade over a microphone. (T. Times, 4/24/1939, p. 1).

Commerce Street Business Men's Club (Tacoma); Dogs--Tacoma--1930-1940; Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; King, Shirley; Grassfield, Donald; Children & animals; Awards;

In July of 1938, Gunnar Anderson and his German shepherd, Duke, were preparing to drive to Cincinnati where Gunnar was to study at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. A popular radio pianist and organist, and member of the KVI staff, Mr. Anderson had won a scholarship to study under Dr. Karol Liszniewski. Later, while serving in the Navy in San Diego, he played the organ for services and special occasions, and assisted in the chaplains office. Gunnar Anderson was a member of the American Theater Organ Society, and he died June 5, 1984 in Bellingham at the age of 76. (T. Times, 7/13/1938, p. 2).

Anderson, Gunnar; Dogs--Tacoma--1930-1940; Pianists--Tacoma--1930-1940; Convertible automobiles--Tacoma--1930-1940; Austin automobile;

Members of the Woodbrook Hunt Club, wearing English riding habits, set out in spring of 1941 on a hunt. The Club had hosted two fellow clubs from neighboring cities to a joint hunt during the spring. This image was captured by the Richards Studio photographer during one of those hunts. Their hunting grounds, located on the current Fort Lewis grounds, were highly prized.

Woodbrook Hunt Club (Lakewood); Horses--Tacoma;

On May 21, 1941, an unidentified rider at the Woodbrook Hunt Club tested the jumping skills of a "Tennessee Walking Horse" by having it jump a human barrier. The unidentified human "cross bar" apparently survived the risky stunt. Mrs. Thomas Overland of Seattle brought the horse to Lakewood so that the club members could get a chance to see and ride the distinctive breed.

Woodbrook Hunt Club (Lakewood); Horses; Jumping (Horsemanship);

In October of 1941, Charles F.T. (Chen) Rowe stands next to Sanka, one of the horses that he boarded at the Point Defiance Riding Academy stables. Using the old barn and pasture that had been the home for the park's herd of buffalo, the riding academy was founded in 1933. The 50 year old stables were destroyed by fire in August of 1969 and never rebuilt. The 33 year old thoroughbred mare Sanka was a direct descendent of racing legend Man O'War. Sanka raced as a filly on the West Coast before being bought by Rowe at the age of five. The pair spent the next 28 years covering hundreds of miles together on the woody trails of Point Defiance, including remote areas patrolled only Rowe and his horse. Rowe also held a commission with the Pierce County Sheriffs Department. Sanka died of old age in October of 1964 and was laid to rest by her loving owner. (TNT 10/4/1964, pg B-10)

Horses--Tacoma--1940-1950; Point Defiance Riding Academy (Tacoma); Rowe, Charles Frederick Trendall;

ca. 1940. Artichoke plant. Mrs. Reynolds is holding her Boston Bulldog while standing in a garden beside a large artichoke plant in this circa 1940 photograph. Steep shingled roof of house in background.

Dogs; Artichokes;

Rider in mid-leap over obstacle course at the Woodbrook Hunt Club. She is believed to be Iris Bryan, noted equestrienne and future Master of Foxhounds, a position formerly held by her father. Photograph taken as part of a series for the Tacoma Times on November 5, 1939.

Horses--Lakewood--1930-1940; Horseback riding--Lakewood--1930-1940; Woodbrook Hunt Club (Lakewood);

Big Jake, a one-year-old Saint Bernard, was to have been shot in October of 1940. Jake had gotten into a playful tussle with a pet goat and unfortunately killed it. His owner, 84, called the Sheriff's Dept. to have deputies be dispatched to kill Jake as he feared for Jake's future after the owner passed on. Deputies McLean and Bunce arrived at the home only to be met by a gentle Jake who promptly licked their hands. That persuaded the officers to take Jake to the dog pound instead and an alert was put on the air by sportsman Ray Grummel asking for a new home for Jake. Mr. Grummel had found homes for countless dogs in the past. Within a very short time, George Nygren of Spanaway was chosen as Jake's new owner. From left to right in this happy picture are: poundmaster A.T. Sabutis holding Lyle Nygren, Ray Grummel, Deputy Sheriff Frank McLean, George Nygren, city stockman Frank Oathout and Deputy Sheriff Lawrence Bunce. (T.Times 10-31-1940, p. 25)

Dogs--Tacoma--1940-1950; Grummel, Ray; Nygren, George; Nygren, Lyle; McLean, Frank; Sabutis, A.T.; Oathout, Frank; Bunce, Lawrence; Pierce County Sheriffs (Tacoma);

An unidentified rider in a publicity photograph taken for the annual Woodbrook Horse Show, scheduled for November 15 & 16, 1940. The 1940 show would be notable because a Tennessee Walking horse would be shown for the first time in the state of Washington. The rider and horse were photographed in front of the Woodbrook Stables. (T. Times 11/9/1940, pg. 5)

Horses--Lakewood--1940-1950; Horseback riding--Lakewood--1940-1950; Woodbrook Stables (Lakewood); Show horses; Woodbrook Hunt Club (Lakewood);

Edward Warburton, new manager of the Tacoma-Pierce County Humane Society, is standing beside the shelter's new truck with two dogs and a cat, stray pets at the shelter. The Humane Society is holding an open house on May 9, during "Be Kind to Animals Week" for visitors to see how the shelter operates and the many pets that are available for adoption. (T.N.T., 5/6/48, p. 4). TPL-8344

Dogs--Tacoma--1940-1950; Cats; Pets; Dogcatching--Tacoma; Animal shelters--Tacoma; Tacoma-Pierce County Humane Society (Tacoma); Warburton, Edward;

Two horses and their riders go for a walk in the pastures of Lakewood Stables. The male rider is on an English-style saddle and wears riding boots and perhaps breeches. His female companion smiles broadly as her horse is abreast of his. This sepia photograph was taken on September 5, 1951; photograph commissioned by Howard Smith, Condon Co.

Horses--Lakewood--1950-1960; Horseback riding--Lakewood--1950-1960; Clothing & dress--Lakewood--1950-1960; Boots;

Dr. Alexander G. Ruthven being initiated as an honorary member of the Pierce county Sheriff's mounted posse at Woodbrook Riding Academy. Dr. Ruthven, President of the University of Michigan, was visiting Tacoma and attending meetings with alumni and conferences regarding the University's program for the development of peace time uses of nuclear power. The educator was a veteran horseman and a Morgan horse enthusiast. (TNT 3/29/1950 pg 3)

Horseback riding--Tacoma--1950-1960; Horses--Tacoma--1950-1960; Cowboy hats; Mounted police--Tacoma; Cowboys--Tacoma; Uniforms--Tacoma--1950-1960; Flags--United States; Ruthven, Alexander;

A. Burwood Kennedy (left) on "Jeep" and Cyrus Happy, III, on "Kay Boy" were photographed in October of 1948 while going over the jumps at the Woodbrook Hunt Club in Lakewood. Co-founded in May of 1926 by Thomas H. Bryan and Major J.E. Mathews, the club divides its year between the informality of summer rides, picnics and gymkannas and the winter "drag hunts," where riders stream across the prairies behind the club's hounds. Both Mr. Kennedy and Mr. Happy are wearing traditional riding garb and are riding English saddles. (TNT, 10/24/1948, p.D-1, 6/6/1976 p.D-1)

Woodbrook Hunt Club (Lakewood); Horses--Tacoma; Jumping (Horsemanship)--Tacoma--1940-1950; Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1940-1950;

ca. 1955. A woman in western style riding gear sits astride a horse and is being awarded a ribbon by a woman in formal English hunt attire. Photograph ordered by the Woodbrook Hunt Club. The Woodbrook Hunt Club's 1955 Spring Horse Show was held May 21-22, 1955 in the covered arena at the Woodbrook Stables. It featured exhibitions by the Pierce County Sheriff's Posse, square dancing on horseback by the Lariettes and a style show of what the best dressed horsewoman wears for Western riding, to an English hunt or square dancing. Also featured was competition in different horseback skills and on different breeds of horses. (TNT 5/15/1955, pg. D-1& D-2)

Horses--Lakewood--1950-1960; Horseback riding--Lakewood--1950-1960; Clothing & dress--Lakewood--1950-1960; Woodbrook Hunt Club (Lakewood); Woodbrook Stables (Lakewood);

From September of 1942 until the end of March, 1947, 713-15 Commerce housed USO #2, a club reserved for the entertainment of servicemen and women of color. One of the unique activities in the club took place each year during "Be Kind to Animals" week. Servicemen assisted in the planning and production of a dog show with the pets of local children. Ribbons were presented to the best in each catagory. In this photograph dated September 16, 1945, unidentified children and servicemen pose with a variety of dogs at the club. (photograph by F.L. Powell of Tacoma)

ca. 1905. An unidentified man calmed a rearing horse near the offices of the Commercial Truck Co. in the early 1900's. The Commercial Truck Co. first appeared in the 1903 Tacoma City Directory. S.J. Pollard was listed as president with J.W. Garvin as Secretary-Treasurer and A.W. Tuel as Manager. They listed offices at 717-719 South C and 718-720 Commerce St. (in TPL building index as 717-19 Broadway). The company moved into this building on its completion in 1902. They listed their services as transfer, drayage, piano moving, livery and feed stables. The company sold in 1929 to AA Star Transfer of Aberdeen and became Star Commercial Moving & Storage, a predecessor of today's Star Moving Co. (photograph courtesy of Dan Powell)

Commercial Truck Co. (Tacoma); Moving & storage trade--Tacoma--1900-1910; Horses;

In 1905, Sarsaparilla, the pampered pooch of the Tacoma police force, was famous for using his ugly mug to "sweat" a confession out of suspects. "Sas," as he was known, had been left at the police station when only a few days old and was raised on a bottle. The bull dog was soon known as the ugliest dog in Tacoma. When a suspect was brought into Police Chief Malony's office for questioning, "Sas" only had to be called from his blanket in the Chief's office, fix his slanted eyes on the criminal and the information began to flow. (TDN 10/28/1905, pg. 17)

Bulldogs; Dogs--Tacoma--1900-1910; Police dogs;

The first Thursday in April, 1926, was a busy day for telephone number Main 4515. All day the phone rang for "Mr. Towser," "Mr. Barking," and "Mr. K.Nine." Lee Kane took messages for the missing Messrs. advising callers that they would call back shortly. Mr. Kane was a Tacoma police officer stationed at the dog pound. And the missing Messrs.? They were all one entity: a regal pooch named Mr. Barker. The first Thursday in April, 1926? April Fools Day. Here a patient Mr. Barker "speaks" to a bewildered caller. (TNT 4-1-26, p. 1) (Bowen 26224)

May 31, 1924, photograph of an unidentified woman kneeling on lawn with two dogs. Houses in background are draped with flowers, including climbing roses. Photograph ordered by Dr. Albert W. Bridge.

Dogs; Flowers;

Several days of winter storms in mid-February of 1923 brought 15 - 18 inches of accumulated snow to the streets of downtown Tacoma. Ray C. Smith, proprietor of the pony stables on Puyallup Ave, brought one of his antique cutters out of mothballs and was photographed on South 10th Street with the buildings in the 900 block of Pacific behind him. His well bundled guests enjoying the one horse sleigh ride were D.A. LaJose and Charles McManus. Dexter the horse arched his neck proudly to show off his jingle bell collar. With up to 24 inches of snow on the ground in the outlying areas, schools shut down and street car service was suspended for a time. Buses ran in the more highly populated areas but could only handle a portion of those wishing to ride. Complaints were received by the police department from riders who indicated that some bus drivers were overcharging for the rides, demanding as much as 25 cents for what should have been a nickel ride. (TNT 2-14-1923, p.1, TDL 2-15-1923, p. 1) G66.1-130; TPL-9658

Sleds & sleighs--Tacoma--1920-1930; Horses--Tacoma--1920-1930; Snow--Tacoma; Smith, Ray C.; LaJose, D.A.; McManus, Charles;