Undated photograph of a very large group of children and a few adults who had apparently taken a special excursion. Three buses in background. Location unknown. Due to clothing styles, this photograph may have been taken roughly in the 1920s or 30's.

For 17 years Al Pentecost, general foreman at the Milwaukee shops, had kept a single bottle of Rainier pale beer on ice in his ice box. He had purchased a case of the beer in 1915 before Washington State went dry. Only a single bottle remained of the case which Mr. Pentecost faithfully kept cool, replacing the ice frequently. With State Initiative 61 effective on December 8, 1932, repealing the bone dry law, Mr. Pentecost decided to finally crack open the beer bottle. He proclaimed it as good as the day he bought it with plenty of suds. Mr. Pentecost resided at 3708 North Madison St. (T.Times 12-8-32, p. 1,11)

Fisher's Department Store, 1104 Broadway. Crowd outside Fisher's store in June of 1931. Vaudeville act in window. Girls in costume, with trumpets, standing on marquee of store. Photo for Fox Broadway Theater. Bowen # 310-240a

For many years, P. T. Barnum-type side shows were main features at carnivals and fairs. In 1921, at the Western Washington Fair, McGunning-Davis was presenting her "consolidated twin alive--one head and two bodies". Also, a "20th Century Enigma--Australia natives captured in the wilds of Western Australia--First time on exhibition in America".

In the depths of the Great Depression, about 1,000 men and women waged a peaceful orderly march on City Hall in late February of 1931 to focus attention on immediate unemployment relief. Members of the Unemployed Council, the Trade Unity League and the Communist Party requested: 1) unemployment insurance at $15 per week with $5 extra per dependent; 2) an immediate relief fund of $1 million generated by reducing city officials' salaries; 3) non-ejection of unemployed not able to pay house rent; 4) free use of civic auditoriums for meetings of the unemployed and 5) full payment of war bonus. Mayor M.G. Tennent met with twelve chosen marchers to express his and the city council's concern but stated that their powers were limited. He did state that a $41,000 Sheridan Avenue project was approved that morning so that more men could be employed through city construction. After listening to a program of addresses by their leaders, the large crowd dispersed after about three hours. (TDL 2/26/1931, p.4-article). Bowen 03-914.

This is what 9th & Broadway looked like in the late afternoon of September 20, 1932, as throngs strain to catch a glimpse of Presidential candidate Franklin Delano Roosevelt. The Democratic candidate's open vehicle is led and followed by motorcycle police. Mr. Roosevelt, the governor of New York, had just concluded a speech to thousands at the Puyallup Fairgrounds. His motorcade arrived in Tacoma about a half-hour earlier than expected so hundreds missed their chance to see him swing through the streets of downtown Tacoma. TPL-2679 (TNT 9-20-32, p. 1-article; TNT 9-21-32, p. 1)

Signal Oil broadcast. Carnival of Fun held at the Jason Lee (now Middle) School in September of 1939. Actor Jack Carson (far left) playfully tilts the chin of a woman believed to be Kay St. Germain, a featured singer on the radio program, as they wait behind the curtains. She would become Mrs. Jack Carson in September of 1940. BOWEN 01-347

Hundreds of children lined up outside the Rialto Theater to see Bette Davis and Douglas Fairbanks in "Parachute Jumper" and Will Rogers and Marian Nixon in "Dr. Bull." They were waiting for admission into the free Tacoma Times-Rialto Theater double feature, part of a party sponsored by the pair for Tacoma's youngsters. The year 1934 also saw the beginning of the film industry enforcing the Hays Production Code, in an effort to eliminate sex and violence from the movies. Under these guidelines, Hollywood began to turn out more family fare. TPL-161; BU-11239 (T. Times 5/21/1934, pg. 12)

Posed by the stage doors of the venerable Temple Theatre are the Maylon Players troupe in April, 1926. They were there to welcome a bowling team from Spokane. Tacoma was hosting the week-long North Western International Bowling Congress where a five-man team sponsored by Texaco Oil from Spokane would participate. The Maylon Players stock company would perform "Best People" written by Avery Hopwood at the Tacoma Theatre the following evening.

In March of 1926, three employees at the Washington Co-Operative Egg & Poultry Association Headquarters, (left to right) Mary Zack, Sarah Gruno and Esther Christoferson, demonstrate how to decorate Easter eggs. Sarah Gruno, in the center, is dyeing eggs with natural dyes made from vegetables, such as beets, spinach and coffee. Mary Zack is cutting out transfers to decorate her eggs, and Esther Christoferson is using a pen and ink to draw faces on her's. The Washington Co-Op packed transfer pictures with every carton of eggs sold around the holidays. (TNT 3/30/1926, pg. 1)

1933 was a very wet year in the Tacoma area. A total of 52.47 inches fell during the year with December's rainfall of 18.87 inches making that month the wettest December on record to that point. Many homes were damaged in subsequent flooding around the county and were repaired with Red Cross funds. Two men are shown in this January 23, 1934, photograph beginning construction of a new home near Puyallup for a family who had lost everything in the recent floods. Notes on this Bowen picture indicate that this home may have been built for two spinsters whose house fell into the raging river waters nearby. Stacks of lumber are in the foreground marked with the Red Cross flag. (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 2-11-34, B-1, TDL 1-1-34, p. 2)

Flood waters carried this home on McAleer Rd. more than 100 feet from its foundation. The Red Cross stepped in to repair the badly damaged house. Hundreds sustained damage during the recent floods but with the help of the Red Cross, workers had completely rehabilitated 80 homes by mid-February, 1934. Food, clothing, bedding and furniture were liberally distributed. (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 2-11-34, B-1)

A large crowd of baseball fans gathered outside the Tribune Publishing Company building to watch the box score of the World Series game between the Philadelphia Athletics and the St. Louis Cardinals on October 5, 1930. The News Tribune had a large scoreboard mounted on the front of their building which allowed fans to follow the game play-by-play. Although Cardinals pitcher Jesse Haines outdueled Lefty Grove 3-1 to tie the Series up at 2 wins apiece, the Athletics would ultimately prevail, winning the World Series 4 games to 2. BU-12852, TPL-2115

Chief of Police Harold Bird poses with an officer of the Washington National Guard, deployed to Tacoma by Governor Clarence Martin to restore the peace during the 1935 lumber workers' strike. In June of 1935, as some workers prepared to return to the reopened mills, their efforts were met with violence. Returning workers were threatened, beaten, their homes and vehicles bombed and vandalized. Local authorities were unable to stop the violence. The Guard was called in to protect the workers and the mills. The strikers and sympathizers were joined in their protests by those who resented the armed troops in their midst. (TNT 6/24/1935, pg. 1 & 2)

Members of the Washington National Guard are loaded up in trucks and preparing to return to downtown Tacoma from the industrial Tideflats across the Eleventh Street Bridge. The second battalion of the Guards' 161st Infantry was mobilized to Tacoma by Governor Clarence Martin when workers attempting to return to work during the Lumber workers' strike met with violence. Their job was to protect the workers and the mills. They were stationed at the Armory and patrolled the Tideflats and all bridges and roads into the area. The Eleventh Street bridge has roadblocks on all but one lane, so that vehicles could be searched. (TNT 6/24/1935, pg. 1 & 2)

When the attempts in June of 1935 of workers to return to the striking mills erupted in violence, Governor Clarence Martin ordered in the Washington National Guard late Sunday night, June 23, 1935. The guards were whisked from Camp Murray to Tacoma in 16 trucks. Their job was to protect the returning workers and the mills. (TNT 6/24/1935, pg. 1 & 2)

Mill workers, accompanied by Washington National Guardsmen, stand at the side of the road preparing to cross the Eleventh Street Bridge into the Tideflats to report to work. A second group of men appears to be standing just ahead, possibly strikers gathering to heckle the workers. In June of 1935, workers attempting to return to work at the reopening mills were subjected to extreme violence and threats. Governor Clarence Martin ordered the second battalion of the Washington National Guard 161st Infantry to Tacoma on June 23, 1935 to protect the returning workers and the mills. The guardsmen were armed with smoke, tear and nausea gas bombs, rifles, bayonets and ammunition. (TNT 6/24/1935, pg. 1 & 2)

Members of the 2nd battalion of the Washington National Guard 161st Infantry lounge on the ground, or stand in line with their mess kits, preparing to eat at the temporary mess tents set up on the old Central School playground. The Guard was called into Tacoma by Governor Clarence Martin on June 23rd, 1935 to control the violence associated with the lumber workers' strike. The soldiers were stationed at the Armory and their mess tents set up in this nearby playground. The lumber and sawmill workers' strike started on May 6th and was settled August 2nd, 1935. (TNT 6/24/1935, pg. 1 & 2)

A young boy poses by the chain link fence of the old Central School playgrounds where mess tents have been erected to feed the more than 500 members of the 2nd battalion of the 161st Infantry of the Washington National Guard called out to Tacoma to restore peace during the 1935 Lumber workers' strike. The Guard was stationed at the nearby Armory. The troops had been in training at Camp A.H. Hankins at Camp Murray for the past two weeks when they were deployed to Tacoma. (TNT 6/24/1935, pg. 1 & 2)

Soldiers from the 161st Infantry of the Washington National Guard patrol the Tideflats during the Lumber worker's strike of 1935. In June of 1935, the mills of Tacoma and surrounding areas were attempting to reopen after petitions circulated stating that over 60 % of the work force was willing to return. Governor Clarence Martin promised protection to the mills and workers and called in the Guard to patrol the Tideflats and guard the entrances into the industrial area. They also accompanied returning workers on the main thoroughfares into the area. The troops totalled over 500 by June 25th and came from Yakima, Prosser, Pullman and Walla Walla. (TNT 6/24/1935, pg. 1 & 2)

Mess tents pitched on the old Central School playgrounds across from the Armory as cooks prepare to feed the men of the second battalion of the Washington National Guard 161st Infantry called out to control the violence associated with the 1935 Lumber workers' strike. In June of 1935, the mills in Tacoma and surrounded areas attempted to reopen with workers willing to return to work. Violence erupted between the returning workers and the strikers. Governor Clarence Martin ordered the Guard in on June 23rd, 1935 after reports that local authorities were unable to handle the situation. It was the second time the Guard was ordered out since the World War, the other two times being in 1919 and 1933. (TNT 6/24/1935, pg. 1 & 2)

Ruth DuCharme and Orville Fuller posed in January of 1926 surrounded by Bill Winder (extreme left) and his Hotel Winthrop Orchestra. The pair was taking part in the Southwest Washington Championship Ho-down Ballroom Charleston competition which kicked off on January 23, 1926. The contest was sponsored by the Rialto Theater and the Hotel Winthrop and took place over 4 weeks. It featured dancers from Tacoma, Aberdeen, Chehalis, Centralia and Olympia. Winners were decided by popular applause. When all the shouting was over, Mrs. DuCharme and Mr. Fuller were the Tacoma champions. This was the first big ballroom Charleston contest to be held locally. (TNT 1/22/1926, pg. 8) TPL-466

In February of 1931, Lucille Dyment, 6, and her sister Mardelle, 8, offered food items to Harry D. Hurlbut, president of the 4L Band, in exchange for admission to the concert at the Gault Intermediate School auditorium. The girls were the grandchildren of City Commissioner Dyer Dyment. More than 1 and one half tons of food were collected at this event sponsored by the McKinley Hill Improvement Club. This was the first year that the 36 piece volunteer band had performed relief concerts, and this was the 12th concert so far. Over 21,000 pounds of food had been collected in all for the needy and unemployed. The concerts were performed in halls all across the city and the food was distributed in the community where the concert took place. (TNT 2/25/1931, pg. 1) TPL-9968

1941 Daffodil Queen. Posing with a large bouquet of daffodils and wearing a headpiece composed of the flowers is 18-year-old Pauline Martin of Sumner who was the 1941 Daffodil Festival Queen. "Queen Pauline I" was crowned on March 22, 1941, in Puyallup by J. Arthur Thompson, president of that year's festival. Governor Arthur Langlie was in attendance as well as Tacoma Mayor Harry P. Cain, who served as toastmaster. Queen Pauline and her two attendants, Maxene Maddex of Lincoln High School and Doris Simonsen of Puyallup, would ride in the March 29th Daffodil Festival Parade. (TNT 3-21-41, p. 1)

1936 Daffodil Queen Helen Edgerton of Puyallup. In the early years, the queen alternated year to year between Puyallup and Sumner residents. The first queen from Tacoma was in 1956 and from Orting in 1962.

The Young Mens' Business Club entry in the 1936 Daffodil Parade was this flower covered replica of the bastions at the restored Fort Nisqually at Point Defiance. The restored Fort had opened in 1934. A sign on the float advertises the "Beaver Centennial" 1836-1936, a celebration to be held July 4, 1936.

This Standard Oil truck is all decked out in flowers for a drive in the 1936 Daffodil Parade. It has even sprouted two giant daffodils on top like horns. The large fuel truck is covered with flowers and draped grasses.

Billye Fairchild strikes a pose in her Jantzen swimsuit in a field of Spring daffodils in March of 1934. She smiles gamely, despite what is undoubtedly chilly Northwest Spring weather. She is providing a little "cheesecake" for the first annual Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival, to be held March 17-18, 1934. Miss Fairchild lists her occupation in the 1934 City Directory as waitress and her address as 1120 So. 14th Street. Miss Fairchild was also chosen as Tacoma's royal attendant for the 1934 festival.

Three bathing beauties, left to right, Frankie Cowan, Betty Brumbaugh and Billye Fairchild, pose in the chilly spring air in their swimsuits and goosebumps amid the bright yellow daffodils. They are advertising the first annual Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival in March of 1934. The festivities, originated by Tacoman Lee Merrill, would include a Queen, a parade and a "Bulb Sunday." On Sunday, area residents were encouraged to motor out and view the daffodil fields. The first festival had a total budget of $600.

Betty Brumbaugh poses with the air of a model for this promotional photograph for the first annual Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival in March of 1934. Betty is most probably Elizabeth Brumbaugh, listed in the 1934 City Directory as a saleswoman at the Peoples Store and residing at 424 No. Yakima. Elizabeth was the daughter of Rev. Roy T. Brumbaugh, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church. She later married Norman Donaghue and moved out of the state.