On September 18, 1940, a young fair goer looked up amazed as he was awarded his carnival game prizes. He had won two inflatable bunny balloons, almost as big as himself. The unidentified boy was one of 42,500 people attending the 41st annual Western Washington Fair in Puyallup on Tacoma Day. In 1940, the fair ran from September 16 - 22nd. TPL-9803

Western Washington Fair (Puyallup); Fairs--Puyallup--1940-1950;

A crowd is pictured on the midway at the 1940 Western Washington Fair at Puyallup. Busily turning are the Ferris Wheel, Tilt-A-Whirl, Merry-Go-Round and an airplane ride. In addition, people stand in line to take their turn at the games. The midway was ten acres, filled with over 25 rides plus side shows and carnival attractions. (T. Times 9/16/1940, pg. 1; 9/19/1940, pg. 1)

Western Washington Fair (Puyallup); Fairs--Puyallup--1940-1950; Crowds; Amusement rides--Puyallup--1940-1950;

On September 18, 1940, five year old Barbara Madsen, left, and her sister Marilyn, 7, of Tacoma enjoy a visit at the Western Washington Fair with Chief Sky Eagle of Michigan. The girls are out of school for Tacoma Day at the Fair. Each year, Tacoma's students were given a day off to enjoy the exhibits and other attractions at the fair. Chief Sky Eagle sits cross legged on a hay bale explaining to the two blonde youngsters the workings of his bow and arrows. (T. Times 9/19/1940 p.1)

Western Washington Fair (Puyallup); Fairs--Puyallup--1940-1950; Madsen, Barbara; Madsen, Marilyn;

1939 Western Washington Fair in Puyallup. Spectators watching man attempting to ring bell with large mallet, hammer. Test-your-strength carnival games were very popular among fairgoers.

Western Washington Fair (Puyallup); Carnival games--Puyallup;

Junior Red Cross Booth at Puyallup Fair, American Red Cross, Mrs. Thomson. Four teenagers are inside the booth and are ready to answer questions about their program and display.

Western Washington Fair (Puyallup); American Red Cross Pierce County Chapter (Tacoma); Fairs--Puyallup--1940-1950; Exhibitions--Puyallup--1940-1950;

Puyallup Fair, Tacoma Day, Times, Burt McMurtrie. The Puyallup Fair opened September 13, 1947 . Wednesday September 17th was officially declared Tacoma Day. Tacomans tossed business and household cares aside to attend the fair. The Tacoma schools closed to make it possible for the youngsters of the city to attend. This boy and girl are enjoying a ride on the Ferris wheel. (T.Times, 9/17/1947, p.1) TPL-9805

Western Washington Fair (Puyallup); Fairs--Puyallup--1940-1950; Children--Puyallup--1940-1950; Ferris wheels--Puyallup;

Chilson Dahlia Gardens' display at the 1952 Puyallup Fair was a massive display of many of the varieties of dahlias. Chilson Dahlia Gardens was located at Route 4, Olympia.

Fairs--Puyallup--1940-1950; Western Washington Fair (Puyallup); Agricultural exhibits--Puyallup--1940-1950; Flowers--Puyallup--1940-1950; Bouquets; Chilson Dahlia Gardens (Olympia);

Sunset Electric Company presented a display of Frigidaire appliances at the 1952 Puyallup Fair featuring several sizes of refrigerator, an electric water heater, washer and dryer, a mandrel ironing machine, electric stoves, and an institutional sized milk cooler. A large sign over the washer and dryer announced, "Leisure Laundry."

Western Washington Fair (Puyallup); Exhibit booths--Puyallup; Appliances; Refrigerators; Washing machines; Irons (Pressing); Stoves--Puyallup; Water heaters;

On September 22, 1937, Isabel Smitley, with her husband Tacoma Mayor George Smitley decorated the winning race horse "Premier Jim" and congratulated his jockey in the winner's circle at the Western Washington Fair in Puyallup. The horse had just won the afternoon's feature event, the one-mile "Mayor Smitley" race for previous non-winning 3 year olds. They were posed on the grandstand grass during Tacoma Day at the Fair. (T. Times 9/23/37 p.1)

Western Washington Fair (Puyallup); Fairs--Puyallup--1940-1950; Mayors--Tacoma--1930-1940; Smitley, George A., 1872-1956; Horses--Puyallup; Race horses; Horse racing--Puyallup;

Tacoma Day at the Western Washington Fair, Puyallup. A young man attempts to ring the bell at a "Test Your Strength" game at the fair. People in the crowd watch the marker rise on the scale. Over 50,500 people were in attendance on September 22, 1937, the designated Tacoma Day.

Fairs--Puyallup--1930-1940; Western Washington Fair (Puyallup);

During Tacoma Day at the Western Washington Fair. Boy Scouts perform a first aid exercise in the infield of the grandstand . (T. Times 9/22/1938, p. 1)

Events - Fairs - Washington State - Puyallup - Western Washington Fair Organizations - Youth Organizations - Boy Scouts of America

Western Washington Fair grandstand. During the 1938 Tacoma Day at the fair, 49,690 people walked through the gates. Fifteen thousand people packed the grandstand to the point of sitting on the concrete stairs for shows and races. (T. Times, 9/22/38, p. 1)

Western Washington Fair (Puyallup); Fairs--Puyallup--1930-1940; Grandstands--Puyallup; Spectators--Puyallup;

Fifteen hundred cheering horse race enthusiasts packed the grandstands at the 39th Western Washington Fair on September 21, 1938. There were six races held daily throughout the run of the Puyallup Fair. The 21st was Tacoma Day. By 1 p.m. over 20,000 fair goers had passed through the turnstiles. The official attendance tally for the day was 49,690.

Western Washington Fair (Puyallup); Racetracks (Horse racing)--Puyallup; Horse racing--Puyallup; Jockeys; Horses; Grandstands--Puyallup;

First Aid Booth at Puyallup Fair, American Red Cross, Mrs. Thomson. 8" x 8". A young girl is crying while she looks at a young boy lying under blankets on a stretcher at the first aid booth at the fair. The boy's cowboy hat lies on top of him. Two boy scouts and two emergency medical aid men look after the boy.

Western Washington Fair (Puyallup); First aid--Puyallup; American Red Cross Pierce County Chapter (Tacoma); Ambulances--Puyallup--1940-1950; Boy Scouts (Puyallup); Health care personnel; Children--Puyallup--1940-1950;

Fair booth, windows and overall, Carstens Packing Company, Mr. White. Carstens Tacoma location was 1623 East J Street. This window display shows meat hung in the back and how to cook meat using different methods along the front. From left to right, the meats are lamb, veal, beef rib, beef, pork exterior and pork interior. The cuts of meat shown on the raised tray in the middle are "party cuts" for special occasions.

Carstens Packing Co. (Tacoma); Western Washington Fair (Puyallup); Fairs--Puyallup--1940-1950; Meat; Meat cutting--Tacoma; Meat industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Window displays;

Carnation Company booth at Western Washington Fair in Puyallup.

Events - Fairs - Washington State - Puyallup - Western Washington Fair

1939 Western Washington Fair in Puyallup. Wide angle view of fairgrounds showing capacity crowds in the amusement area with wooden buildings in background.

Western Washington Fair (Puyallup);

1939 Western Washington Fair in Puyallup. Three little girls dressed in look-a-like dresses stand on the fence rail to get a close look at the Durac Jersey. Other children and adults peer through and over the fence to see the animals.

Western Washington Fair (Puyallup); Children--Puyallup--1930-1940;

The Marine Corps booth at the 1952 Western Washington Fair. A painting by Sgt. Gerald C. Fitzsimmons of the famous Iwo Jima flag raising during World War II is prominent in the display next to a Marine who stands ready to answer questions. (TNT, 9/7/1952, p.A-13)

Western Washington Fair (Puyallup); Fairs--Puyallup--1940-1950; Exhibit booths--Puyallup; United States Marine Corps; Paintings; Fitzsimmons, Gerald C.--Associated objects;

This unidentified "fire eater" was just one of the thrilling attractions that drew over 28,000 people to the opening day of the 1939 Western Washington Fair in Puyallup. September 20th was Tacoma Day at the fair; highlights of the day included performances in the Education Hall by the Lincoln High School Choir and the Stadium High School Concert Band.

Western Washington Fair (Puyallup);

Scenes from the 1939 Western Washington Fair in Puyallup. Three young women and a young man hold stuffed animal prizes, bulls, at fair booth. Fairgoers could step right up and spend a nickel for a chance to win a prize bull. The smiling fair employee smiles for the camera; the walls of his booth are lined with stuffed bulls and the spinning wheel is ready for all customers.

Western Washington Fair (Puyallup); Stuffed animals (Toys);

During Tacoma Day at the 1937 Western Washington Fair, three Lincoln High School boys have met three girls from Fife High School and are walking arm-in-arm through the fun-filled Fairway. The Fairway was added in 1932, with new rides, games of chance and side shows. Kids and adults alike are enjoying the thrill of being 45-feet up in the air on the two, 12-seat Eli Ferris wheels. Left to right: Vera Jean Hedderly, Ed Bergstrom, Eileen Ruscher, Bill Dellman, Jean Todd, and Orville Mahoskey. (T. Times 9/23/37, p.1)

Fairs--Puyallup--1930-1940; Western Washington Fair (Puyallup); Ferris wheels--Puyallup; Students--Puyallup--1930-1940;

Noted Indian leaders and their tribes set-up camp at Puyallup's Western Washington Fairs to demonstrate their crafts and share their culture. In 1937, Chief Shelton (wearing feathered headdress) and his tribe camped at the fair. A record breaking crowd of more than 56,000 attended the fair on Tacoma Day that year. Among them are Connie Ireland and a group of students who are watching Chief Shelton demonstrate a blanket wrap and another man share his knowledge of Indian basketry. (T. Times, 9/23/1937, p. 1))

Fairs--Puyallup; Western Washington Fair (Puyallup); Indians of North America--Exhibitions; Indians of North America--Arts & crafts; Indians of North America--Clothing & dress; Shelton, Chief;

Booth at the 1937 Puyallup Fair sponsored by the Plywood Sales and Box Co. in Tacoma. The display features Magi-Kote wall board for "The New Modern Interior." Room display with fireplace, wall covering connected with metal strips and modern furniture.

Western Washington Fair (Puyallup); Fairs--Puyallup--1930-1940; Exhibit booths--Puyallup;

The amusement rides twirl, forever frozen in motion, in this photograph of the midway of the 41st annual Western Washington Fair at Puyallup on Tacoma Day in September of 1940. On Tacoma Day, Tacoma school children were released from their duties to escort their parents to the fair. More than 42,500 Tacomans and their neighbors crowded the fairgrounds. (T. Times 9/19/1940, pg. 1)

Western Washington Fair (Puyallup); Fairs--Puyallup--1940-1950; Crowds; Amusement rides--Puyallup--1940-1950;

Exhibit at Puyallup Fair, South Tacoma Welding, Mr. Bosko. The sign over the Dodge dump truck reads, "This body and hoist has been installed by South Tacoma Welding & Equipment Company, distributors of Hercules Bodies and Hoists for State of Washington". Axel Peusa Excavating and Bulldozing is painted on the cab's door.

Western Washington Fair (Puyallup); Fairs--Puyallup--1940-1950; South Tacoma Welding & Equipment Co. (Tacoma); Dump trucks--Puyallup--1940-1950; Merchandise displays--Puyallup--1940-1950;

Carstens Booth at Puyallup Fair, Times, Burt McMurtrie. Carstens' display includes windows into a refrigerated area with hung meat and the cuts of meat from each kind of animal, some of the prepackaged foods produced by the company and an array of the processed meats such as bologna and sausages also produced by Carstens. A picture of their new refrigerated trucks hangs along the left wall.

Western Washington Fair (Puyallup); Fairs--Puyallup--1940-1950; Carstens Packing Co. (Tacoma); Meat industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Exhibitions--Puyallup--1940-1950;

Fair booth, windows and overall, Carstens Packing Company, Mr. White. Carstens Tacoma location was 1623 East J Street. Carstens advertised their display at the Puyallup Fair in the Tacoma News Tribune with, "See all the delicious "nifty" - "thrifty" meat cuts. See the charts on How to Select Meats and How to Prepare Them! Free Booklets, too! It's a Carstens' feature, of course!" This part of their window display features meat before and after it has been cut into cooking-size pieces. (TNT, 9/17/1948, p.11)

Carstens Packing Co. (Tacoma); Western Washington Fair (Puyallup); Fairs--Puyallup--1940-1950; Meat; Meat cutting--Tacoma; Meat industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Window displays;

Tacoma Day at the Western Washington Fair, Puyallup. View of crowd walking around littered fairgrounds. Two women, in center, wear tiny prize-type straw hats. Sign on building "See Tacoma 50 years ago." (T. Times)

Fairs--Puyallup--1930-1940; Western Washington Fair (Puyallup);

Tacoma Day at the Western Washington Fair, Puyallup. A rider allows two young boys to hold a horse's bridle rope. Barns, automobiles and a Puyallup Laundry truck in background.

Fairs--Puyallup--1930-1940; Western Washington Fair (Puyallup); Horses--Puyallup;