trueblood # 2097

Mayor Harold Tollefson points out an interesting picture in his photo album to a Japanese visitor from Tacoma's sister city, Kitakyushu, on February 5, 1965. The young man is believed to be a student. Linn Johnson, a University of Puget Sound letterman, shares a smile with the mayor and his visitor. Johnson had spent a month in Japan in the spring of 1964 as a student at Kitakyushu University. He and returning college student Nobuyuki Fujimoto boarded the vessel Sanyo Maru in Bellingham for the trip to Japan. Fujimoto, possibly the young man above, had spent eight months at the University of Puget Sound. (TNT 3-19-64, A-6)

Tollefson, Harold M., 1908-1985; Mayors--Tacoma--1960-1970; Johnson, Linn; Photograph albums;

Mayor Ben Hanson presented Dr. Saburo Tomita, director of the Kokura, Japan, Hospital, with a key to the city on September 28, 1961, in front of Tacoma General Hospital. Kokura is Tacoma's sister city. Dr. Tomita delivered a letter of greeting and gift from Kokura Mayor Nobuo Hayashi and in return, received a key to the city from Mayor Hanson. From L-R are Sylvia Sass and Dr. David H. Johnson of the Sister City Committee, Dr. Tomita, Dr. Sumiho Wada, Mayor Hanson and Thomas Takemura. Dr. Tomita had toured Tacoma General the previous day and had visited Mountain View General Hospital on the 28th. (TNT 9-28-61)

Hanson, Ben; Mayors--Tacoma--1960-1970; Tomita, Saburo; Foreign visitors--Japan; Keys (Hardware); Sass, Sylvia; Johnson, David H.; Wada, Sumiho; Takemura, Thomas;

Mayor Harold Tollefson, photo album resting on one knee, admires a beautifully attired Japanese doll on November 19, 1965. This may have been the doll presented to the mayor on July 22, 1965, by seven Kitakyushu students visiting Tacoma. The two women in the picture have not been identified. Mayor Tollefson had visited Kobe, Japan, in November, 1963, as part of the Japanese-American Conference of Mayors & Chamber of Commerce Officials and had sent progress reports to the News Tribune. Harold Tollefson would serve three terms as Tacoma's mayor.

Tollefson, Harold M., 1908-1985; Mayors--Tacoma--1960-1970; Dolls; Photograph albums;

In September of 1962 Mayor Harold Tollefson (far right) was photographed with three members of Tacoma's Sister City committee. He was showing them the People to People Citation that Tacoma received at the 1962 American Municipal Association congress that was held that year in Philadelphia. The citation was awarded to Tacoma for its Sister City program and its "excellent manner in promoting goodwill." From left to right are Sister City committee members Thomas Takemura, Sylvia Sass and Dr. John Moore. (TNT 8-22-62)

Awards; Tollefson, Harold M., 1908-1985; Mayors--Tacoma--1960-1970; Takemura, Thomas; Sass, Sylvia; Moore, John;

An Army doctor visiting from Thailand peers into a microscope on January 18, 1966. An unidentified American in lab coat is close by. TRUEBLOOD 1361

Foreign visitors--Thailand; Physicians; Medical offices;

Mayor Gordon Johnston is pictured on September 18, 1970, kneeling before an Alaska Airlines stewardess. She has one hand on his shoulder and is reading from a framed plaque. TRUEBLOOD 1984

Mayors--Tacoma--1970-1980; Johnston, Gordon N.; Flight attendants;

Miss Alaska, Nina Whaley, (third from front) and Mr. and Mrs. Chester Seveck visited the Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium on May 19, 1964. The Alaskans were in town to promote their state's summer tourist season and had just arrived that morning. They are pictured above wearing fur parkas while standing in front of the polar bear exhibit. TRUEBLOOD 1064 (TNT 5-19-64, p. 1-article)

Whaley, Nina; Seveck, Chester; Seveck, Chester--Family; Beauty contestants; Guests--Tacoma--1960-1970; Point Defiance Zoo (Tacoma); Polar bears--Washington;

Mayor Harold Tollefson helps to remove the fur parka of Miss Alaska, Nina Whaley, upon her arrival on May 19, 1964. The temperature, in the 60s, was a bit warm for a heavy garment. She had already been presented with a bouquet of longstem red roses. Miss Whaley was accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. Chester Seveck, who are pictured in native costume in the background. TRUEBLOOD 1064 (TNT 5-19-64 p. 1)

Whaley, Nina; Beauty contestants; Guests--Tacoma--1960-1970; Mayors--Tacoma--1960-1970; Tollefson, Harold M., 1908-1985; Seveck, Chester; Seveck, Chester--Family;

Miss Alaska, Nina Whaley (far right), poses with her Alaskan companions, Mr. and Mrs. Chester Seveck, with the towering Tacoma Totem Pole looming behind them. The trio was in town for an activity-packed three days from May 19-21, 1964, in order to promote Alaska's summer tourist industry. The visitors are wearing fur garments of their culture with Mr. Seveck aiming a harpoon. The stop at the Tacoma Totem Pole was made possibly to show the guests the work of Alaskan carvers. TRUEBLOOD 1064 (TNT 5-19-64, p. 1-article)

Whaley, Nina; Beauty contestants; Seveck, Chester; Seveck, Chester--Family; Guests--Tacoma--1960-1970; Fur garments; Tacoma Totem Pole (Tacoma); Totem poles--Tacoma; Harpoons--Tacoma;

Visitors from Kokura, Japan, were presented with Douglas fir seedlings from their sister city, Tacoma. They are pictured on November 16, 1961, prior to departure on United Airlines. Man on right is Thomas Takemura of the Sister City Committee; stewardess has been identified as C.M. Herron of Los Angeles. The three young men are Kazama Tsunomachi, Shinichi Tanaka, and Hiromi Yokota; they were all students from Kitakyushu University, the sister university of the University of Puget Sound, who were paying a two-week visit to Tacoma. The Chamber of Commerce and St. Regis Paper Co. sent 500 Douglas fir seedlings to Kokura as a token of friendship and as a "living reminder" of the Pacific Northwest. The wrapped bundle at the feet of the visitors contained the seedlings. (TNT 11-3-61, TNT 11-23-61, Tacoma Progress, 11-24-61)

Takemura, Thomas; Herron, C.M.; Tsunomachi, Kazama; Tanaka, Shinichi; Yokota, Hiromi; Firs; Foreign visitors--Japan;

Sixth Avenue near Mildred, looking east. Towers Restaurant at left. Trueblood #1822

Streets--Tacoma--1960-1970; Business districts--Tacoma--1960-1970; Towers Restaurant (Tacoma);

Ruston Way. Trueblood #1194

Streets--Tacoma--1960-1970;

Ruston Way waterfront. Top of the Ocean restaurant on the right. Numerous cars parked on both sides of the road. Photograph taken on March 3, 1965.

Streets--Tacoma--1960-1970; Top of the Ocean (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1960-1970;

South Tacoma Way. Home to many car lots. Century Motors, 6202 South Tacoma Way, used cars section at right, Peoples Warehouse in background. This photograph was taken on March 3, 1965.

Century Motors, Inc. (Tacoma); Automobiles--Tacoma--1960-1970; Streets--Tacoma--1960-1970; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1960-1970;

ca. 1969. capri theater

Mayor Ben Hanson gestures as his visitor, L. Shukin of Turkey, watches on the grass outside the County-City Building, 930 Tacoma Avenue South, on July 10, 1961. The mayor may have been pointing toward the old Central School building further up the street. TRUEBLOOD 524

Mayors--Tacoma--1960-1970; Hanson, Ben; Shukin, L.; Foreign visitors--Turkey;

On April 5, 1963, Mayor Harold Tollefson accepted a small ceramic statue from German exchange student Ulrich Bliesener of Dusseldorf. Ulrich was representing Mayor Peter Muller of that city. The statuette is a rendition of Prince Johann Wilhelm von der Pfalz who had transformed Dusseldorf from a village to a city hundreds of years ago. Ulrich Bliesener was a student at Stadium High School. (TNT 4-9-63, p. 3- article & alternate photograph) TRUEBLOOD 848

Mayors--Tacoma--1960-1970; Tollefson, Harold M., 1908-1985; Bliesener, Ulrich; International students--German; Figurines;

Mayor Ben Hanson met with four representatives of the Trade Fair on May 19, 1961. The women are wearing the costumes of their native lands, including Japan, the Philippines, and Europe. World Trade Week would be celebrated May 21-27th in 1961. TRUEBLOOD 482A

Mayors--Tacoma--1960-1970; Hanson, Ben; Guests--Tacoma--1960-1970; Costumes;

ca. 1961. A visiting Miss California places a large sombrero on Mayor Ben Hanson's head in this circa 1961 photograph. The beauty queen is wearing her jeweled tiara, suit and black leather gloves. TRUEBLOOD 595

Mayors--Tacoma--1960-1970; Hanson, Ben; Guests--Tacoma--1960-1970; Beauty contestants--California; Sombreros; Women--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1960-1970;

Mayor Gordon Johnston and visiting U.S. Senators were photographed on April 2, 1970. Two men are holding keys to the City of Tacoma. TRUEBLOOD 1932

Mayors--Tacoma--1970-1980; Johnston, Gordon N.; Legislators--United States;

Chester Seveck, 75, of Alaska carefully eyes the waters of Puget Sound as he prepares to launch his harpoon while on his promotional tour. He has killed 22 polars bears and one 60-foot whale in his lifetime of hunting. Mr. Seveck and spouse accompanied Miss Alaska, Nina Whaley, in mid-May of 1964 on a whirlwind three-day visit to Tacoma. Mr. and Mrs. Seveck were professional entertainers as well as guides during the summer at Kotzebue, within the Arctic Circle. TRUEBLOOD 1064 (TNT 5-19-64, p. 1-article; TNT 5-22-64, p. 6-article & alternate picture)

Seveck, Chester; Harpoons--Tacoma; Fishing--Washington; Guests--Tacoma--1960-1970;

Miss Alaska, Nina Whaley, is seated behind the controls of a boat while cruising in Puget Sound waters; this was just one of the many activities she participated in during her whirlwind three-day visit to Tacoma in May of 1964. She is wearing a heavy fur parka which may have felt a bit too warm in the low 60s degree temperatures. Miss Whaley was in town to promote Alaska's summer tourist season. (TNT 5-19-64, p. 1-article) TRUEBLOOD 1064

Whaley, Nina; Beauty contestants; Fur garments; Guests--Tacoma--1960-1970;

Alaskan native Chester Seveck dances before his wife (seated) and local Tacomans during a whirlwind visit to the city in mid-May of 1964. Mr. and Mrs. Seveck had accompanied Miss Alaska, Nina Whaley, to Tacoma on a mission to promote Alaska's tourist industry. The Sevecks were professional entertainers and also worked as guides. They would stay in Tacoma an extra day after Miss Whaley's departure to make several appearances at the Propeller Club, Kiwanis and two conferences. TRUEBLOOD 1064 (TNT 5-19-64, p. 2-article)

Seveck, Chester; Seveck, Chester--Family; Guests--Tacoma--1960-1970;

Woodworth & Co. workers are dwarfed by the size of concrete beams spanning Wakefield Drive (South Tacoma Way) and Center Street. The Yakima Avenue Bridge is under construction after voters approved a $1.5 million dollar bond to finance the project. Designed by Horace Whitacre, the new Tacoma bridge is the highest pre-stressed concrete span in Washington State. The steeple of Holy Rosary Church can be seen in the background. Trueblood #451.

Bridge construction--Tacoma; Structural frames; Girders; Concrete; Scaffolding; Woodworth & Co. (Tacoma); Yakima Avenue Bridge (Tacoma); Whitacre, Horace;

ca. 1910. Yakima Ave./Center St. tunnel. Drilling equipment involved in the construction of the Yakima Ave. Bridge in 1959 opened an abandoned railroad tunnel just beyond Yakima Avenue and Center Street. The tunnel was begun by the Union Pacific Railroad in 1909 but construction abruptly stopped the next year and never started again. It is possible that water conditions caused the halt of the planned 8,600 foot tunnel. The tunnel was believed to be about 26-feet high and about 100 feet below the present street grade. Questions arose later regarding what, if anything, was used to back-fill the tunnel with cord wood and dirt mentioned as possible solutions. Discovery of the abandoned tunnel did not ultimately stymie the building of the 1.3 million dollar bridge; it would be dedicated in September of 1961. G45.1-007 (TNT 7-2-59-article; TNT 7-5-59-article)

Railroad tunnels--Tacoma;

Senator Henry M. "Scoop" Jackson (at center) traveled to Tacoma in February of 1964 to help launch the start of Tacoma's Center Street urban renewal project. Governor Albert D. Rosellini stands immediately to his right. Tacoma Mayor Harold M. Tollefson is seen at far left. "Scoop" Jackson played a major role in national politics from his election to Congress in 1940 until his death in 1983. ALBUM 16. (Also G67.1-152)

Jackson, Henry M., 1912-1983; Legislators--Washington--1960-1970; Rosellini, Albert D.; Governors; Tollefson, Harold M., 1908-1985; Mayors--Tacoma--1960-1970; Urban renewal;

Pacific Avenue near 72nd looking south - The gas station on the corner is the Hill Alexander Texaco Station, 7201 So. Pacific Ave. Across the street at 7202 So. Pacific is Ferranrte's Furniture. The golden arches of McDonald's can be seen at 7217 So. Pacific.

The City of Tacoma honored musician Joe Jordan for his many contributions on the occasion of his 85th birthday, Feb. 11, 1969. A ragtime pianist, composer and arranger, Jordan worked with several musical legends in his career, including Fats Waller, Benny Goodman and Louis Armstrong. Once a piano player in a small bar in Cairo, some insist that Jordan was the prototype for the piano player in the Humphrey Bogart film, "Casablanca." He also served as a captain in the United States Army. Mayor A.L. "Slim" Rasmussen is pictured presenting the honorary plaque to Joe Jordan, accompanied by his daughter, Marie Lindsey. TPL-6359

Jordan, Joe; Musicians--Tacoma--1960-1970; Lindsey, Marie; Rasmussen, Albert Lawrence; Mayors--Tacoma--1960-1970; Awards;

ca. 1908. Yakima Ave.-Center Street tunnel - Union Pacific Railroad (from copy negative). The first Holy Rosary Church, a wooden structure, is in the background. This is the site of the planned Union Pacific Railroad 8,600-foot tunnel circa 1908. Construction began about 1909 but abruptly halted the following year and was not resumed. It was thought that water conditions may have caused the stoppage. The abandoned tunnel was discovered in 1959 when drilling equipment involved in the construction of the Yakima Street Bridge broke into the tunnel.

Railroad tunnels--Tacoma; Union Pacific Railroad Co. (Tacoma); Holy Rosary Church (Tacoma);