ca. 1930. Bethesda Baptist Church, 4340 So. L St., Tacoma, as photographed circa 1930. Built in 1907 as the Home Telephone Co. substation; Russell and Babcock, architects. The building was remodeled in 1926 by Silas E. Nelsen for the Bethesda Church. Address was formerly 4338 So. L St.; alternate address 1201 S. 45th
ca. 1931. Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, 7302 So. Park Ave.,Tacoma. The new South Tacoma church was dedicated in October of 1924. The pastor in 1931 was the Rev. H.N. Svinth. Bowen # CHU-002
ca. 1931. First Lutheran Church, 6050 So. Warner St., Tacoma. The church was built in 1912 as the First Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran. By 1943, it was known as Hope Lutheran. Bowen # CHU-010
ca. 1931. English Seventh Day Adventist Church, 921-23 So. I St., Tacoma. Constructed in 1893, this building was the first synagogue in Tacoma. It was designed by local architect C.A. Darmer and originally named Temple Beth Israel. Nineteen years later, the new Temple Beth Israel was built at 324 No. J St. By 1931, the pictured structure was the English Seventh Day Adventist Church, later the First Seventh Day Adventist Church. It has since been demolished. Bowen # CHU-021
ca. 1931. First United Presbyterian Church, 1619 Sixth Avenue, Tacoma. This Gothic Spanish style church was built in 1922. It was designed by Frederic & Stanley Shaw, Architects. It was dedicated October 28, 1923. After a merger in 1958, it was known as Trinity United Presbyterian Church; now known as Trinity Presbyterian Church. Bowen #CHU-033
ca. 1931. Grace Baptist Church, 3502 No. Mullen, Tacoma. The church was built in 1928 and was only a few years old when this picture was taken. Bowen# CHU-043
ca. 1931. Church of the Nazarene, 1001 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Tacoma. The church was built in 1909 as the Norwegian-Danish Baptist Church. It has since been demolished. Bowen # CHU-055
ca. 1931. First Swedish Lutheran Church, 5131 No. Pearl St., Ruston. The small church was built in 1902 and was also known as Saint James Englsh Evangelical Lutheran Church, Smelter Church, Ruston Chapel and Ruston Lutheran Church. The structure is now available for rental for weddings and meetings. Bowen #CHU- 040
ca. 1931. This is the Scandinavian Pentecostal Mission at 1101 South J Street as pictured circa 1931. The church was dedicated in January of 1904 as the Swedish Methodist Episcopal Church. By 1931, the time of this picture, it was known as the Scandinavian Pentecostal Mission, as indicated by the sign over the door. In 1934, the church, by then known as Bethel Pentecostal, was damaged by fire. It was re-dedicated in 1941, after extensive remodeling and an addition. Bowen# CHU-039
Built of Wilkeson sandstone donated by Robert Walker, the First Baptist Church was nearly ready for its dedication set for June of 1925. Designed by architects Heath, Gove & Bell and built by J.E. Bonnell, contractor, the huge church cost about $250,000. The fencing around the church would be removed by Sunday, June 7th. First Baptist's congregation chose to remain in the downtown area so built on a vacant lot adjoining its old site. "We aim to make this a great friendly downtown church for everybody," said pastor C.O. Johnson. In just a few years First Baptist grew to become one of the largest churches on the West Coast. The years 1924-25 saw perhaps a record in church construction in Tacoma with the First Baptist Church, Sixth Avenue Baptist, First Presbyterian, St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, and Fern Hill Baptist among those built. First Baptist is now called Urban Grace, the Downtown Church. BU11,472 (TNT 6-4-25, p. 11)
First Baptist Church (Tacoma); Baptist churches--Tacoma; Building construction--Tacoma--1920-1930;
ca. 1919. Tacoma architect C. Frank Mahon drew this delineation of Holy Rosary Church before construction began on the Catholic church in 1920. Located at 520 South 30th Street, its Gothic steeple has long been a Tacoma landmark. Mahon's architectural work for the Catholic Diocese included many schools and churches in Tacoma in addition to Marymount Boys School in Spanaway and St. Martin's College in Lacey. (B2308)
Holy Rosary Church (Tacoma); Catholic churches--Tacoma; Architectural drawings;
Luther Memorial Church, 50th Anniversary service. The English Gothic church at So. 5th and I St. marked its Golden Anniversary on Sunday, October 26th, 1941. The church was officially organized on June 7, 1891 in a W.C.T.U. hall, but the first service was held February 13th in a dance hall. The group was originally called the Zion's English Lutheran Church. The pictured site was purchased in 1892 for $3500. The church was a pioneer in the sparsely settled district. The building, designed by Emanuel J.Bresemann and Marinus Durfee, Architects, was completed in 1910 and dedicated as Saint John's English Lutheran Church; it was later renamed Luther Memorial. The church held its final service after 112 years on November 9th, 2003; the building was sold to Multicare. (T. Times. 10/23/1941, pg. 12)
Lutheran churches--Tacoma; Luther Memorial Church (Tacoma);
Harold A. Johnson works on the mural he has been commissioned to create for the Bethel Pentecostal Church on So. 11th and J St. The church's pastor, the Rev. John W. Moseid, steps up on the artist's platform for a closer look. The mural will be unveiled and discussed by the artist at a special service on January 16, 1943. (T. Times 1/16/1943, pg. 7)
Bethel Pentecostal Assembly (Tacoma); Churches--Tacoma--1940-1950; Murals; Johnson, Harold A.; Moseid, John W.; Artists--Tacoma--1940-1950; Clergy--Tacoma--1940-1950;
Wedding of Margaret Elizabeth (Betty) Wetherby and Connor E. Gray, Jr. in the Ferguson Chapel at the First Presbyterian Church. The bride is pictured in her wedding gown of white net over satin. It has a sweetheart neckline. She is wearing a bonnet of pleated and shirred net with an attached fingertip veil. The new wedded couple made their home in Seattle. (T. Times 7/14/1941, pg. 7; 7/12/1941, pg. 4)
Presbyterian churches--Tacoma; First Presbyterian Church (Tacoma); Weddings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Wedding costume--1940-1950; Brides--1940-1950; Wetherby, Margaret Elizabeth--Marriage;
On Sunday, November 17, 1940, soldiers from Ft. Lewis, McChord Field and Camp Murrary filled in as the choir at the Independent Bible Church, which met at the former Scottish Rite Cathedral. (T.Times 11/18/1940 p.1)
Two ministers and another man pose on the 60th anniversary, October 17, 1942, of the First Lutheran Church. Rev. Carl E. Rydell was the current minister, although many of the previous church ministers as well as church officials attended the festivities. The church was organized October 17, 1882 as a missionary enterprise by the Rev. Peter Carlson. Its original members were Swedish and Norwegian, although the Norwegians later left to form their own church. It was the first congregation of Swedish speaking people to be organized in Washington.
First Lutheran Church (Tacoma); Lutheran churches--Tacoma;
Wedding of Nadellia Weglin and Throne J. Eggan at Luther Memorial Church. Bride and groom in front of church. Building by Emanuel J. Bresemann and Marinus Durfee, Architects: 1910.
Lutheran churches--Tacoma; Luther Memorial Church (Tacoma); Weglin, Nadellia--Marriage; Brides--1940-1950; Grooms (Weddings)--1940-1950; Eggan, Throne J.; Weddings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Wedding costume--1940-1950;
The Little Church on the Prairie. The picture of the Church was taken during the wedding photography for Jean McDonald and William Jepson, on August 17, 1941. The structure was formerly a grocery store and was converted into a church with the addition of a steeple, new windows and doors. It was dedicated in 1938, one of the first churches in the new community of Lakewood. Due to its quaint exterior, it was a popular choice for weddings.
Catholic Church of the Visitation. Thirty seven young boys standing in appropriate Catholic choir garb, holding hymn books, ready to sing. Building by C. Frank Mahon, Architect, 1913.
Churches - Catholic Churches - Tacoma - Church of the Visitation Music - Choral Music - Choirs - Church Choirs
First Congregational Church. Exterior view of stone building with stained glass windows and bell tower. The cornerstone of the First Congregational Church was laid September 5, 1907. The first services were held in the Gothic structure a little over a year later on October 11, 1908. The building was designed by noted Tacoma architect George W. Bullard, class of '82 at the University of Illinois.
Congregational churches--Tacoma; First Congregational Church (Tacoma); Stone buildings;
This photograph of the First Congregational Church, at the corner of Division and South J Street, was taken in April of 1943. The congregation of the First Congregational Church can trace its history in Tacoma back to 1873 when the first church members gathered in a tent in Old Tacoma. The cornerstone for the church at 209 South J was laid September 5, 1907 and the dedicatory services were held December 12, 1909. Designed by George W. Bullard, the church and its adjoining school building are brick faced with Tenino sandstone. Ordered by Rev. Harold Booch, Pastor. [Also dated 04-18-1943]
Congregational churches--Tacoma; First Congregational Church (Tacoma); Stone buildings;
Dwight and Virginia Robinson stand outside St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Old Tacoma wearing some of the fall season's new fashions. Mrs. Robinson is wearing a coat of Bolivia cloth and a Canadian fox collar. Mr. Robinson, president of Western Furnaces, chose a conservative three-button lounge sack guit and a Dobbs hat. The exterior of St. Peter's has weathered and some of the windows are broken. Restoration of the early Tacoma church was begun in 1956. The small, 21 ft. x 45 ft., Carpenter Gothic church was built in 1873. It was designed by Rev. Charles Bonnell. The timber was donated by Hanson-Ackerson Mill and construction took 10 days. The building was placed on the National Register in 1975. Ordered by the Tacoma News Tribune for their fall fashion section. (TNT, 9/11/1952, p.C-7)
Episcopal churches--Tacoma; St. Peter's Episcopal Church (Tacoma); Aged persons--Tacoma; Robinson, Dwight; Robinson, Virginia; Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1950-1960; Spouses--Tacoma;
Members of the Central Seventh Day Adventist Church began construction of their new church in the fall of 1952. They had rented the First Congragational Church at Division Avenue and J Streets since the congregation outgrew their old church on I Street. Plywood concrete forms and steel rebar are in place during construction and two workmen are sawing plywood while standing on scaffolding. Progress photograph ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association. (TNT, 9/28/1952, p.C-15)
Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma); Plywood; Reinforced concrete construction--Tacoma--1950-1960; Churches--Tacoma; Central Seventh Day Adventist Church (Tacoma);
Children at the Foursquare Gospel Church let loose their large balloons in celebration of the first Cadet Rally on December 1, 1951. All eyes follow the balloons' upward path. The Foursquare Gospel Church was located at 2303 South Sheridan Avenue and pastored by Rev. Elsworth T. Johnson. Built in 1909, the church was first home to the First Swedish-Finnish Baptist Church before it was purchased by Foursquare Gospel in 1938. (TPL-3864)
Protestant churches--Tacoma; Children playing with toys--Tacoma--1950-1960; Balloons--Tacoma; Foursquare Gospel Church (Tacoma);
