One of the strangest social events of the 1920's & 1930's was the "Tom Thumb wedding," a mock wedding of a child couple impersonating the 1863 wedding of P.T. Barnum's famous midget couple, Charles Stratton (exhibited as Gen. Tom Thumb) and his miniature bride, Lavinia Warren. The pictured double Tom Thumb wedding was held April 16, 1937 at the St. Paul Methodist Church as a fund raiser, with proceeds going to the missionary society. The participants were, left to right, Harrison Killian (best man), Curtis Killian (Tom Thumb, groom), Shirley Clark (Jennie June, bride), Eddie Goodenough (minister), Buddy Cross (best man), Billy Goettling (Fred Finger, groom) and Barbara Ann Bowen (Nellie May, bride.) All of the children, with the exception of Goodenough, were four years old. Eddie Goodenough was the son of Rev. Frank Goodenough. In all, over 100 children, ages 4-11, took part in the pageant, impersonating wedding members and guests, including Pres. & Mrs. Roosevelt, movie stars and local city officials and personalities. ( T. Times 4/16/1937, pg. 8- picture & article)

Children playing adults; Weddings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Brides--1930-1940; Wedding clothing & dress--1930-1940; Grooms (Weddings)--1930-1940;

On April 16, 1937, St. Paul Methodist Church held a double "Tom Thumb" wedding to raise funds for their missionary society. "Tom Thumb" weddings were held in the early 1900's as a social event; they were recreations of the 1863 wedding of P.T. Barnum's most famous attraction, the midget Charles Stratton (exhibited as Gen. Tom Thumb) and the equally tiny Lavinia Warren. Children doubled in the Tom Thumb pageants as the tiny couple. The St. Paul event starred, left to right, Eddie Goodenough as the minister, Curtis Killian as Tom Thumb, Shirley Clark as the bride Jennie June, Billy Goettling as the second groom Fred Finger and Barbara Ann Bowen as the other bride, Nellie May. The couples were four years old. All together, over 100 children, ranging in age from 4-11, took part in the event, impersonating the wedding party and its famous guests. (T. Times 4/16/1937, pg. 8)

Children playing adults; Weddings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Brides--1930-1940; Wedding clothing & dress--1930-1940; Grooms (Weddings)--1930-1940; Goodenough, Edward; Killian, Curtis; Clark, Shirley; Goettling, William; Bowen, Barbara Ann;

Unidentified teenage rock group performing at St. Paul's Methodist Church, 1201 So. 43rd St., on September 20, 1968. A young woman sits placidly on a stool in front of the group. Photograph ordered by the Tacoma-Pierce County Opportunity & Development, Inc.

Rock groups--Tacoma--1960-1970;

View of St. Paul's Methodist Church. Located at the corner of So. 43rd and So. "L," St. Paul's Methodist Church announced its Golden Jubilee celebration in 1940. A tent structure served as the church in 1890 until a permanent building was erected the following year; designed as a "lecture room and classroom," it was used as the church until a new building was completed in 1905. Through the years many improvements were made to the church property including new windows. Rev. Charles R. Davenport was listed as the pastor in the 1967 City Directory.

St. Paul's Methodist Church (Tacoma); Methodist churches--Tacoma;