A lone Grizzly bear imported from Yellowstone National Park lies resting on a bare wooden platform in a man-made, stone cave at Point Defiance Zoo. The young female cub was brought in to replace the bear that escaped from the zoo in July of 1937 and was never found. If she looks a little lonely, it is because her intended mate broke out two weeks ago, June 12 or 13th, and has not been found. He went over the wall of the pen leaving only some hide and hair on the prongs designed to keep him in. He was recovered July 3rd in the park. (T. Times 6/14/1938, pg. 1; 6/27/1938, pg. 3; 7/4/1938, pg. 1)

Point Defiance Zoo (Tacoma); Grizzly bears; Zoos--Tacoma--1930-1940; Zoo animals;

Opening of Wapato Park in June of 1938. Park visitors stroll along gravel paths to reach the lake where crowds have gathered at the lake's edge. The park is located in the city's south end, and encompasses roughly the area from South 72nd to South 64th and from Sheridan Avenue to Alaska Street.

Wapato Park (Tacoma); Parks--Tacoma--1930-1940; Dedications--Tacoma--1930-1940; Wapato Lake (Tacoma);

A boy is playing on the beach at Point Defiance with a girl who is wearing a dress, sandals, and ribbon in her hair. She is pouring water from a Snow White watering can into a decorated bucket. The young boy is identified as the son of Margaret Russell Herrod. This photograph is a cropped version of D8433 image 3. TPL-9163

Beaches--Tacoma; Point Defiance Park (Tacoma); Children playing in sand--Tacoma; Herrod, Margaret Russell--Family;

Tacoma Girl Scouts enjoyed summers at day camps held three times a week at Puget Park and Lincoln Park. Often accompanying the girls were tag-alongs, sons and younger children of adult volunteers. A group of youngsters sunbathe on the lawn next to the pool at Lincoln Park. Parents bask in the afternoon sun as chaperones. The camps would supply summer fun for hundreds of children in the Tacoma area. (T. Times, 7/12/1938, p. 1)

Lincoln Park (Tacoma); Girl Scouts (Tacoma); Camps--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Main entrance of Mountain View Memorial Park's funeral home in October of 1945. This is a closer view of D20426, image B, featuring the fine landscaping, awning, shutters and three dormers. Resembling an expensive home, the funeral home and nearby Garden Chapel was located on about 80 acres of land in Lakewood. Four generations of the James Richard Thompson family have owned and operated the memorial park which has since expanded to 180 acres, two more chapels and about 70 full time employees. (www.mountainviewtacoma.com)

Cemeteries--Lakewood; Morgues & mortuaries--Lakewood; Mountain View Memorial Park (Lakewood);

Mountain View Memorial Park. This is a side view of the Garden Chapel on the grounds of Mountain View Memorial Park, 4100 Steilacoom Blvd. S.W., Lakewood in October of 1945. The stone structure with steeple and arched shaped doorway is nestled among trees and quietly portrays the peacefulness of an English countryside. It was built to seat 100 people. Mountain View Memorial Park was incorporated in 1915 by James Richard Thompson. A funeral home was added to the cemetery grounds in 1942 by his son, J. Arthur Thompson; it was the second combination funeral home/cemetery founded in the United States. Mountain View Memorial Park is still operated by the Thompson family. (www.mountainviewtacoma.com)

Cemeteries--Lakewood; Mountain View Memorial Park (Lakewood);

Exterior view of Mountain View Memorial Park's mortuary, taken in the fall of 1945. With its dormers, shutters and awnings, the funeral home resembles a well-built executive home. Although the memorial park had been incorporated since 1915, the funeral home had not been added to cemetery grounds until 1942. This made Mountain View one of a selected few facilities where funeral preparations and burial could occur in the same location. Through the years, more acreage was added to the property which totaled 180 acres in the 2000's. This enabled Mountain View to build two more chapels and a Celebration of Life Center. (www.mountainviewtacoma.com)

Cemeteries--Lakewood; Mountain View Memorial Park (Lakewood);

Joe Loveridge funeral flowers at mausoleum. The area around the walls of the mausoleum are filled with flowers hung with ribbons, "Brother", "Dad", "Uncle". The City Directory indicates Joseph L. Loveridge lived at 4205 Asotin and worked as an inspector at the State Vehicle Safety Inspection Station.

Memorial rites & ceremonies--Tacoma--1940-1950; Loveridge, Joe--Death & burial; Flowers; Bouquets;

A fallen grave marker from the Pioneer Catholic Cemetery, a four acre plot on the corner of the Calvary Catholic Cemetery, at the end of South Villard. This is one of the oldest cemeteries in the county. The land was originally donated for burials by John and Eliza Rigney. No written records exist for the Pioneer portion which had been in use since about 1850, and there are probably even earlier graves that lie unmarked.. ("A History of Pierce County, Washington 1992", vol. 3)

Cemeteries--Tacoma; Tombs & sepulchral monuments; Pioneer Catholic Cemetery (Tacoma); Calvary Catholic Cemetery (Tacoma);

View of flowers and "Mother" bouquet on Robert Lynd's mother's grave site at Mountain View Memorial Park. Robert Lynd was the publicity director for the Tacoma Community Chest; he is married to Louise D. Lynd and they lived outside of the Tacoma city limits. (Note: An obituary did not appear in the Tacoma Times or the Tacoma News Tribune newspapers.)

Bouquets; Flowers--Lakewood; Funeral rites & ceremonies--Lakewood; Death--Lakewood; Lynd--Death & burial; Mountain View Memorial Park (Lakewood); Lynd, Robert C.--Family;

Aerial view of Point Defiance Park, taken in August of 1948. Point Defiance is the second largest city park in the US, outsized only by New York City's Central Park. It was originally a US military reservation. The city was given permission to develop it into a park in 1888. The "Bowl" area with its pond garden can be seen in the center of the picture. Above and to the left of the pond is a formal rose garden. Another formal garden can be seen beyond, now the location of the Japanese Garden. The ferry dock is at the upper right of the picture, with the boathouse top center. To the left of the Bowl area, and mostly out of camera range, is the zoo.

Parks--Tacoma; Point Defiance Park (Tacoma);

Ceremony at Grove, New Tacoma Cemetery, Wm. B. Reed. A memorial to the memory of the soldier dead of all wars was dedicated on Memorial Day, May 30, 1949, at the New Tacoma Cemetery where 300 war veterans were buried. The American flag was raised over the memorial and a wreath was placed upon it by Wellesley Bell, father of Captain Gordon Bell who was killed in Italy in 1944. Others in the picture are William B. Reed, manager of the cemetery, Mrs. Bell, and Ruth, Kathleen and Janice Bell, sisters of the captain. (TNT, 5/31/1949, p.7)

New Tacoma Cemetery (Tacoma); Cemeteries--Tacoma; Monuments & memorials--Tacoma--1940-1950; Flags--United States; Bell, Wellesley; Bell, Wilhelmina V.; Bell, Ruth; Bell, Kathleen; Bell, Janice; Memorial rites & ceremonies--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Eight year old Gary Hartloff will get to go back to school on the last week of classes. Gary was hurt while playing with other children at Franklin Park near So. 12th St. and So. Puget Sound, he is the third victim at the park. While playing with friends, a log piled at the top of a small embankment broke loose, the log rolled down and seriously injured his right leg. Gary has been undergoing many weeks of treatment, but will have a full recovery. This area was formerly a children's field, and is now being converted into a commercial softball field (T. Times, 6/8/48, p. 16).

Parks--Tacoma; Franklin Park (Tacoma); Boys--Tacoma; Wounds & injuries--Tacoma; Hartloff, Gary;

The New Tacoma Cemetery has just had many Memorial Day services and had hundreds of visitors during this weekend period in 1948. This cemetery was a division of the Tacoma Cemetery located on South Tacoma Way, both were owned by the Tacoma Cemetery Association. View of graves, some have an American Flag, in the New Tacoma Cemetery, a park bench is by a large tree.

Cemeteries--Tacoma; Gardens--Tacoma; Graves--Tacoma; Benches--Tacoma; Undertaking--Tacoma; Morgues & mortuaries--Tacoma; Death--Tacoma; New Tacoma Cemetery (Tacoma); Tacoma Cemetery Association (Tacoma);

This is a May 19, 1952, view of caskets in (old) Tacoma Cemetery surrounded by numerous floral wreaths and other floral arrangements. One casket is a child's casket. Photographer's notes indicate only that this was the Whalen funeral. Buckley-King Funeral Service was in charge. A reader has identified the cemetery due to the concrete wall separating it from South Park in South Tacoma. (Additional information provided by a reader)

Cemeteries--Tacoma; Coffins; Flower arrangements;

One of Cheney Lumber Company's planes is flying east on the south side of Mount Rainier in front of Kautz Glacier. The rainfall had been the lowest in 30 years in 1952 and lower than usual in 1951 making the snowpack much smaller than usual. Cheney Lumber Company used airplanes to facilitate management of mills in Washington, Oregon and California.

Rainier, Mount (Wash.); Glaciers; Cheney Lumber Co. (Tacoma); Airplanes;

The group of bricklayers and hod carriers who donated their labor to lay the stones for the Living War Memorial, Memorial Park, are enjoying a break with Olympia beer. The approach to the Tacoma Narrows Bridge can be seen behind them. TPL-8405

Parks--Tacoma--1950-1960; Memorial Park (Tacoma); Bricklayers--Tacoma;

A six-foot square piece of Wilkeson sandstone, natural to Washington state, was used for the plaque which was installed at the site of the Living War Memorial. The plaque is the center of the 20-foot stone monument at the Living War Memorial, Memorial Park, located at the south end of the east approach of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. Checking the details of the plans before sand blasting the lettering are Don Wahlstrom, kneeling, and George M. Robinson and his father, Earl M. Robinson. (TNT, 11/2/1952, p.A-15)

Parks--Tacoma--1950-1960; Memorial Park (Tacoma); Monuments & memorials--Tacoma; Wahlstrom, Don; Robinson, George M.; Robinson, Earl M.;

Mountain View Memorial Park was one of the largest funeral facilities in the area. They were able to offer complete services in one convenient location--combining the cemetery, funeral home, chapel, mausoleum, and crematorium on large acreage in Lakewood. View of office building located on the grounds of Mountain View Memorial Park; it resembles a luxurious brick home rather than a mortuary. Photograph ordered by Clark Richardson Advertising Agency.

Mountain View Memorial Park (Lakewood); Cemeteries--Lakewood;

In August of 1955, two unidentified young girls were photographed as they gazed up at Northern Pacific Engine No. 1364 at Point Defiance Park. The 4-6-0 type engine was built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1902, and for the first 25 years of its service it was used to assist the North Coast Limited over the Cascades. It was retired in 1953 and donated by the Northern Pacific Railroad to the Metropolitan Park Board. It was on display on a specially installed section of track just south of Funland at Point Defiance from 1954 to the mid-1970s. The Yakima Valley Rail and Steam Association is refurbishing the antique engine in Toppenish. (TNT 1/27/1954, pg. 11 & Toppenish Review 8/8/2001)

Point Defiance Park (Tacoma); Railroad locomotives;

Cyclone fence surrounding Engine # 1364 on display at Point Defiance Park. In 1868, the US government claimed Point Defiance as a military reservation. The land laid unused for 20 years until 1888, when Congress allowed the land to be turned into a park. In 1905, Tacoma gained full control of the park with the military only reserving the right to repossess in a national emergency. From the beginning, the park was developed in a manner that would preserve its natural state while accommodating the public. The park saw an influx of federal funds and work force through the projects of the 30's. Point Defiance received this 1902 series locomotive from the Northern Pacific Railroad.

Point Defiance Park (Tacoma); Railroad locomotives;

Exterior of Western Monumental Works building and grounds. The marble works business was located at 1114-16 Center St. and was the authorized dealer of Rock of Ages memorials. Samples of the company's products are scattered on the lawn and also under cover on the long porch. Howard A. Wilham was listed as the owner in the 1955 City Directory. Photograph ordered by Western Monumental Works.

Monuments & memorials--Tacoma; Monument builders--Tacoma; Western Monumental Works (Tacoma);

Aerial view of Tacoma, downtown buildings and Eleventh street bridge with waterways and Tideflats beyond the city and Mt. Rainier in the background. The view is looking Northeast from approximately 8th and Tacoma Ave. S. TPL-5875

Rainier, Mount (Wash.); Cityscapes--Tacoma--1950-1960; Business districts--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Tacoma looking Northeast from the Medical Arts building with waterways and Tideflats beyond the city and Mt. Rainier in the background.

Rainier, Mount (Wash.); Cityscapes--Tacoma--1950-1960; Business districts--Tacoma--1950-1960;

ca. 1953. Logs are in the process of being loaded onto a Ludtke Company truck during a logging operation on Mount Rainier. Branches have already been removed from the trees and logs previously cut into manageable sections. One man stands on the truck's bed to maneuver the massive logs into place in this 1953 photograph.

Rainier, Mount (Wash.); Lumber industry; Logs;

The dedication of Tacoma's War Memorial Park, located at the south end of the east approach of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, took place on Armistice Day 1952. The 2 1/2 - acre park was built with volunteer labor from materials donated by the businesses, clubs, and citizens of Tacoma/Pierce County. Among those who generously donated to the creation of the park were Puyallup valley farmers who donated 15,000 flower bulbs; the Cascade Pole Company which donated an 80 ft. flagpole; and the Tacoma Bricklayers and Hod Carriers' Union that built the 20 ft. stone monument on their own time. A plaque on the wall stated: "Dedicated in honored memory of those who gave their lives for our country". In February of 2003 the park was demolished to make way for the new Narrows Bridge.

Parks--Tacoma--1950-1960; Memorial Park (Tacoma); Tacoma Narrows Bridge (Tacoma); Bridges--Tacoma; Dedications--Tacoma; Monuments & memorials--Tacoma;

Snow plows have cleared one of the roads at Mount Rainier National Park, banking it higher than the roof of the Richards paneled station wagon at the side of the road. The surrounding trees appear to be dead, possibly from the Kautz Creek flood.

Mount Rainier National Park (Wash.); Snow; Roads;

1956 Richards Studio stock footage. A man in a cowboy hat leans against a split rail fence dwarfed by the awesome bulk of Mt. Rainier in the background. The snow covered mountain looms over the pastureland, forming the perfect backdrop for this picture.

Rainier, Mount (Wash.); Fences;

Point Defiance PTA Carnival. Four committee members gathered around a wooden AV cart and examine 16mm film in preparation for the November 12, 1954 Point Defiance School carnival's entertainment. From left were: Mrs. Arnold Wentlandt, co-chairperson; William Skillings, PTA member; Mrs. Ned Krilich, co-chairperson; and Mrs. Charles Gray, PTA member. "Carnival Time" was the theme of the carnival to be held at Point Defiance School located at North 45th & Visscher. (TNT 11-8-1954, p. 6-alt. photograph)

Point Defiance School (Tacoma); Parent-Teacher Association (Tacoma); Wentlandt, Arnold--Family; Skillings, William; Krilich, Ned--Family; Gray, Charles--Family; Projectors;

A lighted star guides visitors to the Nativity scene of Mary with baby Jesus in her arms at the Calvary Catholic Cemetery. A simple statement of "Let Us Adore Him" rests among the holly before the figures. The plywood cutouts are flanked by two tall pillars of light in this December 31, 1954, photograph. Photograph ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association.

Cemeteries--Tacoma; Calvary Catholic Cemetery (Tacoma); Creches (Nativity scenes)--Tacoma; Plywood; Christmas decorations; Signs (Notices); Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma);