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

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);

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 Norwegian, Rogalands Laget Convention was held at the Messiah Lutheran Church on August 14 and 15, 1948. Norwegians came from all parts of the state; two reporters for a Norwegian newspaper published in Fargo, North Dakota, attended. The program included addresses, music and other entertainment, presented in both English and Norwegian. This group photograph was taken in front of the Messiah Lutheran Church, built as the First Norwegian Lutheran Church in 1891. In 1959, it became the Gloria Dei Lutheran Church and in 1965 the Shiloh Baptist Church. Ordered by Stavanger Lag (Lodge), Marie Sala, Secretary. (TNT, 8/11/1948, p. 18). TPL-6584

Messiah Lutheran Church (Tacoma); Lutheran churches--Tacoma; Group portraits; Meetings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Norwegian Americans;

The Tabitha Society of the First Lutheran Church gave a tea April 1, 1948, in honor of the women in their congregation that were over 80 years old.. Corsages were given to the guests of honor. L-R, seated, are Ira Norling, Hanna Leif, and Hilda Anderson; standing, Marie Swanson, Minnie Ostberg, Anna C. Bloom, Hilma Johnson and Ida C. Melin. Photo taken for Mrs. Hosmer, News Tribune. (TNT, 4/5/1948, p.5)

First Lutheran Church (Tacoma); Lutheran churches--Tacoma; Tabitha Society (Tacoma); Women--Tacoma--1940-1950; Aged persons--Tacoma--1940-1950;

In July of 1949 contractor Bob Joshlin brought in a 120-foot crane from Northwest Hauling Company to remove the tower from the Central Lutheran Church. The church at 1001 South G was built in 1889 as the First Presbyterian Church. The tower had been condemned due to deterioration during its 50-year watch over downtown Tacoma. The church was demolished in 1955. (TNT, 7/15/1949, p.1) TPL-4455

Central Lutheran Church (Tacoma); Lutheran churches--Tacoma; Bell towers--Tacoma; Steeples; Hoisting machinery; Northwest Hauling Co. (Tacoma);

A sepia photograph of the Central Lutheran Church choir was taken in the church's choir loft on March 15, 1953. They would be presenting "Seven Last Words", a cantata by Dubois, on Good Friday. Rev. Rueben H. Redal, pastor, is believed to be in the front row, on the left, with director Wilbur Arnold at his side. Central Lutheran, located at 1001 South "G" Street, apparently had a massive organ; there is a large cross placed on the front of the pipes. First Presbyterian Church was dedicated at that site in 1890; Central Lutheran established residency there in the 1930's. (TNT 3-29-53, D-11)

Central Lutheran Church (Tacoma); Choirs (Music); Organ lofts--Tacoma; Organs;

Exterior Calvary Lutheran Church. Guests start to arrive for the Nancy Osborn-Richard Watson afternoon wedding ceremony at the Calvary Lutheran Church on June 22, 1957. The church is a modern brick and wood structure with a daylight basement. Windows are open to let in the warm summer breezes. A wooden tower in front of the church appears incomplete although the cross is already in place. Sepia photograph ordered by Nancy Osborn.

Calvary Lutheran Church (Federal Way); Lutheran churches--Federal Way;

Interior of Mountain View Lutheran Church, Edgewood. A wooden pulpit is embedded in rock inside the Mountain View Lutheran Church in Edgewood. A simple cross surrounded by stone is at the altar. Rows of wooden pews face the cross and pulpit. The building is A-shaped with wooden dormers. Rev. Paul Braafladt was the congregation's pastor. At the time of this 1965 photograph, the church had a Puyallup address of 3617 - 21st St. N.E. Photograph ordered by Howard Smith Advertising. (Additional information provided by a reader)

Churches--Edgewood--1960-1970; Lutheran churches--Edgewood--1960-1970; Mountain View Lutheran Church (Edgewood); Pews--Edgewood; Crosses; Pulpits--Edgewood;

The bas relief at the front of the Trinity Lutheran Church in Parkland, ordered by the Olympian Stone Co. of Seattle. The original church at this site was "The Gray Church" built in 1907 and also named Trinity Lutheran. It was demolished in 1957 and this new church, designed by John Richards of Lea, Pearson and Richards, was dedicated in March of 1959. The relief over the door was designed by Pacific Lutheran College Art Professor George Roskos. The three ton sculpture illustrates the parable of the sower, how both seed and the word of God need fertile soil to take root and grow.

Trinity Lutheran Church (Parkland); Lutheran churches--Parkland; Bas-reliefs;

Easter Sunday, April 9th 1939, at the Luther Memorial Church. Women and children dressed in Easter outfits, some with corsages, standing on church steps. The women on the left have been identified by a family member as (left to right) Grace Lundberg, Garnet Torgeson and their mother Lydia Torgeson. Luther Memorial had its last service after 112 years on November 9th, 2003.

Lutheran churches--Tacoma--1930-1940; Luther Memorial Church (Tacoma); Easter--Tacoma; Lundberg, Grace; Torgeson, Garnet; Torgeson, Lydia;

Confirmation Class at Luther Memorial Church on May 12, 1940. Seven boys and nine girls pose with Rev. Kettner in front of altar. Building by Emanuel J. Bresemann and Marinus Durfee, Architects, 1910, and originally known as St. John's English Lutheran Church. (filed with Argentum)

Lutheran churches--Tacoma; Luther Memorial Church (Tacoma); Confirmations--Tacoma;

First Lutheran Church, Graduating Sunday School Class, circa May of 1938. Twelve boys and girls with pastor. (filed with Argentum)

First Lutheran Church (Tacoma); Lutheran churches--Tacoma--1930-1940;

On April 6, 1925, photographer Marvin Boland captured K Street (now Martin Luther King Jr. Way) devoid of traffic. He stood at South 15th Street shooting north, picturing only a couple of parked cars and the empty streetcar tracks as they ran down the road. On the left was the two year old pride of Tacoma's Norwegian population, Normanna Hall at 1502 Martin Luther King Jr. Way. It served as a meeting place for the close knit community. Down the block on the right was the Norwegian Free Lutheran Church, at 1423 MLK, built in 1902. The area was still residential with open spaces, not the commercial shopping area that it became in the 1940's and 50's. TPL-3701; G60.1-082

Normanna Hall (Tacoma); Churches--Tacoma--1930-1940; Lutheran Free Church (Tacoma); Streets--Tacoma--1920-1930; Street railroad tracks--Tacoma--1920-1930;

ca. 1930. Lutheran Free Church, 1423 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Tacoma. Built circa 1902 as the Norwegian Free Lutheran Church.

ca. 1931. Grace Lutheran Church, 5646-50 So. Birmingham St., Tacoma. This South Tacoma church was constructed in 1907 and originally named the Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Immanuel Church. In 1929, it was renamed the Grace Lutheran Church. It underwent another change in 1948, becoming the South Tacoma Church of the Nazarene. Bowen # CHU-013

ca. 1931. Immanuel Lutheran Church, 4320 No. 14th St., Tacoma. The church was built in 1913 on N. 14th at the SE corner of N. Stevens by contractor A.L. Ronken. It was dedicated as Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church. It has since been demolished. Bowen #CHU-044

ca. 1931. The First Norwegian Lutheran Church was dedicated in February of 1891. This church, which still stands at 1211 So. I Street, later became the Shiloh Baptist Church with Reverend Earnest S. Brazill as its minister. Rev. Brazill retired in 1999 after serving his congregation for 44 years. He died September 1, 2000. A new sanctuary has been erected next to the old church, but the original church lives on as one of the oldest buildings on I Street. Bowen# CHU-052

ca. 1931. St. Paul Danish Lutheran Church, 1310 So. L St., Tacoma. The Church was built around 1904 and has since been demolished. By 1951, it was renamed St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church. Bowen #CHU-053

Exterior view of Mountain View Lutheran Church in Edgewood. Large cross is focus of the ultra-modern A-framed Lutheran church's exterior on December 9, 1965. Rev. Paul Braafladt was the congregation's pastor. At the time of this 1965 photograph, the church's address was located in Puyallup's North Hill at 3617 -21st St. N.E. Photograph ordered by Howard Smith Advertising. (TNT 5-15-66, C-20) (Additional information provided by a reader)

Churches--Edgewood--1960-1970; Lutheran churches--Edgewood--1960-1970; Mountain View Lutheran Church (Edgewood); Crosses;

The wooden pews are empty in the Mountain View Lutheran Church in Edgewood (then Puyallup) on December 9, 1965. Stone accentuates the natural appearance of this Lutheran church with its heavy emphasis on natural woods. This view was captured looking from the pulpit into the remainder of the sanctuary, including the organ loft. The church dedicated its new 17-rank tracker pipe organ on November 28, 1965, during Sunday morning worship. The organ weighed four tons and contained 856 pipes arranged in 17 ranks or sets with 13 speaking stops. It was the largest church pipe organ in the Puyallup-Sumner area. At the time of this 1965 photograph, the church showed an address of 3617 - 21st St. N.E., Puyallup. Photograph ordered by Howard Smith Advertising. (TNT 11-26-65, C-3) (Additional information provided by a reader)

Churches--Edgewood--1960-1970; Lutheran churches--Edgewood--1960-1970; Mountain View Lutheran Church (Edgewood); Pews--Edgewood; Pulpits--Edgewood;

Lutheran church. The tower and buildings are part of the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 140 E. 56th St., as pictured on February 16, 1970. They are constructed primarily of cedar. This is Good Shepherd's new sanctuary that would be dedicated on Sunday, March 8, 1970. The large church had seating for 450 and a full basement for social activities. Good Shepherd is affiliated with the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. Photograph ordered by Cheney Lumber Co. (TNT 3-6-70, D-5)

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church (Tacoma); Lutheran churches--Tacoma; Wooden churches--Tacoma;

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. Another view of part of the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 140 E. 56th St., in February of 1970, about three weeks prior to the dedication of the church's new sanctuary. The structures were primarily constructed of cedar with stone trimming on the church. The freestanding tower contained Maas-Rowe carillions which were a memorial gift to the church. The Rev. Harold G. Johnson, who was the first resident pastor from 1951-55, traveled from California to be the guest speaker at the dedication on March 8, 1970. Good Shepherd's first chapel unit (not shown) was dedicated in 1954. Photograph ordered by Cheney Lumber Co. (TNT 3-6-70, D-5)

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church (Tacoma); Lutheran churches--Tacoma; Wooden churches--Tacoma;

Mary Elizabeth Thaut died at the age of 63. She was a native from Russia and first lived in Dallas, Oregon, she spent her last 35 years in Tacoma. The services were organized by Cassedy and Allen at Evangelical Lutheran Church. Cassedy & Allen casket pictures of Mary Elizabeth Thaut.

Thaut, Mary Elizabeth, 1883-1946--Death & burial; Funeral rites & ceremonies--Tacoma; Morgues & mortuaries--Tacoma; Religious articles; Bouquets; Cassedy & Allen Mortuary (Tacoma); Evangelical Lutheran Church (Tacoma);

First Lutheran Church, mortgage burning. The pastor and five men look on as a woman holds the burning paper. Two of the men stand ready with a tray to catch the paper when she can no longer hold it. Construction on the building was begun in 1925. L-R, Donald Lindeman, representing service man and woman; C.O. Lynn, chairman, Board of Trustees; Caroline (Mrs. Gustave) Lindberg, church member since 1889, representing women; Rev. Carl E. Rydell, pastor; B.B. Bartels, board member for many years; Edward Young, builder of church and congregation officer for many years; and Wilbur N. Nelson, treasurer. (T.Times, 1/28/1946, p.2)

First Evangelical Lutheran Church (Tacoma); Lutheran churches--Tacoma; Lindeman, Donald; Lynn, C. O.; Lindberg, Caroline; Rydell, Carl E.; Bartels, B. B.; Young, Edward; Nelson, Wilbur N.; Mortgages;

Confirmation picture, First Lutheran Church.

First Lutheran Church (Tacoma); Lutheran churches--Tacoma; Confirmations--Tacoma--1940-1950;

On October 17, 1942, the First Lutheran Church at 6th and I St. celebrated the 60th anniversary of that organization with a special banquet, followed by a special service and a reception in the church parlor on Sunday. Present were some of the 13 parishioners whose membership dated back 50 years or more. Five long term members are pictured around a table. Seated is Mrs. Gustaf Lindberg and standing, left to right, are John Kellson, Marie (Mrs. John) Hedberg, Mrs Olaf Bloom and John Hedberg. (T. Times 10/19/1942, pg. 14)

First Lutheran Church (Tacoma); Lutheran churches--Tacoma;

1942 Wedding of Nadellia Weglin and Throne J. Eggan at Luther Memorial Church. Bridal signs licence as groom and others look on.

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; Clergy--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Wedding of Nadellia Weglin and Throne J. Eggan at Luther Memorial Church. Bridal party at altar in this September 22, 1942 photograph. Rose window was a gift to the church from the architect Emanuel J. Bresemann and his siblings in memory of their mother, Bertha.

Lutheran churches--Tacoma; Luther Memorial Church (Tacoma); Weglin, Nadellia--Marriage; Weddings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Brides--1940-1950; Grooms (Weddings)--1940-1950; Leaded glass windows--Tacoma;