During the spring and early summer of 1947, a group of boys from the Tacoma Boy's Club picked berries and did odd jobs to raise the money for a trip to San Francisco to play a baseball game against the Bay City's Boy's Club. By the end of July the funds were raised and they were ready to go. Packing their gear, in front of the Boy's Club building at 711 So. 25th Street, for their journey south are: (l to r) Glenn Huffman, Jerry Harding, Dick Scheisz, John Bartinetti, Ray Boen, Dick Palamidessi, Al Otto, Gene Reiber, George Nuick, Jerry Calkins, Jack Murphy and E.S. Ostberg, club director who accompanied the boys on the trip. (T.Times, 7/30/1947, p.8)

Tacoma Boys' Club (Tacoma); Huffman, Glenn; Harding, Jerry; Scheisz, Dick; Bartinetti, John; Boen, Ray; Palamidessi, Dick; Otto, Al; Reiber, Gene; Nuick, George; Calkins, Jerry; Murphy, Jack; Ostberg, E.S.; Teenagers; Clubs--Tacoma--1940-1950;

The Tacoma Painters Union Local Number 64 has just finished painting the exterior of the Boys Club facilities at 711 South 25th St. in May of 1949. In a remarkable example of goodwill, the job was done without charge. The 30 painters donated their labor and painted 18,000 square feet of surface. Supervision and equipment was donated by ten contractors from the Tacoma Painting Contractors' Association and paint was donated by eleven local paint stores. Apprentice painters received experience by priming the building, again at no cost to the Tacoma Boys Club. (TNT 5-9-49, p. 3)

Painting--Tacoma; Remodeling--Tacoma--1940-1950; Organizations' facilities--Tacoma; Community service--Tacoma--1940-1950; Laborers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Signs (Notices); Painters Union Local No. 64 (Tacoma); Tacoma Boys Club (Tacoma)--Buildings;

Tacoma Boys Club Director, E. S. Ostberg, was training the chorus of boys for the annual Tacoma Christmas Tree Caroling. Many local community groups would be performing at Broadway Square. View of the Tacoma Boys Club practicing their Christmas carols for the Tacoma Christmas Tree caroling event that was approaching, E. S. Ostberg, Club Director, on right side (T. Times, 12/22/48, p. 1).

Children--Clubs--Tacoma; Children singing--Tacoma; Christmas carols; Caroling--Tacoma; Christmas--Tacoma; Tacoma Boys' Club (Tacoma);

Five unidentified boys worked at building a veritable squadron of balsa wood airplane models at the Tacoma Boys Club in September of 1943. The boys club at 711 So. 25th Street, built on the site of the old Longfellow school, was dedicated in April of 1942. Because of the wide variety of activities offered at the club, it quickly became a favorite gathering place for the boys of Tacoma.

Children playing--Tacoma--1940-1950; Clubs--Tacoma; Model airplanes;

On December 17, 1942, the Tacoma Lions Club held its annual Christmas party at the new Tacoma Boys Club, 711 So. 25th Street. Welcoming the Lions to the Club is Vincent Russell, center, managing director of the Boys Club. Pictured left to right are Paul Newman, Harry J. Lynch, Russell, Maj. Earl Williams of the Salvation Army and A. T. Norman. Forty underprivileged boys were the guests of the Lions at the banquet and received gifts as well. The Lions also dedicated the locker room at the Club that they had equipped and furnished. (TNT 12/18/1942, pg. 9; 12/16/1942, pg. 13)

Lions Club (Tacoma); Salvation Army (Tacoma); Charitable organizations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Community service--Tacoma--1940-1950; Holidays--Tacoma--1940-1950; Boys Club (Tacoma);

Basketball players at Boys Club, Moose Club. One of the boys on the team sits on a step ladder near the basket to tip the ball in. His teammates stand around below while the coach is ready to knock it back if it fails to go through. The Moose Club provided not only financial support but also personal time with the boys at the Boys Club.

Sports & recreation facilities--Tacoma; Basketball--Tacoma; Basketball players--Tacoma--1940-1950; Loyal Order of Moose, Tacoma Lodge 435 (Tacoma); Children--Clubs--Tacoma; Tacoma Boys' Club (Tacoma); Boys--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Boys Club team pictures. Tacoma Boys Club was founded in 1942, and since then its membership has grown to 1103 boys. Members participate in many sports teams and activities. Group portrait of nine unidentified basketball team members wearing Tacoma Boys Club uniforms and the team coach.

Basketball--Tacoma; Boys--Societies & Clubs--Tacoma; Tacoma Boys' Club (Tacoma);

Boys Club team pictures. The Tacoma Boys Club was founded in 1942 by Superior Court Judge Fred G. Remann. E. S. Ostberg is the Executive Director of club and Remann now serves as the president of the club. Eight unidentified boys from the boxing team and their coach.

Boxing--Tacoma; Boys--Societies & clubs--Tacoma; Tacoma Boys' Club (Tacoma);

Boys Club groundbreaking for swimming pool. The Tacoma Sportmen's Club donated $9000 to the Tacoma Boys' Club for a swimming pool. View of officials from Tacoma Boys' Club and Tacoma Sportmen's Club on site where swimming pool will be built. Left to right back row view of Feist, Swift, Johnson; kneeling in front row is Ostberg, Poe, Alexson and Croft holding pickaxe (T. Times, 8/8/44, p. 11).

Ground breaking ceremonies--Tacoma; Swimming pools--Tacoma; Tacoma Boys' Club (Tacoma); Tacoma Sportmen's Club (Tacoma);

Boys Club groundbreaking for swimming pool. The Tacoma Sportmen's Club donated $9000 to the Tacoma Boys' Club for a swimming pool. View of officials from Tacoma Boys' Club and Tacoma Sportmen's Club on site where swimming pool will be built (T. Times, 8/8/44, p. 11).

Ground breaking ceremonies--Tacoma; Swimming pools--Tacoma; Tacoma Boys' Club (Tacoma); Tacoma Sportmen's Club (Tacoma);

Charles (Chuck) Longen received the Outstanding Boy's Club award for 1950. Chuck's award was based on achievements not only in sports, music and the shops, but his personal eagerness to be of help at all times to his Boys' club and others led to his selection, according to Cecil Martin who presented the annual Rhodes award. Chuck received a $25 war bond in addition to a Red Ryder billford, sweatshirt, coloring kit, a watch and a pair of braces. Ordered by J.C. Penney Co., Mr. Ostberg. (TNT, 5/2/1950, p.9)

Boys--Societies & clubs--Tacoma; Tacoma Boys' Club (Tacoma); Awards; Longen, Charles;

Tommy Gibbons is back in the ring, only this time he is giving the boys at the Tacoma Boys Club boxing tips. Gibbons is now the Sheriff of Ramsey County, Minnesota and is very active in aiding to prevent juvenile delinquency. Tommy's stop in Tacoma was one of many throughout the West Coast, he was campaigning to get support for the 1951 National Bowling Congress (T. Times, 5/1/47, p. 18).

Sports & recreation facilities--Tacoma; Children--Clubs--Tacoma; Publicity photographs; Tacoma Boys' Club (Tacoma); Boxing--Tacoma; Gibbons, Tommy;

Printed on front: Longfellow School

The new Tacoma Boys Club at 711 South 25th Street, located on the former site of Longfellow School, was dedicated on April 24, 1942. The three-story colonial structure, built for $25,000, was located near the center of the area in Tacoma with the highest rate of juvenile delinquency. It was founded by Judge Fred Remann to fulfil the social needs of boys 6-16 and provide them with proper guidance, while keeping them occupied and out of trouble. The institution was under the supervision of the Salvation Army, which owned the facility and provided the club with a yearly budget. The club's recreational facilities included game rooms, a library and a gym. These facilities were furnished and financed by different unions and fraternal organizations. The club faced south on 25th Street with playfields on either side. (T. Times 4/23/1942, pg. 3-picture; 4/7/1942, pg. 3- article; www.washingtonhistory.org)

Organizations' facilities--Tacoma; Community service--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Boys' Club (Tacoma)--Buildings; Youth organizations--Tacoma--1940-1950;

The Tacoma Lions Club held its annual Christmas party on December 17, 1942 at the new Tacoma Boys Club located at 711 South 25th Street. Forty boys were guests of the members attending the luncheon. Each boy received a gift from Santa. The Lions also took this opportunity to dedicate the new locker room at the club that was furnished and equipped by the Lions. (TNT 12/16/1942, pg. 13)

Lions Club (Tacoma); Salvation Army (Tacoma); Charitable organizations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Community service--Tacoma--1940-1950; Holidays--Tacoma--1940-1950; Boys Club (Tacoma);

Boys Club team pictures. The Tacoma Boys Club offers fun, companionship and constructive activities for its 1103 members. An exciting basketball game is about to begin as the referee gets the eight unidentifed players ready for tip off.

Basketball--Tacoma; Boys--Societies & clubs--Tacoma; Tacoma Boys' Club (Tacoma);

Boys Club team pictures. Tacoma Boys Club is one of 250 member clubs throughout the nation. Local clubs must meet national standards in equipment, facilities and leadeship. Basketball Team wearing Cammarano Bros. uniforms and coach in Tacoma Boys Club t-shirt featured in photo.

Basketball--Tacoma; Boys--Societies & clubs--Tacoma; Tacoma Boys' Club (Tacoma);

Tacoma Boys Club was the final evening program scheduled to perform in the Tacoma Times sponsored "Week of Music" festival at Broadway Square in December of 1948. More than 200 boys would participate in the festive holiday event where they would sing many traditional Christmas songs including "Joy to the World" and "Jingle Bells." E. S. Ostberg, Tacoma Boys' Club Director, was directing the Boys' Club Choir. View of four unidentified members of Tacoma Boys Club photographed as they were practicing their Christmas carols for their upcoming performance (T. Times, 12/22/48, p. 1). Patron reports that boy at right bottom is David Lee Kincaid, age 9. TPL-10469

Children--Clubs--Tacoma; Children singing--Tacoma; Christmas carols; Caroling--Tacoma; Christmas--Tacoma; Tacoma Boys' Club (Tacoma); Kincaid, David Lee;

The Tacoma Boys' Club Rovers were the winners of the first annual Boys' Club basketball tournament hosted by Tacoma in April of 1949. Boys' Club teams from Ballard, Bellingham, Everett, Spokane and Tacoma faced off against each other in the two-day meet. The Rovers defeated Bellingham 62 to 47 in the tournament finals. Center Jerry Harding led the scoring for the Rovers with 17 points. Back row, (l to r): Joe Karpach, Ray Boen, Director E. S. Ostberg, Charles Miller, Benny Barker, and Manager Jerry Mulscher. Front row, (l to r): Larry Olson, Jerry Harding, Team Captain Johnny Bartenetti, Dick Schermerhorn, and Joe Seaberger (T.N.T., 4/13/49, p. 28).

Sports & recreation facilities--Tacoma; Organizations' facilities--Tacoma; Basketball--Tacoma; Basketball players--Tacoma--1940-1950; Children--Clubs--Tacoma; Tacoma Boys' Club (Tacoma);

Tommy Gibbons, center, spent some time with old friends and members from the Tacoma Athletic Commission at their meeting facilities in the Top of the Ocean club. Gibbons was touring the West Coast trying to get support to sway the 1951 National Bowling Congress to St. Paul, Minnesota. View of club members and Tommy Gibbons talking about the "old days", names appear in newspaper (T. Times, 5/1/47, p. 18).

Men--Clothing & dress--Tacoma; Publicity photographs; Gibbons, Tommy; Top of the Ocean (Tacoma); Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma);

Tommy Gibbons, the former heavyweight title contender from St. Paul, Minnesota who went 15 rounds with Jack Dempsey on July 4, 1923, visited the Tacoma Boys Club in April of 1947. He spent some time with the boys giving them boxing tips and signing boxing gloves. Gibbons, the 13-year Sheriff of Ramsey County, Minnesota, had long been interested in boys club activity. He had stopped in Tacoma on his way home from touring the West Coast. He was trying to sway the 1951 American Bowling Congress to St. Paul, Minnesota. The boys in the photograph were not identified in the newspaper articles. (T.Times, 4-30-47, p. 13-article; T. Times, 5/1/47, p. 18-article on visit to Tacoma).

Sports & recreation facilities--Tacoma; Children--Clubs--Tacoma; Publicity photographs; Tacoma Boys' Club (Tacoma); Boxing--Tacoma; Gibbons, Tommy;

In November of 1947 John Lazares (right) and Jack Messer of the Tacoma Boys Club were helping the Tacoma Community Chest remind everyone in Tacoma of the importance of giving. The Community Chest was just $4,387 short of their goal to collect $340,000. Jack is holding packets of payroll contribution materials, the organization would like for individuals to contribute through payroll deductions. John is holding a padlock, as a symbol of what could happen if the goal is not met; the Tacoma Community Chest could be forced to shut down. (T. Times, 11/25/47, p. 1). TPL-9861

Locks (Hardware); Fund raising--Tacoma--1940-1950; Children--Clubs--Tacoma; Tacoma Boys' Club (Tacoma); Charity--Tacoma; Tacoma Community Chest (Tacoma); Lazares, John; Messer, Jack;

Tacoma Boys Club, action shots. A number of boys are playing in the game room: ping pong, caroms, pool and table hockey. Others wait for their turns.

Children playing--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Boys' Club (Tacoma);