Tacoma made history on November 7th, 1940, when her undulating Narrows Bridge, the Galloping Gertie, collapsed into the Sound due to a structural flaw. It would be ten years before the replacement bridge, built largely from four million in insurance settlements, would open.

Bridges--Tacoma--1940-1950; Suspension Bridges--Tacoma; Tacoma Narrows Bridge (Tacoma);

ca. 1949. Second Narrows Bridge construction photo circa 1949. Debris flies through the air as a blast removes the old approach from first bridge.

Tacoma Narrows Bridge (Tacoma); Bridges--Tacoma--1940-1950; Bridge construction--Tacoma--1940-1950; Blasting--Tacoma;

ca. 1895. Considered to be the most beautiful home in Tacoma, the Hewitt mansion was designed by architect Andrew J. Smith for Henry Hewitt Jr., one of the founders of the St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Company. The interior of the three story "castle" was filled with ornately carved woodwork of cherry, maple, oak and birch. Much of the interior woodwork was brought west from Milwaukee, where the house was designed. Tacoma of 1889, the year that the house was built, did not have a local industry that could accommodate the elaborate plans for the Hewitt house. The home passed through a succession of owners. Although still in excellent shape, the mansion was demolished in 1957 to make room for the parking lot of the Central Lutheran Church.

Hewitt, Henry J.--Homes & haunts;

Mayor C. V. "Val" Fawcett was visited in his office at (old) City Hall by three young women from Olympia dressed as cowgirls. The young women were graduates of the Class of 1947 and had recently won a popularity contest in Olympa. They called on Mayor Fawcett to invite all Tacoma and vicinity residents to Olympia's grand 4th of July show. L-R, Ruth Stubbs, Mayor Fawcett, Martha Strange and Audrey Strandness. (T.Times, 6/13/1947, p.4) ALBUM 14.

Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fawcett, Clarence Valdo, 1900-1965; Stubbs, Ruth; Strange, Martha; Strandness, Audrey;

Tacoma Giants owner Ben Cheney with former outfielder Hank Sauer during a spring training visit to the Tacoma team's parent club, the San Francisco Giants.

Baseball players--Tacoma--1960-1970; Sauer, Hank, 1917-; Cheney, Ben B., 1905-1971;

ca. 1935. Mayor George Smitley, standing, buys a ticket for a civic event. Seated are reportedly members of the city government. This sepia photograph appears to have been taken in the unidentified woman's parlor circa 1935. George A. Smitley was mayor of Tacoma for one term, from 1934-1938. ALBUM 11.

Mayors--Tacoma--1930-1940; Smitley, George A., 1872-1956;

ca. 1938. Mayor John C. Siegle, second from left seated on far side of table, at a banquet. Name of the organization is not known. Sepia photograph taken probably in 1938. Several of the men, including the mayor, are wearing buttons/badges. As mayor, Dr. Siegle was invited to many civic and social functions, sometimes as a guest speaker. ALBUM 11.

Mayors--Tacoma--1930-1940; Siegle, John C., 1885-1939; Banquets;

Post-war Jubilee. Tacoma Mayor Val Fawcett is flanked by four lovely contestants in the Tacoma Jubilee of 1946. Phyllis Hale, second from right, was crowned queen of the Jubilee. Others in the photograph were: (in no particular order) Peggy McCarty, Audrey Forney and Eileen Larson. This photograph was believed to have been taken at the conclusion of the 10-day Jubilee celebration. A big fireworks and musical performance show was held at Stadium Bowl on the 4th of July where some 25,000 spectators within the bowl (and approximately the same amount outside) enjoyed the evening's entertainment. TPL 4910 ALBUM 14. (TNT 7-5-46, p. 1, 18 -article on celebration)

Beauty contestants--Tacoma--1940-1950; Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fawcett, Clarence Valdo, 1900-1965; Hale, Phyllis--Coronations; Forney, Audrey; Lanson, Eileen;

ca. 1940. View down to cardeck and water below from atop tower of the first Narrows Bridge. The bridge, known affectionately as "Galloping Gertie," would collapse on November 7, 1940, just four months after it was open for traffic.

Tacoma Narrows Bridge (Tacoma); Bridges--Tacoma--1940-1950; Suspension bridges--Tacoma;

Once the pride of Tacomans and peninsula residents, the Narrows Bridge collapsed during a 35 mph rain and windstorm on November 7, 1940. The bridge had only been open for traffic since July 1st. This view of the ruined $6,400,000 suspension bridge was taken from the Tacoma end and shows the two 425-foot steel towers still standing as well as the sagging east and west approach spans. The 2,800-foot center span had collapsed and plunged into the swift waters of Puget Sound after much twisting and buckling. Motorists had complained about the extreme rocking motion of the bridge before the disaster. It would take until 1950 for the second Narrows Bridge to be constructed and its cost more than doubled. A third Narrows Bridge would open in 2007. (T.Times 11-7-40, p. 1+; T.Times 11-8-40, p. 1+)

Bridges--Tacoma--1940-1950; Suspension bridges--Tacoma; Tacoma Narrows Bridge (Tacoma);

November 7, 1940, Narrows Bridge collapse. University of Washington Engineering Department Professor Frederick Burt Farquharson, hired to consult on ways to prevent the bridge's vibrations, stands by the east approach on the day of the collapse. He was one of the last people to leave the bridge. Professor Farquharson remained to film the bridge as it twisted and broke apart. He attempted to rescue the cocker spaniel left in newspaperman Leonard Coatsworth's car on the bridge and was bitten in the attempt. There was much fingerpointing in the aftermath of the bridge's collapse as experts sought to explain the reasons for the disaster. It was hoped that Professor Farquharson's motion picture would provide aid in determining the cause of the collapse. (T.Times, 11-8-40, p. 20)

Suspension bridges--Tacoma; Tacoma Narrows Bridge (Tacoma); Farquharson, Frederick Burt;

ca. 1950. Second Narrows Bridge. General view of completed bridge from the west end. Historical marker in parking area at southwest corner of bridge, Mount Rainier in background.

Bridges - Suspension Bridges - Washington State - Tacoma - Tacoma Narrows Bridge (Second) - 1950 - present

ca. 1969. Mayor A. L. "Slim" Rasmussen rides in a vintage automobile in the April Daffodil Parade in downtown Tacoma, ca. 1969. He waves a cheery "hello" to constituents and visitors alike. ALBUM 14.

Rasmussen, Albert Lawrence; Mayors--Tacoma--1960-1970; Parades & processions--Tacoma--1960-1970;

Mayor or Acting Mayor Val Fawcett (far right, seated) listens to a speaker at a patriotic meeting. The photograph is not dated but was apparently taken in the 1940's. Val Fawcett held dual responsibilities of acting mayor and finance commissioner from 1943-46 while Mayor Harry P. Cain served in the Armed Forces. Fawcett was elected mayor in 1946 and served one term. Others in the above photograph were not identified. ALBUM 14

Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fawcett, Clarence Valdo, 1900-1965; Public speaking--Tacoma--1940-1950;

ca. 1930. Future Mayor Val Fawcett (second from left in front row) is pictured with a group of men, including H.R. "Dick" Laird (far right in back row). The photograph is believed to have been taken sometime in the early 1930's. The other men have not been identified. Val Fawcett would have been the city's Finance Commissioner at this time. ALBUM 14.

Fawcett, Clarence Valdo, 1900-1965; Laird, H.R.;

Interior of Mueller-Harkins Buick decorated for Christmas, showing Buick logo inset in floor tiles, toys on display and a 1942 Buick convertible under an advertising logo featuring Santa Claus and a V for Victory symbol. The dealership urged the purchase of a new buick as a "Xmas Gift Supreme!" The "ration details" probably referred to gasoline rationing as prevalent during WWII and salespersons would be able to advise how much gasoline the buyer would be permitted to buy to operate the vehicle.

Mueller-Harkins Motor Co. (Tacoma); Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Buick automobile; Toys; Signs (Notices);

ca. 1938. Mayor George Smitley, center, with two unidentified men in the Cascade Range where a sign jokingly reads "Tacoma City Limits." The sign itself is hand printed in large letters and has a small ribbon on it with the city's name hanging from a nail. Mayor Smitley has a stub of a cigar between the fingers of his left hand while one of the men is smoking a pipe. This sepia photograph was apparently taken in the late 1930's. ALBUM 11.

Mayors--Tacoma--1930-1940; Smitley, George A., 1872-1956; Signs (Notices);

Singer and Comedian Jimmy Durante, right in photo, gets a ball autographed by a unidentified player in the locker room of the Pacific Coast League San Diego Padres Baseball Club. (Unnumbered).

Durante, Jimmy, 1893-1980; Baseball; Pacific Coast League; San Diego Padres;

ca. 1940. Three workmen atop tower of the first Narrows Bridge circa 1940. With no safety harnesses in sight, these workers posed jauntily high above the ground. The Narrows Bridge, nicknamed "Galloping Gertie," would open on July 1, 1940, and collapse dramatically on November 7th of the same year.

Tacoma Narrows Bridge (Tacoma); Suspension bridges--Tacoma; Bridges--Tacoma--1940-1950; Bridge construction--Tacoma--1940-1950;

The first Narrows Bridge, the Galloping Gertie, is viewed from the southeast after its collapse the morning of November 7, 1940. Two men walk along the railroad tracks at right to get a closer look. The bridge had been in service just over four months when it collapsed due to structural failure.

Bridges--Tacoma--1940-1950; Suspension Bridges--Tacoma; Tacoma Narrows Bridge (Tacoma);

Builders of the Narrows Bridge watch it die. A somber group gathers at the scene of the bridge collapse on November 7, 1940. It had opened just four months before to great fanfare. L to R: Washington Toll Bridge Authority Sec. Patrick H. Winston; Acting Highway Dir. James A. Davis; Project Engineer Clark H. Eldridge; Chief Engineer Charles W. Andrew; U. of W. Professor F.B. Farquharson. The 6.4 million dollar suspension bridge was built with money from the public administration grants and a Reconstruction Finance loan. The bridge was insured. (T.Times, 11-7-40, p. 1)

Suspension bridges--Tacoma; Tacoma Narrows Bridge (Tacoma); Winston, Patrick H.; Davis, James A.; Eldridge, Clark H.; Andrew, Charles W.; Farquharson, Frederick Burt.;

ca. 1889. These are the members of the first Washington State House of Representatives who were elected in 1889. Their small oval portraits are placed within a shield and under the words "First General Assembly of House of Representatives, Olympia Washington" and the date "1889." Original photo copied by Richards Studio.

Politicians; Legislative bodies--Washington;

ca. 1945. Marjorie Cain (far left in photo), wife of Tacoma Mayor and future US Senator Harry P. Cain, listens to a speaker at a Lincoln Day banquet, likely in 1945 while her husband was overseas serving in the Army. ALBUM 13

Cain, Marjorie Dils, 1908-1994; Banquets--Tacoma--1940-1950; Public speaking--Tacoma--1940-1950;

ca. 1938. Mayor John C. Siegle, far right, with a group of unidentified men. Sepia photograph taken probably in 1938. Mayor Siegle was elected on March 8, 1938, and took office on June 6, 1938. He was the first native born Tacoma mayor, replacing George A. Smitley, who did not seek re-election. A well-known dentist and local civic leader prior to becoming mayor, Dr. Siegle advocated growth of the city by increasing tourism and economic and industrial development. He was ill during most of his term of office and died on April 12, 1939, a scant ten months after he took the oath of office. ALBUM 11.

Mayors--Tacoma--1930-1940; Siegle, John C., 1885-1939;

Titus Motor Company, service department. Ford sedan parked on lowered lift rack, man appears to be checking headlight alignment with an adjustable screen on a post. Man in automobile, another giving him instructions. Parts delivery van at rear.

Business Enterprises - Tacoma - Automobile Dealers - New Automobile Dealers - Ford Dealers - Titus Motor Company Tacoma Streets - Broadway

ca. 1890. This house was built in 1889 for Henry Hewitt Jr., one of the founders of the St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. Designed by Andrew J. Smith, it was considered to be one of the finest houses in Tacoma. The three story "castle" was occupied by several Hewitts, as well as Edgar T. Short and E. E. Rhodes. It was demolished in 1957 to make way for a parking lot for the Central Lutheran Church.

Hewitt, Henry J.--Homes & haunts;

South Tacoma business leaders appealed to the Tacoma Tansit Company to save the cross-town bus line. It was announced January 21, 1948, that a cross-town bus service would begin a 60-day trial. This run had been tested twice before and failed. The service would connect the College of Puget Sound at North 21st and Alder to South Tacoma Way along Alder, Cedar and Union, past Bellarmine, to South 56th. It was reported on March 29th that the service would be discontinued due to poor patronage. The average passenger per mile usage was 2.02, short of the 3.0 passenger/mile needed to cover the costs of the service. A last minute appeal was made by the South Tacoma Business Men's Club and the 6th Avenue Commercial Club. They were unsuccessful in their attempt. Bus fares were 10 cents at this time. An American flag is attached to the front of the bus. (T.Times, 1/21/1948; TNT, 3/1/1948 & 3/29/1948)

Tacoma Transit Co. (Tacoma); Buses--Tacoma--1940-1950; Bus stops--Tacoma; Mass transit--Tacoma--1940-1950; Business people--Tacoma--1940-1950; Publicity; City & town life--Tacoma--1940-1950;

ca. 1920. The Rich Reconstruction Clinic opened in Tacoma in 1919, shortly after the Great War. For five years, Dr. Edward A. Rich and his many partners treated bone and joint disorders at the clinic. In 1925, the building became known as the Edgecliffe Apartments when it was converted entirely into 30 apartment suites.

ca. 1890. In 1890 Tacoma Fire Dept. Station # 3 was at 1212 North "G", near the corner of "G" and McCarver Streets. According to the 2nd Annual Report of the Tacoma Paid Fire Department, for the fiscal year ending May 31, 1891, Amil Krantz was listed as Captain in charge of at least five men. Krantz, age 36, was originally from Germany and was a former sailor. The station had a Silsby patent, fourth class rotary engine weighing in at 7,000 pounds which was drawn by two horses. In addition, there was an American Fire Apparatus hose wagon with two horses, which weighed 4,000 pounds and could carry 1000 feet of cotton hose. In this photograph from ca. 1890, the engines are decorated with flapping flags and garlands; it may have been taken on a holiday, perhaps the 4th of July or Memorial Day. Known as the Oldtown Station, Station # 3 occupied this building from 1885-1908. (2nd Annual Report, Tacoma Paid Fire Department, p. 24-25; 100 Years of Firefighting in the City of Destiny Tacoma, Washington, p. 30 )

Tacoma Fire Department (Tacoma); Fire stations--Tacoma--1890-1900; Fire engines & equipment--Tacoma; Fire fighters--Tacoma--1890-1900; Horses--Tacoma;