Noted Indian leaders and their tribes set-up camp at Puyallup's Western Washington Fairs to demonstrate their crafts and share their culture. In 1937, Chief Shelton (wearing feathered headdress) and his tribe camped at the fair. A record breaking crowd of more than 56,000 attended the fair on Tacoma Day that year. Among them are Connie Ireland and a group of students who are watching Chief Shelton demonstrate a blanket wrap and another man share his knowledge of Indian basketry. (T. Times, 9/23/1937, p. 1))
Fairs--Puyallup; Western Washington Fair (Puyallup); Indians of North America--Exhibitions; Indians of North America--Arts & crafts; Indians of North America--Clothing & dress; Shelton, Chief;
A white horse performing a trick with his front legs and head on ground at the first horse show of the season, November 29, 1937, at the Armory. The show was sponsored by the Headquarters Troop, 24th Cavalry Division, Washington National Guard. The troop was also known locally as Troop B. (T. Times, 11/30/1937, p. 5).
Horse shows--Tacoma--1930-1940; Show horses; Washington National Guard, 24th Cavalry Division (Tacoma); State Armory (Tacoma); Trick riding;
The members of the Washington National Guard who created this human pyramid were just six of the more than 50 riders who thrilled a capacity crowd on November 29, 1937 at the first horse show of the season, held at the Armory.The show was sponsored by the Headquarters Troop, 24th Cavalry Division, Washington National Guard, known locally as "Troop B." The six soldiers who created the pyramid formation on the backs of three horses were: (l to r) mounted, Sgt. Orville Johns, Sgt. Ed Lewellyn, Corp. Art Weisfield; two abreast are, Pvt. L. Peterson, left, and Pvt. C. Denton; top Pvt. Jack Mills. (T. Times 11/30/1937, pg. 5)
Horse shows--Tacoma--1930-1940; Show horses; Washington National Guard, 24th Cavalry Division (Tacoma); State Armory (Tacoma); Trick riding;
The first horse show of the season at the Tacoma Armory, November 19, 1937. The show is being sponsored by the Headquarters Troop, 24th Cavalry Division, Washington National Guard, known locally as "Troop B." Two men are pictured in the stable area looking at a horse inside a stall. (T. Times, 11/30/1937, p. 5).
Horse shows--Tacoma--1930-1940; Show horses; Washington National Guard, 24th Cavalry Division (Tacoma); State Armory (Tacoma);
The Headquarters Troop, 24th Cavalry Division, Washington National Guard sponsors the first horse show of the season on November 29, 1937 at the Armory. Two soldiers watch a white horse perform a trick with a very young rider on the horse's back. Tacoma's famous Cavalry unit was known locally as "Troop B." It was the oldest military organization in the state. (T. Times, 11/30/1937, p. 5).
Horse shows--Tacoma--1930-1940; Show horses; Washington National Guard, 24th Cavalry Division (Tacoma); State Armory (Tacoma); Trick riding;
One of the 50 participating riders thrills the audience by standing straddled on two moving horses. The scene is the first horse show of the season at the Tacoma Armory. It is being sponsored by the Headquarters Troop, 24th Cavalry Division, Washington National Guard, known locally as "Troop B." (T. Times, 11/30/1937, p. 5).
Horse shows--Tacoma--1930-1940; Show horses; Washington National Guard, 24th Cavalry Division (Tacoma); State Armory (Tacoma); Trick riding;
Policemen's Ball at Fife's Century Ballroom. December 17, 1937, sepia photograph of Mayor and Mrs.George Smitley with two young girls. Isabel Smitley is carrying a large bouquet of flowers, possibly presented to her by the two children. Mayor Smitley is wearing a ribbon indicating that he is a guest at the ball. Proceeds of the ball went to the Police Relief and Benefit Association. ALBUM 11. (TNT 12-18-37, p. 2)
Balls (Parties)--Fife; Mayors--Tacoma--1930-1940; Smitley, George A., 1872-1956; Smitley, Isabel; Bouquets; Children & adults--Fife;
Policemen's Ball at Century Ballroom, Fife, on December 17, 1937. Large group of police officers and women standing in lines; a dozen Art Deco style chandeliers hang from the ceiling. Public Works Commissioner Abner Bergersen is second from right in first row. Mayor George Smitley (not pictured) led the Grand March into the ballroom; he was accompanied by several city commissioners and high ranking police officials. The ball benefited the Police Relief Fund and Benefit Association. (TNT 12-18-37, p. 2)
Policemen's Ball at Century Ballroom on December 17, 1937. Police color guard from the TPD leads into the ballroom a group including Mayor and Mrs.George Smitley, Safety (Police) Commissioner Frank Callender and Public Works Commissioner Abner Bergersen. Ranking police officials and their wives completed the group. This benefit ball was claimed to be the most successful ball given by Tacoma policemen. Hundreds attended the gala which swelled the coffers of the Police Relief and Benefit Association. ALBUM 11. (TNT 12-18-37, p. 2)
Balls (Parties)--Fife; Flag bearers--Fife; Police--Tacoma--1930-1940; Mayors--Tacoma--1930-1940; Smitley, George A., 1872-1956; Smitley, Isabel; Callender, Frank T.; Bergersen, Abner R.;
Promenade of city officials and police at the Policemen's Ball held at Century Ballroom in Fife on December 17, 1937. Safety (Police) Commissioner Frank Callender and spouse link arms with Mayor and Mrs. George Smitley as they enter the Century Ballroom in Fife for the Policemen's Ball. Both men are wearing "Guest" ribbons attached to their lapels while their wives are carrying large beribboned bouquets of fresh flowers. Public Works Commissioner Abner Bergersen is directly behind Commissioner Callender. This sepia photograph taken during the Grand March is faded and slightly out of focus. ALBUM 11.
Balls (Parties)--Fife; Mayors--Tacoma--1930-1940; Smitley, George A., 1872-1956; Smitley, Isabel; Callender, Frank T.; Bergersen, Abner R.; Bouquets;
Policemen's Ball at Century Ballroom in Fife on December 17, 1937. Mayor and Mrs. George Smitley follow a mustached police officer believed to be Sgt. Jim Dew, across the floor. Several other city councilmen were in attendance at this winter gala including Safety (Police) Commissioner Frank Callender and Public Works Commissioner Abner Bergersen. Others included in the procession were high ranking police officials and their wives. The ball was sponsored by the City of Tacoma's police department with proceeds going to Police Relief and Benefit Association. ALBUM 11. (TNT 12-18-37, p. 2)
Balls (Parties)--Fife; Mayors--Tacoma--1930-1940; Smitley, George A., 1872-1956; Smitley, Isabel; Police--Tacoma--1930-1940;
Policemen's Ball at Century Ballroom in Fife on December 17, 1937. Procession walking into the ballroom in rows of eight abreast, led by a police sergeant. Couples include Mayor and Mrs. George Smitley (far R), Mr. and Mrs. Frank Callender (2nd from R) and Mr. and Mrs. Abner Bergersen (far left). Young woman in the middle is not identified; she may be related to the Bergersens as she has her arm linked with Mr. Bergersen. Hundreds attended the Policemen's Ball which was claimed to be the most successful ball given by Tacoma policemen. Proceeds were allotted to Police Relief and Benefit Association. ALBUM 11. (TNT 12-18-37, p. 2)
Balls (Parties)--Fife; Mayors--Tacoma--1930-1940; Smitley, George A., 1872-1956; Smitley, Isabel; Callender, Frank T.; Bergersen, Abner R.;
Hundreds were in attendance at Fife's Century Ballroom on December 17, 1937 for the ninth annual Policeman's Ball, including city and police officials from Tacoma, Seattle and Portland. Tacoma Mayor and Mrs.George Smitley led the grand march of men and women entering the ballroom followed by Safety (Police) Commissioner and Mrs. Frank Callender and Public Works Commissioner and Mrs. Abner Bergersen. Ranking police officials and their wives came next. Many of the women carried large flower bouquets. The grand march, capably directed by Sgt. James Dew, was the big event of the evening. Proceeds from the ball benefited the Police Relief and Benefit Association. ALBUM 11. (TNT 12-18-37, p. 2-article; TNT12-17-37, p. 4-article)
Balls (Parties)--Fife; Mayors--Tacoma--1930-1940; Smitley, George A., 1872-1956; Smitley, Isabel; Callender, Frank T.; Bergersen, Abner R.;
Miss Norma McDermott of Odessa, WA poses with the Black Minorca cock owned by O. R. Winters of Dundee, OR. at the annual Tacoma Poultry Show which opened December 28, 1937. Mr. Winter's big black, Grand Champion the previous two years, was named the champion cock of the show. The poultry show ran from Tuesday through Saturday. On Saturday evening the traditional poultrymen's banquet, a home-cooked chicken dinner, was held at the Odd Fellows Hall at 6th and Fawcett. (T.Times, 12/31/1937, p. 14).
Maxine Mayhew holds a Bantam rooster at the 34th Annual Tacoma Poultry Show held in the old Mohr Building, 1141 Broadway, on December 28-31, 1937. Maxine smiles at the small rooster, who appears to be having a "bad hair day." After the show, the traditional poultrymen's banquet, a home-cooked chicken dinner, was held on Saturday, January 1st in the Odd Fellows Hall, 6th and Fawcett.(T. Times, 12/30, p. 3; 12/31/1937, p. 14).
Tacoma Poultry Show (Tacoma); Poultry; Chickens; Animal shows--Tacoma--1930-1940; Mayhew, Maxine; Roosters; Children & animals;
J. H. (Jim) Nichols, Judge of poultry show, with the Champion Hen, a White Plymouth Rock, and prize winning White Leghorn chicks. The popular Tacoma Poultry Show ran several days and marked its 34th year in 1937. (T. Times, 12/31/1937, p. 14).
Tacoma Poultry Show (Tacoma); Poultry; Chickens; Animal shows--Tacoma--1930-1940; Nichols, J. H.;
ca. 1938. This float was entered by the city of Sumner in a mid to late 1930's Daffodil Parade. The driver's head can be seen at the center of the float. In the back, two girls in Dutch costumes ride in chairs.
ca. 1938. 1938 Daffodil Festival Queen. 17-year-old Bliss Lundrigan of Puyallup was chosen the 1938 Daffodil Festival Queen. She was accompanied by princesses Bernice Daniel of Tacoma and Agnes Kucemba of Sumner. Miss Lundrigan is shown seated in a chair hidden by a mass of daffodils. A robe of royal purple is fastened at the collar; 1938 was the first year that Royalty wore official robes. A crown of daffodils adorns her dark hair.
Lundrigan, Bliss; Beauty contestants--Puyallup; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1938 : Puyallup);
Mike Shea marathon. 1937's winner of the Cooks & Waiters annual "bunion derby" -a 4.6 mile high-paced walk from Tacoma to Fife's Century Ballroom- covered the distance in 57 minutes. Mike Shea (left in photograph) felt that the distance was too short to test a man's walking ability. Whitey Flemish disagreed and bet that Mike could not walk the same distance in an hour. Whitey felt confident as the Cooks & Waiters winner was a younger man and presumably fitter. The bet was on and Mike started his heeling-and-toeing from the Olympus Hotel at 12:30 a.m. on February 16, 1938. 20 carloads of fans followed Mike who was paced by policeman Bill Turner (believed to be at right above). Mike won the $10 bet as he completed the feat in 59 minutes, 38 seconds. (T.Times 2-15-38, p. 11-article; T.Times 2-16-38, p. 11-article)
Events--Fife--1930-1940; Men--Social life--1930-1940; City & town life--Fife--1930-1940; Shea, Mike; Walking races; Marathons;
Senator Walter Davis, history professor at the College of Puget Sound, sat on a bench in Wright Park on the first day of spring in 1938 and edited papers. Despite the designation as spring, the day was chilly with a high of 49 and a low of 30. It did not stop people from venturing out to enjoy the brisk air and bouts of sunshine. Walter S. Davis served in the Washington State Legislature from 1913 to 1929 as Senator for the 27th District. He was instrumental in shaping Washington State's education policies, introducing a bill that made teaching of American History and Civics in high school compulsory. Senator Davis came to CPS in 1907 as a professor of history and political science. He would retire in 1943. (T.Times, 3/21/1938, p.1; T.Times 5-9-43, p. 10-article on Sen. Davis).
Events--Tacoma--1930-1940; Spring--Tacoma; Parks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Wright Park (Tacoma); Davis, Walter; Teachers--Tacoma--1930-1940;
Two men in three piece suits seriously discussed the outcome of the shuffleboard game on the first day of Spring, 1938, in Wright Park. Another man kept score with chalk on a rough wooden surface behind them. (T.Times, 3/21/1938, p.1).
Events--Tacoma; Spring--Tacoma; Parks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Wright Park (Tacoma); Shuffleboard;
These men welcomed the first day of Spring in March of 1938 with a friendly game of horseshoes at Wright Park. The men played in shirtsleeves with tucked in ties. Although it was spring, the high for the day was a chilly 49 degrees. (T.Times, 3/21/1938, p.1).
Events--Tacoma--1930-1940; Spring--Tacoma; Parks--Tacoma--1930-1940; Wright Park (Tacoma); Horseshoe pitching--Tacoma--1930-1940;
With the arrival of spring in 1938, Eugene Brown, 1113 No. "M" and Jim Burkhouse, 1112 No. "L" went to Wright Park to try out their model sailboats. They quickly attracted a small audience, including Kenneth Lober, of 402 So. "I," who rode up on his scooter. (T.Times 3/21/1938, p.1).
Events--Tacoma; Spring--Tacoma; Parks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Wright Park (Tacoma); Model sailboats; Children sailing boats--Tacoma; Brown, Eugene; Burkhouse, Jim; Lober, Kenneth;
1938 Daffodil Parade. A colonial and native Americans populate a float entered in the parade by the Improved Order of Redmen stating "We organized the Boston Tea Party in 1773." The float is attributed to "The oldest American organization in the United States." The Order of Redmen is indeed one of America's oldest fraternal organizations not imported from another country. It is also chartered by Congress. The group was founded in 1765 as the Sons of Liberty. It was a secret society dedicated to throwing off the bonds of English tyranny. After the revolution, it assumed its current name. The group is devoted to inspiring a greater love of the United States of America and the principles of American liberty.
Floats (parades)--Tacoma--1930-1940; Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1938 : Tacoma); Improved Order of Redmen (Tacoma);
1938 Daffodil Parade. Participants on a float attributed to "The oldest American organization in the United States;" the Improved Order of Redmen. A colonial, representing the group's prerevolutionary background, shakes hands with a Native American, whose culture became the backbone of the society's organization and terminology.
Floats (parades)--Tacoma--1930-1940; Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1938 : Tacoma); Improved Order of Redmen (Tacoma);
Daffodil Pageant. Seven Rainbow Girls dressed in costumes to represent the seven colors of the rainbow stand beside their float. Henderson Machine Works and the Modern Apartments appear in the background. (T.Times, 4/2/1938, p.1).
Floats (parades)--Tacoma--1930-1940; Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1938 : Tacoma); Rainbow Girls (Tacoma);
1938 Daffodil Parade. Large crowds gathered around the Daffodil Queen Bliss I and her attendants in an elaborate reviewing stand constructed at 10th and Pacific. Bliss Lundrigan, a 17 year old senior at Puyallup High School, is the reigning Queen, attended by Bernice Daniel of Tacoma, left, and Agnes Kucemba of Sumner. The trio appear in their official robes, a first for Daffodil royalty. An estimated 30,000 people attended the parade in Tacoma which continued on into the valley.
Floats (parades)--Tacoma--1930-1940; Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1938 : Tacoma); Lundrigan, Bliss; Daniel, Bernice; Kucemba, Agnes;
Daffodil Pageant. The Merchants Association float featured a lighthouse and row boat with two women fishing. Tacoma Retail Trade Bureau won the grand prize for its "fisherman's paradise" theme. In the background is the Queens viewing stand at 10th and Pacific. Thirty thousand people attended Tacoma's parade.
Floats (parades)--Tacoma--1930-1940; Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1938 : Tacoma);
