ca. 1893. Copy negative of a photograph, ca. 1893, of a Griffin Transfer Co. moving wagon. An unidentified man stands next to the horse-drawn wagon. The Griffin Transfer Co. is listed in the 1893-94 Polk Directory for Tacoma as owned by Griffin Brothers, Frederick and William. The office was at 1105 Pacific Ave. They maintained a yard and their residence at 813 J St. Company founder Frederick L. Griffin came west in 1889 to make his fortune. He was able to purchase a wagon and horse. He started out delivering fuel wood that he cut himself. After a few years, he obtained more wagons, horses and employees and branched out into a moving and hauling service. The company also dealt in coal, wood and ice. The company eventually grew into the Griffin Fuel Co., in the forties the oldest and largest dealer in fuel west of Chicago. The company remained in the hands of the Griffin family. TPL-7177

Moving & storage trade--Tacoma--1890-1900; Carts & wagons--Tacoma--1890-1900; Griffin Transfer Co. (Tacoma); Griffin Fuel Co. (Tacoma);

ca. 1891. In 1891 the LaMotte & Watkins Grocery Store, called simply "My Store" on the sign above their door, was located at 2420 Pacific Avenue. The store was owned by John W. Watkins and Mrs. Annie E. LaMotte, the widow of Oscar LaMotte. The four men standing in front of the store are (l to r) Mr. Lenard, a farmer; Charles S. Ecklund, a clerk at the store who later went to Alaska to seek his fortune; Herschel Rawlings, who was the store's bookkeeper and later became a Tacoma dentist; and Robert K. Taylor, a sales clerk who later moved to Seattle. (TNT 8/17/1922 p.4) Copy negative from 1939.

Grocery stores--Tacoma--1890-1900; My Store (Tacoma); Ecklund, Charles S.; Rawlings, Herschel; Taylor, Robert K.

Convoy of woodcutters

1940 Annie Wright Seminary Junior Prom. View from above of couples dancing in the Great Hall. Seniors at Annie Wright were the honored guests of the dance given on April 20, 1940, by the junior class. A dinner party at The Walker preceded the prom. (T. Times Society, 4-27-40, p. 5-partial photograph)

Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1940-1950; Private schools--Tacoma--1940-1950; Balls (Parties)--Tacoma--1940-1950; Students--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Five co-eds from Annie Wright Seminary wave brightly to the camera before pushing off on a wild ride on their sled at Mount Tacoma (Rainier.) On January 26-27, 1940, the students and chaperones made their annual trek to the mountain, staying two days at the Paradise Inn. Pictured, right to left, are Catherine Cowell, Patricia Clark, Mary Page Sherman, Rocelia Bordeaux and chaperone Miss Shirley Sherman, the school's physical education instructor. (T. Times 2/3/1940, pg. 5)

Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1940-1950; Private schools--Tacoma; Students--Tacoma--1940-1950; Rainier, Mount (Wash.); Winter sports; Snow;

View from behind ticket counter of kindergarten children from Annie Wright Seminary in line to buy train tickets. View shows all of the ticket agents records, tickets, books, stamp pad, pens, map and other materials required for job.

Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1940-1950; School children--Tacoma--1940-1950; Railroad stations--Tacoma;

Mr. and Mrs. Robert S. Bennatts would be celebrating their Golden Wedding Anniversary at a reception on April 14, 1940 at the Mason Methodist Church. The couple is pictured at their home at 3008 No. 30th Street prior to the celebration. Mr. Bennatts had come to Tacoma to seek his fortune. He started out with a job in Old Town in the grocery business. He soon met Harriet Richards and the pair were married in a little frame Baptist Church, located on what is now the site of the First Baptist Church at Ninth and Market, on April 15, 1890. The pair opened a grocery store in the Pioneer Block, a brick building erected by Allen C. Mason in Old Tacoma. They did business there for 20 years before moving to North 24th and Proctor, where they remained for another 20 years. Mr. Bennatts retired ten years ago. (T. Times 4/15/1940, pg. 11)

Anniversaries; Couples; Bennatts, Robert S.; Bennatts, Harriet;

Mr. and Mrs. Robert S. Bennatts during a photo shoot at their home prior to celebrating their Golden Wedding Anniversary on April 15, 1940. Mrs. Bennatts (formerly Harriet Richards), dressed in long gown and wearing a corsage, watches her husband feed a begging Siamese cat. Two other Siamese cats lying on footstool wait their turn. The Bennatts were married in Tacoma on April 15, 1890. They ran grocery stores in the north end for 40 years. (T. Times 4/15/1940, pg. 11)

Anniversaries; Couples; Cats; Bennatts, Robert S.; Bennatts, Harriet;

The daughters of William F. and Angie Dodge surprised them with a celebration for their 50th and Golden wedding anniversary. The open house celebration was held at the Dodge's home at 5201 So. I Street and was attended by over 150 well wishers. Although married in Oakes, North Dakota, the Dodges have made Tacoma their home for over 36 years. (T. Times 2/19/1940, pg. 7)

Anniversaries; Dodge, William F.; Dodge, Angie;

F. R. Clark, Captain Walter Arntz and M. K. Matthewson standing behind life preserver on deck of American freighter "Wildwood" on April 8, 1940. F. R. Clark, the president of the American Foreign Steamship Co., had sent word to the skipper Captain Walter Arntz to turn back mid Pacific and return to Tacoma to unload. Clark feared a British blockade. This marked the arrival of the war in the Pacific trade routes. (T. Times 4/8/1940, pg. 1)

Arntz, Walter; Clark, F.R.; Matthewson, M.K.; Life preservers; Cargo ships; Shipping--Tacoma--1940-1950;

At the stroke of 10 p.m. on January 20, 1940, Rhoda Maynes was crowned Queen of the 9th annual Gold and Green Ball, sponsored by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormons). The coronation ball was given on the roof garden of the Masonic Temple. Queen Rhoda is photographed surrounded by her court. The "MIA" on the staffs is the abbreviation for Mutual Improvement Association. Miss Maynes is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. S.A. Maynes of 3940 No 31st St. Photograph ordered by J. Hoyer/Hayer. (T. Times 1/19/1940, pg. 20)

Beauty contests--Tacoma--1940-1950; Beauty contestants--Tacoma--1940-1950; Crowns; Evening gowns--Tacoma; Mormons--Tacoma; Maynes, Rhoda;

Sepia toned portrait of United States Senator Homer T. Bone, Democrat from Washington State, at a desk in his Tacoma home. Mr. Bone served in the U.S. Senate from 1933-1944. He was appointed a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (nomination by Franklin Delano Roosevelt) to replace a seat vacated by Bert E. Haney later in 1944; he assumed senior status in 1956. Originally a native of Franklin, Indiana, Mr. Bone graduated from the Tacoma Law School in 1911, served as special deputy prosecuting attorney in 1912 and as corporation counsel for the Port of Tacoma from 1918-1932. After assumption of senior status, he resumed the practice of law in San Francisco and sat on the bench occasionally until 1968. Returning to Tacoma, he passed away on March 11, 1970; his ashes are interred in Oakwood Cemetery. ALBUM 4.

Bone, Homer Truett, 1883-1970; Legislators--Washington--1940-1950;

Maude (Mrs. George W.) Bowers with her rock collection. Mrs. Bowers is wearing glasses and a print dress and is holding a large crystal rock in front of a cabinet covered with numerous rock specimens. Mrs. Bowers started her "rockery" a year ago in the breakfast nook of her home at 5230 So. Puget Sound Ave. Her husband, a supply man for the Northern Pacific Railroad, brought home the first specimen. The couple now has rocks from seven states, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Missouri, Colorado, Wyoming and Utah. Mrs. Bowers shellacks the rocks for easier dusting. (T. Times 11/6/1939, pg. 3)

Bowers, Maude; Collectors; Rocks;

The O'Donnell Market women's bowling team from Bend, Oregon. Five women dressed in matching outfits representing O'Donnell's Market. Three women in back row have names embroidered on shirts, left to right: Reba, Olga, Evelyn. The team was competing in the annual Western Women's Bowling Congress at the Play Mor alleys April 24- May 5th, 1940.

Bowlers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Women--Tacoma--1940-1950; O'Donnell's Market--Bend, Oregon--People;

Sherman Tackle Co. women's bowling team, Tacoma City Girls Class B bowling champs. Five women dressed in skirts and blouses gathered around scoring table in bowling alley. They are, left to right, Delores Coleman, Winnifred Rowe, Nell Bowman, Sigrid Anderson and Cecelia Rowe. (T. Times 4/25/1940, pg. 17)

Bowlers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Women--Tacoma--1940-1950; Sherman Tackle Co. (Tacoma)--People; Coleman, Delores; Rowe, Winnifred; Bowman, Nell; Anderson, Sigrid; Rowe, Cecelia;

Group of unidentified construction crew members standing on a freshly spun span of the first Narrows Bridge in March of 1940.

Bridge construction--Tacoma--1930-1940; Bridges--Tacoma; First Narrows Bridge; Galloping Gertie;

Narrows Bridge construction. Studio stock file. (T. Times)

Bridges - Suspension Bridges - Washington - Tacoma - Tacoma Narrows Bridge (first) "Galloping Gertie" - 1936-40

Three, three-story brick school buildings in Buckley, Washington. Buckley High School, center, has domed bell tower at crest of hip roof. White River School is to the right. (T. Times, Special Edition).

Buckley High School (Buckley); White River School (Buckley); Public schools--Buckley;

Sunshine Service, new General Petroleum Company Mobilgas station at So. 48th and Park. Night time view of quartet singing in the doorway of the MobiLubrication garage. For Smith and Drum, J.J. Miller.

Business Enterprises - Automobile Service Stations - Mobil Oil Dealers - Tacoma - Sunshine Service Station Music Ensembles - QuartetsMusic - SingingPeople - Men - Singers

In 1940, the heated election fight between former mayor Melvin G. Tennent and Harry P. Cain ended in March with Mr. Cain elected mayor of Tacoma. Mr. Cain's name had been placed on the ballot by a superior court mandamus order days before the election. "This is the dirtiest deal ever pulled in the city of Tacoma," declared a bitter Mr. Tennent after the election. The Tacoma Times journeyed to the Cain's home on Wednesday, March 13, 1940, to photograph the newly elected mayor and his family. Harry P. Cain II (Buzzy), age two, and his small dog Ricky pose for the camera the morning after his father's victory. (T.Times, 3-13-40, p. 1) ALBUM 12.

Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979; Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979--Family; Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Dogs--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Mayor- Elect Harry P. Cain addresses supporters on the night of his election, March 12, 1940. Successful Public Utilities Commissioner candidate Bob O'Neil is perched on a desk behind him. Mr. Cain defeated former mayor Melvin G. Tennent in a highly contested race. Harry P. Cain's name was placed on the ballot by the courts as a replacement for Dr. Bert Kertsetter who had died just days before the general election. Mr. Cain had finished third in the primary, behind leading vote getter Kertsetter and Mr. Tennent. He assumed office in June. ALBUM 12.

Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979; Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Political elections--Tacoma--1940-1950; Pointing fingers;

Views of the American freighter "Wildwood" unloading their Russian bound cargo in Tacoma at Commercial Dock. Matthewson Shipping Company. Fear of an Allied blockade had caused the vessel to turn about in mid Pacific. They were shipping 7,000 tons of copper, brass and machinery owned by Amtorg, the Russian trading organization. Representatives of Amtorg were in Tacoma to take over the cargo. (T. Times 4/8/1940, pg.1)

Cargo ships; Shipping--Tacoma--1940-1950; Piers & wharves--Tacoma--1940-1950; Commercial Dock (Tacoma);

Views of American freighter "Wildwood" unloading at Commercial Dock. Matthewson Shipping Company. The vessel is unloading $4,500,000 worth of cargo originally consigned for Vladivostok, USSR. The vessel was turned around in the mid Pacific and returned to Tacoma, under the direct orders of F.R. Clark, president of the American Foreign Steamship Co. Clark feared that the vessel would run into the British blockade with her "hot" cargo and that it would be confiscated. This event marked the extension of the European War into the Pacific trade routes. (T. times 4/8/1940, pg. 1)

Cargo ships; Shipping--Tacoma--1940-1950; Piers & whaves--Tacoma--1940-1950; Commercial Dock (Tacoma);

On January 6, 1940, twenty-one members of the Carpenter's Union Local 470, with over 30 years of continuous membership, gathered for a group photograph. Many of these men could probably trace their membership in the union back to its founding on February 27, 1900. Between 1900 and 1940 wages for union carpenters in Tacoma increased from $2.50 per day to $1 per hour. Front row (l to r): C.J. Murray, George A. Sweet, Julius Stevenson, W.A. Rowe, John Matson, Nelson Willis. Middle: Chris Bark, George Rice, August Jonas, W.A. Burgess, J.M. Evans, Niel Macaulay, Sam Torvik. Back: J.A. Key, Nick Nelson, John (Scotty) Knowles, Jack Cook, William Mansens, Frank (Skinny) Hull, Fred Wiegman, Chris Anderson.

Carpenters Union Local No. 470 (Tacoma); Labor unions--Tacoma;

Women representing several auxiliaries of Veterans of Foreign Wars organizations posed on the steps of Stadium High School on April 24, 1940. Among the nine women was Mrs. Leon Cecil of Puyallup, senior vice-president of the Department of Washington auxiliaries, Veterans of Foreign Wars. She is second to the right, first row. Mrs. Cecil was at Stadium to award two students, Perry Burkhart and Dave Glenn, who had captured first and second place essay honors among Tacoma students and would be eligible for honors in the statewide essay contest sponsored by the auxiliaries of the V.F.W. The other women in the group were not identified. (T.Times 4-25-40, p. 20-article on awards)

Cecil, Leon--Family; Women--Tacoma--1940-1950; Veterans of Foreign Wars, Women's Auxiliaries; Stadium High School (Tacoma);

On November 16, 1939, Bruno Studios (photographers) sponsored a free dance and social event at the Century Ballroom in Fife. The main draw was the musical stylings of Dale Fitzsimmons and his eleven piece orchestra, the Royalty of Rhythm. The band was a big draw at the Century and had doubled the ballroom's regular attendance. The orchestra had four vocalists, including "Bub" Scott (second from left), the tenor crooner. (Tacoma Times 11/3/1939, pg. 15; 11/17/1939, pg. 15; TNT 11/15/1939- Ad pg.4)

Century Ballroom (Fife); Ballrooms--Fife--1930-1940; Musicians--Fife--1930-1940; Dale Fitzsimmons and his Royalty of Rhythm (Fife);

On November 16, 1939, Bruno Studios sponsored a free dance at the Century Ballroom in Fife. The main draw was the music of Dale Fitzsimmons and his Royalty of Rhythm. The eleven piece orchestra had been entertaining huge crowds at the Century. The number of dancers at the ballroom was up 50 percent. One of the appeals of the orchestra was their four vocalists. Four men were photographed at the microphone in front of a fringed awning, draped stage and orchestra. (T. Times 11/17/1939, pg. 15; TNT 11/156/1939, Ad pg. 4)

Century Ballroom (Fife); Ballrooms--Fife--1930-1940; Musicians--Fife--1930-1940; Dale Fitzsimmons and his Royalty of Rhythm (Fife);

Bruno (photography) Studios threw a free dancing and entertainment event on November 16, 1939 at the Century Ballroom in Fife. The entertainment including dancing to the smooth sounds of Dale Fitzsimmons and his Royalty of Rhythm and a style show of the newest winter fashions by Grayson's Ladies Apparel Shop. Peggy Mason was photographed modeling a daytime dress from Grayson's. Miss Mason had been elected the Snow Queen early in 1939 and in 1940 would be elected Miss Tacoma and represent Washington State at the Miss America contest. The Orchestra was pictured in the background. (TNT 11/15/1939, Ad pg. 4)

Century Ballroom (Fife); Ballrooms--Fife--1930-1940; Musicians--Fife--1930-1940; Fashion shows--Fife; Fashion models--Fife--1930-1940; Clothing & dress--1930-1940; Dale Fitzsimmons and his Royalty of Rhythm (Fife); Mason, Peggy;

On the 16th of November, 1939, Bruno Studios threw a huge dance and entertainment event for the public at the Century Ballroom in Fife. One of the featured entertainers was Bella Tobasion, a ballet student of Myrah Taynton Thayer. Miss Tobasion poses on pointe wearing a ballet costume, while admiring band members watch from behind band stands. (TNT 11/15/1939- Ad pg. 4)

Century Ballroom (Fife); Tobasion, Bella; Children dancing--Tacoma--1930-1940; Choreography; Costumes; Girls--Tacoma--1930-1940; Ballet dancers--1930-1940;

On a warm February day in 1940 a group of boys gathered in the playground behind Lowell school, 1210 No. Yakima Ave., to play an energetic game of leapfrog. Lowell school was named in honor of the American poet and diplomat James Russell Lowell. The school was badly damaged by the April 13, 1949 earthquake that shook Tacoma and the Pacific Northwest. One Lowell student, Marvin Klegman, was killed and two others were injured.

Children playing outdoors--Tacoma; Lowell Elementary School (Tacoma); Boys--Tacoma--1940-1950;