ca. 1939. Street scene of South Tacoma Way just south of Business District in the daytime. A man walking across street to the area marked as "Auto Camp" and cabins. Highway signs designate the road as US 99 & US 410. Automobiles are travelling on street. One billboard advertises the 1940 Packard for $867.00. Another, erected by Tacoma Municipal Light & Power, gives the time as 5 after 4pm. and talks about Tacoma's low rate for electricity. For Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Company.

Streets--Tacoma--1930-1940; Street lights;

1939 Studebaker Champion automobile being raffled by Ray C. Roberts V.F.W. Post on back of a flatbed truck. Truck has logo of man riding a bronco on the door. The automobile was raffled off at a VFW benefit ball. For a picture of the car with its winner, Clara Thorsen, see D8931 images 1& 3. (filed with Argentum)

Studebaker automobile; Veterans of Foreign Wars, Ray C. Roberts Post # 969 (Tacoma);

Lincoln High School Class of 1939 graduation at the Armory, held June 9, 1939. The 707 graduating seniors are seated at the rear of the photograph, audience in the foreground. (T. Times 6/10/1939, pg. 11) (filed with Argentum)

Students--Tacoma--1930-1940; Graduation ceremonies--Tacoma--1930-1940; Lincoln High School (Tacoma); State Armory (Tacoma);

ca. 1939. In 1939, members of the Tacoma Swiss Society celebrated their 50th Anniversary. When the society was formed in 1889, there were about 200 Swiss living in and around Tacoma. The Swiss Society grew steadily and in 1913, Swiss Hall was built. Affiliate organizations formed like the Swiss Singing Society Edelweiss, shown here dressed in their native costumes. Other groups included: the Swiss Ladies Society, 1908; Swiss Wrestling Club; Swiss Aid Society, 1924; and, the Swiss Drill Team, a youth group organized in 1937. (TNT, 4/26/1939, p. 26; T. Times 3/31/1939, pg. 11).

Tacoma Swiss Society (Tacoma); Edelweiss Swiss Singing Society (Tacoma); Singers; Music ensembles; Folk singers; Murals; Ethnic groups;

Man on ladder clipping holly from tree and handing it to boy beside ladder. Photograph was taken on August 4, 1939 at Holly Hedge, 9542 Waverly Dr. S.W. in Lakewood. Holly Hedge was the home of J. Arthur Thompson and his young family. It was located on Steilacoom Lake. Thompson was President of The Thompson Company and Mountain View Development Company.

Thompson, J. Arthur--Homes & haunts; Holly; Gardening;

Showing of new 1940 Fords at Titus Motor Company. Sales meeting, man in "It's Ford in '40" hat and white coat on stage, man with ribbon on coat and holding a package giving a third man an award. Over 50 men seated, many in "It's Ford in '40" hats. The meeting looks like it is being held in the service department of Titus Motor Co. (filed with Argentum)

Titus Motor Co. (Tacoma); Ford automobile;

Titus Motor Company staff and two troopers with fleet of new Washington State Patrol Fords in front of Patrol offices by old Interurban Terminal at So. 7th & A St. Leon Titus at far right. Western Auto Supply/North Pacific Bank Note Co. at rear. (filed with Argentum)

Titus, Leon E.; Titus Motor Co. (Tacoma); Washington State Patrol (Tacoma); Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Lucia Rose Rigney O'Donnell (left) and Marcella Catherine Rigney Henly, twin daughters of pioneers John and Elizabeth Rigney, posed for a portrait on June 22, 1939, when they were about 77 years old. Their father had arrived in Washington territory in 1849 as a soldier assigned to Fort Steilacoom. Later the family would move to a 640-acre land claim near South 64th & Orchard. In 1880, when Rose and Marcella were about 18, the family made another move to Steilacoom where the girls would teach school. After marriage and widowhood, Mrs. O'Donnell and Mrs. Henly would live together on the Rigney land in Steilacoom and remain active well into their 80's by keeping records for Western State Hospital until 1950. Lucia Rose Rigney O'Donnell died in March of 1951, surviving her sister Marcella Rigney Henly by only seven months.

Twin; O'Donnell, Rose Rigney; Henly, Marcella Rigney; Aged persons--Tacoma;

Studio portrait of Golden Jubilee Queen Amy Lou Murray in her official cape and crown. Miss Murray was selected over 35 contestants to reign over the festivities surrounding Washington state's 50th anniversary of statehood. She later represented our area at the Miss Washington contest.

Washington State Golden Jubilee, 1939--Tacoma; Murray, Amy Lou;

Portrait of Jubilee Queen Amy Lou Murray. Miss Murray was selected from 35 contestants for the title of Golden Jubilee queen in July,1939, commemorating the 50th anniversary of statehood. The runner-up to the title, Margaret Franich, was declared "Miss Pierce County." This is the same photograph as A8632-7 with the background removed.

Washington State Golden Jubilee, 1939--Tacoma; Murray, Amy Lou;

Group of eight woman at the home of Mrs. Klassen, four seated, in front of windows. The only Klassen listed in the 1939 City Directory is Zadie (Mrs. Fred) Klassen at 610 S. 17th St. (filed with Argentum)

Women--Tacoma--1930-1940;

On February 27, 1947, photographs were taken of this wrecked and twisted Medosweet Dairy truck moments after it was hit by a four car southbound train at 10:05 am. The accident took place at a private road crossing 3.5 miles south of the city limits. The truck was carried over 150 feet down the tracks, leaving milk, crunched cartons and broken bottles in its wake. Route supervisor Alex McBeath Jr. was killed in the accident and driver William J. Velacich was seriously injured. (T. Times 2/28/1947, pg. 3- picture, 2/27/47, pg.1)

Wrecks; Traffic accidents--Tacoma--1930-1941; Medosweet Dairies, Inc. (Tacoma); Trucks--Tacoma--1930-1940;

ca. 1890. Frank C. Ross (right) and Charles A.E. Naubert were two of the early boosters of Tacoma. This photograph is a copy negative made in July of 1939 of an old tintype, taken around 1890 when they were in their early thirties, and were actively developing the Tacoma & Lake City Railway. The T & LC started at No. 26th and Union, ran south past Snake Lake to Manitou, and from there to American Lake. Although the railroad operated for less then ten years, it was instrumental in opening both the north end and the south end of Tacoma to development. Charles Naubert died in 1940; Frank Ross in 1947. Copy was made for Mr. Short of the Tacoma Times. Ross & Naubert was a real estate firm in Tacoma. (Casey Jones Locker, by F. Shaw pp.79-82)

Naubert, C. A. E.; Ross, Frank C.; Business people--Tacoma--1890-1900;

ca. 1893. Copy negative of photograph of old Peoples department store when it was at the corner of 19th and Pacific. At this time, the address was known as 1834-1840 Pacific Ave.The five story Romanesque building was built in 1890 from a design by F.A. Sexton. It is known as the Garretson-Woodruff-Pratt building. In the twenties, the building housed Sears and Roebuck. It is now part of the University of Washington-Tacoma campus. Two horse-drawn carriages parked in front of store. Photograph appeared in the Tacoma Times 07-19-1939. The store had its origins as a wholesale business, begun in 1889 a few months before statehood, in the Baker Building at 1306-08 Pacific. After four years, the company moved to this location. It converted to retail sales and took the name "Peoples Store." The day that it opened, it was crowded morning to night. In 1895, the store relocated to 1101-07 Pacific. The Peoples Store closed in 1983. (T. Times 7/19/1939, pg. 17)

Department stores--Tacoma--1890-1900; Peoples (Tacoma);

ca. 1895. Joseph Bachrach (left) and Theo Feist (right) posed around 1895 at the entrance of their first dry goods store located at 945 Tacoma Avenue South. The woman standing next to Theo is believed to be his sister, Irma Feist. The other woman in the picture is probably Lucie Feist, another sister of Theo's and a clerk at the store. Lucie Feist married Joseph Bachrach in 1895, six years after she and Irma moved to Tacoma from Paris, France. The next store the partners opened was in their own building on Pacific Avenue near 10th St. in 1897. In 1916, they moved to a newly constructed building on Broadway which later housed the J.C. Penney store; eleven years later Feist & Bachrach moved to 1113 Broadway. Copy negative made for the Tacoma Times on July 17, 1937. The photograph and accompanying article appeared in the Golden Jubilee insert in the Times' July 19, 1939, edition. TPL-5478 (T.Times 7-19-39, p. 17)

Dry goods stores--Tacoma--1890-1900; Feist & Bachrach (Tacoma); Bachrach, Joseph; Feist, Theophile;

ca. 1900. Copy negative of photograph of Overland's store at the turn of the century on Tacoma Avenue. Young man and woman stand at entrance to small store; man is Thomas Overland, proprietor. Overland Furniture then moved to 1137-39 Broadway where it expanded to become a complete home furnishings store. Copy made for the Tacoma Times on 7-17-39 where it was used as a photograph in the Golden Jubilee insert in the Times July 19, 1939, edition. (T.Times 7-19-39, p. 18) TPL-9558

Furniture stores--Tacoma--1890-1900; Overland's (Tacoma); Overland, Thomas;

Copy of print made of Mr. & Mrs. A. E. Harrington standing next to a car that is at the opening of a tunnel through a giant sequoia in Yosemite National Park. Next to the tree is a sign that says "Wawona - 26' through the opening - cut in 1881." The tree was known as the "drive through" tree and was located in the Mariposa Grove. The tree fell during the heavy snow in the winter of 1968-'69, weakened by the huge hole cut in the living tree and the paving over its roots. According to the 1939 City Directory, Albert E. Harrington was an engineer with the Department of Public Utilities. He and his wife Maud resided at 4409 No. 11th. (www.yosemite.org)

National parks & reserves--California--1930-1940; Yosemite National Park (Ca.);

This aerial view, taken January 13, 1940, shows the Port of Tacoma piers with two docked, white transport ships. Three transport ships, the Hunter Liggett, Leonard Wood and St. Mihiel, were in Commencement Bay to transport over 7,500 soldiers from Fort Lewis to the biggest war games in US history. This is the biggest passenger embarkation in the history of the Tacoma port. The troops will invade the California coast from the sea. They will strike at an undisclosed location somewhere on the 400 mile coast between San Francisco and Santa Barbara. This will be the major offensive of the war games to be held January 15-22nd. Also in the photograph are the Co-op's white grain elevators; the waterway is crowded with log booms. The two other cargo vessels pictured are believed to be the South American freighter Coya and the Japanese freighter Koei Maru. ( T. Times 1-3-40, p. 1-article; 1-11-40, p.1-article; 1-13-40, p.1-article)

Aerial photographs; Bays--Washington (State); Commencement Bay (Wash.); Port of Tacoma (Tacoma)--1940-1950; Logs; Ships; Piers & wharves--Tacoma--1940-1950;

This aerial view of McChord Field from June of 1940 shows the U.S. Army's Northwest airbase shortly before it was dedicated on July 3rd. The massive building in the center is the new enlisted men's barracks which could house 1,200 men. In the upper right corner are two of the six-story tall hangers that housed the base's fleet of 24 Douglas B-18A "medium" bombers. The Army had already spent $7 million building the airbase, and millions more would be needed before it was completed. (T.Times 7/1/1940 p.1)

Aerial photographs; McChord Field (Tacoma);

Approximately 10,00 people attend the McChord Field dedication on July 3, 1940. Brig. Gen. B. K. Yount, assistant chief of the army air corps (in white), speaks to the crowd at the dedication ceremonies held in front of an aircraft hanger, referred to as an airdrome in the newspaper. Following this event, Douglas bombers stationed at the airfield performed fly-over demonstrations. (T. Times, 7/4/1940, p. 7).

Air bases--Washington; McChord Field (Tacoma); Dedications; Military air shows; Crowds; Yount, B. K.;

Red Hunter's Band performs March 9, 1940 at the Annie Wright Seminary "barn dance." The band sports distinctly western wear as they crank out the latest tunes. A couple dances in the background. The dance is being hosted by the AWS juniors and the entire upper school is invited. The dance is being held in the gymnasium of Keator Hall and the dress and atmosphere is casual. (T. Times 3/7/1940, pg. 15)

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

Three students from Annie Wright Seminary pose on skis at Mount Rainier. On January 26-27, the co-eds and chaperones of AWS made their annual pilgrimage to the mountain; staying two days at the Paradise Inn.

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

The 45th Annual convention of the Washington Bankers Association was held June 13th and 14th, 1940 at the Hotel Winthrop. A trio of bankers sits holding a conversation on a sofa; Reno Odlin, Puget Sound National Bank, is on the right. The Bankers Association was established in 1889 and boasts a membership of officials from all banks in Washington and representatives of all national affiliates.

Bankers; Odlin, Reno, 1897-1979; Washington Bankers Association (Tacoma);

On display before the lion statue at Wright Park are the two bicycles which will be awarded to the major winners of the Tacoma Times/Borden "Elsie" cartoon contest in 1940. Five contestants admire the bikes while enjoying the spring day. From left: Bettegene Terry (holding roller skates), Marycathern Terry, and Chuck Grisell on the handlebars of one bicycle. The three older boys are (from left) Vernon Nilsen, Curtis Detzler and Bill Terry. The winners would claim their prizes on May 4th at the Temple Theater. (T.Times 4-8-40, p. 3)

Bicycles & tricycles--Tacoma--1940-1950; Awards; Contests--Tacoma--1940-1950; Children--Tacoma--1940-1950; Terry, Bettegene; Terry, Marycathern; Grisell, Chuck; Nilsen, Vernon; Detzler, Curtis; Terry, Bill; Wright Park (Tacoma);

On April 5, 1940, three young Tacomans, (l to r) Bettegene Terry, Marycathern Terry, and Chuck Grisell were photographed near the entrance to Wright Park with the two bicycles that were to be given away as the top prizes in the Tacoma Times/Borden "Elsie" cartoon contest. The lion behind the children is one of the two lions bought by Clinton P. Ferry in Brussels which he donated to the park in 1891. The prizes in the cartoon contest were awarded from the stage of the Temple Theater on Saturday May 4th. (T. Times 4/8/1940 p.3-alt photograph).

Bicycles & tricycles--Tacoma--1940-1950; Awards; Contests--Tacoma--1940-1950; Terry, Bettegene; Terry, Marycathern; Grisell, Chuck; Children--Tacoma--1940-1950; Wright Park (Tacoma); Sculpture--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Buildings at McChord Field. Large airplane hangar with domed roof, building newly constructed, "Hangar No. 1." Photograph taken on November 8, 1939.

Building construction--McChord Field; McChord Field (Tacoma); Hangars;

McChord Field buildings. Large three-story facility in background viewed over graded land and roads.

Buildings--1940-1950; McChord Field (Tacoma); Road construction;

Harry P. Cain and wife Marjorie Dils Cain in suave formal attire at a March 9, 1940, Tacoma Club dance. Dr. Bert Kerstetter, candidate for mayor who defeated Mr. Cain in the primary, had passed away during a campaign appearance the previous evening, thus putting Mr. Cain back in the race. Although former mayor Melvin G. Tennent raised a protest, Mr. Cain's name remained on the ballot and he was elected mayor later that month. ALBUM 12.

Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979; Cain, Marjorie Dils, 1908-1994; Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Narrows Bridge - McChord Field Celebration, "Legion of 40 et 8", World War I veterans "arrest" Frank Callender for not wearing a celebration hat on July 1, 1940. The former Public Safety Commissioner is obviously in violation of the "Wear Your Celebration Hat" sign and would soon join the miscreants in the mock chicken coop jail and courtroom on flatbed truck. The good-natured foolery was part of the celebration of the dual openings of the (first) Tacoma Narrows Bridge and McChord Flying Field.

Callender, Frank T.; World War, 1914-1918--Veterans--Tacoma; Veterans organizations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Signs (Notices); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1940-1950; American Legion (Tacoma); 40 et 8 auxiliary (Tacoma);

Crew of the American freighter "Wildwood". Crew posed for portrait on wharf with hull of ship as background. The freighter, owned by the American Steamship Co., had turned around mid Pacific and returned to Tacoma to unload its "hot" cargo. The cargo consisted of copper, brass, and machinery intended for Russia.

Cargo ships; Shipping--Tacoma--1940-1950;