Flood waters carried this home on McAleer Rd. more than 100 feet from its foundation. The Red Cross stepped in to repair the badly damaged house. Hundreds sustained damage during the recent floods but with the help of the Red Cross, workers had completely rehabilitated 80 homes by mid-February, 1934. Food, clothing, bedding and furniture were liberally distributed. (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 2-11-34, B-1)

1933 was a very wet year in the Tacoma area. A total of 52.47 inches fell during the year with December's rainfall of 18.87 inches making that month the wettest December on record to that point. Many homes were damaged in subsequent flooding around the county and were repaired with Red Cross funds. Two men are shown in this January 23, 1934, photograph beginning construction of a new home near Puyallup for a family who had lost everything in the recent floods. Notes on this Bowen picture indicate that this home may have been built for two spinsters whose house fell into the raging river waters nearby. Stacks of lumber are in the foreground marked with the Red Cross flag. (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 2-11-34, B-1, TDL 1-1-34, p. 2)

President Franklin D. Roosevelt celebrates his first birthday in the White House with a "toga, toga" party. Copy of photograph donated to Tacoma Public Library by Leon Sides. In 1934, critics of Roosevelt's New Deal reforms categorized him as a "prickly Julius Caesar." For his 52nd birthday, his buddies donned togas and attended a party costumed Roman style. Gathered for the party were members of Roosevelt's Cuff Links Club and their spouses. The Club was composed of people to whom he had presented cufflinks in 1920 when he was a vice presidential candidate. Roosevelt's first lady, Eleanor, is pictured second from left in the standing row as the Delphic Oracle. Also pictured is daughter Anna, to the right of the President, as a vestal virgin. Mrs. Anna Dall on January 18, 1935 married John Boettiger, Seattle newspaperman. (TNT 11/5/1978)

Roosevelt, Franklin Delano, 1882-1945; Roosevelt, Anna Eleanor, 1884-1962; Costumes--Roman; Presidents--United States; Presidents' spouses--United States; Birthday parties--1930-1940;

President Franklin D. Roosevelt, second row center, celebrates his first birthday in the White House with a "toga, toga" party. Copy of photograph donated to Tacoma Public Library by Leon Sides. The pictures were given to Sides by Pulitzer prize winner Kirke L. Simpson (front row center in photo.) FDR, called by his detractors a "prickly Julius Caesar," took the insult to heart and costumed in a toga for his 52nd birthday. He is surrounded by the members of his Cuff Links Club, people to whom he presented cuff links in 1920 when he was a vice presidential candidate. The party, which evolved into an all night poker spree, was kept under wraps for many years until the January 28, 1973 issue of the TNT ran the picture. (TNT 11/5/1978)

Roosevelt, Franklin Delano, 1882-1945; Costumes--Roman; Presidents--United States; Birthday parties--1930-1940; Simpson, Kirke L.;

Studio portrait of a young girl in a frilly dress posing on old trunk, taken in February of 1934. Richards Studio notes identify her as Rodella "Hokum" (probably Hockom.) The portrait was ordered by Walt Sutter of Tacoma; she was possibly his granddaughter. She was also possibly the same girl pictured in Series 605 images O and 3B and Series I53 Images 2 and 4. (filed with Argentum)

Hockom, Rodella; Girls--Tacoma--1930-1940; Sutter, Walter H.--Family;

Washington State Bottlers Association Banquet at the Tacoma Hotel on February 22, 1934. Many people seated at long tables in room with columns decorated with Viking ship capitols.

Banquets--Tacoma--1930-1940; Tacoma Hotel (Tacoma); Washington State Bottler's Association (Tacoma);

Sherman School 1st Grade class, posed inside their classroom in February of 1934. The school building was built in 1891 and designed by Pickles & Sutton. It was demolished in 1953 after a new elementary school was built. (Argentum)

Sherman School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1930-1940; School children--Tacoma--1930-1940; Group portraits; Education--Tacoma; Classrooms--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Billye Fairchild strikes a pose in her Jantzen swimsuit in a field of Spring daffodils in March of 1934. She smiles gamely, despite what is undoubtedly chilly Northwest Spring weather. She is providing a little "cheesecake" for the first annual Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival, to be held March 17-18, 1934. Miss Fairchild lists her occupation in the 1934 City Directory as waitress and her address as 1120 So. 14th Street. Miss Fairchild was also chosen as Tacoma's royal attendant for the 1934 festival.

The organizers of the first Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival in March of 1934 were not above using a little "cheesecake" to advertise their fledgling flower festival. Three bathing beauties, left to right, Frankie Cowan, Betty Brumbaugh and Billye Fairchild, pose in a field of bright yellow daffodils as a promotion for the first annual Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival, March 17-18, 1934. The flower festival, loosely patterned on the Dutch flower festivals held around Easter, started with a small group of organizers and a budget of $600 and grew to one of America's oldest flower extravaganzas. TPL-9418

View of warship docked in Tacoma, small rowboat alongside. The German cruiser Karlsruhe paid a visit to Tacoma in mid-March, 1934. Welcoming festivities were curtailed due to the death of Machinist Mate Karl Lischke on March 17th while on board the ship. Lischke died of food poisoning from a fish that had been delivered to him the day before from Germany. He was buried with full naval rites in Mountain View Memorial Park. The cruiser was sunk on April 9, 1940 by the British during the German invasion of Norway. (T.Times 3-19-34, p.1; T. Times 4-10-40, pg. 1 & 12)

Cruisers (Warships)--German; Government vessels--German;

In March of 1934, while studying the culture of Japan, these girl students in Mrs. Story's 4-A&B class at Bryant School, 708 South Ainsworth Avenue, enjoyed a Japanese tea party . Nearly all wore dainty kimonos and some carried paper fans or parasols. Most had rice bowls and chopsticks. (Argentum)

Public schools--Tacoma--1930-1940; School children--Tacoma--1930-1940; Bryant Elementary School (Tacoma); Classrooms--Tacoma--1930-1940; Clothing & dress--Japan;

The German cruiser Karlsruhe is taking on fuel from a Foss barge in mid-March, 1934, while at the dock in the waters below City Hall. The Karlsruhe was a sister ship to the Konigsberg; both were Koln class light cruisers. It had a displacement of 6000 tons and was equipped with three triple turrets and 4 triple torpedo tubes. The ship was in port for one week but festivities were delayed due to the death of Machinist Mate Karl Lischke who passed away on March 17, 1934, due to fish poisoning. He was buried with full naval rites at Mountain View Memorial Park in ceremonies attended by many local citizens, American and German military personnel, and city and county officials. The entire crew of the ship stood at attention at deckside when the body was removed while cadets formed an aisle along which Lischke was carried from the ship to the funeral car. Hundreds of spectators lined the 11th St. Bridge to view the procession. The ship would be later opened for visits; more than 4,700 people were welcomed aboard on Sunday afternoon, the 18th, and more were expected the following Wednesday. On April 9, 1940, the German vessel was sunk by the British during the German invasion of Norway. TPL-004 (T.Times, 3-19-34, p. 1; Jane's Fighting Ships, 1941; T. Times 4-10-1940, pg. 1& 12)

Cruisers (Warships)--German; Government vessels--German; Barges--Tacoma;

In March of 1934, (l to r) Frankie Cowan, Billye Fairchild, and Betty Brumbaugh wearing long Spring dresses and stylish hats posed in a field of bright yellow daffodils to help advertise the first ever Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival. Several days before the parade, Puyallup lawyer Herman Zander had still not selected a Festival Queen. Mrs. Elizabeth Lee Wooton of Puyallup was finally selected when he saw her stroll by his office window. Billye Fairchild was selected the Queen's attendant from Tacoma. In the early days of the Festival, pre-1950s, the Queen had to be from either Sumner or Puyallup. TPL-9812

Organizers of the first Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival in March of 1934 were not above using a little "cheesecake" to advertise their fledgling flower festival. Left to right, Frankie Cowan, Betty Brumbaugh and Billye Fairchild pose in thirties swimsuits in field of bright spring daffodils. The first festival was the brain child of Tacoman Lee Merrill and was loosely patterned on the Dutch flower festivals held around Easter. The 1934 event included the reign of the first Daffodil Queen, Elizabeth Lee Wooten, a parade (then called the "procession") and "Bulb Sunday," where visitors were invited to motor out to the fields and view the blossoms.

Three bathing beauties, left to right, Frankie Cowan, Betty Brumbaugh and Billye Fairchild, pose in the chilly spring air in their swimsuits and goosebumps amid the bright yellow daffodils. They are advertising the first annual Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival in March of 1934. The festivities, originated by Tacoman Lee Merrill, would include a Queen, a parade and a "Bulb Sunday." On Sunday, area residents were encouraged to motor out and view the daffodil fields. The first festival had a total budget of $600.

Frankie Cowan can hardly hold back a laugh. She is heartily enjoying posing in a field of bright Spring daffodils as a promotion for the first annual Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival in March of 1934. Miss Cowan is Frances Cowan, a saleswoman at the Peoples Store who resides at 621 So. Yakima Ave.

The World's Children. Bryant School children dressed in traditional costumes of other nations. (Argentum)

Public schools--Tacoma--1930-1940; School children--Tacoma--1930-1940; Bryant Elementary School (Tacoma); Classrooms--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Billye Fairchild, Frankie Cowan and Betty Brumbaugh pose in flowered spring gowns and picture hats in a field of yellow daffodils advertising the first Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival in March of 1934. The brainchild of Tacoman Lee Merrill, the first Festival had a tight budget of $600 and not many supporters. The parade, then called the procession, took place on March 17,1934. It began at Union Station and wound its way through downtown Tacoma, followed by Puyallup, Sumner & Orting. Area businesses and clubs, still recovering from the Great Depression, contributed decorated horses, bicycles, busses, autos and a few floats plus marching bands and drill units. The Queen, Elizabeth Lee Wooten, was selected a few days prior to the Festival as she walked down a city street in Puyallup. TPL-3148

Betty Brumbaugh poses with the air of a model for this promotional photograph for the first annual Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival in March of 1934. Betty is most probably Elizabeth Brumbaugh, listed in the 1934 City Directory as a saleswoman at the Peoples Store and residing at 424 No. Yakima. Elizabeth was the daughter of Rev. Roy T. Brumbaugh, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church. She later married Norman Donaghue and moved out of the state.

To honor fathers and sons of University Place and Day Island communities, the University Place School sponsored a banquet on March 2, 1934. The program included: music by Fred May's orchestra, Boy Scout demonstrations and motion pictures on scouting, boxing and songs.

University Place School (University Place); Banquets (University Place); Fathers & children (University Place);

Sherman School 1st Grade Class. The young students pose inside their classroom in March of 1934 with their teacher. The school was built in 1891. It was used by north end students for 63 years until a new school was built in 1953 at 4502 No. 39th St. (Argentum)

Sherman School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1930-1940; School children--Tacoma--1930-1940; Group portraits; Education--Tacoma; Classrooms--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Charles Purdy; Bar. People drinking in tent adorned with bare dangling lightbulbs, makeshift bar and keg. The tent drapes like something out of Arabian nights as the young company settles in for an evening of good cheer. Sandwich makings cover the end of the counter, and a dog begs for the bit of food in the posing man's hand. Spittoons have been thoughtfully set out for those so inclined. Stencilled signs on the back wall read, "We pay our waiters. Please don't tip them. They tip to (too) easy now!" and "NOTICE. At 10:30p.m. Ladies will join together and sing "Sweet Adeline." It looks as though a raucous good time will be had by all. The 1934 City Directory lists Charles Purdy as a maintenance man with the Tribune Publishing Co. and his residence as 714 Market., the YMCA.

Purdy, Charles; Tents; Alcoholic beverages; Bars--Tacoma--1930-1940;

An enthusiastic crowd watched in awe as the first Daffodil Parade rolled by in 1934. The parade, designed to use the leftover daffodil blooms that were formerly thrown away when the bulb was harvested, has become a much anticipated annual feature of the spring festival. There has been a parade every year since 1934, with the exception of the war years of 1943, 1944 and 1945. In 1934, the parade consisted of decorated horses, bicycles, flower covered automobiles and a few floats. It started at Union Station and continued uptown. It later travelled to Puyallup, Sumner and Orting. In this photograph, two flower bedecked automobiles pass by delighted spectators.

On March 17, 1934 at 1:30p.m. in the afternoon, the first Daffodil Parade rolled out from Union Station, proceeded uptown through Tacoma and later through Puyallup, Sumner and Orting and on into history. There has been a parade every year since 1934, with the exception of the war years of 1943, 1944 and 1945. The parade in 1934 was composed of decorated horses, bicycles, automobiles and floats. This vehicle covered with the early spring blossom was sponsored by the Lions Club, a civic organization.

Manning's Coffee supplied one of the most elaborate flower covered "floats" in the first annual Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival parade held on March 17, 1934. Still recovering from the Great Depression, most clubs and businesses were unable to contribute in a big way; decorated cars, busses, bicycles and horses were more common then traditional floats. Manning's Inc., located at 1102 Commerce, specialized in coffee; they also had a market at the same location and a restaurant at 258 So. 11th.

A young rider, dressed in chaps and a flower decorated hat, posed on a daffodil festooned horse ready to ride in the first annual Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival parade on March 17, 1934. The main viewing area was 11th & Pacific, where the parade passed with daffodil bedecked autos, busses, bicycles, carts and horses, as well as marching bands and drill teams. Still reeling from the Great Depression, business and club entries in the first parade were modest when compared to later years.

This daffodil decorated horse and driver were one of the entries in the first Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival parade in 1934. The two wheeled cart was advertising Will Rogers in the motion picture "David Harem" playing at the Roxy Theater. Most of the entries in the first parade were modest when compared to later years. The parade began at Union Station, travelled through downtown Tacoma then on to Puyallup, Sumner and Orting.

A child rode in the large wicker basket atop a flower bedecked automobile in the first Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival parade in March of 1934. The early Daffodil Festival parades were held in late March at a time when the golden daffodils were blooming profusely. This float was sponsored by Mannings Inc., a tea and coffee dealer. Few entries in that first parade were as lavish as this one. Awards were given in eight categories in 1934: best pony, best horse, best bicycle, best Valley Exhibit Car, best Garden Club float, best service club float and best commercial division float. Mannings took the best commercial float honors for their beautifully decorated entry. (T.Times 3-19-34, p. 1-article; p. 5-alternate photograph)

Fellow shipmates of Machinist Mate Carl Lischke pay tribute to the young sailor on March 19, 1934. His flag-draped casket is surrounded by floral displays. Lischke died on March 17, 1934, while his German warship, Karlsruhe, was docked in Tacoma. He had eaten spoiled fish which had just been delivered to him from Germany. Because the Karlsruhe would not be returning to Germany immediately, it was decided to bury Lischke at Mountain View Memorial Park. He left grieving relatives in his homeland as well as a Frankfort fraulein; Lischke would have been married in June. (T.Times 3-20-34, p. 1)

Cemeteries--Lakewood; Funeral rites & ceremonies--Lakewood; Coffins; Sailors--German;