On September 22, 1937, Isabel Smitley, with her husband Tacoma Mayor George Smitley decorated the winning race horse "Premier Jim" and congratulated his jockey in the winner's circle at the Western Washington Fair in Puyallup. The horse had just won the afternoon's feature event, the one-mile "Mayor Smitley" race for previous non-winning 3 year olds. They were posed on the grandstand grass during Tacoma Day at the Fair. (T. Times 9/23/37 p.1)

Western Washington Fair (Puyallup); Fairs--Puyallup--1940-1950; Mayors--Tacoma--1930-1940; Smitley, George A., 1872-1956; Horses--Puyallup; Race horses; Horse racing--Puyallup;

Tacoma Day at the Western Washington Fair, Puyallup. Paul Brachard, Tarzan in films, holds two children in his arms at the fair's "joy zone" where he's appearing as a wrestler. (T. Times, 9/23/1937, p.1)

Western Washington Fair (Puyallup); Fairs--Puyallup--1940-1950; Actors--Puyallup; Brachard, Paul;

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;

Over 56,000 people flocked to the Westen Washington Fair in Puyallup on Tacoma Day in September of 1937. Three little visitors, Tommy Veale and Bobby Glover of Bremerton and Patricia Ruth Gray of Tacoma were given instructions by attendant Clayton Osborne on how to drive a toy fire engine on the canvas-top, merry-go-round auto ride.

Fairs--Puyallup--1930-1940; Western Washington Fair (Puyallup); Merry-go-rounds--Puyallup; Veale, Tommy; Glover, Bobby; Gray, Patricia Ruth; Osborne, Clayton;

Tacoma Day at the Western Washington Fair, Puyallup. View of capacity crowd in grandstand. Designated fair days encouraged citizens to set record-breaking attendance for their city. On Tacoma Day, over 56,000 attended, handily beating Seattle's 26,000+ on their Day. Schoolchildren got the day off to attend and have fun. (T. Times, 9/23/27 p. 1)

Fairs--Puyallup--1930-1940; Western Washington Fair (Puyallup); Spectators--Puyallup; Grandstands--Puyallup;

As always, on Tacoma Day in 1937, food was a major part of the fun at the Puyallup Fair. The teenage and pre-teen students enjoying ice cream bars at a fair concession stand are (l to r) Lief Washburn, Shirley Hamblin, Beverly Anderson, Marjorie Duskie (the tall girl behind Beverly), Geraldine Anderson and Frances Alexander. The girl at the far right in the print dress was not identified. The turnstile registered over 56,000 fair goers on Tacoma Day, September 22, 1937 at the Western Washington Fair. (T.Times, 9/23/1937, p.1)

Fairs--Puyallup--1930-1940; Western Washington Fair (Puyallup); Washburn, Lief; Hamblin, Shirley; Anderson, Beverly; Duskie, Marjorie; Anderson, Geraldine; Alexander, Frances;

Tacoma Day at the Western Washington Fair, Puyallup. A rider allows two young boys to hold a horse's bridle rope. Barns, automobiles and a Puyallup Laundry truck in background.

Fairs--Puyallup--1930-1940; Western Washington Fair (Puyallup); Horses--Puyallup;

During Tacoma Day at the 1937 Western Washington Fair, three Lincoln High School boys have met three girls from Fife High School and are walking arm-in-arm through the fun-filled Fairway. The Fairway was added in 1932, with new rides, games of chance and side shows. Kids and adults alike are enjoying the thrill of being 45-feet up in the air on the two, 12-seat Eli Ferris wheels. Left to right: Vera Jean Hedderly, Ed Bergstrom, Eileen Ruscher, Bill Dellman, Jean Todd, and Orville Mahoskey. (T. Times 9/23/37, p.1)

Fairs--Puyallup--1930-1940; Western Washington Fair (Puyallup); Ferris wheels--Puyallup; Students--Puyallup--1930-1940;

Tacoma Day at the Western Washington Fair, Puyallup. A young man attempts to ring the bell at a "Test Your Strength" game at the fair. People in the crowd watch the marker rise on the scale. Over 50,500 people were in attendance on September 22, 1937, the designated Tacoma Day.

Fairs--Puyallup--1930-1940; Western Washington Fair (Puyallup);

Tacoma Day at the Western Washington Fair, Puyallup. View of crowd walking around littered fairgrounds. Two women, in center, wear tiny prize-type straw hats. Sign on building "See Tacoma 50 years ago." (T. Times)

Fairs--Puyallup--1930-1940; Western Washington Fair (Puyallup);

Fair booth, windows and overall, Carstens Packing Company, Mr. White. Carstens provided a large window display at the Puyallup Fair with labels for all the meats and cuts of meats shown. The two middle panels feature the processed foods made by the company: hot dogs, sausages, summer sausages and canned beef and gravy, corned beef hash, and chili con carne. The company advertised having locations in Tacoma, Seattle and Spokane.

Carstens Packing Co. (Tacoma); Western Washington Fair (Puyallup); Fairs--Puyallup--1940-1950; Meat; Meat cutting--Tacoma; Meat industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Window displays;

Fair booth, windows and overall, Carstens Packing Company, Mr. White. Carstens Tacoma location was 1623 East J Street. This window display shows meat hung in the back and how to cook meat using different methods along the front. From left to right, the meats are lamb, veal, beef rib, beef, pork exterior and pork interior. The cuts of meat shown on the raised tray in the middle are "party cuts" for special occasions.

Carstens Packing Co. (Tacoma); Western Washington Fair (Puyallup); Fairs--Puyallup--1940-1950; Meat; Meat cutting--Tacoma; Meat industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Window displays;

Fair booth, windows and overall, Carstens Packing Company, Mr. White. Carstens Tacoma location was 1623 East J Street. Carstens advertised their display at the Puyallup Fair in the Tacoma News Tribune with, "See all the delicious "nifty" - "thrifty" meat cuts. See the charts on How to Select Meats and How to Prepare Them! Free Booklets, too! It's a Carstens' feature, of course!" This part of their window display features meat before and after it has been cut into cooking-size pieces. (TNT, 9/17/1948, p.11)

Carstens Packing Co. (Tacoma); Western Washington Fair (Puyallup); Fairs--Puyallup--1940-1950; Meat; Meat cutting--Tacoma; Meat industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Window displays;

Mr. Chilson presented a huge display of dahlias at the Puyallup Fair in 1948. The flower types range from cactus to ball, anemone, water lily, pompon and decorative. The bouquets are arranged in baskets, vases and pots.

Western Washington Fair (Puyallup); Fairs--Puyallup--1940-1950; Agricultural exhibits--Puyallup--1940-1950; Flowers--Puyallup--1940-1950; Bouquets;

The annual Western Washington Fair was a time when communities in the area could display with pride fine examples of produce, sewing, and artwork made and grown locally. Dieringer, Rhodes Lake, Connell's Prairie and Milton products are pictured above in this October, 1919, photograph. The 20th annual Puyallup Fair ran from September 30 to October 5th. G74.1-070

Western Washington Fair (Puyallup); Fairs--Puyallup--1910-1920; Exhibitions--Puyallup--1910-1920; Agricultural exhibits--Puyallup--1910-1920; Signs (Notices);

We Stood Behind Our Boys read the sign hung between corn stalks aboard a small float pulled by a dog while at the 1919 Western Washington Fair. The float was patriotically decorated with a flag and star-filled bunting. It contained foliage and pumpkins. This was probably an entry from the Fife community as two young ladies at the foreground wear sashes with that city's name. Two boys in newsboys caps carry prime specimens of farm produce under their arms. G74.1-083

Fairs--Puyallup--1910-1920; Western Washington Fair (Puyallup); Dogs--Puyallup;

One of the large exhibits at the 1929 Western Washington Fair in Puyallup was the sixth International Egg Show. Four unidentified men in business attire stand next to rows of egg-filled cartons. Helpful hints for the consumer regarding egg freshness and cleanliness were posted as well as other information on a chalkboard. G74.1-060

Exhibitions--Puyallup--1920-1930; Western Washington Fair (Puyallup); Eggs;

1926 Western Washington Fair. The Washington Egg & Poultry Co-operative Assn. sponsored a large exhibit at the 1926 Western Washington Fair in Puyallup. Staffed by association members, the booth was filed with information charts and posters, pamplets and even boxes of eggs. G6.1-098

Western Washington Fair (Puyallup); Fairs--Puyallup--1920-1930; Exhibit booths--Puyallup; Washington Co-op Egg & Poultry Association (Tacoma);

This view of the grandstand at the Western Washington Fair was taken from across the track on September 19, 1926. The stands are packed with spectators including those lucky enough to have track-side seating. The Puyallup Fair in 1926 ran from September 13-19th. G74.1-074

Western Washington Fair (Puyallup); Fairs--Puyallup--1920-1930; Grandstands--Puyallup; Spectators--Puyallup;

1926 Western Washington Fair. This view, taken on September 19, the last day of the 1926 fair, is of an Acme Transfer & Storage Co. truck in the foreground with the fair's Grandstand and barns in the rear. Acme Transfer & Storage was a local Tacoma firm headquartered at 901 Tacoma Avenue South that was operated by Fred L. Sheldon. The truck is plastered at least on the one side showing with signage indicating the types of jobs accepted. G74.1-073; TPL-6343

Fairs--Puyallup--1930-1940; Western Washington Fair (Puyallup); Grandstands--Puyallup; Barns--Puyallup; Trucks--Puyallup--1920-1930; Acme Transfer & Storage Co. (Tacoma);

Gig Harbor Fair. This is a sample of the garden exhibits at the 1925 Gig Harbor Fair (Peninsula Fair). Flowers, fruits and vegetables were neatly displayed as well as an exhibit of chickens. Signs posted at the rear indicated that the Puyallup Fair was soon to be held from September 21-27th. TPL-193; G72.1-160; G72.1-128

Gig Harbor Fair (Gig Harbor); Fairs--Gig Harbor--1920-1930; Agricultural exhibits--Gig Harbor--1920-1930; Signs (Notices);

Gig Harbor Fair. The Warren Improvement Club had an impressive assortment of fruits, vegetables and canned items on display at the 1925 Gig Harbor Fair (Peninsula Fair) . Long shelves were filled with exhibited produce. TPL-692; G72.1-131

Gig Harbor Fair (Gig Harbor); Fairs--Gig Harbor--1920-1930; Agricultural exhibits--Gig Harbor--1920-1930;

4th annual Gig Harbor Fair. The Rosedale community had created a display packed with a variety of fruits and vegetables for the 1925 Gig Harbor Fair (Peninsula Fair). It reminded all that the friendly community of "Rosedale Always Has A Welcome." Rosedale, on Lay Inlet off Henderson Bay west of Gig Harbor, had been named in 1883 by W.E. White for the many roses that grew around the inlet. G72.1-148

Gig Harbor Fair (Gig Harbor); Fairs--Gig Harbor--1920-1930; Agricultural exhibits--Gig Harbor--1920-1930;

Egg exhibit. Oscar H. Swanson and an unidentified man are posed beside the egg exhibit at the 1925 Gig Harbor (Peninsula) Fair. Mr. Swanson (at left) was the founder of the Gig Harbor Washington Co-operative Association. Cartons and boxes of eggs are on display as well as two posters filled with information regarding the exacting standards these eggs are held to. The exhibit was sponsored by the Washington Cooperative Egg & Poultry Association. The poultry division attracted great attention during the three day fair which ran from September 11-13, 1925. The area shipped several carloads of eggs and chickens each month, making it one of the largest industries in the mostly rural community. (TNT 9-10-25, p. 26-article)

Gig Harbor Fair (Gig Harbor); Fairs--Gig Harbor--1920-1930; Eggs; Signs (Notices); Swanson, Oscar H.;

Gig Harbor Fair. An exhibit of caged poultry is highlighted by a painting or drawing of a chicken ranch set on grassy lawns with neighboring pond. These chickens were on display at the Gig Harbor Fair (Peninsula Fair) held from September 11-13, 1925. The poultry division attracted great attention as poultry raising was one of the largest industries in the peninsula. Signs placed nearby advertise the upcoming Western Washington Fair starting on September 21st. TPL-689; G72.1-128; G72.1-160 (TNT 9-10-25, p. 26-article)

Gig Harbor Fair (Gig Harbor); Fairs--Gig Harbor--1920-1930; Chickens--Gig Harbor; Poultry--Gig Harbor;

Ezra Meeker, with long white beard and cane, at the Western Washington Fair on September 17, 1926. Mr. Meeker was taking part in the celebration of Pioneer Day at the Western Washington Fairgrounds. Earlier that day, a bronze statue was dedicated in his honor at Pioneer Park in Puyallup. The Northwest pioneer had platted Puyallup in 1877 and established hop fields that would bring the hops trade to world prominence. TPL-7086

Western Washington Fair (Puyallup); Meeker, Ezra, 1830-1928; Fairs--Puyallup--1920-1930;

Yelm vegetable exhibit. A fine display of vegetables from Yelm was one of the exhibits at the 1923 Western Washington Fair in Puyallup. Long shelves were crowded with potatoes, gourds, carrots, cabbages and more. G74.1-048

Western Washington Fair (Puyallup); Fairs--Puyallup--1920-1930; Exhibit booths--Puyallup; Vegetables;

On October 2, 1923, a group of Pierce County mothers, and several fathers, patiently posed with their unclothed babies, while waiting to have their children examined by a health specialist as part of the 1923 Better Baby Contest at the Western Washington Fair. An annual event, the 1923 contest brought forth a bumper crop of over 700 contestants, between the ages of 6 and 48 months. Forty doctors and nurses, all child specialists, conducted exams and scored the infants. Sixty one received medals and certificates. Alice Rose McKinnon of Enumclaw, who turned one year old a week after the contest, was selected the winner with the only perfect score of 100. (TNT 10/3/1923, pg. 9- picture, TDL 10/4/23 and 10/5/23, pg. 1) TPL-5711 & 9392; G27.1-126

Western Washington Fair (Puyallup); Mothers & children; Infants; Contests--Puyallup--1920-1930;

The Republican Party hosted a booth at the 1923 Western Washington Fair to promote voter registration and remembrance of the importance of the party in American politics. The booth is festooned with flags and portraits of famous members of the Republican Party, including Presidents Lincoln and Harding. The current President was also a Republican, Calvin Coolidge, who succeeded to the office upon the untimely death of President Harding just two months prior. President Coolidge's framed portrait is on the center pillar. Copies of the National Republican were also stacked for distribution to fairgoers. This is the same photograph as Boland B8703 without the four women manning the booth. G74.1-067

Exhibit booths--Puyallup; Western Washington Fair (Puyallup); Fairs--Puyallup; Political parties--Puyallup; Flags--United States; Portrait photographs;

The Washington State Department of Health, Division of Child Hygiene, sponsored a booth at the 1923 Western Washington Fair that was crowded with posters, baby clothing and other supplies. Posters seem to advocate for parental health as well as for babies. G74.1-052

Western Washington Fair (Puyallup); Fairs--Puyallup--1920-1930; Exhibit booths--Puyallup;