Seated next to a portrait of President Lincoln, and assisted by a nurse, Johnny Wray, a 92-year-old Civil War veteran, chatted with an unidentified man about his early life. When this photograph was taken in February of 1936, Mr. Wray was living at the Washington Soldiers' Home in Orting. He was a first cousin to Stephen A. Douglas, and at the age of 14 he was present for one of the famous Lincoln-Douglas debates. He joined the army when 17, but only served four months "traipsing through the wood," and never fired a shot. Mr. Wray died October 18, 1937 at the age of 94. (T. Times 2/12/1936, pg. 1; T. Times 10/19/1937, pg. 1)

Wray, John; Veterans; Civil War, U.S., 1861-1865--Veterans--Tacoma; Aged persons;

Ralph Lougheed, wearing raincoat, rainhat and fishing waders with rod in hand, stands by pole holding six Steelhead trout, in front of Washington Hardware. Mr. Lougheed is a salesman at Washington Hardware. The large trout in the center, almost 15 pounds, was taken by Sgt. S.M. Ice from the Nisqually River at the mouth of Muck Creek. The others were caught in the Nisqually and Puyallup Rivers. All were taken on light tackle and entered in the All Tacoma Steelhead Derby, sponsored by local sporting goods stores. For Elliott Metcalf. (T. Times 2/12/1936, pg. 11)

Washington Hardware Co. (Tacoma); Fishing--1930-1940; Trout; Lougheed, Ralph;

Members of the sales, service and office crew of Kerr Motors in Bremerton. The group portrait of the staff, 21 men and three women, was taken to commemorate the Grand Opening March 6, 1936 of Kerr's new modern one stop service station on 4th St., near Washington Ave. Pictured left to right in the picture are, front row, William Weber, Sig Ness, Lincoln Morse, Paul Peirson, Harold Johnson and Earl Spiecker. Middle row- Everett West, Leslie Mottram. Les Klesper, Lorieta Mogford, S.L. Kerr-owner, Marie Gilbert, Frank McCarty, Charles Taylor and Loren Brown. Back row- Kenneth Spotts, Joe Thomas, Carlos Burton, Edgar Sandstrom, Vera Lamb, Arthur Hupp, Vernon Arndt, Earl Dyer and Joe Dick. The three year old company was growing rapidly, selling new Fords and used cars as well as supplies and service. The service station was located across the street from the dealership. For Bremerton Sun. (Bremerton Sun 3/5/1936, pg. 1)

Automobile dealerships--Bremerton--1930-1940; Kerr, Motors--Bremerton;

Johnny Wray, 92- year-old Civil War veteran seated beside a portrait of Abraham Lincoln. Mr. Wray, a resident of the soldiers' home in Orting, recalls being rebuked by President Lincoln in Illinois for running away from home to join the Union Army in the Civil War. Seventeen years old when the war broke out, Mr. Wray served four months in the army, in his words "traipsing through the woods chasing bushwhackers" and never fired a shot. He has nine living children and three of his daughters live in Pierce County. He spends most of his time sitting in a chair smoking his pipe, but he also enjoys his daily walk. John Wray died October 18/1937 at the soldiers' home in Orting at the age of 94. (T. Times 2/12/1936, pg. 1; T. Times 10/19/1937, pg. 1)

Wray, John; Veterans; Civil War, U.S., 1861-1865--Veterans--Tacoma; Aged persons;

Phyllis Ann Potter, age eight, eagerly awaits her "second" birthday on February 29th, 1936. Because she was born in a leap year, 1928, her actual birthday only comes around every four years. Phyllis is the daughter of Herbert and Louise Potter. On her next birthday, in 1940, she hopes to be an accomplished tap dancer. (T. Times, 2/13/1936, p. 1)

Potter, Phyllis Ann; Birthdays--1930-1940; Leap years;

Phyllis Ann Potter, age eight, held two huge candles as she eagerly waited for her second birthday , February 29,1936. Being born in a leap year, Miss Potter had to wait four years for each birthday to roll around. Her next birthday would not be until February 29, 1940. On non leap years, she celebrated her birthday on March 1st. Miss Potter is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Potter of 1008 No. Steele St. and at the time this photograph was taken she hoped to become a tap dancer. (T. Times, 2/13/1936, p. 1)

Potter, Phyllis Ann; Birthdays--1930-1940; Leap years;

Lou Henry (Mrs. Herbert) Hoover, Honorary National President of the Girl Scouts and former first lady, presents the "Golden Eaglet," the highest award in scouting, to Dorothy Bachelor on February 16, 1936. Helen Cannon, guard of honor, and Dorothy Hitchcock watch over the ceremony which was held in the Crystal Ballroom at the Hotel Winthrop. Mrs. Hoover spent the weekend in Tacoma, one of several trips she made to the city of behalf of the Girl Scouts. (T.Times, 2/17/1936, p. 9). ALBUM 1

Presidents' spouses; Hoover, Lou Henry, 1875-1944; Girl Scouts (Tacoma); Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Bachelor, Dorothy; Cannon, Helen; Hitchcock, Dorothy; Awards;

Lou Henry (Mrs. Herbert) Hoover, National President of the Girl Scouts and former first lady, flanked by Tacoma Girl Scout Commissioner. Dorothy (Mrs. B.E.) Buckmaster (right in photo) and Mrs. Otis B. Wright during ceremony at Crystal Ballroom of the Hotel Winthrop. (T.Times, 2/17/1936, p. 9). ALBUM 1

Presidents' spouses; Hoover, Lou Henry, 1875-1944; Buckmaster, Dorothy G.; Girl Scouts (Tacoma); Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

On February 16, 1936, Lou Henry (Mrs. Herbert) Hoover, wife of the former President and honorary national president of the Girl Scouts, met with the scouts of Tacoma-Pierce County. She presented the Golden Eaglet badge, the highest award in scouting, to Dorothy Bachelor during a ceremony in the Crystal Ballroom of Tacoma's Winthrop Hotel. Helen Cannon (left) and Dorothy Hitchcock of the Mariner ship "Spray" were guards of honor for the ceremony. (T. Times, 2/17/1936, p. 9).

Presidents' spouses; Hoover, Lou Henry, 1875-1944; Girl Scouts (Tacoma); Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Bachelor, Dorothy; Cannon, Helen; Hitchcock, Dorothy;

Lou Henry (Mrs. Herbert) Hoover, Honorary Vice- President of the Girl Scouts, greets a line of Scouts during a ceremony in the Crystal Ballroom of Tacoma's Hotel Winthrop. She appears to be holding back a smile at an eager young Scout. Mrs. Hoover addressed the crowd and presented a coveted "Golden Eaglet" award. ALBUM 1.

Presidents' spouses; Hoover, Lou Henry, 1875-1944; Girl Scouts (Tacoma);

Two women assembling rare plants at Hollycroft Gardens in Gig Harbor. (Bremerton Sun).

Hollycroft Gardens (Gig Harbor); Gardens--Gig Harbor--1930-1940; Plants--Bremerton;

Bremerton dentist Dr. Renus Bender double checked the calendar, making sure that it was set for his ninth birthday, February 29, 1936. Although he was forty years old, he was born during a leap year, on a date that only rolls around every four years. Dr. Bender was born in Manette on February 29, 1896. His birthday was so rare that in the 20,527 births registered in Kitsap County from 1890-1936, his was the only birth on February 29th. (Bremerton Sun 02/28/1936, pg. 1).

Bender, Renus; Dentistry--Bremerton; Leap years; Birthdays--Bremerton;

On February 2, 1936, toll collector E.T. Rice, solemn faced in his black uniform and jaunty hat, was on the lookout for "chislers," those not paying to cross the Bremerton-Manette bridge. Mr. Rice was the manager of the bridge and pulled an eight hour shift in the toll house, and had done so for the six years since the bridge opened. During the day shift, he might have 134 cars and 260 pedestrians cross the bridge; during the night or early morning hours maybe only a dozen. The Navy Yard rush in the morning and evening kept the collector busy. Aside from the "chiselers," the potential for robberies and suicides kept the collector on the ball. (Bremerton Sun 4/17/1936, pg. 2)

Rice, E.T.; Toll bridges--Bremerton;

Hollycroft Gardens at Gig Harbor, woman admires rare plants. For Bremerton Sun. (filed with Argentum)

Hollycroft Gardens (Gig Harbor); Gardens--Gig Harbor--1930-1940; Plants--Bremerton;

Awarding of silver beaver medal to Superior Court Judge Ernest M. Card by Tacoma Boy Scout council. Left to right, Bill Reynolds, Eagle Scout; U. E. Harmon, president Tacoma area council; Judge Card, president of Tacoma Boy Scouts; and Robert Mitchell, Sea Scout. Judge Card received the award on February 19, 1936, for outstanding long service to youth. (T. Times, 2/20/1936, p. 18).

Boy Scouts (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Card, Ernest M.; Reynolds, Bill; Harmon, U.E.; Mitchell, Robert; Awards; Judges--Tacoma--1930-1940; Flags--United States;

Hollycroft Gardens at Gig Harbor, man admires rare plants. For Bremerton Sun. (filed with Argentum)

Hollycroft Gardens (Gig Harbor); Gardens--Gig Harbor--1930-1940; Plants--Bremerton;

Javanese Art Exhibit opening, in the Tacoma Art Association gallery at the College of Puget Sound. Ellen (Mrs. Albert H.) Hooker, Jr., member of the Junior League, standing beside a Javanese hand-made puppet. Ellen Hooker, an artist, is widely recognized for her miniature portrait paintings. (T. Times, 2/22/1936, p. 7).

Tacoma Art Association (Tacoma); Aloha Club (Tacoma); Hooker, Ellen; Art objects; Art exhibitions;

The opening of the Javanese Art Exhibit, Tacoma Art Association gallery at the College of Puget Sound. Beatrice Turrell, president of the Aloha Club, and Mrs. A. D. E. Beck, artist, standing in front of quilt/wall hanging. Mrs. Beck is a prominent Northwest artist. The Aloha Club sponsored the exhibit. (T.Times, 2/22/1936, p. 7).

Tacoma Art Association (Tacoma); Aloha Club (Tacoma); Art objects; Art exhibitions; Turrell, Beatrice;

The opening of the Javanese Art Exhibit, the fourth exhibit of the winter, given by the Tacoma Art Association at their gallery at the College of Puget Sound. Marietta (Mrs Hunter) Kennard, president of the Tuesday Study Club and president of the Aloha Club 1934-35, stands beside an unusual cut leather sculpture of a Javanese shadow dancer. The Aloha Club sponsored the opening. The exhibit will run until the first of March. (T.Times, 2/22/1936, p. 7).)

Tacoma Art Association (Tacoma); Aloha Club (Tacoma); Kennard, Marietta; Art objects; Art exhibitions;

Dr. Nickelsen with a caged lynx that he captured. (T. Times)

Animals - Lynx

East 34th Street Bridge (West) under construction. Worker riding on overhead construction material delivery system. (T. Times).

Bridges--Tacoma--1930-1940; East 34th Street Bridge (West)--Tacoma;

East 34th Street Bridge (West) under construction. Scaffolding being erected, neighborhood in background. This bridge was located east of Pacific Avenue and was set to cover the 160-foot deep gulch separating the north end of the McKinley Hill District from Pacific Avenue. The new bridge would cost $123,000. (T. Times).

Bridges--Tacoma--1930-1940; East 34th Street Bridge (West)--Tacoma; Bridge construction--Tacoma--1930-1940;

110 WPA (Works Progress Administration) workers were used to build, mostly by hand, the section of South Tyler Street that stretched from Snake Lake to South 66th Street. The WPA, created by order of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, was a relief measure designed to put the millions unemployed during the Depression to work in a wide variety of programs such as the road construction above. These men were pictured in late February of 1936 pushing wheelbarrows full of dirt under the supervision of F.A. Halveson, standing at extreme right in boots, dark jacket and hat. Once completed, the road would measure 30 feet wide with a gravel surface.

Halveson, F.A.; Works Progress Administration (Tacoma); Road construction--Tacoma--1930-1940; Laborers--Tacoma;

In February of 1936 a crew of 110 W.P.A. workers, pushing wheelbarrows, were hard at work building the section of South Tyler that stretches from Snake Lake to South 66th Street. Build almost entirely by hand labor, the new section of road was designed to open a large area west of South Tacoma. It was also hoped that the new road would lighten the traffic on South Union Avenue. F.A. Halveson, the project supervisor (second from right, hands in pants pockets) estimated that the work would take another four months. When finished the road would be 30 feet wide with a gravel surface. (T. Times 3/7/1936 p.9).

Halveson, F.A.; Works Progress Administration (Tacoma); Road construction--Tacoma--1930-1940; Wheelbarrows; Laborers--Tacoma;

East 34th Street Bridge (West) under construction. Scaffolding being erected, neighborhood in background. Building with sign advertising Pyramid Flour painted on side. The planned bridge will be the longest single concrete arch bridge in Western Washington and the second longest in the state. It is designed to be 485 feet long and 150 feet high. (T. Times 11/18/1935, pg. 14).

Bridges--Tacoma--1930-1940; East 34th Street Bridge (West)--Tacoma;

East 34th Street Bridge (West) under construction. Clamshell bucket digging excavation at footing, workers in trench. (T. Times).

Bridges--Tacoma--1930-1940; East 34th Street Bridge (West)--Tacoma;

By February of 1936 work was well underway on the new, $123,000 East 34th Street Bridge (West) just east of Pacific Avenue. Using a high-line strung between two four-legged towers, stringers and pilings could be easily maneuvered into place over the 160 foot deep gulch that separated the north end of the McKinley Hill District from Pacific Avenue. Ten thousand Tacomans attended the official dedication ceremony in October of 1936. Eleven years later, in 1947, work finally began to replace the other high bridge on East 34th Street, the one spanning "Tacoma Eastern Gulch"; this second bridge was dedicated in 1948. (TNT 2/10/1036 p.1).

Bridges--Tacoma--1930-1940; East 34th Street Bridge (West)--Tacoma;

This photograph from February 1936 shows William Pitcher (left center), the WPA foreman for the Fort Nisqually reconstruction project at Point Defiance Park, receiving a gold watch from G. A. Baker, the woods foreman on the project. The watch was a gift from the workers at the fort. Fort Nisqually was relocated to Point Defiance Park with the help of the Young Men's Business Club of Tacoma, the Chamber of Commerce, and several federally subsidized work relief programs. The project, whose cost exceeded $150,000 during the depression, created many needed jobs for men out of work. (T.Times, 2/26/1936, p. 7).

Point Defiance Park (Tacoma); Fort Nisqually (Tacoma); Depressions--1929; Administrative agencies--Tacoma; Works Progress Administration (Tacoma); Pitcher, William; Baker, G.A.;

Fort Nisqually reconstruction. Works Progress Administration ( W.P.A.) foreman William Pitcher goes over plans for the factor's house with A. D. Fay, chairman of the Young Men's Business Club (Y.M.B.C.) Fort Nisqually committee; Kingston Lister, and Herbert Syford, former chairman, and Arnold Andreasen, chairman of the Fort Nisqually celebration committee. (T. Times, 2/26/1936, p. 7)

Point Defiance Park (Tacoma); Fort Nisqually (Tacoma); Depressions--1929; Administrative agencies--Tacoma; Works Progress Administration (Tacoma); Pitcher, William; Fay, A.D.; Lister, Kingston; Syford, Herbert; Andreasen, Arnold;

The WPA (Works Progress Administration), a federal work relief program enacted in 1935, put millions of unemployed on the federal payroll with public work jobs. In Tacoma in 1936, streets such as South Tyler were extended and work conducted at Point Defiance Park. This February, 1936, picture shows a number of laborers hard at work shoveling dirt from a hillside at Point Defiance into wheelbarrows. To employ as many men as possible, much of the work was done by hand instead of machine.

Works Progress Administration (Tacoma); Laborers--Tacoma; Point Defiance Park (Tacoma); Depressions--1929;