The 14th annual North Pacific Saengerfest was held in Tacoma July 31st - August 2nd of 1936. Over 400 singers, and a thousand visitors, from Seattle, Portland, Spokane and other points in Eastern Washington gathered in Tacoma for the music festival. The Saengerfest was a German cultural festival featuring music and singing, especially choral singing. This large group photographed beside a steam locomotive and holding a flag was most probably the Arion chorus delegation from Spokane. The 11th Street Bridge can be seen in the background. (T. Times 7/31/1936, pg.1)
German Americans (Tacoma); North Pacific Saengerfest--Tacoma; Music festivals--Tacoma--1930-1940;
On September 1, 1936, all of the young people of Bremerton were headed back to school. Nine year old William Kempf, who was entering the third grade at the Navy Yard City School, was photographed getting "washed up" by his mother, Mrs.W. Kempf, preparatory to that all important first day at school. (Bremerton Sun 09-01-1936, pg. 1).
Mrs. W.E. (Mae) Rawlings and Pat Williams for Stimpson Motor Co. (per Richards Studio notes) Stimpson Motor Co. was listed in the City Directory as Stimpson Boys, auto dealers, at 1215-17 A St. The company was owned by Herbert E., Herbert Jr. and Bill E. Stimpson. (WSHS)
Stimpson Motor Co. (Tacoma); Rawlings, Mae; Williams, Pat;
Lloyd E. "Connie" Ireland, Constable of the Justice Court and World War I veteran, posed for the Tacoma Times after his election in August of 1936 as "Golden Rodent." Mr. Ireland was chosen by ballot in Seattle to serve as the Golden Rodent of the National Order of Trench Rats, Sector #13, of the Washington Disabled American World War Veterans (DAV). According to Mr. Ireland, the Order of Trench Rats was an honorary organization in the DAV. Washington boasted the nation's second largest membership in this group, second only to Minnesota. Prior to this recent election, Mr. Ireland served as silver rodent. (T. Times 8/15/1936, pg. 10) (Argentum)
Ireland, Lloyd E.; Disabled American World War Veterans, National Order of Trench Rats, Sector 13 (Wash.); Veterans' organizations--Tacoma--1930-1940;
First graders Patricia Hansen, left, and Patsy Ann Reeser had just finished their first day of first grade, September 1, 1936, at Hillcrest School in Bremerton and declared it "fun" and could hardly wait to go back. Equipped with pencils, paper and notebooks, wearing new clothes and shiny faces, they had arrived for their first day full of self importance and a feeling of independence. The first day ended at noon, when the kids were allowed to return home for lunch and play. (Bremerton Sun 09-03-1936, pg. 1)
School children--Bremerton; Girls; Hansen, Patricia; Reeser, Patsy Ann;
Harry L. Hopkins, in chair, Federal Relief Administrator and aide to President Franklin Delano Roosevelt with brothers John and Lewis and another man during an extended visit to Tacoma. Lewis Hopkins was a Tacoma physician. John Hopkins was a treasury department employee in Portland. The other man is most likely Lt. Cmdr. D.B. Duncan, from the USS Saratoga, a brother-in-law of Harry Hopkins. Harry Hopkins resigned from the Works Progress Administration (WPA) in 1938 to become Secretary of Commerce. He was appointed special assistant to the president by President Roosevelt in 1941. He submitted a letter of resignation to President Truman on July 2, 1945. Harry L. Hopkins died on January 29, 1946. His granddaughter, June Hopkins, wrote a biography entitled "Harry Hopkins: Sudden Hero, Brash Reformer" in 1999. Sepia photograph taken in August, 1936. ALBUM 2. (T. Times 9/14/1936, pg. 1)
Hopkins, Harry L., 1890-1946; Hopkins, Lewis; Hopkins, John; Families--Tacoma--1930-1940;
Nearly 300 Tacoma Times carriers hang from every surface of the passenger steamer "Concordia" chartered for the group's annual picnic at Redondo Beach on August 2, 1936. Some have already disembarked and wait on the dock. Boys and girls attired in swimsuits sit on a ramp on the lower half of the steamer. The Times sponsored several functions during the year for their youthful carriers. (T.Times 8/3/1936 p.14)
National Checkers Champion Willie Ryan; in Tacoma to play an exhibition game on the new mammoth checker board at the north end of Wright Park in August of 1936. (T. Times 8/4/1936 p.14).
In August of 1936, as spectators watched, National Checker Champion Willie Ryan played an exhibition game on the new mammoth checker board at the north end of Wright Park. The board, twelve feet on each side, was constructed of concrete and laid on the grass, level with the ground. The playing surface was eight feet square and colored black and white. The outer edge was green and served as a platform for the players. The checkers were designed by A. J. Lemenc and were made of veneer, with half colored yellow and half red. They were 7 inches in diameter and weighed 8 oz. They had a two inch hole in the center with a wire loop protruding in an arch. A wooden stick with a wire hook on the end was used to move the checkers. Willie Ryan was the first to play on the new board. (T. Times 8/4/1936 p.14).
Willie Ryan, right, appears lost in thought as he plays an exhibition game on the new mammoth checker board at the north end of Wright Park in August of 1936. The concrete board was 12 feet square with a playing surface of 8 feet square bordered by a green apron where players stood. Its squares were colored black and white. (T. Times 8/4/1936 p.14).
Tacoma's Norwegian community hosted a trip to Mount Tacoma (Rainier) on August 9, 1936 for several hundred delegates to the Sons of Norway and Daughters of Norway Convention which had just concluded in Seattle. After the trip to The Mountain, the group came to Tacoma for a banquet at Normanna Hall. The group, which was comprised of Norwegian-Americans from all parts of the United States, is pictured on a rise at Paradise Valley with the Nisqually Glacier in the background. (T. Times 8/10/1936, pg. 10)
Norwegian Americans; Rainier, Mount (Wash.); Sons of Norway (Tacoma); Daughters of Norway (Tacoma);
Norwegian Americans from the Eastern and Pacific Coasts on a sightseeing trip to Mount Rainier, after concluding their national convention in Seattle. Ten women standing and reading in a meadow with the mountain and trees framing the background. (T. Times 8/10/1936, pg.3)
Norwegian Americans; Rainier, Mount (Wash.); Sons of Norway (Tacoma); Daughters of Norway (Tacoma);
Paradise Lodge with the ridge in the background. Photograph taken in conjunction with tour of the area by Norwegian Americans in Seattle for a convention in August of 1936. (T. Times 8/10/1936, pg. 3)
Norwegian Americans; Rainier, Mount (Wash.); Sons of Norway (Tacoma); Daughters of Norway (Tacoma); Paradise Lodge (Wash.);
Five Norwegian Americans, moved by the beauty of Mount Rainier (called Mount Tacoma then by locals), express their sentiments in song while on a visit to The Mountain in August of 1936. They were part of a larger group that had attended a nationwide convention of the Sons and Daughters of Norway in Seattle. The men can also be seen in another photograph, D1719, image 3.
Singers; Norwegian Americans; Rainier, Mount (Wash.); Sons of Norway;
Norwegian Americans seemed dwarfed by the immensity of Mount Rainier in this photograph taken in Paradise Valley. The group was here from across the nation for a convention in Seattle. It concluded with this tour of our natural wonders hosted by the Tacoma group. Vertical image of people at Mt. Rainier lodge, "Mount Tacoma" (name preferred by Tacomans) and trees in background. (T. Times 8/10/1936, pg. 3)
Norwegian Americans; Rainier, Mount (Wash.); Sons of Norway (Tacoma); Daughters of Norway (Tacoma);
The hills are alive as a group of Norwegian Americans is moved to song by the grandeur of Mount Rainier in 1936. The group was hosted by Tacoma Norwegians. Group of 14 men and one woman singing in a meadow in the Paradise Valley. (T. Times 8/10/1936, pg. 3)
Norwegian Americans; Rainier, Mount (Wash.); Sons of Norway (Tacoma); Daughters of Norway (Tacoma); Singers;
McKinley Playfield. Handicrafts instructor, Jack Svendsen, observes a recreation director working with a large group of children on a craft project. A dog relaxes in the shade of the table covered with an array of crafts. (T. Times 8/19/1936, pg. 1)
In this photograph from August of 1936, Dolores Hansen sits on the wooden steps of her home next to her mother cat who is nursing five motherless puppies. The mamma cat protectively shields her charges from the photographer. The cat took over as the mother to the litter of puppies when their real canine mother was poisoned. The mother cat had recently given birth to a single kitten. (T. Times 8/18/1936 p.1)
Hansen, Dolores; Children & animals--Tacoma--1930-1940; Cats; Dogs;
Dorothy Hill, 12, and her sister Jean, 10, display their Indian bead loom work. The older girl holds a bracelet that she has made, while the younger girl works on the loom. The girls are participating in a summer craft program at McKinley Playfield sponsored by Metropolitan Parks and the WPA Recreation Dept. (T. Times 8/19/1936, pg. 1)
Parks--Tacoma--1930-1940; McKinley Playfield (Tacoma); Dogs; Handicraft--Tacoma--1930-1940; Arts & crafts; Hill, Dorothy; Hill, Jean;
Surrounded by an enthusiastic group of boys and girls, Jack Svendsen was one of the artists who took part in Tacoma's city wide art and handicraft program sponsored by the Metropolitan Park Board and the WPA Recreation Department during the summer of 1936. Mr. Svendsen, a Norwegian born architect and artist, was teaching the young people at McKinley Park how to make silhouette cut-outs. (T. Times 8/19/1936, pg. 1- see newspaper article for childrens' names.)
Dolores Hansen sitting on the wooden steps of her home with her black and white house cat that is nursing five motherless puppies. The question is will the puppies learn to bark or meow? The Hansen's cat came to the rescue of the litter of puppies when the Hansen's mother dog was poisoned shortly after giving birth. The mother cat had recently given birth to a single kitten and welcomed the puppies as brothers and sisters to her only child. As the puppies grew, mamma cat also took over their training - teaching them to chase mice and such. The Hansens gave away all but two of the puppies. The pups still take their meals side by side with the kitten. The whole family is watching the puppies' behavior anxiously to see just how they turn out. (T. Times 8/18/1936 p.1)
Hansen, Dolores; Children & animals--Tacoma--1930-1940; Cats; Dogs;
Seven-year-old Owen Dickson, with his dog, Coachie, is working on a picture tracing in this photograph taken at McKinley Playfield in August of 1936. Owen was taking part in a summer crafts program jointly sponsored by the Metropolitan Parks and the WPA Recreation Department. Children were taught drawing, handicrafts and other hobbies. (T. Times 08-19-1936 p.1).
A trio of girls show off a completed basket. The girls learned basket weaving in a craft program at McKinley Playfield. The activity was part of a city wide program sponsored in Tacoma parks and playfields by the Metropolitan Park Board and the WPA Recreation Department. The girl in the center has been tentatively identified as Ruth Field. (T. Times 8/19/1936, pg. 1) TPL-9234
Parks--Tacoma--1930-1940; McKinley Playfield (Tacoma); Handicraft--Tacoma--1930-1940; Arts & crafts;
The 4-H Club ice cream stand was a popular stop on Friday August 21, 1936 at the 9th annual Washington Cooperative Association picnic held in Sumner. 2000-3000 farmers and grange members attended the all-day affair. Three county commissioners (l to r) A.A. Rankin, John Schlarb, and Harvey Scofield were all two-fisted cone eaters. They were served by (l to r) Marion McChesney, Elsa Wahlquist, and her sister Edna.
Washington Cooperative Farmers Association (Tacoma); Picnics--Sumner--1930-1940; Ice cream & ices; 4-H Club, Pierce County Chapter; McChesney, Marion; Rankin, A.A.; Wahlquist, Elsa; Schlarb, John; Wahlquist, Edna; Scofield, Harvey;
The lounge at the Tacoma Yacht Club after the 1936 remodeling by Silas E. Nelsen, Architect. Glass cases holding trophies flank the brick fireplace, which has canvas and a model of a sailing ship above it. The fireplace is a representation of a ship's mast, complete with booms of oak and belaying pins. The sun porch over the waterway was accessible through the lounge. (T. Times 8/21/1936, pg.1) (photo filed with Argentum)
Tacoma Yacht Club (Tacoma); Point Defiance Park (Tacoma); Silas E. Nelsen Architects (Tacoma);
Over the years the Tacoma Yacht Club has had several homes. This is the Yacht club as it looked in August, 1936. The club house was originally built around 1916 as the office for Seabourne Shipyards. It was moved to this site for the Yacht Club by scow in 1923, and remodeled by Carl August Darmer, Architect. In 1936 it was remodeled for a second time by Silas Nelsen, Architect, as a modern 3 story structure. The second floor featured a 50 x 35 foot sun porch, glassed in on 2 sides. The first floor contained the quarters of Capt. and Mrs. Swanson. Capt. Swanson was the club caretaker. The 2nd floor contained the lobby, lounge and billiard room. The upper floor was a dance hall. (T. Times 8/21/1936, pg.1) (photo filed with Argentum)
Tacoma Yacht Club (Tacoma); Point Defiance Park (Tacoma); Silas E. Nelsen Architects (Tacoma);
Doris Lee and Bobby Seeber may not be riding a bicycle built for two, but she appears comfortable sitting in the front basket of the boy's bicycle. The pair enjoy ice cream cones at an area farmers' picnic in Sumner. A day off was declared by Pierce County farmers in August of 1936 as they and their families and friends attended the 9th annual picnic sponsored by area agricultural organizations and the County Agent's office. (T. Times 8/22/1936 p. 1) Series D1721, Image 6 has been enlarged and cropped to make the figures more prominent in this version.
Washington Cooperative Farmers Association (Tacoma); Lee, Doris; Seeber, Bobby; Picnics--Sumner--1930-1940; Children riding bicycles & tricycles--Sumner--1930-1940; Ice cream & ices; Children eating & drinking--1930-1940;
The Cammarano Brothers firm, Tacoma-Seattle distributors of Schlitz beer, were honored at the Schlitz "Vitamin D" banquet held at "The Firs" on August 21, 1936. The Cammarano Brothers were longtime distributors and bottlers in Tacoma whose delivery trucks were a common sight in town. They also distributed other beers including Rainier, Pabst and Hamms as well as carbonated beverages. G33.1-044; TPL-214 (Photograph courtesy of the William Cammarano Collection)
This view of the boat moorage and clubhouse of the Tacoma Yacht Club, located at the east tip of Point Defiance Park just north of Ruston, dates from August of 1936. The clubhouse had just been remodeled from plans by Silas E. Nelsen, Architect. The three story building had a lounge, billiard room and 50 X 35 foot sun porch, with an unobstructed view of the Puget Sound, on the second floor; the top floor housed the dance hall. A completely new club building was built in 1971. (T. Times 8/21/1936, pg. 1)
Tacoma Yacht Club (Tacoma); Point Defiance Park (Tacoma); Silas E. Nelsen Architects (Tacoma);
The billiard room at the Tacoma Yacht Club, interior of the building after remodeling by Silas E. Nelsen, Architect. A panorama of small craft moored in the Puget Sound is framed by the room's window. The billiard room is furnished in ivory and accented with blue upholstery. (T. Times 8/21/1936, pg. 1)
Tacoma Yacht Club (Tacoma); Point Defiance Park (Tacoma); Silas E. Nelsen Architects (Tacoma);
