Sweeping down without warning, an avalanche completely destroyed the Puget Sound Power & Light company power generating plant at Electron on the upper south fork of the Puyallup River at about 10:45 p.m. on November 23,1936. The slide broke the four gigantic metal tubes that carried water from the dam above the plant down the mountain, sending a terrific torrent of water through the power house. Although the plant sustained over $1 million in damage, none of the plant employees were badly injured. The generating plant was eventually re-built. (Puyallup Valley Tribune 11/24/1936 p.1)
Landslides--Electron; Avalanches--Electron; Disasters--Electron--1930-1940; Puget Sound Power & Light Co. (Electron);
The 1936 Christmas Toyland Parade kicked off in a genuine Puget Sound fog that almost demanded street lights. The Old Lady who lived in a shoe is almost obscured by the dense fog. This float is one of ten elaborate floats inhabited by Mother Goose characters. The parade also included 3 bands- Stadium High School, Lincoln HS and a union band. More that 75 fantastically costumed mannequins with large paper mache heads marched along with the parade. (T. Times 11/28/1936, pg. 11)
The 1936 Toyland Parade, the second annual parade held the day after Thanksgiving, kicks off in a pea soup Puget Sound fog. Pictured are some of the 75 costumed characters that march along with the parade. These clowns hold a sign stating "clowns from Toyland." The 1936 parade is 1/3 larger than the previous year and attended by thousands of anxious school children and their parents, awaiting the arrival of Santa Claus. (T. Times 11/28/1936, pg. 11)
J. Arthur Thompson family at their home "Holly Hedge" on Steilacoom Lake. Thompson in chair with daughter Jane (2), daughter Joan (8) and son Brewer (5) on left side, wife Helen (Peg) behind. Thompson was President of The Thompson Company and Mountain View Development Company. (T. Times 12/5/1936, pg 7)
Edward Olson, resident of Manette, was photographed in November of 1936 hard at work on his hobby, building a 66 inch model ship. The hull of the sailing vessel was painstakingly carved from a single block of wood. The figurehead was a intricately carved sea serpent and all of the reproductions of deck gear were carved by hand. He also carved miniatures of famous individuals to "man" his boat, such as Abraham Lincoln and Uncle Sam. Mr. Olson was retired after 24 years of service in the Puget Sound Navy yards. He was born in 1867 in Sweden. He begin working aboard ships at the age of sixteenth, signing on as a common seaman aboard the Swedish windjammers. (Bremerton Sun 1/30/1937, pg. 1).
Roy Lowe, featured subject on December 12, 1936 in the Bremerton Sun's "Around the Clock" column. Mr. Lowe was an experienced mattress maker and was associated with Wesley Grubb in the three month old Kitsap Mattress Co., a thriving new business at 136 First St. in Bremerton. The company made new mattresses and pillows and also rejuvenated old ones. The old mattresses were ripped apart and the cotton removed and put through a blowing machine, pictured, that picked it apart and blew it into a new ticking. The completed mattress was then tied, tufted and sewn. Mr. Lowe turned out 15 mattresses a day on average. He had 31 years experience in the mattress business. (Bremerton Sun 12/12/1936, pg. 1).
Children's Benevolent League Banquet in basement of Olympus Hotel. Serving staff are standing around long tables set for a banquet. A decorative tile floor and distinctive light fixtures are also shown.
Charitable organizations--Tacoma--1930-1940; Children's Benevolent League (Tacoma); Hotels--Tacoma; Restaurants--Tacoma; Olympus Hotel (Tacoma);
Mrs. John D.(Francis) Regester and her children, Jack, age 7 and Elizabeth, age 4 pose beside fireplace reading a book. John Regester was a dean at the College of Puget Sound. Mrs. Regester was president of the Tuesday Study Club and active in various CPS organizations. (T. Times 4/3/1937, society pages)
Christmas window display of hosiery at Lerner Shops. Sheer silk nylons available at 69 cents a pair for that special lady. Four thread silk chiffon nylons at 69 cents a pair made the perfect gift. A wide range of nylons in different colors displayed at prices ranging from 50 cents to 89 cents a pair. Dressing gowns on hangers accent the display.
Two Foss tugboats, the "Diamond B" and the "Foss No. 17" carefully moved a crane, mounted on a Foss barge, down the Puyallup Waterway in December of 1936. The crane was probably being delivered to the St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Company. The "Foss 17" had a fire monitor mounted on top of its pilothouse, and with her high pressure pump she helped put out many waterfront fires before being retired in 1965. (copy of photograph also numbered and filed as D3015- 1A)
Foss Tug and Barge Company tugboat "Diamond B" towing a Foss barge loaded with a large crane. Another tug is pushing the barge from behind. Industries in the background. (photographs in this series also cataloged under Series M64- images 2, 3 and 4) TPL-9557
Foss Tug and Barge Company tugboat "Diamond B" towing a large crane mounted on a Foss barge on the Puyallup Waterway. The Foss No. 17 is behind the crane, barely seen in this picture. Industries in background. (other pictures in this series under M64 images 2, 3 & 4)
T. Paul Strong, in tweed suit, and polka dot tie. Strong ran a grocery store at 247 Broadway and worked as a clerk at Rhodes Brothers' Department Store. (Argentum)
The members of Tacoma's "Mickey Mouse Band" were photographed in the Crystal Ballroom of the Hotel Winthrop in December of 1936. The band, in reality a youth orchestra, was made up of young musicians aged 10 - 17 years old. The Mickey Mouse Band was originally sponsored by the John Hamrick Theatres. It was organized in 1932 by Bill Conner, Assistant Hamrick Manager, who also directed. In 1935, Louis Wersen took over as director, assisted by Doug Tilton and Frank Anarde. They developed the group into a fine young orchestra. The Tacoma Times took over sponsorship in January of 1938. On January 18 the newspaper declared that the organizations name would be changed because Mickey Mouse was deemed "not appropriate for the organization as it exists today." (T. Times 1/6/1938, pg. 1)
Mickey Mouse Band (Tacoma); Youth orchestras--Tacoma--1930-1940; Children playing musical instruments; Musicians--Tacoma--1930-1940; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Chandeliers;
This photograph of Mr. & Mrs. Neil Henly was taken in December of 1935 just before they celebrated their golden wedding anniversary. Neil Henly married Marcella Catherine Rigney on December 31, 1885 at the Catholic church in Steilacoom. Hired as Guard #2 at McNeil Island penitentiary in 1883, Neil Henly later became superintendent of boats, a position he held for 22 years. He retired in 1921. The couple had seven children. Capt. Henly died in 1944. Mrs. Henly died in August of 1950. (T. Times 12/31/1935 p.12)
Mrs. John D.(Francis) Regester and children, Jack age 7 and Elizabeth age 4, at home. John Regester was a dean at the College of Puget Sound. (T. Times 4/3/1937, society pages)
Monarch Club banquet at the Winthrop Hotel, Presidential Suite. The Presidential Suite was the most elaborate of the 24 "parlor" suites in the Winthrop. The living room was finished in Philippine Mahogany with paneled plastered walls and special lighting fixtures. (WSHS)
Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Hotels--Tacoma--1930-1940; Monarch Club (Tacoma); Banquets--Tacoma--1930-1940;
The Foss #17 is shown carefully maneuvering a crane mounted on a Foss barge down the Puyallup Waterway in December of 1936. The Diamond B tug is in the lead. The crane is probably being delivered to the St. Paul and Tacoma Lumber Co. In the background is what appears to be St. Regis Paper Co. (Copy of photograph labelled & filed as D3015 image 4)
A large crane is mounted on a Foss barge as the Foss Tugboat, the Diamond B, prepares to tow it down the Puyallup Waterway in December of 1936. The East 11th Street Bridge is in the left background.
Lumber operations at St. Regis. Although photographer Boland's notes do not mention the location of this particular St. Regis Kraft Co. plant, it is probably the large concern in Tacoma as photographed in December of 1936. The Tacoma plant had been transformed into a modern facility for the production of 60,000 tons of bleached pulp per year. The company had spent a million dollars for new machinery and reconstruction. The pulp plant was operating by the end of November, 1936, with a crew of 250. The bleaching unit would open about three months later. (T.Times 11-25-36, p. 5-article)
St. Regis Paper Co. (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Paper industry--Tacoma--1930-1940; Lumber industry--Tacoma--1930-1940;
John A. Rea, the last survivor of Cornell University's first graduating class, the class of 1869, holds a large trophy from the school. The silver trophy was awarded to the class having the largest attendance at the annual reunion held in June 1936. As the only surviving member of his class, Mr. Rea represented his class 100 %. Mr. Rea never missed a Republican National convention since he first attended as a reporter in the late 1800s. He was a speaking acquaintance of all US presidents succeeding Cleveland til his death in 1941. An astute politician, he was the drafter of the constitution adopted by North Dakota on its addition to the Union in 1889. He came to Washington in 1890 and became editor and publisher of the Olympian and an advisor and close friend of Governor Ferry. He settled in Tacoma in the late nineties and worked in the timber and real estate businesses. Rea died February 20, 1941 at his home at 1112 No. 5th St. (T. Times 12/7/1936, pg. 10; 6/1/1936, pg. 1; T. Times 2/20/1941, pg. 1)
Rea, John A.; Alumni & alumnae--Cornell University--1930-1940; Awards;
Betty Bowers (back, left) is holding a Chinese fan and a toy rickshaw. Josephine Field (right) is holding both a painted box and a doll. Amy Langlow (front) is holding a glass fisherman's float. Both Josephine and Amy have on Chinese-styled robes. In December of 1936, the students in Miss Mary Nicholson's sixth grade class at Horace Mann Elementary School were studying the people and customs of China. The students in the class were encouraged to bring in items that they had at home that came from China.(T. Times 12/9/1936 p.5).
Horace Mann School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1930-1940; School children--Tacoma--1930-1940; Rickshaws; Dolls; Fans; Bowers, Betty; Field, Josephine; Langlow, Amy;
