Delegates from the 40 et 8 organizations in Washington and Oregon are gambling on a great "interstate wreck" at the Winthrop Hotel in Tacoma. Planned events for the February 20, 1937 meeting are the initiation of the "goofs," the new members, at the Masonic Temple and the banquet and entertainment at the Winthrop. (T. Times 2/29/1937, pg. 1; 2/22/1937, pg. 12)

American Legion (Tacoma); Veteran's organizations--Tacoma--1930-1940; 40 et 8 auxiliary (Tacoma); Meetings--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Photograph from formal event during the 40 et 8 convention at the Winthrop Hotel, February 20, 1937.

American Legion (Tacoma); Veteran's organizations--Tacoma--1930-1940; 40 et 8 auxiliary (Tacoma); Meetings--Tacoma--1930-1940;

The 40 et 8, the fun division of the American Legion, has gathered in Tacoma for its fifth annual "interstate wreck" February 20, 1937. Pictured are members Frank Callender, former police chief, in smock and Arnold Leverenz, organist, at the keyboard. Mr. Leverenz was a well known musician who was the organist for the Pantages Theater. Members were known for their outlandish costumes and parades. (T. Times 2/19/1937, pg. 1; 2/22/1937, pg. 12) (Corrected identification provided by a reader)

American Legion (Tacoma); Veteran's organizations--Tacoma--1930-1940; 40 et 8 auxiliary (Tacoma); Meetings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Callender, Frank T.; Leverenz, Arnold;

Mrs. L.L. Lent posed for the Bremerton Sun photographer in February of 1937, shortly after being elected as the president of the Kitsap County Anti-Tuberculosis League. She was heading a delegation for that group and travelling to Seattle to visit at the Orthopedic Hospital. (Bremerton Sun).

Lent, L.L.--Family; Kitsap County Anti-Tuberculosis League (Bremerton);

In March of 1937, Lillian Morey, left, and Laura Ellis were ably handling the publicity for the one of the most anticipated society events for the younger set in Bremerton, the Rainbow Girl-DeMolay ball held at the end of March. The Masonic Temple was slated to be the site of the Spring 1937 ball. (Bremerton Sun 03-27-1937, pg. 2).

Rainbow Girls (Bremerton); Fraternal organizations--Bremerton--1930-1940; Teenagers--1930-1940; Morey, Lillian; Ellis, Laura;

The joys of married bliss show clearly in the faces of R.W. Henry and his bride of 62 years, the former Mary Carter, as they celebrate their anniversary. The pair were married March 2, 1875 in Curwinsville, Pa. when they decided to call on the village pastor instead of joining a sleighing party as planned. In 1937, they resided at 1404 Henry Ave. in Bremerton in an old fashioned four room cottage. He was 83 and his better half was 79. The pair had raised 12 children as they moved from Pennsylvania to homestead in Montana and finally settle in Washington in 1901. The deeply happy pair spend their time together, taking care of their home and garden. Their six living children also reside in Washington. (Bremerton Sun 03-13-1937, pg. 1).

Henry, R.W.; Henry, Mary; Anniversaries--Bremerton--1930-1940; Henry, R.W.--Commemoration; Couples--Bremerton;

On March 3, 1937, the front page of the Tacoma Times was graced with this photograph of Lydia (Mrs. Fred) Hillert and Tacoma's newest operatic starlet, Filberta, her singing mouse. Mrs. Hillert had discovered the mouse in the shed behind her house at 1616 E. 32nd Street and first attributed the song to a bird. After several more sightings, Mrs. Hillert gathered her courage and told her husband and daughter about her discovery. In order to prove her sanity, she trapped the singer in a bag of filberts, hence the name, and enclosed her in a glass house, where she sings the family to sleep nearly every night. According to Mrs. Hillert, Filberta's rich contralto sounds much like a canary; but the picky prima donna only hummed lightly under her breath for the Times reporter. (T. Times 3/3/1937, pg. 1).

Trained animals; Mice; Training animals; Bottles; Hillert, Lydia;

Miss Jane Leuenberger, left, and Miss Margaret Marie Miller announced their engagements to two San Francisco natives in 1937. Miss Leuenberger's fiance is William Francis McMahon, Jr. and Miss Miller's is Grant W. Matthews. Guests invited to the March 9, 1937, bridge supper given by Miss Miller in honor of Miss Leuenberger were greatly surprised when Miss Leuenberger, opening the last kitchen gift, found a St. Patrick's Day green hat with concealed cards bearing the names of the newly engaged pair of Miss Miller and Mr. Matthews. Miss Leuenberger left two days after the party for California where she would wed Mr. McMahon on March 20th. (T. Times 3/10/1937, pg 9)

Miller, Margaret; Leuenberger, Jane; Women--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Two men loading a Diamond T truck with wood at Aaberg's Fuel and Transfer Co. at 1415 Puyallup Ave. Aaberg's delivered wood and coal fuel to its customers.

Aaberg's Fuel Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Coal--Tacoma; Fuel--Tacoma--1930-1940; Fuel trade--Tacoma--1930-1940; Trucks--Tacoma--1930-1940; Diamond T trucks;

Close-up of floating log rafts in the City (now Thea Foss) Waterway. These logs were probably destined for pulp production. Washington was third in the nation at this time in pulp producing. The abundance of hemlock and accessibility of water transportation plus low utility rates made Tacoma a prime location for the manufacture of pulp and other lumber products. Photograph taken in March of 1937. TPL-3236; G36.1-080 (T.Times 1,5-articles on pulp)

Logs; City Waterway (Tacoma);

Leased home on west side of Lake Steilacoom where James Merritt Arthur, 43 year old Tacoma tire store manager, shot and killed his wife Anna, 40, and daughters Mary Ann, 15, and Janet, 8, then committed suicide on March 17, 1937. Mr. Arthur may have been despondent over his discharge from his job the day before. He was apparently not aware that his discharge was for the purpose of transferring him to California for a new position at one of the national tire company's service stations. The Arthurs had recently moved to the Tacoma area in September, 1936, from Los Angeles. Their daughters Mary Ann and Janet were students at local schools: Mary Ann at Stadium High School and Janet at Clover Park. Mr. Arthur phoned a mortuary, requesting a hearse and a pastor, before shooting himself. His insurance and other personal papers were laid out methodically; he had also taken the family photographs out of their frames and burned them before his death. (T. Times 3-18-37 pp.1, 17)

Arthur, James Merritt--Homes & haunts; Homicides;

Lincoln Citizen's Club at Union Ave., S. Tacoma Way and 38th Street. Seven men stand on small piece of land they want paved to facilitate the connection from Pacific Highway (S. Tac. Way) to 38th. A new graded road had been created connecting the two and the business men wanted a tip of city owned land knocked off, making the road a natural curve. Old City Contagious Hospital in background. (T. Times 3/23/37 p. 1)

Lincoln Citizens Club (Tacoma); Street maintenance & repair--Tacoma--1930-1940;

City officials, left to right, Ferris Bell, C.F. Erickson, Magnus Freeman, Rep. H.N. "Barney" Jackson, Charles Bedford, Frank Callender and Abner Bergerson at Union Ave., S. Tacoma Way and 38th St. to study suggested street improvement. The Lincoln Citizens' Club wanted a tip of city land knocked off to make the the new road connecting Pacific Highway (South Tacoma Way) and 38th Street a natural curve. (T. Times 3/23/37 p. 1)

Lincoln Citizens Club (Tacoma); Street maintenance & repair--Tacoma--1930-1940; Bell, Ferris; Erickson, C.F.; Freeman, Magnus; Jackson, H.N.; Bedford, Charles; Callender, Frank T.; Bergersen, Abner R.;

Ferris Bell, C.F. Erickson, Magnus Freeman, Rep. H.N. "Barney" Jackson, Charles Bedford, Frank Callander and Abner Bergerson gathered on March 22, 1937 at Union Ave., S. Tacoma Way and 38th St. to study suggested street improvement. The Lincoln Citizens' Club wanted a tip of city land knocked off to make the new road connecting Pacific Highway (South Tacoma Way) and 38th Street a natural curve. (T. Times 3/23/37 p. 1)

Lincoln Citizens Club (Tacoma); Street maintenance & repair--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Unidentified Scottish Rite Mason seated in an office with a booklet in hand. Photograph was taken on March 26, 1937.

Scottish Rite (Tacoma); Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Two unidentified Scottish Rite Masons seated in an office looking at pamphlets. Both are wearing distinctive headgear. Photograph was taken in late March of 1937.

Scottish Rite (Tacoma); Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Two unidentified Scottish Rite Masons carrying garments. The men are in the lodge's storage room where candelabras, architectural columns, and other ritual paraphernalia are stored. They were photographed on March 26, 1937.

Scottish Rite (Tacoma); Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Easter morning, March 28, 1937, was one of the best weather wise in many years. Churches were crowded in the morning with the fellowships spilling outside at the end of the sermons to enjoy the sunshine. The choir at the First Presbyterian Choir was photographed assembled in courtyard of church. (T. Times, 3/29/37 p. 1)

First Presbyterian Church (Tacoma); Presbyterian churches--Tacoma; Easter--Tacoma;

Enjoying a rare sunny Easter morning are the choirs of the First Presbyterian Church who have spilled over into the church's courtyard on March 28, 1937. Crowds packed the many churches citywide to attend the Sunday services to listen to sermons and join in the singing of hymns.

Choirs (Music)--1930-1940; First Presbyterian Church (Tacoma); Presbyterian churches--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Easter Morning, March 28, 1937, at Tacoma Churches. Left to right, Jane Parker, Joan Finch, Seymour S. Todd, Marjory Long, Jean Williams, Kathryn Burr, Virginia Lee (Wendy) Wagner (later Weyerhaeuser) and Mollie Mae Morris outside of First Congregational Church. (T. Times 3/29/37 p. 1)

Congregational churches--Tacoma; First Congregational Church (Tacoma); Easter--Tacoma; Children--Tacoma--1930-1940; Parker, Jane; Finch, Joan; Todd, Seymour S.; Long, Marjory; Williams, Jean; Burr, Kathryn; Wagner, Virginia Lee; Morris, Mollie Mae;

Enjoying the sunshine on Easter morning in 1937 are churchgoers at the First Congregational Church, 209 So. J St. The many children present, all dressed in their Sunday best, seem to indicate that this may have been the various Sunday School classes at the church. A few of the girls have been identified as front row, left to right: Jean Williams (with lily plant), possibly Joan Finch, Marjory Long, possibly Kathryn Burr, Jane Parker, and Virginia Lee (Wendy) Wagner in polka-dotted dress with hands on wall. Seymour S. Todd (standing, second row at far left) was a teacher at Stewart Junior High School.

Easter--Tacoma; First Congregational Church (Tacoma); Congregational churches--Tacoma; Children--Tacoma--1930-1940; Todd, Seymour S.; Williams, Jean; Long, Marjory; Parker, Jane; Wagner, Virginia Lee;

Easter morning, March 28, 1937, at the First Presbyterian Church. The congregation gathers on the sidewalk in front of the building. Large trees and grass embellish the wide parkway between the sidewalk and street. (T. Times)

First Presbyterian Church (Tacoma); Presbyterian churches--Tacoma; Easter--Tacoma;

William P. Bonney, pictured left center with trowel, Pierce County native son and secretary of the Washington Historical Society, can now add masonry to his long list of careers. He has been a farmer, teamster, dispatch rider and pharmacist; and most recently he went up to the roof of the Ferry Museum to "help" place one of the stones for the cornice of the $40,000 third story being constructed on one wing of the building. The additional story will display works of art and historical relics now kept in storage rooms. The work is scheduled to be completed by summer. (T. Times 3/13/1937, pg. 1)

Washington State Historical Building (Tacoma); Washington State Historical Society (Tacoma); Galleries & museums--Tacoma--1940-1950; Bonney, William P.; Remodeling;

This old upright piano joined the rubbish heap at the City dump in March of 1937. City worker John Sankovich (at left) helped Cooney Transfer & Storage employees Charlie Merchant and Gene Robinson in disposing of the piano. The once elegant instrument was crafted in London about 100 years before and came into the possession of Myron Clinton of Tacoma's Clinton Music House. Mr. Clinton decided to discard the piano once it had outlived its usefulness rather than permitting children to practice on such a dilapidated item. (T.Times 3-30-37, p. 14)

Pianos; Cooney Transfer & Storage Co. (Tacoma); Moving & storage trade--Tacoma--1930-1940; Refuse disposal--Tacoma--1930-1940; Sankovich, John; Merchant, Charlie; Robinson, Gene; Clinton's Music House (Tacoma);

Pet show at Fircrest School held in March of 1937 in connection with "Be kind to animals week." Marilyn White holds her pet dog and Douglas Shacklett poses with his pet rabbit. Behind the pair are fish bowls and cages filed with birds, chickens, and ducks. (T. Times 3/20/1937, pg. 11)

Public schools--Fircrest--1930-1940; Wainwright Elementary (Fircrest); Pets; Children & animals--Fircrest--1930-1940; Animal shows--Fircrest--1930-1940;

Stadium High School opera group and director Clayton Johnson assembled inside a log building. (T. Times)

Stadium High School (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Johnson, Clayton;

Edith (Mrs. Reno) Odlin with her three children, Mary Lee, 6, Reno William, 4, and Richard Bingham, 2, at Easter time in 1937. The children have large, stuffed toy rabbits. Mrs. Odlin was Edith Murphy before her marriage; the daughter of Mrs. Anna Murphy and an alumnae of Annie Wright Seminary. Mr. Odlin was the president of Puget Sound National Bank. (T. Times, 3/27/1937 p. 7)

Odlin, Reno--Family; Odlin, Edith; Odlin, Mary Lee; Odlin, Reno William; Odlin, Richard; Odlin, Reno, 1897-1979--Homes & haunts; Families--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Four Bremerton Garbage Department trucks with men standing in front of them. For Bremerton Sun.

Trucks--1930-1940; Garbage collecting--Bremerton;

Safety Show presented by Tacoma Safety Council at the Armory, Mar.1-6, 1937. Tacoma General Hospital exhibit. Man with leg in cast on bed, nurse stands beside. (Argentum)

Exhibitions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Medical equipment & supplies; Health care--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Safety Show presented by Tacoma Safety Council at the Armory, Mar.1-6, 1937. Tacoma Policeman stand by driving simulators. Sign on booth: "R.E. Anderson and Co. Inc., General Agents, presents Aetna Highway Safety Demonstration." (Argentum)

Police--Tacoma--1930-1940; Exhibitions--Tacoma--1930-1940;