Tree barking machine with two men in suits standing beside it. For Globe Machine Manufacturing Company. Globe Machine, a longtime Tacoma manufacturing company, built machines for the plywood industry. (T. Times) filed with Argentum

Machinery industry--Tacoma; Woodcutting--Tacoma; Logs; Industrial facilities--Tacoma; Machinery; Equipment; Globe Machine Manufacturing Co. (Tacoma);

Sixteen month old Richard Allyn Miles was all ready to celebrate that annual fashion "rite of spring," Straw Hat Day on May 27, 1937, when gentlemen put away their heavy winter hats and don the straws for summer. Young "Dickie," wearing a "sailor" - also called a "skimmer," was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert L. Miles of 3309 N. 27th St. In 1937, fashion forecasters had picked May 27th as the day to don the straw and every men's clothing store in Tacoma was advertising a wide selection of "sailors" and "panamas." (T. Times 5/26/1937, pg. 1; Bremerton Sun 6/3/1937, pg. 1)

Straw Hat Day (Tacoma); Hats--1930-1940; Miles, Richard Allyn; Boys; Diapers;

On May 2, 1937, Abner Bergersen, Tacoma commissioner of public works, presented a gold watch to Tacoma Tigers player-manager Eddie Taylor for hitting the first home run by a Tiger for the 1937 season. Besides managing the team, Taylor was also the teams regular 2nd baseman. After the presentation, the Tigers went on to split a double header against Vancouver in front of 4,000 cheering fans. They won the first game 3 to 1, but lost the second 10 to 5. Tacoma lost the four game series 3 games to 1. (T. Times 5/3/1937, pg. 11)

Bergersen, Abner R.; Baseball players--Tacoma--1930-1940; Tacoma Tigers (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Tacoma Athletic Park (Tacoma); Baseball--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Frank Callender, fourth from left, and police chiefs from other cities in this photograph from May of 1937. Callender and several other men are wearing Legion caps. Mr. Callender was elected Tacoma's Commissioner of Public Safety in 1934. (T. Times)

Callender, Frank T.; Police;

Tacoma Public Works Commissioner Abner Bergersen presents a watch to a Tacoma Tigers baseball player and manager Eddie Taylor. Other Tigers and members of the opposing team, the Vancouver Maple Leaf, are lined-up behind them. Wooden baseball grandstand in the background. Taylor is being awarded the watch for hitting the first homer of the season, in the opening game with the Vancouver Maple Leafs. (T. Times 5/3/1937, pg. 11)

Bergersen, Abner R.; Baseball--Tacoma--1930-1940; Baseball players--Tacoma--1930-1940; Tacoma Tigers (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Tacoma Athletic Park (Tacoma); Taylor, Eddie;

Sixteen month old Richard Allyn Miles wears his hat tilted at a jaunty angle in this May 1937 photograph. Dressed only in diapers and a man's skimmer, he is ready to celebrate that annual rite of spring "Straw Hat Day." That is the day when gentlemen put away their heavy winter hats and don the straws for summer. In 1937, fashion forecasters picked May 27th as that special day. (T. Times 5/26/1937, pg. 1) TPL-549

Diapers; Boys; Straw hats; Straw Hat Day (Tacoma); Hats--1930-1940; Miles, Richard Allyn;

The "Women's Lounge" at the new Tacoma Club on the top floor of the Washington Building. The Grand Opening for the new club, Tacoma' s most exclusive, was held the evening of May 10, 1937. J. P. Weyerhaeuser, Jr. was the club's first President. Corner lounge with sofa, upholstered chairs, tables and lamps. (WSHS) (T. Times 5/10/1937, pg. 1)

Tacoma Club (Tacoma); Clubs--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Interior of new facilities for The Tacoma Club on the 17th Floor of the Washington Building. The Club, for business and professional men, opened in May of 1937. John P. Weyerhaeuser, Jr. was president. Bar with glass block wall shown in photograph. (WSHS)

Tacoma Club (Tacoma); Clubs--Tacoma--1930-1940; Bars (Furniture)--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Wide-eyed Richard Allyn Miles looks a bit pensive as he stands on a padded table in this May, 1937, photograph. Clad only in diapers securely fastened with an enormous pin and a man's skimmer, he is preparing for the annual rite known as Straw Hat Day. Every spring a day is selected when men can toss their winter hats and wear the much lighter straw version. In 1937, May 27th was chosen as Straw Hat Day.

Miles, Richard Allyn; Boys; Diapers; Straw Hat Day (Tacoma); Hats--1930-1940;

The crowd of spectators in the stands at the Tacoma Tigers baseball game appear to be watching a fly ball. It is the season opener of 1937 and the Tigers are playing the Vancouver Maple Leaf. Manager Eddie Taylor leads his team to a 3-1 win in the first game, only to come back and lose the second game 10-5. (T. Times 5/3/1937, pg. 11)

Sports spectators--Tacoma--1930-1940; Baseball--Tacoma--1930-1940; Tacoma Tigers (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Tacoma Athletic Park (Tacoma);

Mike Cromoga, carpenter, artist, and daredevil, bites into a beer glass at the Valley Tavern. Tavern customers cringe and gasp, one woman screams. Cromoga is calm; he has eaten glass before--the first time in 1916. A reporter asks him how he does it? Cromoga explains that he chews the glass into a fine powder before swallowing. "It just takes nerve!" he replies. (T. Times, 6/4/1937, p. 1).

Curiosities & wonders; Cromoga, Mike; Bars--Tacoma; Valley Tavern (Tacoma); Glassware;

This is the Grand Coulee Dam, still under construction in June of 1937. Begun in 1933, it would not be completed until 1942. The $63,000,000 funding for the dam was appropriated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt and work commenced under the Public Works Administration. Thousands were employed in the construction of the dam, making a positive impact on the struggling economy. According to the Bureau of Reclamation, the dam is the largest hydropower producer in the United States with total generating capacity of 6,809 megawatts. It is the key to the development of power on the Columbia River and as part of the Columbia Basin Project, irrigates more than 600,000 acres. The Grand Coulee Dam forms Lake Roosevelt which extends 151 miles north to the Canadian border. G74.1-021 (depts.washington.edu/depress/grand_coulee.shtml; www/usbr.gov/pn/grandcoulee/)

Grand Coulee Dam (Wash.); Dams--Grand Coulee; Dam construction;

Mike Cromoga seated at the counter of the Valley Tavern, raises an empty glass to his mouth. He is about to take a bite out of the glass. Mr. Cromoga first ate glass in 1916 on a dare; he has been eating it ever since with no ill effects. The secret, according to the glass eater, is to chew it into a fine powder before swallowing. Cromoga lives at 1643 East 29th St. He is a carpenter, but also spends many months at his cabin in Wilkinson where he paints in oils. (T. Times, 6/4/1937, p. 1).

Curiosities & wonders; Cromoga, Mike; Bars--Tacoma; Valley Tavern (Tacoma); Glassware;

Mike Cromoga seated at the counter of the Valley Tavern, raises an empty glass to his mouth. He is about to take a bite out of the glass. Mr. Cromoga first ate glass in 1916 on a dare; he has been eating it ever since with no ill effects. The secret, according to the glass eater, is to chew it into a fine powder before swallowing. Cromoga lives at 1643 East 29th St. He is a carpenter, but also spends many months at his cabin in Wilkinson where he paints in oils. (T. Times, 6/4/1937, p. 1) Series D759, Image 9A enlarged and cropped for more visual effect.

Curiosities & wonders; Cromoga, Mike; Bars--Tacoma; Valley Tavern (Tacoma); Glassware;

Mike Cromoga, seated at the bar of the Valley Tavern, closes his eyes and takes another bite out of an empty glass. Several people look on in disbelief. Cromoga has been eating glass since 1916; he first did it on a dare after watching a buddy devour a beer glass. The key, according to Cromoga, is to chew it to a fine powder before swallowing. (T. Times, 6/4/1937, p. 1).

Curiosities & wonders; Cromoga, Mike; Bars--Tacoma; Valley Tavern (Tacoma); Glassware;

Mike Cromoga, seated at the bar of the Valley Tavern, closes his eyes and takes another bite out of an empty glass. Several people look on in disbelief. (cropped close up of D759 image 11) Cromoga has been eating glass since 1916; he first did it on a dare after watching a buddy devour a beer glass. The key, according to Cromoga, is to chew it to a fine powder before swallowing. (T. Times, 6/4/1937, p. 1).

Curiosities & wonders; Cromoga, Mike; Bars--Tacoma; Valley Tavern (Tacoma); Glassware;

Forty-three year old "Mike" Cromoga is seated at the bar of the Valley Tavern with an empty glass. He is sizing the glass up as a suitable snack- that's right, a snack. Mr. Cromoga, in addition to his profession as a carpenter, eats glass as a pastime. Several people line up behind, clearly doubting his claims. (T. Times, 6/4/1937, p. 1).

Curiosities & wonders; Cromoga, Mike; Bars--Tacoma; Valley Tavern (Tacoma); Glassware;

On June 5, 1937, over 1,000 Shriners descended on Tacoma for a spring reunion hosted by Tacoma's Afifi Temple. One of the first things that they did was organize a parade. Seven Shriners, including four flag bearers, gather in front of the Winthrop Hotel to wait for the parade to begin. A Shriners marching band is behind them.

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1930-1940; Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (Tacoma); Flags; Standards (Identifying artifacts); Flag bearers;

On June 5, 1937, as a function of the Shrine spring reunion in Tacoma, the Afifi Temple held a Ball and banquet at the Winthrop Hotel. Shriners and their wives were the guests. Here the photographer was setting up camera to take photographs of people in the receiving line.

Fraternal organizations--Tacoma; Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (Tacoma); Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

Shriners' Ball and banquet at the Winthrop Hotel on June 5, 1937. Two photographers, one a Shriner, taking photographs of couples on the dance floor.

Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1930-1940; Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (Tacoma); Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Balls (Parties)--Tacoma--1930-1940;

On June 5, 1937, as a function of the Shrine spring reunion in Tacoma, the Afifi Temple held a Ball and banquet at the Winthrop Hotel. Shriners and their wives were the guests. Here the photographer was setting up camera to take photographs of people in the receiving line.

Fraternal organizations--Tacoma; Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (Tacoma); Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

On June 5, 1937, over 1,000 Shriners gathered in Tacoma for a spring reunion. They kicked off the get together with a parade. A long line of Shriners waited behind their drill leader for the parade to begin. Winthrop Hotel and Roxy theater on Broadway are in background.

Fraternal organizations--Tacoma; Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Roxy Theatre (Tacoma);

On Saturday, June 5, 1937, over 1,000 Shriners gathered in Tacoma for a Spring reunion sponsored by Tacoma's Afifi Temple. Afifi temple drum major Tom Richards, third from left, posed for a photograph in front of the Winthrop Hotel with "mascot" Marjorie Joy (also known as Marjie Joy) Miller, a Shirley Temple look-a-like, dressed in a drum majorette costume. Other band members identified, order unknown, were Guy Stone and Alex Rabstoff. Mr. Richards was a longtime drum major for the Tacoma Shrine Band and a mayor of Tenino. As an adult, Marjie moved to Hollywood and achieved fame as an actress and dancer under the name Marjie Millar. (T.Times 6/7/1937 p.16)

Drum majors; Drum majorettes; Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1930-1940; Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (Tacoma); Miller, Marjie Joy; Actresses; Millar, Marjie; Richards, Tom;

Young Men's Business Club (YMBC) airshow at Mueller-Harkins airport June 13, 1937. 25 planes took part in the first annual air circus with nearly 50,000 spectators cheering them on. Reviewing stand at the air show in June of 1937. Mayor George Smitley with princesses from the Y.M.B.C. clubs around Washington state including Seattle and Everett. (T. Times, TNT)

Smitley, George A., 1872-1956; Mayors--Tacoma--1930-1940; Young Men's Business Club (Tacoma); Reviewing stands--Tacoma--1930-1940; Events--Tacoma--1930-1940; Air shows--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Nearly 50,000 spectators watched as Tommy Thompson, the "Bat Man", attempted to soar over Mueller-Harkins airport on June 13, 1937 at the first Tacoma Air Circus. When he stepped from the plane that had carried him aloft, a gust of wind tore the canvas webbing that supported his wings, and spinning like a top, he plunged toward the earth. Luckily he was wearing two parachutes. Although the first became tangled in his wings, the second brought him safely to land - although one of his wings was bent. The air circus was sponsored by the Young Men's Business Club of Tacoma. (T. Times, TNT)

Air shows--Tacoma--1930-1940; Young Men's Business Club (Tacoma); Clubs--Tacoma--1930-1940; Events--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Young Men's Business Club (YMBC) airshow at Mueller-Harkins airport June 13, 1937. 25 planes took part in the first annual air circus with nearly 50,000 spectators cheering them on. Spectators at the air show watching a bi-plane flying low above the field. (T. Times, TNT)

Events - Airshows Organizations - Clubs - Young Men's Business Club Transportation - Aircraft - Airplanes - Bi-Planes

Young Men's Business Club (YMBC) airshow at Mueller-Harkins airport June 13, 1937. 25 planes took part in the first annual air circus with nearly 50,000 spectators cheering them on. Crowds of spectators viewing airplanes parked around the field including single-wing and bi-planes. (T. Times, TNT)

Events - Airshows Organizations - Clubs - Young Men's Business ClubTransportation - Aircraft - Airplanes

Young Men's Business Club (YMBC) airshow at Mueller-Harkins airport June 13, 1937. 25 planes took part in the first annual air circus with nearly 50,000 spectators cheering them on. Various small biplanes fly over the crowd. (T. Times, TNT)

Air shows--Tacoma--1930-1940; Airplanes--1930-1940; Events--Tacoma--1930-1940; Young Mens Business Club (Tacoma);

Young Men's Business Club (YMBC) airshow at Mueller-Harkins airport June 13, 1937. 25 planes took part in the first annual air circus with nearly 50,000 spectators cheering them on. A photographer stands on the roof of the airport building above the reviewing stand. (T. Times, TNT.

Air shows--Tacoma--1930-1940; Young Men's Business Club (Tacoma); Events--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Young Men's Business Club (YMBC) airshow at Mueller-Harkins airport June 13, 1937. 25 planes took part in the first annual air circus with nearly 50,000 spectators cheering them on. View of event in progress from roof of airport building. (T. Times, TNT).

Young Men's Business Club (Tacoma); Air shows--Tacoma--1930-1940; Events--Tacoma--1930-1940;