Yelm vegetable exhibit. A fine display of vegetables from Yelm was one of the exhibits at the 1923 Western Washington Fair in Puyallup. Long shelves were crowded with potatoes, gourds, carrots, cabbages and more. G74.1-048

Western Washington Fair (Puyallup); Fairs--Puyallup--1920-1930; Exhibit booths--Puyallup; Vegetables;

On October 2, 1923, a group of Pierce County mothers, and several fathers, patiently posed with their unclothed babies, while waiting to have their children examined by a health specialist as part of the 1923 Better Baby Contest at the Western Washington Fair. An annual event, the 1923 contest brought forth a bumper crop of over 700 contestants, between the ages of 6 and 48 months. Forty doctors and nurses, all child specialists, conducted exams and scored the infants. Sixty one received medals and certificates. Alice Rose McKinnon of Enumclaw, who turned one year old a week after the contest, was selected the winner with the only perfect score of 100. (TNT 10/3/1923, pg. 9- picture, TDL 10/4/23 and 10/5/23, pg. 1) TPL-5711 & 9392; G27.1-126

Western Washington Fair (Puyallup); Mothers & children; Infants; Contests--Puyallup--1920-1930;

The Washington State Department of Health, Division of Child Hygiene, sponsored a booth at the 1923 Western Washington Fair that was crowded with posters, baby clothing and other supplies. Posters seem to advocate for parental health as well as for babies. G74.1-052

Western Washington Fair (Puyallup); Fairs--Puyallup--1920-1930; Exhibit booths--Puyallup;

ca. 1922. Western Washington Fair. Buckley girls holding flags. B---22, TPL-6338

Fairs--Puyallup--1920-1930; Western Washington Fair (Puyallup); Flags--United States;

This was the Keystone Printing Co.'s booth at the 1922 Western Washington Fair. A large piece of machinery used in the printing business was on exhibit as well as samples of Keystone's products including cards and stationery. In addition, a desk was located on the left side of the booth, perhaps to take orders from inquiring customers. Keystone Printing was located at 1009 1/2 Pacific Avenue, per the 1922 City Directory.

Exhibit booths--Puyallup; Western Washington Fair (Puyallup); Fairs--Puyallup; Machinery; Desks; Keystone Printing Co. (Tacoma); Signs (Notices);

In 1922 a day at the Western Washington Fair meant that adults dressed up in suits, ties, and hats for the men and women wore somber long-length suits and small hats. Enjoying respite from the excitement of the Fair are many elderly people who are pictured at the Peoples Store "Rest Room." Comfortable wicker and wooden chairs were provided in the outdoor pavilion and even postage-paid postcards were available. The store also indulged in a bit of advertising with several signs promoting the "Household Club" payment plan. G74.1-064 (Photographer Boland's notes indicated that the picture was listed as B6708 although B6707 is written on the print)

Western Washington Fair (Puyallup); Lounges--Puyallup;

Keystone Printing Co. exhibit. Their booth at the Western Washington Fair in 1922 provided fairgoers with samples of the printing company's products including cards and stationery and a large piece of machinery. The placard on display stated that although Keystone was not the oldest printing company in town, it did have modern facilities allowing the company to produce "high class printing at popular prices." The two men in the exhibit booth were not identified; however, they may have been E. I. Richardson and L.D. Waters, owners of the firm. Keystone Printing, according to the 1922 City Directory, was located at 1009 1/2 Pacific Avenue. G74.1-053

Western Washington Fair (Puyallup); Fairs--Puyallup; Exhibit booths--Puyallup; Machinery; Keystone Printing Co. (Tacoma); Signs (Notices);

The Mueller-Harkins Motor Co. sponsored an outdoor exhibit of horsepower at the Western Washington Fair in 1922. A GMC two-ton truck, using a two-range transmission, is shown climbing to the top of a frame while hauling a 5,250-lb. load. C.A. Flanary, mechanic at the GMC truck service department of Mueller-Harkins, demonstrated the traction power of the truck as it easily managed the 90 degree incline. G32.1-001 (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 10-22-22, C-5)

Western Washington Fair (Puyallup); Fairs--Puyallup; Mueller-Harkins Motor Co. (Tacoma); Trucks--Puyallup--1920-1930; Flanary, C.A.;

For many years, P. T. Barnum-type side shows were main features at carnivals and fairs. In 1921, at the Western Washington Fair, McGunning-Davis was presenting her "consolidated twin alive--one head and two bodies". Also, a "20th Century Enigma--Australia natives captured in the wilds of Western Australia--First time on exhibition in America".

Exterior of two barns located at the Western Washington Fair in September of 1921. They received their annual coat of white paint in earlier in July. Fair dates in 1921 were October 3-9th. Tacoma Day was held on Friday, October 7th. G74.1-076, TPL-6344

Fairs--Puyallup--1920-1930; Western Washington Fair (Puyallup); Barns--Puyallup;

This is the empty new grandstand at the Western Washington Fair as photographed in September of 1921. The first beams were lifted on July 15th in the construction of a new 40 x 120 grandstand with seating for 2,200 fairgoers. The new section of seating brought the total number of seats to 5,700. TPL-6345; G74.1-075. (TNT 7-15-21, p. 19-article)

Fairs--Puyallup--1920-1930; Western Washington Fair (Puyallup); Grandstands--Puyallup;

ca. 1919. Farmers, fruit growers and breeders of the Puyallup valley held an enthusiastic meeting on June 2, 1900, and formed the Valley Fair Association. Members changed the name to the Western Washington Fair Association on January 13, 1913. The purpose of the fair was to promote agricultural, horticultural, dairying, stock-raising and manufacturing industries of the valley. In this 1919 photograph, people in the small hamlets of Dieringer, Rhodes Lake, Connell's Prairie, and Milton exhibit their wares at the fair. Boland #B2321,

Fairs; Western Washington Fair (Puyallup); Exhibitions; Home food processing; Sewing--Puyallup; Art exhibitions;

Photo-collage by Marvin Boland of photographs that he took at the First Annual Rotary Fair held on October 31, 1919. This industrial fair for Rotary Club members and friends featured 150 exhibits promoting local professions and businesses. It was held in Stadium High School's gymnasium where the slogan of the fair was "Rotarians, Buy at Home." Because the fair was so successful, mention was made that a larger exhibition might be held later for the general public. Dr. H. J. Whitacre was the Rotary president at that time. (TDL 10-17-19, p. 3-article; TDL 10-31-19, p. 1-article)

Rotary Fair (Tacoma); Exhibits--Tacoma--1910-1920;

The annual Western Washington Fair was a time when communities in the area could display with pride fine examples of produce, sewing, and artwork made and grown locally. Dieringer, Rhodes Lake, Connell's Prairie and Milton products are pictured above in this October, 1919, photograph. The 20th annual Puyallup Fair ran from September 30 to October 5th. G74.1-070

Western Washington Fair (Puyallup); Fairs--Puyallup--1910-1920; Exhibitions--Puyallup--1910-1920; Agricultural exhibits--Puyallup--1910-1920; Signs (Notices);

We Stood Behind Our Boys read the sign hung between corn stalks aboard a small float pulled by a dog while at the 1919 Western Washington Fair. The float was patriotically decorated with a flag and star-filled bunting. It contained foliage and pumpkins. This was probably an entry from the Fife community as two young ladies at the foreground wear sashes with that city's name. Two boys in newsboys caps carry prime specimens of farm produce under their arms. G74.1-083

Fairs--Puyallup--1910-1920; Western Washington Fair (Puyallup); Dogs--Puyallup;

One of the special attractions of the 20th annual Western Washington Fair in Puyallup was the arrival on October 2nd, 1919 of a two seater, passenger carrying airplane from Victoria, B.C. Canadian ace pilot Lt. W.H. Brown made the flight in a miraculous 1 hour and 15 minutes, dropping 100 season passes and leaflets on the way. On October 4th, fare paying passengers donned goggles and a fur trimmed cap to take to the air for 15 minute flights; swooping, circling and passing as low as 75 feet over the grandstands. Here spectators stare open mouthed as the plane (out of the picture frame) buzzes the grandstand. Pilot Brown flew lower than any aviator in the West. The 1919 fair ran from September 30- October 5th and was an outstanding success. (TDL 10/5/1919, pg. A-12) G74.1-087, TPL-6346

Fairs--Puyallup--1910-1920; Western Washington Fair (Puyallup); Spectators--Puyallup; Grandstands--Puyallup;

An overhead view of the midway during the Washington State Fair.

A portion of the grange exhibits at the Washington State Fair.

Herd of Corriente cattle on Meridian during the Washington State Fair Western Rodeo Parade.

Washington State Fair Western Rodeo Parade on Meridian with McInnis Belgian draft horse hitch bearing some of the Washington State Fair's Board of Directors.

Washington State Fair Western Rodeo Parade on Meridian with the People Mover carrying costume characters Garfield and Odie.

Washington State Fair Western Rodeo Parade on Meridian with doctor buggy carrying Mayor Kathy Turner.

Washington State Fair Western Rodeo Parade on Meridian with Shagren Belgian draft horse hitch bearing Grand Marshal Frosty Westering.

Washington State Fair Western Rodeo Parade on Meridian with Wilder Construction hitch pulled by gray Percheron draft horses.

Washington State Fair Western Rodeo Parade on Meridian with Shipley hitch pulled by black Shetland ponies.

Washington State Fair Pro Rodeo with Rodeo Bandit Drill Team member carrying American flag around rodeo arena. Mountain Mist sign in view.

The Waller Road Grange display in the Agriculture building at the Washington State Fair.

The East Hill Grange display in the Agriculture building at the Washington State Fair.

A sculpture of a pig entered in the Fine Art Show in the Washington State Fair's Pavilion..

Washington State Fair Western Rodeo Parade with Gentlemen Jugglers John Webster and Robert Stuverud in front of the Pioneer Park Pavilion.