This small sample house was one of two built on the rooftop of the Winthrop Hotel overlooking the downtown business district in late February of 1927. In the background, near left, are visible parts of the Washington Building, Peoples Store and Puget Sound National Bank. The Pythian Temple and Rhodes Brothers Department Store are near right rear. This is believed to be the model building constructed by the St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. to show how structures can be built using grades of local Washington woods not now in great demand. The other house, not pictured, was built by the West Coast Trade Extension Bureau to show that short lengths of lumber can be used for high-class construction work. Both houses were built for the annual three-day convention of the Western Retail Lumbermen's Association, opening Thursday, February 24, 1927, at the Winthrop Hotel. 600 retail lumbermen were expected to attend. G36.1-102 (TNT 2-23-27, p. 1, p. 7)

Model houses--Tacoma--1920-1930; Cityscapes; Business districts--Tacoma--1920-1930; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Meetings--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Students at the Knapp Business College formed their own musical ensemble, the "Knapp Business College Orchestra," in the mid-1920's. The six-piece group had a small horn section, banjo, drums and piano. They were photographed in May of 1927 at the KMO radio station studio then located in the Winthrop Hotel. Knapp was the first institution in Pierce County to be organized exclusively for business education. It was started in 1921 with emphasis on accounting and secretarial fields. G40.1-036

Knapp Business College Orchestra (Tacoma); Musicians--Tacoma--1920-1930; Pianos; Drums--Tacoma; Saxophones; Students--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Small, one-room house on exhibit on the Winthrop Hotel's rooftop. This building was constructed of grade "C" and "D" hemlock bevel siding with a minimum of waste. The cozy home even contained French doors leading to a nicely landscaped "yard." The "bungolowette" was built by the St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. for the February, 1927, Western Retail Lumbermen's conference. By using lower grades of lumber efficiently, it was hoped that new markets would open up for sale of these lesser-used woods. Photograph ordered by the St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. G36.1-148 (TDL 2-24-27, p. 2 - photograph shown without landscaping)

Architectural models; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

Tulip display. The second annual tulip show of the Pierce County Horticultural Society was opened to the public on May 5, 1928. The event was held at the Winthrop Hotel's Crystal Ballroom and admission was free. Thousands of blooms were displayed by amateur and professional growers from all parts of Washington and Oregon. Even homeowners with small gardens were invited to participate. One colorful exhibit was from George Lawler, pioneer bulb grower, who had expanded his bulb business with the purchase in 1926 of 383 acres near Roy. G26.1-119 (TDL 5-5-28, p. 1-article)

Tulips--Tacoma; Flower shows--Tacoma--1920-1930; Exhibitions--Tacoma--1920-1930; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

Room 319 of the Winthrop Hotel was stuffed with Kroehler davenports and living room furniture in July of 1928. It was a special sale and demonstration of the Kroehler brand of merchandise. A sign on the back wall indicated that all pieces exhibited had already been sold to the Grunbaum Bros. Furniture Co. of Seattle. G35.1-033

Exhibitions--Tacoma--1920-1930; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Sofas; Furniture; Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Flowers and ferns on display, courtesy of the Tacoma Garden Club, at the Winthrop Hotel, on May 25, 1929. This was the fifth annual spring flower show sponsored by the group. G26.1-118

Flower shows--Tacoma--1920-1930; Exhibitions--Tacoma--1920-1930; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

A series of photographs were taken of the Tacoma Garden Club's exhibition of flowers held at the Winthrop Hotel on May 25, 1929. A variety of blossoms, along with potted plants and garden accessories, were on display in the hotel's Crystal Ballroom. G26.1-097

Flower shows--Tacoma--1920-1930; Exhibitions--Tacoma--1920-1930; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

Springtime in Tacoma meant an abundance of flowers and a chance to put them on display. The Tacoma Garden Club sponsored an exhibition of flowers, plants, and garden accessories showcased in the Winthrop Hotel's Crystal Ballroom on May 25, 1929. G26.1-098

Flower shows--Tacoma--1920-1930; Exhibitions--Tacoma--1920-1930; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

Part of an elegant display of blooms and garden fixtures held at the Winthrop Hotel on May 25, 1929. This fifth annual flower show was sponsored by the Tacoma Garden Club. G26.1-099

Flower shows--Tacoma--1920-1930; Exhibitions--Tacoma--1920-1930; Hotel Winthop (Tacoma);

The third annual 'mum show held at the Hotel Winthrop on November 12, 1929, showcased fall flowers from many Tacoma firms including the above lovely display of chrysanthemums from Tschunko, "House of Flowers." Tschunko's, located at 5001 Pacific Avenue, had been in business there since 1906. G26.1-117 (TNT 11-9-29, p. 3-article; TNT 11-12-29, p. 14-article)

Chrysanthemums--Tacoma; Flower shows--Tacoma--1920-1930; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Tschunko's House of Flowers (Tacoma); Florist shops--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Floral display at the Winthrop Hotel. A beautiful selection of 'mums was on display under the brilliant light of a crystal chandelier on November 12, 1929. The flowers were courtesy of Hinz Florists, 618 South "K" (now Martin Luther King Jr. Way). Displays of chrysanthemums, roses and fall flowers filled the Crystal Ballroom at the third annual 'mum show held under the auspices of the Pierce County Horticultural Society. G31.1-104 (TNT 11-9-29, p. 3-article; TNT 11-12-29, p. 14-article)

Chrysanthemums--Tacoma; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Chandeliers; Flower shows--Tacoma--1920-1930; Florist shops--Tacoma--1920-1930; Hinz Florists (Tacoma);

Contract bridge expert Ely Culbertson visited the Tacoma Bridge Club on May 1, 1936, at the Winthrop Hotel. Mr. Culbertson is standing directly in front of the hanging framed picture. He was nearly 45 at the time and had been a key figure in the international popularization of contract bridge in the 1920s and 1930s. Photographer Chapin Bowen was present during this visit; he is standing far left. TPL-6687

Culbertson, Ely; Tacoma Bridge Club (Tacoma); Bowen, Chapin; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Guests--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Harold "Red" Grange shakes hands with an unidentified man in late January of 1926 while on the rooftop of the Winthrop Hotel. Mr. Grange is on the right. By 1926, he had graduated from the University of Illinois where he was an outstanding football player and was playing pro ball. He was in Tacoma very briefly on Friday, January 29th, to help publicize his Chicago Bears Sunday game against the Washington All-Stars in Seattle. A smallish crowd of about 5000 would see the Bears demolish the All-Stars 34-0. Later that year would come the release of a silent film, "One Minute to Play," starring Mr. Grange. (TDL 1-29-26, p. 1-article; TNT 1-29-26, p. 18-article) (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Grange)

Grange, Harold; Football players; Shaking hands--Tacoma;

Football star and motion picture actor Harold "Red" Grange posed with Helen Nelsen (left) and Corinne Martin on a rainy day atop the Winthrop Hotel in late January, 1926. The ladies are holding a sign "Ice" in front of Mr. Grange; it was his nickname when he was a leading rusher at Wheaton (Illinois) High School. He had worked as an ice hauler while in school which accounted for his nickname ("Ice Man" or "Wheaton Ice Man") and developed his strong physique. Now better known as "The Galloping Ghost" for his blinding speed and elusive running style, Mr. Grange, a three-time all-American at the University of Illinois, had paid a very short visit to Tacoma a couple of days before his Chicago Bears pro team faced the Washington All-Stars in Seattle. He would run for two touchdowns and pass for a third en route to a 34-0 shellacking of the local team. (TDL 1-29-26, p. 1-article & alternate photograph; TDL 2-1-26, p. 8-article on game; www.britannica.com)

Grange, Harold; Football players; Nelsen, Helen; Martin, Corinne;

Boat show at Hotel Winthrop. The first major Tacoma Boat Show in several years was held the week of August 17-22, 1948 in the lobby of the Hotel Winthrop. Western Boatbuilding displayed their Torpedo Flyer speed boat, and Pleasurecraft brought a fully rigged sailing dingy with a 19-foot mast. There were several models of boats on display including a cabin cruser built by Western Boat along with Chinese sampans and junks.

Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Boats; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Western Boat Building Co. (Tacoma); Exhibitions--Tacoma--1940-1950; Motorboats--Tacoma; Sailboats--Tacoma; Models;

American Institute Banking held their annual one day Northwest Regional Officers Conference, delegates from Oregon, Washington and Idaho attended the meeting at the Winthrop Hotel. American Institute of Banking's guest of honor was Herbert C. Bryant, Vice President and Manager of New York's Times Square branch of Washington Mutual Savings Bank. View of AIB members enjoying cocktails, dinner and dancing at the Hotel Winthrop (T.N.T., 8/1/48, p. A-2).

Meetings--Tacoma; Delegations--Tacoma; Banquets--Tacoma; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); American Institute of Banking (Tacoma);

Exhibit in Crystal Ballroom, Hotel Winthrop, Bemis Bag Company, S.L. Young. Six men are shown with a display from Bemis Brothers Bag Company. The display includes several types of bags for different types of animal feed: rabbit, dog and calf meal. There are sample bags of flour from Centennial, Fisher's, and Crown companies. They have a panel showing a kitty in a Bemis Bag and they have cotton feed sacks. Their central display shows a revolving board with photographs of their different processes.

Crystal Ballroom (Tacoma); Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Bemis Bag Co. (Tacoma); Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1940-1950; Bags; Business enterprises--Tacoma--1940-1950;

California Governor Earl Warren, Republican Vice-Presidential candidate and future Supreme Court Chief Justice, Mrs. Warren, and the Warren children Dorothy, Virginia, Nina Elizabeth, and Bobby, during a campaign appearence in Tacoma. Four of the Warren children accompanied their parents on a whirlwind tour of the Pacific Northwest. Hundreds of women had lined up as much as an hour before to meet the Warrens at a Republican reception. The reception was held in the Hotel Winthrop prior to Governor Warren's address at the State Armory. (TNT 10-15-48, p 1) ALBUM 2.

Political elections--Tacoma--1940-1950; Warren, Earl, 1891-1974; Governors; Warren, Earl--Family; Warren, Nina; Warren, Dorothy; Warren, Virginia; Warren, Nina Elizabeth; Warren, Robert;

Ellensburg Drill Team taken in Junior Ballroom, Hotel Winthrop, Mrs. L.B. Smith. Twenty-two women wearing matching floor-length gowns and nineteen men wearing white shirts and ties pose with four American flags.

Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Hotels--Tacoma--1940-1950; Drill teams; Women--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Carstens Packing Company was hosting a meeting for meat cutters at the Winthrop Hotel's Crystal Ballroom. View of unidentified business men and meat cutters standing behind the demonstration table, a Toledo scale, meat, Carstens advertising posters, knives, and other meat cutting tools are displayed on the table.

Meetings--Tacoma; Business people--Tacoma--1940-1950; Meat industry--Tacoma; Meat; Meat cutting--Tacoma; Scales; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Signs (Notices); Advertisements--Tacoma; Carstens Packing Co. (Tacoma);

The Tacoma Times was about to begin publishing a Sunday edition of the Times, it would begin on December 5, 1948. The Tacoma Sunday Times would be the first newspaper on the Pacific Coast to present its readers with the world famous "Parade" magazine. Left to right view of George R. Skaugset, Business Manager of the Tacoma Times Publications, Paul Busselle, Editor of the Tacoma Times daily and Sunday editions, and Frank W. Power, Publisher and President of the Tacoma Times Publishing Company (T. Times, 12/2/48, p. 19).

Reading--Tacoma; Business people--Tacoma--1940-1950; Newspapers--Tacoma; Men--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1940-1950; Newspaper industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Journalism--Tacoma; Tacoma Times Publishing Co. (Tacoma);

The Tacoma Orthopedic Association's Tahoma Guild was having their third consecutive annual Wishing Candle fundraiser. The money raised would go towards the building of the future children's hospital; eight candles were placed in popular Tacoma restaurants. View of Winthrop Hotel employees: restaurant waitresses, hotel clerks and restaurant hostesses, lighting a Wishing Candle from the Tacoma Orthopedic Association's Tahoma Guild (T.N.T., 12/3/48, p. 10).

Restaurant workers--Tacoma; Hotel employees--Tacoma; Hotels--Tacoma; Lighting--Tacoma; Candles; Fund raising--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Orthopedic Association (Tacoma); Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

Laura Lee and Lanna Lee, the twin daughters of Ward and Betty Allen, celebrated their second birthday on November 27, 1948. This photograph makes it look like they skipped cake and had turkey instead. Cook Ivan Talbot, head chef at the Winthrop Hotel, holds up a 25-pound Thanksgiving turkey for their inspection. The Winthrop was known for its excellent Thanksgiving dinners, and many Tacomans elected to eat out for the holiday. (T. Times, 11/25/48, p. 1).

Thanksgiving Day; Thanksgiving cookery; Twins; Allen, Laura Lee; Allen, Lanna Lee; Children eating & drinking--Tacoma; Talbot, Ivan; Cooks; Turkeys; Holidays--Tacoma; Gratitude; Celebrations--Tacoma; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

Meat packers from Carstens packing Company gathered together for a meeting at the Winthrop Hotel's Crystal Ballroom. New meat cutting techniques, demonstrations, and new machinery were displayed and discussed. View of meat cutters listening to a presentation on meat cutting, an unidentified man is holding up meat products; a Toledo scale, knives and meat are on the tables.

Meetings--Tacoma; Business people--Tacoma--1940-1950; Meat industry--Tacoma; Meat; Meat cutting--Tacoma; Scales; Demonstrations--Tacoma; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Carstens Packing Co. (Tacoma);

Dinner honoring 25 year men. Standard Brands, Inc., Mr. George Adams. Veteran employees of Standard Brands, Inc., were honored at a dinner held at the Hotel Winthrop November 8, 1948, for the 25 employees in the Pacific Northwest who had been with the company 25 years or more. The dinner was held in the Army/Navy Room at the Hotel Winthrop. Names listed in the newspaper. (TNT, 11/9/1948, p.19; T.Times, 11/9/1948, p.8)

Standard Brands, Inc. (Tacoma)--Employees; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Group portraits; Banquets--Tacoma--1940-1950; Events--Tacoma--1940-1950;

The Club of Hearts held their 16th annual Christmas dance in the Crystal Ballroom of the Winthrop Hotel, 773 Broadway, in December of 1948. Four of the "Tacoma Belles" who attended the holiday ball were: (l to r) Shirley Larson, Patricia Perella, Marjie Joy Miller and Rosemary Tollefson. Miss Tollefson and Miss Miller were home from Stephens College for winter break. Marjie Joy Miller embarked in the 1950's on a film and stage career as Marjie Millar. (T. Times, 1/2/49, p. 13).

Balls (Parties)--Tacoma--1940-1950; Ball dresses; Evening gowns--Tacoma; Christmas--Tacoma; Club of Hearts (Tacoma); Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Miller, Marjie Joy; Millar, Marjie; Tollefson, Rosemary; Larson, Shirley; Perella, Patricia;

The Club of Heart's officers would be greeting guests at their 16th annual Christmas dance; dancing would be from 9:00 P.M. until 1:00 A.M. in the Winthrop Hotel's Crystal Ballroom. View of two unidentified couples and a Club of Hearts member at the annual Christmas dance at the Winthrop Hotel's Crystal Ballroom (T.N.T., 12/19/48, p. D-5).

Balls (Parties)--Tacoma--1940-1950; Ball dresses; Evening gowns--Tacoma; Christmas--Tacoma; Couples--Tacoma; Club of Hearts (Tacoma); Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

The Club of Hearts officers were: Lorraine Bottiger, President, W. B. Wingard, Adviser, Sally Waller, Vice-President, Margaret Mathew, Recording Secretary, Patricia Black, Corresponding Secretary, and Joanne Goodrick, Treasurer. View of two unidentified couples standing in the Winthrop Hotel's lobby, telephone booth and Hotel porter station in background (T.N.T., 12/19/48, p. D-5).

Balls (Parties)--Tacoma--1940-1950; Ball dresses; Telephone booths--Tacoma--1940-1950; Evening gowns--Tacoma; Christmas--Tacoma; Couples--Tacoma; Club of Hearts (Tacoma); Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

The "March of Dimes" was starting their fundraising campaign, "Mile O' Dimes", in January of 1949. All special events for the organization were under the direction of Norton Gordon. View of Tacoma Fire Department's new 100 foot ladder extending to the Winthrop Hotel's seventh floor where climber Fireman Scotty Miles, a member of the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis, will accept one of the first donations for the "March of Dimes" campaign (T. Times, 1/15/49, p. 1).

Charitable organizations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fund raising--Tacoma--1940-1950; Poliomyelitis--Prevention; National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis (Tacoma); March of Dimes (Tacoma); Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Miles, Scotty; Tacoma Fire Department (Tacoma)

In January of 1949, Tacoma's "March of Dimes" campaign was beginning their annual solicitation for funds for the nationwide fight against infantile paralysis. View of Tacoma Fire Department's new 100 foot ladder giving access to the Winthrop Hotel's seventh floor, where Scotty Miles, member of the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis, will accept one of the first donations for the "March of Dimes" campaign (T. Times, 1/15/49, p. 1).

Charitable organizations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fund raising--Tacoma--1940-1950; Poliomyelitis--Prevention; National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis (Tacoma); March of Dimes (Tacoma); Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Tacoma Fire Department (Tacoma);