Members of the Woodbrook Hunt Club, wearing traditional hunt clothing, were photographed in the Spring of 1941 riding across the prairie with their hounds. The "Huntsman" was the gentleman in the top hat. Woodbrook still practices the tradition of riding to the hounds and is one of 170 member hunts of the Masters of Foxhounds Association of America. They keep a group of pedigree American Foxhounds in their kennels. (www.woodbrookhunt.com)
Members of the Woodbrook Hunt Club were photographed on March 29, 1941 against a background of prairie and (faintly) Mount Rainier. The Club had played host to two other groups of riders, from other cities, twice during the Spring. The group was captured by the Richards photographer while setting out on a hunt. (T. Times 4/5/1941, pg. 5)
Members of the Woodbrook Hunt Club, wearing English riding habits, set out in spring of 1941 on a hunt. The Club had hosted two fellow clubs from neighboring cities to a joint hunt during the spring. This image was captured by the Richards Studio photographer during one of those hunts. Their hunting grounds, located on the current Fort Lewis grounds, were highly prized.
On May 21, 1941, an unidentified rider at the Woodbrook Hunt Club tested the jumping skills of a "Tennessee Walking Horse" by having it jump a human barrier. The unidentified human "cross bar" apparently survived the risky stunt. Mrs. Thomas Overland of Seattle brought the horse to Lakewood so that the club members could get a chance to see and ride the distinctive breed.
Woodbrook Hunt Club (Lakewood); Horses; Jumping (Horsemanship);
Tennessee Walking Horse being exhibited at the Woodbrook Hunt Club in May of 1941. The rider is guiding his horse through a jump over three barrels as the horse knocks over the top barrel.
Woodbrook Hunt Club (Lakewood); Horses; Jumping (Horsemanship);
After wandering the streets of the northend for ten days in 1942, this juvenile bear appeared in downtown Tacoma and paid dearly for that mistake with his life. After many sightings on the northend, the bear proved elusive and grew fat on gleanings from garbage cans.The first time that he left the northend, the bear was tracked by Police Officer Bert Barber to the alley at the rear of 1619 So. "J" St., where he was shot and killed at 5a.m. on June 5, 1942. He was about 18 months old, weighed 180-200 pounds and had made his way to Tacoma from the vicinity of Steilacoom. (T. Times 6/5/1942, pg. 1)
In October of 1941, Charles F.T. (Chen) Rowe runs toward the camera with Sanka, one of the horses that he boarded at the Point Defiance Riding Academy stables (pictured in background.) Using the old barn and pasture that had been the home for the park's herd of buffalo, the riding academy was founded in 1933. The Point Defiance Riding Academy was destroyed by a fire at 10 p.m. on August 20, 1964. Albert Schramm, stable operator, tried to chase the 15 boarded horses out of the flaming structure. The frightened horses stood huddled in a knot, when Sanka leapt forward and broke through a narrow Dutch door to safety. Twelve horses followed and two perished in the fire. Sanka was proclaimed a hero. She died in October of 1964 at the ripe old age of 33. (TNT 10/4/1964, pg. B-10 for the story of Sanka)
Horses--Tacoma--1940-1950; Point Defiance Riding Academy (Tacoma); Rowe, Charles Frederick Trendall;
Charles F.T. (Chen) Rowe with Sanka, one of the horses that he boarded at the Point Defiance Riding Academy stables. Using the old barn and pasture that had been the home for the park's herd of buffalo, the riding academy was founded in 1933. There were more then 12 miles of beautiful bridle paths within the park. "Chen" Rowe was the owner of the Tacoma Seed Company, which was started by his father in 1919. The Point Defiance Riding Academy was destroyed by a fire in August of 1964 in which two horses were killed. Twelve other horses were led to safety by the 33 year old thoroughbred Sanka. The Academy was never rebuilt.
Horses--Tacoma--1940-1950; Point Defiance Riding Academy (Tacoma); Rowe, Charles Frederick Trendall;
In October of 1941, Charles F.T. (Chen) Rowe stands next to Sanka, one of the horses that he boarded at the Point Defiance Riding Academy stables. Using the old barn and pasture that had been the home for the park's herd of buffalo, the riding academy was founded in 1933. The 50 year old stables were destroyed by fire in August of 1969 and never rebuilt. The 33 year old thoroughbred mare Sanka was a direct descendent of racing legend Man O'War. Sanka raced as a filly on the West Coast before being bought by Rowe at the age of five. The pair spent the next 28 years covering hundreds of miles together on the woody trails of Point Defiance, including remote areas patrolled only Rowe and his horse. Rowe also held a commission with the Pierce County Sheriffs Department. Sanka died of old age in October of 1964 and was laid to rest by her loving owner. (TNT 10/4/1964, pg B-10)
Horses--Tacoma--1940-1950; Point Defiance Riding Academy (Tacoma); Rowe, Charles Frederick Trendall;
Al Wharton deposited a nickel in the meter and "parked" his horse Primo in front of the Bank of California building in early June of 1942. Mr. Wharton had had a lot of trouble recently with parking tickets so he wondered if his horse would ever receive one. The question baffled a passing patrolman as the horse did not come equipped with license plates or a spot where the ticket could be safely placed. Mr. Wharton operated the Tacoma Riding and Training School at 8001 South Tacoma Way. He looked forward to an increase of business as wartime rationing of gasoline and tires made driving more difficult. (T. Times 6/2/1942, pg. 1)
Horses--Tacoma; Wharton, Al; Bank of California National Association (Tacoma); Parking;
On June 1, 1942, the Tacoma Times photographer captured horseman Al Wharton parking his horse in front of the Bank of California building. Being a good citizen, and to avoid a ticket, Mr. Wharton dropped a nickel into the meter. A passing policeman remarked that, if needed, he wasn't sure how or where to ticket the horse. The palomino stallion had no license plate number or windshield wiper to hold the ticket. (T. Times 6/1/1942, pg. 1)
Horses--Tacoma; Wharton, Al; Bank of California National Association (Tacoma); Parking;
Al Wharton, Tacoma horseman, "parked" his horse in front of the Bank of California at 1011-13 Pacific Avenue on a sunny June afternoon in 1942. He tethered his mount to the parking meter - and dropped in a nickel. (T. Times 6/2/1942 p.1)
Horses--Tacoma; Wharton, Al; Bank of California National Association (Tacoma); Parking;
Several men with horses stand in front of an open barn at a public horse sale for Army buyers at the Western Washington Fairgrounds, Puyallup, on October 20, 1941. Around 100 men, women and children attended the sale, mostly local farmers and ranchers. The Army was offering $150-175 for 4-8 year old geldings that were 15-16 hands high, 975-1150 pounds and strong of limb and wind. Only two of the thirty five horses inspected met their requirements. (T. Times 10/21/1941, pg. 1)
In September of 1944, despite the shortage of gasoline due to the war and without the use of a single ration coupon, 16 month old Michael Morris Anderson was travelling in style. Pulling the boy's stroller was his grandfather's rare Drahthaar hunting dog, known as Max Von Lohenberg. Max was one of a handful of German bred Drahthaars in the US in 1944. Grandfather W.F. Kerr was also on hand to supervise the excursion. Mr. Kerr said that Max was the smartest bird dog he ever trained; in addition to flushing and retrieving birds, Max learned the start and stop commands and how to pull little Michael in just one lesson. (T. Times, 9/21/44, p. 1).
Dogs--Tacoma--1940-1950; Strollers (Baby carriages)--Tacoma; Children & animals; Anderson, Michael Morris; Kerr, W. F.;
Woodbrook Hunt Club. The annual Gymkhana event was held May 27, 1945 at Wrightacres on Clover Creek south of Tacoma. The nine events listed on the program included both English and Western styles. This woman sitting astride her horse on an English sadle wears a white riding jacket and black pants, holding a crop in her hand. (T.Times, 5/23/1945, p.6)
Woodbrook Hunt Club. The Woodbrook Hunt Club was founded in May of 1926 and is the oldest hunting club in the Northwest. They held their fifth annual gymkhana of riding events on May 27, 1945 at Wrightacres on Clover Creek south of Tacoma. The nine events listed on the program included both English and Western styles. Alta Ryan and Marguerite Bonnell (L-R), mounted on "Lady" and "Patsy" rode in the event. (T.Times, 5/23/1945, p.6)
Chief Boatswain Arthur L. Parker, US Navy, and his horse, Flicka. Mr. Parker is shown astride Flicka. Mr. Parker arranged for Flicka to be brought to California from Tulagai when he returned to the United States from the war. Getting her into the United States was more difficult than obtaining passage of 10,000 miles was. He brought her with him when he came to University Place to visit his parents. He plans to buy a small farm to keep her and to live when he retires in four months' time. (T.Times, 10/1/1945, p.1)
Chief Boatswain Arthur L. Parker, US Navy, and his horse, Flicka. While in Tulagai, Mr. Parker operated on Flicka and to keep her safe from the threat of further bombs, her found a cave for her to stay in until she was well. He taught her tricks and they have been together four years. Mr. Parker says Flicka has more tricks than a poker playing ace. (T.Times, 10/1/1945, p.1)
Chief Boatswain Arthur L. Parker, US Navy, and his horse, Flicka. Mr. Parker heats up food on an electric range while Flicka pokes her head in from the back porch. These two have been together since Flicka was a colt in Tulagai. During the invasion in Tulagai, Flicka's mother was killed. Flicka ran off and was found after Arthur Parker sent men after her. She was wounded and was brought back on a sled. (T.Times, 10/1/1945, p.1)
Three legged chicken born at the Mrs. W.E. Crawley Residence, Spanaway. Edith J. Crawley, 9 years old, holds in her hand a newly hatched chick that had three legs. Edith named him Elmer and said he eats as much as the other chicks and was just as lively. Photo taken for the Tacoma Times. (T.Times, 8/7/1947, p.11)
Chickens--Tacoma; Girls--Tacoma--1940-1950; Birth defects; Children & animals--Tacoma; Crawley, Edith J.;
Edward Warburton, new manager of the Tacoma-Pierce County Humane Society, is standing beside the shelter's new truck with two dogs and a cat, stray pets at the shelter. The Humane Society is holding an open house on May 9, during "Be Kind to Animals Week" for visitors to see how the shelter operates and the many pets that are available for adoption. (T.N.T., 5/6/48, p. 4). TPL-8344
Dogs--Tacoma--1940-1950; Cats; Pets; Dogcatching--Tacoma; Animal shelters--Tacoma; Tacoma-Pierce County Humane Society (Tacoma); Warburton, Edward;
In 1948, Dr. Thomas McKay was an Osteopath whose medical practice was in Tacoma at 911 Pacific Avenue. Dr. McKay is married to Zaza and they have a son, Thomas F. McKay, who is a student at Pacific Lutheran College. The McKay family have their family ranch, the Circle T-Z, and home in Puyallup at South Meridian & Airport Road. View of Dr. Thomas McKay riding his horse, another horse is on right side. Dr. McKay may be on his two-year-old American saddlebred "Ebony Arden Supreme." He would be showing this horse at a gymkhana and horse show on July 4th at his Circle T-Z ranch in collaboration with the Valley Riding Club. (TNT 6-27-1948, D-3-article only)
A woman and two younger girls tend to the two horses in this photo labelled Dr Hellyer, snow scenes. Dr. David T. Hellyer maintained an office in Tacoma at 722 So. K St.; but he resided at 7814 John Dower Rd. W. in Lakewood, which is most probably the location of this picture.
There are chickens as far as the eye can see in this June 4, 1953, photograph. There were many varieties of chicken houses; this evidently was much larger than the normal chicken coop. To keep the chickens warm, at least three metallic heater units are hanging above their heads. A woman is apparently adjusting the height of one of the heaters by tugging at a rope. The many eggs laid by these chickens would be then transported to the Washington Cooperative Farmers Association who would clean, rate and sell them on behalf of the farmer. Photograph ordered by Dale Smith, Washington Cooperative Farmers Association. TPL-9370
Chickens; Chicken industry; Poultry; Washington Cooperative Farmers Association (Tacoma);
Albert H. Hooker divides his time between two roles as an industrialist and a rancher. He and his dog stand proudly together in a pasture while he inspects his Hereford cattle at his large ranch at McKenna. This portrait was included in the Tacoma News Tribune's Country Gentlemen tribute. (TNT, 10/12/1952, p.D-1)
A small child smilingly makes eye contact with a chick at Ken Bergman's farm in January, 1953. She is holding a scooper full of chicken feed. There are dozens of baby chicks in the hay strewn wooden enclosure; some are huddled against the large stove while others line up to eat and drink. Photograph ordered by Washington Cooperative Farmers Assn.
Chickens--Washington; Poultry houses--Washington; Stoves--Washington; Washington Cooperative Farmers Association (Tacoma);
Master of Foxhounds Earl Craig addresses the mounted members of the Woodbrook Hunt Club on the New Year's Day hunt held in 1953. The hunt club's pack of foxhounds surround Craig. Woodbrook is one of the few clubs in the country that maintains their own pack of hounds. The Woodbrook Hunt Club is still active, and they remain associated with the Masters of Foxhounds Association of America. They also still enjoy the sport of riding to hounds, but they do not hunt a live fox. They "drag hunt". The dogs follow a trail created by dragging a scent impregnated gunny sack along the ground. They use synthetic scent; the dogs follow a synthetic fox.
