Sepia photograph of City Controller Tom Swayze, Mayor George Smitley and Utilities Commissioner Ira Davisson at (Old) City Hall on May 25, 1936; the city officials are signing contracts with St. Regis Kraft Co which will enable the pulp industry, idle since 1930, to reopen and remodernize facilities. The city would supply millions of gallons of water and hundreds of electrical horsepower daily. Utilities Commissioner Davisson is holding a check from Kraft for $10,000 to begin service. Mr. Davisson, furthest right in the photograph, was a longtime Public Utilities Commissioner first appointed in November, 1918. He led Tacoma's utilities through difficult times in the 1920's and 30's and managed to improve service while keeping rates low. During his long tenure, a 25-million gallon North End Reservoir was built in 1927, and Mr. Davisson worked to extend water service to the Tideflats which helped the growth of industrial development. He was finally voted out of office in 1940 at age 80. ALBUM 11. (Seattle/King Co. HistoryLink.org, T.Times, 5-26-36, p. 2)

Mayors--Tacoma--1930-1940; Smitley, George A., 1872-1956; Swayze, Tom; Davisson, Ira; Municipal government--Tacoma;

On August 28, 1947 C.V. Fawcett, the current Mayor of Tacoma and the reigning Pacific Coast Mayors' Salmon Derby champion, squeezed in a few extra minutes of practice for the upcoming competition in his City Hall office. The mayor had barely a moment to spare as the derby was scheduled to take place on Saturday, August 30th in Ilwaco. Dressed in fisherman's waders and a warm plaid jacket, Mr. Fawcett was photographed diligently studying the book "Salmon Fishing on Puget Sound" while dangling his (unbaited) hook over a metal bucket. He hoped to repeat his triumph of the previous year when he hauled in a 22-pound salmon, handily defeating mayors from California, Portland and other Pacific Coast cities. And should people scoff at the mayor's unusual bucket training, it must be stated that he had employed the same technique the year he won. Mayor Fawcett managed to pull in a 25 lb. fish, winning the 1947 derby. (TNT 8-29-71, p. 1) TPL-8264

Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fawcett, Clarence Valdo, 1900-1965; Fishing; Fishermen--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fishing & hunting gear;

ca. 1934. Sepia portrait of Tacoma Mayor George A. Smitley at (Old) City Hall. A native of Fort Wayne, Indiana, Mr. Smitley was a traveling salesman for the Majestic Manufacturing Co. for twelve years. He came to Tacoma in 1905 and worked for the C.E. Horton Furniture Co. for nine years. While in Tacoma, Mr. Smitley joined the Elks Club, eventually becoming the secretary and manager. His association with many civic and social groups, including the Elks, Masons, Lions, Tacoma Gun Club and Shriners, may have assisted him when he made a successful bid in 1934 for the mayor's seat. He had held no previous political office prior to becoming mayor. During his tenure as mayor, Fort Nisqually Reconstruction was officially dedicated and President Roosevelt whistlestopped in Tacoma. ALBUM 11, ALBUM 16.

Mayors--Tacoma--1930-1940; Smitley, George A., 1872-1956;

ca. 1934. Portrait of Tacoma Mayor George A. Smitley in his office at (Old) City Hall. Mr. Smitley succeeded two-time mayor, Melvin G. Tennent, as the city's chief executive. Formerly a traveling salesman, furniture company manager and Elks secretary/manager, Mr. Smitley won election in March, 1934, despite never holding a political office. During his administration, Franklin Roosevelt visited Tacoma on a brief stopover and Fort Nisqually's reconstruction efforts took place. ALBUM 11.

Mayors--Tacoma--1930-1940; Smitley, George A., 1872-1956;

ca. 1934. Portrait of Mayor George A. Smitley in his office at (Old) City Hall. In this 1934 sepia photograph, Mr. Smitley is wearing a three-piece suit; he has one hand resting on the mayor's desk. Having held no previous political office, he succeeded two-term mayor Melvin G. Tennent. A former salesman, furniture company manager and Elks Club secretary/manager, and well known in Tacoma, Mr. Smitley was mayor for one four-year term. He was married in 1930 to Mrs. W.C. (Isabel) Bowen. ALBUM 11.

Mayors--Tacoma--1930-1940; Smitley, George A., 1872-1956;

Mayor George A. Smitley with Rhododendron Queen Myrtle Olson and American Legion Post Commander Paul Chaplain at mayor's office in (Old) City Hall. Photograph ordered by the Seattle Star. Rhododendron Days on the Olympic Peninsula would celebrate the blooming of the state's official flower May 22-23, 1936. Most of the festivities would be centered in Port Townsend. Queen Myrtle will reign over sporting events, parades and flower tours. (T. Times 5/15/1936, pg. 1)

Smitley, George A., 1872-1956; Olson, Myrtle; Rhododendrons; Mayors--Tacoma--1930-1940; Festivals--Port Townsend--1930-1940; Chaplain, Paul; American Legion (Tacoma);

Norman J. Maddex, City Light department wireman, suspended by cables to work on relamping the (Old) City Hall tower clock. "Relamping" is the term used for replacing the burned out light globes and defective wiring. He is dangling in a boatswain's chair, a board slung in the loops of a bowline knot. In addition to his precarious perch, the men handling the cables above him had to be careful of loose tiles that could send them hurtling to the street below. The work had been delayed for some time as financially hard pressed city departments argued about whose budget the job should be charged to. (T. Times 11-15-1935, pg. 3)

City Hall (Tacoma); Maddex, Norman J.;

Mayor John C. Siegle and two appointees admire flowers sent for the mayor's swearing in ceremony at (Old) City Hall on June 6, 1938. Blossoms of many varieties decorate the mayor's chambers. Flanking the new mayor are William J. Ganz and C. Amos Booth, the mayor's nominees for Secretary to the Mayor and Superintendent, Refuse Collection division, respectively. The mayor's first official act was to submit to the new council his appointments. They were confirmed during the first session. (T. Times, 6-6-38, p. 14) ALBUM 11.

Mayors--Tacoma--1930-1940; Siegle, John C., 1885-1939; Ganz, William J.; Booth, C. Amos; Flower arrangements;

John C. Siegle held up his right hand as he was sworn in as Mayor on June 6, 1938, by City Clerk Genevieve Martin. Standing by the wall, between them, are Holmes Eastwood, Safety Commissioner, wearing a sports jacket and light colored slacks, and C. Val Fawcett, Finance Commissioner. Dr. Siegle succeeded George A. Smitley as mayor. In Dr. Siegle's address, he pledged his efforts towards securing new industries, helping those already here, and promoting the Narrows Bridge project. Dr. Siegle, a dentist, was the first mayor of Tacoma to be born in Tacoma. He died April 12, 1939 less then one year after taking office. (T. Times, 6-6-38, p. 1, 14)

Mayors--Tacoma--1930-1940; Siegle, John C., 1885-1939; Oaths--Tacoma; Fawcett, Clarence Valdo, 1900-1965; Eastwood, Holmes; Martin, Genevieve;

On May 25, 1938, Mayor George A. Smitley, in his office at (old) City Hall, bought a "Buddy Poppy" from Mary Lee Burrows (L) and Elizabeth Armstrong, the youngest members of the American Legion Rhodes Post Auxiliary. Buddy Poppies were assembled by disabled and/or needy veterans and proceeds used for veterans welfare. (T.Times).

Mayors--Tacoma--1930-1940; Smitley, George A., 1872-1956; Patriotic societies--Tacoma; American Legion Edward B. Rhodes Post No. 2 (Tacoma); Burrows, Mary Lee; Armstrong, Elizabeth;

Mrs. Jess Dannen of the American Legion Auxiliary, Rhodes post, pins a "Buddy Poppy" on Tacoma Mayor J.J. Kaufman at (Old) City Hall on May 23, 1939. Mayor Kaufman was the first to buy a poppy during Tacoma's Poppy Days. These paper poppies were made by disabled veterans in a Walla Walla hospital and sold to raise funds for veterans relief. ALBUM 11, ALBUM 16. (T.Times 5-25-39, p. 4)

Mayors--Tacoma--1930-1940; Kaufman, Joseph J.; American Legion Auxiliary (Tacoma); Fund raising--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Four Girl Scouts selling Mayor J. J. Kaufman a copy of the Golden Jubilee Program at his office in (Old) City Hall on July 18, 1939. Mayor Kaufman is perusing the "Fifty Years of Progress Washington Golden Jubilee Celebration" book as the young girls look on. Tacoma was awarded the official statehood jubilee celebration; over 100,000 residents enjoyed a 14-mile parade and rain failed to dampen outdoor dances and pageants. ALBUM 11.

Washington State Golden Jubilee, 1939--Tacoma; Mayors--Tacoma--1930-1940; Kaufman, Joseph J.; Girl Scouts (Tacoma);