Q-630 was one of three Q-boats launched on April 20, 1954. The 63 foot Q-boats were built for the Army under Navy supervision. The ships were expected to be delivered at Rio Vista, California, in May or June, 1954. The sponsor of Q-630 was Mrs. Vincent J. Genn, wife of the machinery superintendent at Tacoma Boat Building. LTC John Fredin was the principal speaker at the launching. View of participants posed in front of vessel; several women are holding large bouquets of roses. (TNT 4-18-54, B-10)
Launchings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Government vessels--Tacoma; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);
Three Army Q-boats were launched within minutes of each other on April 20, 1954. These 63' crafts were built by Tacoma Boat Building for the Army under Navy supervision. View of several women and small children in front of Q-630; these were members of the christening party. From left to right are: Barbara Rutledge (flower girl), Mrs. Vincent J. Genn, sponsor of Q-630, Shanna Roley (flower girl), Mrs. Wilbert N. Nelson, sponsor of Q-628, Mrs. Alf R. Dahl, sponsor of Q-629, and Linda Dahl (flower girl). (TNT 4-21-54, A-5)
Launchings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Government vessels--Tacoma; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);
Bathing beauties on the Rhodes Brothers Department Store ocean-themed float wave happily to the packed reviewing stands during the 1954 Daffodil Parade. Over 100,000 people turned out to watch the 21st annual parade and television stations provided access to thousands more. The Rhodes entry was awarded first place in the Retail division. (TNT 4-11-54, p. 1)
Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1954 : Tacoma); Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Rhodes Brothers Department Store (Tacoma);
The Tacoma Elks were perennial entrants in the Daffodil Parade. In 1954, their float was festooned with blossoms, including the elks' reins and sides of the wagon. Washington "vacation land" seemed to be their theme that year; members involved are wearing fishing and skiing attire. There were 52 floats entered; awards were given in many categories. While the Tacoma Naval Station won the Sweepstakes award, the Elks entry did capture first place in Fraternal Groups. (TNT 4-11-54, p. 1)
Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1954 : Tacoma); Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Tacoma Lodge No. 174 (Tacoma);
The men of Sigma Chi Fraternity from the College of Puget Sound took second place in the "Comic" category of the 1954 Daffodil Parade. A cardboard "Toss Fug" is pulling a trailer piled with "radioactive" soil, a fish skeleton, and signs warning "atomic pile", "world renouned Tacoma aroma", and in keeping with the vacation theme, "Vacation Tacoma - where debris meets the sea." Viewers are invited to "Watch Tacoma Grow". (TNT 4-11-54, p. 1)
Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1954 : Tacoma); Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Sigma Chi (Tacoma); Fraternities & sororities--Tacoma--1950-1960;
Steve Pease, owner of the popular Steve's Gay Nineties restaurant in South Tacoma, often had an entry in the city's Daffodil Parades. His buggy is decorated with hundreds of blooms as it is pulled along Pacific Avenue during the 1954 Daffodil Parade. Two "street cleaners" in white uniforms stand behind an equally dazzling white wheeled trash can and a sign proclaiming "Steve's smorgasbord" as the "cleanest in town!"
Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1954 : Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Pease, Stephen O.; Steve's Gay '90s (Tacoma); Carriages & coaches--Tacoma--1950-1960;
The annual Daffodil Parade attracted participants from all over the state. Entry #55 in the 1954 parade belonged to the Hanford, Washington, Knights of Pythias organization. A flower bedecked and fringed automobile slowly pulled a daffodil covered pyramid with the large letter "C" along Pacific Avenue past spectators in front of the National Bank of Washington building.
Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1954 : Tacoma); Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Knights of Pythias (Hanford); Fraternal organizations;
Two horsemen representing the Tacobat Grotto fraternal organization lead the way for a small horse and cart publicizing the benefit show for the handicapped to be held on May 16, 1954. The tiny cart is well covered with daffodils, including the wheels, as it marches along in the 21st annual Daffodil Parade. There were 135 marching units of all varieties taking part in addition to 52 floats.
Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1954 : Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacobat Grotto (Tacoma); Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1950-1960; Horses--Tacoma;
Crowds of 5-20 people deep lined the streets of downtown Tacoma for the 1954 Daffodil Parade. Thousands jammed the windows in stores and office buildings; it was estimated that over 100,000 people saw the parade. Brilliant sunshine and 50 degree temperatures greeted parade participants and watchers alike. There were 52 floats and 135 marching units involved; view of military and auxiliary groups marching along the 1100 block of Pacific Avenue. (TNT 4-10-54, p. 1)
Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1954 : Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Marching--Tacoma--1950-1960;
Members of the Marcetta-Ki drill team from Lincoln High School perform a snappy maneuver for the thousands watching the 1954 Daffodil Parade. The unpredictable spring weather brought a day of sunshine after several days of rain; the parade enjoyed plenty of sun and 50 degree temperatures. View of drill team pausing in front of Puget Sound National Bank on Pacific Avenue; total length of the parade route in Tacoma was two miles.
Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1954 : Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Marcetta-Ki (Tacoma); Drill teams;
An unidentified Tacoma police officer and several scouts stand at attention and salute as the Daffodil Parade passes South 12th and Pacific on April 10, 1954. They are probably saluting the Color Guard near the head of the parade. The 21st Daffodil Parade was the biggest in the history of the event with 52 floats and a crowd estimated at 100,000. The two-hour extravaganza was carried live over both KTNT-TV and KMO-TV. TPL-9623
Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1954 : Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Saluting--Tacoma--1950-1960; Boy Scouts (Tacoma)--1950-1960; Tacoma Police Department (Tacoma);
The Pierce County Sheriff's Posse on horseback is reaching the end of the Tacoma portion of the 1954 Daffodil Parade. The two mile route would head south on Pacific Avenue and conclude at 19th St. before reforming for the Valley swing in the afternoon. The 21st annual parade enjoyed its largest crowd ever, with estimates of 100,000 spectators. Two million daffodils were used on floats, carts, buggys, horses and people in the parade. (TNT 4-9-54, p. 1, TNT 4-10-54, p. 1)
Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1954 : Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Horses--Tacoma;
Lakewood Center's float in the 1954 Daffodil Parade continued the theme of promoting Washington as a vacation paradise. Skiing, skating, boating & fishing, swimming and golfing were healthy outdoor activities available to locals and visitors alike. Participants in boating, fishing and golfing stood under a flowered carousel with the sign "It's vacation time all the time in vacationland." A newer award, the Festival award honoring the float best portraying the festival's theme, was given to the Lakewood Center Businessmen's Association for this float. (TNT 4-11-54, p. 1)
Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1954 : Tacoma); Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Lakewood Community Center (Lakewood);
Thousands were expected to line the city waterfront to watch the 200+ daffodil adorned boats proceed from the Tacoma Yacht Club to the City Waterway. This would be the final activity in the 1954 Daffodil festivities. Flags and flowers decorate the purse seiners Joann and Memories, among others, as they file in single formation past a reviewing yacht containing the Daffodil queen, Mary Carlile, and guests. The Joann, owned by George J. Peterson of Peterson Boat Co., won a special award. The festival would officially end when the last boat vanished from view. (TNT 4-11-54, p. 1, TNT 4-12-54, p. 1)
Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1954: Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Naval parades & ceremonies--Tacoma; Boats--Tacoma; Marine Parade;
All of the boats entered in the 1954 Daffodil marine parade were decorated with blossoms; this particular vessel even had its initials spelled out in daffodils. The name of the boat may have been the "Mony Boy". Hundreds of flowers were used to nearly cover the entire boat, leaving barely enough room for the two lounging riders.
Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1954: Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Naval parades & ceremonies--Tacoma; Boats--Tacoma; Marine Parade;
Entry #76 in the 1954 Daffodil marine parade was a long, sleek craft with two large flowered butterflies on display. Three ladies are shown on board, with two waving gently to onlookers. Thousands of spectators watched the parade from Ruston Way, surrounding hillsides and the Old Tacoma Dock. More than 200 boats, all decorated with daffodils, proceeded from the Tacoma Yacht Club to the City Waterway. (TNT 4-11-54, p. 1, TNT 4-12-54, p. 1)
Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1954: Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Naval parades & ceremonies--Tacoma; Boats--Tacoma; Marine Parade;
Golden sunbeams burst onto Puget Sound in April of 1954 as the annual Marine Parade concluded Daffodil Festival activities. Crowds crowded Tacoma's shoreline to see the colorful marine floats. This particular entry had a distinctly tropical theme, with palm trees, flowers and even a hula dancer cutout on display. There were many passengers on board enjoying the brisk air and beautiful scenery. Besides the parade of more than 200 boats, there was also a sailboat race; only two of the 16 boats entered in the race finished the 11 mile course. Tom Sias' Lady Luck was the winner with Bill Brasier's Aurora second. Photograph ordered by the TNT. (TNT 4-12-54, p. 1, 16-articles)
Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1954: Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Naval parades & ceremonies--Tacoma; Boats--Tacoma; Marine Parade;
The Suitsus, owned by Harold Thompson of Tacoma, its sails decorated with thousands of daffodils, won an honorable mention in the 1954 Puget Sound Daffodil Regatta. More than 200 boats participated in the parade, including sailboats, purse seiners, and the City fireboat which tossed thousands of gallons of colored water into the air for a beautiful water fountain effect. The surrounding hillsides, Old Tacoma Dock and Ruston Way were crammed with spectators enjoying the impressive procession of vessels. Photograph ordered by the TNT. (TNT 4-12-54, p. 1)
Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1954 : Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Naval parades & ceremonies--Tacoma; Boats--Tacoma; Marine Parade;
The 1954 Puget Sound Daffodil Regatta awarded the grand prize for visiting boats to Chester Gibson, owner of the Hilma III, an entry from the Queen City Yacht Club of Seattle. It depicted Neptune, the Roman god of the sea, and his chariot of sea horses. The boat was smothered in daffodils with an attached sign reading "U.S. Coat Guard Auxiliary." A sailboat race, colorful exhibition by the City fireboat, and the parade of floats concluded the Daffodil Festival which was enjoyed by thousands viewing the proceedings from nearby surroundings. Photograph ordered by the TNT. (TNT 4-12-54, p. 1)
Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1954: Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Naval parades & ceremonies--Tacoma; Boats--Tacoma; Marine Parade;
For 56 years, in 2008, the annual Marine Parade has brought the Daffodil Festival season to a close. Entry #99 in the 1954 Puget Sound Daffodil Regatta was covered with literally thousands of blossoms, including windshield, making it truly a floating garden of daffodils. The boats passed, one by one, in front of a reviewing yacht carrying the Daffodil queen, Mary Carlile, and her guests. Once the last boat had passed from view, the Festival would officially end. Photograph ordered by the News Tribune.
Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1954: Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Naval parades & ceremonies--Tacoma; Boats--Tacoma; Marine Parade;
Chamber of Commerce Gridiron Dinner at the Winthrop Hotel. Head table with sign above "1889 - Golden Jubilee Membership Campaign - 1939". (T.Times) (Also Dated 4-30-1939)
Banquets--Tacoma--1930-1940; Washington State Golden Jubilee, 1939--Tacoma; Chamber of Commerce (Tacoma); Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);
Chamber of Commerce Gridiron Dinner at the Winthrop Hotel. Four men with false handlebar moustaches standing together and singing. (T.Times) (Also dated 04-30-1939)
Banquets--Tacoma--1930-1940; Washington State Golden Jubilee, 1939--Tacoma; Chamber of Commerce (Tacoma); Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);
A style show featuring a bride's trousseau occurred at the Tacoma Lawn Tennis Club during the time of the annual Delta Delta Delta Pansy Ring Tea in May, 1954. Models portraying the bridal party stand in front of the Ring of flowers. Both attendants and the bride carry wreaths of flowers, perhaps dahlias, to correspond with the circular theme. Mrs. Paul Whitcomb, the former Janet Erickson, models a wedding gown with flowing train. Mrs. Whitcomb was the former 1953 chapter president of Delta Delta Delta. Her groom in the photograph is Warren Hunt of the Sigma Chi fraternity. Mr. Hunt is a graduating senior from Puyallup, a business administration major, and former student body president. The bridal attendants were Barbara Schaller and Nancy Cranston. (TNT 5-2-54, D-4)
Betz-Von-Der-Schwerin, female Doberman Pinscher on right, is proud to show off her seven puppies at the Second Annual All Breed Dog Show sponsored by the Tacoma Kennel Club. The puppies, six male and one female, were a featured attraction at the show. Father Sumpter Cullers, on left backed by his many ribbons, looks a bit bewildered at the trophy vase. The dogs are owned by Alan J. Mekelburg of Portland, Oregon. (T. Times 5/1/1939, pg. 1)
Tacoma Kennel Club (Tacoma); Dogs; Dog shows--Tacoma--1930-1940;
A spaniel dog being shown at the second annual All Breed Dog Show sponsored by the Tacoma Kennel Club and held at the old Sears and Roebuck building April 29-30, 1939. (T. Times, 5/1/1939, p. 1)
Tacoma Kennel Club (Tacoma); Dogs; Dog shows--Tacoma--1930-1940;
Champion Playfair Rockefeller, a Boston Bulldog, took first place in Group 6, Non-Sporting Dogs, at the two-day dog show held in the former Sears Roebuck Building, April 29-30, 1939. Over 50 varieties of dogs participated in the second annual All Breed Dog Show. The show was co-sponsored by the Tacoma Kennel Club and the Young Men's Business Club. (T. Times, 5/1/1939, p. 1).
Tacoma Kennel Club (Tacoma); Dogs; Dog shows--Tacoma--1930-1940; Bulldogs;
Man positioning a hunting dog for show competition. Second Annual All Breed Dog show held at the former Sears Roebuck Building, April 29-30, 1939. (T. Times, 5/1/1939, p. 1)
Tacoma Kennel Club (Tacoma); Dogs; Dog shows--Tacoma--1930-1940;
Best of Show, Blue King II, a Kerry Blue Terrier, won first place in Group 4 at the second annual All Breed Dog Show sponsored by the Tacoma Kennel Club and held at the old Sears and Roebuck building. L. to R: A. W. Forbes, president, Tacoma Kennel Club, owner Mrs. William Fox, California, and Eval E. Cravell, chief judge, Vancouver, B.C. The pair of East Indian hand tooled vases awarded to the winner were donated by the Tacoma Times. (T. Times, 5/1/1939, p. 1)
Tacoma Kennel Club (Tacoma); Dogs; Dog shows--Tacoma--1930-1940; Forbes, A. W.;
Canadian and American champion, "Coats Correct," three time winner for Best Dog in Show, pictured at the second annual All Breed dog show held April 29-30, 1939 at the old Sears and Roebuck Building. (T. Times, 5/1/1939).
Tacoma Kennel Club (Tacoma); Dogs; Dog shows--Tacoma--1930-1940;
