A covered steel barge is shown docked at J. M. Martinac Shipbuilders on the Thea Foss Waterway on January 27, 1941. The vessel was ordered by the Navy and fabricated by Birchfield Boilers. The vessel is 110 feet long and 34 feet wide. [T Times, 1/27/1941].

Barges--Tacoma; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma);

It's "Thumbs up" all around as the British American War Relief Committee poses with a new ambulance in February of 1941. The ambulance, destined for Great Britain, was on display in front of the British American War Relief office at 914 1/2 Broadway. The "Thumbs up" Cavalcade of ambulances was on a three month tour of the U.S. with five members from professional football driving the vehicles. Doug Oldershaw of the NY Giants, believed fourth from left, was the driver of the ambulance that traveled to Tacoma from San Francisco. Each ambulance took a different route from California on the cross-country trip. Money was being raised during the tour to purchase airplane ambulances for the Royal Air Force. Names of the other individuals in the photograph were not provided. (T. Times 2/8/1941, pg. 3-article)

Ambulances--1940-1950; World War, 1939-1945--Ambulances--Tacoma; British American War Relief Committee (Tacoma);

Doug Oldershaw of the New York Giants football team (far left) was one of five professional football players who donated their time in February of 1941 to help raise money to buy ambulance planes for the Royal Air Force - the RAF. An unidentified member of the Tacoma chapter of the British-American War Relief Committee is pointing to an ambulance airplane on the poster being held by Doug in this photograph from February 10, 1941. Five ambulances comprising a "thumbs-up" cavalcade left San Francisco, each by a different route in a cross-county tour. The ambulance on display in Tacoma, driven by Doug Oldershaw, could be seen in front of the British American War Relief Office at 914 1/2 Broadway. (T. Times 2/8/1941, pg. 3)

Ambulances--1940-1950; World War, 1939-1945--Ambulances--Tacoma; British American War Relief Committee (Tacoma);

In February of 1941, a British American War Relief Committee ambulance was on display in front of the Beverly Theater, at 916-18 Broadway. The offices of the British American War Relief Headquarters can be seen upstairs at 914 1/2 Broadway. The ambulance was on a fund raising tour prior to being shipped to Britain. (T. Times 2/8/1941, pg. 3)

Ambulances--1940-1950; World War, 1939-1945--Ambulances--Tacoma; British American War Relief Committee (Tacoma); Beverly Theater (Tacoma);

Lt. Col. Charles W. Goodwin is pictured arriving by plane in Seattle on Northwest Airlines on February 9, 1941. He will travel from Seattle to Tacoma, where he is taking over the command of the 103rd Anti Tank Battalion. The 103rd is composed primarily of Tacoma men and is the last reserve unit to be inducted into regular Army service. The military men are, left to right, Capt. M.B. Benjamin, Capt. Lawrence J. Nelson, Lt. Col. Goodwin, Capt. Jesse Haire and Capt. T. Hadley St. Claire. (T. Times 2/10/1941, pg. 2)

Airplanes--1940-1950; Goodwin, Charles W.;

In April of 1941, Fuel Oil Service Corp. celebrated their 10th anniversary by moving to their new business location, 816 A St. The company that specialized in fuel oils was completely Tacoma owned and operated. It was founded by Mark Dolliver and Roger Stewart. The company was the local distributor for Standard Burner Oil and had a fleet of five delivery trucks, the most modern in the west. Picture in front of their new location are, left to right, A.W. Taylor (District Mgr.), Roger Stewart (Sec.), Rena Skreen (bookkeeper), Robert Jackson (salesman), Mark C. Dolliver (president), Fred Grimm, William Baker, Earl Tillman and Roy Boblet (drivers.) (T. Times 4/1/1941, pg 4)

Trucks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fuel Oil Service (Tacoma);

Governors Review at Fort Lewis. Nine bi-planes flying in formation. These were from the 91st and 116th observation squadrons. They, along with the men of the 9th Corps. and the 5th Brigade, passed in review before Governors Charles D. Martin of Oregon, Clarence D. Martin of Washington and Roy E. Ayres of Montana and top military brass on August 21, 1937. Thousands of civilians journeyed to Fort Lewis to watch the military pageant. (T. Times 8-21-37, p. 1, 8-23-37, p. 1)

Biplanes; Military parades & ceremonies--Fort Lewis;

Three men look intently at an Evinrude motor catalog in a 1958 photograph. They may be comparing the catalog to the new Evinrude model before them. Dangling flags are advertising a "dreamboat contest" sponsored by Evinrude where the winner would be able to choose his own boat and motor with a cash bonus thrown in. The contest would begin February 22 and end on March 23. The Evinrude motors were advertised as being safe, sound-sealed and quiet. Photograph ordered by Teleradio Advertisers, Inc., for KTVW television.

Boat engines; Boats; Signs (Notices);

Fords and Oldsmobiles line the streets of Glenwood Acres as people flock to the ribbon cutting ceremonies of the "Blue Flame" home. Other houses were in the process of being built and prospective homeowners could easily walk over and inspect them. Glenwood Acres was a planned housing development in Lakewood. Developers left many trees in the various lots to preserve the rustic atmosphere. The planned community also featured the use of natural gas, not oil or electricity, to heat the homes. Photograph ordered by Stromberg Construction.

Ford automobile; Oldsmobile automobile; Houses--Lakewood--1950-1960; Housing developments--Lakewood--1950-1960;

Tacoma Boat Building launched MSC-277, a 145-foot minesweeper built for the Navy, on June 30, 1958, in Sitcum Waterway. During the early 1950's, Tacoma's shipbuilding companies had garnered several contracts to build vessels for the government. This wooden minesweeper, however, was the first to be formally launched in nearly two years by a Tacoma firm. Tacoma Boat Building was awarded a contract to build four minesweepers for the Navy at a cost of approximately $7 million. Since then, the firm had received contracts totaling $4.25 million for six more Navy craft. The ship's sponsor was Mrs. Guy Garland, wife of the commander of the Tacoma Naval Station. Photograph ordered by Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (TNT 6-27-58, A-1, TNT 6-29-58, B-2, TNT 7-1-58, A-6))

Launchings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

A dripping automobile is salvaged by the Coast Guard with grappling hooks on June 24, 1941, about two hours after it crashed through the guardrail on the 15th Street Bridge and sank in 30 feet of water. The lone occupant, Mrs. Bertha Woodard of Milton, drowned. A witness to the accident said that she had swerved to avoid hitting a pedestrian. The police and fire departments were unable to bring the vehicle to the surface until the arrival of the Coast Guard. (T. Times 6/25/1941, pg. 1)

Accidents--Tacoma; Automobiles--Tacoma--1940-1950; Bridges--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Young boy wearing a WW I helmet operates a tractor pulling another piece of farm equipment. Three adult men stand talking in the background in this photograph dated July 9, 1941.

Tractors; Rural areas;

The parking lot at Owen Beach is filled with cars whose occupants are watching the water show provided by the Tacoma Fireboat. Among the vehicles appears to be the well-known Steve Gay '90s cable car. Small tugs circle the fireboat whose plumes of water arch over Commencement Bay. Water is blasted through mounted nozzles on the boat; the purpose would be to put out marine and waterfront fires. The display was part of the Kiwanis convention festivities held in August, 1958. Photograph ordered by Kiwanis International.

Kiwanis International; Fireboats--Tacoma--1950-1960;

An employee of the Simmons Oyster Co. in Olympia stands on a wooden barge preparing to use his large fork to shovel the piles of oysters into a holding tank. His plywood craft is adjacent to the barge with a further assortment of tools on board. A Johnson motor guides the small boat. Photograph ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association.

Barges--Olympia; Oysters; Shellfish industry--Olympia; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma);

Seattle and Tacoma employees of Abar, Inc., form a long line in front of the store on Pacific Avenue on September 19, 1958. In addition, four delivery trucks stand ready to transport Abar products to their customers. Abar sold aluminum storm doors and windows and screens direct from the factory. Roy V. English was listed in the 1958 City Directory as president of the firm. Photograph ordered by Abar, Inc.

Abar, Inc. (Tacoma);

On Tuesday, August 5, 1941, O.V. Snyder's yacht, the "Klatawa", was "drafted" into government service. It was the first private yacht in Tacoma to be taken over by the U.S. government to be used by the Coast Guard for harbor patrol work. It was to be used around the tide flats and the port to keep an eye on industrial plants involved in defense work. A representative of the Coast Guard stated at the time that 20 boats in the Columbia River and Puget Sound district would eventually be commandeered. The yachts were taken for specific periods. (T. Times 08-05-1941 p.4)

Boats--Tacoma--1940-1950

Launching of the MSC 279 by Tacoma Boat Building Co. The MSC 279 was the third 144ft minesweeper to be launched by the boat builder under the current contract. It was launched into the Sitcum Waterway at 2:30p.m. on Saturday, February 21st, 1959. Mrs. Paul Vetrees, wife of the company's chief engineer, was the sponsor and their eight year old daughter Cathy was the flower girl. (TNT 2/15/1959, pg. B-9)

Launchings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

Aerial views of Evelyn Burleson in her airplane, "Miss Liberty," in flight from Canada to Mexico. Tacoma aviatrix Evelyn Burleson was influenced by aviation pioneer Ruth Elder. She learned to fly in 1928 in Lincoln, Nebraska and embraced aviation as her career. At the time of this October 1, 1941 flight, she was a freelance pilot but she was previously a flight instructor in Oregon. (T. Times 10/2/1941, pg. 1)

Airplanes--Tacoma--1940-1950; Burleson, Evelyn; Aerial photographs--1940-1950; Monoplanes;

On October 1, 1941, Mrs. Evelyn Burleson, of Tacoma, took off from Vancouver, B.C. for a solo flight to Tijuana, Mexico. Flying the tiny "Miss Liberty", she flew the 1,600 miles non-stop in 16 1/2 hours. This photograph, by Tacoma Times photographer Bob Richards, was taken as her plane passed over Pierce County. (T. Times 10-2-1941 p.1)

Airplanes--Tacoma--1940-1950; Burleson, Evelyn; Aerial photographs--1940-1950; Monoplanes;

Aerial views of Evelyn Burleson in her airplane, "Miss Liberty," in flight from Canada to Mexico in October of 1941. Tacoma Times photographer Bob Richards and pilot Vernon Hubert met up with her over the Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp. yards and accompanied her as far as Kelso, snapping these pictures enroute. (T. Times 10/2/1941, pg. 1)

Airplanes--Tacoma--1940-1950; Burleson, Evelyn; Aerial photographs--1940-1950; Monoplanes;

Aerial views of Evelyn Burleson in her airplane, "Miss Liberty," in flight from Canada to Mexico. The Taylorcraft monoplane was painted especially for the trip: white with red and blue stripes, a depiction of Miss Liberty and the letters "WAD," for Women Also Defend. (T. Times 10/2/1941, pg. 1)

Airplanes--Tacoma--1940-1950; Burleson, Evelyn; Aerial photographs--1940-1950; Monoplanes;

Aerial views of Evelyn Burleson in her airplane, "Miss Liberty," in flight from Canada to Mexico. (T. Times)

Airplanes--Tacoma--1940-1950; Burleson, Evelyn; Aerial photographs--1940-1950; Monoplanes;

On October 1, 1941, Mrs. Evelyn Burleson flew her Taylorcraft monoplane, the "Miss Liberty," nonstop from Vancouver, B.C., to Tiajuana Mexico. She arrived on the morning of the 2nd at 7:30a.m., completing the 1700 mile flight in 16 1/2 hours, 3 hours ahead of schedule. (T. Times 10/2/1941, pg. 1)

Airplanes--Tacoma--1940-1950; Burleson, Evelyn; Aerial photographs--1940-1950; Monoplanes;

Aerial views of Evelyn Burleson in her airplane, "Miss Liberty," in flight from Canada to Mexico in October of 1941. This picture was captured by a neighboring plane as she passed through Pierce County. (T. Times)

Airplanes--Tacoma--1940-1950; Burleson, Evelyn; Aerial photographs--1940-1950; Monoplanes;

On October 1, 1941, Tacoma aviatrix Mrs. Evelyn Burleson took off from Vancouver, B.C. for a solo nonstop flight to Tijuana, Mexico. She flew a petite Taylorcraft monoplane called "Miss Liberty." The plane was painted white with red and blue stripes, a torch bearing Liberty and emblazoned with "WAD" (Women Also Defend.) The plane usually held 12 gallons of gasoline, but 80 gallon tanks were installed for the flight. Tacoma Times photographer Bob Richards and pilot Vernon Hubert took to the air over Pierce County to snap these pictures. They communicated with Mrs. Burleson by sign language as she carried no radio due to weight restrictions. Thursday morning, October 2nd, 16 1/2 hours after leaving Vancouver, she arrived in Tijuana, a 1700 mile flight. (T. Times 10-2-1941 p.1)

Airplanes--Tacoma--1940-1950; Burleson, Evelyn; Aerial photographs--1940-1950; Monoplanes;

Evelyn Burleson beside her airplane, "Miss Liberty", at Mueller-Harkins Airport. On October 1, 1941, the Tacoma aviatrix flew her pictured Taylorcraft monoplane nonstop from Vancouver, Canada to Tijuana, Mexico. She arrived on the morning of the 2nd at 7:30a.m., completing the 1700 mile flight in 16 1/2 hours, 3 hours ahead of schedule. The plane was painted especially for the flight in white with red and blue stripes, a torch bearing Liberty and emblazoned with "WAD" (Women Also Defend.)

Airplanes--Tacoma--1940-1950; Burleson, Evelyn; Monoplanes;

October 21, 1941 tank maneuvers at Fort Lewis where Mayor Harry P. Cain was guest of honor. American involvement in war was growing closer and major Army centers like Fort Lewis stepped up military exercises. 4500 soldiers participated in a grueling tank v. anti-tank guns "battle," the first of its kind on the Pacific coast.

Tanks (Military science)--Tacoma;

October 21, 1941 tank maneuvers at Fort Lewis where Mayor Harry P. Cain was guest of honor. 41 tanks, weighing 10 tons and heavily armored, would participate in military exercises against anti-tank guns. Traveling through rough terrain, the "Blues" would ford streams and knock down fences as they attemped to dislodge the strongly entrenched "Reds." They "battled" to a draw. (T.Times, 10-22-41, p. 1)

Tanks (Military science)--Tacoma; Military maneuvers--Fort Lewis;

Tank maneuvers at Fort Lewis where Mayor Harry P. Cain was guest of honor on October 21, 1941. Some of the 41 tanks are pictured during the one-day exercise. 4,500 men participated in the "battle" where everything, but the shells, was real. Spearheaded by the 10-ton armored tanks, the "Blues" traveled across rolling and rough terrain to engage the "Reds" in combat. (T. Times 10/22/1941, pg. 1)

Tanks (Military science)--Tacoma; Military maneuvers--Fort Lewis;

1937 Ford Coupe, license A132701, at White Arrow Service Station on Seattle Highway for Loyalty Group, Seattle. Mr. Waters, attorney. 1937 Ford automobile heavily damaged on passenger side. Photograph taken on November 21, 1941.

Ford automobile; Traffic accidents; Wrecks;