International-style Military Ball, held February 18, 1939 at the Hotel Winthrop's Crystal Ballroom. Sue Devlin, of Tacoma, and Elsie Lough, of Vancouver, entertain surrounding officers from their perches on chairs. Admirers, left to right, are Robert Sconce of Tacoma, Capt. Graeme Gibson of the 72nd Seaforth Highlanders, Col. A.W. McMorris of Tacoma and Lt. Fowles of Olympia, liaison officer for the 248th Coast Artillery. (T. Times, 2/20/1939, p. 1)

Balls (Parties)--Tacoma--1930-1940; Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1930-1940; Ball dresses; Military uniforms; Scotland--Clothing & dress; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Devlin, Sue; Gibson, Graeme; Lough, Elsie; McMorris, A.W.; Sconce, Robert E.;

Narrows Bridge celebration at the Stadium Bowl. A Capacity crowd is pictured in stadium and behind the fence on the west side for celebration of $2,700,000 P.W.A. (Progress Works Administration) grant for Narrows Bridge construction. The fete was attended by over 5,000. (T. Times 7/1/1938, p. 1).

Celebrations--Tacoma--1930-1940; Narrows Bridge Celebration (Tacoma); Stadium Bowl (Tacoma);

On Thursday evening June 30, 1938 a crowd of 5,000 gathered in Tacoma's Stadium Bowl to celebrate the P.W.A. (Progress Works Administration) grant of $2,700,000 to begin construction of a bridge over the Narrows. Dignitaries, included Governor Clarence D. Martin, U.S. Senator Homer T. Bone, Congressman John M. Coffee, and Tacoma Mayor John C. Siegle, spoke to the large gathering of bridge boosters including the Peninsula Bridge Gang. The celebration was not all talk. The evenings festivities included a dance revue which was spread over the entire program, music performed by the 10th Field Artillery band, and a community sing led by Herbert Ford. (T. Times, 7/1/1938, p. 1).

Celebrations--Tacoma--1930-1940; Narrows Bridge Celebration (Tacoma); Stadium Bowl (Tacoma);

Narrows Bridge celebration at Stadium Bowl. Senator Homer T. Bone, left, and Major General Walter C. Sweeney Commanding Officer of Fort Lewis, right, attend event marking $2,700,000 Progress Works Administration grant for bridge construction. Senator Bone is credited with much of the work done to obtain the grant. (T. Times, 7/1/1938, p 1).

Celebrations--Tacoma--1930-1940; Narrows Bridge Celebration (Tacoma); Sweeney, Walter C.; Bone, Homer Truett, 1883-1970;

Senator Walter Davis, history professor at the College of Puget Sound, sat on a bench in Wright Park on the first day of spring in 1938 and edited papers. Despite the designation as spring, the day was chilly with a high of 49 and a low of 30. It did not stop people from venturing out to enjoy the brisk air and bouts of sunshine. Walter S. Davis served in the Washington State Legislature from 1913 to 1929 as Senator for the 27th District. He was instrumental in shaping Washington State's education policies, introducing a bill that made teaching of American History and Civics in high school compulsory. Senator Davis came to CPS in 1907 as a professor of history and political science. He would retire in 1943. (T.Times, 3/21/1938, p.1; T.Times 5-9-43, p. 10-article on Sen. Davis).

Events--Tacoma--1930-1940; Spring--Tacoma; Parks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Wright Park (Tacoma); Davis, Walter; Teachers--Tacoma--1930-1940;

The first annual bicycle contest started July 28, 1938. Entrants from Jefferson Park, North 9th and Monroe streets, competed in the District No. 1 primaries. Crowd of children with arms raised, cheering bicycle racers. The winners would compete in the main races on August 5th. (T. Times, 7/29/1938, p.1;16).

Events--Tacoma; Bicycles & tricycles--Tacoma; Jefferson Park (Tacoma);

The first annual Times Bicycle Contest started at Jefferson Park, No. 9th and Monroe Streets, with District 1 preliminaries. The strenuous obstacle course competition included lifting bicycles over wooden barricades placed on the course. Neighborhood houses in background.(T. Times, 7/29/1938, pp.1;16)

Events--Tacoma; Bicycles & tricycles--Tacoma; Jefferson Park (Tacoma); Children riding bicycles & tricycles--Tacoma;

Good weather drew 600 attendees to the 12th annual Dash Point Dock Dinner Dance. Activities during the day included: swimming, diving, rowboat races, log rolling, and the greased pole event. Here a group of boys are moving a log along the beach in the surf. (T.Times, 7/21/1938, p. 3).

Festivals--Dash Point; Dance parties--Dash Point; Children playing in water--Dash Point;

Y.M.B.C. (Young Men's Business Club) Water Carnival at Point Defiance. On April 24, 1938, the first water carnival was held as a farewell ceremony for the Tacoma built fishing vessel "Western Explorer." The event was planned by the Y.M.B.C. to promote Tacoma's shipbuilding industry, but it was so immensely popular that it became an annual event. An unidentified large yacht is anchored in the bay for the Carnival. (T.Times, 4/25/1938, p. 1).

Festivals--Tacoma--1930-1940; Young Men's Business Club (Tacoma); Piers & wharves--Tacoma; Point Defiance Park (Tacoma); Boats--Tacoma; Yachts--Tacoma;

Y.M.B.C. (Young Men's Business Club) Water Carnival at Point Defiance. The April 1938 event attracted 25,000 spectators. The decking around the Pavilion was filled with people. Traffic and parking were bottlenecked. The carnival was so popular that it became an annual event. (T.Times, 4/25/1938, p.1).

Festivals--Tacoma--1930-1940; Young Men's Business Club (Tacoma); Piers & wharves--Tacoma; Point Defiance Park (Tacoma); Point Defiance Boat House (Tacoma);

1938 Daffodil Parade. Large crowds gathered around the Daffodil Queen Bliss I and her attendants in an elaborate reviewing stand constructed at 10th and Pacific. Bliss Lundrigan, a 17 year old senior at Puyallup High School, is the reigning Queen, attended by Bernice Daniel of Tacoma, left, and Agnes Kucemba of Sumner. The trio appear in their official robes, a first for Daffodil royalty. An estimated 30,000 people attended the parade in Tacoma which continued on into the valley.

Floats (parades)--Tacoma--1930-1940; Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1938 : Tacoma); Lundrigan, Bliss; Daniel, Bernice; Kucemba, Agnes;

The John Dower Lumber Co. float in the 1935 Daffodil Parade. This floral tribute was the first prize winner in Division IV, commercial entries. It displayed a miniature house, all constructed of daffodils, with real glass windows.

Floats (parades)--Tacoma--1930-1940; Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1935 : Tacoma);

The viewing stand for the 1935 Daffodil Parade, a daffodil fountain erected in Broadway Square, at 9th and Broadway. The framework for the fountain was 25 feet square and 25 feet high and was constructed by carpenters on loan from the Fisher Co., Rhodes Department store and the Hotel Winthrop. Into its chicken wire framework were thrust 100,000 daffodil blossoms, giving it a fresh, sunny yellow glow. Over 175,000 blossoms were used to decorate Pacific Avenue and over a million were used on the floats. (filed with Argentum)

Floats (parades)--Tacoma--1930-1940; Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1935 : Tacoma);

Merrill Almanac's entry in the 1935 Daffodil Parade. Two people pose by a decorated basket with "Merrill Almanac" on its side by the Seymour Conservatory in Wright Park. (filed with Argentum)

Floats (parades)--Tacoma--1930-1940; Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1935 : Tacoma); Seymour Conservatory (Tacoma); Wright Park (Tacoma); Greenhouses--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Flower bedecked automobile used as Tacoma Seed Company float in the 1935 Daffodil Parade, parked in front of the Seymour Conservatory at Wright's Park. Sign on float reads "Tacoma Seed Co. headquarters for Von Zonnevelt Farm Bulbs."

Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1930-1940; Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1935 : Tacoma); Seymour Conservatory (Tacoma); Wright Park (Tacoma); Greenhouses--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Public attending first concert of season. Gathering in lobby. Woman writing on pad of paper.

Concerts--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Public attending first concert of season.

Concerts--Tacoma--1930-1940;

The float in the 1936 Daffodil parade offered by the K Street Business Mens' Association depicts the K Street business sector as the "Hub of Activity." The floral tribute is built on the bed of a large truck. (T. Times 4/20/1936, pg. 3)

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1936 : Tacoma); Festivals--Tacoma; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Two white horses pulling a four-wheeled sulkey and driver proceed up Ninth Street in the Cole Brothers- Clyde Beatty Circus parade. Palomino horses with riders carrying American flags follow behind the two-horse team. A large crowd of spectators watch the parade. This was the first circus procession in Tacoma in years and it was to announce the arrival by train of the Circus, which would be making a one day stop in Tacoma with performances in the afternoon and evening. The show would pitch tents on the Union Pacific RR circus grounds, opposite Union Station and across the 15th Street Bridge.

Circus parades--Tacoma--1930-1940; Horse teams--Tacoma; Flags; Spectators--Tacoma;

A circus wagon pulled by an eight horse team turned the corner at South 9th Street and Pacific Avenue as hundreds of Tacomans lined the parade route and watched. The Cole Brothers-Clyde Beatty circus came to Tacoma in August of 1936 for a one day stop. With 1,080 performers and support staff and over 800 animals, including 30 elephants, the circus had the population of a good sized town. The featured performer is young Clyde Beatty, noted wild animal trainer. (T. Times 8/21/1936, pg. 13)

Circus parades--Tacoma--1930-1940; Horse teams--Tacoma; Flags; Spectators--Tacoma;

The First Annual Bicycle Race Meet and Parade held August 5, 1938 at the Stadium Bowl. Five girls pose at the end of the parade with their decorated bikes. Thirteen judges or officials, with lapel ribbons, stand behind them. Sheriff John C. Bjorklund is one of the judges and stands on the back row, one from the right.

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Bicycles & tricycles--1930-1940; Children riding bicycles & tricycles--1930-1940; Stadium Bowl (Tacoma);

First Annual Bicycle Race Meet and Parade, held August 5, 1938 at the Stadium Bowl. A long line of costumed riders and their decorated bikes pose after the parade. Prizes were given for best decorated entries, funniest costumes, craziest looking bicycles and oldest bicycles. Over 1500 youngsters took part in the day's fun.

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Bicycles & tricycles--1930-1940; Children riding bicycles & tricycles--1930-1940; Stadium Bowl (Tacoma);

First Annual Bicycle Race Meet and Parade held August 5, 1938 at the Stadium Bowl. Seven girls in costumes and dresses pose with their trophies, medals and prizes. One small girl with ringlets holds a loving cup, while the older girls show off their prizes. The prizes include a new bicycle, sunglasses, a jacket, shoes and a watch.

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Bicycles & tricycles--1930-1940; Children riding bicycles & tricycles--1930-1940; Stadium Bowl (Tacoma);

The Tacoma Times-Metropolitan Park District First Annual Bicycle Race Meet and Parade was held on August 5, 1938 at the Stadium Bowl. Three boys posed with their decorated bikes after the parade. The bicycle on the right is decorated with red, white and blue crepe paper bunting and sports several American flags. An Uncle Sam look-alike is the rider. The boy in the middle pays tribute to Douglas "Wrong Way" Corrigan with his "Corrigan's Special." In 1938, after many governmental refusals for a transatlantic flight permit, Corrigan set off to fly from New York to California in a fog and ended up in Ireland, supposedly due to a compass failure. The man who thumbed his nose at government officials became a national folk hero. The third bike has a sign "Quick Oats." Hundreds of children competed in the street parade and all-city meet. More than 300 prizes were awarded, including wrist watches and medals and as grand prizes, new bicycles. (T.Times 8-5-38, p. 1-article; T. Times 8-6-38, p. 1-article)

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Bicycles & tricycles--1930-1940; Children riding bicycles & tricycles--1930-1940; Stadium Bowl (Tacoma);

Narrows Bridge celebration. Parade on South Tacoma Way, led by Standard Oil gasoline fuel truck, passes Ludwig's Drug and Lang Hardware. More than 500 cars and trucks participated in the event organized by a committee representing the business districts.

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Narrows Bridge Celebration (Tacoma); Automobiles--Tacoma--1930-1940; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Tacoma Yacht Club Daffodil Festival Regatta race. Wooden motor boat number 30C333 pulls into the yacht harbor after the annual festival race. This boat is most probably the "Bo-Peep," owned by Bennett O. Swain, which was damaged on the bow after a collision with Norton Clapp's "Carmelita" during the race. Swain & "Bo-Peep" continued on to win the race with no errors. (T. Times 4/4/1938, pg. 1)

Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1938 : Tacoma); Naval parades & ceremonies--Tacoma; Boats--Tacoma; Regattas--Tacoma--1930-1940; Tacoma Yacht Club (Tacoma);

Daffodil Yacht Club Regatta race. Several boats on Commencement Bay appear in the distant view from above a wooden motored yacht decorated with marine flags.

Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1938 : Tacoma); Naval parades & ceremonies--Tacoma; Boats--Tacoma; Regattas--Tacoma--1930-1940; Tacoma Yacht Club (Tacoma);

Haley wedding. Frank Haley and his bride Nell peer out the window from the back seat of a two-door sedan after their wedding ceremony which took place in May of 1938.

Weddings--1930-1940; Brides--1930-1940; Grooms (Weddings)--1930-1940; Haley, Frank; Haley, Nell; Haley, Frank--Family; Automobiles--1930-1940;

Western Washington Fair grandstand. The Tacoma Federal Band plays a musical piece directed by Joe Rausch during the 1938 Tacoma Day at the fair.

Western Washington Fair (Puyallup); Fairs--Puyallup--1930-1940; Grandstands--Puyallup; Tacoma Federal Band (Tacoma);

On November 21, 1938, Charles and Marian Bedford celebrate their 50th Wedding Anniversary with 200 friends and relatives at their home. They lived at 3718 South M Street. They were married November 21, 1888, in Minneapolis and came to Tacoma in 1899. (T. Times, 11/26/1938, p. 9)

Anniversaries; Bedford, Charles; Bedford, Marian;