Mrs. B. Lucille Berg; George Weyerhaeuser's third grade teacher at Lowell Elementary. On May 24, 1935, in what was Tacoma's most sensational crime, George Weyerhaeuser was kidnapped as he walked from Lowell Elementary at noontime to meet his sister Ann at Annie Wright Seminary and go home for lunch with her. He was held for $200,000 ransom and released on Tiger Mountain Road in Issaquah after payment on June 1, 1935. Mrs. Berg figured importantly in the case, supplying samples of George's handwriting to compare with his purported handwriting on the ransom notes sent to prove authenticity. (T. Times 5/25/1935, pg. 1 plus succeeding months)

Kidnappings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Berg, Lucille; Lowell Elementary School (Tacoma); Weyerhaeuser, George H.--Kidnappings;

A smiling George Weyerhaeuser poses for the news cameras after his release by kidnappers on June 1, 1935. In what the most sensational crime in Tacoma's history, George was kidnapped on May 24, 1935 as he walked from Lowell School to Annie Wright Seminary to meet his sister and be motored home for lunch by the family chauffer. The ransom demand was for the astronomical sum of $200,000. After the ransom was paid by his father Phil Weyerhaeuser, the boy was released on Tiger Mountain Road in Issaquah. He made it to the home of Louis Bonifas and identified himself; the amazed Bonifas called Tacoma and began driving him home. Reporter John Dreher of the Seattle Times on a hunch started out on the road to Issaquah in a taxi, met Bonifas and convinced him to allow the reporter to deliver George to the Weyerhaeuser home. What resulted was an exclusive interview with the world's most famous kidnap victim. A shaken, but otherwise okay, George was delivered to his parents at around 8 a.m. on June 1, 1935. (TNT 6/1/35, pg. 1)

Kidnappings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Weyerhaeuser, George H.;

This US Postal Service special delivery messenger, Fred Hipkins, became the man of the hour when he reported that he had seen what he felt was an attempt to deliver the ransom money in the George Weyerhaeuser kidnapping case. The Tacoma Times carried a front page story that Hipkins had seen a bright light suspended in a tall fir tree near the intersection of Custer & Steilacoom Highways. He interpreted this as a sign from the kidnappers. Later, near Western States, he saw a large dark sedan with its lights off and people inside. The following morning, tire tracks and dislodged stones could be found in the stone wall surrounding the asylum, a possible ransom drop. This story occupied several pages in the May 31, 1935 Tacoma Times only to disappear and not be repeated. Obviously a dead end. (T. Times 5/31/1935, pg. 1)

Kidnappings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Hipkins, Fred; Weyerhaeuser, George H.--Kidnappings;

The backyard of the Weyerhaeuser home at 7:45 a.m. on Saturday morning, 6/1/1935, when newspapermen heard read an official statement from Mr. and Mrs. Weyerhaeuser that their son George had returned home after his kidnapping ordeal. The tall man next to the automobile, turning away from the crowd of reporters, is H. Marfield Bolcom of Seattle. Mr. Bolcom was a friend and confidant of the Weyerhaeuser family and served as unofficial spokesperson during the kidnapping. (T. Times 6/1/1935, pg. 8)

Kidnappings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Weyerhaeuser, George H.--Kidnappings;

An investigator or reporter examines a rock wall at Western States Hospital where stones have been dislodged in a purported ransom attempt for kidnap victim George Weyerhaeuser. Fred Hipkins, a US postal service messenger, reported what he interpreted to be an ransom attempt. In the early hours, he saw a bright light suspended in a tall fir tree near Custer & Steilacoom Highways. Later, near Western States, he saw a sedan parked with its lights off and people inside. The following morning, tire tracks were found near this wall with dislodged stones indicating a possible ransom drop. The story dominated the May 31st, 1935 Tacoma Times paper, only to disappear in the next days, a probable dead end. (T. Times 5/31/1935, pg. 1)

Kidnappings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Weyerhaeuser, George H.--Kidnappings; Stone walls;

This five generation photograph, taken by the Richards Studio, appeared on the front page of the Tacoma Times on Friday May 17, 1935. The picture shows Rodney Charles Cassidy, age 6 1/2 weeks, being held by his 87-year-old great-great grandmother Mrs. Anna Greco. The women standing behind them are, left to right: Mrs. Samuel A. Moceri, the grandmother; Mrs. Marie Carbone, the great-grandmother; and Antoinette (Mrs. C.F.) Cassidy, Rodney's mother. Rodney's father, Charles F. Cassidy, worked for the Tacoma Times Publishing Company; he went on to work for the News Tribune. (T. Times 5/17/1935, pg. 1)

Families--Tacoma--1930-1940; Greco, Anna; Cassidy, Rodney Charles; Carbone, Marie; Cassidy, Antoinette;

ca. 1935. Boy from Jason Lee Orchestra playing bassoon in front of school. The boy is probably Bruce Allen, a noted juvenile bassoonist, who would have been around 9 years old at the time of this picture. The bassoon is one of the most difficult wood instruments and is usually not attempted by such young players. By 1938, Bruce had been studying for over 2 years and played in the Tacoma Times Jr. Concert Band (formerly known as the Mickey Mouse Band.) He was placed first chair by the conductor of the Junior Orchestra at the 1938 high school music festival in St. Louis. (T. Times 1/8/1937, pg. 7; T. Times 5/20/1938)

Jason Lee Junior High School (Tacoma); Bassoons; Wind instruments; Allen, Bruce;

Atlas Foundry furnace. Interior view of foundry operations in January of 1937, showing men working with glowing molten iron or steel which is flowing from the furnace into a bucket suspended on a heavy metal pulley hook.

Altas Foundry & Machine Co. (Tacoma); Foundries--Tacoma--1930-1940; Steel industry--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Atlas Foundry furnace. Workman igniting the foundry's new furnace. Glimpse of the foundry interior as it was photographed in January of 1937.

Atlas Foundry & Machine Co. (Tacoma); Foundries--Tacoma--1930-1940; Steel industry--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Atlas Foundry furnace as photographed in January of 1937. Workmen inside foundry. Laborer pouring glowing molten iron or steel into barrel. The process appears to be the method and machinery used prior to the foundry's installation of a new furnace.

Atlas Foundry & Machine Co. (Tacoma); Foundries--Tacoma--1930-1940; Steel industry--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Grand Opening of new Tacoma Hotel Annex in Savage-Scofield Building. Two men talking, one man at piano.

Buildings - Hotels - The Tacoma Hotel (second)

ca. 1936. Tacoma Fire Company, Fireboat No. 1 and crew on Commencement Bay.

Fireboats--Tacoma--1930-1940;

ca. 1936. George Lawler tulip fields at Roy, Washington. Three negatives were shot at the same position in red, blue, and yellow, to produce a color separation print. Neat rows of blooming tulips stretch into the distance.

Lawler Bulbs (Roy); Lawler, George--Homes & haunts; Tulips; Croplands--Roy;

Cyclone on new bunker at Ray Gamble's Pacific Wood Flour Company. Men on scaffolds constructing mental cyclone on an elevated frame building. A stylish automobile is parked in front of the factory.

Lumber industry--Tacoma--1930-1940; Pacific Wood Flour Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Automobiles--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Loading milled lumber from the dock onto the St. Paul and Tacoma Lumber Company's lumber ship "Lake Frances".

Lumber industry--Tacoma--1930-1940; St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. (Tacoma); Cargo ships--Tacoma; Shipping--Tacoma--1930-1940;

A young drummer appears to be sitting almost in the bell of a tuba as he is serenaded by fellow band members on the clarinet and trumpet. All three children are members of the Steilacoom band. They wear caps with the initials "S.C.B." The young drummer also wears a debonair cape. The band will be performing in the second annual Steilacoom Music Festival, 8/2/1936, hosted by local veterans' organizations. (T. Times 7/31/1936, pg. 16)

Marching bands--Steilacoom; Musical instruments; Musicians--Steilacoom--1930-1940; Children playing musical instruments;

ca. 1937. This picture, taken in 1937 at the Puyallup Cooperative Hatchery shows a unidentified young girl gently holding a chick. A number of other baby chicks are in the lid of a box in front of her. Poultry were big business in Pierce County in the 1930s. In 1936 there were over 800 commercial poultry growers in the county, some with immense flocks of birds. Ordered by Joe Cornish.

Puyallup Cooperative Hatchery (Puyallup); Chickens--Puyallup; Chicken industry--Puyallup; Children & animals--Puyallup;

ca. 1936. Ellis-Ayr (L) and Ethlynne ("Skit") Smith (later Babson), noted local skiers, examine hiking boots made by the Bone Dry Shoe Company before departing to train for the 1936 Winter Olympic Games at Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. Ellis-Ayr was an alternate to the United States team.

Skiers--Tacoma--1930-1940; Bone-Dry Shoe Manufacturing Co. (Tacoma); Shoe industry--Tacoma--1930-1940; Athletes--Tacoma--1930-1940; Babson, Ethlynne; Smith, Ethlynne; Smith, Ellis-Ayr; Families--Tacoma--1930-1940;

ca. 1936. Ellis-Ayr Smith, noted local skier, holds a pair of Bone Dry Shoe Company hiking boots. She and her sister "Skit" are about to depart for training for the 1936 Winter Olympic Games at Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. Ellis-Ayr was an alternate member of the United States team.

Smith, Ellis-Ayr; Skiers--Tacoma--1930-1940; Bone-Dry Shoe Manufacturing Co. (Tacoma); Shoe industry--Tacoma; Athletes--Tacoma--1930-1940;

ca. 1936. Opening of the new Tacoma Hotel Annex. Man in tuxedo believed to be Mr. George Calvert, manager of the front office.

Tacoma Hotel (Tacoma); Hotels--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Red Top Taxi parked in front of Tommy Burns Used Cars. Dodge Cars and Trucks sign, "Bargain Value Used Cars" advertising banner. For Charles Cook.

Taxicabs--Tacoma; Red Top Taxi (Tacoma); Automobiles--Tacoma--1930-1940; Tommy Burns Used Cars (Tacoma); Banners;

ca. 1937. Automobile accident at 4th and M Streets circa 1937. Man on right wearing suit and cap and holding booklet. Younger man on left wearing short sleeved ribbed shirt and felt hat and holding a folded sheet of paper. It is possible that they are exchanging information.

Traffic accidents--Tacoma; Men--Clothing & dress--Tacoma;

Musical Revue, May 7th-8th, 1937. Believed to be Lincoln High School, directed by Margaret Goheen, seated front row left. (filed with Argentum)

Lincoln High School (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Choirs (Music); Students--Tacoma--1930-1940; Goheen, Margaret; Musical revues & comedies--Tacoma--1930-1940;

On May 7, 1937, Mrs. Avis Christian posed with her 30 piece harmonica band at Oakland School, 3319 So. Adams St. The band, composed of Oakland students, performed the folk songs of Stephen Foster; strains such as "Old Folks at Home" and "Beautiful Dreamer." The band was so successful that they had recently been featured on a local radio show. (T. Times, 5/7/1937, p. 2; students' names listed]. (filed with Argentum)

School children--Tacoma--1930-1940; Oakland Grade School (Tacoma); Mouth organs; Christian, Avis;

ca. 1937. The Barlow-Catlin Block, 1109-13 Pacific Ave., circa 1937. The structure was built in 1889 from a design by Proctor and Dennis. The building was named after its developers C.S. Barlow and Charles Catlin. It was later renamed the Arcade Building and the Bankers Trust Building. In 1937, the main tenant was Steel, Steel, Steel Inc. Real Estate and the building was closed above the second floor to save money. The US government took over the building in 1943 to use as dormitory style housing for war workers. It was demolished in 1956 to make way for an annex to the Peoples Store, located left 1101-07 Pacific Ave. Located to the right of the building are the smaller building at 1115 Pacific and the National Realty Building at 1117-19 Pacific, home in 1937 to Puget Sound Bank. (filed with Argentum)

Barlow-Catlin Block (Tacoma); Office buildings--Tacoma; Business districts--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Interior of the home of Thomas and Ellen O. Johnsen, owner of Bone Dry Shoes on Pacific Ave., and Cortland Johnsen, the company's manager. The home was built in 1936-37 and was located at 2420 No. Junett St. It was designed by architect W. Chelse Boynton. (filed with Argentum)

Bone-Dry Shoe Manufacturing Co. (Tacoma); Shoe industry--Tacoma; Shoemaking--Tacoma; Johnsen, Thomas O.--Homes & haunts;

Exterior of the Tudor style home of Thomas and Ellen O. Johnsen, owner of Bone Dry Shoes on Pacific Ave., and Cortland Johnsen, the company's manager. The home was built in 1936-37 and was located at 2420 No. Junett St. It was designed by architect W. Chelse Boynton. The exterior was brick veneer. (filed with Argentum)

Bone-Dry Shoe Manufacturing Co. (Tacoma); Shoe industry--Tacoma; Shoemaking--Tacoma; Johnsen, Thomas O.--Homes & haunts;

Flower arrangements cover the counters at the new location of Burnett Brothers Jewelers, in honor of their Grand Opening February 12, 1937. For a quarter of a century, the family owned business had sold jewelry from their old location at 932 Broadway. Their new store was narrow with large glass display cases resting on marble stands on either side. (store photos also cataloged as M67) (T.Times, 2/15/1937, pg. 12- picture; 2/11/1937, p. 8)

Burnett Brothers Jewelry (Tacoma); Jewelry stores--Tacoma--1930-1940; Merchandise displays--1930-1940;

Daughters of the Nile in ceremonial dress, photograph taken November 26, 1938. Photograph ordered by Mrs. George Piper. (filed with Argentum)

Daughters of the Nile (Tacoma); Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Studio portrait, believed to be Ellen Jane Davenport, daughter of Ina Davenport. (filed with Argentum)

Davenport, Ellen Jane;