The Century Ballroom, with rooftop sign advertising dancing to the strains of Slim Martin and his Orchestra, known as the "Maestro of Mirth and Melody." During the defense industry boom of the World War II years, the Century Ballroom was one of the hottest venues in the Northwest. All of the big bands played there, the Dorseys, Kay Kyser, the Lombardo brothers and Ted Fio Rito. The ballroom was built by developers Rocco (Mac) Manza and Emilio James (Jimmy) Zarelli in 1934. It was their second business venture, the first being "a little hamburger stand in Fife" called the Poodle Dog, now a recognized landmark. The Century Ballroom was located just north of the Dog. It was built by contractor Bonnie MacDonald and the new developers paid him back as they could. The building had 20,000 square feet of floor space and cost $28,000. It consistently lost money for the first eight years. With the boom in wartime industry, the pair struck pay dirt. The ballroom sometimes ran two shifts of dances with the second starting at 1:30a.m. for the swing shift workers. With the 1950's, big band music was out and rock was in. A fire in January of 1964 gutted the interior of what was once the Century Ballroom. The flames swept the length of the building just under the roof and then burst to heights of 20 to 30 feet and were visible for miles. Nine businesses were housed at this siteΓÇöincluding Toppers IGA Market, FujiΓÇÖs Ten Cent Store, and the Fife City Hall. Toppers IGA and Fuji's Ten Cent Store never resumed business in Fife. (TNT 3/23/1980, pg. D9)

Century Ballroom (Fife); Ballrooms--Fife--1930-1940; Musicians--Fife--1930-1940;

Mayor Harold Tollefson exchanged smiles with Julie Reihm in March of 1965, as she was made an honorary citizen of Tacoma. Ms. Reihm, 20, had just presented the mayor with a proclamation making him an honorary citizen of Disneyland. She was a special Disneyland Ambassador who was touring the country to publicize the amusement park's 10th anniversary. Ms. Reihm also made Mayor Tollefson an honorary member of the Anaheim City Council and bestowed upon him a free one-year pass to Disneyland and an official Disneyland color book. In return, the mayor made Ms. Reihm an honorary Tacoma citizen. G67.1-154 (TNT 3-24-65, A-10-article & alternate photograph)

Mayors--Tacoma--1960-1970; Tollefson, Harold M., 1908-1985; Reihm, Julie; Guests--Tacoma--1960-1970;

ca. 1957. A banjo player, believed to be Barney Stallone, deftly picks out a tune as he joins fellow musicians in a jam session in an undated sepia photograph possibly taken about 1957. This tight quartet is composed of drums, accordion, banjo and two guitars. They are sitting close together on a small stage; a piano and instrument case are nearby. The guitarist to Mr. Stallone's right is believed to be a Mr. Naccarto. Photograph ordered by Joyce Kinkela Hergert. (Additional information provided by a reader)

Music ensembles; Banjos;

Groups of men appear to be consulting one another as work progresses on the construction of a new unidentified bridge in late 1957. Plywood has been laid on most of the roadbed with one section of exposed rebar yet to be covered. Photograph ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association.

Bridge construction; Bridges; Suspension bridges; Plywood; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma);

ca. 1954. The photograph of this very contemporary rambler styled home with many picture windows was probably taken in the summer of 1954. The one-story home had a extended, wide driveway and may have been located in the growing suburbs outside Tacoma city limits. The home, #8803, had a partially fenced yard and was surrounded by trees and shrubs. TPL-8313

Houses--1950-1960; Driveways;

On July 31, 1936, promoter Rookie Lewis outdid himself by staging an authentic "Indian Wedding" as the evening's special attraction during his Walkathon (dance marathon) at the Century Ballroom in Fife. Chief White Eagle conducted the Native American wedding of So-To-Le-O and groom Qua-Le-Ales, with rites performed in sign language. Five different tribes participated in the wedding. The Walkathon was heavily attended by citizens of Tacoma and Seattle, since both cities had local ordinances forbidding such marathons. Approximately 30 people were pictured, first two rows were Native-Americans in costume, others may be some of the remaining participants in the Walkathon. Tribal blankets serve as backdrop. (T.Times 7-31-36, p. 4-article; 8-1-36, p. 5-article; www.historylink.org) (filed with Argentum)

Indians of North America--Clothing & dress; Weddings--Fife; Marathons--Fife;

Cowan-Lynn Wedding bridal party. Carolyn Fogg was the only attendant for Grace Marie Cowan as she wed C. Nathan Lynn on August 22, 1937. J. Marvin Lynn was his brother's best man. The small private ceremony was held at the residence of the groom's parents, Mr. and Mrs. C.O. Lynn on No. "C" St. The bride is wearing a princess styled gown of heavy pink lace while her maid of honor is dressed in pale yellow organdy. (T.Times, 8-23-37, p. 7) (filed with Argentum)

Cowan, Grace Marie; Lynn, C. Nathan; Weddings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Wedding costume--1930-1940; Brides--1930-1940; Grooms (Weddings)--1930-1940; Fogg, Carolyn; Lynn, J. Marvin;

ca. 1935. Tollefsen-Haydon Wedding. Bride in lace gown with veil and train holding bouquet in front of altar. (filed with Argentum)

Weddings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Brides--1930-1940; Wedding costume--1930-1940;

ca. 1935. Tollefsen-Haydon Wedding. Bride with four bridesmaids standing in front of altar. (filed with Argentum)

Weddings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Brides--1930-1940; Wedding costume--1930-1940;

Mary Berry Thomas- Bernard Albert Sack Wedding at Annie Wright Seminary on September 22, 1937. An unidentified girl in a long dress carrying a bouquet was photographed coming down stairs. She was probably a junior bridesmaid. (filed with Argentum)

Weddings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1930-1940;

Hagerty-? Wedding at Central Baptist Church. Bride, groom, four groom's men and four bridesmaids; candlelabras and flowers. Building constructed in 1900 as First Swedish Baptist. (Filed with Argentum)

Weddings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Brides--1930-1940; Grooms (Weddings)--1930-1940; Central Baptist Church (Tacoma);

ca. 1935. Staaki-Bergioli Wedding. Bride and two bridesmaids with long dresses. Maids have large bouquets, all have very different hats. This circa 1935 wedding appears to have taken place in someone's home. (filed with Argentum)

Weddings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Brides--1930-1940; Wedding costume--1930-1940; Wedding attendants;

Gray-? Wedding. Bridal party outside front of porch of house. Best man, groom, bride, maid of honor, and 2 young women. (filed with Argentum)

Weddings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Brides--1930-1940; Grooms (Weddings)--1930-1940;

Thousands of Shriners converged on Tacoma in June of 1957 for their annual Pacific Northwest Shrine Association convention. Festivities culminated at Lincoln Bowl where the "Shrine-O-Rama" pageant took place. The general public was invited to attend the evening program of marching units, Oriental bands and bands. ALBUM 15.

Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1950-1960; Meetings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Lincoln Bowl (Tacoma);

ca. 1962. Portrait of young boxer in bare-fisted stance, ca. 1962. This is Denny Moyer, Portland middleweight. He was a former Tacoma Golden Gloves junior middle champion. Moyer would win an unanimous decision over former welterweight and middleweight champion Sugar Ray Robinson in a February 17, 1962, rematch at Madison Square Garden. The 22-year-old boxer had lost a previous decision to the 41-year-old Robinson. Moyer would gain the attention of the nation again when he fought welterweight champ, Emile Griffith, in a 10-round non-title event on August 18, 1962. He would lose to Griffith by a split decision in the nationally televised bout.(TNT 2-18-62, B-10, TNT 8-17-62, A-1, 8-19-62, A-1)

Boxers (Sports)--Tacoma--1960-1970; Moyer, Denny;

The Bon Marche was no longer the only occupant of the Tacoma Mall Shopping Center on the south side of Tacoma in October,1965 when this aerial photograph was taken. A full-line J.C. Penney's had opened at the southeast end of the large building complex and many smaller specialty stores had joined the two large department stores. Acres of free parking proved to be a major draw, and the enclosed mall design kept customers out of the wind and rain. The National Bank of Washington's circular building is prominent near the Mall; I-5 freeway, providing easy access to the Mall, runs along the photograph's left side. The Wapato Lake area is southeast of the Mall to the left of I-5, near the horizon. Most of the residential development surrounding the Mall has been converted over the years into commercial property.

Aerial photographs; Shopping centers--Tacoma; Bon Marche (Tacoma); National Bank of Washington (Tacoma); J.C. Penney Co. (Tacoma);

ca. 1967. Two boats under construction. The Port Industrial Waterway is covered in mist as work continues on two tuna seiners. No Tacoma Boatbuilding Co. employees are in sight on this gloomy day in late 1967. The two fishing boats are believed to be the "Bold Venture" and the "City of Panama," both 177-feet in length and of steel construction. Both vessels were equipped to carry up to 925 tons of tuna. (TNT 1-17-68, C-9, TNT 1-30-68, p. 18) TPL-9216

Progress photographs; Fishing boats--Tacoma--1960-1970; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

ca. 1967. Work was nearing completion on two fishing boats at the Tacoma Boatbuilding Company shipyard on Tacoma's tideflats in late 1967. The "Bold Venture", the vessel closest to the water, was launched on January 20, 1968, at the Port Industrial Yard. The second boat is probably the "City of Panama" which was launched several weeks later, on February 3rd. Both had steel components and were 177 feet in length; they were capable of a haul of up to 925 tons of tuna. The "Bold Venture" was scheduled to fish in waters near Puerto Rico. (TNT 1-17-68, C-9, TNT 1-30-68, p. 18) TPL-9191

Progress photographs; Fishing boats--Tacoma--1960-1970; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

ca. 1967. Progress photographs of boats under construction. Continuation of series involving two boats under construction by Tacoma Boatbuilding Co. in late 1967. They are believed to be the tuna seiners "Bold Venture" and "City of Panama." Both steel vessels were 177-feet in length and would be launched in early 1968. Ladders and scaffolding are in place in the above photograph so that workmen could reach the decks of the ships. TPL-9217

Progress photographs; Fishing boats--Tacoma--1960-1970; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Ladders;

ca. 1968. View of USS Ready, an Asheville Class gunboat, which had been commissioned on January 6, 1968. The PG-87 was built by Tacoma Boatbuilding and named after a town in Kentucky. The 165-foot aluminum gunboat was launched on May 12, 1967. Tacoma Boatbuilding had a contract to build twelve gunboats; the USS Ready was the sixth in the series. (TNT 5-13-67, p. 2; www.navsource.org/archives/12/11087.htm)

Gunboats--United States; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

ca. 1860s. Undated photograph, possibly taken in the 1860s, of an 19th century family posed in front of their home. The photograph is taken at a wide angle so that the family's possessions, including planted crops, horses grazing, wagon and carriage, hitched span of horses, barn and extended home are prominent. The home appears to have been added on; the original sod house has a framed addition. The people themselves are not shown in close-up. The location of the property is not identified. Photograph believed to have been ordered by Mrs. G.R. Utterback on January 24, 1970.

Sod buildings; Horses; Families;

This unidentified vessel, believed to be a Navy gunboat, was in dry dock at Tacoma Boatbuilding in January of 1970. It appears that the paint on the boat has been stripped.

Gunboats--United States; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1970-1980;

In October of 1971, the Tacoma Boatbuilding Company was finishing work on the wooden hull and aluminum deckhouse for a "YP" class service they were building for the U.S. Navy. They were performing the work as a primary subcontractor for Peterson Boatbuilding of Tacoma. Peterson had a contract with the navy to build four wooden hulled "YP" training vessels. Peterson was responsible for outfitting and testing the finished boats. These craft are used for instruction in seamanship and navigation at the Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland and Naval Officer Candidate School, Newport, Rhode Island. The oak-ribbed and cedar-planked vessels carry virtually all the navigational equipment of a full size destroyer. These four craft were among the last wooden hulled ships built for the U.S. Navy. (TNT 11-20-70, D-14 article)

Peterson Boat Building Co. (Tacoma); Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1970-1980;

Undated photograph of gunboat #12 as it churns through calm waters. The ship is flying the American flag. It is possible that the patrol vessel was undergoing sea trials at the time. Photograph ordered on October 28, 1974, by Tacoma Boatbuilding.

Gunboats; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

Portrait of the Honorable Erling Tollefson, Municipal Court judge. Judge Tollefson was the youngest of the four Tollefson brothers who made their mark on Tacoma's landscape. Harold was a two-term Mayor of Tacoma, Thor, a multiple term Republican congressman and Rudy, a well known banker. Thor and Harold preceded him in admission to the bar. Erling Tollefson was born on December 13, 1913 and attended local Tacoma schools including Lincoln High School and the University of Puget Sound. He attended Gonzaga University Law School after being associated with Johnson Paint Co. for many years and passed the Washington bar exam in August of 1959. Judge and Mrs. Tollefson resided at 819 South Monroe. He would pass away on December 5, 1986. (TNT 8-16-59-article; TNT 4-30-78, C-13 article)

Tollefson, Erling;