The stars of the future Weaver Productions, Inc. motion picture "Totem Pole Beggar" arrived at Tacoma's Union Depot on March 5, 1926. The movie was scheduled to begin filming at the H.C. Weaver studio near Titlow Beach on March 8. H.C. Weaver, studio head, is in the back row, third from the right. In the back row are George F. Whitcomb, Louis von Weithoff, Tom Santschi, Weaver, director W.S. Van Dyke and Peter L. Shamray. In the front row are Mrs. Peter L. Shamray, Mrs. H.C. Weaver, Mrs. Llewellyn Jones, Dorothy Jones, Anne Cornwall, Wanda Hawley, Violet Palmer and actor Gareth Hughes, in knickers and argyle socks. Dorothy Jones and her mother, Mrs. Llewellyn Jones, were prominent Tacomans involved in the theater. Most of the women are wearing full length fur or fur trimmed coats. "Totem Pole Beggar," whose title was later changed to "Eyes of the Totem," was the second film made by the recently opened H.C. Weaver Productions, Inc. motion picture studio. Filmed partially in the Narada Falls area, the drama opened at the Broadway Theatre on June 10, 1927. (TDL 3-6-26, p. , TNT 3-6-26, p. 1)

Weaver, H.C.; Actors--Tacoma--1920-1930; Actresses; Hughes, Gareth; Santschi, Tom; Shamray, Peter L.; George F. Whitcomb; Palmer, Violet; Jones, Dorothy; Van Dyke, W.S.; Hawley, Wanda; Cornwall, Anne; H.C. Weaver Productions, Inc. (Tacoma);

Fred S. Stover, national commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), upon his arrival in Tacoma on July 11, 1926. Mr. Stover, a prominent businessman from Butler, Penn., (L in picture) is met at Union Station by commanders of local posts. Shaking hands with Mr. Stover is W.A. Gartley, Wild West Post No. 91 commander; standing between them is Paul J. Roberts, South Tacoma post commander. Mr. Stover is on a tour of the Pacific Northwest in the interest of Foreign Veterans. Tacoma would be his temporary headquarters as he would take a tour of the city and trout fishing his first day here, then go to Seattle to meet with veterans there on July 12th. His plans included visits to local veterans hospitals and a banquet in his honor. (TNT 7-11-26, p. 1)

Stover, Fred S.; Roberts, Paul J.; Gartley, W.A.; Veterans of Foreign Wars (Tacoma); Shaking hands--Tacoma;

ca. 1904. The Northern Pacific Railroad built a passenger station at 1701 Commerce Street in its western terminus city in 1883. By 1892, Tacoma had become a major West Coast city; this prompted the railroad to relocate its industrial repair shops to South Tacoma and move the station to the shops' former site on Pacific Avenue, shown here. Tacomans were outraged when NP President Henry Villard refused to build a grand station to complement the city's cosmopolitan architecture and disdainfully referred to the small building as the "Villard Depot". It was finally demolished in 1909 and replaced with the present Union Depot structure.

Railroad stations--Tacoma; Cityscapes--Tacoma;

Lincoln High School Glee Club leaving on tour from Union Depot on March 28, 1940. Large group of people standing on railroad tracks next to Union Pacific passenger train.

Students--Tacoma--1940-1950; Lincoln High School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1940-1950; Union Station (Tacoma); Railroad passenger cars--Tacoma--1940-1950; Railroad tracks--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Sales counter in lunch room at Union Depot. Two unidentified men and a woman stand behind case filled with cigars. Sign in background: "Read the Journal, It's Smar(t.)" Photographed on March 21, 1940.

Union Station (Tacoma); Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1940-1950; Cigars; Signs (Notices);

Charlotte Doud (at left) and Catharine Strong leaving for trip to California. Boarding train at Union Depot on January 8, 1940 with group of well-wishers or others waiting to board the railroad car. The women were going there to attend the Beverly Hills wedding of Mary Roberts and Alexander Baillie Ripley, former Tacomans, and Miss Strong would be the maid-of-honor. After the wedding Miss Strong and Miss Doud would take an apartment in San Francisco for the season. (T.Times 1-13-1940, p. 5-alt. photo)

Doug, Charlotte; Strong, Catharine; Union Station (Tacoma); Travel--Tacoma--1940-1950;

On December 20, 1939, Mayor J. J. Kaufman (left) greeted Bob and Louise Lynd (center) upon their return by train from their publicized six month trip by Willits canoe from Fort Benton, Montana, to New Orleans, at the mouth of the Mississippi. Harry P. Cain (far right), chairman of the Golden Jubilee celebration that sponsored the trip, was also on hand at Union Station to greet the couple. The 3,500 mile journey in part retraced the path of the Lewis and Clark expedition. The Lynds, "Goodwill ambassadors from Tacoma," travelled in a tiny canoe supplied by Henry Foss and built by Earl & Floyd Willits. The Lynds also wrote a series of articles, exclusive to the Tacoma Times, relating their experiences in publicizing Washington's Jubilee celebration to the states bordering the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers. The Willits Brothers handcrafted their wooden canoes in Tacoma, later Day Island, from 1908-1967. ALBUM 11. (T.Times 12-20-39, p. 1, 12-21-39, p. 1)

Mayors--Tacoma--1930-1940; Kaufman, Joseph J.; Lynd, Robert C.; Lynd, Louise D.; Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979; Willits Brothers Canoes (Tacoma);

A radioman stretches his microphone toward President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, center in profile, who looks over the large crowd gathered at the Union Depot. He was preparing to leave on the Great Northern Railway for a tour of the Grand Coulee Dam project site. The small children behind the railing are his grandchildren, Anna Eleanor (nicknamed Sistie) and Curtis (Buzzie) Dall. The men are believed to be, left to right, Senator Homer T. Bone, Harold Allen, the President's son James, Tacoma Mayor George Smitley (waving to the crowd) and the President's bodyguard (in hat.) ALBUM 1.

Presidents; Roosevelt, Franklin Delano, 1882-1945; Union Station (Tacoma); Smitley, George A., 1872-1956; Visits of state--Tacoma--Roosevelt, Franklin Delano, 1882-1945; Dall, Anna Eleanor; Dall, Curtis;

On October 1, 1937, President Franklin D. Roosevelt made an early evening speech from the back of his train at Union Depot. The train made a 15 minute stop to allow the President to board. Roosevelt was being picked up after an automobile trip around the Olympic Peninsula and a motorcade from Olympia to Tacoma. It was estimated that over 50,000 Tacomans lined the street and crowded Union Station to catch a glimpse of the popular President. The President's next destination was the site of the Grand Coulee Dam project. Visible behind the President on the train car deck are believed to be Tacoman Harold Allen, the President's son James Roosevelt, Tacoma Mayor George Smitley and the President's grandson Curtis (Buzzie) Dall. At the time of this photograph, he was in his second term as President. He died April 12, 1945, during his fourth term, of a cerebral hemorrhage. (T. Times 10/02/1937, pg. 9) TPL-1999 ALBUM 1

Presidents; Roosevelt, Franklin Delano, 1882-1945; Union Station (Tacoma); Visits of state--Tacoma--Roosevelt, Franklin Delano, 1882-1945;

Tacoma Mayor George Smitley with President Roosevelt on his train at Union Depot. Posed on the platform with the President were, left to right, Senator Homer T. Bone, Tacoman Harold Allen, granddaughter Anna Eleanor (called Sistie) Dall (at the railing), Roosevelt's son James, the President's bodyguard (wearing hat) on his left side, and Tacoma Mayor George Smitley. The President's next stop was the Grand Coulee Dam project. (T. Times, 10/2/1937, p. 9). ALBUM 1.

Presidents; Roosevelt, Franklin Delano, 1882-1945; Mayors--Tacoma--1930-1940; Smitley, George A., 1872-1956; Visits of state--Tacoma--Roosevelt, Franklin Delano, 1882-1945; Roosevelt, James; Dall, Anna Eleanor;

American Legion Honor Guard flanked the casket of Mayor John C. Siegle as it was loaded onto a hearse at Union Station on April 14, 1939. Mayor Siegle's funeral was scheduled for April 15th, but first his body would lie in state at the Mellinger Chapel. The color guard from the Tacoma and Rhodes American Legion Posts accompanied the body to the chapel. Siegle was the first Tacoma Mayor to die in office. He was also the first member of the American Legion past commanders "Last Man Club" to die. (T. Times, 4/15/1939, p. 1).

Mayors--Tacoma--1930-1940; Siegle, John C., 1885-1939-- Funeral rites & ceremonies; American Legion Tacoma Post No. 138 (Tacoma);

Mayor John C. Siegle's flag draped casket arrived at Tacoma's Union Station on April 14, 1939. The first Tacoma mayor to be born and raised in Tacoma, Mayor Siegle took ill with flu-like symptoms shortly after he was sworn in in June of 1938. After trying to recuperate in humid Tacoma, he left for the drier environs of the area around Palm Springs, Ca. The Mayor died of an apparent heart attack while returning home by train, at Klamath Falls, Oregon on 4/13/1939. He was the first Tacoma mayor to die while in office. Assisting as his honor guard at the train station were three of his American Legion comrades. Wearing their Legion caps are (l to r) Dr. Reuben Hedberg, Barney Drew and, in the right foreground, Jerry Walters. (T. Times 4/15, p. 1)

Mayors--Tacoma--1930-1940; Siegle, John C., 1885-1939-- Funeral rites & ceremonies; American Legion Tacoma Post No. 138 (Tacoma);

An unidentified young woman glances over her extensive train ticket at Union Station on January 23, 1954. She is dressed in a suit from Andrews Women's Apparel and stands between her two suitcases. Her outfit is complemented by a small hat and gloves. The distinctive window of Union Station can be seen behind her.

Andrews Women's Apparel (Tacoma); Clothing stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Women--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1950-1960; Union Station (Tacoma); Railroad travel--Tacoma--1950-1960; Luggage;

Under the leadership of Albert W. Taylor, illustrious potentate of Afifi temple, members of the director's staff attended the Shrine Directors Association of North America's annual meeting in San Francisco. The group is seen here on March 23, 1952 as they prepare to board their train at Union Station. Names are listed in the newspaper. (TNT, 3/26/1952, p.19)

Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1950-1960; Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (Tacoma); Union Station (Tacoma); Railroad travel--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Fall Fashions. On September 8, 1951, Bill Koski modeled a suit, top coat, fedora hat, and displayed a set of suitcases across the street from Union Station for Klopfensteins, a high quality men's clothier. William Koski was the husband of Helen Richards Koski. (TNT).

Koski, William; Men--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1950-1960; Union Station (Tacoma); Klopfensteins (Tacoma); Luggage;

A crowd listens to a speaker before touring General Electric's "More Power to America Special" on the tracks of Tacoma's Union Station. The ten car silver streamliner was on a 30,000 mile tour of America, stopping in 150 industrial centers in 44 states for tours by invited guests. Approximately 1500 industrial, utility and civic leaders were invited in Tacoma. The train carried exhibits of new ways electrical power could be produced and then put to work. Over 2000 exhibits highlighted atomic power, weather research, city power and lighting fixtures, railroad equipment and industrial innovations. Since the train carried no consumer products, it was not open to the general public. Behind the tracks can be seen the business industrial area beginning with Dock St. (TNT 4/15/1951, pg. A-5, 4/16/1951, pg. 28 & 4/18/1951, pg. 23)

General Electric Co.; Railroad locomotives--Tacoma--1950-1960; Railroad cars--Tacoma--1950-1960; Korean War, 1950-1953--Exhibitions; Korean War, 1950-1953--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Union Station (Tacoma);

Brownie Scouts Patty Ann Anderson and Beverly Hasfjorde and Girl Scout Jane Ewart are helping carry bags for the women who are on their way to the Pacific Northwest Region XI Girl Scout Conference at Sun Valley, Idaho, leaving from Union Station. The women are, L-R, Barbara E. (Mrs. Richard) Annis, Ruth (Mrs. Philip) Slayden, Mrs. Wilbur Roberts, Edna E. (Mrs. Len) Christianson, Margaret M. (Mrs. C.A.) Sims, Mrs. Lyle Parker, Wyoma A. (Mrs. Luther D.) Moore, Beryl C. (Mrs. E.A.) Manfull, and Dorothy (Mrs. M.J.) LaVelle. Ordered by Margaret E. (Mrs Fred) Roth. (TNT, 10/26/1950, p.10)

Girl Scouts (Tacoma); Luggage; Railroad travel--Tacoma--1940-1950; Union Station (Tacoma);

Five members of the Tacoma Quota Club are packed and ready to go to their 10th annual conference in Eugene, Oregon in October of 1950. They stand by the Union Station ticket counter reviewing schedules while the agent, Ivan Bond, waits to help them. Styles in clothing and hats have changed as well as eyeglasses and the use of makeup. These women are wearing the smaller hats and using more cosmetics that were part of the change in fashion. They are, L-R, Rose (Mrs. Arthur) Hertz, Mary Ann Wilson, Ethel Barnes, Minnie H. (Mrs. Gordon) Chase (seated) and Elda B. Conly. Ordered by the Tacoma Quota Club. (TNT, 10/19/1950, p.25)

Women--Tacoma--1950-1960; Women--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1950-1960; Hats--1950-1960; Luggage; Railroad travel--Tacoma--1950-1960; Bond, Ivan; Tacoma Quota Club (Tacoma); Hertz, Rose; Wilson, Mary Ann; Barnes, Ethel; Chase, Minnie H.; Conly, Elda B.;

Tacoma's delegates to Alpha Iota's Silver Jubilee convention are seen at Union Station with their luggage reviewing time tables from Union Pacific Railroad as they head for San Francisco. Alpha Iota was the business women's sorority. They are, L-R, Sophie Forslund, Mrs. Keith Melendy, Frances Carmichael, May Meyer, Anna Pursley and Mary Frian. Lela Young is seated on the suitcase. (TNT, 7/9/1950, p.D-9) TPL-8403

Fraternities & sororities--Tacoma--1940-1950; Women--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1950-1960; Alpha Iota (Tacoma); Union Station (Tacoma); Luggage; Railroad travel--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Signe Sutherland, Helen D. (Mrs. Larry) Harris and Elizabeth Robb (L-R) have their bags packed and are leaving Union Station for the 10th biennial convention of the National Federation of Business and Professional Women's clubs in San Francisco. They are reviewing the schedule while waiting for the next step of their journey. Ordered by the Tribune, Barbara Dana.

Railroad travel--Tacoma--1940-1950; Women--Tacoma--1950-1960; Luggage; Railroad stations--Tacoma; Union Station (Tacoma); Tacoma Business & Professional Women's Club (Tacoma); Sutherland, Signe; Robb, Elizabeth; Harris, Helen D.;

Mrs. David W. Wood, Nell C. (Mrs. T.C.) Beardsley, Millie J. (Mrs. George) Hubman, Eva (Mrs. James F.) Stewart and Ethel J. (Mrs. Edward T.) Bowman, L-R, are leaving to attend the 1950 convention of the National Congress of Parents and Teachers in Long Beach, California. They are seen here at the train station just before they left. Ordered by the Tribune. (TNT, 5/22/1950, p.5)

Beardsley, Nell C.; Hubman, Millie J.; Stewart, Eva; Bowman, Ethel J.; Tacoma Council of Parent-Teacher Associations (Tacoma); Union Station (Tacoma); Railroad stations--Tacoma; Women--Tacoma--1950-1960; Railroad travel--Tacoma--1950-1960;

The Olympia Centennial Queen Royal and her court, dressed in pioneer garb, appear in the 1950 Daffodil Parade to advertise their upcoming celebration May 1-7th. In the background spectators view the parade from the front of Union Station. The two hour parade was led by the U.S. Marine color guard, followed by the Governor's car, with the cars bearing the mayors and officials of the sponsoring cities of Tacoma, Puyallup and Sumner immediately behind.

Celebrations--Tacoma; Festivals--Tacoma; Parades & Processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1950 : Tacoma); Automobiles--Tacoma--1950-1960; Union Station (Tacoma);

The beautiful Miss Washington and Miss Wisconsin were visiting Tacoma's Big Bear Stores, they were promoting apples and cheese week. Everyone was invited to participate in the fun, free samples would be available. View of Miss Washington, Libby Aldrich (right) of Kelso, Washington and Miss Wisconsin, Marveen Fischer (left) with an unidentified man at Union Station; Wisconsin cheese barrel in background (T.N.T., 10/14/49, p. B-3).

Beauty contestants--Tacoma--1940-1950; Events--Tacoma--1940-1950; Big Bear Stores (Tacoma); Union Station (Tacoma); Fischer, Marveen; Aldrich, Libby;

The Elks Band was playing and majorette Gloria Ellexson was performing while club members waited on July 7, 1949 at Union Station for the train taking them to the national convention in Cleveland, Ohio. The Tacoma Elks ritual team, which held the state championship, together with coach Russ Barlow, would also compete in Cleveland. It was reported during the convention that Gloria Ellexson, a student at the College of Puget Sound, had been named national champion drum majorette. Ordered by Harry Lynch, Elks Club. (TNT, 7/6/1l949, p.10; TNT, 7/13/1949, p.1)

Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Tacoma Lodge No. 174 (Tacoma); Union Station (Tacoma); Marching bands; Bands--Tacoma--1940-1950; Ellexson, Gloria; Drum majorettes--Tacoma--1940-1950; Railroad travel--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Group of boys from Tacoma leaving on train, American Legion 138, Al Reynolds. Students from Lincoln, Stadium, Bellarmine and Kapowsin High Schools left Tacoma by train June 19, 1949, for a 10-day boys' state session at the Central College of Education at Ellensburg. The American Legion sponsored the event. The annual sessions were designed to give the students a better understanding of government activities. Names are listed in the newspaper. (TNT, 6/17/1949, p.1)

Students--Tacoma--1940-1950; Union Station (Tacoma); Railroad stations--Tacoma; American Legion Tacoma Post No. 138 (Tacoma); Central College of Education (Ellensburg); Railroad travel--Tacoma--1940-1950;

450 delegates from the Puget Sound area attended the 36th annual Washington Congress of Parents and Teachers in Yakima in May 1949. Members of the Tacoma Council of Parent-Teacher Associations posed for this photograph just before leaving for the Yakima convention. The group is about to board a Northern Pacific Railway passenger train at Union Station. (T.N.T., 5/3/49, p. 4).

Women--Social life--1940-1950; Passengers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Railroad passenger cars--Tacoma; Northern Pacific Railway Co. (Tacoma); Union Station (Tacoma); Tacoma Council of Parent-Teacher Associations (Tacoma); Railroad travel--Tacoma--1940-1950;

In March of 1949, 57 children from the morning and afternoon kindergarten classes of the Fern Hill school took a 40 mile roundtrip train ride from Tacoma's Union Station to Auburn. Ninety percent of the children had never been on a train before. After the ride, they were given a tour of the station by the stationmaster, and all 57 children climbed onto a giant scale in the baggage room. The entire group weighed 2,880 lbs. (T.N.T., 3/27/49, p. A-7). TPL-8804

Railroad stations--Tacoma; Children--Tacoma--1940-1950; Northern Pacific Railway Co. (Tacoma); Railroads--Tacoma; Railroad companies--Tacoma; Union Station (Tacoma); Railroad travel--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Members from Afifi Temple and their spouses would be traveling to Denver, Colorado to attend a Shriner Director's meeting. The club members would be traveling aboard Union Pacific's "Portland Rose", they would be returning on April 4, 1949. Names appear in newspaper (T. Times, 3/29/49, p. 2).

Railroad stations--Tacoma; Fraternal organizations--Tacoma; Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1940-1950; Railroads--Tacoma; Union Pacific Railroad Co. (Tacoma); Union Station (Tacoma);

Tacoma's semi-pro Coast Ice Hockey League team, the Tacoma Rockets, were returning from a series of five games, all of which they won. They were the first team in club history to win five straight. The Rockets had an upcoming game against the Vancouver Canucks at the Tacoma State Armory. View of Tacoma Rockets at Union Depot, names appear in newspaper (T. Times, 11/19/48, p. 15). Founded in 1946, the Rockets ceased operations in 1953.

Ice hockey--Tacoma; Athletes--Tacoma; Luggage; Travel--Tacoma; Coast Ice Hockey League (Tacoma); Tacoma Rockets (Tacoma); Union Station (Tacoma); Railroad travel--Tacoma--1940-1950;

CPS Homecoming Parade, Times, Buzz. A parade was held Saturday November 6, 1948, from Union Station to Stadium Bowl preceeding the College of Puget Sound Homecoming Game that afternoon. Many of the CPS fraternities entered a contest for the oldest car. Delta Pi Omicron entered a 1907 Palmer-Singer automobile owned by Ed Griffin, a well-known local businessman. It was the only one of its kind in the parade. The automobile had over-drive and could attain speeds of 75 miles per hour. Ed Bartell is driving and his fraternity brothers, Bob Wagnlid and Dick Sawyer, are in the back seat. Homecoming Queen Cynthia Harris is seated in the back of a convertible in front of Union Station behind them. (T.Times, 11/11/1948, p.3)

Union Station (Tacoma); College of Puget Sound (Tacoma)--1940-1950; Automobiles--Tacoma--1940-1950; Students--Tacoma--1940-1950; Parades & processions--Tacoma--1940-1950; Universities & colleges--Tacoma--1940-1950; Railroad stations--Tacoma;