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;

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;

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);

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;

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;

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;

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;

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.;

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;

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);

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;

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);

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.;

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);

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;

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;

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;

College of Puget Sound's National Professional Music Fraternity, the Beta Delta Chapter of Sigma Alpha Iota, had recently installed new members for the coming school year. Mary Jo Frlan (left) and Alda Heath (right) were returning to Tacoma in late June of 1948 after having represented their fraternity in a national meeting. View of Alpha Iota fraternity girls leaving Union Depot after returning from their summer travel.

Fraternities & sororities--Tacoma--1940-1950; Frlan, Mary Jo; Heath, Alda; Students--Tacoma--1940-1950; Sigma Alpha Iota (Tacoma); College of Puget Sound (Tacoma)--1940-1950; Union Station (Tacoma); Railroad travel--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Members from Daughters of the Nile, Tacoma's Egyptian Patrol of the Zora Temple, were getting ready to board a train en route to Phoenix, Arizona. The women would be attending the supreme session of the Daughters of the Nile. They are boarding Northern Pacific Railway's Cascade Limited at Union Depot. Eunice C. Miller is the Captain of the Egyptian Patrol and Lillian M. Shotwell is the current Nile Queen. Names appear in newspaper (T. Times, 5/21/48, p. 1).

Women--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1940-1950; Luggage; Railroad travel--Tacoma--1940-1950; Passengers--Tacoma; Union Station (Tacoma); Northern Pacific Railway Co. (Tacoma); Daughters of the Nile Zora Temple No. 5 (Tacoma)

Leon Titus was allowed to ride in the cab of a 122 foot long locomotive, this train makes the Seattle--Tacoma--Portland run daily. Leon would get to ride to Seattle and back to Tacoma. Mr. Titus has been a longtime enthusiast about railroading. View of Leon Titus dressed in his train-wear, he is standing with the Union Pacific train conductor (T.N.T., 5/9/48, p. A-13). TPL-9868

Railroad locomotives--Tacoma; Railroads--Tacoma; Businessmen--Tacoma; Railroad companies--Tacoma; Union Pacific Railroad Co. (Tacoma); Union Station (Tacoma); Titus, Leon E.;

Dressed as a train engineer, wearing hat, jacket and gloves, Leon Titus, the president of Titus Motor Co. fulfilled a longtime dream on May 7, 1948. Mr. Titus was given special permission to ride in the cab of Union Pacific locomotive # 3981. The huge 122-foot long engine was the largest in the pacific northwest, and was used on the Seattle-Tacoma-Portland run. He was allowed to ride to Seattle and back in the cab. (T.N.T., 5/9/48, p. A-13). TPL-9867

Railroad locomotives--Tacoma; Railroads--Tacoma; Businessmen--Tacoma; Railroad companies--Tacoma; Union Pacific Railroad Co. (Tacoma); Union Station (Tacoma); Titus, Leon E.;

Leon and Doris Titus are getting ready to board their train from Union Depot on October 17, 1947. Leon Titus, owner of Titus Ford, was just appointed as the Ford dealership representative at the National meeting, for this region. Doris is accompanying her husband on his trip to the Ford meeting. View of Mr. and Mrs. Titus standing by their train, just minutes before departing.

Railroad stations--Tacoma; Railroads--Tacoma; Railroad passenger cars--Tacoma; Union Station (Tacoma); Titus, Leon E.--Family; Railroad travel--Tacoma--1940-1950;

The Bellarmine High School Lions football team, the school Booster Club and Honorary Yell Queens are at Union Depot getting ready to head out to Yakima on a special six coach chartered train. More than 250 students were headed to Yakima for the football game against Marquette High School, Bellarmine intended to beat Marquette and celebrate on the train ride home. Names appear in newspaper (T. Times, 11/7/47, p. 17).

Railroad cabooses--Tacoma; Railroads--Tacoma; Clubs--Tacoma; Union Station (Tacoma); Megaphones; Students--Tacoma--1940-1950; Railroad stations--Tacoma; Bellarmine High School (Tacoma);

College of Puget Sound students were getting ready for the upcoming homecoming football game against the San Jose Spartans in early October of 1947. The CPS Loggers would have their first post-war pep parade before the big game on Saturday. View of CPS students greeting the San Jose football team that has recently arrived at Union Depot (T. Times, 10/10/47, p. 7).

Students--Tacoma--1940-1950; Reunions--Tacoma; Railroads--Tacoma; Universities & colleges--Tacoma; Union Station (Tacoma); College of Puget Sound (Tacoma)--1940-1950;

Chicago-Milwaukee Railroad officials and christening of the Olympian. Dignitaries at the Union Station. Mr. M.H. McEwen, Seattle, Western Traffic Manager, addresses the crowd gathered to christen the Olympian Hiawatha on June 29, 1947. All members of the train's crew wore fancy dress for the occassion. Others on the platform are, L-R, Mrs. Harold A. Allen who christened the train, Joshua Green, Seattle, Pioneer Transportation Executive and Capitalist; F.N. Hicks, Chicago, Passenger Traffic Manager, L.K. Sorensen, Seattle manager, J.B. Johnson, fireman, R.V. Hanicker, engineer, Mayor C. Val Fawcett and R.B. Craig, conductor. (T.Times, 6/30/1947, p.1) TPL-9764

Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad Co. (Tacoma); Railroad companies--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fawcett, Clarence Valdo, 1900-1965; Johnson, J.B.; Hanicker, R.V.; Craig, R.B.; McEwen, M.H.; Sorensen, L.K.; Green, Joshua;

Chicago-Milwaukee Railroad officials and christening of the Olympian. A large crowd gathered to see the Olympian Hiawatha, Milwaukee's new diesel liner, christened on June 28, 1947. Its inaugural trip to Chicago was June 29, 1947. The new train cut the time of the Tacoma to Chicago service to 45 hours, 14 hours faster than formerly. (T.Times, 6/27/1947, p.1) TPL-9765

Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad Co. (Tacoma); Railroad companies--Tacoma--1940-1950;

The Tacoma Afifi Shriners were boarding a special train at Union Depot and heading to Helena, Montana for the Pacific Northwest Shrine Association Annual Conclave. They would first travel to Spokane, where additional train cars would be added and Spokane Shriners would travel with them to Helena. The Shriners would be sleeping in the train cars during their trip, due to a shortage of lodging in Montana. View of Afifi Shriners with their families seeing them off at Union Depot (T. Times, 4/25/47, p. 1).

Railroad locomotives--Tacoma; Railroads--Tacoma; Fraternal organizations--Tacoma; Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (Tacoma); Union Station (Tacoma); Railroad travel--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Tacoma's traffic signal crew install newly designed signals at the crosswalk in front of the Union Depot train station on Pacific Avenue. Linemen Les Heineman and Bill Hansen adjust one of the new traffic signals while foreman Carl Somer balances a second signal which will also be hung above the street. Watching the installation are lineman helper Clare Gross, left, and Police Sgt. Bob Marshall, right. Other traffic revisions in downtown include the elimination of diagonal parking. (T. Times, 3/7/47, p. 1).

Traffic signs & signals--Tacoma; Streets--Tacoma; Crosswalks--Tacoma; Pedestrians--Tacoma; Union Station (Tacoma);

Traveler's Aid, "10,000th" person placed. When Pvt. and Mrs. Lowell Haines checked in at the Travelers Aid desk at Union Depot they became the 9,999th and 10,000th visitors to be given temporary housing by the USO - Travelers Aid since April 1, 1942. Edith Clayton was behind the counter to assist them. Flight Officer and Mrs. John Wilmering are waiting in the background. (T.Times, 6/4/1945, p.1) TPL-6420

USO clubs (Tacoma)--1940-1950; Travelers' Aid (Tacoma); World War, 1939-1945--Social aspects--Tacoma; Clayton, Edith; Wilmering, John; Haines, Lowell; Union Station (Tacoma); Railroad travel--Tacoma--1940-1950;

During WWII part of Tacoma's Union Station at 1717 Pacific Avenue was set aside for use as emergency sleeping quarters by the Travelers Aid. This view, taken in September of 1944, shows the comfortable rest area set aside for women at the Depot. Cribs, twin-size beds with ruffled bedspreads, stuffed chairs and wooden chairs of all sizes were provided. The United Service Organizations - Travelers Aid Service provided general information, assistance to newcomers and travelers, emergency overnight sleeping accommodations for servicemen, military wives and others who were in need of services during WWII. TPL-10332

USO clubs (Tacoma)--1940-1950; Travelers Aid (Tacoma); Beds; Union Station (Tacoma);