• Ivy covered building at what is now known as Western State Hospital. Originally housed in abandoned Fort Steilacoom buildings, the institution has had many additions over the years at 8699 Steilacoom Blvd. SW. circa 1915.
• Printed on front: State Insane Asylum, Fort Steilacoom, near Tacoma, Washington.

Headstones for Col. William H. Wallace and his wife in the old Fort Steilacoom Post cemetery on the grounds of Western Washington State Hospital as photographed in January of 1934. Worn down by the passage of time, the headstones of the former territorial governor of Washington (1861-63) and his wife along with others were located on a site between hospital buildings. Their resting places preceded the hospital. (Additional information provided by a reader)

Headstones for Col. William H. Wallace and his wife in the old Fort Steilacoom Post cemetery. Cemetery is on the grounds of Western Washington State Hospital but is not the hospital cemetery. Located between hospital buildings, it predates the hospital. Photograph was taken in January of 1934. (Additional information provided by a reader)

Seamless flooring. Flecto Seamless Flooring was used in the dining facilities at Western State Hospital. As shown on May 12, 1969, the floor appears to be one continuous sheet of floor covering, with no grooves to collect dirt. The Flecto Co. is still in existence in 2006; however, their product, the Flecto Seamless Plastic Coating System has been discontinued. It consisted of a white latex base coat, color flakes, and a clear top coat (either acrylic or moisture-cure urethane.) Photograph ordered by Washington Hardware. (www.onthehouse.com)

Floors--Lakewood; Western State Hospital (Lakewood); Dining rooms--Lakewood--1960-1970;

Seven exuberant Cheney Studs Courteers demonstrated their basketball skills during a session in the Western State Hospital gym on November 5, 1966. The Courteers were a collection of local middle school basketball players sponsored by philanthropist Ben Cheney. They put on fast-paced performances at high school, college and professional half-time shows. This photograph was used by the News Tribune in their March 5, 1967 edition; the Courteers had been invited to perform at the NCAA regional basketball tournament in Corvallis, Oregon, on March 18th. The Courteers were identified as: (foreground) Tim McDonough and Jeff Wilson. In back: Bob Thomsen, Ed Orr, Steve Shamberg, Dennis Franklin and John Yingling. Photograph ordered by Cheney Lumber. (TNT 3-5-67, C-22)

Basketball--Tacoma--1960-1970; Basketball players--Tacoma--1960-1970; Balls (Sporting goods); McDonough, Tim; Wilson, Jeff; Thomsen, Bob; Orr, Ed; Shamberg, Steve; Franklin, Dennis; Yingling, John;

Members of the Cheney Studs Courteers basketball troupe share a laugh at practice on the floor of the Western State Hospital gym on December 2, 1967. The smallest member on the right deftly dribbles his ball without sparing a glance downwards. Photograph ordered by Cheney Lumber Co.

Basketball players--Tacoma--1960-1970; Basketball--Tacoma--1960-1970; Balls (Sporting goods);

Junior High School boys come in all sizes and members of the Cheney Studs Courteers were no exception. Sponsored by lumberman Ben Cheney, the ability to master basketball drills and put on entertaining half-time programs was more important than height. Five Courteers are pictured smiling on December 2, 1967, on the floor of the Western State Hospital gym, as they greet a much smaller teammate. Photograph ordered by Cheney Lumber Co.

Basketball--Tacoma--1960-1970; Basketball players--Tacoma--1960-1970; Balls (Sporting goods);

Standing on top of a traveling Cheney Studs trunk is one of the smallest members of the Courteers basketball troupe. The exuberant youngster with the large grin shows that he can balance a basketball just as well as taller members. Gazing upward with a surprised look is another Courteers teammate. The junior high school students were practicing at the Western State Hospital gym on December 2, 1967. Photograph ordered by Cheney Lumber Co.

Basketball--Tacoma--1960-1970; Basketball players--Tacoma--1960-1970; Luggage;

Captured in print for all time is a portrait of youth in action. Six Cheney Studs Courteers are pictured in various poses, mimicking the frenetic activity of their half-time basketball shows. The junior high school boys would entertain crowds gathered at high school, college and even professional games, with their high potency basketball skills. They were sponsored by lumberman and philanthropist Ben Cheney. Photograph ordered by Cheney Lumber Co.

Basketball players--Tacoma--1960-1970; Basketball--Tacoma--1960-1970; Balls (Sporting goods);

Wide-eyed basketball player Bobby Thomsen leaps high in the air with a basketball posed delicately on his fingertips during practice at the Western State Hospital gym on December 2, 1967. He was a member of the Cheney Studs Courteers sponsored by sports aficionado and philanthropist Ben Cheney. The Courteers were junior high school boys who were able to put on dazzling displays of basketball wizardry primarily during half-times of high school, college and professional games. Bobby was a junior high student at Mason Junior High (now Middle School) at the time of this photograph. He was on the team from 1967-1969. Photograph ordered by Cheney Lumber Co. (Additional identification provided by a reader)

Thomsen, Bobby; Basketball players--Tacoma--1960-1970; Basketball--Tacoma--1960-1970; Balls (Sporting goods);

In this photograph from November, 1963, eight Cheney Studs Courteers demonstrate some of the sparkling personality and court wizardry that made them a popular half-time attraction at high school, AAU, and college basketball games throughout the Pacific Northwest. Founded by Ben Cheney, and sponsored by the Cheney Lumber Company, the Courteers performed a 9.5 minute routine that showcased coordinated ball handling and dribbling set to lively rock n' roll music. They appeared on national television during half-time of the January 25 & January 26, 1964, Lakers-Warriors basketball games. Kneeling from L-R are: Billy Herd, Pete Wonders and Eddie Herd. Standing: George Brown, Tom Rogers, Rickey Stewart, Denny Karna and Jeff Smith. The boys ranged in age from 11-15 and stood 4'5" - 4'11." Photograph ordered by Cheney Lumber Co. (TNT 1-19-64, B-13)

Basketball--Tacoma--1960-1970; Basketball players--Tacoma--1960-1970; Balls (Sporting goods);

Laundry facilities at Western State Hospital. This large piece of machinery may be a presser as one of the uniformed women employees is seen folding a sheet. A small pile of sheets is already stacked on a nearby table. Smaller pressing units can be seen along the back walls. Photograph ordered by American Laundry Machine Industries, Seattle.

Laundry--Lakewood; Western State Hospital (Lakewood);

Western State Hospital in 1961 apparently had a large laundry staff to handle the needs of hundreds of patients. Several women in white shoes and uniforms are using various American Formatic machines. One machine called the American Formatic Sleeve Finisher has part of a shirt dangling from it while others are in use. Photograph ordered by American Laundry Machine Industries, Seattle.

Laundry--Lakewood; Western State Hospital (Lakewood);

View of Western State Hospital in the 1920s. TPL-7068

Western State Hospital (Lakewood); Mental institutions--Lakewood--1920-1930;

View of the front of Western State Hospital in the 1920s. TPL-7069

Western State Hospital (Lakewood); Mental institutions--Lakewood--1920-1930;

Barns at Western State Hospital. The hospital opened in 1871 in buildings that formerly were used as Fort Steilacoom. In 1886, the hospital was officially recognized as the "Western Washington Hospital for the Insane," shortened to Western State in 1915. The hospital maintained both a farm and animals almost from the beginning. Much of the labor was supplied by patients, in return the farm supplied most of the food used by the hospital. The farm closed in 1959. TPL-7079

Barns--Lakewood--1920-1930; Western State Hospital (Lakewood); Mental institutions--Lakewood--1920-1930;