In December of 1935, the staff of Western State Hospital at Steilacoom worked closely with the families and friends of the patients to insure that everyone at the hospital had a merry Christmas. Miss Frances Burkey, nurse, Frank M. Lamborn, in charge of hospital commissary, and his assistant P.F. Chadwick filled large baskets with bags of candy, fruit and nuts. The baskets were distributed to the hospitals 36 wards, and every one of the 2,330 patients received their own bag of treats. The hospital also received over 20,000 gifts sent by family, friends and Tacoma merchants which were distributed on Christmas morning. (T. Times, 12-25-1935, p. 7)

Mental institutions--Lakewood; Asylums--Lakewood; Institutional care--Lakewood; Western State Hospital (Lakewood); Christmas presents; Christmas decorations; Burkey, Frances; Lamborn, Frank; Chadwick, P.F.;

ca. 1934. A circular bed planted heavily with tulips at Western States Hospital. The photograph was taken for bulb farmer George Lawler, who leased the bed.

Tulips; Western State Hospital (Lakewood); Mental institutions--Lakewood--1930-1940;

At 11:55 A.M. on April 13, 1949 Tacoma and cities throughout the Pacific Northwest experienced one of the most severe earthquakes ever felt in these areas. View of earthquake damage caused at Western State Hospital in Lakewood, the walls are severely damaged (T.N.T., 4/14/49, p. B-11). TPL-2027

Building failures--Lakewood; Rescue work--Lakewood; Earthquakes--Lakewood; Disasters--Lakewood; Bricks; Mental institutions--Lakewood; Asylums--Lakewood; Western State Hospital (Lakewood)--Buildings;

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);

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);

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;

Cows on Western State Hospital land. These are believed to be Holsteins, capable of producing plenty of milk for hospital patients. Each cow with its distinctive black and white markings is hitched to a post. The hospital's herd was started in 1914 from blue ribbon prize winners who had been blacklisted from commercial diary production due to tb. By 1926, the year of this photograph, the herd was free of tb. The cows, as well as the hospital's poultry, swine, and gardens, were under the care of Western State's patients and staff. The many cars parked nearby in the above August 27, 1926, photograph may have belonged to county cattlemen who had come to Western State to see the hospital's fine stock. They also examined stables and equipment in addition to inspecting the hospital's purebred stock. There was currently a campaign in Pierce County for the improvement of breeding stock and the use of purebred bulls. (TDL 8-28-26, p. 3-article)

Cows--Washington; Western State Hospital (Lakewood);

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

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

Copy of customer's print made on January 12, 1953. Architectural drawing of the female ward building extension for Western State Hospital in Fort Steilacoom was made by George Gove and Lea, Pearson & Richards, Architects. The building extension would provide additional housing for institutionized female patients; buildings are multi-stored with barred windows. According to the NWR's Clippings file, the addition would cost two million dollars and be ready for occupancy in 1954. It would be five stories high and have receiving and treatment wards. Dr. F.E. Shovlain was superintendent of Western State Hospital at that time. In May, 1954, a construction progress photograph and article stated that the new hospital wing would accommodate 420 patients. It would replace a present smaller building which was damaged in the April, 1949, earthquake; the present building was built in 1896. The new structure would be made of reinforced concrete and contain approximately 100,000 square feet of floor space. (TNT 5-23-54, C-17)

Architectural drawings; Western State Hospital (Lakewood); Mental institutions--Lakewood; Gove, George; Lea, Pearson & Richards (Tacoma);

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;

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;

Copy of architect's drawing of scientific research and library center building at Western State Hospital, Times, Buzz. Bids for construction of this facility proposed for a research center at Western State Hospital for the study of diseases affecting the nerves and brain would be called by the middle of March 1948. The cost was estimated between $300,000 - $400,000. The center was to work in conjunction with the new medical research school at the University of Washington. Heath, Gove and Bell Architects had offices at 1119 Pacific Avenue, Room 1611-12. Jack Ballew was Director at Western State Hospital at this time and W.N. Keller, M.S. was Superintendent. (TNT, 2/25/1948, p.1)

Western State Hospital (Lakewood); Mental institutions--Lakewood--1940-1950; Architectural drawings; Heath, Gove & Bell Architects (Tacoma);

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;

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);