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.;

• 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.

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;

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;

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);

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);

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;

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);

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);

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);