A roll of knotted bed sheets remains dangling from a window at the jail in the Public Safety Building, 621 Pacific Ave., on July 3, 1950. Federal prisoner Stanley P. O'Carter, age 34 of Phoenix, Arizona, made a daring attempt at escape from the multi-floored jail at 3:50 a.m. that morning. Only by chance was he captured as Officers Ed Cutler and Robert Hubert were passing nearby in the darkness at the time Mr. Carter dropped 12 feet onto the ground from the makeshift "ladder." Mr. Carter was one of only three federal prisoners in the government tank and had been alone in his cell for several days. It was believed that tools smuggled to him enabled him to cut a hole through the back of his cell and allowed him access to a small unbarred ventillating window on the north side of the building, immediately above the driveway. No tools were found on the prisoner nor in his cell. Mr. Carter did not resist arrest and was returned to the jail. (TNT 7-4-50, p. 1-article) TPL-6665

Public Safety Building (Tacoma); Prison escapes--Tacoma; Jails--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Tacoma's finest, along with their vehicles, stand alertly outside the Public Safety Building/City Hall Annex on August 29, 1953. They were members of the Tacoma Police Department's Motorcycle division. TPL-7118

Police--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma Police Department (Tacoma); Public Safety Building (Tacoma); City Hall Annex (Tacoma); Motorcycles--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Lt. Frances Rich, WAVE and daughter of famed actress Irene Rich, visited Tacoma on April 6, 1943. She is photographed with some Navy men as well as fellow WAVES Lt. Jane Horsfall and Ensign Carol Citron in front of the Navy Recruiting office at the City Hall Annex. Lt. Rich was one of the first 120 women to enter officer's training school at Smith College. She was currently attached to the Postal Commission of the Naval Dept. and touring the country on behalf of V-Mail. While in Tacoma, she was scheduled to attend a Kiwanis meeting, a Junior League meeting and interview prospective WAVES. Born in Spokane, Lt. Rich moved to Hollywood with her mom and was a sculptress before joining the service. (T. Times 4/5/1943, pg. 6)

Rich, Frances; World War, 1939-1945--Recruiting & enlistment--Tacoma;

Lt. Frances Rich posed with fellow WAVES Lt. Jane Horsfall and Ensign Carol Citron at the Naval recruiting office at the City Hall Annex. Lt. Rich was the daughter of actress Irene Rich and one of the first women to enter officer's training at Smith College. She was attached to the Postal Commission of the Naval Department and was in town to extol V-Mail as well as interview prospective WAVES. (T. Times 4/5/1943, pg. 6)

Rich, Frances; World War, 1939-1945--Recruiting & enlistment--Tacoma;

Mayor Cain congratulates A.E. Albrecht on his promising group of thirteen Naval recruits on August 17,1942. Albrecht runs the local recruiting station with the assistance of D.M. Kelley (in uniform at right.) The group is standing on the steps of the City Hall Annex (formerly the Northern Pacific Headquarters Building). The recruits are Harold Robert Gillam, Roland L. LaClair, Charles J. McQueen, William L. Viafore, Peter J. Marzano, Chester M. Christopherson, Milton O. Windh, Ellsworth M. Evje, Bernard W. Erdahl, William J. Green, Gilbert P. Bloom, James B. Atkins Jr. and Varrel L. Smith. (T. Times 8/18/1942 p.3)

Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979; Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Albrecht, A.E.; Kelley, D.M.; World War, 1939-1945--Recruiting & enlistment--Tacoma;

On Friday, April 17, 1942, Tacoma received its first shipment of steel helmets and armbands for their Air Raid Wardens. The shipment included 250 of each. Trying out the new equipment at the Civilian Defense Volunteer Office at the City Hall Annex are, left to right, Joseph Lanser, Frank Evans and George Russell. The "tin hats" were made of steel thick enough to protect the wearer from shrapnel splinters. (T. Times 4/18/1942, pg. 1)

World War, 1939-1945--Civil defense--Tacoma; Lanser, Joseph; Evans, Frank; Russell, George; Helmets; Flags--United States;

Modelling the latest in "tin hats" and armbands are Civilian Defense officers, left to right, Joseph Lanser, Frank Evans and George Russell. On Friday, April 17, 1942, Tacoma received its first shipment of steel helmets and armbands for their Air Raid Wardens. The shipment included 250 of each. The "tin hats" were made of steel thick enough to protect the wearer from shrapnel splinters. The trio is posing at the Civilian Defense Volunteer office at the City Hall Annex. (T. Times 4/18/1942, pg. 1)

World War, 1939-1945--Civil defense--Tacoma; Lanser, Joseph; Evans, Frank; Russell, George; Helmets; Flags--United States;

Dwight Howell, behind the wheel of a new Ford convertible from Titus Motor Company, is not receiving a ticket. He has just been honored for being a top student driver. In March of 1941, Ford Motor Co. started the Ford Good Driver League. They worked with police and public safety organizations to encourage traffic safety and good driving habits. This photograph was taken in front of the Public Safety Building at 621 Pacific Avenue. The man at the far left is probably Tacoma Chief of Police Einer Langseth. Howell went on to win the Washington State Finals and represent Washington at the Nationals in August, 1941. The 17 year old Howell graduated from Stadium High School in the Spring of 1941.

Howell, Dwight; Ford automobile; Titus Motor Co. (Tacoma); Law enforcement--Tacoma; Law enforcement officers--Tacoma;

Glory Ragland (second from left), a public health service nurse, and Percy Brush, look on as a dentist who preferred to remain anonymous provided free dental work to a young patient at the new free dental clinic in the City Hall Annex, 621 Pacific Ave. Opened January 21, 1924 and organized by the Kiwanis Club with the cooperation of county, professional and fraternal organizations, the clinic provided free dental services Monday and Tuesday from 9 am to 12 noon, with a local dentist on duty to volunteer his services. A room in the annex had been completely furnished and painted white. The Kiwanis and Elks provided the equipment. Percy Brush was president of the Kiwanis and chairman of the committee responsible for the clinic when it was founded. (TDL 3/26/1924, pg. 3) TPL-659; G27.1-118

Ragland, Glory; Brush, Percy; Dentistry--Tacoma--1920-1930; Dental equipment & supplies--1920-1930; Dental hygiene--Tacoma; Health care facilities--Tacoma;