Asa E. Troyer's neighbor, R. H. Frogner used a 6% DDT solution and a spray gun to get to this yellow jacket nest, that was on his property at Caledonia Beach. This beehive probably housed 1,000 busy wasps; after he stripped off the outer mud protective wall, a pagoda-like construction is visible, hundreds of cells for eggs, food and shelter can be seen. View of Asa E. Troyer, Tacoma City Treasurer, holding up half of a yellow jacket nest (T. Times, 12/19/48, p. 5).

Wasps' nests--Tacoma; Wasps; Poisons; Pest control--Tacoma; Municipal officials--Tacoma; Troyer, Asa E.; Old City Hall (Tacoma);

ca. 1971. 1971 Richards color stock footage. Bell tower of Old City Hall. Designed in the style of "fifteenth-century Italian town hall architecture," the six-story building was constructed in 1892. It became "Old" City Hall upon the opening of the County-City Building in 1959. Saved from demolition, it was restored as a shopping center with grand opening in 1974. In 1980 it was converted into an office building. The 32-square foot tower had its bell chimes restored in late 1993. The Old City Hall is on the City, State, and National Registry. TPL-9206

Clock towers--Tacoma; Old City Hall (Tacoma);

Mrs. Sigrid Holmberg, Mrs. Claude Purvis, and Mrs. Lee C. Garrison of Tacoma's Delphinum Garden Club shared smiles with master clock expert E.F. Farrens (right) and his assistant, Joe Mertz, as they held two of the old clock hands from the Old City Hall clock tower, 625 Commerce Street in May of 1962. The Delphinium Garden Club was working with Mr. Farrens to restore the tower clock, which had fallen into disrepair since 1959 when the city offices left the building for the new County-City Building on Tacoma Avenue South. New cedar clock hands were to be made by the city's woodworking shop. There had been talk about razing the dilapidated Italian Renaissance building, built of yellow brick; it managed to escape the wrecking ball and was added to the National Registry in 1974. Photograph ordered by Delphinium Garden Club. (TNT 5-22-62, p. 1, 5-27-62, p. 1) TPL-9181

Delphinium Garden Club (Tacoma); Clock towers--Tacoma; Old City Hall (Tacoma); Holmberg, Sigrid; Mertz, Joe; Farrens, E.F.;

Members of the Delphinium Garden Club examine the hands of the old clock at (Old) City Hall on May 26, 1962. Mrs. Sigrid Holmberg, Mrs. Claude Purvis, and Mrs. Lee C. Garrison are assisted by Joe Mertz and E.F. Farrens, master clock expert from Portland. Mr. Farrens is donating weekends to repair the clock along with his assistant, Mr. Mertz. The chimes and tower clock had stopped for three years and recently were re-started. The clock was reportedly "keeping beautiful time," although it may have been hard for a layman to detect since the hands were removed. A new set of hands would be made by the city's woodworking shop. The Delphinium Garden Club was financing restoration of the timepiece. View of Old City Hall with bell tower that rises five stories above main floors. Government offices had been moved three years before to the new County-City Building on Tacoma Avenue South. Photograph ordered by Delphinium Garden Club. (TNT 5-22-62, p. 1, 5-27-62, p. 1)

Delphinium Garden Club (Tacoma); Clock towers--Tacoma; Old City Hall (Tacoma); Mertz, Joe; Holmberg, Sigrid; Farrens, E.F.;

Mayor John Anderson, in his office at (Old) City Hall, admires a bouquet of rhododendrons held by Mrs. John Skupens of the Washington Rhododendron Society. Mrs. Skupens had called on the mayor to invite him to the upcoming 9th annual Tacoma Rhododendron Show. The two day show would take place at the Oakland Community Center with free admission. Publicity photo for Tacoma Rhododendron Society. (TNT 5-9-57, C-6) ALBUM 14

Mayors--Tacoma--1950-1960; Anderson, John H.; Rhododendrons; Skupens, John--Family;

Old City Hall. Built in 1892, this Renaissance style structure served as the seat of Tacoma's government for 70 years. It was abandoned for 15 years and just saved from the wrecking ball in 1974 and added to the National Register. The building was restored and now houses offices.

Old City Hall (Tacoma); Office buildings--Tacoma;

Bob Hager (fourth from left) received a certificate of appreciation on behalf of the Tacoma School Patrol for the past twenty years of service, the certificate was presented by AAA of Washington. More than 10,000 boys have served Tacoma schools through all types of weather. The Tacoma School Patrol had also sworn in an additional 150 officers earlier in the day. The uniformed officer at the far right is Don Davies. He was the coordinator of the School Safety Patrol while assigned to Tacom's Youth Guidance Division. (T. Times, 2/6/49, p. 28).

Awards; Rites & ceremonies--Tacoma; Guards--Tacoma; Tacoma City Hall (Tacoma); Tacoma School Patrol (Tacoma);Hager, Bob;

Norman J. Maddex, a city light department wire man, is "re-lamping" the tower on Tacoma's Old City Hall, 625 Commerce St., in this photograph from November 1935. Sitting in a boatswain's chair, just a board slung in the loops of a bowline knot, he works at replacing burned out light bulbs and repairing defective wiring. The tower had 750 bulbs along the cornice rims, down the tower corners, and around the clock dial. (T. Times 11-15-1935 p.3)

City Hall (Tacoma); Maddex, Norman J.;

Norman J. Maddex, City Light department wireman, suspended by cables to work on relamping the (Old) City Hall tower clock. "Relamping" is the term used for replacing the burned out light globes and defective wiring. He is dangling in a boatswain's chair, a board slung in the loops of a bowline knot. In addition to his precarious perch, the men handling the cables above him had to be careful of loose tiles that could send them hurtling to the street below. The work had been delayed for some time as financially hard pressed city departments argued about whose budget the job should be charged to. (T. Times 11-15-1935, pg. 3)

City Hall (Tacoma); Maddex, Norman J.;

Tacoma City Council at (Old) City Hall. Mayor George Smitley at right center, by window. Portrait of Mayor A.V. Fawcett on wall, now hangs in Rare Book Room of Tacoma Public Library. (T.Times)

Mayors--Tacoma--1930-1940; Smitley, George A., 1872-1956;

Mayor George A. Smitley buying a Forget-Me-Not or "Buddy Poppy" from a volunteer worker representing the Disabled American Veterans at his office in (Old) City Hall. He is in the process of handing over a check as a donation to Viola Wilson. Miss Wilson is the daughter of Virgil Wilson, state commander of disabled veterans, and the youngest member of the women's auxiliary here. The proceeds of the two-day sale will go to rehabiliation efforts of the veterans' organizations. Sepia photograph taken on September 25, 1935. ALBUM 11. (T. Times, 9-26-35, p. 5)

Mayors--Tacoma--1930-1940; Smitley, George A., 1872-1956; Fund raising--Tacoma--1930-1940; Patriotic societies--Tacoma; Veterans' organizations--Tacoma; Wilson, Viola;

Girl representing the Disabled American Veterans pins a Forget-Me-Not or "Buddy Poppy" on Mayor George A. Smitley at his office in (Old) City Hall. Miss Viola Wilson is holding a handful of paper poppies as she fastens the Forget-Me-Not to Mr. Smitley's lapel. Mr. Smitley helped to kick off the annual Forget-Me-Not sale by purchasing the first flower from Miss Wilson, who is the daughter of state disabled veterans commander Virgil Wilson. It was noted in the Tacoma Times article attached to the sepia September 25, 1935, photograph, that Mr. Wilson was seriously ill in a Seattle hospital suffering from the effects of wounds received in the war. ALBUM 11. (T. Times, 9-26-35, p. 5)

Mayors--Tacoma--1930-1940; Smitley, George A., 1872-1956; Fund raising--Tacoma--1930-1940; Patriotic societies--Tacoma; Veterans' organizations--Tacoma; Wilson, Viola;

Mayor George Smitley (R) shakes hands with El Haren, newspaper astrologer, during his visit to Tacoma. El Haren's column was carried by the Tacoma Times for a limited time; the Times ran this photo on May 12, 1937. Free daily advice was dispensed by America's "most celebrated astrologer" with replies printed in the Times. For $1.00 and a 6 cent self-addressed stamped envelope, El Haren provided a complete astrological reading and answered three questions free. If the reader chose to save money, he/she would be entitled to one free question using the Times coupon. The newspaper was apparently swamped with thousands of requests during the astrologer's short stay here. Samples of questions and El Haren's answers can be found in the Tacoma Times issues of May 11, 12, 14 and 17, 1937. (T.Times 5-10-37, p. 7, 5-11-37, p. 8, 5-12-37, p. 4, 5-14-37, p. 16, 5-17-37, p. 4) ALBUM 11.

Mayors--Tacoma--1930-1940; Smitley, George A., 1872-1956; Haren, El; Astrology--Tacoma;

Mayor George A. Smitley shakes hands with J. Lee Kress at his office in (Old) City Hall while congratulating the businessman on the opening of his new Malt Shop in the Bostwick Building. Young Mr. Kress' new Tacoma establishment would be located at the front of the flatiron building. It would serve 40 in both private booths and counter service. The Kress Malt Shop is owned solely by Mr. Kress and will be union operated. Mr. Kress was educated in Tacoma schools and has had much experience in the food and fountain service business. He already owns two other Kress Malt Shops in Olympia. (T. Times 7-2-37, p.4) ALBUM 11.

Mayors--Tacoma--1930-1940; Smitley, George A., 1872-1956; Kress, J. Lee; Shaking hands--Tacoma;

Mayor George A. Smitley hands J. Lee Kress a letter at his office in (Old) City Hall congratulating the businessman on the opening of his new Malt Shop in the Bostwick Building. Mayor Smitley is a personal friend of Mr. Kress; the letter welcomed him back to Tacoma and thanked him for the improvements to the area. He wished Mr. Kress a successful career. This is the third Kress Malted Milk Shop in the Puget Sound area with two others in Olympia. (T. Times 7-2-37, page 4.) ALBUM 11.

Mayors--Tacoma--1930-1940; Smitley, George A., 1872-1956; Kress, J. Lee;

Mayor George A. Smitley and businessman J. Lee Kress in a July 1, 1937, photograph taken at (Old) City Hall. Mr. Kress, a personal friend of the mayor's, was opening a new Malt Shop in the Bostwick Building. The men are holding a letter from the mayor that welcomes Mr. Kress back to the Tacoma area. He also owned two other Malt Shops in the Olympia area. (T.Times 7-2-37, p. 4)

Mayors--Tacoma--1930-1940; Smitley, George A., 1872-1956; Kress, J. Lee;

Sepia photograph of City Controller Tom Swayze, Mayor George Smitley and Utilities Commissioner Ira Davisson at (Old) City Hall on May 25, 1936; the city officials are signing contracts with St. Regis Kraft Co which will enable the pulp industry, idle since 1930, to reopen and remodernize facilities. The city would supply millions of gallons of water and hundreds of electrical horsepower daily. Utilities Commissioner Davisson is holding a check from Kraft for $10,000 to begin service. Mr. Davisson, furthest right in the photograph, was a longtime Public Utilities Commissioner first appointed in November, 1918. He led Tacoma's utilities through difficult times in the 1920's and 30's and managed to improve service while keeping rates low. During his long tenure, a 25-million gallon North End Reservoir was built in 1927, and Mr. Davisson worked to extend water service to the Tideflats which helped the growth of industrial development. He was finally voted out of office in 1940 at age 80. ALBUM 11. (Seattle/King Co. HistoryLink.org, T.Times, 5-26-36, p. 2)

Mayors--Tacoma--1930-1940; Smitley, George A., 1872-1956; Swayze, Tom; Davisson, Ira; Municipal government--Tacoma;

Sepia 1937 photograph of Tacoma City Officials at (Old) City Hall. L to R: Frank Callender - public safety commissioner, C. Val Fawcett - finance commissioner, Tom Swayze - city controller, Mayor George Smitley, Genevieve Martin - city clerk, Abner Bergersen - public works commissioner, Ira Davisson - public utilities commissioner, and Howard Carothers- corporation counsel. Group is seated at a glass-top table with two spittoons on floor. Furnishings, including wood floor, appear plain and utilitarian. ALBUM 11.

Municipal government--Tacoma; Mayors--Tacoma--1930-1940; Smitley, George A., 1872-1956; Callender, Frank T.; Fawcett, Clarence Valdo, 1900-1965; Swayze, Tom; Martin, Genevieve; Bergersen, Abner R.; Davisson, Ira; Carothers, Howard;

Tacoma City Council at (Old) City Hall. Photographed in April of 1937 for the Tacoma Times but apparently not used. (T. Times)

Municipal officials--Tacoma--1930-1940; Meetings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Old City Hall (Tacoma);

Tacoma City Council at (Old) City Hall. Interested observers listen intently to council proceedings in April of 1937. (T. Times)

Municipal officials--Tacoma--1930-1940; Meetings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Old City Hall (Tacoma);

Tacoma City Council at (Old) City Hall. Men in conference at table. (T. Times)

Municipal officials--Tacoma--1930-1940; Meetings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Old City Hall (Tacoma);

Tacoma City Council at (Old) City Hall. As the seating arrangement indicates, officials did not face the audience as they met. This photograph was part of a series taken in April of 1937 for the Tacoma Times newspaper but apparently not run. (T. Times)

Municipal officials--Tacoma--1930-1940; Meetings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Old City Hall (Tacoma);

Mayor George A. Smitley with Rhododendron Queen Myrtle Olson at his office in (Old) City Hall. Photograph taken for the Seattle Star. Miss Olson brought Mayor Smitley a bouquet of Washington's state flower and an invitation from Port Townsend's Mayor Bangerter for all Tacomans to attend Rhododendron Days on the Olympic Peninsula May 22-23, 1936. (T. Times 5/15/1936, pg. 1)

Smitley, George A., 1872-1956; Olson, Myrtle; Rhododendrons; Mayors--Tacoma--1930-1940; Festivals--Port Townsend--1930-1940;

Mayor George A. Smitley with Rhododendron Queen Myrtle Olson at the mayor's office in (Old) City Hall. Photograph ordered by the Seattle Star. Queen Myrtle is the emissary for Rhododendron Days, to be held on the Olympic Peninsula May 22-23, 1936. She is delivering an invitation from Port Townsend Mayor Bangerter to Tacoma Mayor George Smitley for all Tacomans to attend the festivities. (T. Times 5/15/1936, pg. 1)

Smitley, George A., 1872-1956; Olson, Myrtle; Rhododendrons; Mayors--Tacoma--1930-1940; Festivals--Port Townsend--1930-1940;

Mayor George A. Smitley with Rhododendron Queen Myrtle Olson and American Legion Post Commander Paul Chaplain at mayor's office in (Old) City Hall. Photograph ordered by the Seattle Star. Rhododendron Days on the Olympic Peninsula would celebrate the blooming of the state's official flower May 22-23, 1936. Most of the festivities would be centered in Port Townsend. Queen Myrtle will reign over sporting events, parades and flower tours. (T. Times 5/15/1936, pg. 1)

Smitley, George A., 1872-1956; Olson, Myrtle; Rhododendrons; Mayors--Tacoma--1930-1940; Festivals--Port Townsend--1930-1940; Chaplain, Paul; American Legion (Tacoma);

ca. 1925. Large group of men in business suits outside of the Mayor's office in the (Old) City Hall at 625 Commerce St. The men are unidentified in this circa 1925 photograph with the exception of the man seated second to the right who is thought to be Dr. Hinton Jonez, prominent Tacoma physician.

Municipal government--Tacoma--1930-1940; Old City Hall (Tacoma);

Sepia photograph of new city officers at (Old) City Hall. Left to Right: Frank Callender, C. Val Fawcett, Mayor George A. Smitley, Abner R. Bergersen, Ira S. Davisson. Mr. Callender and Mayor Smitley won election bids on March 13, 1934, but were not sworn in until June 4, 1934. Mr. Smitley defeated Dr. John C. Siegle by 5325 votes while Frank Callender was elected as the new Public Safety Commissioner. Voters also rejected the city manager proposal whereby freeholders would have been elected on May 1st in order that the city charter might be revised to provide for a city manager plan. Val Fawcett had been re-elected Finance Commissioner; he, the new mayor, and Mr. Callender took oaths of office on June 4th administered by city clerk, Genevieve Martin. Mr. Bergersen was already Public Works Commissioner and Mr. Davisson, Public Utilities Commissioner. These men composed the re-organized city council. (T.Times, 3-14-34, p. 1, 6-4-34, p. 1) ALBUM 11.

Mayors--Tacoma--1930-1940; Smitley, George A., 1872-1956; Callender, Frank T.; Fawcett, Clarence Valdo, 1900-1965; Bergersen, Abner R.; Davisson, Ira; Municipal government--Tacoma;

ca. 1935. Mayor George A. Smitley with Ethlynne "Skit" Smith (later Babson) and Ellis-Ayr Smith at his office in (Old) City Hall circa 1935. The Smith sisters were noted local skiers, Ellis-Ayr being a U.S. team member for the 1936 Winter Olympic Games at Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany.

Mayors--Tacoma--1930-1940; Smitley, George A., 1872-1956; Skiers; Babson, Ethlynne; Smith, Ethlynne; Smith, Ellis-Ayr; Families--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Mayor Melvin G. Tennent, right, shakes hands with "Banjo King" Eddie Peabody at (Old) City Hall. Edwin Ellsworth "Eddie" Peabody, 1902-1970, was a well known vaudeville star. The 24 year old performer was appearing in person for the first time in Tacoma, from 12/2- 12/29/1927, at the Broadway Theater. The diminutive blue eyed, blonde haired young man was an expert on all stringed instruments, playing with proficiency the banjo, violin, mandolin, guitar, harp and others. While in town, he also made guest appearances to autograph his records at Sherman Clay Co., Hopper Kelly and Rhodes Bro. (TDL 12/2/1927, pg. 7- info only) (Argentum) (listed in Richards notes as A2438)

Peabody, Eddie; Banjos; Mayors--Tacoma--1920-1930; Tennent, Melvin Green;

City Clerk Genevieve Martin administers the oath of office to Public Safety Commissioner Holmes Eastwood at (old) City Hall on June 6, 1938. Mr. Eastwood replaced Frank T. Callender as head of Public Safety; Mr. Callender (not pictured) was present to greet his successor with a handshake. Mr. Eastwood was very dapper in a blue coat, white trousers and white shoes. Mr. Eastwood reportedly brought his own desk and chair to city government, "Should I get kicked out of here, they'll have to kick out my desk and chair, too." One of his first official acts as Safety Commissioner was to give out-of-city motorists a parking break by issuing cards allowing them to park on downtown streets without fear of overtime tickets It would be a means to encourage tourism in the city's core. (T. Times, 6-6-38, p. 14, 6-7-38, p.13)

Eastwood, Holmes; Oaths--Tacoma; Martin, Genevieve; Municipal government--Tacoma;