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625 COMMERCE ST, TACOMA With digital objects
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I35-6

ca. 1934. Portrait of Tacoma Mayor George A. Smitley in his office at (Old) City Hall. Sepia photograph was taken during his first, and only, term of office. 62 years old at the time of the photograph, Mr. Smitley had vowed not to run again, believing that one term was sufficient. His aim, according to a speech to the Democratic Club in March, 1934, was to increase payrolls in Tacoma, by developing industry. Mr. Smitley passed away in 1956 at the age of 84. ALBUM 11.


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

TPL-4583

ca. 1941. Mayor Harry P.Cain, seated at desk, speaks with a group of intently listening men in his office at (Old) City Hall. Bob O'Neil, Public Utilities Commissioner, is seated to Cain's left.


Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979; Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; O'Neil, Robert D.; Municipal officials--Tacoma--1940-1950;

TPL-5102

Mayor C. V. "Val" Fawcett was visited in his office at (old) City Hall by three young women from Olympia dressed as cowgirls. The young women were graduates of the Class of 1947 and had recently won a popularity contest in Olympa. They called on Mayor Fawcett to invite all Tacoma and vicinity residents to Olympia's grand 4th of July show. L-R, Ruth Stubbs, Mayor Fawcett, Martha Strange and Audrey Strandness. (T.Times, 6/13/1947, p.4) ALBUM 14.


Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fawcett, Clarence Valdo, 1900-1965; Stubbs, Ruth; Strange, Martha; Strandness, Audrey;

D813-1

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;

TPL-5188A

ca. 1940. Mayor Harry P. Cain with personal secretary Pearl Rehbock at his office in (Old) City Hall about 1940. She appears to be taking dictation. There is a copy of a Washington Association of Cities publication on his desk blotter and a City of Atlanta Traffic Study in his "IN" box. By the 1942 City Directory, Mrs. Rehbock of the Steilacoom Lake area, was listed as the office manager of the USO-YMCA. ALBUM 12.


Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979; Rehbock, Pearl; Office workers--Tacoma--1940-1950;

TPL-5188B

ca. 1940. Mayor Harry P. Cain with personal secretary Pearl Rehbock at his office in (Old) City Hall. A Washington Association of Cities publication is on his desk blotter, City of Atlanta Traffic Study in his "IN" box. Mrs. Rehbock appears to be taking the mayor's dictation in this ca. 1940 photograph. ALBUM 12.


Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979; Rehbock, Pearl; Office workers--Tacoma--1940-1950;

D375-1

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;

D2000-9

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;

D106610-2

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;

D87496-2

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;

D7312-11A

A wide variety of flower arrangements were sent to City Hall when Mayor John C. Siegle was installed as the city's chief executive on June 6, 1938. The mayor appears to be leaning forward, perhaps in response to a question, when photographed between his two nominees for city posts, William J. Ganz and C. Amos Booth. The floral pieces were transferred from council chambers to Mayor Siegle's private office. Dr. John Charles Siegle was a well-known civic leader and leading dentist before becoming mayor. He was a prime supporter of the city and sought to develop tourism and industry. ALBUM 11. (T.Times 6-6-38, 1, 14).


Mayors--Tacoma--1930-1940; Siegle, John C., 1885-1939; Ganz, William J.; Booth, C. Amos; Flower arrangements;

D7312-13

Following the administering of oaths, Mayor John C. Siegle's name was inscribed on the door of room 303, also the office of C. Amos Booth, Refuse Superintendent. The name of his secretary, William J. Ganz, was also inscribed. Both Mr. Booth and Mr. Ganz were Dr. Siegle's personal appointees. Dr. Siegle's name would remain here only a short time; he died while serving as mayor the following year. ALBUM 11.


Mayors--Tacoma--1930-1940; Siegle, John C., 1885-1939; Signs (Notices);

D7260-2

This photograph taken in 1938 shows Mayor George A. Smitley buying a "Buddy Poppy" from Mary Lee Burrows (left) and Elizabeth Armstrong, the youngest members of the American Legion Rhodes Post Auxiliary, at his office in (Old) City Hall. Mayor Smitley was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana in 1872, and although his formal education was limited to four years in a country school, he went on to be a successful businessman and Mayor of Tacoma from 1934 through 1938. Buddy poppies date to the early 1920s. They were inspired after WWI by the poem "In Flanders Fields" and are sold by the VFW to raise funds for disabled and needy veterans and their dependents.


Mayors--Tacoma--1930-1940; Smitley, George A., 1872-1956; Patriotic societies--Tacoma; American Legion Edward B. Rhodes Post No. 2 (Tacoma); Girls--Tacoma--1930-1940; Burrows, Mary Lee; Armstrong, Elizabeth;

D12299-2

Six days after Pearl Harbor, Eleanor (Mrs. Franklin D.) Roosevelt, Assistant Director of the Office of Civilian Defense, speaks to Tacoma Mayor Harry Cain and local Civilian Defense leaders about wartime issues in the Mayor's office at City Hall. Mayor Cain appears to be diligently taking notes on Mrs. Roosevelt's speech. After her stop in Tacoma, she went to another conference on civil defense in Seattle. (T.Times, 12-13-41, p. 1) ALBUM 1


Presidents' spouses; Roosevelt, Anna Eleanor, 1884-1962; Visits of state--Tacoma; Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979; World War, 1939-1945--Civil defense--Tacoma;

D12957-1

Actress Lana Turner receives a corsage from Mayor Harry P. Cain during a visit on June 12, 1942 to the Mayor's office at (Old) City Hall for a press interview. Miss Turner was in Tacoma on a War Bond Sales tour. She came to Tacoma from Portland and stopped by the Mayor's office to receive an official greeting and hold a press conference. (T. Times 6/19/42, pg. 1)


Turner, Lana, 1920-1995; Actresses; Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979; War bonds & funds--Tacoma--1940-1950; World War, 1939-1945--Economic aspects of war--Tacoma;

D12537-1

Salvage for Victory meeting at Mayor's office in City Hall. Representatives of agencies interested in collecting scrap iron, rubber, waste paper and other salvageable items discuss plans for organization of a Tacoma committee with state chairman J.C. Haley and Mayor Harry Cain. Front row, left to right- Guy Thompson, Haley, Mayor Cain. Center row: Rev. H.W. Michener, J.H. Titcomb, Fred Hughes, George Russell, Elmer Nelson, J.R. Kiely. Rear: Chas. McIntyre, Ray Ecklund. The local committee would be the first to be formed in the "Salvage for Victory" program under Haley's control. The proposed committee would be made up of eight men representing local charitable agencies and three business men. Citizens with salvage materials to give to the nation's defense program would donate through one of these agencies. There was no official government agency for this purpose. Agencies represented in this picture are the Community Chest, Goodwill, St Vincent dePaul, Salvation Army, Youth Defense Committee, Volunteers of America and the Air Raid Wardens. (T. Times 3/5/1942, pg. 1, picture pg. 7; TNT 3/5/1942, pg. 8)


World War, 1939-1945--Scrap drives; Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979; Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950;

D13510-1

In October of 1942, the children of the Ling family heard that there was a key to the city and came up with a great idea for the local "Keys to Victory" key collection drive. Ling Shun Chow (left), age 10, and Ling Jing Nge, seven, watch as Ling Shun Hung, eight, tries to put the mayor's mammoth key into a collection can held by Mayor Harry Cain. The "Key Kans" were placed all over the city for people to deposit unneeded housekeys. Most keys were made of high grade metal, mostly nickel, that was needed for war materials. The youngsters were the children of Ling Yu Nan, a local medicine manufacturer.(T. Times 10-09-1942 p.2)


Chinese Americans--Tacoma--1940-1950; Chinese American families--Tacoma--1940-1950; Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Scrap drives--Tacoma--1940-1950; Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979;

D12757-1

Mayor Harry P. Cain makes a broadcast appeal over station KMO for the Tacoma Community Chest from the Mayor's Office in (Old) City Hall. The Community Chest preceded the United Way. ALBUM 13. TPL-10183


Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979; Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Radio broadcasting--Tacoma--1940-1950;

D11826-1

Drum majorettes Phylis Scott (left) and Marilyn Nelson sold Mayor Harry P. Cain a "forget-me-not" or "Buddy Poppy," for the benefit of Disabled American Veterans, at his office in (Old) City Hall in early September of 1941. The annual fund raiser was directed by chairman Floyd Brassfield of the Tacoma Chapter No. 1, Disabled American Veterans. The proceeds from the sale were used to support various veterans' relief programs; the VFW made no profit from the sale. (T.Times 9-4-41, p. 2) ALBUM 12.


Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979; Fund raising--Tacoma--1940-1950; Disabled American Veterans, Tacoma Post No. 1 (Tacoma); Scott, Phylis; Nelson, Marilyn; Drum majorettes--Tacoma--1940-1950;

D21123-2

In December of 1945 Mayor Harry P. Cain returned to Tacoma to once again take up his mayoral duties. In 1943 he had taken a leave of absence from his elected office to enter the Army as a major. He left the city in the capable hands of C. Val Fawcett, who had previously served as Commissioner of Finance. By the end of the war Mayor Cain had risen in rank to Lieutenant Colonel. Once back in office he served as mayor of Tacoma until June 15, 1946, when he chose to run for the U.S. Senate. Album 13.


Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979; Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Military uniforms--United States;

D22427-5

Tacoma Mayor Val Fawcett, son of the celebrated Mayor A.V. Fawcett, at (Old) City Hall for his swearing in ceremony on June 3, 1946. Members of the city council flank the mayor. They are: (l-r) L.W. "Roy" Craig, Abner R. Bergersen, Robert S. Temme and C.A. "Clif" Erdahl. (T.Times 6-3-46, p. 1)


Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fawcett, Clarence Valdo, 1900-1965; Craig, L.W.; Bergersen, Abner R.; Temme, Robert S.; Erdahl, C.A.; Municipal officials--Tacoma--1940-1950;

D22427-6A

Newly sworn in mayor Val Fawcett posed proudly with his immediate family on June 3, 1946. This is a cropped version of D22427, image 6, with the portrait of Mayor A.V. Fawcett nearly removed. Mayor Val Fawcett is holding his granddaughter Linda Knecht, and is flanked by wife Linda (with orchid corsage) and mother Margaret, widow of A.V. Next to Margaret Fawcett is Val's daughter, also named Margaret and her husband, Norbert Knecht. ALBUM 14.


Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fawcett, Clarence Valdo, 1900-1965; Fawcett, Clarence Valdo, 1900-1965--Family;

D23618-1

Tacoma Mayor Val Fawcett wears a Hawaiian lei in a publicity photo for KVI Radio taken at his office in (Old) City Hall. ALBUM 14.


Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fawcett, Clarence Valdo, 1900-1965; Leis;

D25012-6

Mayor Val Fawcett, seated center, and city Public Utilities Commissioner C.A. "Clif" Erdahl (seated foreground) listen patiently to delegations from church groups and others, who have just delivered petitions calling for the outlawing of pinball machines. A city Legal Department memo, dated 12/29/1946, is on the table in foreground. Despite two hours of fervent protest by council visitors, the mayor and council would go on to pass an emergency ordinance on December 30, 1946, amending pinball regulations in the city. Pinball machines would not be outlawed but instead have a 5% tax on these "payoff" machines. ALBUM 14. (T.Times 12-30-46, p. 1, 14-article; TNT 12-30-46, p. 1-article)


Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fawcett, Clarence Valdo, 1900-1965; Petitions--Tacoma;

D37084-2

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);

D33564-3

Tacoma's Mayor C. Val Fawcett (left) and Fircrest's Mayor Nelson J. Morrison are promoting free x-rays. They are encouraging all Pierce County citizens to get their chests x-rayed. The Christmas Seals mobile x-ray unit is scheduled to make several stops in the next few days, it is currently parked in front of Tacoma's City Hall. The free x-ray service is being sponsored by the Tuberculosis League of Pierce County (T.N.T., 6/4/48, p. 5).


Radiography; Mobile health units--Tacoma; Health care--Tacoma; Signs (Notices); Clinics--Tacoma; Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tuberculosis League of Pierce County (Tacoma); Fawcett, Clarence Valdo, 1900-1965; Morrison, Nelson J.;

D42240-1

City of Tacoma was kicking off their annual clean-up, paint-up and fix-up week in early May of 1949. Mayor C. Val Fawcett (right) and Charles Griffith, Committee Chairman for the annual city clean-up, were getting ready to ask all citizens of Tacoma for 100% participation. City officials were stressing that a clean city helped decrease health hazards (T.N.T., 5/10/49, p. 21).


Municipal services--Tacoma--1940-1950; Urban beautification--Tacoma--1940-1950; Events--Tacoma--1940-1950; Municipal government--Tacoma; Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fawcett, Clarence Valdo, 1900-1965; Griffith, Charles H.;

D55350-1

Mayor John H. Anderson is shown here issuing a proclamation setting aside the period from January 14 to 21, 1951, as Junior Chamber of Commerce week. With him in his office are L-R, G. Hanley Barker, Jaycee director; Fred F. LeVeque, local president; Warner Matson, first vice president; Marc H. Miller, award chairman; and Howard Perkin, secretary. John H. Anderson was one of the partners in Anderson Construction Company. (TNT, 1/14/1951, p.A-4)


Anderson, John H.; Mayors--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma Junior Chamber of Commerce (Tacoma); Barker, G. Hanley; LeVeque, Fred F.; Matson, Warner; Miller, Marc H.; Perkin, Howard;

D73978-2

Mayor John H. Anderson meets with Elder Osgood of the Seventh Day Adventists and several others for a publicity picture on March 26, 1953. There are several large white cans marked "SDA Disaster Kit", holding emergency supplies for household use in case of disaster, while Mayor Anderson displays an American Red Cross medical kit. DeWitt Osgood is the pastor of the Central Seventh Day Adventist Church. His and other Seventh Day Adventist churches worked together to assemble these emergency kits; bandages, antiseptics, splints, dressings, and water purification tablets were some of the supplies contained in each kit. (TNT 3-22-53, A-15)


Anderson, John H.; Osgood, DeWitt; Disaster relief--Tacoma;

STENGER-0067 Front

  • Mount Rainier sits prominently above the downtown business district. The 11th Street Bridge, now the Murray Morgan, is just to the left of the Old City Hall. circa 1930.
  • Printed on front: Mt. Tacoma and part of city, Tacoma, Wash.
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