In August of 1938, a work crew of women sorted and hand cleaned bulbs at the George Lawler bulb farm at Gardenville, near Fife. They removed husks and separated daughter bulbs. Diseased or cut bulbs were discarded before grading. In 1910, George Lawler built a house on 5 acres of muddy deserted land near Fife and planted over 2000 flower bulbs with which he launched Pierce County's first commercial bulb business. The area was renamed Gardenville in honor of his flowers. After his death in 1948, the company's signature daffodil stock was sold to United Bulb Co. of Woodland.
George Lawler bulb farm at Gardenville. Five men working with winch and pulley in open-frame structure. Truck beside structure is loaded with wooden boxes. In 1910, George Lawler bought 5 acres of land in Gardenville, near Fife, where he built a house and planted 2200 bulbs. As the commercial bulb business took off, he purchased land in North Puyallup and Roy.
On August 8, 1938, several men and women sorted bulbs by hand as they passed by on a conveyor belt in a shed at the George Lawler bulb farm in Gardenville, near Fife. The bulbs were cleaned by hand, old husks and dirt removed, and daughter bulbs separated. Diseased bulbs were discarded. After this process was completed, the bulbs went to a grading machine, where they were sorted by size. In 1910, George Lawler bought five muddy acres near Fife and began experimenting with flowers as a crop. At first he sold the cut flowers, but he quickly began to view the bulbs as the money crop. The area around his home was renamed Gardenville in honor of his flowers, and George Lawler became one of the founders of the Northwest bulb industry.
A man and and a woman working in large warehouse filled with wooden crates full of flower bulbs at the George Lawler bulb farm at Gardenville. The bulbs have been crated for shipment by train or truck. Bulbs were originally shipped in vented railroad cars, but were subject to damage by severe weather conditions. The advent of refrigerated railroad cars and trucks greatly benefited the bulb industry.
George Lawler bulb farm at Gardenville. Four men working inside a dark bulb shed. They are pouring bulbs onto a bulb sorting machine constructed of wood with four metal rollers. The machine is possibly a grading machine, that divides the bulbs by size.
George Lawler bulb farm at Gardenville, near Fife. Several women sorting bulbs on a conveyor inside a bulb shed. These women are cleaning the bulbs by hand. Old husks are removed and daughter bulbs are separated. Diseased and cut bulbs will be discarded before grading. This image is similar to A7411-1.
Fourteen women working in a shed sorting bulbs by hand on a conveyor belt for the George Lawler bulb farm at Gardenville, near Fife. Numerous bulb tray racks are behind workers. Women are wearing work clothes with bandanas or caps on their heads. The women are "cleaning" the bulbs by hand, removing old husks and separating daughter bulbs. Any diseased or cut bulbs will be removed before grading.
ca. 1936. George Lawler, bulb grower. According to the Richards' records this is a row of trees along the front of the Lawler property. The row of Lombardy poplar trees lines the roadway and bulbs, scattered heavily under the trees, are in full bloom. The bulbs appear to be daffodils, that early Spring bringer of yellow sunshine. This is most probably the 5 acre Lawler estate in Gardenville, near Fife. It was located near what is now 54th Avenue East and Fourth Street.
ca. 1936. George Lawler, bulb grower, house and gardens. Distant view taken in 1936 of Mr. and Mrs. Lawler standing in front of home. House was a two-story, Colonial-style home. This is most probably the Lawler estate at Gardenville, near Fife, where Mr. Lawler began his bulb business in 1910. It was described as having green shutters, a red roof and a graceful entrance between two columns. It was located near what is now 54th Avenue East and Fourth Street. The house was ringed by Lombardy poplars and the "Gardenville" moniker was in honor of its flowers. The house was believed to still be in the Fife area in 1992, moved about 300 feet north of its original site. (TNT 04/25/1992 D3)
