The Labor Temple on Market St. was home to a variety of unions with each union having a designated room. Among the many unions were the Butcher Workmen Union Local #554, the Bakers Union Local #126, Bricklayers Union Local #1 and the Motor Coach Employees Union Local #758, in addition to the Pierce County Central Labor Council AFL-CIO and United Labor Advisory Committee of Pierce County. Formerly the Hiroshimaya Hotel, the Labor Temple was purchased in 1941 by the Labor Council and completely paid for by 1943. View of members of the Plumbers and Fitters Union Local #82 who met in Room 201 of the Labor Temple; on the wall near the men are signs from other unions. Photograph ordered by the Plumbers Union.
Labor unions--Tacoma; Plumbers & Fitters Union Local No. 82 (Tacoma); Labor Temple (Tacoma); Signs (Notices);
Guests enjoy the opening of the Labor Temple Recreation Club in June of 1942. Developed for the use of A.F.of L. union members only, the club had the most modern design in the city. Located in the Labor Temple on Market Street, the site of the former Baker Hotel properties, club members used the side entrance on S. 15th. Harry "Red Carnation" Switzer was the Recreation Club manager. (TNT 6/25/1942, pg.8)
June of 1942 saw the grand opening of the Labor Temple Recreation Club. The Tacoma Central Labor Council, representing over 60 A.F.of L. unions, had purchased the old Baker Hotel property on Market Street in 1941 and made it their new home. A guest of the Labor Temple reaches for a piece of cake from a waitress during opening day ceremonies while four others in the booth look on. The notice on the wall near the group indicates that only beer and wine could be served during specific hours; no hard liquor was allowed. The Club rooms were located on the Mezzanine floor and served as recreation rooms and as a restaurant.
Labor Temple Recreation Club (Tacoma); Cakes--Tacoma--1940-1950; Signs (Notices); Waitresses--Tacoma--1940-1950;
Grand opening of the Labor Temple Recreation Club was held in the summer of 1942. The club was run for the benefit of A.F.of L. union members only. Harry "Red Carnation" Switzer was the club manager; he is seated holding a clock. Mr. Switzer was celebrating his 54th anniversary which coincided with the grand opening. He had long been associated with the movie business in Tacoma, having managed the Colonial, Rialto, Broadway and Cameo theaters.
Labor Temple Recreation Club (Tacoma); Switzer, Harry; Clocks & watches;
A man and three women, one in uniform, pose by a sedan. They were attending the grand opening of the Labor Temple Recreation Club in June of 1942. The club, located on Market Street with side entrance at 15th, was part of the Labor Temple purchased by the unions in 1941. Entrance to the club was limited to A.F. of L. members only. (TNT 6-25-42, p. 8)
One of the greatest changes in the conversion of the Baker Hotel, 1355 Market St., into the Labor Temple was the addition of a private club and restaurant for the use of A.F.of L. members only. View of bar and part of lounge.
In April of 1941, the Tacoma Central Labor Council acquired the Baker Hotel, at 1355 Market St., and set about making it their new home. The Council, representing over 60 A.F. of L. unions with a total membership of over 35,000, ordered $75,000 in renovations on the building. The refurbishment included nine meeting halls, with seating capacities from 50- 600. The structure, including improvements, was completely paid for 17 months after it was acquired. It was operated on a co-operative non-profit basis by the unions. (TNT 1/7/1942, pg. 1)
Interior of new Tacoma Labor Temple, 1355 Market St. View of meeting room taken from podium. American Federation of Labor (AFofL) symbol on back wall. $75,000 in remodeling was needed to turn the Baker Hotel, at 1355 Market St., into the Labor Temple, home of over 60 labor unions. Included were nine meeting rooms, such as this one, seating variously 50- 600 folks.
New Tacoma Labor Temple, interior of bar. Tables and chairs in foreground, cash register behind bar, slot machines at right. The Club Rooms were located in the new Labor Temple, 1355 Market St., and were for the exclusive use of A.F. of L. members. The Club was operated co-operatively on a non profit basis.
The Tacoma Central Labor Council obtained the Baker Hotel in 1941 for use as their new headquarters. They abandoned their cramped offices at the City Hall annex, where they had been for 17 years, and moved into the new 4 1/2 story cream colored brick structure. They then spent $75,000 remodeling the building to suit their purposes. This remodel included the construction of members-only recreation rooms and restaurant. (TNT 1/7/1943, pg. 1)
After the Tacoma Central Labor Council obtained the Baker Hotel in 1941 for use as their new meeting structure, they allotted $75,000 for improvements to the 4 1/2 story building. This price included the Labor Temple Club and restaurant. The club rooms were located on the mezzanine floor. The building also contained 46 offices, occupied by affiliated unions, nine meeting halls and a printing plant of the first floor, used for the publication of the Labor Advocate. (TNT 1/7/1942, PG. 1)
In September of 1953, Tacoma's board of business representatives for AFL unions was photographed in front of the doors of the Labor Temple, 1355 Market Street. The labor group, which met every Wednesday for a luncheon gathering, was one of the only organizations of its kind for exchanging information and the promotion of common interests of union workers. The man seated in the front row, third from the left, is Harry S. McIlvaigh, the long time secretary-treasurer of the Tacoma Labor Council for whom McIlvaigh Middle School is named. (T.N.T. 9/4/1953, p. C5- see picture for names & C-3)
Labor unions--Tacoma; Group portraits; Labor Temple (Tacoma);
