View of Lowell Elementary School. The roots of Lowell School run deep as it is the Tacoma School District's oldest school. Established in 1869, and originally known as the First Ward School, it served families living west of Division Avenue in Old Tacoma. After moving to several locations, it was renamed Lowell after the American poet James Russell Lowell in 1890. A new Lowell School was built in 1950 on North 13th & Yakima Sts. as the nearly sixty year old Lowell, located a block away, was condemned following the 1949 earthquake. Students were moved into the new classrooms in November, 1950, although total construction was not completed until February, 1951. Photograph ordered by Bonnell Construction. (Olsen: For the Record, p. 43)

Lowell Elementary School (Tacoma)--Buildings; Public schools--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Idlewild Elementary School was located in Lakewood at 10806 Idlewild Rd. S.W. , a part of the Clover Park School District. James E. Rediske was listed as principal in the 1958 Tacoma Suburban Directory. The school's buildings were clustered together; they all seemed to be of modern style and one-story in nature. The largest building with a steep roof shown in this March 4, 1958, photograph appeared to be the auditorium. Idlewild followed the new trend in wood framing and glue-lam beams for school construction. 70,000 feet of fir plywood was used for roof decking. Donald Burr was the architect for the project; Strom Construction was the contractor. Photograph ordered by Penman Neil, Inc. (TNT 2-9-58, A-19)

Idlewild Elementary School (Lakewood); Public schools--Lakewood;

Photograph labelled "Stanley School- 6A Class, June 1941"

Stanley Elementary School (Tacoma); School children--Tacoma--1940-1950; Education--Tacoma; Public schools--Tacoma--1940-1950; Group portraits;

Sherman School 6A class. Children in front of school with teacher, possibly Professor Brown, in June of 1927. Sherman was built at this location in 1891 and was named in honor of Civil War Union Army general William Tecumseh Sherman. It was razed in 1953. (WSHS)

Sherman Elementary (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1920-1930; School children--Tacoma--1920-1930; Group portraits; Education--Tacoma;

Lincoln School 6A class. Lincoln School was built in 1887 from a design by C.N. Daniels. The school was originally named West School, but underwent a name change to Lincoln in 1889. It was demolished in 1938. (WSHS)

Students--Tacoma--1920-1930; Lincoln Elementary School (Tacoma);

6th Grade students, Stanley School, Mr. Thune. The graduating 6th grade class posed in front of the school in May of 1949. Several of the boys are wearing safety patrol badges and shoulder straps. Elmer Thune was the school's Principal.

Stanley Elementary School (Tacoma); School children--Tacoma--1940-1950; Education--Tacoma; Public schools--Tacoma--1940-1950; Group portraits;

Graduating Class at Lincoln School. The class consists of 19, 13 boys and 6 girls. Lincoln was closed in 1938 and most of the students were transferred to McCarver. (WSHS)

Students--Tacoma--1920-1930; Lincoln Elementary School (Tacoma);

The 12-room Lowell Elementary School at 810 North 13th Street, built to replace the original Lowell School, was completed in February 1951. This view of the exterior of the school shows the concrete steps up to the entrance of the two-story school. Lowell School can trace its history back to the first school in Tacoma, a cabin built at North 28th and Starr streets. The school shown replaced the Lowell school built in 1892; that building had to be torn down after being damaged by the great 1949 earthquake. (Ordered by Washington Stove Works, Everett, Washington.)

Lowell Elementary School (Tacoma)--Buildings; Public schools--Tacoma--1950-1960;

The exterior of Jennie Reed Elementary School which opened in 1951. The school was named for Dr. Jennie M. Reed who was noted throughout the Northwest for the testing program she developed in the 1920's and 1930's as director of the District department of educational research and psychological clinic. The school had 300 students in 1952. Ordered by Washington Stove Works, Everett, Washington. (For the Record, Winnifred L. Olsen)

Jennie Reed Elementary School (Tacoma)--Buildings; Jennie Reed Elementary School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1950-1960; Washington Stove Works (Everett);

The exterior of A.V. Fawcett Elementary School that opened in 1950. The eight-room school was named for Angelo Vance Fawcett. He was elected Mayor of Tacoma five times and served longer than any other mayor. He was also a state senator and a Pierce County Commissioner. Ordered by Washington Stove Works, Everett, Washington. (For the Record, Winnifred L. Olsen)

Fawcett Elementary School (Tacoma)--Buildings; Public schools--Tacoma--1950-1960; Washington Stove Works (Everett);

Jefferson School originally opened in a portable at North 12th and Stevens Streets. In 1908 the school was built at 4302 North 13th. Improvements were made in 1913, 1919, 1950, 1957 and 1971. The school was named for Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence and the third President of the United States. Ordered by Washington Stove Works, Everett, Washington. (For the Record, Winnifred L. Olsen) TPL-7185

Jefferson Elementary School (Tacoma)--Buildings; Jefferson Elementary School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1950-1960; Washington Stove Works (Everett);

Jefferson Elementary School, detail view of end wall. Brick building with double doors and a small curved roof above. Ordered by Washington Stove Works.

Jefferson Elementary School (Tacoma)--Buildings; Jefferson Elementary School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1950-1960; Washington Stove Works (Everett);

A new electric stove has been installed in the kitchen at Lowell School. Ordered by Washington Stove Works, Everett, Washington.

Lowell Elementary School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1950-1960; Washington Stove Works (Everett); Kitchens--Tacoma--1950-1960; Stoves--Tacoma;

A new electric stove, an "Alaska Range", has been installed in the kitchen at Reed School. Ordered by Washington Stove Works, Everett, Washington.

Jennie Reed Elementary School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1950-1960; Washington Stove Works (Everett); Kitchens--Tacoma--1950-1960; Stoves--Tacoma;

A new electric stove, an "Alaska Range", has been installed in the kitchen at Jefferson School. During a one week period in December of 1951, new stoves were also installed at several other elementary schools including Lowell, Park and Reed. Ordered by Washington Stove Works, Everett, Washington. TPL-7186

Jefferson Elementary School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1950-1960; Washington Stove Works (Everett); Kitchens--Tacoma--1950-1960; Stoves--Tacoma;

Lincoln School graduating class, January 1925. The class consists of 19, six girls and 13 boys. Some of the students are also in A612-0. (WSHS- negative A642-0)

Students--Tacoma--1920-1930; Lincoln Elementary School (Tacoma);

Lincoln School graduating class, January of 1925. Same group as A image 642, also A612-0. (WSHS- negative A643-0)

Students--Tacoma--1920-1930; Lincoln Elementary School (Tacoma);

Workmen are finishing the interior of one of the classrooms at the new Edison School. The April 1949 earthquake severely damaged the earlier school and it was condemned as unsafe and ordered closed in 1950 (along with Whitman and Willard). (For the Record, Winnifred L. Olsen)

Edison Elementary School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma;

School children are enjoying using the library at Jennie Reed School. The new school was opened in 1951 and an addition was completed in 1952.

Jennie Reed Elementary School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1950-1960; Libraries--Tacoma;

Stanley Grade School under construction in September of 1925 at South 17th and Grant Avenue. At the end of November of 1925, 300 students from southend schools, Lincoln, Longfellow and Irving, moved into the spacious new school built to accomodate 480. The school, designed by architect G.W. Bullard, had twelve classrooms and was built for approximately $90,000. It was two stories with a basement and built solidly of brick. The school was named after George A. Stanley, Central School principal for 27 years and one of the Northwest's leading educators. In June of 1983, the main part of the school was declared unsafe in case of an earthquake and the school was officially closed. (WSHS- negative A855-0) (TNT 9/3/1925, pg. 17; TNT 11/27/1925, pg. 13)

Stanley Elementary School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1920-1930; Building construction--Tacoma--1920-1930;

This is the original Central School, built in 1883 for $18,000 and located at 1114 S Altheimer (then S G St), now the area of Bates Technical College. It was modeled after the Euclid Avenue School of Cleveland, Ohio, by architect Joseph Sherwin of Portland. It stood out along the Tacoma skyline with its 90-foot bell tower visible for miles. The school contained twelve rooms and was considered a showplace for the city. Rapid growth made the enrollment climb to 964 by 1886, taught by a staff of 18 teachers. Remodeling and additions to the school occurred before the school moved its 1000 elementary students to a new Central School located at So. 8th & Tacoma Ave. So. in 1913. The new Central School cost $165,000, almost ten times the cost of the original school. The old Central School was demolished in 1914 and served as a hobo shelter for a few months prior to its demolition. (Olsen: For the Record, p. 47-48-various photographs) King 009, TPL 1103.

Back of photo:
Central school, S.W. corner of S.W. and G. St now the Bates Vocational School Tacoma, Wash.

Jefferson Grade School music teachers.

Education - Schools - School Buildings - Public Schools - Elementary Schools - Jefferson Elementary School

Portable building at Brookdale Elementary School. Brookdale Elementary is part of the Franklin Pierce School District and located in the Parkland area at 611 - 132nd St. So. It was built in 1957. Several years later, the Douglas Fir Plywood Association assisted in building a new portable for the school to handle the growing enrollment. The classroom would fulfill the need for remedial instruction and music class space. The portable could easily be moved and would accommodate 30 students. View of newly completed portable taken on February 16, 1962, shows extensive use of wood in contrast to original brick school in the rear. Photograph ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association. (TNT 11-22-61, p. 12)

Brookdale Elementary School (Parkland); Public schools--Parkland--1960-1970;

Cheerful wooden cut-outs of children playing greet the pupils of Brookdale Elementary School who attend classes in the new portable building on February 16, 1962. Wide wooden steps with hand railings lead to the classroom door. Brookdale Elementary is in the Franklin Pierce School District and located at 611 - 132nd St. So. in Parkland. The new portable is situated close to the original brick buildings and next to the school playground. It was built with the assistance of Douglas Fir Plywood Association. A portable classroom was constructed about the same time at James Sales Elementary; the units were built with different methods and time and motion studies taken to compare scientifically. Photograph ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association. (TNT 11-22-61, p. 12)

Brookdale Elementary School (Parkland); Public schools--Parkland--1960-1970;

View of new portable classroom at Brookdale Elementary School, taken on February 16, 1962. The new structure, to the farthest right, is built extensively out of wood. It includes an overhang to provide shade on one side of the portable. Brookdale Elementary, located in the Franklin Pierce School District, was built in 1957, primarily out of brick. Douglas Fir Plywood Association helped in the building of the portable for Brookdale as well as one for James Sales Elementary. The units could hold 30 students and could be used until permanent structures could be built. Photograph ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association. (TNT 11-22-61, p. 12)

Brookdale Elementary School (Parkland); Public schools--Parkland--1960-1970;

Side-and-rear view of new portable classroom at Brookdale Elementary School on February 16, 1962. Small shrubs have been planted at the corners of the classroom which is located next to the school's fenced playground. The portable, in contrast to the original 1957 school buildings, is made extensively of wood. There is no concrete foundation and the overall look is very contemporary and sleek. A wooden overhang guards the classroom from too-bright sunshine, and some of the windows are louvered. Photograph ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association. (TNT 11-22-61, p. 12)

Brookdale Elementary School (Parkland); Public schools--Parkland--1960-1970;

This Brookdale Elementary School teacher appears to have called upon one little longhaired girl for her response to the "Bossy R" lesson in this Valentine Day, 1962, photograph. Children in this classroom were seated in the new portable building built extensively out of wood. Brookdale Elementary was built for the Franklin Pierce School District in 1957; classrooms could be added at a reasonable cost using wooden portables that were both modern and appealing to the eye. Photograph ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association.

Brookdale Elementary School (Parkland); Public schools--Parkland--1960-1970; Classrooms--Parkland; School children--Parkland--1960-1970; Teachers--Parkland;

A Brookdale Elementary School teacher happily accepts a bouquet of posies from a young student at the doorway of a new portable classroom in August, 1962. Two buzz-cut boys holding books await their turn to greet the teacher. The portable building is colorfully decorated in bright, vibrant shades of blue and pink with brown cutouts of children playing on the school walls. Portable buildings were a welcome addition to schools coping with growing populations.

Brookdale Elementary School (Parkland); Public schools--Parkland; School children--Parkland; Teachers--Parkland;

On April 20, 1943, Simone Bland (right) tied Bennie Deschington's apron so that he could help prepare lunch for Miss Mildred Vaught's first grade class at Central School, 601 So. 8th St.. Miss Vaught was teaching her students basic cooking skills and nutrition in a unit based on the theme "Helping to win the war by keeping well." (T.Times 4/24/1943 p.5)

Elementary schools--Tacoma; World War, 1939-1945--Children--Tacoma; Central School (Tacoma); Children cooking--Tacoma--1940-1950; School children--Tacoma--1940-1950; Bland, Simone; Deschington, Bennie;

Central School. 1B Class. (T.Times) [Also dated 04-17-1943]

Elementary schools--Tacoma; Public schools--Tacoma--1940-1950; World War, 1939-1945--Children--Tacoma; Central School (Tacoma); Children cooking--Tacoma--1940-1950; School children--Tacoma--1940-1950;