In March of 1926, Stadium High School initiated its own branch of the national "Longfellows" Club. Members had to measure in at over six feet in height to join. The new club attracted a group of approximately 50 young men who posed in front of Stadium High School at 111 North "E" Street. (WSHS; A-1488 same photo without lettering)

Stadium High School (Tacoma)--1920-1930; Longfellows Club (Tacoma); Students--Tacoma--1920-1930;

On March 9, 1926, Tacomans voted a new "tennent" into the Mayor's office when M.G. Tennent defeated four time Mayor Angelo G. Fawcett by a wide margin of 5,235 votes. At that time, the election had the heaviest vote ever cast in Tacoma with Tennent elected by the largest vote ever given a candidate for the office of Tacoma Mayor. The newly elected Mayor Tennent was photographed on the front steps of his home with his dog. Elderly Mayor Fawcett could not compete with the younger, more progressive Tennent. Mayor Tennent would serve two consecutive terms before being defeated himself by Harry P. Cain. TPL-1493 (TNT 3/10/1926, PG. 1)

Clarence Chesterfield, right, also known by his showbiz moniker "Major Mite," shook hands on the steps of the Tacoma Hotel with George B. Stean, the hotel's new manager, in March of 1926. Maj. Mite had stopped in Tacoma on his way from his home in McCleary, Wa. to New York City. He had recently joined the Ringlings Circus as the Worlds Smallest Man. Although he was 18 years old, he measured in at 28 inches high and weighed 21 pounds. McCleary was located in Grays Harbor, about 49 miles southwest of Tacoma and had a population in 1939 of 1200 persons; making the odds of Maj. Mite being born there 1 to 1,500,000. The venerable Tacoma Hotel was built in 1884 and burned to the ground in 1935. (TNT 3/16/1926, pg. 15; T. Times 6/16/1939, pg. 7) (WSHS- negative A697-0)

Dwarfs; Shaking hands--Tacoma; Chesterfield, Clarence; Stean, George B.; Tacoma Hotel (Tacoma);

In March of 1926, three employees at the Washington Co-Operative Egg & Poultry Association Headquarters, (left to right) Mary Zack, Sarah Gruno and Esther Christoferson, demonstrate how to decorate Easter eggs. Sarah Gruno, in the center, is dyeing eggs with natural dyes made from vegetables, such as beets, spinach and coffee. Mary Zack is cutting out transfers to decorate her eggs, and Esther Christoferson is using a pen and ink to draw faces on her's. The Washington Co-Op packed transfer pictures with every carton of eggs sold around the holidays. (TNT 3/30/1926, pg. 1)

Cameras focus on a passerby placing money in a beggarwoman's, played by Wanda Hawley, tin cup as the motion picture "Totem Pole Beggar" is filmed on busy A Street in downtown Tacoma in March of 1926. The Mason Hotel and signage is to the left of the begging woman seated on the bench; it was built as part of the Mason Block in 1887. A loaded newspaper cart is parked outside of the hotel. "Totem Pole Beggar" was the second motion picture filmed by the H.C. Weaver Productions, Inc., which was based near Titlow Beach. The film, directed by W.S. Van Dyke, had its name changed to "Eyes of the Totem" in April, 1926. It would open at the Broadway Theatre on June 10, 1927.

Actors--Tacoma--1920-1930; Actresses; Beggars--Tacoma; Tin cups; Motion pictures; Mason Hotel (Tacoma); Signs (Notices); H.C. Weaver Productions, Inc. (Tacoma);

On April 1, 1926, the Manitou Auto Camp in Manitou Park opened for the 1926 season. The camp provided free campsites, water, tables, picnic stoves, fuel and comfort stations. The first visitor to sign the register was Harold Riley, a traveling businessman from Santa Monica, California. Mr. Riley also happened to be at the Auto Camp on the last day of the season last year. Pictured left to right are other early visitors Mr. and Mrs. E.F. Conlon and their son George H. Thomas from Cleveland, Mr. Riley and E.M. Benjamin, camp caretaker. The Camp, located 1/2 mile west of the Pacific Hwy. at South Tacoma, provided overnight sites for visiting travelers. In 1925, over 3,400 cars had entered the park, 2,400 of them from out of state, carrying some 10,500 happy campers. The 1926 season would run from April 1st to November 1st. Around 100 cars a night were anticipated during the heavy use summer months of June- August. (TNT 4/1/1926, pg. 13; TDL 7/18/1920, pg. 1C) Bowen # 26223

The first Thursday in April, 1926, was a busy day for telephone number Main 4515. All day the phone rang for "Mr. Towser," "Mr. Barking," and "Mr. K.Nine." Lee Kane took messages for the missing Messrs. advising callers that they would call back shortly. Mr. Kane was a Tacoma police officer stationed at the dog pound. And the missing Messrs.? They were all one entity: a regal pooch named Mr. Barker. The first Thursday in April, 1926? April Fools Day. Here a patient Mr. Barker "speaks" to a bewildered caller. (TNT 4-1-26, p. 1) (Bowen 26224)

Star Iron &Steel machinery on track at their foundry at 435 E 11th St, Tacoma

Industries; Star Iron & Steel; Machinery; Tideflats;

Posed by the stage doors of the venerable Temple Theatre are the Maylon Players troupe in April, 1926. They were there to welcome a bowling team from Spokane. Tacoma was hosting the week-long North Western International Bowling Congress where a five-man team sponsored by Texaco Oil from Spokane would participate. The Maylon Players stock company would perform "Best People" written by Avery Hopwood at the Tacoma Theatre the following evening.

Eight very serious couples were photographed at Washington School wearing colonial costumes and powdered wigs. They had been rigorously rehearsing the minuet to perform in a series of three big music festival concerts taking place May 4-6, 1926 at Jason Lee, Lincoln and Mason. The concerts were part of the observance of National Music Week. Despite their expressions, the group felt the experience was great fun. Pictured, in no particular order, are Alene Symser, Daniel Stixrud, Barbara Bryan, Frederick Wolf, Barbara Rothermel, Gordon McEachran, Helen May, Lofton Tatum, June Everson, Lewis Jones, Muriel Ellis, Malcolm Shaw, Nancy Quick, Robert Cromwell, Phyllis Zeigler and Robert Martin. (WSHS) (TNT 4/30/1926, pg. 11)

School children--Tacoma--1920-1930; Public schools--Tacoma--1920-1930; Washington School (Tacoma); Costumes;

These five young dancers, who studied at the Merrick Studio in Tacoma, performed an Egyptian ballet choreographed by Lillian Deskin as part of the National Music Week festival concert in May of 1926. The big music festival which featured 1,000 elementary and middle school students, including orchestras, bands, choruses and dancers, was presented consecutively from May 4th through 6th at Jason Lee Intermediate School, Lincoln High School and the new Mason Intermediate School. The theme was "Think more about music." At this time, all Tacoma Public School students studied music for 75 minutes a week. Lillian Deskin was a dance teacher in Tacoma in the 1920s; she eventually left her partner Mortimer J. Merrick to form the Lillian Deskin Academy. The young dancers are, in no particular order, Adeline Coppock, Georgia Daubemgeck, Hermine Herron, Patricia Cessford and Yvonne Scott. (WSHS) (TNT 4/30/1926, pg. 11- story)

Lillian Deskin Academy (Tacoma); Dancers--Tacoma--1920-1930; Dance--Tacoma; Costumes--Egyptian; Merrick Studio (Tacoma);

Cast of play "The Wishing Well" at McCarver Junior High. Many students on stage in this April 30, 1926 photograph. (filed with Argentum)

McCarver Junior High School (Tacoma); Students--Tacoma--1920-1930; Public schools--Tacoma--1920-1930; Theatrical productions--Tacoma--1920-1930;

In April of 1926, Mrs. D. Hamer, 2208 No. 27th, warned the City Council that they would have a fight on their hands if they tried to separate her from her two roosters. An ordnance being considered by the Council banned roosters in the North End and limited a household to 12 hens. The 81 year old Mrs. Hamer pointed out that she relied on her flock for her income. Another opponent of the proposed ordnance was Tacoma's 80 year old Mayor Angelo Fawcett who felt that roosters and hens belonged together. After all the feathers settled, Mrs. Hamer had something to crow about, she and her roosters were victorious. (WSHS- negative A699-0) (TNT 4/20/1926- pg. 1; pg. 8; 4/21/1926- pg. 1)

Roosters; Municipal government--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Eighty one year old Dorothy Hamre was one of the main opponents of a proposed ordinance barring roosters from the North End and limiting households to 12 hens. Mrs. Hamre lived at 2208 No. 27th and relied on her chickens as her sole source of income. After the vote was taken by the City Council on April 21, 1926, Mrs. Hamre and Tacoma's roosters were triumphant. (Same woman as image A-699. filed under Argentum) (TNT 4/20/1926, pg. 8- picture; pg. 1-story; 4/21/1926, pg. 1)

Roosters; Municipal government--Tacoma--1920-1930; Hamre, Dorothy;

Students, all wearing a very serious expression, were photographed at Washington School wearing colonial costumes and powdered wigs. The eight couples had been rigorously rehearsing the minuet to perform in a series of three big music festival concerts taking place May 4-6, 1926 at Jason Lee, Lincoln and Mason. The concerts were part of the observance of National Music Week. Pictured, in no particular order, are Alene Symser, Daniel Stixrud, Barbara Bryan, Frederick Wolf, Barbara Rothermel, Gordon McEachran, Helen May, Lofton Tatum, June Everson, Lewis Jones, Muriel Ellis, Malcolm Shaw, Nancy Quick, Robert Cromwell, Phyllis Zeigler and Robert Martin. (WSHS) (TNT 4/30/1926, pg. 11)

School children--Tacoma--1920-1930; Public schools--Tacoma--1920-1930; Washington School (Tacoma); Costumes;

Evelyn Apartments, 16th and I Streets. The Evelyn, 821 So. 16th St., was constructed in 1925. F.H. Madsen was the builder. The apartment building was designed by C. Fred W. Lundberg, of the architectural firm of Lundberg & Ekvall. An advertisement in the April 5, 1926 News Tribune stated that the building offered the "conveniences of a refined apartment" with the "comforts of home." The apartments had hardwood floors, Universal beds, built-in dressers, dressing rooms, spacious porches, their own individual laundry equipment, storeroom, garage and gas range. (WSHS) (TNT 4/5/1926, pg. 3- advertisement)

Evelyn Apartments (Tacoma); Apartment houses--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Ohop Valley with white capped Mount Tacoma (Rainier). Ohop Valley is south of the Puyallup River in south central Pierce County. G76.1-068

Rainier, Mount (Wash.); Ohop Valley (Wash.);

Residence interior showing radio set, easy chair, fireplace. For Neils Hansen Manufacturing Company. (filed with Argentum)

Living rooms--1920-1930; Radios--1920-1930;

On May 28, 1926, the Girls Club at Stadium High School unveiled a commemorative bronze tablet at the entrance to their school. The plaque contained the names of the eleven Stadium High School boys who died in World War I and an explanation of the trees planted in their memory at the school in 1919. Bearing roses are Ellis Ayr Smith, left, and Louise Phelps. After the unveiling of the marker, the girls placed the roses at the bases of two of the trees. (TNT 5/28/1926, pg. 17) BU-11,376, BGN 444

Stadium High School (Tacoma)--1920-1930; Memorial rites & ceremonies--Tacoma; Commemoration--Tacoma; Smith, Ellis-Ayr; Phelps, Louise;

Francis F. Thompson, post chaplain of the Grand Army of the Republic, Custer Post, shares a moment of prayer over the Oakwood Cemetery gravesite of an Army veteran with Custer Post patriotic instructor Charles "C.A." Cavender and Cavender's great-grandson, Tilford Gribble to commemorate Memorial Day, 1926. The young Tilford Gribble is solemnly placing an arrangement of roses at one of the headstones while Chaplain Thompson doffs his hat. The men felt it important that the younger generations remember the sacrifices that were made in the name of freedom. TPL-539 (TNT 5-31-26, p.1)

Bustling 11th Street street scene. This is a view from the Perkins Building (1101 A Street) on May 29, 1926. Buildings on the left (front to rear) are: the Federal Building (1102 A Street) and the Peoples department store (1101-07 Pacific Ave.) The 17-story, two-winged skyscraper on the right is the Washington Building (1019 Pacific). Looking uphill from the Washington Building are the Rust Building (950 Pacific) and the Fidelity Building (949-55 Broadway). In the distance can be seen the Romanesque Pierce County Courthouse (1012 So. "G"). G57.1-124

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1920-1930; Business districts--Tacoma--1920-1930; Office buildings--Tacoma--1920-1930; Federal Building (Tacoma); Peoples (Tacoma); Washington Building (Tacoma); Rust Building (Tacoma); Fidelity Building (Tacoma);

Passing on the tradition of honoring the dead, patriotic instructor of Custer post No. 6 Charles "C.A." Cavender and post chaplain Francis F. Thompson allow Tilford Gribble to place roses at the G.A.R. plot in Oakwood Cemetery prior to Memorial Day, 1926. Tilford is the great-grandson of Mr. Cavender. Chaplain Thompson doffs his hat while saying a prayer over the gravesite of a fallen soldier. As the ranks of those veterans of the Civil War diminished, it was important that younger generations remember the sacrifices of their ancestors and continue to honor them. (TNT 5-31-26, p. 1)

Willard School "May Fete". Children performing around May pole on school lawn. (filed with Argentum)

Willard School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1920-1930; School children--Tacoma--1920-1930; May Day--Tacoma; Rites & Ceremonies--Tacoma; Festivals--Tacoma;

The Oakland Building was constructed in 1926 by J. M. Janssen in the Oakland district.The Oakland section was roughly defined as being along Center St. between Cedar & Fircrest. The area was very populous but had no business core. This building would become the nucleus of the new business section. The Oakland building cost $55,000 to construct and consisted of seven merchant shops on the first floor and 10 apartments on the second floor. The apartments would be ready for occupancy on May 10, 1926. The merchant spaces were leased to Oakland Drugs, Oakland Meat Market, Oakland Barber Shop, Oakland Cash Grocery and Olympic Ice Cream, among others. The address originally used was 3202-04 So. Durango St. (TNT 3/17/1926, pg. 28- early picture, TDL 5/2/1926, pg. E-10) (filed with Argentum)

Oakland Building (Tacoma); Oakland Drugs (Tacoma); Oakland Meat Market (Tacoma);

Photographer Marvin Boland took several snaps during a one-day trip from Tacoma to Olympia on May 31, 1926. He stopped in DuPont to photograph this decrepit log cabin with its windows and door boarded up. The door on the adjacent storage facility or room appears to be open. Both buildings have crumbling wood shingled roofs. It is possible that this is considered to be the oldest building in the state, built in 1843 by the Hudson's Bay Fur Co. at Fort Nisqually, about one-half mile from the present town of DuPont. G74.1-136 (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 5-20-28, 6A-article & alternate photograph of house)

Log cabins--DuPont;

Willard School "May Fete". Children giving a performance on school lawn. A May Pole can be seen on the left. (filed with Argentum)

Willard School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1920-1930; School children--Tacoma--1920-1930; May Day--Tacoma; Rites & Ceremonies--Tacoma; Festivals--Tacoma;

She-nah-nam marker. On the last day of May in 1926, photographer Marvin Boland took a day-long trip from Tacoma to Olympia, stopping at various locations on the way. He paused at the She-nah-nam marker near the Nisqually River which had been erected by the Washington State Historical Society four years before. The stone marker stated that there was a bronze tablet 1 1/4 miles northwest from the spot which had been placed by the Sacajawea chapter of the D.A.R. to mark the site of Governor (Isaac) Stevens' council with the Nisqually, Puyallup and Squaxin Indians on December 24-26, 1854. This treaty opened settlement of Indian lands by the United States and created three small reservations. The area where the marker was erected has now been urbanized but as of 2005, the marker remains albeit without the metal railing. G5.1-013

Historical markers;

On May 31, 1926, photographer Marvin Boland paused at serene Ingle's Sandy Beach on Lake Rutledge on his way from Tacoma to Olympia. It was about an hour's drive where the motorist would drive to Lacey and then turn south on a gravel road. The Ingle's Sandy Beach resort was opened by Mr. and Mrs. W.H. Engle (both spellings were used in the News Tribune article of 6-10-26). Two rowboats, a seesaw and two tire swings are awaiting participants who could also share picnic baskets or purchase items from the tiny store nestled under the shady trees. The lakeside, with its warm, shallow waters, was ideal for a children's playground with diving board and floats provided. Beside the general store shown above, there was a separate bathhouse for men and women. Cabins and plenty of room for campers were available. G38.1-055 (TNT 6-10-26, p. 24-article & alternate photograph)

Lakes & ponds; Rowboats; Seesaws; Swings; Picnic grounds; Ingle's Sandy Beach;

Elks Temple. June, 1926, view of the Elks Temple as seen from Commerce Street. At this time, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Tacoma Lodge No. 174, had been at this location for 10 years. The elegant structure was one of Tacoma's showcases and its 64 Spanish steps, built to serve as a fire escape, were designed after the Scala di Spagna of Rome, steps that once led to the Spanish Embassy. The Tacoma Elks Lodge and Puyallup Lodge would be hosting the 1926 state Elks convention in Tacoma later in June. TPL-635; G17.1-046; BU-10,638 (TNT 6-17-26, 1-C)

Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Tacoma Lodge No. 174 (Tacoma); Elks Temple (Tacoma); Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1920-1930;