The members of the Washington National Guard who created this human pyramid were just six of the more than 50 riders who thrilled a capacity crowd on November 29, 1937 at the first horse show of the season, held at the Armory.The show was sponsored by the Headquarters Troop, 24th Cavalry Division, Washington National Guard, known locally as "Troop B." The six soldiers who created the pyramid formation on the backs of three horses were: (l to r) mounted, Sgt. Orville Johns, Sgt. Ed Lewellyn, Corp. Art Weisfield; two abreast are, Pvt. L. Peterson, left, and Pvt. C. Denton; top Pvt. Jack Mills. (T. Times 11/30/1937, pg. 5)

Horse shows--Tacoma--1930-1940; Show horses; Washington National Guard, 24th Cavalry Division (Tacoma); State Armory (Tacoma); Trick riding;

ca. 1935. Mr. Ross Houston and others standing beside the wooden flume at Yelm. Unpaved road and rural landscape in background.

Irrigation canals & flumes--Yelm; Farms--Yelm; Houston, Ross; Lumber industry--Tacoma--1930-1940; Building materials;

ca. 1935. Mr. Ross Houston and others standing by wooden flume at Yelm. An unpaved road and rural landscape are in the background.

Irrigation canals & flumes--Yelm; Farms--Yelm; Houston, Ross; Lumber industry--Tacoma--1930-1940; Building materials;

ca. 1935. Mr. Houston's flume at Yelm. Very long wooden flume extending across the rural landscape of Yelm. Ross Houston had the contract to install this device to irrigate farm land in Yelm. Much of the irrigation work in Yelm in the mid 30's was funded by the Works Progress Administration (WPA.)

Irrigation canals & flumes--Yelm; Farms--Yelm; Lumber industry--Tacoma--1930-1940; Building materials;

A young Japanese-American couple dance in the Fife High School gymnasium during a Japanese bazaar. He wears a letterman's sweater. (T. Times).

Japanese Americans--Fife--1930-1940; Bazaars--Fife--1930-1940; Dance parties--Fife--1930-1940; Ethnic groups--Fife--1930-1940;

Three young Japanese-American girls and their mothers enjoy the food served at a Japanese bazaar held in the Fife High School gymnasium. One girl clutches her bottle of soda, while another girl holds a small purse. (T. Times).

Japanese Americans--Fife--1930-1940; Bazaars--Fife--1930-1940; Ethnic groups--Fife--1930-1940; Mothers & children--1930-1940;

Four Japanese women arrange several pumpkin pies on a table for a Japanese bazaar in Fife. (T. Times).

Japanese Americans--Fife--1930-1940; Bazaars--Fife--1930-1940; Ethnic groups--Fife--1930-1940; Pies; Baked products;

When President Franklin D. Roosevelt visited Tacoma in October of 1937 he was greeted at the Tacoma Union Depot by 11 year old Lorraine July. Miss July, a fellow victim of infantile paralysis, came to the station with her aunt, Mrs. E.F. Brown to present the President a large bouquet of flowers. She was stricken with polio at the age of four, and had twice received letters of encouragement from the President. (T. Times, 10/2/1937, p. 9).

July, Lorraine; Visits of state--Tacoma--Roosevelt, Franklin Delano, 1882-1945; Union Station (Tacoma);

Walter E. Holman, vice-president of the national Junior Chamber of Commerce, received quite a Tacoma welcome when he arrived via plane on March 12, 1936. Three motorcycle policemen greeted him with an "arrest" for exceeding the air speed limit and "released "him to the custody of the Tacoma Junior Chamber of Commerce who was expecting delivery of its national charter. Mr. Holman, center in dark topcoat, took it with aplomb, and presented the charter to the local group, making them official members of the US Junior Chamber of Commerce. From left to right are: Tacoma Junior Chamber of Commerce vice-president William J. Gantz, Officer Earl Corneilson, Secretary Stanley Bekins, Mr. Holman, Portland Junior Chamber president Worth W. Caldwell, Officer O.C. Stitsworth, and Portland Junior Chamber of Commerce member Donald Sloan. (T.Times 3-12-36, p. 5)

Junior Chamber of Commerce (Tacoma); Holman, Walter E.; Ganz, William; Corneilson, Earl; Bekins, Stanley; Caldwell, Worth; Stitsworth, O.C.; Sloan, Donald; Tacoma Police Department (Tacoma);

Walter E. Holman, center, vice-president of the US Junior Chamber of Commerce is detained as he steps off a plane bearing the national charter for the Tacoma Junior Chamber of Commerce. It is all in good fun, however. The Tacoma Jr. Chamber, organized two years ago, became an official member of the US Jr. Chamber of Commerce when the charter was presented by Holman, a resident of Portland, Oregon, to the group. Pictured left to right are William J. Ganz, Tacoma's vice- president, Officer Earl Corneilson, Holman, Officer O.C. Stitsworth and Stanley Bekins, Tacoma's secretary. (T. Times 3/12/1936, pg. 5)

Junior Chamber of Commerce (Tacoma); Holman, Walter E.; Ganz, William; Corneilson, Earl; Bekins, Stanley; Stitsworth, O.C.; Tacoma Police Department (Tacoma);

W. H. Kerhli, ex wrestler now president of Oregon Poultry & Pet Stock Association, poses with the Grand Champion, a 12-pound Brahma Cockerel, at the 34th Annual Tacoma Poultry Show held in the old Mohr Building. The cockerel was entered by George Green of Kirkland. (T. Times, 12/31/1937, p. 14).

Kerhli, W. H.; Tacoma Poultry Show (Tacoma); Poultry; Chickens; Animal shows--Tacoma--1930-1940; Roosters;

Mattson kidnapping case. Two boys standing on a path leading up the hillside below the Mattson home. Photograph ordered by the Seattle Star. On a peaceful post-Christmas night in 1936, the Mattson children and a family friend were watching area motorists drive up to view the Christmas light display in the front yard of the Mattson home at 4605 No. Verde. An armed and masked man broke in through a rear entrance of the home and seized Charles Mattson, the smallest of the group of children. He left a ransom note for $28,000. He then, it is believed, carried Charles down this path behind the Mattson home, down a steep bluff to Ruston Way and a waiting get away car driven by an accomplice. (T. Times 12/28/1936 - 1/25/1937, pg. 1)

Kidnappings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Mattson, Charles--Kidnappings;

Mattson kidnapping case. View of Ruston Way and Commencement Bay from hillside below the Mattson home. On December 27, 1936, an armed intruder abducted ten year old Charles Mattson from his parents' home at 4605 No. Verde. He then carried the boy down the steep cliff behind the home leading to Ruston Way and the waterfront. A ransom note was left behind at the crime scene, demanding $28,000. Up to this point, no less than 12 well publicized kidnappings had occurred since the 1934 kidnapping of the Lindbergh baby. The previous year, 1935, young George Weyerhaeuser had been kidnapped and returned following payment of the ransom. Charles Mattson was murdered and his body dumped in a wooded area 200 feet off of the Edmonds-Everett Highway, 6 miles south of Everett. Despite an extensive manhunt, and numerous suspects, his murderer was never found. (T. Times 12/28/1936- 1/25, 1937, pg. 1)

Kidnappings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Mattson, Charles--Kidnappings;

Members of the 161st Infantry of the Washington National Guard, bayonets ready, attempt to control the crowd of striking lumber mill workers and supporters gathering at the intersection of 11th & A streets to oppose the Guard's presence and the City Council's rule requiring all gatherings to have a permit from the council. The National Guard arrived in Tacoma June 23rd, 1935 to protect workers returning to the mills on the Tideflats. Violence against the strikebreakers was common. On July 12, 1935, the confrontation erupted into a 4 1/2 hour battle on the streets of Tacoma. (TDL 7/13/1935, pg 1) TPL-8787

Labor unions--Tacoma; Lumber & Sawmill Workers Local 2633 (Tacoma); Lumber industry--Tacoma--1930-1940; Strikes--Tacoma--1930-1940; Demonstrations--Tacoma--1930-1940; Washington National Guard, 161st Infantry (Wash.);

Using tear gas and fixed bayonets, the Washington National Guard confronted a crowd of approximately 500 striking lumber mill workers and their supporters at the corner of South 11th and A Streets on July 12, 1935. The National Guard had been called out by Governor Clarence Martin to protect the replacement workers who had been hired to help break the strike. The gas was largely ineffectual, with protestors flinging the canisters back at the Guard. One gas bomb picked up by strikers was thrown into a Guard truck and caused other bombs to explode, setting the truck on fire. The truck was destroyed before the fire department could reach it through the crowds. (TDL 7/13/1935, pg 1) TPL-8772

Labor unions--Tacoma; Lumber & Sawmill Workers Local 2633 (Tacoma); Lumber industry--Tacoma--1930-1940; Strikes--Tacoma--1930-1940; Demonstrations--Tacoma--1930-1940; Washington National Guard, 161st Infantry (Wash.);

Two lumber workers watching an overhead crane move timbers, as the St. Paul & Tacoma lumber yard roars back into life after the settlement of a 13 week strike. Twenty two area mill operators agreed to meet employee demands for a 50 cent minimum wage, a 40 hour week, an 8 hour day, time and one half for overtime, reemployment of striking workers and recognition of the union. (T. Times 8/5/1935, pg.1)

Labor unions--Tacoma; Lumber & Sawmill Workers Local 2633 (Tacoma); Lumber industry--Tacoma--1930-1940; Strikes--Tacoma--1930-1940; St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. (Tacoma);

On November 23, 1936, an avalanche swept down the mountainside in the evening darkness, completely destroying the Puget Sound Power & Light company power generating plant at Electron, on the upper south fork of the Puyallup River. The landslide broke the four gigantic metal tubes that carried water from the dam above the plant down the mountain, sending a terrific torrent of water through the power house. Although the plant sustained over $1 million in damage, none of the plant employees were badly injured. The generating plant was eventually re-built. (Puyallup Valley Tribune 11/24/1936 p.1)

Landslides--Electron; Avalanches--Electron; Disasters--Electron--1930-1940; Puget Sound Power & Light Co. (Electron);

Double launching of two new U.S. Navy Destroyers, "Cushing" and "Perkins" at Navy Yard Shipbuilding dock on December 31, 1935. Huge crowds lined both sides of the waterway; some were standing in front of wooden buildings while others were seated on benches. The crowd at the Navy Yard launching was estimated at 8,000. (Bremerton Sun).

Launchings--Bremerton--1930-1940; Spectators--Bremerton;

Launching of two new U.S. Navy Destroyers, "Cushing" and "Perkins," at Bremerton Navy Yard shipbuilding dock on December 31, 1935. Over 8,000 people stood to watch the double christening. Miss Katherine A. Cushing, Adm. T.T. Craven, Mrs. Isabel Anderson, and Governor Clarence D. Martin were among the participants. (Bremerton Sun).

Launchings--Bremerton--1930-1940; Warships--Bremerton--1930-1940;

In November of 1937 Lewis Law, 1610 North 6th Street in Tacoma, finished work on the violin that he had started making around 1931. The head utility man at the Pierce County Courthouse, and a musician, he had always wanted a violin of his own. He purchased a small supply of California sugar-pine, and when not repairing courthouse equipment or playing the organ, he was busy in his workshop with chisels and saw. He worked all of the pieces with the exception of the scroll, tail piece and strings. An accomplished organist, Mr. Law installed the 5,000 pipe organ at the First Presbyterian Church, 20 Tacoma Avenue South. (T. Times 11/4/1937, p.8)

Law, Lewis; Violins;

ca. 1937. Men working on flood lights at Lincoln Bowl. (filed with Argentum)

Lincoln Bowl (Tacoma); Athletic fields--Tacoma;

ca. 1937. Man on transformer platform working on flood lights at Lincoln Bowl. (T. Times)

Lincoln Bowl (Tacoma); Athletic fields--Tacoma; Lighting--Tacoma;

Lincoln Citizen's Club at Union Ave., S. Tacoma Way and 38th Street. Seven men stand on small piece of land they want paved to facilitate the connection from Pacific Highway (S. Tac. Way) to 38th. A new graded road had been created connecting the two and the business men wanted a tip of city owned land knocked off, making the road a natural curve. Old City Contagious Hospital in background. (T. Times 3/23/37 p. 1)

Lincoln Citizens Club (Tacoma); Street maintenance & repair--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Lincoln High School 1937 Graduation Ceremonies at the Armory. Straight on view of crowd and stage.

Lincoln High School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1930-1940; Graduation ceremonies--Tacoma--1930-1940; State Armory (Tacoma);

Lincoln High School shop teacher Ned Ubben, right, watched in December of 1937 as Irene Kuhne and Otto Robinson mended two of the items given to needy families in Tacoma by the school's students. Maintaining a tradition started in 1922 by The Lincoln News, the school's student publication, Lincoln students filled 66 Christmas baskets with food and toys. The baskets were then distributed to families selected from a list provided by the state welfare bureau. (T. Times 12-21-1937, p. 12)

Lincoln High School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1930-1940; Students--Tacoma--1930-1940; Community service--Tacoma--1930-1940; Christmas gifts; Toys; Teachers--Tacoma--1930-1940; Ubben, Ned; Kuhne, Irene; Robinson, Otto;

In December of 1937, Peggy Bently and Lucille Rudd (order not known) were "Santa's Twins" at Lincoln High School. The two young men are Harold Oswald (left) and Gordon Ambrose. Peggy and Lucille were the organizing force behind the Lincoln News' efforts to provide a Merry Christmas to 66 needy families in Tacoma. In a tradition begun in 1922, food, toys and clothing were collected by Lincoln High School students and distributed in gift baskets to families in need selected by Tacoma's social service agencies. Used toys that were donated were repaired in the Lincoln High School metal and wood shops, and clothes was repaired or sewn in the school's home economics classes. (T. Times 12-21-1937, p. 12)

Lincoln High School (Tacoma); Students--Tacoma--1930-1940; Community service--Tacoma--1930-1940; Christmas gifts; Toys; Bently, Peggy; Rudd, Lucille; Oswald, Harold; Ambrose, Gordon;

William Hardie, the Lincoln High School track coach, posed with five of his track men in September of 1937. By the end of the year, the Lincoln Abes track team had won the state track title for the third consecutive year. With six returning letterman for the 1937-38 team, coach Hardie was hoping to make it four in a row. In the back row are, left to right, Hardie, Rankin, Wilcox and Sharp. Kneeling in front are Harold H. Berndt (left) and Lincoln's best "sprint man" Tommy Jones (right). At the state competition in Pullman, "Hurrying" Harold Berndt finished first in the 100 and 200 yard dashes and was high point man for the tournament. (T. Times 5/19/1937, pg 3; 5/24/1937, pg. 11-Berndt & tourney results) (Additional identification provided by a reader)

Lincoln High School (Tacoma); Track athletics--Tacoma--1930-1940; Runners (Sports)--Tacoma--1930-1940; Running; Hardie, William; Berndt, Harold H.; Jones, Tommy;

ca. 1937. Lions Club convention delegates at the Winthrop Hotel circa 1937. Several men gathered around the registrar's table. (T. Times).

Lions Club (Tacoma); Clubs--Tacoma--1930-1940; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Meetings--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Baby John Lynn sitting in front of the fireplace with his pet dog. Photograph taken for family Christmas card.

Lynn, John; Dogs; Children & animals; Fireplaces;

Beatrice (Mrs. Harry) Houdini, on right, discussing a piece of patterned fabric with another woman, most likely Addie (Mrs. Ray) Gamble and Edward Saint. Edward Saint was Mrs. Houdini's personal secretary, a magician of note and the author of "The Life of Houdini," which was being produced as a film by Paramount in the fall. The piece of fabric is very likely a tea towel. In 1930, Beatrice Houdini ran "Mrs. Harry Houdini's Rendezvous," a tea room, in New York City. (T. Times).

Magicians; Houdini, Harry--Family; Houdini, Beatrice; Saint, Edward; Gamble, Addie;