On June 23, 1942, ground breaking ceremonies were held at both Lakeview School (10501 -47th Ave. S.W., constructed in 1921) and Park Lodge School (10020 Gravelly Lake Dr. S.W., constructed in 1912.) They were part of a $700,000 expansion program for the Clover Park School District, half of it financed by the Federal Works Agency. Also included were the addition of two new schools, at Lake City and American Lake, to be completed in the autumn. The Lakeview addition would cost $78,500 and include four classrooms and attendant facilities. (T. Times 6/24/1942, pg. 2)

Ground breaking ceremonies--Lakewood; Public schools--Lakewood--1940-1950;

A group of students and school officials was posed in front of Clover Park High School as ground was broken for a new addition to the school on July 9, 1942. The new addition was the last project of a $700,000 expansion of the Clover Park school district. The addition would include eight new classrooms, a gym and a cafeteria. It was budgeted at $225,000 and was scheduled to be completed about midway through the school year. (T. Times 7/10/1942, pg. 10)

Ground breaking ceremonies--Lakewood; Public schools--Lakewood--1940-1950; Clover Park High School (Lakewood);

Contractors and Clover Park school district leaders look pleased as they break ground for the final unit of a $700,000 school expansion program. The last project was $225,000 improvement to Clover Park High School. The addition would add eight new classrooms, a gym and a cafeteria. To the left is an unidentified workman shovelling dirt from around a tree. Then, left to right, are Peter Hansen (contractor), Walter Hedlind (FWA), Charles Rueger (architect), Peder Steiro (contractor), Clarence Rueger (architect), Hugh Fotheringil (principal), Stanley Lytle (school board), Mrs. H.E. Liebe (school board) and A.G. Hudtloff (Superintendent). Work had already begun on new shop facilities at the school, aimed toward defense industry training. (T. Times 7/10/1942, pg. 10)

Ground breaking ceremonies--Lakewood; Public schools--Lakewood--1940-1950; Clover Park High School (Lakewood); Hudtloff, A.G.; Lytle, Stanley; Fotheringill, Hugh;

Blood Bank at Tacoma General Hospital; publicity for War Chest. The War Chest was a wartime branch of the Community Chest and one of its projects was a local Blood Bank. In the photograph, a young patient is either donating or receiving blood. In 1941, the Red Cross organized the first civilian blood donor service to collect plasma for the war effort. In later years, Blood Banks sprang up across the country as medical professionals established them after seeing the success of transfusion therapy on the battlefield.

Hospitals--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma General Hospital (Tacoma); Tacoma Community Chest (Tacoma); Blood donations; Blood transfusions;

Home portrait of G. Ridgway and Lillian R. Kirk, owners of G. R. Kirk Company, evergreens and Christmas trees. Mr. Kirk was also the president of Western Red Cedar Co. [Also dated 10-16-1942]

Kirk, Lillian; Kirk, G. Ridgway--Homes & haunts; Kirk, G. Ridgway;

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)

Labor Temple Recreation Club (Tacoma);

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)

Labor Temple Recreation Club (Tacoma); Uniforms;

Home portrait of Mrs. Harold M. Buckner and her three year old daughter admiring their reflections in a mirror. The photograph was taken at the Buckner's residence in Lakeside Club. No first name is given for Mrs. Buckner or the daughter. Mr. Buckner was a foreman at the Northwest Door Co. Lakeside Club was located on American Lake.

Lakeside Club (Lakewood); Buckner, Harold M.--Homes & haunts; Buckner, Harold M.--Family; Mirrors;

George and Leah Mueller pose for a publicity photograph outside the Lakewood Ice Arena. The Muellers were hired in 1942 by arena manager Floyd B. Murphy to replace instructor John Johnsen, who left to serve as an intelligence officer for the government during World War II. The couple relocated from California and were touted in the press as "internationally known professional figure skating instructors." The couple stayed with the arena until 1947. ("The History of Figure Skating in Pierce County")

Lakewood Ice Arena (Lakewood); Ice skating--Tacoma--1940-1950; Ice skating rinks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Mueller, George; Mueller, Leah;

George and Leah Mueller, skating instructors, pose outside the Lakewood Ice Arena at 7310 Steilacoom Blvd. S.W. in October of 1942. The German born couple was hired in 1942 to replace John Johnsen, who would spend World War II in Europe working as a US counter intelligence officer. They were internationally known professional instructors and had previously taught in Boston, in Toronto with the Granite Club, St. Louis and six seasons with the famous Philadelphia Skating Club and Humane Society, which dated back to Civil War times. They stayed with the Arena for six years, enjoying the Northwest and the Arena's abundant talent. Due to anti German sentiments, they were introduced in Tacoma as the "Millers." (TNT 10/19/1942, pg. 6)

Lakewood Ice Arena (Lakewood); Ice skating--Tacoma--1940-1950; Ice skating rinks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Mueller, George; Mueller, Leah;

Lucinda Lane amuses her younger sister Kate with a Christmas book on December 19, 1942 as the pair anxiously count down the days till Christmas. The girls are the children of Mr. and Mrs. Charles M. Lane and are photographed at the family home at 21 Summit Road. (T. Times 12/19/1942, pg. 5)

Lane, Charles M.--Family; Lane, Lucinda; Lane, Kate; Lane, Charles M.--Homes & haunts; Reading--Tacoma--1940-1950;

This photograph is an overview of the ceremony on December 18, 1942 when the Tacoma Boat Building plant was presented with an "E Award" by the Army & Navy. The "E Award" was a production award, and the shipyard's was the first given for production of minesweepers. The award consisted of a "E" flag to fly over the plant and a pin for each employee. The company also took this opportunity to launch their newest minesweeper, the YMS 244.

Launchings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

Tacoma Vocational School was offering free classes in aircraft construction in August of 1942. Applicants had to be over the age of 18 and graduates would be placed in positions with Boeing. Evelyn Keeney and Norma Lavorini practice their lessons on a mock up of an airplane.

Lavorini, Norma; Keeney, Evelyn; Tacoma Vocational School (Tacoma); Aircraft industry--Tacoma--1940-1950;

On December 17, 1942, the Tacoma Lions Club held its annual Christmas party at the new Tacoma Boys Club, 711 So. 25th Street. Welcoming the Lions to the Club is Vincent Russell, center, managing director of the Boys Club. Pictured left to right are Paul Newman, Harry J. Lynch, Russell, Maj. Earl Williams of the Salvation Army and A. T. Norman. Forty underprivileged boys were the guests of the Lions at the banquet and received gifts as well. The Lions also dedicated the locker room at the Club that they had equipped and furnished. (TNT 12/18/1942, pg. 9; 12/16/1942, pg. 13)

Lions Club (Tacoma); Salvation Army (Tacoma); Charitable organizations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Community service--Tacoma--1940-1950; Holidays--Tacoma--1940-1950; Boys Club (Tacoma);

Publicity for Community Chest. Informal office portrait of Paul Lucht, Business Agent of Plasterers and Cement Finishers Union Local 71, AFL., at the Labor Temple in August of 1942. Mr. Lucht had accepted the chairmanship of the labor personnel group in the War Chest campaign. His group's job was to solicit funds from the business agents and staff at the Central Labor Council. (T.Times 8/11/1942 p.2)

Lucht, Paul; Plasterers & Cement Finishers, Local 71 (Tacoma);

Wedding of Nadellia Weglin and Throne J. Eggan at Luther Memorial Church. Bridal party at altar. Rose window was a gift to the church from the architect Emanuel J. Bresemann and his siblings in memory of their mother, Bertha. The church was also known as St. John's English Lutheran Church.

Lutheran churches--Tacoma; Luther Memorial Church (Tacoma); Weglin, Nadellia--Marriage; Weddings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Leaded glass windows--Tacoma;

On Friday July 3rd, 1942, Tacoma Mayor Harry P. Cain and his wife Marjorie got up early to practice their berry picking skills in a neighbor's back yard. They were preparing spend the 4th of July weekend picking raspberries in the Puyallup Valley. The forced evacuation of Japanese-Americans in the spring led to a labor shortage in the fields and all local citizens were asked to help the war effort by volunteering on the Independence Day weekend to harvest the ripe raspberry crops. Mayor Cain suggested that Tacomans pack a lunch, make some lemonade, load up the kiddies and make the harvesting a family affair. He stated that "You couldn't possibly find a better way of living up to the true meaning of Fourth of July. Let's all celebrate it that way." (T. Times 7/3/1942, pg. 1)

Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979; Cain, Marjorie Dils, 1908-1994; Harvesting;

In October of 1942, volunteer Alice McFadon spoke to an unidentified employee of the Tacoma Engraving Co. about his War Chest donation.

McFadon, Alice; Community service--Tacoma--1940-1950; Charitable organizations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Community Chest (Tacoma); Tacoma Engraving Co. (Tacoma); Fund raising--Tacoma--1940-1950; World War, 1939-1945--Women--Tacoma;

Despite a hard day hitting the pavement, a smiling Alice McFadon turned over her filled out pledge cards and monies collected to Ethel Jones, one of the workers at the War Chest campaign headquarters. Mrs. McFadon was a volunteer solicitor in the October 1942 campaign. It was her job to go door to door to businesses asking for donations. The War Chest funded those charitable organizations related directly to the war. Tacoma's goal for 1942 was $365,000. (TNT 10/18/1942, pg. 1)

McFadon, Alice; Community service--Tacoma--1940-1950; Charitable organizations--Tacoma; Tacoma Community Chest (Tacoma); Fund raising--Tacoma--1940-1950; World War, 1939-1945--Women--Tacoma; Jones, Ethel;

Ed Michlitsch, right, was the first recipient of "War Chest," the voluble duck that inspired most War Chest workers to "duck the duck." When Mr. Michlitsch replied to chairman Bartlett Rummel's inquiry at the report luncheon October 20, 1942 that he had collected "a goose egg," he was awarded "War Chest." He was required to feed and care for the duck until he could do better on his financial report then pass the duck on to the next low man on the financial totem pole. Apparently, he had other ideas because he had his butcher Fred Corbet, left, weigh the duck, perhaps planning to have it for dinner rather than as a guest for dinner. Mr. Michlitsch was the business manager for the Packing House Workers Union #554. (TNT 10/20/1942, pg. 1)

Michlitsch, Ed; Community service--Tacoma--1940-1950; Charitable organizations--Tacoma; Tacoma Community Chest (Tacoma); Fund raising--Tacoma--1940-1950; Ducks;

In 1926, S. Ed Munson opened the Munson Motor Company at 5622 South Tacoma Way. This photograph from June, 1942 shows five women, four in uniforms, working on a 1942 Oldsmobile B44. After the war, Ed Munson went into partnership with Alberta Smith and opened Munson-Smith Motors down the road at 4101 South Tacoma Way. TPL-1382

Munson Motor Co. (Tacoma); Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; World War, 1939-1945--Women--Tacoma; Oldsmobile automobile; Mechanics (Persons)--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Frances (Mrs. Marcus) Nalley poses with proud mama "Cookie," a pedigreed red cocker spaniel, and her nine little puppies. Cookie gave birth to six males and three females at the Nalley home at 3106 No. 29th. The sire was Art Bostwick's hunter, Speck. (T.Times 7/11/1942, pg. 8)

Nalley, Frances; Dogs;

American Red Cross volunteers provided vital service to the war effort back home. These volunteers are pictured on September 1, 1942, rolling surgical dressings. The women are dressed in the uniform of the Red Cross Nurse's Aide. They are, seated left to right, Joyce (Mrs. Herbert) Syford, Vera (Mrs. Francis) Albro and Anna (Mrs. Rufus) Christian. Standing- Esther (Mrs. Clifford) Langhorne, Mercedes (Mrs. Frederick) Haines, Mrs. J.A. Mitchell and Mrs. Clara M. Fraser. (TNT 9/4/1942, pg. 20)

Nurses--Tacoma--1940-1950; American Red Cross Pierce County Chapter (Tacoma); World War, 1939-1945--Women--Tacoma; Syford, Joyce; Albro, Vera; Christian, Anna; Langhorne, Esther; Haines, Mercedes; Fraser, Clara;

On September 9, 1942, the Tacoma General School of Nursing held its 46th annual commencement exercise at the First Baptist Church. The class consisted of 33 nurse graduates. The ceremony was presided over by Sam M. Jackson, who was concluding his 30th year as President of the hospital.

Nurses--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma General Hospital (Tacoma); First Baptist Church (Tacoma); Baptist churches--Tacoma; Graduation ceremonies--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Friends and family watch from the floor and balcony of the First Baptist Church as 33 nurses from Tacoma General's School of Nursing receive their diplomas on September 9, 1942.

Nurses--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma General Hospital (Tacoma); First Baptist Church (Tacoma); Baptist churches--Tacoma; Graduation ceremonies--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Thirty three nurses stand for recognition after receiving their diplomas during the Tacoma General Hospital Commencement exercise at First Baptist Church on September 9, 1942. It was the school's 46th annual commencement exercise.

Nurses--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma General Hospital (Tacoma); First Baptist Church (Tacoma); Baptist churches--Tacoma; Graduation ceremonies--Tacoma--1940-1950;

In August of 1942, steeplejack Jack O'Brien was photographed while standing on the top ledge of the Puget Sound National Bank building at 1119 Pacific Avenue in Tacoma. He had been hired to paint the bank's flag pole which was mounted at the top of its steep, pyramidal roof. When the building was built in 1910 it was the tallest building on the West Coast. When asked about working hundreds of feet in the air, Mr. O'Brien said, "Aw shucks, there's nothing special about me or my job. I can make a living, I guess, just because the world must be full of sissies."(T. Times 8/14/1942 p.1)

O'Brien, Jack; Commercial facilities--Tacoma--1940-1950; Business districts--Tacoma--1940-1950; Puget Sound National Bank (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Steeplejacks;

The newly promoted USO Program Director at 13th & Fawcett, Bernice O'Denny, poses outside the USO Club. Miss O'Denny was promoted from secretary to the director to director in September of 1942. She was born in Seattle and graduated from Washington State College. The USO hired her away from H.J. Heinz & Co.'s advertising department. (T. Times 9/16/1942, pg. 18)

O'Denny, Bernice; United Service Organizations (Tacoma); USO clubs (Tacoma)--1940-1950;

Launching of "Pride of America" at Peterson Boat Building. The Peterson shipyard was owned by the father and son team of George and John Peterson. The yard was devoted entirely to the construction of fishing vessels. The site of their yard adjoined the Foss yard at the outer edge of the Middle Waterway. The shipyard was rebuilt in 1943 and the company remained at this site until it burned in 1969.

Peterson Boat Building Co. (Tacoma);