A girl stops on her bicycle to watch the older kids cleaning up the front yard. Spring layout. (T.Times)

Lawn mowing--Tacoma; Raking (Sweeping)--Tacoma; Bicycles & tricycles--Tacoma--1940-1950; Children--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Thirteen Lincoln High School girls, wearing bathing suits and high heels, clustered around an unidentified male student in February of 1941. The girls, who were participating in the "Poise, Posture and Personality" contest at the school, were also hoping to be cast in the school Music Department production of "Of Men and Models". The student written and scored musical comedy, to be directed by student LeRoy "Lee" Hale, told the story of a football hero who inherited a 5th Avenue dress shop. Standing in the back are: (l to r) Betty Snyder, Florence Anderson, Carol Lind, Lois Dahl, Matilda Drennen, Mary Sandford, Doris Davey and Mary Anne Wilkins. The other five girls are: (l to r) Janet Wolters, Martha Farrell, Garnet Thompson, Lawauna Dickes and Harriet Sommervell. Contestants had to be at least 5'4" tall. Lee Hale went on to be music director for "The Dean Martin Show". (T.Times 2/19/1941 p.13)

Lincoln High School (Tacoma); Theatrical Productions--Tacoma--1940-1950; Operas & operettas--Tacoma--1940-1950; Bathing suits--1940-1950;

Miss Evelyn Appleton Lock shared the secret of her amazing apple diet to Tacoma Times readers in January of 1941. For 42 days she had eaten nothing but apples, around twelve a day, plus a quart of apple juice. She had lost 25 pounds and claimed clearer skin and better eyesight, too. Miss Lock got the idea from a Washington State progress commission brochure that claimed apples were great weight reducers. Evelyn Lock expected to maintain the apple diet for another 25 days to get her weight down to 125 pounds. (T. Times 1/11/1941, pg. 1)

Lock, Evelyn Appleton; Apples; Weight loss;

February, 1941, wedding of Frank Matesa and Evelyn Ludwig at St. Ann's Catholic Church. The bride is posed outside the church in front of a statue of St. Ann. The long train of her bridal gown swirls in front of her. The wedding gown was also worn by one of her four sisters, Josephine (Ludwig) Strom. She would eventually divorce Frank Matesa and marry George Kitna. Her grandson, Jon Kitna, would achieve fame as the ex-quarterback of the Seattle Seahawks, Cincinnati Bengals and Detroit Lions; he was named the Associated Press' NFL Comeback Player of the Year for 2003. Another grandson, Chris Magruder, was an outstanding player for the Washington Huskies baseball team and would go on to play professional baseball. Evelyn Kitna presently resides in Yakima. (Additional information provided by a reader)

Ludwig, Evelyn; Brides--1940-1950; Wedding costume--1940-1950; Weddings--Tacoma--1940-1950; St. Anns Catholic Church (Tacoma);

St. Paul and Tacoma Lumber Company's lumber ship "Lake Francis" anchored off St. Paul [Lumber Co. ] dock; tall stacks of lumber await loading.

Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. (Tacoma); Cargo ships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Shipping--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Log dump and stacks of lumber at St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Company. Logs being hoisted by cable; waterway and warehouse buildings in background.

Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. (Tacoma); Logs;

Log dump and stacks of lumber at St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Company. Stacks of lumber products, warehouse buildings in background.

Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. (Tacoma); Lumber--Tacoma;

Sue Marie Lynn poses with two of her dolls, excited about the coming Christmas holiday. She is two years old and the daughter of Nathan Lynn. Her grandfather is Clarence O. Lynn, founder of the C.O. Lynn Co. C. O. Lynn were licensed funeral directors, undertakers and embalmers. Their Mortuary was located at 717-719 Tacoma Ave. So. (T. Times 12/25/1940, pg 7)

Lynn, Sue Marie; Lynn, Nathan--Family; Dolls; Girls--Tacoma--1940-1950;

George Manning accepts the congratulations of Tacoma Mayor Harry Cain at Manning's 102th birthday at the Armory, hosted by the Custer Relief Corps. At 102, Manning is the area's oldest veteran of the Grand Army of the Republic and one of the few surviving comrades of the Custer Post of Tacoma. Over 100 guests attended the reception. In the front row are, left to right, Mayor Cain, Mrs. Millie Ball, Mr. Manning, Ruston O. Reed (department commander of the GAR of Alaska & Washington) and Mrs. Mary A. Fuller. Standing in the back are, left to right, an unidentified sailor, Mrs. C.H. Hamilton, Manning's nurse, and Mrs. B.E. Hayes, president of the CRC. Mr. Manning was born July 20,1838 in Illinois and was a childhood friend of Abraham Lincoln's oldest son Robert Todd Lincoln. (T. Times 7/20/1940, pg. 1 & 7/22/40, pg. 14)

Manning, George; Aged persons--1930-1940; Centenarians; Birthday parties; Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979; Grand Army of the Republic, Custer Post; Civil War, U.S., 1861-1865--Veterans--Tacoma; Reed, Ruston O.;

This photograph of Mr. George Manning was taken in July of 1940 shortly before he celebrated his 102nd birthday. Mr. Manning, who lived in Midland near Tacoma, was born in 1838, in Saginaw County, Illinois, and had known Abraham Lincoln before he was elected President. He recalled that, "Young Lincoln spent too much time in the public square swapping stories with the local loafers. They didn't think that Mr. Lincoln would ever amount to much". Mr. Manning died on July 17, 1941 just three days before his 103rd birthday. (TNT 7-18-1941 p.1) [Medal inscription: Co. I 7th Ill. Voline Geo. G. Manning]

Manning, George; Veterans; Centenarians;

The curriculum at Marymount Military Academy at 423 152nd Street East in Spanaway encompassed a wide variety of activities including music, shooting and horseback riding. This photograph of the Academy's cadet band appeared in the Tacoma Times in February of 1941. Marymount opened in 1923 as a Catholic military boarding school for boys ages 6-16, the only institution of its kind in the state of Washington. Enrollment began to fall off in the late 1960 and early 1970s and the school closed in 1976. (T. Times 2/26/1941, pg. 41- names in picture caption)

Marymount Military Academy (Spanaway); Private schools--Spanaway; Military education--Spanaway;

Tacoma's Northwest Soccer & Sports Center was originally called Exhibition Hall. Although work on the building started in 1931, the Hall was not completed until February of 1941. Mayor Harry Cain signs his autograph in cement next to his foot and handprints at the building's dedication. Over the years this building has been home to a number of businesses including Tacoma Sleepmaster and Boeing (as a sub-assembly plant). ALBUM 12.

Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979;

The JROTC Ticket Commitee from Bellarmine paid a visit to Mayor Harry P. Cain on February 5, 1941, and persuaded him to buy a ticket for the school's Military Ball. L to R: Bob Spahr, James Fitzpatrick, Bud Farrell, Mayor Cain, Peter Diebert, Buster Van Rooy, Richard Hermsen, Bill McDevitt. The third annual ball would be held on February 14, 1941, with music supplied by Louis Grenier. All boys who attended Bellarmine participated in military training. (T.Times, 2-11-41, p. 18) ALBUM 12.

Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979; Military education--Tacoma; Cadets--Tacoma; Reserve Officers Training Corps (Tacoma); Bellarmine High School (Tacoma); Private schools--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Review of troops at Fort Lewis for Governor Langlie. The new Governor of Washington would be reviewing the 3,200 selectees of the 3rd Division, accompanied by tanks and vehicles. The afternoon would be spent in close inspection of artillery.

Military parades & ceremonies--Fort Lewis; Artillery (Weaponry);

Portrait of Jane (Mrs. Harry Edward) Miller seated on a bench admiring a bouquet of daffodils. Mrs. Miller is the general chairman of the Co-Ed Club's annual Daffodil Ball. (T. Times 3/15/1941, pg. 4)

Miller, Jane; Co-Ed Club (Tacoma); Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1941 : Tacoma);

Alaska Nellie Nellie Neal Lawing, an old friend of Marjorie Rambeau's mother (who was a doctor during gold rush days) allows Rambeau to wear her Gold Nugget necklace, which she had not taken off for 35 years, at the premiere of "Tugboat Annie Sails Again." Miss Lawing indicated that it was to bring good luck and success to the October 18, 1940, premiere. In the surrounding crowd are actors Alan Hale, Sr.and Donald Crisp, Mayor Harry P. Cain and Hollywood columnist Hedda Hopper.

Motion picture premieres--Tacoma--1940-1950; Actors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Hale, Alan; Rambeau, Marjorie; Lawing, Nellie Neal; Crisp, Donald; Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979; Necklaces;

Ronald Reagan and unidentified man during broadcast outside Roxy (Pantages) Theater for"Tugboat Annie Sails Again" premiere on October 18, 1940. The future President and his co-stars, Marjorie Rambeau and Alan Hale, Sr., had journeyed to Tacoma for their motion picture premiere. Also accompanying them were actor Donald Crisp and Hollywood columnist Hedda Hopper. For star-struck Tacomans, it was a chance to see actual movie stars in person as the celebrities made appearances not only at the three theaters premiering the film but at a water carnival and massive banquet as well.

Motion picture premieres--Tacoma--1940-1950; Actors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Reagan, Ronald Wilson, 1911-;

On October 18, 1940, (l to r) Donald Crisp, Ronald Reagan, Marjorie Rambeau (nearly hidden), columnist Hedda Hopper, and Alan Hale, Sr. helped lay a commemorative plaque in front of the Roxy Theater, 901 Broadway. They were in Tacoma for the world premiere of the movie "Tugboat Annie Sails Again." The lettering on the plaque reads "Dedicated to Tugboat Annie - 1940 - Pioneer Spirit of Puget Sound." The plaque later was moved to the south wall of the theater. It was removed when the theater was being remodeled to become the Broadway Center for the Performing Arts (Pantages Theater), and is currently in storage. ALBUM 1;

Motion picture premieres--Tacoma--1940-1950; Actors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Reagan, Ronald Wilson, 1911-; Hale, Alan; Rambeau, Marjorie; Crisp, Donald; Hopper, Hedda; Plaques--Tacoma;

October 18, 1940, sepia photograph of actors laying commemorative plaque in front of Roxy (Pantages) Theater before premiere of "Tugboat Annie Sails Again." L to R: Donald Crisp, Ronald Reagan, Marjorie Rambeau , Hedda Hopper (partly hidden), Alan Hale, Sr. The plaque later was moved to the south wall. Miss Rambeau and Mr. Hale played rivals in the tugboat business while Mr. Reagan portrayed Eddie Kent, a poor sailor who falls in love with rich socialite Jane Wyman. ALBUM 1

Motion picture premieres--Tacoma--1940-1950; Actors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Reagan, Ronald Wilson, 1911-; Hale, Alan; Rambeau, Marjorie; Crisp, Donald; Hopper, Hedda; Plaques--Tacoma;

Mayor's reception for "Tugboat Annie Sails Again" premiere on October 18, 1940, at the Winthrop. Hollywood stars Alan Hale, Sr., Marjorie Rambeau, Ronald Reagan, Mayor Harry P. Cain and columnist Hedda Hopper beam for the camera; Donald Crisp glances downward instead. The film premiered simultaneously at three Tacoma theaters that evening. ALBUM 6.

Motion picture premieres--Tacoma--1940-1950; Actors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Reagan, Ronald Wilson, 1911-; Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979; Hale, Alan; Rambeau, Marjorie; Crisp, Donald; Hopper, Hedda; Banquets--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Publicity for "Tugboat Annie Sails Again" motion picture premiere on October 18, 1940. Star Marjorie Rambeau squeezes the hand of an unidentified girl at the Water Carnival held in celebration of the film. Hedda Hopper, noted columnist, looks on from background. Pleasure yachts, speed boats, purse seiners and tugs crowded Commencement Bay in late afternoon on Friday, October 18, 1940. Miss Rambeau, Miss Hopper, and Hollywood entourage remained aboard the Coast Guard cutter, Atlanta, which was used as a reviewing stand for the enormous water show. Exhibition water skiing and tugboat and fishing boat races were just a few of the activities on hand. ALBUM 6.

Motion picture premieres--Tacoma--1940-1950; Actors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Rambeau, Marjorie; Hopper, Hedda;

Review of troops at Fort Lewis for Governor Langlie. Soldiers of the 98th Field Artillery (Pack) Battalion stand at attention, leading mules loaded with artillery. Mules were still used in World War II to pack artillery into areas not accessible by motor vehicles. The Fort Lewis unit was one of five in the U.S. Army that specialized in transporting arms by mules. (T. Times 3/8/1941, pg. 8)

Mules; Fort Lewis (Wash.); 98th Field Artillery (Pack) Battalion (Ft. Lewis);

Review of troops at Fort Lewis for Governor Langlie. Men of the 98th Field Artillery (Pack) Battalion load a piece of artillery on a mule. Mules were still used to pack firearms into areas not accessible by motorized vehicles. The unit was equipped with special .75 mm howitzers that disassembled. The battalion had 12 of these guns. Six mules were required to carry one of them. Other mules carried ammunition, supplies and bales of hay. (T. Times 3/8/1941, pg. 8)

Mules; Fort Lewis (Wash.); 98th Field Artillery (Pack) Battalion (Ft. Lewis); Howitzers;

In 1940 the Franklin School at 3202 South 12th Street was one of the older schools in Tacoma and it lacked some of the more modern features found in other buildings. Its music program, however, was second to none. Mrs. Mary E. Smith, the school's Music Department director, made sure that every student at Franklin had the opportunity to either sing or play a musical instrument. On Friday night, November 15, three hundred Franklin pupils took part in the musical pageant "The Spirit of America Speaks." Eight of the students who played in the orchestra were: (l to r) Clayton Stewart on clarinet, Frances Angus on violin, Charles Engell on clarinet, Joanne Marie Bailey (later Mrs. Joanne Barber) and Darwin Walter, two of the youngest violinists in the school system, Raymond Weinrich and Charles Swanson on violin and Delman Olson on trumpet. (T.Time 11/15/1940 p.9)

Music ensembles--Tacoma; Franklin School (Tacoma); Youth orchestras--Tacoma--1940-1950; Violins; Wind instruments; Stewart, Clayton; Angus, Frances; Engell, Charles; Bailey, Joan; Walter, Darwin; Weinrich, Raymond; Swanson, Charles; Olson, Delman;

1941 Ski Carnival at Mount Rainier. Queen, Virginia Davis, another young woman and two young men beside fireplace at Paradise Lodge. (T.Times)

National parks & reserves; Mount Rainier National Park (Wash.); Tacoma Winter Carnival (Tacoma); Fireplaces--Paradise; Davis, Virginia;

ca. 1940. Elevated view of workers setting type in newspaper print shop.

Newspaper industry--1940-1950;

Lily Pons, internationally known opera, concert and radio personality, arrived in Tacoma the evening of October 21, 1941. She would be opening the Civic Music concert season at the Temple Theater on October 22nd. A clause in her contract stated that she was never to arrive the same day that she sang. The petite, dark haired coloratura soprano was staying in a suite at the Winthrop. Miss Pons enjoyed one of the greatest opera careers in the 20th Century. The Metropolitan Opera in New York signed the virtually unknown French girl around 1931 and she became a star overnight, famous for her huge range and svelte, chic looks. She was the Met's principal soprano from 1931-1961 and is credited with saving the Met from bankruptcy during the Depression. She continued to perform concerts into her 60's. She died in 1976, at 72 years of age, of cancer. (T. Times 10/22/1941, pg. 1; www.ups.edu)

Opera singers; Pons, Lily;

St. Regis Paper Company (Kraft Pulp Division), overaged destroyer to be sunk for breakwater. The 20-year-old destroyer, name unknown, was to be sunk in Commencement Bay to provide protection for the St. Regis wharf. Her sister ship had previously been scuttled in British Columbia, also for use as a breakwater. Both ships had been resting in Lake Washington for ten years. (T. Times, 9-19-1940, p. 1- alt. photo)

Paper industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; St. Regis Paper Co. (Tacoma)--1940-1950; Scuttling of warships--United States; Warships--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Doomed Destroyer read the mournful heading for this front-page photograph than ran in the Thursday, September 19, 1940 edition of the Tacoma Times. The 20-year-old warship was being scuttled in Commencement Bay that day to serve as a breakwater to protect the St. Regis wharf. The red-painted 330-foot destroyer hulk, name since lost, had been owned by the Foss company for the past ten years. Derrick of the pile driver used in the operation is in the background along with a tugboat and St. Regis's dock. (T. Times 9-19-1940, p. 1)

Paper industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; St. Regis Paper Co. (Tacoma)--1940-1950; Warships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tugboats--Tacoma--1940-1950; Scuttling of warships--United States; Piers & wharves--Tacoma--1940-1950; Hoisting machinery;

Hop field scenes near Buckley. Hop pickers' housing. Clustered tents in an open field. Farm of Nick Perfield. [Also dated 9-3-140.]

Perfield, Nick--Homes & haunts; Hops--Buckley--1940-1950; Farming--Buckley--1940-1950; Tents--Buckley;