The Tacoma Times paid H.M. Wernick of northeast Tacoma $3 for the rights to publish this dramatic photograph of multiple bolts of lightning in July of 1941. On Thursday July 17th of that year as the temperature in Tacoma rose to 94 degrees, a vicious thunder and lightning storm swept through the south sound. It was the fourth day in a row that temperatures in Tacoma had exceeded 85 degrees. The storm, which started dozens of fires throughout the region, did little to moderate the temperatures which were already back up to 88 degrees by noon on Friday the 18th. (T. Times, 7/18/1941 p. 1)

Lightning; Lightning strikes; Storms--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Aerial view of cleared property above The Narrows showing sparse development in the area east of subject site. Ordered by Mr. Wiborg.

Aerial photographs; Real estate development--Tacoma--1940-1950; Clearing of land--Tacoma--1940-1950; Land subdivision--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Evelyn Burleson beside her airplane, "Miss Liberty", at Mueller-Harkins Airport. On October 1, 1941, the Tacoma aviatrix flew her pictured Taylorcraft monoplane nonstop from Vancouver, Canada to Tijuana, Mexico. She arrived on the morning of the 2nd at 7:30a.m., completing the 1700 mile flight in 16 1/2 hours, 3 hours ahead of schedule. The plane was painted especially for the flight in white with red and blue stripes, a torch bearing Liberty and emblazoned with "WAD" (Women Also Defend.)

Airplanes--Tacoma--1940-1950; Burleson, Evelyn; Monoplanes;

The fourth annual meeting of the American Legion's Last Man Club was held at the Winthrop Hotel in December, 1941. Sixteen men pose with three flag draped chairs. The draped chairs are in honor of the Club members who have died, past Commanders E.A. Rich, Dr. J.C. Siegle (first to die on 4/13/39) and George A. Allen. The Club was organized on 12/5/38 by WWl veterans who had also served as Commanders of the Edward B. Rhodes Post of the American Legion. As each Commander stepped down from office, he was invited to join if he was a WWI veteran. A bottle of cognac, autographed by all members, was set aside for the last surviving member to drink a toast to his comrades. The Last Man was Capt. Chester Chastek. He became the sole survivor on February 16, 1992 after the death of Paul O. Brown. He retrieved the bottle of cognac after its 54 years of repose in a Puget Sound Bank safe deposit box but did not drink it. He had never had a drink in his long life and refused to break his record. (T.Times 12-2-41-article)

American Legion Club (Tacoma); Patriotic societies--Tacoma--1940-1950; Clubs--Tacoma--1940-1950; Flags--United States; Last Man Club (Tacoma);

Some of the local Red Cross roll call leaders posed in the organization's office on 12th and Pacific on May 14, 1942. They were, left to right, Mrs. A.D. Fay- vice chairman of roll call, Hazel (Mrs. James E.) MacPherson, Lunella (Mrs. Elmore) McMaster and Katherine (Mrs. Charles F.) Grover. The roll call was the Red Cross's annual campaign for membership. It started on June 18th and involved thousands of volunteers. The goal for 1942 was 30,000. More volunteers were needed to support the organization's wartime activities. (TNT 5/18/42, pg. 1- picture;T Times 5/18/1942, pg. 12 (similar picture); 5/13/42, pg. 2; 5/15/42, pg. 1)

American Red Cross Pierce County Chapter (Tacoma); Charitable organizations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Community Service--Tacoma--1940-1950; Women--Tacoma--1940-1950; MacPherson, Hazel; McMaster, Lunella; Grover, Katherine;

On Sunday, October 19, 1941, Holy Rosary parish celebrated their Golden, 50th, anniversary. An impressive processional opened the celebratory service. It was led by the Most Rev. Gerald Shaughnessy, the bishop of Seattle. Just back of the bishop and to the left and right are his chaplains, Rev. Raphael Heider and Rev. Sigismund Toenig. Altar boys in the rear are William Brady, William Graisy and Donald Coyne (carrying the Bishop's train.) (T. Times 10/20/1941, pg. 1)

Anniversaries; Holy Rosary Church (Tacoma); Catholic churches--Tacoma--1940-1950; Shaughnessy, Gerald; Heider, Raphael; Toenig, Sigismund; Brady, William; Graisy, William; Coyne, Donald; Acolytes;

Group picture at the annual Aquinas Alumnae Ball, held November 21, 1941 at the Roof Garden of the Hotel Winthrop. (T.Times 11/29/1941, pg. 4)

Aquinas Academy (Tacoma)--Alumnae; Dance parties--Tacoma--1940-1950; Couples--Tacoma--1940-1950; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

1937 Ford Coupe, license A132701, at White Arrow Service Station on Seattle Highway for Loyalty Group, Seattle. Mr. Waters, attorney. View south on Highway 99 at Milton. Texaco Station, Milton Tavern on left, lower Fife Heights on right. Photographed on November 21, 1941.

Automobile service stations--Milton; White Arrow Service (Milton); Bars--Milton; Milton Tavern (Milton); Roads;

Interior of Danny Yates Garage showing " Shellubratorium" cabinet.

Automobile service stations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Yates, Daniel G.;

Manual - at - arms awards at Clover Park School for 161st Infantry Division. Cpl. Robert Bartow was judged the most proficient in the manual of arms on October 15, 1941 between the halves of a service football game at Clover Park High School. He is pictured above receiving a medal from Col. Clarence A. Orndorff, regimental commander of the 161st Infantry. Cpl. Bartow's name would be engraved on the Col. Thomas G. Ashton trophy, named after a former commander of the 161st. Seventeen other 161st Infantry soldiers competed for the honor. Cpl. Bartow was from Co. E. (T. Times 10-16-1941, p.12) (Additional identification provided by a reader)

Awards; Orndorff, Clarence A.; Bartow, Robert; Military personnel;

In 1942 Dorothy Axtelle of Tacoma was the Washington state archery champion in the women's division. In her first competition at the senior level in June of 1942, she won trophies in four events, shooting almost 300 points above her nearest competitor. She had previously held the national women's title in the junior level. (T. Times 6/16/1942 p.12)

Axtelle, Dorothy; Archery--Tacoma--1940-1950; Awards; Victories;

Dorothy Axtelle, in her first senior competition, had just claimed the title of Women's Division State Archery Champion. She was previously the Junior National title holder. She won four trophies in four events, shooting 33 points above her nearest competitor. (T. Times 6/16/1942, pg. 12)

Axtelle, Dorothy; Archery--Tacoma--1940-1950; Awards; Victories; Bows (Archery);

An old-fashioned barbershop quartet harmonizes for the delight of the many members of the Tacoma Country & Golf Club who were attending the annual costume ball on October 28, 1941. Second from left is Fred Shanaman of Pennsylvania Salt Mfg. Co. of Washington and at extreme right is attorney Cyrus Happy, Jr. Other singers were not identified.

Barbershop quartets; Singers; Tacoma Country & Golf Club (Tacoma)--1940-1950; Shanaman, Frederick Charles, 1901-1982; Happy, Cyrus;

Pacific Boat Building. Trial run of "Victory".

Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Industrial facilities--Tacoma; Pacific Boat Building Co. (Tacoma);

Pacific Boat Building. Trial run of "Victory".

Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Industrial facilities--Tacoma; Pacific Boat Building Co. (Tacoma);

Pacific Boat Building. Trial run of "Victory".

Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Industrial facilities--Tacoma; Pacific Boat Building Co. (Tacoma);

Launching "Oceanic" by Pacific Boat Building.

Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Pacific Boat Building Co. (Tacoma);

Exterior views of Peterson Boat Building Co. for Mr. Heitman of Fidelity Rent & Collection. This site, adjoining the Foss yard on the outer edge of the Middle Waterway, was chosen by the father & son team of George and John Peterson for their shipyard. It was devoted entirely to the construction of fishing vessels. This is a view of hull #7 under construction. The finished vessel would be 11 feet in depth, 22 ft. beam, 85 ft. long and weigh 120 tons. Peterson operated at this location until 1969 when it was destroyed by fire. (TT 8/5/1942, pg. 3) TPL-9441

Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Peterson Boat Building Co. (Tacoma); World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma;

Army boxers prepare at the YMCA for the upcoming benefit boxing show at the Armory, scheduled for October 24, 1941. The Young Mens' Business Club (YMBC) is sponsoring the show to raise money for the 103rd Anti Tank Unit's Athletic Fund. Pictured in the ring are Charles Rosengren, Art Gowan and Coach Ernie Jensen. Along the ropes are Art Erickson, Doc Angelo, Roy Regensberg, Spence Pitts, Grant Buck, Bill Springer, Mervin McAtee and Walter Cotter. (T. Times 10/21/1941 p.13)

Boxers (Sports)--Tacoma--1940-1950; Boxing--Tacoma; Young Mens Business Club (Tacoma);

Newly completed bridge in Ruston. The 300 foot bridge spanned the gulch at Winnifred and N. 53rd St., 125 feet above the Northern Pacific railroad tunnel. The reinforced concrete structure replaced an outdated wooden structure. It cost $31,000. The official dedication and ribbon cutting was on December 13, 1941. (T. Times, 12/13/1941; 11/1/41, pg. 3; 12/13/41, pg. 3-Picture).

Bridges--Ruston--1940-1950; Bridge construction;

Exterior of Buckley-King Funeral Service at corner of Tacoma Avenue South and South First Street for North Pacific Banknote Company; includes Funeral Church on the left and mortuary on the right. When this Romanesque-Italian structure was built in 1927, it was one of two funeral churches in the U.S. and it became the model for this kind of structure. It was designed by Hill and Mock, Architects, and built of brick with sandstone trim. The mortuary's motto was "Modern and Moderate." In 1987, the structures were purchased by the adjacent First Presbyterian Church.

Buckley-King Funeral Service (Tacoma);

Mayor Harry Cain watches as three Boy Scouts stack some of the tires collected during the old rubber drive held over a two week period in June of 1942. The boy on top of the pile is Bob Hogberg, on the left is Jay Fox and on the right is Fred Dean. The Boy Scouts collected over 32,000 pounds of old tires and other rubber products the first day of the drive. The scouts received 1 cent per pound for the rubber. They planned to use the money to pay for construction of a new cabin at Camp Kilworth. (T. Times 6/16/1942 p.16)

Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979; Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Boy Scouts (Tacoma)--1940-1950; Hogberg, Bob; Fox, Jay; Dean, Fred; World War, 1939-1945--Scrap drives; Scrap drives--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tires;

Mayor Harry P. Cain cutting the ribbon for the grand opening of Personal Finance Company loan office on March 21, 1942. Those present included Mrs. Plan, June Mance, Lee Bredemeier, Nancy Johnson,cashier, S.J. Gallert, Asst. Mgr., Dan White, Mgr., Mayor Cain, Miss Moore, W.H. Taylor, P.L. Collyer. The new firm was located at 914 1/2 Broadway in the Keyes Building. Hundreds of Tacomans poured through the offices during the three hour open house. Cigars were presented to the gentlemen, gardenia corsages to the ladies and balloon and lollipops to the kiddies. Mayor Cain made a speech about Tacoma's newest "progressive" company and the improvements they had made to each community they did business in. Tacoma was the newest branch for the coast to coast small loan company. ALBUM 13. (T. Times 3/24/1942, pg. 2)

Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979; Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Dedications--Tacoma--1940-1950; Personal Finance Co. (Tacoma); Business & finance--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Mayor Harry P. Cain greets men gathered at a meeting of the South Tacoma Kiwanis Club in honor of Glenn Reeves, the man in glasses two persons left of Mayor Cain, at the South Tacoma Masonic Temple. Percy C. Rollins, president of the South Tacoma Kiwanis, and Don S. Wolford are also pictured. The June 10, 1942, gathering was a last chance to say farewell to North Pacific Bank vice-president Reeves who was retiring and moving to Seattle to assume the presidency of Seattle Radio Supply. He and his wife Myra lived at 5617 South Puget Sound. (TNT 6-11-42, p. 8) ALBUM 13.

Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979; Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Reeves, Glenn A.; South Tacoma Kiwanis Club (Tacoma);

By the end of May of 1942, more than 7,000 people of Japanese ancestry from Seattle and the surrounding area, including 1200 from Tacoma, were being detained at "Camp Harmony," a temporary assembly center built hastily by the army in Puyallup. They stayed there for four months, until they were shipped to the Minidoka Relocation Center in Southern Idaho to wait for the end of the war. In this photograph taken May 16, 1942, Seattleites Beverly Higashida (2 years old), Lillian Fujihara, seven month old Wayne Kaniko and his mother Mrs. M. Kaniko all smiled for the camera. Whole families were sent to the camp, each assigned a one room "apartment." The Japanese proceeded to make a home out of the almost unbearable conditions, forming a government, school and devising entertainments. Their values remained intact and their spirits high. (T. Times 4/30/1942, pg. 9)

Camp Harmony (Puyallup); Relocation camps--Puyallup; World War, 1939-1945--Relocation camps; Japanese Americans--Evacuation & relocation, 1942-1945; Children riding bicycles & tricycles; Fujihara, Lillian; Higashida, Beverly; Kaniko, Wayne;

1942 Rhythm class in drumming at Central School. Nearly 40 students stand by their desks with music books open and drumsticks in hand. Music was an integral part of Central School's curriculum as the school believed that every student should have the chance to learn to play an instrument or to sing. Lennard Anderson was the director of music at Central School for many years.

Central School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1940-1950; School children--Tacoma--1940-1950; Music education--Tacoma--1940-1950; Classrooms--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Two soldiers from Fort Lewis narrowly escaped serious injury on October 11, 1941 when the truck they were driving skidded on the wet pavement on the bridge over Chambers Creek, crashed through the guard rail, and plunged into the water. The truck, loaded with fuel wood, quickly settled to the bottom, 20 feet below the surface. The soldiers were able to force open the doors on the truck, and they popped to the surface like corks. Charles Alex, who lived near the bridge, helped pull the soldiers to shore, and drove them back to the army base. Driver of the vehicle was identified as Pvt. Howard D. Blalock from Ventura, California, of Battery D, 144th Field Artillery. His passenger was tentatively listed as a Pvt. Hershey. (T. Times 10/11/1941 p.1-article only)

Chambers Creek Bridge (Wash.); Bridges--Washington--1940-1950; Traffic accidents;

Renton housing project showing use of "Cheney Studding". Ordered by Cheney Lumber Company. [Also dated 06-09-1942]

Cheney Lumber Co. (Tacoma); Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Housing developments--Renton;

Renton housing project showing the use of standardized Cheney studding. Construction is the Highlands Development, east of I-405. Photographs made for Cheney Lumber Co.

Cheney Lumber Co. (Tacoma); Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Housing developments--Renton; Construction--Renton;