View from stage during dedication ceremonies at the new U.S.O. for soldiers of color on Commerce St. The new U.S.O. opened on Friday, September 4, 1942, and was filled with soldiers and their guests. Governor Arthur B. Langlie and Mayor Harry P. Cain were on hand to participate in the formal opening of the center. Civic and religious leaders served on the program committee, including Rabbi Rosenberg, Rev. D.C. Stephenson, Dr. E.E. Elmore and Brown & Haley founder, J.C. Haley. (TNT 9-1-42, p. 4, TNT 9-6-42, A-12)
Dedications--Tacoma--1940-1950; World War, 1939-1945--Military life--Tacoma; USO clubs (Tacoma)--1940-1950;
Rhodes Bros., Tacoma's premiere department store, offered quality merchandise and a plethora of services. One of those services was the 6th floor podiatrist's office of Dr. August C. Mirenta where downtown shopper's aching feet received attention. In this publicity photograph, Dr. Mirenta is describing his trade-marked shoe insert to an unidentified woman patient. Dr. Mirenta was born in Italy and came to Tacoma with his family in 1896. The enterprising podiatrist manufactured foot remedies and deodorants as the A. Mirenta & Co. and the In-No-Scent Corp., served as president of several organizations, and raised peaches at Peach Acres, his property near Chambers Creek where the Charles Wright Academy is located today.
Department Stores--Tacoma; Rhodes Brothers Department Store (Tacoma); Medical offices--Tacoma; Health care; Mirenta, August C.,1888-1951;
At the end of December of 1942, Rhodes Brothers Department store devoted its windows to the sale of war bonds and stamps. The Tacoma Parent Teacher Association staffed the Victory Window, selling stamps and bonds from 11-4 each day.
Department stores--Tacoma; Rhodes Brothers Department Store (Tacoma); War bonds & funds--Tacoma--1940-1950; World War, 1939-1945--Economic aspects of war--Tacoma;
These young ladies had parents who were members of the Tacoma Country & Golf Club in 1942 and who themselves were avid golfers. From left to right: Virginia Dravis, Henrietta "Tooty" Foss and Billie Rust. Tuesdays at the club was designated as Ladies Day(s) when the female members teed off. D13055, image 6, is a cropped version of this photograph. (T.Times 7-4-42, p. 5)
Dravis, Virginia; Foss, Henrietta; Rust, Billie Jean; Tacoma Country & Golf Club (Tacoma); Golfers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Golf--Tacoma--1940-1950;
During a March 21, 1943 civil defense drill, men from the Army medical unit, wearing white arm bands with the red cross, lay out their field dressings and stretcher prior to entering a "bombed" building to bring out casualties. The drill simulated a bomb attack on Tacoma.
World War, 1939-1945--Ambulances--Tacoma; World War, 1939-1945--Civil defense--Tacoma;
Civilian Defense. Portrait of large group of men wearing uniforms with red cross armbands in front of first aid vehicles. Historic Fire Station #1 is in the background. The men are a medical team from Fort Lewis that has been assigned to Tacoma in the case of an attack, such as a bombing. The group portrait was taken during a March 21, 1943 drill that simulated just that occurrence.
World War, 1939-1945--Ambulances--Tacoma; World War, 1939-1945--Civil defense--Tacoma; Group portraits--1940-1950; Fire stations--Tacoma--1940-1950;
Boy Scout "victims" relax in a military ambulance after being rescued by Civil Defense unit members during a March 21, 1943 drill. The drill simulated the bombing of Tacoma by enemy forces. It opened with a squadron of P-38's flying low over the scene for realism.
Two men in suits stand by their vehicles speaking into field phones, tracking the progress of the March 21, 1943 Civil Defense drill. The drill simulated the bombing of Tacoma, with attendant destruction of buildings and casualties.
During a March 21, 1943 civil defense drill, members of the Auxiliary Fire Service fought a real blaze that had been purposely set in an industrial area. The purpose was to test out the new pumping equipment of Company 7. Companies 2 and 5 also took part in the drill that simulated bombs being dropped on Tacoma.
World War, 1939-1945--Civil defense--Tacoma; Fire engines & equipment--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fire fighters--Tacoma--1940-1950;
During the March 21, 1943 civil defense drill, two pumping trucks hooked up to a fire hydrant to fight the real blaze purposely set in an industrial area. Companies 2, 5 and 7 of the Auxiliary Fire Service responded to the call. The drill simulated a bombing raid on Tacoma. Cities on the West Coast were considered vulnerable to attacks.
World War, 1939-1945--Civil defense--Tacoma; Fire engines & equipment--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fire fighters--Tacoma--1940-1950;
During a March 21, 1943 civil defense drill, members of Tacoma's Auxiliary Fire Service fought a real blaze set in an abandoned building in the industrial district. The experience was intended to give the fire fighters real experience and to test their equipment.
World War, 1939-1945--Civil defense--Tacoma; Fire fighting--Tacoma--1940-1950;
On March 21, 1943 Tacoma's Civilian Defense units, an Army medical unit from Fort Lewis, and the city's departments of public works and public utilities took part in a civil defense drill to test their ability to respond to an enemy attack on the city. The medical unit was photographed as they carried a "casualty" out of the Florence Apartments at 414-22 Tacoma Avenue South after the building was "demolished" by an enemy bomber. The exercises reportedly went smoothly; Tacoma was well prepared to deal with the aftermath of any attack on the city from the air. (T.Times 3/24/1943, pg. 18)
World War, 1939-1945--Civil defense--Tacoma; Florence Apartments (Tacoma);
During a March 21, 1943 civil defense exercise, two uniformed motorcycle officers discuss the situation with a Civil Defense worker outside the Florence Apartments, 414-22 Tacoma Ave. So. The exercise simulated a strategic bombing of Tacoma and the Florence has been designated a destroyed building with "casualties" needing to be evacuated.
World War, 1939-1945--Civil defense--Tacoma; Florence Apartments (Tacoma);
Exterior of Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Company with one of the plant's gardeners in overalls and cap admiring the iris bed. Penn Salt was located on the Tacoma tideflats, along the Hylebos Waterway. TPL-8556
World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Chemical industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Working class--Tacoma--1940-1950; Gardens--Tacoma--1940-1950; Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma);
Two men are pictured hard at work, the one on the right reading a gauge, in May of 1943 at the Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co.
World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Chemical industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Working class--Tacoma--1940-1950; Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Factories--Tacoma--1940-1950;
Two male and one female employees are pictured in May of 1943, hard at work at the Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co.
World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Chemical industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Working class--Tacoma--1940-1950; Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Factories--Tacoma--1940-1950;
Two employees are pictured in May of 1943 with drums of chemicals manufactured by Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. The man is jotting down notes on a clipboard.
World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Chemical industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Working class--Tacoma--1940-1950; Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Factories--Tacoma--1940-1950;
Two workers at the Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. are photographed loading a freight railroad car with barrels of chemicals for shipment. During World War II, the company manufactured chemicals vital to the war industry.
World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Chemical industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Working class--Tacoma--1940-1950; Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Factories--Tacoma--1940-1950;
Worker in leather gloves was photographed working on a piece of machinery in May of 1943 at the Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co.
World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Chemical industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Working class--Tacoma--1940-1950; Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Factories--Tacoma--1940-1950;
State and local education officials observe some of the work being performed by the students at the Clover Park vocational center in Lakewood. The center was constructed to train workers in the skills needed in the defense industries.
World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Clover Park High School (Lakewood); Public schools--Tacoma--1940-1950;
State and local education leaders and Army officers pose at the February 13, 1943 opening of the "mechanic learner" program at the Clover Park vocational shop. The program will train women to work as mechanics at the Mount Rainier Ordnance Depot. Over 30 women were enrolled in the first class. (T. Times 2/18/1943, pg. 2)
World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Clover Park High School (Lakewood); Public schools--Tacoma--1940-1950;
War Housing; Salishan project. During World War II, Tacoma flourished; its economy buoyed up by the large government contracts issued to the area shipyards. But the city did not have enough available housing for the large influx of needed defense workers as the yards began to run 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. In 1942, Tacoma entered into its most ambitious housing project to date, the 2000+ home Salishan. It was hurriedly being built on 188 acres on Tacoma's southeast side. 1600 of the units were intended to be permanent and 400 temporary.
World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Housing developments--Tacoma--1940-1950; Salishan Housing Project (Tacoma);
In 1943, the US Department of Labor proposed that manpower be conserved by preventing accidents. In recognition of the National Conservation of Manpower through Accident Prevention Week, a group of Tacomans was studying advanced safety measures to be used in plants. They were inspecting and touring 12 of Tacoma's larger vital plants. The group is pictured visiting Birchfield Boiler and posing at the bow of a military ship under construction. Names listed in the newspaper. (T.Times, 2/22/1943, p. 3)
World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Industrial safety--Tacoma; Birchfield Boiler, Inc. (Tacoma); Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Piers & wharves--Tacoma;
Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Company, coverage of "E"pennant presentation during an outdoor ceremony on May 15, 1943. The pennant was raised on the company flagpole directly below the United States flag. It will fly proudly, testimony to the company's excellence in the production of war materials. The pennant was raised by VP Fred Shaneman and military dignitaries to the strains of "Anchors Aweigh." (Times, 5/17/1943, p.16)
World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Awards;
Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Company, coverage of the coveted "E" award during a May 15, 1943 outdoor ceremony. Vice President of the company, Fred C. Shanaman, addresses the crowd. The stage is covered by an oriental design carpet. A company building and parking lot are in the background. (T.Times, 5/17/1943, p.16)
World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Awards; Shanaman, Frederick Charles, 1901-1982;
Although the Second War Loan Drive had ended the day before, Tacomans were still busy buying stamps and bonds on May 2, 1943. A rally was held at noon time at the Liberty Center. One of the big purchasers was Mrs. M. J. Hunter, pictured center, whose brother was serving in the Armed Forces. She purchased a $1,000 series "E" War Bond for her daughter Beverly Joyce Hunter, right. In recognition of the purchase, a jeep at Fort Lewis would be named the "Beverly." TPL-1370 (T. Times 5/3/1943, pg. 2; TNT 5/3/1943, pg. 13)
World War, 1939-1945--Economic aspects of war--Tacoma; War Finance Committee (Tacoma); Military vehicles--1940-1950; War bonds & funds; Fund raising--Tacoma--1940-1950; Jeep automobile; Hunter, Beverly;
Publicity for U.S.O. Open House. Three enlisted men, one sailor and two soldiers, on the steps outside the U.S.O. The sign on the building reads "Federal Recreation Building." Tacomans were invited to tour the four USO Clubs in celebration of the one year anniversary of the completion of two of the clubs. The sailor in the center is believed to be Charles Bryant of Tacoma.
World War, 1939-1945--Military life--Tacoma; USO clubs (Tacoma)--1940-1950;
Easter Service for Coast Guard. In April of 1943, men who were unable to leave the base to spend Easter with their families were able to invite their wives and sweethearts to attend services held at the Coast Guard patrol base in Tacoma. C. Lyle Rich, acting chaplain, conducted the service with Herbert Ford who sang solos and led hymns. Coast Guard Headquarters was located in the Municipal Dock Building. (T. Times, 4/26/43, p.8)
World War, 1939-1945--Social aspects--Tacoma; Religious services--Tacoma--1940-1950; Easter--Tacoma;
Program coverage. U.S.O. Unit #2. A group of mostly service men are seated in the audience. Other unidentified individuals are seated on the stage. In 1943, the Army was still segregated and the USO Club art 713-15 Commerce was intended for servicemen of color. [Also dated 02-29-1943]
World War, 1939-1945--Social aspects--Tacoma; USO clubs (Tacoma)--1940-1950; African Americans--Social life--1940-1950;
