A large group of North End Tacoma Skiers and sledders huddled around an open fire to warm up on Saturday January 9, 1937. After several days of below freezing temperatures, it warmed up in Tacoma on January the 8th and 9th just enough to bring several inches of snow. The only identified revellers in this photograph are: Jean Osborne (standing, far left, with ski poles), Gwen McKie (center, in light colored jacket, with ski poles), and Jean McKie (far right, on skis). (T. Times 1/11/1937 p.1).
This winter view of the "Old Town" district of Tacoma was taken on January 9, 1937 from the porch of the Richards' residence at 103 East Road on Prospect Hill. The mill on the waterfront is the Henry Mill & Timber Company at 3001 North Starr Street. The residential street running through the center of the photograph is North 29th Street. Temperatures on Friday the 8th had dropped as low as 15 degrees; as the temperatures began to climb into the 30s, snow moved in to blanket the area. (T. Times 1-11-1937, pg. 1)
Groups in North End Tacoma after a snow storm. Three young skiers: Jean McKie, Gwen McKie, and Jean Osborne are pictured on Carr St. Boy with a sled and large homes in background. The week was starting out with new low temperatures. The Tacoma Field weather station recorded a low of 2.7 degrees above zero. City Hall recorded 15 degrees above. Motorists were advised to stay home or drive with chains. Police reminded the public that pulling a sled behind your car and driving recklessly were against the law. At least another 24 hours of record low temperatures was forecast for the local area. (T. Times, 1/11/1937, p. 1)
On January 9, 1937, a group of unidentified skiers and sledders gathered on the open lawn just south of Annie Wright School with Garfield Park and Borough Road behind them. Tacoma awoke that day to find itself thoroughly blanketed with snow. Because of low temperatures, the snow lasted for several days, and a warning was published in Tacoma's papers that towing sleds was illegal, and drivers caught pulling sleds would be liable to fines up to $100. It is unclear whether the tennis courts behind the young ladies in this photograph belong to Annie Wright or to the Tacoma Lawn Tennis Club. (T. Times 1/9/1937).
Exterior of home of Reno & Edith Odlin at 610 No. Yakima Ave. The Odlins had purchased the home in October of 1936 and were capturing the structure covered in snow for next year's Christmas card. The modified Italian was built in 1926 by Charles W. Rhodes, who was both the owner and the architect. (WSHS)
View of E. C. Richards' house in snow. Owner was President of Hunt and Mottet Hardware Company. Constructed in 1914, George W. Bullard and Irwin Hill, Architects. Home was photographed on January 11, 1937. (Argentum)
Exterior of Malcolm N. and Winifred M. Saxton home. Two and 1/2 story frame tudor residence with small triangular bays at attic level. Snow on ground. (Argentum)
Major Albert H. Hooker of Hooker Chemical Company in reserve officer uniform and hat. Mr. Hooker retired from the Army as a Colonel and served in both World Wars. He was also a civic leader who was elected as a Tacoma city councilman and served as a member of the Board of Trustees for the University of Puget Sound. A son of one of the four founders of Hooker Chemical, he occupied the post of the company's western Sales Manager. He died at the age of 76 in May of 1971. At the time of his death, he and his wife Ellen resided at 4755 So 48th St. (TNT 5/24/1971, pg. 1)
World War, 1939-1945--Military personnel--Tacoma; Hooker, Albert H.;
Charles H. Manley, 80, stands beside his cigar store Indian in front of his tobacco store at the corner of 9th and Pacific in January of 1937. Manley's cigar store had been in downtown Tacoma for 48 years. The statue was carved in 1883 from a solid piece of straight grained Southern pine by a Chicago firm that specialized in creating wooden Indian signs for cigar stores. He was painted with four coats of bright paint and then shipped by N.P.rail to Mr. Manley in Livingston, MT. Total cost was $350 plus $75 in shipping, a princely sum that soon paid off in increased business. Native Americans named the sculpture "Skookum" because he was so big and painted so brightly. He was on wheels so that he could be moved inside in inclement weather. Mr. Manley heard of the Tacoma boom and set out to make his fortune, transporting "Skookum" by freight car and setting up his business at Pacific & 9th St. where "Skookum" would remain for 58 years; he was sold in 1946 to Seattle businessmen for $900. (T. Times 1-11-1937, pg. 14; TNT 1/7/1979)
Manley, Charles H.; Charles H. Manley Tobacconist/Cigar Store (Tacoma); Cigar store Indians--Tacoma;
Exterior of home of Reno & Edith Odlin at 610 No. Yakima Ave. The Odlins had purchased the home in October of 1936 and were capturing the structure covered in snow for next year's Christmas card. The modified Italian was built in 1926 by Charles W. Rhodes, who was both the owner and the architect. (WSHS)
Charles H. Manley, 80, stands beside his cigar store Indian in front of his tobacco store at the corner of 9th and Pacific in January of 1937. Manley's cigar store had been in downtown Tacoma for 48 years. The statue was carved in 1883 from a solid piece of straight grained Southern pine by a Chicago firm that specialized in creating wooden Indian signs for cigar stores. He was painted with four coats of bright paint and then shipped by N.P.rail to Mr. Manley in Livingston, MT. Total cost was $350 plus $75 in shipping, a princely sum that soon paid off in increased business. Native Americans named the sculpture "Skookum" because he was so big and painted so brightly. He was on wheels so that he could be moved inside in inclement weather. Mr. Manley heard of the Tacoma boom and set out to make his fortune, transporting "Skookum" by freight car and setting up his business at Pacific & 9th St. where "Skookum" would remain for 58 years; he was sold in 1946 to a Seattle businessmen for $900. (T. Times 1-11-1937, pg. 14; TNT 1/7/1979)
Manley, Charles H.; Charles H. Manley Tobacconist/Cigar Store (Tacoma); Cigar store Indians--Tacoma;
Mrs. Alice Watson residence. Large, early vernacular-style house with Colonial details, half circle fanlight or "wagon spoke" window in front gable. The home was built in 1888 for Augustus Walters. It was designed by K. Lockwood Squire, architect. At the time of the photograph, it was the residence of Mr. Walters' granddaughter Alice R. Watson, widow of Thomas T. It was also the home of Tacoma Times Society editor Janet Watson Brady. It has since been demolished. (Argentum)
A snowfall mid January of 1937 prompted Tacomans to contact the Richards Studio to capture the snow draped, festive image of their home. This was the exterior of the home of Malcolm N. and Winifred Saxton. Mr. Saxton was the president of the Saxton Lumber Co. and the VP of Dickman Lumber Co. Two and 1/2 story frame Tudor residence with small triangular bays at attic level. Snow on ground. House built in 1931. (Argentum)
View of E. C. Richards' house in snow. Owner was President of Hunt and Mottet Hardware Company. Constructed in 1914, George W. Bullard and Irwin Hill, Architects. Home had reportedly a fine view of the water. (Argentum)
In January of 1937, Charles W. Greening, manager of the Lincoln Branch of the Puget Sound National Bank of Tacoma, stood behind the bank counter while holding a 30-30 caliber rifle crooked over his arm. He became a local hero when he pursued and shot a young bandit who held up his bank on January 13th, 1937. Mr. Greening commandeered a passing car and fired three shots at the fleeing automobile driven by the robber. The wounded robber was arrested when he sought medical attention in Spokane. Mr. Greening was later rewarded with a watch by the bank's insurance company. (T. Times 1-13-37, p. 1-photograph & article; 11/11/1937, pg. 13-article on award)
Puget Sound National Bank (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Greening, Charles W.; Robberies--Tacoma--1930-1940;
College of Puget Sound Homecoming play "Night of January 16th" by Ayn Rand. Popular play with a "hook"; the jury was selected from the audience before each performance and asked to find the accused guilty or not guilty of murder at the end of the staged trial.
Theatrical productions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Universities & colleges--Tacoma; College of Puget Sound (Tacoma)--1930-1940;
Garbage truckmen, working for the City of Tacoma, Refuse Collection Division, test the latest type of collection truck, the "Refuse Getter." Before the rear tray loading equipment was adopted by the city, collectors had to lift heavy garbage cans over the top of high-body trucks. (T. Times, 1/20/1937, p. 10).
Rodella Hockom placed the crown on Snow Queen Maurita Shank's head on January 30, 1937 during the 6th Annual Tacoma Winter Sports Carnival at Paradise, Mt. Rainier Park. Standing with Queen Maurita are her ladies in waiting Mary Brockhoff (L) and Billie Woodruff. Snow fell all day on the 30th, hampering attendance at the Carnival, but delighting the Queen and her Court who only paused in their skiing long enough for this informal crowning. The official coronation never took place. The 133 inches of snow on the ground at Paradise made for great skiing, but hazardous driving and festival participants only numbered about 2500. (T.Times 2/1/1937, pg. 1)
Skiers; Shank, Maurita; Hockom, Rodella; Brockhoff, Mary; Woodruff, Billie; Events--Tacoma; Mount Rainier National Park (Wash.);
Rodella Hockom crowns Snow Queen Maurita Shank, who is flanked by her ladies in waiting Mary Brockhoff (L) and Billie Woodruff, on January 30, 1937 during the 6th Annual Tacoma Winter Sports Carnival at Paradise, Mt. Rainier Park. Queen Maurita, a junior at the College of Puget Sound, only stopped skiing long enough to smile for the camera during this informal crowning. Constant snowfall all day prevented the official coronation from taking place but the Queen and her Court hardly noticed; they were too busy enjoying the 133 inches of snow. (T. Times 2/1/1937, pg. 1)
Shank, Maurita; Hockom, Rodella; Brockhoff, Mary; Woodruff, Billie; Events--Tacoma; Mount Rainier National Park (Wash.);
Seattle skier Don Fraser, left, winner of the Men's Slalom in the Tacoma Winter Carnival at Paradise, shakes hands with another man on January 30, 1937. Fraser, a member of the 1936 Olympic team, later married Gretchen Kunigk, the Tacoma skier who medaled at the 1948 Olympics. He would go on to capture the 1938 Men's Slalom race at Paradise as well.
On Friday evening, January 8, 1937, twenty five students in the Tacoma General Hospital nursing program took their first step toward graduating as nurses. The women received their caps, signifying that they had completed the preliminary four month basic course in theory and practice. The students will receive their full graduation honors when they complete their studies in May of 1939. Photograph of nurses congratulating one another. Left to right, Miss Sutherling congratulates Miss Baskerville, Miss Gibson and Miss Rembert, Miss Timmerman and Miss Phillips, Miss Harvey and Miss Barton, and Miss Pederson is congratulated by Clarence Cummings, superintendent of Tacoma General. (T.Times 1/7/1937, pg.. 4- picture; TNT 1/8/1937, pg. 2) (filed with Argentum)
Hospitals--Tacoma--1930-1940; Tacoma General Hospital (Tacoma); Nurses--Tacoma--1930-1940;
Charles W. Greening, manager of the Lincoln Branch Puget Sound National Bank of Tacoma, stands behind the bank counter and discusses recent bank robberies. He became a hero when he pursued and shot a young bandit who held up his bank January 13th, 1937. The wounded robber was arrested when he sought medical attention in Spokane. Mr. Greening was later rewarded with a watch by the bank's insurance company. (T. Times 11/11/1937, pg. 13)
Puget Sound National Bank (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Greening, Charles W.;
Mayor George Smitley buying tickets for the Grange Ball. J.C. Blaser, master of the Collins Grange, is pointing at a ticket placed before Mayor Smitley. The funds raised by the benefit dance would help rebuild the children's farm home at Lacy, which had been recently destroyed by fire. The dance was held on Saturday, February 13, 1937. As mayor, Mr. Smitley apparently was expected to, and did, purchase many tickets to various charitable and social affairs. ALBUM 11. (T.Times 2/11/1937, pg. 3)
Mayors--Tacoma--1930-1940; Smitley, George A., 1872-1956; Blaser, J.C.;
Warren Y. and Barbara Hull with their children Nancy & Kirk skiing at Paradise, Mount Rainier Park. For more images of the same family, see D745- images 46, 47 & 50.(T. Times).
Families--Tacoma--1930-1940; Skiing; Children skiing; Mount Rainier National Park (Wash.); Hull, Warren--Family;
Ice hockey at Hoodlum Lake near So. 12th St. and So. Puget Sound. Six young boy with sticks in hand, including Franklin Elementary School students Milton and Kenneth Parkhurst, are ready for a game of "shinny," the "grandpappy" of hockey, on the frozen lake. The lake, a favorite hangout for youngsters, served as the old swimmin' hole in the summer, the frog catchin' place in the spring and the ice rink in the winter. The lake was filled in when Franklin Park was developed on the site. (T. Times 1/21/1937, pg. 15)
Hoodlum Lake (Tacoma); Ice hockey--Tacoma--1930-1940; Winter sports; Children playing outdoors--Tacoma--1930-1940;
In January of 1937, Julius Twohy was photographed as he stood on a scaffold to create a mural across the 72 foot long dining room wall at the Cushman Hospital at 2002 East 28th Street. The young Ute Indian artist from Seattle paused in his work to explain the story in his "Indian writing" to Dr. John N. Alley, superintendent of the hospital. The art work was part of a Works Progress Administration (WPA) project. The mural, photographed here after three months of work, was projected to take another three months to complete. It told the legend of the Thunder Bird, the Indian weather god, in the language of Twohy's ancestors. The figures were outlined in thick black and would be filled in with brilliant red, blue, yellow and reddish brown. The artist was a member of the Ute tribe from the Uintah Basin in eastern Utah. (WSHS) (T. Times 2/13/1937, pg. 9- picture & article, 7/8/1936, pg. 13)
Hospitals--Tacoma--1940-1950; Cushman Indian Hospital (Tacoma); Indians of North America--Tacoma--1940-1950; Twohy, Julius; Alley, John N.;
Group of girls from Annie Wright Seminary during a ski trip to Paradise, Mount Rainier Park. L to R; P.E. teacher Mary Wells Leiter, Caroline Stone, Given McKie, Lois Jannsen, Helen Stone. (T. Times 1/30/1937)
Private schools--Tacoma; Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Skiing; Mount Rainier National Park (Wash.); Students--Tacoma--1930-1940; Leiter, Mary Wells; Stone, Caroline; McKie, Given; Jannsen, Lois; Stone, Helen;
