ca. 1940. Mayor Harry P. Cain with personal secretary Pearl Rehbock at his office in (Old) City Hall about 1940. She appears to be taking dictation. There is a copy of a Washington Association of Cities publication on his desk blotter and a City of Atlanta Traffic Study in his "IN" box. By the 1942 City Directory, Mrs. Rehbock of the Steilacoom Lake area, was listed as the office manager of the USO-YMCA. ALBUM 12.

Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979; Rehbock, Pearl; Office workers--Tacoma--1940-1950;

ca. 1940. Mayor Harry P. Cain with personal secretary Pearl Rehbock at his office in (Old) City Hall. A Washington Association of Cities publication is on his desk blotter, City of Atlanta Traffic Study in his "IN" box. Mrs. Rehbock appears to be taking the mayor's dictation in this ca. 1940 photograph. ALBUM 12.

Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979; Rehbock, Pearl; Office workers--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Mayor Val Fawcett gives a warm welcome to Al Thrall (L) and Richard Williams visiting (Old) City Hall in the spring of 1947. Quick thinking on the part of the two 17-year-olds during the March 29th Daffodil Parade prevented injury and disruption of the annual event. Richard Williams, driving a float with Al Thrall assisting, warned the packed crowds and managed to stop his runaway float when its brakes failed. (T.Times 4-1-47, p. 7) ALBUM 14.

Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fawcett, Clarence Valdo, 1900-1965; Shaking hands--Tacoma; Teenagers; Thrall, Al; Williams, Richard;

Mayor C. V. "Val" Fawcett was visited in his office at (old) City Hall by three young women from Olympia dressed as cowgirls. The young women were graduates of the Class of 1947 and had recently won a popularity contest in Olympa. They called on Mayor Fawcett to invite all Tacoma and vicinity residents to Olympia's grand 4th of July show. L-R, Ruth Stubbs, Mayor Fawcett, Martha Strange and Audrey Strandness. (T.Times, 6/13/1947, p.4) ALBUM 14.

Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fawcett, Clarence Valdo, 1900-1965; Stubbs, Ruth; Strange, Martha; Strandness, Audrey;

ca. 1941. Mayor Harry P.Cain, seated at desk, speaks with a group of intently listening men in his office at (Old) City Hall. Bob O'Neil, Public Utilities Commissioner, is seated to Cain's left.

Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979; Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; O'Neil, Robert D.; Municipal officials--Tacoma--1940-1950;

On Saturday, December 19, 1936, boys from the Order of De Molay took over Tacoma's city government for the day. This annual event was intended to teach the organization's members about the inner workings of government. The young government officials were, left to right, George Helmer-Safety Commissioner, Harry Mitchell- finance, Les Miller- City Controller, Sid Castle- Mayor, Bob Metz-Works Commissioner and Glen Wallace- Utilities Chief. The Order of DeMolay was sponsored by the Freemasons. (T.Times 12/19/1936, pg. 1)

Teenagers--1930-1940; Order of DeMolay (Tacoma); Municipal government--Tacoma--1930-1940; Helmer, George; Mitchell, Harry; Miller, Les; Castle, Sid; Metz, Bob; Wallace, Glen;

ca. 1934. Portrait of Tacoma Mayor George A. Smitley in his office at (Old) City Hall. Sepia photograph was taken during his first, and only, term of office. 62 years old at the time of the photograph, Mr. Smitley had vowed not to run again, believing that one term was sufficient. His aim, according to a speech to the Democratic Club in March, 1934, was to increase payrolls in Tacoma, by developing industry. Mr. Smitley passed away in 1956 at the age of 84. ALBUM 11.

Mayors--Tacoma--1930-1940; Smitley, George A., 1872-1956;

ca. 1934. Sepia portrait of Tacoma Mayor George A. Smitley at (Old) City Hall. A native of Fort Wayne, Indiana, Mr. Smitley was a traveling salesman for the Majestic Manufacturing Co. for twelve years. He came to Tacoma in 1905 and worked for the C.E. Horton Furniture Co. for nine years. While in Tacoma, Mr. Smitley joined the Elks Club, eventually becoming the secretary and manager. His association with many civic and social groups, including the Elks, Masons, Lions, Tacoma Gun Club and Shriners, may have assisted him when he made a successful bid in 1934 for the mayor's seat. He had held no previous political office prior to becoming mayor. During his tenure as mayor, Fort Nisqually Reconstruction was officially dedicated and President Roosevelt whistlestopped in Tacoma. ALBUM 11, ALBUM 16.

Mayors--Tacoma--1930-1940; Smitley, George A., 1872-1956;

ca. 1934. Portrait of Tacoma Mayor George A. Smitley in his office at (Old) City Hall. Mr. Smitley succeeded two-time mayor, Melvin G. Tennent, as the city's chief executive. Formerly a traveling salesman, furniture company manager and Elks secretary/manager, Mr. Smitley won election in March, 1934, despite never holding a political office. During his administration, Franklin Roosevelt visited Tacoma on a brief stopover and Fort Nisqually's reconstruction efforts took place. ALBUM 11.

Mayors--Tacoma--1930-1940; Smitley, George A., 1872-1956;

ca. 1934. Portrait of Mayor George A. Smitley in his office at (Old) City Hall. In this 1934 sepia photograph, Mr. Smitley is wearing a three-piece suit; he has one hand resting on the mayor's desk. Having held no previous political office, he succeeded two-term mayor Melvin G. Tennent. A former salesman, furniture company manager and Elks Club secretary/manager, and well known in Tacoma, Mr. Smitley was mayor for one four-year term. He was married in 1930 to Mrs. W.C. (Isabel) Bowen. ALBUM 11.

Mayors--Tacoma--1930-1940; Smitley, George A., 1872-1956;

On August 28, 1947 C.V. Fawcett, the current Mayor of Tacoma and the reigning Pacific Coast Mayors' Salmon Derby champion, squeezed in a few extra minutes of practice for the upcoming competition in his City Hall office. The mayor had barely a moment to spare as the derby was scheduled to take place on Saturday, August 30th in Ilwaco. Dressed in fisherman's waders and a warm plaid jacket, Mr. Fawcett was photographed diligently studying the book "Salmon Fishing on Puget Sound" while dangling his (unbaited) hook over a metal bucket. He hoped to repeat his triumph of the previous year when he hauled in a 22-pound salmon, handily defeating mayors from California, Portland and other Pacific Coast cities. And should people scoff at the mayor's unusual bucket training, it must be stated that he had employed the same technique the year he won. Mayor Fawcett managed to pull in a 25 lb. fish, winning the 1947 derby. (TNT 8-29-71, p. 1) TPL-8264

Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fawcett, Clarence Valdo, 1900-1965; Fishing; Fishermen--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fishing & hunting gear;

Safety Award being presented in Mayor Val Fawcett's office to Police Department and other city departments by the American Automobile Association. The Pedestrian Protection Award was presented to the Tacoma Police Department and citizens for their reduction in pedestrian accidents. (T.Times, 6/24/1947, p.3)

Police--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Police Department (Tacoma); Safety; Accidents; American Automobile Association (Tacoma); Awards; Fawcett, Clarence Valdo, 1900-1965; Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Safety Award being presented in Mayor's office to Police Department and other city departments, AAA Pedestrian Protection award. Tacoma won a National Safety Plaque by the Automobile Association of America in recognition of the work done by Tacoma police and citizens to reduce pedestrian accidents. Tacoma was given third place in cities with populations from 100,000 to 500,000. (T.Times, 6/24/1947, p.3)

Police--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Police Department (Tacoma); Safety; Accidents; American Automobile Association (Tacoma); Awards;

Mayor Val Fawcett, seated center, and city Public Utilities Commissioner C.A. "Clif" Erdahl (seated foreground) listen patiently to delegations from church groups and others, who have just delivered petitions calling for the outlawing of pinball machines. A city Legal Department memo, dated 12/29/1946, is on the table in foreground. Despite two hours of fervent protest by council visitors, the mayor and council would go on to pass an emergency ordinance on December 30, 1946, amending pinball regulations in the city. Pinball machines would not be outlawed but instead have a 5% tax on these "payoff" machines. ALBUM 14. (T.Times 12-30-46, p. 1, 14-article; TNT 12-30-46, p. 1-article)

Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fawcett, Clarence Valdo, 1900-1965; Petitions--Tacoma;

Voting against the wishes of Tacoma's churches and social service organizations, Mayor Val Fawcett (left) and the city council passed an ordinance on December 30, 1946 amending the pinball machine regulations in Tacoma. Rather than banning the "one armed bandits" as the churches preferred, the city voted to collect a 5% tax on all "payoff" machines within Tacoma city limits. An estimated $120,000 would be added to the city's coffers. An unidentified man is pointing to the wording on one of the 35 petitions brought in to city hall by the pinball machine opponents, including those signed by the YMCA, Salvation Army, WCTU and the PLU student body. ALBUM 14. (T.Times 12-30-46, p. 1, 14-article; TNT 12-30-46, p. 1-article)

Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fawcett, Clarence Valdo, 1900-1965; Petitions--Tacoma;

Aloha! An unidentified woman drapes a flowered Hawaiian lei around the neck of Tacoma Mayor Val Fawcett in a publicity photo for KVI Radio taken at his office in (Old) City Hall. ALBUM 14.

Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fawcett, Clarence Valdo, 1900-1965; Leis;

Tacoma Mayor Val Fawcett wears a Hawaiian lei in a publicity photo for KVI Radio taken at his office in (Old) City Hall. ALBUM 14.

Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fawcett, Clarence Valdo, 1900-1965; Leis;

Three generations at the June 3, 1946, swearing in of Tacoma Mayor Val Fawcett. Left to Right: wife Linda, granddaughter Linda, Mayor Fawcett, mother Margaret (widow of Mayor A.V. Fawcett) and daughter Margaret. The City of Tacoma got a new mayor and two new councilmen on Monday morning, June 3rd, as Val Fawcett and L.W. (Roy) Craig (new Finance Commissioner) and Robert S. Temme (new Public Safety Commissioner) took the oath of office. Mayor Fawcett was no stranger to the office of mayor - he had managed the dual role of acting mayor and finance commissioner for 2.5 years while Harry P. Cain was on military leave with the Army. Harry Cain had vacated the mayor's post to run for U.S. Senate. ALBUM 14 (TNT 6-2-42, A-1-article)

Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fawcett, Clarence Valdo, 1900-1965; Fawcett, Clarence Valdo, 1900-1965--Family;

Newly sworn in mayor Val Fawcett posed proudly with his immediate family on June 3, 1946. This is a cropped version of D22427, image 6, with the portrait of Mayor A.V. Fawcett nearly removed. Mayor Val Fawcett is holding his granddaughter Linda Knecht, and is flanked by wife Linda (with orchid corsage) and mother Margaret, widow of A.V. Next to Margaret Fawcett is Val's daughter, also named Margaret and her husband, Norbert Knecht. ALBUM 14.

Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fawcett, Clarence Valdo, 1900-1965; Fawcett, Clarence Valdo, 1900-1965--Family;

Three generations at swearing in of Mayor Val Fawcett. L to R: wife Linda, granddaughter Linda, Fawcett, mother Margaret (widow of Mayor A.V. Fawcett), daughter Margaret, son-in-law Norbert Knecht. Fawcett Senior's portrait overlooks the family group. ALBUM 14.

Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fawcett, Clarence Valdo, 1900-1965; Fawcett, Clarence Valdo, 1900-1965--Family;

Tacoma Mayor Val Fawcett, son of the celebrated Mayor A.V. Fawcett, at (Old) City Hall for his swearing in ceremony on June 3, 1946. Members of the city council flank the mayor. They are: (l-r) L.W. "Roy" Craig, Abner R. Bergersen, Robert S. Temme and C.A. "Clif" Erdahl. (T.Times 6-3-46, p. 1)

Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fawcett, Clarence Valdo, 1900-1965; Craig, L.W.; Bergersen, Abner R.; Temme, Robert S.; Erdahl, C.A.; Municipal officials--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Mayor Harry P. Cain signs "Paternal Week" proclamation for the Maccabees on May 17, 1946. Observing is believed to be Robert Goldberg. Mr. Goldberg was also the president of the Fraternal Congress of the State of Washington. ALBUM 13. (T.Times 5-13-1946, p. 7-article & photograph re: Fraternal Congress of the State of Washington)

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

A uniformed Harry P. Cain in the Mayor's office in (Old) City Hall, shortly after his return from Europe. A Christmas tree, dripping in tinsel, is in the background. Framed photographs fill the wall behind Lt. Col. Cain. He had interrupted his mayoral duties to join the US Army in 1943 and fought in the European theater. ALBUM 13.

Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979; Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Military uniforms--United States; Christmas trees--Tacoma;

In December of 1945 Mayor Harry P. Cain returned to Tacoma to once again take up his mayoral duties. In 1943 he had taken a leave of absence from his elected office to enter the Army as a major. He left the city in the capable hands of C. Val Fawcett, who had previously served as Commissioner of Finance. By the end of the war Mayor Cain had risen in rank to Lieutenant Colonel. Once back in office he served as mayor of Tacoma until June 15, 1946, when he chose to run for the U.S. Senate. Album 13.

Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979; Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Military uniforms--United States;

City Finance Commissioner and Acting Mayor Val Fawcett poses with V.F.W. Auxlliary Ladies for a Poppy Sale publicity photo in front of (Old) City Hall. The proceeds from the sale of the tiny red flowers go to support veterans' programs. (T. Times) ALBUM 14.

Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fawcett, Clarence Valdo, 1900-1965; Fund raising--Tacoma--1940-1950; Patriotic societies--Tacoma--1940-1950; Veterans organizations--Tacoma--1940-1950;

An overflow crowd jammed into the Council Chambers on April 16, 1943 to hear the arguments for, and against, Mayor Cain's proposed pinball ordinance, while even more people waited outside. The biggest crowd to gather at this location in 25 years discussed the issue for two hours. Those against felt the machines should be abolished. Others felt they should be watched more closely, taxed and the money used to keep children away from the machines. When the ordinance came before the City Council a few days later, it was voted down 4-1, with Mayor Cain being the only yes vote. (Times 4/16/1943, pg. 3-picture; TNT 4/16/1943, pg. 1)

Legislative hearings--Tacoma; Crowds; Overcrowding; Municipal government;

Impeachment trial of Public Safety Commissioner Einar Langseth for misconduct and neglect of duty stemming from allowing illegal gambling to prosper in Tacoma. L to R: Corporation Counsel Howard Carothers, Defense counsel E.K. Murray, Commissioner Langseth, Public Utilities Commissioner R.D. "Bob" O'Neil, Public Finance Commissioner C. Val Fawcett, Public Works Commissioner Abner Bergersen, Mayor Harry P. Cain during one-day impeachment hearing on April 30, 1943. Mayor Cain served as his own counsel when he attempted to remove Commissioner Langseth from his office. The city council chose to retain Commissioner Langseth; Mayor Cain had the only "no" vote. Commissioner Langseth did not vote. (T.Times, 5-1-43, 4-30-43, 4-28-43, TNT 5-1-43, 4-30-43)

Impeachments--Washington; Municipal officials--Tacoma--1940-1950; Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979; Carothers, Howard; Murray, E.K.; Langseth, Einar, 1892-1968; O'Neil, Robert D.; Fawcett, Clarence Valdo, 1900-1965; Bergersen, Abner R.;

Val Fawcett, acting mayor of Tacoma, looks up at a portrait of his father, colorful former Mayor A.V. Fawcett, hanging on the wall in Tacoma's (Old) City Hall at 625 Commerce St.. Val Fawcett assumed office to allow Mayor Harry Cain to serve in the Army. C.V. "Val" Fawcett took over as acting mayor in May of 1943. He was elected mayor in 1946 and served until 1950. The portrait of A.V. Fawcett is now hanging in the Rare Book Room of the Tacoma Public Library Main Branch. TPL6634 (T. Times 5/13/1943, pg. 1)

Fawcett, Clarence Valdo, 1900-1965; Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fawcett, Angelo Vance; World War, 1939-1945--Social aspects--Tacoma;

Tacoma Mayor Harry P. Cain and county PTA President Mrs. Byron Moye are pictured on April 27, 1943, at the Mayor's Office in (Old) City Hall. Mrs. Moye is buying a $1000 War Bond, fulfilling a promise made the previous Saturday at the Liberty Center. All purchasers of Series E Bonds at the rally were given a wild ride in an open Army Jeep. Mrs. Moye promised to buy a bond for every jeep load of women buyers that afternoon. (TNT 4/29/1943, pg. 27)

Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979; Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; War bonds & funds;

Tacoma Mayor Harry P. Cain and Pierce County P.T.A. President Mrs. Byron Moye at the Mayor's Office in (Old) City Hall on April 27, 1943. Mrs. Moye is buying a $1000 War Bond and fulfilling a promise made the previous Saturday at the Liberty Center. Individuals who bought a Series E bond (18.75 and up) were taken on a hair-raising drive in an army jeep. Mrs. Moye pledged to buy a bond for every jeep load of women war bond buyers that afternoon. Publicity for the War Finance Board. (TNT 4/19/43, PG. 27; Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979; )

Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979; Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; War bonds & funds;