ca. 1901. Sepia photograph of a Lincoln Elementary School class in 1901. Standing on the steps of Lincoln Elementary are numerous students; in the third row, second from the left is reportedly Jeston Reed Foss. Originally named West School, construction began on the new school at 1610 South K Street (now MLK Way) in 1887. It was renamed in honor of President Abraham Lincoln in 1889. The school began as a two-room school with two grades; by 1890, it had four grades and five teachers. The school was closed and demolished in 1938. Most of the students and staff were transferred to McCarver Junior High where they joined students from Longfellow to form a new elementary school. Others were assigned to either Central or Stanley schools. (Olsen: For the Record, p. 57) (note: the same photograph is identified in Olsen's book as Hawthorne School)

Lincoln Elementary School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1900-1910; School children--Tacoma;

Back of Photo:
Students who live in Puyallup's South Hill area are riding their school bus to the South Hill school called Woodland Elementary.
Bruce Kellman/Photo

Diverse group of schoolchildren posing next to buses in front of the First Assembly of God Church.

Pet Parade at Spanaway Elementary School. Several children with dogs, some in costume. School building in background. Photograph taken in May of 1940.

Spanaway Elementary School (Spanaway); School children--Spanaway; Pets; Dogs--Spanaway; Costumes;

Children walk in a school pet parade down a road in Spanaway in May of 1940. Some are holding onto dogs and other pets; others are riding decorated bicycles and a toy automobile. Early Spanaway buildings dot the background-- a false front store and a pioneer log building on the left. Image printed in reverse.

Spanaway Elementary School (Spanaway); School children--Spanaway; Pets; Parades & processions--Spanaway; Bicycles & tricycles--Spanaway; Costumes;

Pets of all kinds were on display at the annual Spanaway School pet show held on Wednesday May 15, 1940. The unidentified little girl at the far left, standing next to a very young Uncle Sam, is holding a dog dressed in a shirt with a frilly collar and overalls. The girl at the right holds a bicycle decorated with crepe paper streamers. Spanaway Elementary School was built in 1927 at 15600 East B Street. It was torn down shortly after the Chester H. Thompson Elementary School opened in 1969. (T. Times 5/17/1940 p.8)

Spanaway Elementary School (Spanaway); School children--Spanaway; Pets; Animal shows--Spanaway; Bicycles & tricycles--Spanaway; Costumes;

Pet Parade at Spanaway School. The winners of most of the events at the annual pet show at Spanaway School on May 15, 1940 are pictured. Pets of all kinds were exhibited at the show. Large group of children dressed in costumes with their dogs and bicycles. One-story school building in background. Active boys are climbing on building and hanging from roof while teachers concentrate on parade group. (T. Times 5/17/1940, pg. 8)

Spanaway Elementary School (Spanaway); School children--Spanaway; Pets; Animal shows--Spanaway; Parades & processions--Spanaway; Bicycles & tricycles--Spanaway; Costumes;

Group shot of most of the winners in all catagories at the Pet Show and Parade at Spanaway Elementary School on May 15, 1940. Costumed pets and owners predominate with decorated bicycles as another competitor. Several boys stand on structures in the background to get in on the picture.

Spanaway Elementary School (Spanaway); School children--Spanaway; Pets; Animal shows--Spanaway; Parades & processions--Spanaway; Bicycles & tricycles--Spanaway; Costumes;

Pet Parade at Spanaway School. Pets of all types were exhibited at the annual pet show May 15, 1940 at Spanaway School. Photograph shows most of the winners of the various events. Large group of children dressed in costumes with their dogs. Exterior of one-story school building in background. Active boys are climbing on building and hanging from roof while teachers concentrate on parade group. (T. Times 5/17/1940, pg. 8)

Spanaway Elementary School (Spanaway); School children--Spanaway; Pets; Animal shows--Spanaway; Parades & processions--Spanaway; Bicycles & tricycles--Spanaway; Costumes;

With much excitement and enthusiasm, Spanaway school children held a pet parade and marched down local roads in May of 1940. It was an opportunity to dress in costumes and show-off their favorite pets. Some of the children rode decorated bicycles and toy automobiles; one child (second from the left). whose head-mask is off, dressed as a spotted dog with long ears .

Spanaway Elementary School (Spanaway); School children--Spanaway; Pets; Dogs--Spanaway; Parades & processions--Spanaway; Bicycles & tricycles--Spanaway; Costumes;

May, 1949, Pet Parade at Spanaway School. Several children with dogs, some in costume. One child is wearing a dog costume, while his dog is dressed like a person.

Spanaway Elementary School (Spanaway); School children--Spanaway; Pets; Dogs--Spanaway; Parades & processions--Spanaway; Bicycles & tricycles--Spanaway; Costumes;

1940 Pet Parade at Spanaway Elementary School. In a turn from the usual, the boy is dressed in a dog suit with a paper mache head and long ears and the dog is dressed as a human.

Spanaway Elementary School (Spanaway); School children--Spanaway; Pets; Parades & processions--Spanaway; Dogs--Spanaway; Costumes;

Lowell students and their principal prepare for a howling good time at the '53 Halloween Carnival. The Lowell School Parent-Teacher and Preschool Association sponsored a school carnival on Friday October 23, 1953. Pictured left to right are Sammie Warren, Nancy Conly, principal Clarence Monson, Andy Levesque, Tommy Rowland and Judith Sleep.With his chef's hat and apron, Principal Monson looks as if he'll be manning the hot dog grill. The carnival midway had over 30 booths including fun booths where students could throw darts at balloons or shoes at stuffed animals; food booths with ice cream, hot dogs and pop corn; and craft booths where they could make decorations or put on make-up. (TNT 10/20/1953, pg. A-11)

Lowell Elementary School (Tacoma); School children--Tacoma--1950-1960; Public schools--Tacoma--1950-1960; Halloween--Social life; Monson, Clarence; Warren, Sammie; Conly, Nancy; Levesque, Andy; Rowland, Tommy; Sleep, Judith;

Progress photographs of DeLong School, for the DFPA. The school was one story of wooden frame construction with a brick veneer facing. It was built to accomodate 280 students and was needed to relieve overcrowding. The school would serve the area north and east of Fircrest. The school was projected to open in February of 1954. The transfer of students to DeLong was protested by parents in two key areas bordered by 6th Ave., So. 9th, So. Proctor and So. Monroe, and 6th Ave., So 8th, So. Monroe and So. Mason. These children would be walking almost twice as far to get to DeLong as to their current school through rough terrain. No school busses were scheduled on this route. (TNT 8/9/1953, pg. C-12)

DeLong Elementary School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1950-1960; Building construction--Tacoma--1950-1960; Progress photographs--1950-1960;

Progress photographs of DeLong School, for DFPA. DeLong, unlike the other new schools built at this time, featured a unique sloping roof of aluminum coated mineral build up with an aluminum continuous skylight that provided natural light to the school. Additional lighting was fluorescent. Warter Constructions served as general contractor. The school was at the center of controversy, since some students would be transferred from their closest school Jefferson to DeLong. The walk to DeLong would be over one mile through rough undeveloped terrain where students would walk in the streets because there were no sidewalks on So. 12th. (TNT 8-9-1953, pg. C-12. TNT 8/27/1953, pg. B-2 & TNT 8/28/1953, pg. 1)

DeLong Elementary School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1950-1960; Building construction--Tacoma--1950-1960; Progress photographs--1950-1960;

Construction of DeLong School. DeLong was planned and named in 1949 after Arctic explorer George Washington DeLong. The school opened in February of 1954 and students from the overcrowded Franklin and Jefferson schools moved into the new glass and brick school. The school accommodated about 60 children from Jefferson and 100 from Franklin. Parents protested that some of these students would have to walk over one mile through brush, bushes, a swamp and a completely undeveloped area without the benefit and safety of sidewalks.The school opened despite the lack of promised streets and sidewalks in the undeveloped area. The school was enlarged in 1959. Photo ordered by St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. ("For the Record," by Winnifred Olsen, TNT 8/27/1953, pg. B-2 & TNT 8/28/1953, pg. 1)

DeLong Elementary School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1950-1960; Building construction--Tacoma--1950-1960; Progress photographs--1950-1960;

DeLong Elementary, at So. 12th and Moorlands, was designed by Lance, McGuire & Muri to accomodate 280 students. It would serve the area north and east of Fircrest and relieve overcrowding at Franklin and Jefferson. The one story school was of wood framing with brick veneer facing. It had eight classrooms plus a cafeteria, 65x66 ft playroom, clinic, administrative offices, teachers' lounge, kitchen, boiler room and 3 storerooms. (TNT 8/9/1953, pg. C-12)

DeLong Elementary School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1950-1960; Building construction--Tacoma--1950-1960; Progress photographs--1950-1960;

The Lowell School PTA and Preschool were preparing for the upcoming February 7, 1953 Mardi Gras/Carnival. Helping out were: (left to right) Mrs. James Byers, general co-chairperson Mrs. George Loring; Sharon Buxton; Mrs. Charles Longstreth; and general co-chair Mrs. Lars Jensen. Sign painter was Davy Wright. Balloons, clowns and games would serve as entertainment with the "New Orleans Court Cafe" open for sandwiches and pastries and a school talent show offered hourly. (TNT 2-4-1953, p. 20)

Lowell Elementary School (Tacoma); Parent-Teacher Association (Tacoma); Byers, James--Family; Loring, George--Family; Buxton, Sharon; Longstreth, Charles--Family; Jensen, Lars--Family; Wright, Davy;

Exterior picture of completed Lowell Elementary, 810 No. 13th. Established in Old Tacoma in 1869, Lowell holds the distinction of being the district's oldest school. It was originally known as the First Ward School and served families living west of Division Avenue. After several locations, it was renamed Lowell School and was located at No. 12th & Yakima. When Tacoma's earthquake hit at noon on April 13, 1949, Lowell student Marvin Klegman was killed by falling chimney bricks when leaving his classroom to take his post as a patrol boy. Two other Lowell students were hurt and the school was condemned. Students finished out the year at Grant, Bryant and Jason Lee until they moved into their new classrooms on No.13th St. in November of 1950. Construction on the school was completed in February of 1951.

Lowell Elementary School (Tacoma)--Buildings; Public schools--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Progress photograph at Lowell School. With its roots in Old Tacoma Lowell Elementary School is the Tacoma School District's oldest school. It was originally known as the First Ward School serving families living west of Division Street. Classes opened in 1869 in a log cabin built at the corner of North 28th and Starr streets. Ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association. (For the Record, Winnifred L. Olsen)

Lowell Elementary School (Tacoma)--Buildings; Public schools--Tacoma--1950-1960; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma); Building construction--Tacoma--1950-1960; Plywood; Scaffolding--Tacoma; Construction workers--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Two workmen standing on scaffolding are removing plywood forms from a ceiling at Lowell School. A new building was necessary since the older school had been declared unsafe after the April 1949 earthquake. This was the second disaster survived by the school. The log cabin school at the corner of North 28th and Starr streets burned in a mysterious fire in 1875. Ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association, Mr. McCallum. (For the Record, Winnifred L Olsen)

Lowell Elementary School (Tacoma)--Buildings; Public schools--Tacoma--1950-1960; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma); Building construction--Tacoma--1950-1960; Plywood; Scaffolding--Tacoma; Construction workers--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Tacoma Philharmonic at Tacoma Schools. Students sit two to a seat listening to recorded music as a preview to the second young people's concert of the season that was held February 16, 1949, at Temple Theater. Pupils from 4th through 9th grades in public and parochial schools attended. Ann Deyo, a fifth grader in Miss Hilda Meisner's class at Lowell School is about to play a recording of "Die Fledermaus" overture by Johann Strauss which they would hear performed at the matinee concert sponsored by the Tacoma Philharmonic and Meadowsweet Dairies, Inc. (TNT, 2/14/1949, p.2)

Lowell Elementary School (Tacoma); School children--Tacoma--1940-1950; Deyo, Ann; Classrooms--Tacoma--1940-1950; Pianos; Music education--Tacoma--1940-1950; Public schools--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Philharmonic Association (Tacoma);

Manitou School group. A group portrait of the third grade class at Manitou School in 1948. There are seven girls and fifteen boys. Economic pressures of World War I caused building of a new school in the Manitou neighborhood to be postponed. After approval of a bond issue a four-room tile structure was erected in 1919 at the new Manitou site. Additions and remodeling were done in 1924 and 1957. (For the Record, a History of Tacoma Public Schools, 1869-1984, by Winnifred L. Olsen) Format 5" x 8" TPL-9843

Manitou Elementary School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1940-1950; School children--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Manitou School group. A group portrait of one of the school classes at Manitou School. There are thirteen girls and sixteen boys. In 1912, land was purchased in the Manitou Grove Addition as a new site for the school. But, when parents asked that portables be added on the park site, they were told students could attend Edison or Oakland schools. Transportation was furnished for fourth and fifth grade students to the schools. More portables were added in 1913. (For the Record, a History of Tacoma Public Schools, 1869-1984, by Winnifred L. Olsen) Format 5" x 8"

Manitou Elementary School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1940-1950; School children--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Manitou School group. A group portrait of one of the school classes at Manitou School. There are thirteen girls and sixteen boys.The School Board was faced with tough questions in 1911. How to provide for a school population that was increasing at the rate of nearly 1,000 new students per year? Voters approved a special levy on May 6, 1911, for several new elementary schools and a new high school. A portable was secured for the Manitou neighborhood and in September, Sara Cochrane began teaching the first three grades in the one-room building. (For the Record, a History of Tacoma Public Schools, 1869-1984, by Winnifred L. Olsen) Format 5" x 8"

Manitou Elementary School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1940-1950; School children--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Manitou School group. A group portrait of one of the school classes at Manitou School. There are nine girls and ten boys. The girls all are wearing dresses or skirts and blouses. Members of the Manitou Improvement Club began petitioning the School Board in 1910 to locate a school in their neighborhood in the southwest area of the city. Instead, the Board moved a one-story building from Tacoma to District 38 and furnished transportation for students to attend there. (For the Record, a History of Tacoma Public Schools, 1869-1984, by Winnifred L. Olsen) Format 5" x 8"

Manitou Elementary School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1940-1950; School children--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Manitou School Baseball Team. The Manitou team won the grade school baseball championship for the southern division. Team members, L-R, were: seated; Jim Larsen, Judd Dockeray, Ron Schermerhorn, and Ron Christensen; kneeling; Bob Wasser, Loyd Norris, Michael Howell, Bob Naylor, and LeRoy Herzog; standing; Dave Wiksten, Paul Lemley, Tryg Blix (coach), Ray McGallison (captain), Mark Gordon and John Sisul. (T.Times, 6/6/1947, p.15)

Manitou Elementary School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1940-1950; Baseball players--Tacoma--1940-1950; Blix, Tryg;

Midland School, rear of main building by Hill and Mock, Architects, 1926. Complex remodeled 1943. (T. Times)

Elementary Schools--Midland; Midland School (Midland);

Midland School, view of gymnasium. Original school by Hill and Mock, Architects, 1926. Complex remodeled 1943. (T. Times)

Elementary Schools--Midland; Midland School (Midland);

Midland School, close up of main building by Hill and Mock, Architects, 1926. Complex remodeled 1943. Date of June First is likely wrong, as there is snow on the ground. Midland was once the half way point on the Puyallup to Tacoma street car line. (T. Times)

Elementary Schools--Midland; Midland School (Midland);