1939 Western Washington Fair in Puyallup. Spectators watching man attempting to ring bell with large mallet, hammer. Test-your-strength carnival games were very popular among fairgoers.

Western Washington Fair (Puyallup); Carnival games--Puyallup;

Scenes from the 1939 Western Washington Fair in Puyallup. Three young women and a young man hold stuffed animal prizes, bulls, at fair booth. Fairgoers could step right up and spend a nickel for a chance to win a prize bull. The smiling fair employee smiles for the camera; the walls of his booth are lined with stuffed bulls and the spinning wheel is ready for all customers.

Western Washington Fair (Puyallup); Stuffed animals (Toys);

This unidentified "fire eater" was just one of the thrilling attractions that drew over 28,000 people to the opening day of the 1939 Western Washington Fair in Puyallup. September 20th was Tacoma Day at the fair; highlights of the day included performances in the Education Hall by the Lincoln High School Choir and the Stadium High School Concert Band.

Western Washington Fair (Puyallup);

Western Washington Fair in Puyallup. Wide angle view of fairgrounds showing amusement area. Grand Whip ride on left and Auto Shooter building on right. Large crowd, more rides, fair buildings, and Puyallup residential area in background.

Western Washington Fair (Puyallup);

1939 Western Washington Fair in Puyallup. Wide angle view of fairgrounds showing capacity crowds in the amusement area with wooden buildings in background.

Western Washington Fair (Puyallup);

1939 Western Washington Fair in Puyallup. Three little girls dressed in look-a-like dresses stand on the fence rail to get a close look at the Durac Jersey. Other children and adults peer through and over the fence to see the animals.

Western Washington Fair (Puyallup); Children--Puyallup--1930-1940;

Tacoma Day at the Western Washington Fair, Puyallup. Paul Brachard, Tarzan in films, holds two children in his arms at the fair's "joy zone" where he's appearing as a wrestler. (T. Times, 9/23/1937, p.1)

Western Washington Fair (Puyallup); Fairs--Puyallup--1940-1950; Actors--Puyallup; Brachard, Paul;

Noted Indian leaders and their tribes set-up camp at Puyallup's Western Washington Fairs to demonstrate their crafts and share their culture. In 1937, Chief Shelton (wearing feathered headdress) and his tribe camped at the fair. A record breaking crowd of more than 56,000 attended the fair on Tacoma Day that year. Among them are Connie Ireland and a group of students who are watching Chief Shelton demonstrate a blanket wrap and another man share his knowledge of Indian basketry. (T. Times, 9/23/1937, p. 1))

Fairs--Puyallup; Western Washington Fair (Puyallup); Indians of North America--Exhibitions; Indians of North America--Arts & crafts; Indians of North America--Clothing & dress; Shelton, Chief;

Over 56,000 people flocked to the Westen Washington Fair in Puyallup on Tacoma Day in September of 1937. Three little visitors, Tommy Veale and Bobby Glover of Bremerton and Patricia Ruth Gray of Tacoma were given instructions by attendant Clayton Osborne on how to drive a toy fire engine on the canvas-top, merry-go-round auto ride.

Fairs--Puyallup--1930-1940; Western Washington Fair (Puyallup); Merry-go-rounds--Puyallup; Veale, Tommy; Glover, Bobby; Gray, Patricia Ruth; Osborne, Clayton;

During Tacoma Day at the 1937 Western Washington Fair, three Lincoln High School boys have met three girls from Fife High School and are walking arm-in-arm through the fun-filled Fairway. The Fairway was added in 1932, with new rides, games of chance and side shows. Kids and adults alike are enjoying the thrill of being 45-feet up in the air on the two, 12-seat Eli Ferris wheels. Left to right: Vera Jean Hedderly, Ed Bergstrom, Eileen Ruscher, Bill Dellman, Jean Todd, and Orville Mahoskey. (T. Times 9/23/37, p.1)

Fairs--Puyallup--1930-1940; Western Washington Fair (Puyallup); Ferris wheels--Puyallup; Students--Puyallup--1930-1940;

Tacoma Day at the Western Washington Fair, Puyallup. A young man attempts to ring the bell at a "Test Your Strength" game at the fair. People in the crowd watch the marker rise on the scale. Over 50,500 people were in attendance on September 22, 1937, the designated Tacoma Day.

Fairs--Puyallup--1930-1940; Western Washington Fair (Puyallup);

Tacoma Day at the Western Washington Fair, Puyallup. View of crowd walking around littered fairgrounds. Two women, in center, wear tiny prize-type straw hats. Sign on building "See Tacoma 50 years ago." (T. Times)

Fairs--Puyallup--1930-1940; Western Washington Fair (Puyallup);

As always, on Tacoma Day in 1937, food was a major part of the fun at the Puyallup Fair. The teenage and pre-teen students enjoying ice cream bars at a fair concession stand are (l to r) Lief Washburn, Shirley Hamblin, Beverly Anderson, Marjorie Duskie (the tall girl behind Beverly), Geraldine Anderson and Frances Alexander. The girl at the far right in the print dress was not identified. The turnstile registered over 56,000 fair goers on Tacoma Day, September 22, 1937 at the Western Washington Fair. (T.Times, 9/23/1937, p.1)

Fairs--Puyallup--1930-1940; Western Washington Fair (Puyallup); Washburn, Lief; Hamblin, Shirley; Anderson, Beverly; Duskie, Marjorie; Anderson, Geraldine; Alexander, Frances;

On September 22, 1937, Isabel Smitley, with her husband Tacoma Mayor George Smitley decorated the winning race horse "Premier Jim" and congratulated his jockey in the winner's circle at the Western Washington Fair in Puyallup. The horse had just won the afternoon's feature event, the one-mile "Mayor Smitley" race for previous non-winning 3 year olds. They were posed on the grandstand grass during Tacoma Day at the Fair. (T. Times 9/23/37 p.1)

Western Washington Fair (Puyallup); Fairs--Puyallup--1940-1950; Mayors--Tacoma--1930-1940; Smitley, George A., 1872-1956; Horses--Puyallup; Race horses; Horse racing--Puyallup;

Tacoma Day at the Western Washington Fair, Puyallup. A rider allows two young boys to hold a horse's bridle rope. Barns, automobiles and a Puyallup Laundry truck in background.

Fairs--Puyallup--1930-1940; Western Washington Fair (Puyallup); Horses--Puyallup;

Tacoma Day at the Western Washington Fair, Puyallup. View of capacity crowd in grandstand. Designated fair days encouraged citizens to set record-breaking attendance for their city. On Tacoma Day, over 56,000 attended, handily beating Seattle's 26,000+ on their Day. Schoolchildren got the day off to attend and have fun. (T. Times, 9/23/27 p. 1)

Fairs--Puyallup--1930-1940; Western Washington Fair (Puyallup); Spectators--Puyallup; Grandstands--Puyallup;

Fifteen hundred cheering horse race enthusiasts packed the grandstands at the 39th Western Washington Fair on September 21, 1938. There were six races held daily throughout the run of the Puyallup Fair. The 21st was Tacoma Day. By 1 p.m. over 20,000 fair goers had passed through the turnstiles. The official attendance tally for the day was 49,690.

Western Washington Fair (Puyallup); Racetracks (Horse racing)--Puyallup; Horse racing--Puyallup; Jockeys; Horses; Grandstands--Puyallup;

During Tacoma Day at the Western Washington Fair. Boy Scouts perform a first aid exercise in the infield of the grandstand . (T. Times 9/22/1938, p. 1)

Events - Fairs - Washington State - Puyallup - Western Washington Fair Organizations - Youth Organizations - Boy Scouts of America

Western Washington Fair grandstand. During the 1938 Tacoma Day at the fair, 49,690 people walked through the gates. Fifteen thousand people packed the grandstand to the point of sitting on the concrete stairs for shows and races. (T. Times, 9/22/38, p. 1)

Western Washington Fair (Puyallup); Fairs--Puyallup--1930-1940; Grandstands--Puyallup; Spectators--Puyallup;

Western Washington Fair grandstand. The Tacoma Federal Band plays a musical piece directed by Joe Rausch during the 1938 Tacoma Day at the fair.

Western Washington Fair (Puyallup); Fairs--Puyallup--1930-1940; Grandstands--Puyallup; Tacoma Federal Band (Tacoma);

The Marine Corps booth at the 1952 Western Washington Fair. A painting by Sgt. Gerald C. Fitzsimmons of the famous Iwo Jima flag raising during World War II is prominent in the display next to a Marine who stands ready to answer questions. (TNT, 9/7/1952, p.A-13)

Western Washington Fair (Puyallup); Fairs--Puyallup--1940-1950; Exhibit booths--Puyallup; United States Marine Corps; Paintings; Fitzsimmons, Gerald C.--Associated objects;

Mr. Chilson presented a huge display of dahlias at the Puyallup Fair in 1948. The flower types range from cactus to ball, anemone, water lily, pompon and decorative. The bouquets are arranged in baskets, vases and pots.

Western Washington Fair (Puyallup); Fairs--Puyallup--1940-1950; Agricultural exhibits--Puyallup--1940-1950; Flowers--Puyallup--1940-1950; Bouquets;

Exhibit at Puyallup Fair, South Tacoma Welding, Mr. Bosko. The sign over the Dodge dump truck reads, "This body and hoist has been installed by South Tacoma Welding & Equipment Company, distributors of Hercules Bodies and Hoists for State of Washington". Axel Peusa Excavating and Bulldozing is painted on the cab's door.

Western Washington Fair (Puyallup); Fairs--Puyallup--1940-1950; South Tacoma Welding & Equipment Co. (Tacoma); Dump trucks--Puyallup--1940-1950; Merchandise displays--Puyallup--1940-1950;

Puyallup Fair, Tacoma Day, Times, Burt McMurtrie. The Puyallup Fair opened September 13, 1947 . Wednesday September 17th was officially declared Tacoma Day. Tacomans tossed business and household cares aside to attend the fair. The Tacoma schools closed to make it possible for the youngsters of the city to attend. This boy and girl are enjoying a ride on the Ferris wheel. (T.Times, 9/17/1947, p.1) TPL-9805

Western Washington Fair (Puyallup); Fairs--Puyallup--1940-1950; Children--Puyallup--1940-1950; Ferris wheels--Puyallup;

Junior Red Cross Booth at Puyallup Fair, American Red Cross, Mrs. Thomson. Four teenagers are inside the booth and are ready to answer questions about their program and display.

Western Washington Fair (Puyallup); American Red Cross Pierce County Chapter (Tacoma); Fairs--Puyallup--1940-1950; Exhibitions--Puyallup--1940-1950;

First Aid Booth at Puyallup Fair, American Red Cross, Mrs. Thomson. 8" x 8". A young girl is crying while she looks at a young boy lying under blankets on a stretcher at the first aid booth at the fair. The boy's cowboy hat lies on top of him. Two boy scouts and two emergency medical aid men look after the boy.

Western Washington Fair (Puyallup); First aid--Puyallup; American Red Cross Pierce County Chapter (Tacoma); Ambulances--Puyallup--1940-1950; Boy Scouts (Puyallup); Health care personnel; Children--Puyallup--1940-1950;

1941 Western Washington Fair at Puyallup. A little girl with ringlets, cradled in a man's arms, seems unimpressed with the doll on a stick being shown to her by a fair vendor. The man is smiling although the child is not. (T. Times)

Western Washington Fair (Puyallup); Fairs--Puyallup--1940-1950; Girls--Puyallup--1940-1950; Dolls;

1941 Western Washington Fair at Puyallup. These children had a special treat while at the Western Washington Fair on September 18, 1941, as they circled a ring on ponies as parents and other family members looked on. (T.Times)

Western Washington Fair (Puyallup); Fairs--Puyallup--1940-1950; Ponies--1940-1950;

Look Mom - No hands! The boys in the front car of the wooden roller coaster at the 1940 Puyallup Fair released the security bar as they plummeted down one of the big drops on the thrilling ride. The roller coaster was just one of more than 25 rides on the 10 acre midway of the 41st annual Western Washington Fair in Puyallup. On September 18,1940, Tacoma Day at the fair, local school kids were out for the day and ready for some heart pounding action. TPL-2541 (T. Times 9/16/1940, pg. 1; 9/19/1940, pg. 1)

Western Washington Fair (Puyallup); Fairs--Puyallup--1940-1950; Roller coasters; Amusement rides--Puyallup--1940-1950;

Crowds filled the midway on September 18th for Tacoma Day at the 1940 Puyallup Fair. While some fairgoers waited their turn to ride the swings or the "Pretzel," others took a chance at one of the games of luck or skill. The 41st annual Western Washington Fair in Puyallup had a midway of 10 acres, crowded with every type of ride, side show and carnival attraction. The fair ran from September 16-22 but the highlight for most Tacomans was Wednesday, September 18th, when 42,500 of them passed through the gates.

Western Washington Fair (Puyallup); Fairs--Puyallup--1940-1950; Crowds; Amusement rides--Puyallup--1940-1950;