The South Tacoma Shops of the Northern Pacific Railroad received an impressive plaque from the company in honor of their achieving the best safety record for 1953. It was apparently the fourth time the South Tacoma Shops had won this award; previous years noted on the plaque included 1943, 1944, and 1945. Northern Pacific employees and guests enjoyed a special banquet in the Fellowship Hall at the Masonic Temple on May 27, 1954, where awards were presented. Seated in the photograph are: R.H. Spellmeyer and H.J. McLain. Standing left to right are: J.J. Schmidt, A.J. Cecchi, F.L. Steinbright, F.G. Moody, G.L. Ernstrom, and C.T.DeWitt. (TNT 5-27-54, A-10, TNT 5-28-54, p.14)

Northern Pacific Railway Co. (Tacoma)--People; Awards;

Employees of the Northern Pacific Railroad enjoy a safety awards banquet on May 27, 1954, in the Fellowship Hall at the Masonic Temple. Those seated at the head tables on the stage are presumably dignitaries. A five piece orchestra and singers provided music while 900 employees and guests dined on turkey dinners. The banquet was to honor the South Tacoma Shops for their near perfect accident record in the Northern Pacific Railroad's national safety competition. There was only one reportable accident among 800 employees in over a year's time. George L. Ernstrom, general mechanical superintendent of Northern Pacific, was chosen to give the award to R.H. Spellmeyer, shop superintendent at the South Tacoma Shops. (TNT 5-27-54, A-10, TNT 5-28-54, p. 14)

Northern Pacific Railway Co. (Tacoma)--People; Banquets--Tacoma--1950-1960; Guitars; Saxophones;

Approximately 1000 Northern Pacific Railroad Veterans were treated to a scrumptious banquet at the Masonic Temple on June 29, 1957, during the group's 33rd annual convention. There is a large banner welcoming the 1957 Veterans posted on pillars. Special Pullmans and coaches left St. Paul on June 25th to bring members from Minnesota, North Dakota, Montana, Idaho and Washington to the two-day convention. There are approximately 3500 members of the Veterans group, consisting of employees and former employees with a minimum of 30 years of service. Dean Eastman of Seattle, Northern Pacific vice-president, was scheduled to speak at the banquet. Photograph ordered by Northern Pacific Railway. (TNT 6-19-57, C-9)

Northern Pacific Railway Co. (Tacoma); Banquets--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Approximately 900 employees and guests of Northern Pacific Railway enjoyed the company's annual awards dinner on April 25, 1962. It was held in the Fellowship Hall of the Masonic Temple. View of head tables on stage; rows of people eating. Some men have ribbons pinned to their lapels while some women are wearing corsages. The South Tacoma Shops had won the annual President's Safety Award for the fifth time since the award's inauguration. Each year one railway shop between Tacoma and St. Paul was judged to have the best safety working record. (TNT 4-26-62, B-9)

Northern Pacific Railway Co. (Tacoma); Banquets--Tacoma--1960-1970; Masonic Temple (Tacoma);

The Masonic Temple's Fellowship Hall was packed with employees of the Northern Pacific Railway, their wives, railway officials, representatives of city, chamber and the South Tacoma Business Club, and railway medical staff on April 25, 1962, as the company enjoyed the annual awards banquet. Approximately 900 people were in attendance. View of long rows of tables; dais in background where dignitaries were seated. The South Tacoma Shops had won for the fifth time the annual President's Safety Award. Photograph ordered by Northern Pacific Railway. (TNT 4-26-62, B-9)

Northern Pacific Railway Co. (Tacoma); Banquets--Tacoma--1960-1970; Masonic Temple (Tacoma);