ca. 1971. 1971 color Richards stock footage. This is believed to be the Valley Chapel at the Mountain View Memorial Park on Steilacoom Blvd. A convoy of Cadillacs have pulled up next to the manicured lawns of the cemetery. In the distance are groups of mourners.

Cemeteries; Cadillac automobile;

Numerous flags snap briskly in the wind as visitors stroll past them to attend the 1958 Memorial Day service at Mountain View Memorial Park in Lakewood. Speeches and wreaths to honor the men and women who fought for our country's freedom were part of the day's ceremonies. The keynote speaker at the memorial ceremony was Senator Henry M. "Scoop" Jackson. Mountain View, located at 4100 Steilacoom Blvd. S.W., was a complete memorial park, offering a complete selection of interment in a peaceful setting. Photograph ordered by Mountain View Memorial Park.

Cemeteries--Lakewood; Mountain View Memorial Park (Lakewood); Memorial Day; Commemoration--Lakewood; Memorial rites & ceremonies--Lakewood; Flags--United States;

Mountain View Memorial Park was one of the largest funeral facilities in the area. They were able to offer complete services in one convenient location--combining the cemetery, funeral home, chapel, mausoleum, and crematorium on large acreage in Lakewood. View of office building located on the grounds of Mountain View Memorial Park; it resembles a luxurious brick home rather than a mortuary. Photograph ordered by Clark Richardson Advertising Agency.

Mountain View Memorial Park (Lakewood); Cemeteries--Lakewood;

Exterior view of mausoleum. In the mid-50's, the Mountain View Memorial Park added a Garden Mausoleum. With the addition of the mausoleum, their facilities were complete for all kinds of interment; a customer could now choose between earth or crypt burial and cremation. The one-story Garden Mausoleum appeared to be built of stone and brick with a flat, overhanging roof. Photograph ordered by Clark Richardson Advertising.

Mountain View Memorial Park (Lakewood); Cemeteries--Lakewood; Tombs & sepulchral monuments--Lakewood;

Close-up view of mausoleum as seen in March of 1957. The Garden Mausoleum was the Mountain View Memorial Park's latest addition. Mountain View Memorial's claim was "Everything in one place"; it combined a funeral home, cemetery, crematory, mausoleum, chapel and columbarium into one facility. The overhanging flat roof of the mausoleum provided shelter from harsh Northwest elements. Stone benches were available for mourners. Small metal vases were provided where flowers could be left to honor the deceased. Photograph ordered by Clark Richardson Advertising.

Mountain View Memorial Park (Lakewood); Cemeteries--Lakewood; Tombs & sepulchral monuments--Lakewood;

ca. 1956. Mountain View Memorial Park in Lakewood. An aerial view of the cemetary. This is the right hand side of a large print from a single negative. For the left hand side see A98409 image 1A. The war memorial can be seen left, just below center. Steilacoom Blvd is the large street to the right of the grounds. Structures at the Park include the funeral home, crematory, mausoleum, chapel and columbarium.

Cemeteries--Lakewood; Mountain View Memorial Park (Lakewood);

ca. 1956. Mountain View Memorial Park in Lakewood. An aerial view of the cemetary. This is the left hand side of a large print of a single negative. For the right hand side see A98409 image 1b. Curved roads wind through the grounds providing access to the many grave sites. The war memorial can be seen right, just below center. Other structures located in the park include the funeral home, crematory, mausoleum, chapel and columbarium.

Cemeteries--Lakewood; Mountain View Memorial Park (Lakewood); Aerial views; Aerial photographs;

Memorial Day Service at the Veterans Memorial at Mountain View Memorial Park in Lakewood. A row of chairs have been set in front of the servicemen's memorial for the service. Flags flap in the breeze, mounted all around the drive. More than 80 veterans organizations participated in this observation. Supreme Court Judge Hugh Rosellini and Senator Warren Magnuson were the featured speakers. (TNT 5/30/1956, pg. 1)

Cemeteries--Lakewood; Mountain View Memorial Park (Lakewood); Monuments & memorials--Lakewood; Memorial Day; Commemoration--Lakewood; Memorial rites & ceremonies--Lakewood;

Sailors, officers and a man in a suit pose prior to Memorial Day services at Mountain View Memorial Park. More than eighty veterans organizations were scheduled to join in this memorial observation at Mountain View. Supreme Court Judge Hugh Rosellini and Senator Warren Magnuson were scheduled to speak. (TNT 5/30/1956, pg. 1)

Cemeteries--Lakewood; Mountain View Memorial Park (Lakewood); Monuments & memorials--Lakewood; Memorial Day; Commemoration--Lakewood; Memorial rites & ceremonies--Lakewood;

A striking memorial to the men and women who served in our nation's armed forces was located at the Mountain View Memorial Park in Lakewood. The stone memorial had an engraving representing the four branches of military service, marching in step behind the waving flag. A cross is anchored on top of the monument. Photograph ordered by Clark Richardson Advertising Agency.

Cemeteries--Lakewood; Mountain View Memorial Park (Lakewood); Monuments & memorials--Lakewood;

Stone benches flank the war memorial at Mountain View Memorial Park in a December 12, 1955, photograph. There is a plot of freshly trimmed lawn before the memorial which is framed behind the stone perimeters. The war memorial commemorates the sacrifices of the men and women who served in our nation's armed forces. Mountain View Memorial Park was located on Steilacoom Blvd. in Lakewood and contained a funeral home, cemetery, mausoleum, columbarium, crematory, and chapel. Photograph ordered by Clark Richardson Advertising Agency.

Cemeteries--Lakewood; Mountain View Memorial Park (Lakewood); Monuments & memorials--Lakewood;

Exterior of Western Monumental Works building and grounds. The marble works business was located at 1114-16 Center St. and was the authorized dealer of Rock of Ages memorials. Samples of the company's products are scattered on the lawn and also under cover on the long porch. Howard A. Wilham was listed as the owner in the 1955 City Directory. Photograph ordered by Western Monumental Works.

Monuments & memorials--Tacoma; Monument builders--Tacoma; Western Monumental Works (Tacoma);

Masonic memorial at Mountain View Memorial Park. Masonic symbols adorn the memorial and it is inscribed with the virtues of brotherly love, relief, truth, fortitude and prudence. This is possibly a portion of the cemetary set aside for members of Masonic organizations to be buried.

Cemeteries--Lakewood; Mountain View Memorial Park (Lakewood); Monuments & memorials--Lakewood;

Exterior of mausoleum at Mountain View Memorial Park. J.C. Milne, contractor. With the construction of the new Garden Mausoleum at Mountain View, the burial park now offered all types of interment- including earth, crypt burial and cremation. It was a one stop funeral place with a funeral home, cemetary, crematory, mausoleum and chapel.

Cemeteries--Lakewood; Mountain View Memorial Park (Lakewood); Monuments & memorials--Lakewood;

On Monday May 30, 1955, Mrs. Gundrun Paetz, president of the Gold Star Mothers, placed a wreath at the base of a memorial to servicemen at the Mountain View Memorial Park as part of a special Memorial Day service. Observing the wreath laying ceremony are Superior Court Judge Frank Hale (left), serving as master of ceremonies, and State Senator Albert D. Rosellini, speaker for the event. Several veterans organizations participated in the Memorial Day rites held at 2 p.m. on Memorial Day at Mountain View. The 534th Air Force Band provided accompaniment. (TNT 5/31/1955, pg. 1 & 5/29/1955, pg. 1)

Cemeteries--Lakewood; Mountain View Memorial Park (Lakewood); Monuments & memorials--Lakewood; Memorial Day; Commemoration--Lakewood; Memorial rites & ceremonies--Lakewood; Paetz, Gundrun; Hale, Frank; Rosellini, Albert D.;

A lighted star guides visitors to the Nativity scene of Mary with baby Jesus in her arms at the Calvary Catholic Cemetery. A simple statement of "Let Us Adore Him" rests among the holly before the figures. The plywood cutouts are flanked by two tall pillars of light in this December 31, 1954, photograph. Photograph ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association.

Cemeteries--Tacoma; Calvary Catholic Cemetery (Tacoma); Creches (Nativity scenes)--Tacoma; Plywood; Christmas decorations; Signs (Notices); Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma);

Christ's crucifixion in stone or marble appears to be on permanent display at the Calvary Catholic Cemetery. Two angels kneel in prayer on either side of the monument which is decorated in native greenery. Women are portrayed collapsed in grief while others stand and pray. The juxtaposition of plywood angels and stone sculpture apparently works; it is a pleasing blend of materials. The Calvary Catholic Cemetery was one of Tacoma's oldest, purchased in 1905 to be used as burial grounds for the area's Catholic community, and spanned 35 acres. Photograph ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association.

Cemeteries--Tacoma; Calvary Catholic Cemetery (Tacoma); Monuments & memorials--Tacoma; Sculpture; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma);

Another view of a Nativity scene at Calvary Catholic Cemetery was taken on December 31, 1954. This was photographed during daylight hours but still shows the plywood cutouts of Mary and baby Jesus in great detail. The creche is located before a brick house, perhaps the sexton's office or lounge, on part of the cemetery's 35 acres. The wooden materials blend with the attending fir trees to become a part of the natural landscaping. Photograph ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association. TPL-8112

Cemeteries--Tacoma; Calvary Catholic Cemetery (Tacoma); Creches (Nativity scenes)--Tacoma; Plywood; Christmas decorations; Signs (Notices); Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma);

This is a May 19, 1952, view of caskets in (old) Tacoma Cemetery surrounded by numerous floral wreaths and other floral arrangements. One casket is a child's casket. Photographer's notes indicate only that this was the Whalen funeral. Buckley-King Funeral Service was in charge. A reader has identified the cemetery due to the concrete wall separating it from South Park in South Tacoma. (Additional information provided by a reader)

Cemeteries--Tacoma; Coffins; Flower arrangements;

Funeral services for August O. Cultum, aged 70, were held at the C.C. Mellinger Co. Funeral Home in November, 1951. Mr. Cultum had resided at 6470 South Sheridan Street. He passed away on November 15, 1951. Born in Renville, Minnesota, Mr. Cultum was a 63-year resident of Tacoma, and a employee of Metropolitan Park district. He is survived by three sons, three daughters and ten grandchildren. There were several large wreaths, primarily chrysanthemums, on display near the bier, as well as smaller potted plants. Sepia photograph ordered by Stewart Cultum. (TNT 11-16-51, p. 33)

Funeral rites & ceremonies--Tacoma; Coffins; Wreaths--Tacoma; Cultum, August O.; Cultum, Stewart;

The interior of the reception area at the New Tacoma Cemetery as pictured in November of 1950. The room has been decorated with floral draperies, a checked linoleum tile floor, and rag rugs. Ordered by Rill Reid.

Cemeteries--Tacoma; Undertaking--Tacoma; Morgues & mortuaries--Tacoma; New Tacoma Cemetery (Tacoma); Tacoma Cemetery Association (Tacoma);

Funeral at New Tacoma Cemetery. Unidentified men waiting behind hearse and other parked cars on April 14, 1950. Ordered by C.O. Lynn & Co.

Cemeteries--Tacoma; Undertaking--Tacoma; Morgues & mortuaries--Tacoma; Death--Tacoma; New Tacoma Cemetery (Tacoma); Hearses--Tacoma--1950-1960; Funeral rites & ceremonies--Tacoma--1950-1960;

A fallen grave marker from the Pioneer Catholic Cemetery, a four acre plot on the corner of the Calvary Catholic Cemetery, at the end of South Villard. This is one of the oldest cemeteries in the county. The land was originally donated for burials by John and Eliza Rigney. No written records exist for the Pioneer portion which had been in use since about 1850, and there are probably even earlier graves that lie unmarked.. ("A History of Pierce County, Washington 1992", vol. 3)

Cemeteries--Tacoma; Tombs & sepulchral monuments; Pioneer Catholic Cemetery (Tacoma); Calvary Catholic Cemetery (Tacoma);

Calvary Catholic Cemetery's 35 acres was located next to the 4 acre old Rigney cemetery (Pioneer Catholic Cemetery) and was purchased in 1905 from Tony Portman to supply a burial ground for the Catholic community since the smaller cemetery was full. In the first 80 years of operation, 20, 657 interments took place at Calvary. A new entrance was added in 1935 patterned after a large country estate. New brick buildings, containing the sexton's office and a lounge with restrooms, were constructed, as well as massive wrought iron gates. (TDN 6/12/1905, pg. 4, "A History of Pierce County, Washington" vol. 3)

Cemeteries--Tacoma; Tombs & sepulchral monuments; Calvary Catholic Cemetery (Tacoma);

These wooden crosses mark burial sites in the Pioneer Catholic Cemetery, a portion of the Calvary Catholic Cemetery. One of the oldest cemeteries in the county, it has been in use since about 1850. The four acre old cemetery was located on the Steilacoom Road near South Tacoma and was donated for burials by John and Eliza Rigney. There were no written records of the burials in the Pioneer section. ("A History of Pierce County, Washington" vol. 3)

Cemeteries--Tacoma; Tombs & sepulchral monuments; Calvary Catholic Cemetery (Tacoma); Pioneer Catholic Cemetery (Tacoma);

Pioneer Catholic Cemetery, part of Calvary Catholic Cemetery, in use since 1850. Toppled grave markers and overgrown weeds dot the grounds. In 1905, the Calvary Cemetery Association incorporated and bought the adjoining acreage to establish a new cemetery since the old one was full. Pioneer Catholic Cemetery is not owned by the Association, but is maintained by the group. No burials took place in Pioneer after that time and there are no written records of the older cemetery. Information gathered from the headstones is incorporated with the records from Calvary. The condition of the grounds in this picture were probably due to the 1950 cemetery workers strike. ("Calvary Cemetery" Tacoma-Pierce County Genealogical Society, 1985)

Cemeteries--Tacoma; Tombs & sepulchral monuments; Calvary Catholic Cemetery (Tacoma); Pioneer Catholic Cemetery (Tacoma);

Pioneer Catholic Cemetery, part of Calvary Catholic Cemetery, at the end of South Villard, in use since 1850. The older graves lie unkempt and overgrown, with the wooden and stone markers tumbled over. Pictures from this series were used in an interesting ad in the Tacoma News Tribune (TNT 4/14/1950, pg. 8), contrasting these old and forgotten graves with the "perpetual care" given by modern cemeteries. The ad continues to say that excessive wage demands mean cuts in staff and care. This was probably a reference to negotiations with the Cemetery Workers Union and the following strike by workers. The ad was a joint effort of the New Tacoma Cemetery, the Old Tacoma Cemetery, and the Calvary Cemetary.

Cemeteries--Tacoma; Tombs & sepulchral monuments; Calvary Catholic Cemetery (Tacoma);Pioneer Catholic Cemetery (Tacoma);

Ceremony at Grove, New Tacoma Cemetery, Wm. B. Reed. A memorial to the memory of the soldier dead of all wars was dedicated on Memorial Day, May 30, 1949, at the New Tacoma Cemetery where 300 war veterans were buried. The American flag was raised over the memorial and a wreath was placed upon it by Wellesley Bell, father of Captain Gordon Bell who was killed in Italy in 1944. Others in the picture are William B. Reed, manager of the cemetery, Mrs. Bell, and Ruth, Kathleen and Janice Bell, sisters of the captain. (TNT, 5/31/1949, p.7)

New Tacoma Cemetery (Tacoma); Cemeteries--Tacoma; Monuments & memorials--Tacoma--1940-1950; Flags--United States; Bell, Wellesley; Bell, Wilhelmina V.; Bell, Ruth; Bell, Kathleen; Bell, Janice; Memorial rites & ceremonies--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Ceremony at Grove, New Tacoma Cemetery, Wm. B. Reed. A young girl places flowers on a grave for Memorial Day, May 30, 1949. Many flowers have been placed at graves commemorating lives given in defense of the United States.

New Tacoma Cemetery (Tacoma); Cemeteries--Tacoma; Memorial rites & ceremonies--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Ceremony at Grove, New Tacoma Cemetery, Wm. B. Reed. A view of the New Tacoma Cemetery as of May 30, 1949, where many of the graves are decorated with flowers. 300 war veterans were buried here.

New Tacoma Cemetery (Tacoma); Cemeteries--Tacoma; Memorial rites & ceremonies--Tacoma--1940-1950;