Easter Sunday at First Lutheran Church. Choir singing in alcove under stained-glass window.. Building by Heath and Gove, Architects; 1926. (T. Times)

Religious Buildings - Churches - Protestant Churches - Lutheran Churches - Tacoma - First Lutheran ChurchEvents - Holidays - Easter

On April 26, 1939, Gilbert "Gil" Richards, wearing a jeweler's loupe in his left eye, was photographed while working at his bench at the Sverre Grimstead Jewelers at 119 South 11th Street. At that time, along with working as a jeweler, Mr. Richards also sang second tenor in the Sibelian men's singing group. He went on to become president of both the Tacoma Young Men's Business Club and the Lakewood Business Men's Club, where he opened his own jewelry store in 1951 in Lakewood Center. (T. Times, 5/5/1939, p. 4)

Richards, Gilbert; Sverre Grimstead Jewelers (Tacoma); Jewelers--Tacoma; Jewelry stores--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Working after 5 p.m. on April 26, 1939, was Tacoma jeweler Gilbert "Gil" Richards. Mr. Richards was employed by the Sverre Grimstead Jewelers, 119 So. 11th St. He is pictured above with a jeweler's loupe in the left eye and the tools of his trade before him. Mr. Richards would go on to open his own jewelry store in 1951 at the Lakewood Center.

Richards, Gilbert; Sverre Grimstead Jewelers (Tacoma); Jewelers--Tacoma; Jewelry stores--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Close-up view of large work crew preparing roadbed with shovels and forms. Truck and concrete mixer parked in street at 700 block of Pacific Avenue. "Sidewalk superintendants" line the new sidewalk in front of Puget Sound Battery Company.

Road construction--Tacoma--1930-1940;

On June 20, 1939, the company contracted to remove the streetcar tracks on Pacific Avenue between South 7th and South 17th Streets was already poring concrete to replace old street surface. It had taken Coluccio & Frasca, the general contractors, just two weeks to pull up the old tracks and resurface the road bed. The businesses in the 700 block of Pacific, on the side of the street where the men are working included: the Puget Sound Battery Company, the State Hotel, Daniel G. Yates' Lubritorium, and the Western Auto Supply Company. The Hotel Olympus is in the 800 block, down the street.

Road construction--Tacoma--1930-1940; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Peter Radacher, of Salzburg and Sun Valley, starts through the slalom gate during an exhibition run April 16, 1939 following the previous day's Silver Skis race. Mr. Radacher had won the previous day's race. His time in the slalom was also the tops in the field. (T. Times, 4/17/1939, p. 11).

Skiing--Mt. Rainier--1930-1940; Skiers; Winter sports; Radacher, Peter;

Dance hosted by the Spinster Club at the Winthrop Hotel. Margaret Franich poses with her date on the right in this photograph dated May 30, 1939.

Spinster Club (Tacoma); Franich, Margaret; Couples--Tacoma--1930-1940;

The first day of Spring, March 20, 1939, stirred up a wild streak in these youngsters who staged a regular "stick 'em up." Playing their own version of an old Wild West scene were, left to right, an unidentified girl, "Bad Guy" Buster Weed (age 13,) victims Virgil Weed (9,) Leoda Thorsen (4,) Sally Nelson (4,) "co-conspirator" Eugene Nelson (age 8,) and an unidentified girl. The young people were students at Stewart and Horace Mann schools. (T. Times, 3/21/1939, p. 1)

Spring; Weed, Buster; Weed, Virgil; Thorsen, Leoda; Nelson, Eugene; Toy guns; Nelson, Sally;

Easter Sunday at various Tacoma churches. Worshipers gather on the steps of St. Joseph's Catholic Church, 602 South 34th St, on Easter Sunday, April 9, 1939. St. Joseph's was built by its congregation members and dedicated in May of 1912. It was the first Slovak Catholic church built in the Northwest.

St. Joseph's Catholic Church (Tacoma); Catholic churches--Tacoma--1930-1940; Easter--Tacoma;

St. Leo's School newly organized "Leoettes" practices for Daffodil Parade in front of school building. Building by C. Fred Mahon, Architect, 1912. (T. Times, 3/30/1939, p. 20).

St. Leo's Parochial School (Tacoma); Church schools--Tacoma; Drill teams; Marching--Tacoma;

Northwest Music Educators Conference. Man on wooden platform faces band on field and in bleachers. Crowds gather along the fenced railing surrounding Stadium Bowl. During the conference, which ran from March 28 - April 1st, 1939, Tacoma played host to the largest group of students and music educators to ever assemble in the Northwest.

Stadium Bowl (Tacoma); Youth bands--Tacoma--1930-1940; Northwest Music Educators (Tacoma);

Stadium High School's 1939 Tigers Baseball Team portrait. Three rows of young men dressed in various baseball uniforms. The team, under the direction of Coach John Heinrick, back row on the left, won the city title in 1939 for the 3rd year in a row. They were victorious in 15 of their 18 outings. (T. Times, 5/23/1939, p. 13; names listed).

Stadium High School (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Stadium High School (Tacoma)--Sports; Baseball players--Tacoma--1930-1940; Baseball--Tacoma--1930-1940; Heinrick, John;

Stadium High School football. Young man with number 87 on sweatshirt holds bundle of football helmets as he poses for portrait with his foot on a metal wheelbarrow and his hand on a shovel.

Stadium High School (Tacoma)--Sports; Football players--Tacoma--1930-1940;

The new Civic Auditorium addition was being added to the Armory in August of 1939. The new construction, funded by the state and the Public Works Administration, added a 20,000 sq. ft. National Guard drill hall, that would also serve as a public auditorium that could seat 3,500 on the main floor, and 1,500 in the side balconies. The new auditorium would be 100 x 200 feet with a covered ceiling 30 feet above the floor. The rounded steel trusses would replace the current pillars and provide unobstructed view all the way down the hall. In regular use, the Armory housed units of the 148th Field Artillery, the Headquarters Troop, 24th Calvary division, the federal instructor and various veterans organizations. The turrets of the old Pierce County Courthouse can be seen in the background. (T. Times 8/3/1939, pg. 1)

State Armory (Tacoma); Pierce County Courthouse (Tacoma); Building construction--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Tacoma Railway & Power workers using a special lever to pry-up streetcar rails along Pacific Avenue. A crowd, full of "sidewalk superintendents," gathers to watch the activity. Hotel Olympus in the background. The last streetcar in Tacoma was removed from service in April of 1938; replaced by city buses. (T. Times, 6/8/1939, p. 3).

Street railroads--Tacoma--1930-1940; Street railroad tracks--Tacoma--1930-1940; Demolition--Tacoma--1930-1940; Mass transit--Tacoma--1930-1940;Hotels--Tacoma; Olympus Hotel (Tacoma); Tacoma Railway & Power Co. (Tacoma);

Work began on June 6, 1939 to remove the streetcar tracks on Pacific Avenue between South 7th and South 17th Streets in downtown Tacoma. Employees of general contractors, Coluccio & Frasca, used a power shovel to scoop up and clear asphaltic concrete that was laid 17 years prior. An unidentified worker watches as the crane removes a large pile of bricks and debris from the street. Buildings in the background include: (left) the Colonial Hotel and the (Old) City Hall; (right), the Bradley Hotel, the Jail (built in 1929) and Public Safety Building ( formerly the Northern Pacific headquarters). (T. Times 6/8/1939, pg. 3)

Street railroads--Tacoma--1930-1940; Street railroad tracks--Tacoma--1930-1940; Demolition--Tacoma--1930-1940; Mass transit--Tacoma--1930-1940;Tacoma Railway & Power Co. (Tacoma); Steam shovels;

Tacoma Railway & Power crew preparing equipment on Pacific Avenue at South 8th Street to tear up streetcar tracks. Crowd of men in background observing the ongoing work. A special lever had been devised to wrench the heavy rails from their base for removal. This would be followed by removal of the old road surface material and repaving by Coluccio & Frasca.(T. Times, 6/8/1939, p. 3).

Street railroads--Tacoma--1930-1940; Street railroad tracks--Tacoma--1930-1940; Demolition--Tacoma--1930-1940; Mass transit--Tacoma--1930-1940;Tacoma Railway & Power Co. (Tacoma); Western Auto Supply Co. (Tacoma);

View from center South Tacoma Way, south of Union Avenue, looking north. Nalley's and Heidelberg billboards, Camp Tahoma Cabins, Interstate Motor Sales, Ace Furnace and Steel Works all on left, service stations on right, automobiles on road.

Street Scenes - Tacoma - South Tacoma Way Advertising - Billboards Vehicles - Automobiles Public Accommodation Facilities - Motels - Motor CourtsAutomobile Dealers - Used Cars Manufacturers - Steel Fabricators

Girls from the College of Puget Sound interested in participating in the training for pilots offered by the federal government pose in front of a hangar at the Mueller-Harkins Airport in early October of 1939. Nationwide, over 11,000 students will learn to fly under the program. Of that number, 300-400 will be women. (T. Times 10/5/1939, pg. 12)

Students--Tacoma--1930-1940; College of Puget Sound (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Flight training--Tacoma--1930-1940; Mueller-Harkins Airport (Lakewood);

Part of the membership of the Tacoma Amateur Astronomers poses on the College of Puget Sound campus. Their photograph will be exhibited in the planetarium at the New York World's Fair. The group organized in 1931and has built 30 telescopes of varying size and power. The membership has spread and now boasts members as far away as Yakima, Seattle, LaGrande and Wollochet Bay. The group currently meets at CPS, but has plans to build a clubhouse and observatory on McKinley Hill. Pictured, left to right, are W.H. Crump, George Imoe, L. Herbert Love, J.R. Wiborg, James Wiborg, Fred Myers, Earl Sowles, Walter Imme, Edward Imme, R.S. Seward, Evelyn Hazelton and Albert Morrison. (T. Times, 5/16/39, p. 16. Names listed)

Tacoma Amateur Astronomers (Tacoma); College of Puget Sound (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Astronomers; Astronomical instruments; Telescopes; Clubs--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Man positioning a hunting dog for show competition. Second Annual All Breed Dog show held at the former Sears Roebuck Building, April 29-30, 1939. (T. Times, 5/1/1939, p. 1)

Tacoma Kennel Club (Tacoma); Dogs; Dog shows--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Best of Show, Blue King II, a Kerry Blue Terrier, won first place in Group 4 at the second annual All Breed Dog Show sponsored by the Tacoma Kennel Club and held at the old Sears and Roebuck building. L. to R: A. W. Forbes, president, Tacoma Kennel Club, owner Mrs. William Fox, California, and Eval E. Cravell, chief judge, Vancouver, B.C. The pair of East Indian hand tooled vases awarded to the winner were donated by the Tacoma Times. (T. Times, 5/1/1939, p. 1)

Tacoma Kennel Club (Tacoma); Dogs; Dog shows--Tacoma--1930-1940; Forbes, A. W.;

Five young people, three boys and two girls, stand behind a grassy ledge, watching the matches at the Tacoma Lawn Tennis Club during a junior tournament. The tournament will conclude June 25, 1939 after a week of competition. Pictured are, left to right, Don McCroskey, Bob Davies, Jane Nick, George Thomas and Ardys Pratt.

Tacoma Lawn Tennis Club (Tacoma); Tennis rackets; Tennis players--Tacoma--1930-1940; McCroskey, Don; Davies, Bob; Nick, Jane; Thomas, George; Pratt, Ardys;

ca. 1939. At the Times Office with Mr. Langlow's pipes. Society Editor Jean Hudson, left, and Beverly Thompson sit with their feet propped up on a desk, talking on the phone, each holding one of Tacoma Times editor Leonard Langlow's pipes. The women worked on the Society section of the Tacoma Times. A staff of three women worked on the society section and the women's page features; they were the only women writers at the paper.

Tacoma Times Publishing Co. (Tacoma)--Employees; Thompson, Beverly; Hudson, Jean;

Last running of old press at Tacoma Times on September 14, 1939. Six pressmen and man wearing suit and tie pose casually in front of press. They are, bottom row, left to right, Press Room foreman Les R. Mason, Pressmen Glenn Brown, Henry Hupe, Elmo Brown and Bert (Pop) Taylor. Sitting on the upper press roadway are Walter Blauvelt (rear) and Arthur T. Dellplain.

Tacoma Times Publishing Co. (Tacoma); Newspaper industry--1930-1940; Newspapers--1930-1940;

Last running of old press at Tacoma Times on September 14, 1939. Bert "Pop" Taylor, dressed in dirty overalls, poses in front of press as paper runs through it; a roll of blank paper below and printed paper above.

Tacoma Times Publishing Co. (Tacoma); Newspaper industry--1930-1940; Newspapers--1930-1940; Taylor, Bert;

Walter J. Thompson, left, Tacoma banker and philanthropist, poses with John S. Baker at the dedication of the new Clover Park Athletic Field. Mr. Thompson came to Tacoma late in the 1880's. He purchased the Bank of New Tacoma, renamed it the Merchants National Bank and ran it until it failed in the panic of 1893. Mr. Thompson soon became known as a great philanthropist, donating money and time to the fight for women's suffrage, the establishment of vocational training in Tacoma public schools and the Unitarian Church. He was approached many times to run for mayor of Tacoma & always declined, but he did serve our community on both the Territorial legislature in 1886 and on the Territorial Senate.

Thompson, Walter J.; Baker, John S.; Bankers--Tacoma;

Showing of the new 1940 Fords at Titus Motor Company. Man handing a ribbon to another man across the hood of a 1940 Ford. Men, some wearing "It's Ford in '40" caps, mingle around the showroom. The new 1940 Fords were being described as big, substantial and powerful, with a modern front end design and streamlined body.

Titus Motor Co. (Tacoma); Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1930-1940; Ford automobile;

The pristine repair shop at Titus Motor Co. Shiny Fords line the right side, one on a lift at the rear. On the left front is a motorcycle.

Titus Motor Co. (Tacoma); Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1930-1940; Ford automobile;

In October of 1939, long lines of automobiles queued up at the State Vehicle Safety Inspection Station at 3315 So. 38th St., awaiting mandatory testing. Washington state had passed legislation in 1937 requiring vehicles be tested for safety. Beginning October 1, 1939, those flouting this regulation would be subject to fines or arrest. At this time there were two inspection stations in Tacoma, 914 Puyallup Ave. that had opened in December of 1938 and this two month old station pictured. The building seen on the ridge is 3333 So. 38th St., originally home to Tacoma's Contagious Hospital, which in 1939 housed the Works Progress Administration (WPA.) (TNT 10/1/1939, pg. 11)

Vehicle Safety Inspection Station (Tacoma); Automobiles--1930-1940;