At 12:45 in the afternoon on July 25, 1937, a two alarm fire broke out at the Puget Sound Manufacturing Company. Eight fire companies responded and fought the blazes for five hours. As they fought the flames, three fire fighters held down water hoses as they sprayed water onto the brick exterior of the building at 1121-23 Saint Paul Ave. Loss was estimated at $15,000. (T. Times, 7/16/1937, p. 1).

Fires--Tacoma--1930-1940; Fire fighters--Tacoma--1930-1940; Fire fighting--Tacoma--1930-1940; Puget Sound Manufacturing Co. (Tacoma);

Puget Sound Manufacturing Company fire. On July 25, 1937, Fire fighters were photographed dousing the ruins of a warehouse at the Puget Sound Manufacturing Co. Metal debris covers the field beside the burned-out building. Eight fire companies battled the blaze for five hours before it was completely contained. The Puget Sound plant sustained $15,000 in damages and there was also minor damage to the St. Paul Mill Store and the offices of Wheeler Osgood. The Puget Sound Manufacturing Co. specialized in general mill work (T. Times, 7/26/1937, p. 1-picture).

Fires--Tacoma--1930-1940; Fire fighters--Tacoma--1930-1940; Fire fighting--Tacoma--1930-1940; Puget Sound Manufacturing Co. (Tacoma);

Puget Sound Manufacturing Company fire on July 25, 1937. Fire fighters inspect the charred ruins inside the former building on Saint Paul Avenue. Eight fire companies fought the $15,000 two-alarm blaze. The fire was believed started by a careless cigarette thrown from an automobile which landed in a sawdust pile on the southside of the plant. A lumber storehouse then burst into flames. The ensuing sparks set fire to the St. Paul mill store and the offices of Wheeler-Osgood but damage was minimal. The fire was finally contained after five hours. (T. Times, 7/26/1937, p. 1-picture).

Fires--Tacoma--1930-1940; Fire fighters--Tacoma--1930-1940; Fire fighting--Tacoma--1930-1940; Puget Sound Manufacturing Co. (Tacoma);

At 12:45p.m. on Sunday, July 25th 1937, a fire broke out at the Puget Sound Manufacturing Company. Eight fire companies responded to the two alarm fire and fought the blaze for 5 hours. The loss to the plant exceeded $15,000. (T. Times, 7/26/1937, p. 1).

Fires--Tacoma--1930-1940; Fire fighters--Tacoma--1930-1940; Fire fighting--Tacoma--1930-1940; Puget Sound Manufacturing Co. (Tacoma);

Steilacoom frog farmer Charles Turner holds two large bullfrogs. The former taxicab driver quit his job last year to raise bullfrogs and now has 50,000 frogs. Turner plans to market them in two years for the delicacy, fried frog's legs. The frogs are shipped out in cakes of ice and can remain frozen for months. When defrosted, they come alive & jump around. (T.Times, 7/30/1937, p. 16)

Frogs; Farms--Steilacoom; Meat industry; Turner, Charles;

Steilacoom frog farmer Charles Turner holds two of his prized large bullfrogs. The former taxicab driver quit his job last year to raise bullfrogs and now has 50,000 frogs on his cozy Steilacoom farm. Turner plans to market them in two years for the delicacy, fried frog's legs. Turner and his wife were bitten by the "frog raising" bug while on a trip to California where they visited a large frog raising operation where a manager revealed the profits to be made and the large market demand. It takes about 3 years to raise a frog to the market size of 30-36 inches. (T.Times, 7/30/1937, p. 16)

Frogs; Farms--Steilacoom; Meat industry; Turner, Charles;

Charles Turner, Steilacoom taxi driver turned frog farmer, holds a large frog on his bare shoulder and arm. With a stock of 50,000 frogs, Turner plans to sell them in a couple of years for the delicacy, fried frogs' legs. (T. Times, 7/30/1937, p.16)

Frogs; Farms--Steilacoom; Meat industry; Turner, Charles;

Steilacoom frog farmer Charles Turner holds one of the bullfrogs that he raised to market as the delicacy "frogs' legs" in this photograph from July of 1937. The "Leaping Lena" is stretched out to her full length. Turner gave up his career as a taxi driver in 1936 and dug four frog ponds for his new industry. By July of 1937 he had over 50,000 amphibians that he intended to market when fully grown. It takes about 3 years for the frogs to grow to market size, 30-36 inches. At the time, Turner said that the biggest disadvantage in frog farming is that the males croak a lot in mating season and the neighbors complain about the noise. (T.Times, 7/30/1937, p. 16)

Frogs; Farms--Steilacoom; Meat industry; Turner, Charles;

The large Stewart clan gathered for a outdoor group portrait on the last day of July in 1937. Family members ranged from babies to the elderly. Nearly 90 of the Stewart clan were present. G2.1-029

Families--1930-1940;

Bremerton Sun picnic at Seabeck. Several women with their children gathered in a conversational group on the lawn. Each year the Bremerton Sun closed for a day to allow the employees and their families to enjoy an all day picnic. (Bremerton Sun).

Picnics--Bremerton--1930-1940; Bremerton Sun (Bremerton); Newspapers--Bremerton--1930-1940;

Swiss dance, August of 1937. Nine men standing in a semi-circle around a spitoon. They appear to be singing.

Swiss Americans--Tacoma; Ethnic groups--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Swiss dance. A large group of couples on dance floor. Most men have shed their coats for a more relaxed atmosphere.

Swiss Americans--Tacoma; Ethnic groups--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Swiss dance. Men and women seated at tables with streamers above. An array of beer mugs are on the table, coats and hats hang from hooks on the wall, framed pictures, a clock and trophy decorate the dining room. The dance is believed to have taken place at Swiss Hall, a multi-story building erected by the area's Swiss Society.

Tacoma Swiss Society (Tacoma); Swiss Americans--Tacoma; Dance--Tacoma;

Tacoma Schwingfest. "Crown Girls," a group of young women wearing formal gowns and sashes, pose proudly with a group of wrestlers proficient in the art of Schwingen, or Swiss Wrestling, in August of 1937. Most of the men are wearing traditional laurels on their heads. Martin Betschart holds the Swiss flag on a stage decorated with stars, scrolls, and art deco motif. Front row is (youth) Champion Buebe Schwinger Al Burgener. "Crown Girls" (L-R) Mary Keller, Alice Widmer, Lena Jelasich, Ida Fassbind, Evelyn Bucher, Louise Query, Martha Muller, Ruby Etter, Ann Schnider. Schwingers are (L-R): Frank Betschart, Al Ming, Sr., Adolph Imhof, Karl Kessler, Eugene Weber, Max Holenstein, Robert Spichtig, Ben Holdener, John Balmer. Musicians in next row are: (L-R): Charlie Steiner, Joe Burgi, Ed Schwarzenberger, Egon Schmidt. At the top are: (L-R): unidentified, Al Bacher, Martin Betschart. (Swiss Sportsmen's Club of Tacoma: p. 17)

Wrestling--Tacoma--1930-1940; Swiss Americans--Tacoma; Ethnic groups--Tacoma; Tacoma Schwinger Club (Tacoma);

Exterior of Ted Halbas' home in Steilacoom. Early vernacular cottage overlooking bay with man on front porch. Photograph was taken in August of 1937. (Argentum)

Halbas, Ted--Homes & haunts; Houses--Steilacoom;

When the retail clerks at the Tacoma Peoples Department Store went out on strike during the summer of 1937, the other department stores took the unprecedented step of locking out their employees in an attempt to crush the union. The Tacoma clerks received strong support from many local businesses and unions. A "soup kitchen" was set up in the Olympus Hotel, 815 Pacific Avenue, to help feed union pickets. In September, a satisfactory agreement was reached which included a 40 hour work week with time and one-half for overtime and an increase in wages for unclassified saleswomen from $15 per week to $17.25.

Labor Unions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Clothing industry strikes--Tacoma--1930-1940;Hotels--Tacoma; Restaurants--Tacoma--1930-1940; Olympus Hotel (Tacoma);

In 1937, you could ride the steamer Virginia V, operated by the West Pass Transportation Company, twice a day from Tacoma to Seattle. It left the Tacoma Municipal Dock at 7:15 a.m. and 1:45 p.m, and returned from Seattle at 1:10p.m. and 7:45 p.m. A round trip ticket sold for 60 cents. They also ran a Sunday excursion trip that left Tacoma at 3:30 p.m. and returned at 8:30 p.m. The Virginia V, built in 1922, was 120 ft. in length with a 24-foot beam and a capacity of 325 passengers. She operated between Tacoma and Seattle from 1922 to 1940 carrying passengers by way of the West Pass of Puget Sound. (T.Times 8/27/1937 p.5)

Ferries--1930-1940; West Pass Transportation Co. (Tacoma); Mass transit--1930-1940; Transportation--1930-1940;

West Pass Transportation Company "Virginia V" ferry on Tacoma waterway.

Ferries--1930-1940; West Pass Transportation Co. (Tacoma); Mass transit--1930-1940; Transportation--1930-1940;

A dusty dirt road winds through the hop fields to what appears to be a farm house at the model hop farm in Roy. The farm is owned by James E. & J. W. Feak.

Hops--Roy--1930-1940; Farming--Roy--1930-1940;

View of hop fields. Three men in foreground standing on dirt road by farm equipment.These fields are believed to be part of the 41 acre farm belonging to James E. & J.W. Feak outside of Roy.

Hops--Roy--1930-1940; Farming--Roy--1930-1940;

Turner Richards, left, admires the retouching desk and the safe light that he invented and demonstrates the products to another man sitting at the desk.

Richards, Turner; Photographic apparatus & supplies; Richards Commercial Photo Service (Tacoma); Photographic studios--Tacoma--1930-1940; Turner Richards Studio (Tacoma);

Jewish picnic at Seabeck, August of 1937. A group of men wearing suits and ties were photographed sitting casually around a long table with drinks and cigars. (Bremerton Sun).

Picnics--Seabeck; Men--Seabeck; Jewish men--Seabeck;

View of Hop fields with building in background. The fields are part of the 41 acre hop farm near Roy belonging to James E. & J.W. Feak. Hops are grown on trellises. They are harvested after growing season is over. It is the dried flower that contains the oil that is used in brewing to prevent bacterial action. It also gives the beer its characteristic bitter taste.

Hops--Roy--1930-1940; Farming--Roy--1930-1940;

Spraying hop fields. Man seated on tractor pulling spray tank which is emitting chemical sprays. Another tractor and tank are parked along dirt road. James E. & J.W. Feak owned 41 acres planted in hops near Roy. During 1936 -1937, the county was involved in improving and deepening nearby Lacamas Creek. The work was not deep or wide enough, causing the creek to overflow and flood the Feak lands. In 1938, they were seeking $30, 354 in damages to their 41 acres of hops. (T.Times 8/30/38, pg. 1)

Hops--Roy--1930-1940; Farming--Roy--1930-1940; Pest control--Roy--1930-1940; Tractors--1930-1940;

Hop plant at model hop farm in Roy. The Hop plant (Humulus lupulus) is a hardy perennial , that produces annual vines from an overwintering rootstock. The principal use of hops is in the manufacture of beer. The female cone has resin glands which produce lupulin. Lupulin contains the oils and resins that give hops their aroma, and beer its bitter flavor. Although originally introduced on both the east and west coasts, most commercial hops production comes from the Northwest, due to the plant's susceptibility to powder mildew.

Hops--Roy--1930-1940; Farming--Roy--1930-1940;

Four workmen emptying burlap bags of hops into hop barn. Close view with barn doors open. This 41 acre hop farm near Roy belonged to James E. & J.W. Feak.

Hops--Roy--1930-1940; Farming--Roy--1930-1940;

Two men on scaffolding cleaning windows of Perkins Building. Oscar H. Williams, Universal Cleaning Company. Building by Russell and Babcock, Architects; 1907 and 1909.

Buildings - Office Buildings - Tacoma - Perkins BuildingIndustries - Service Industries - Building Maintenance Industries

Swiss dance. Large crowd of men and boys drinking and singing. Sign on wall indicates "Beer free."

Organizations - Ethnic Organizations - SwissEvents - Social Events - Dances

Schwinger Frank Betschart, holding a trophy, bows before "Crown Girl" Mary Keller during the Tacoma Schwingfest in 1937. Each year since 1928 participants in the art of Schwingen, Swiss wrestling, would come north to Washington for the Tacoma club's competition. In 1958 the Tacoma Schwinger Club would merge with the Tacoma Swiss Rifle Club to become the Swiss Sportsmen's Club of Tacoma, thereby combining schwingen, marksmanship and a greater membership. (Swiss Sportsmen's Club of Tacoma: Golden Anniversary Book, various pages)

Tacoma Schwinger Club (Tacoma); Wrestling--Tacoma--1930-1940; Swiss Americans--Tacoma; Ethnic groups--Tacoma; Keller, Mary; Betschart, Frank;

Swiss dance. Two men with cigars tending bar. The dance may have been held at the Swiss Hall, a building erected by Tacomans of Swiss ancestry. Other photographs in the same series show that the dance was attended by a large crowd. The beer was apparently free.

Tacoma Swiss Society (Tacoma); Swiss Americans--Tacoma; Dance--Tacoma; Cigars; Bartenders--Tacoma; Beer--Tacoma;