Exterior picture of completed Lowell Elementary, 810 No. 13th. Established in Old Tacoma in 1869, Lowell holds the distinction of being the district's oldest school. It was originally known as the First Ward School and served families living west of Division Avenue. After several locations, it was renamed Lowell School and was located at No. 12th & Yakima. When Tacoma's earthquake hit at noon on April 13, 1949, Lowell student Marvin Klegman was killed by falling chimney bricks when leaving his classroom to take his post as a patrol boy. Two other Lowell students were hurt and the school was condemned. Students finished out the year at Grant, Bryant and Jason Lee until they moved into their new classrooms on No.13th St. in November of 1950. Construction on the school was completed in February of 1951.

Lowell Elementary School (Tacoma)--Buildings; Public schools--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Two workmen standing on scaffolding are removing plywood forms from a ceiling at Lowell School. A new building was necessary since the older school had been declared unsafe after the April 1949 earthquake. This was the second disaster survived by the school. The log cabin school at the corner of North 28th and Starr streets burned in a mysterious fire in 1875. Ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association, Mr. McCallum. (For the Record, Winnifred L Olsen)

Lowell Elementary School (Tacoma)--Buildings; Public schools--Tacoma--1950-1960; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma); Building construction--Tacoma--1950-1960; Plywood; Scaffolding--Tacoma; Construction workers--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Progress photograph at Lowell School. With its roots in Old Tacoma Lowell Elementary School is the Tacoma School District's oldest school. It was originally known as the First Ward School serving families living west of Division Street. Classes opened in 1869 in a log cabin built at the corner of North 28th and Starr streets. Ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association. (For the Record, Winnifred L. Olsen)

Lowell Elementary School (Tacoma)--Buildings; Public schools--Tacoma--1950-1960; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma); Building construction--Tacoma--1950-1960; Plywood; Scaffolding--Tacoma; Construction workers--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Tacoma Philharmonic at Tacoma Schools. Students sit two to a seat listening to recorded music as a preview to the second young people's concert of the season that was held February 16, 1949, at Temple Theater. Pupils from 4th through 9th grades in public and parochial schools attended. Ann Deyo, a fifth grader in Miss Hilda Meisner's class at Lowell School is about to play a recording of "Die Fledermaus" overture by Johann Strauss which they would hear performed at the matinee concert sponsored by the Tacoma Philharmonic and Meadowsweet Dairies, Inc. (TNT, 2/14/1949, p.2)

Lowell Elementary School (Tacoma); School children--Tacoma--1940-1950; Deyo, Ann; Classrooms--Tacoma--1940-1950; Pianos; Music education--Tacoma--1940-1950; Public schools--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Philharmonic Association (Tacoma);

6th Grade students, Stanley School, Mr. Thune. The graduating 6th grade class posed in front of the school in May of 1949. Several of the boys are wearing safety patrol badges and shoulder straps. Elmer Thune was the school's Principal.

Stanley Elementary School (Tacoma); School children--Tacoma--1940-1950; Education--Tacoma; Public schools--Tacoma--1940-1950; Group portraits;