Meyer Drug Store fire. $50,000 worth of damage was estimated after the fire at Meyer Drug Co. The same evening an additional $225 was looted from store. Interior view of Meyer Drug Co. after fire and looting had ocurred (T. Times, 5/30/44, p. 1).

Fires--Tacoma--1940-1950; Disasters--Tacoma; Meyer Drug Co. (Tacoma);

Hoist at Star Iron and Steel. The Star Iron & Steel Co. was recently awarded the Army Navy "E" Award. Their products were used to help clear the Pearl Harbor disaster. Their first Navy contract was in 1931. Interior view of plant and hoisting equipment and machinery.

Hoisting machinery; Steel industry--Tacoma; Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma);

McMillin Reservoir. In 1933 McMillin Reservoir began duplicating and replacing the original pipe lines that went to Tacoma. Wooden pipes were replaced with durable concrete pipe lines. This enabled them to increase the water distribution capacity. Interior view of plant.

Hydraulic facilities--Tacoma; Reservoirs--Tacoma; Waterworks--Tacoma; McMillin Resorvoir (McMillin);

Interior view of Tacoma plant with General Electric Company machinery.

Machinery;

Melovidoff orchestra group of 100. Alexander S. Melovidoff, front row left side, was a music instructor for people of all ages. He taught all orchestra and band instruments including the Hawaiian and Spanish guitar. Here we see a group of 100 of his students with their various instruments in June of 1944. Photo appears cropped due to size.

Music education--Tacoma--1940-1950; Children playing musical instruments--Tacoma--1940-1950; Melovidoff, Alexander S., 1897-1961;

Wheeler Osgood Plywood plant, Mr. McCallum. Plywood was anticipated to become very important for the post war reconstruction era. Pre-fabricated homes would utilize over 25% of the plywood supply. View of laborer in the interior of Wheeler Osgood plant. Photo ordered by Winston H. McCallum of the Douglas Fir Plywood Association.

Plywood; Wheeler, Osgood Co. (Tacoma);

Sears window of "Land O' Sky Rugs". The first Sears, Roebuck & Company store opened in 1927 on Pacific Avenue, nine years later they moved into a building on Broadway, part of the Tacoma business district. View of Sears' window display featuring American made "Land O' Sky" rugs.

Rugs; Floor coverings; Window displays;

Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Navy barracks and phone booths, Mr. Parey. Anyone directly connected to the war effort received top priority for obtaining their communications equipment. View of Pacific Telephone & Telegraph public telephone at Navy barracks. Photo ordered by Mr. Parey.

Telephones;

College of Puget Sound Soldiers taking exam. 235 soldiers taking exams after completing a specialized training course at College of Puget Sound. Many will then be transferred to a highly mechanized combat organization for basic training. Major L. E. Darlington is commander of group.

World War, 1939-1945--Recruiting & enlistment--Tacoma; Students--Tacoma; College of Puget Sound (Tacoma)--1940-1950;

This photograph taken in January of 1945 shows Homer Amundsen working with Dick Ross while Robert "Buster" Arnestad waits his turn. Mr. Amundsen built his own stomach punching bag to protect his midriff from blows generated by hard-hitting boxers. The mobility of the bag allowed the trainer to work on his fighters' footwork. Boxing was a popular sport in Tacoma during the 1940's. Boxing bouts were taking place at the State Armory ring, and many boxers were training in Amundsen's Gymnasium at 719 1/2 Commerce Street. Homer Amundsen featured modern training equipment for athletes. (T. Times, 1/15/45, p. 9). (Additional identification provided by a reader)

Amundsen, Homer; Ross, Dick; Arnestad, Robert; Boxing--Tacoma--1940-1950; Boxers (Sports)--Tacoma; Coaching (Athletics)--Tacoma; Exercise equipment & supplies; Amundsen's Gymnasium (Tacoma);

Tacoma Sportmen's Club received two trophies for their work during 1943. This is the first time a club and club member win the trophies simultaneously. The club was awarded for their outstanding accomplishments of any member club of the Washington State Sports Council. Club member, Buddy MacDonald, also received recognition (T. Times, 9/18/44, p. 11).

Awards; Athletic clubs--Tacoma; Tacoma Sportmen's Club (Tacoma);

Puget Sound Boat Building Corp. launched the U. S. Army B.S.P. 3135, a self propelled 88 foot long, twin diesel engine cargo barge, on Thanksgiving Day. The company received a government contract to build four cargo barges for the Army. Beverly Agen, Puget Sound Boat staff, was the launching sponsor (T. Times, 11/23/44, p. 1). TPL-5747

Barges--Tacoma; Government vessels--Tacoma; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Puget Sound Boat Building Corp. (Tacoma); Launchings--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Story on a weatherman. The Weather Bureau Station in Tacoma keeps Tacoma residents well informed about what to expect with the weather in Western Washington. View of Meteorologist Ross Miller with an unidentified man checking the wind velocity by the anemometer on the tower located on the roof of the Fidelity building (T. Times, 9/12/44, p. 1).

Barometers; Weather--Tacoma; United States Weather Bureau (Tacoma); Miller, Ross O.;

Exterior view of Western Boat Building Co. plant number two. Martin Petrich, Sr. and others started Western Boat in 1916. By 1944, Petrich's five sons Hervey, Allen, Martin Jr., Jim and Jack were all active in Tacoma's shipbuilding industry. During World War II, many Tacoma shipyards received government contracts to build various vessels for the Army, Navy and Coast Guard which were essential to the war effort. (T. Times, 9/1/44, p. 20).

Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Vessels--Tacoma; Western Boat Building Co. (Tacoma);

Picture of North End Alleys. The Tacoma Times was sponsoring the Bowling Classic finals at North End lanes. The tournament will use the "Petersen Point" system, it will be the first time the point system is used on the West Coast (T.Times, 2/21/45, p. 9).

Bowling alleys--Tacoma; Pinsetting--Tacoma; North End Alleys (Tacoma);

In August of 1944, Camp Fire Girls Donna Lee Schaller, Nancy Lee Coons, and Florence Neu helped prepare campaign supplies for the upcoming Community War Chest drive. These girls decided to volunteer for the campaign and spend their last few days of summer vacation helping the Tacoma Community Chest and Council office. Camp Fire Girls giving ten hours of community service were eligible for the National Service emblem, with a Red Star added for each additional twenty five hours. (T. Times, 8/25/44, p. 5; TNT 8-26-44, p. 14-alt. photograph).

Camp Fire Girls (Tacoma); Tacoma Community Chest (Tacoma); Schaller, Donna Lee; Coons, Nancy Lee; Neu, Florence;

Camp Fire Girls at Community Chest office. Camp Fire Girls have volunteered for the Community War Chest drive. Left ot right view of Joy High, Betty Prescott and Sally Lou Lundquist as they prepare campaign material for the Tacoma Community Chest and Council office War Chest drive (T. Times, 8/25/44, p. 5).

Children--Organizations--Tacoma; Camp Fire Girls (Tacoma); Tacoma Community Chest (Tacoma);

The Provident Building was built in 1903, and has housed many Tacoma businesses. Photo ordered by Mr. George D. Grant, Real Estate agent specializing in business properties and industrial sites. Exterior view of Ghilarducci's California Florists, Brown's Beauty Shop, Laughlen's Cafe,Tacoma Office Supply Co., businesses located within the Provident Building. Billboards promoting war bond sales can be seen on left side of photo.

Commercial facilities--Tacoma; Storefronts--Tacoma; Billboards--Tacoma; Provident Building (Tacoma);

An unidentified produce clerk at a local market helped Mrs. F.J. McLaughlin of St. Patrick's church (left) and Mrs. G.W. Cookson of St. Leo's fill their baskets with fresh vegetables in October of 1944. A group of Tacoma churches had joined together to prepare the food for the War Chest Campaign worker's luncheon meetings. Every other day a local church group took over preparing and serving the lunches until the campaign closed on October 23rd. (T. Times, 10/10/44, p. 3). TPL-9187

Community service--Tacoma--1940-1950; Charitable organizations--Tacoma; Tacoma Community Chest (Tacoma); Vegetables--Tacoma;

Maefair Apartments fire hearing. Witnesses were called and evidence was provided to a jury, who was to decide whether criminal negligence had occurred at the February 17, 1945, Maefair Apartments fire that killed 19 people. Coroner Paul Mellinger questioned a wide array of witnesses, and provided jurors with a clear picture of the unfortunate circumstances. Seated in the jury box were: (l-r) Mrs. Alfarnia E. Allen, Mrs. C.R. McColl and Mrs. Robert C. McCune. In the back row were: (l-r) H.W. Kramer, future Tacoma mayor John H. Anderson and Erling O. Johnson. (T. Times, 3/2/45, p. 1; TNT 3-2-45, p. 1-alternate photograph & article).

Courtrooms--Tacoma; Judicial proceedings--Tacoma; Juries--Tacoma; Kramer, H.W.; Anderson, John H.; Johnson, Erling O.; Allen, Alfarnia; McColl, C.R.--Family; McCune, Robert C.--Family;

Maefair Apartment fire hearing. After an extensive investigation it was concluded that the fire was started in the basement, then continued upwards, until it was out of control. Coroner Paul Mellinger, center, questioned several witnesses, including victims, Robbie Larson, Fire Inspector and John D. Hamilton, owner of Hamilton's Candy Co. (T. Times, 3/2/45, p. 1).

Courtrooms--Tacoma; Judicial proceedings--Tacoma; Mellinger, Paul;

Initiation into Veterans of Foreign Wars post. Six of 24 veterans of the U.S.S. Nashville, who were active in many battles in the South Pacific, were recently accepted into the U.S.S. Tacoma post 2329 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. The men were sworn in as members of the Tacoma V.F.W. post. Names appear in newspaper (T. Times, 3/7/45, p. 3).

World War, 1939-1945--Veterans--Tacoma; Rites & ceremonies--Tacoma--1940-1950; Veterans of Foreign Wars (Tacoma);

Department of Interior details of Japanese church. In 1942 Japanese Americans in Pierce County were ordered into temporary detention camps located at the Puyallup Fair Grounds and later some were sent to permanent detention facilities in California and Idaho. Following the mass evacuations, Japanese homes, churches and businesses were searched for evidence proving disloyalty. This ransacked room has been identified as being located in the Japanese Methodist Episcopal Church, 1901 Fawcett Ave. There were two Japanese churches in Tacoma during this time, the Japanese Buddhist Church and the Japanese Methodist Episcopal Church, both located on Fawcett Avenue. (Additional information provided by a reader)

World War, 1939-1945--War destruction & pillage--Tacoma; Searching--Tacoma; Japanese Americans--Evacuation & relocation, 1942-1945;

Ferro Alloy Co. huge furnace and elevator. The Ohio Ferro Alloys Co. started a new metal alloys plant in July 1941. They would produce fluxes and alloys that could be used in steel manufacturing. Silicon was also an output for the plant, which helped provide a market for carbon, charcoal and coke. The company had the third largest electric contract in the city, and brought the possibility of a steel plant to Tacoma. Exterior view of plant. TPL-9258

Conveying systems--Tacoma; Metallurgical industry--Tacoma; Ohio Ferro-Alloys Corp. (Tacoma);

Doll and diamond display at Weisfield & Goldberg. The "Gallery of Diamonds and Dolls" exhibit at Weisfield & Goldberg Jewelers is attracting a lot of attention. The exhibit features an extensive doll collection wearing an array of clothing, including wedding gowns for the mature bride. View of unidentified woman standing next to display cases with dolls (T. Times, 2/7/45, p. 7).

Dolls; Exhibitions--Tacoma; Veils--Tacoma; Weisfield & Goldberg, Inc. (Tacoma);

Tacoma Council of Churches exterior of building. Tacoma Council of Churches helps maintain the United Churches Service Center, which helps provide for the needs of servicemen. View of United Churches Service Center, located above Moderne Portrait Studio and next to Hotel Olympus. Fire escape can be seen on building side.

Fire escapes--Tacoma; Organizations' facilities--Tacoma; Tacoma Council of Churches (Tacoma);

Navy Mothers' Club window at Penney's. A window display featuring photographs of men from Tacoma who are serving in the war, was set up by the Navy Mothers' Club in honor of Navy Day. The Navy Mothers' Club is one of the most active groups in Tacoma (T. Times, 10/26/44, p. 3).

Men--Commemoration--Tacoma; Military personnel--Tacoma; Window displays; J.C. Penney Co. (Tacoma);

The entrance to the Olympus Cafe at the Olympus Hotel showing the stairway down from Pacific Avenue and the lobby. The newly opened "Olympus Cafe" and Supper Club, located in the Olympus Hotel, is celebrating their grand opening. Bert Sundegren, owner, stated it is "Tacoma's newest and Washington's finest" restaurant. The location had large columns, a tile floor and ornate chandeliers. TPL-6421

Restaurants--Tacoma--1940-1950; Olympus Cafe (Tacoma); Olympus Hotel (Tacoma);

Standard Oil service stations - Dravis Service Station, for Mr. Evans. The garage has been boarded up although old signs still hang in the front windows. Three gasoline pumps stand in the front of the one story building.

Automobile Service Stations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Standard Oil Co. of California (Tacoma); Dravis Service Station;

Standard Oil Stations. Phil Pepper's service station. The gasoline pumps and cover cross the corner lot diagonally. The door to the one service garage is open. TPL-7114

Automobile service stations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Standard Oil Co. of California (Tacoma); Phil Pepper Servce Station;