In May of 1949, St. Patrick's Church, 1123 No. J St., was photographed outlined against the spring sky. The Catholic church was designed by architect Frederick Heath, and built in 1906 of stone. It replaced the original wooden church which served the Old Town section of Tacoma for 13 years before being destroyed by fire in 1905. The first services in the new church were held on Christmas Day, 1906, although the church was later dedicated in June of 1907. A bell tower graces one corner of the church and a rose window is centered above the main doors. The doors and windows are arched. St. Patrick's Parochial School can be seen on the far right. TPL-4766

St. Patrick's Catholic Church (Tacoma); Catholic churches--Tacoma; St. Patrick's Parochial School (Tacoma); Church schools--Tacoma; Bell towers--Tacoma; Stained glass--Tacoma; Windows--Tacoma; Arches--Tacoma;

Church of the Visitation's school was planning their graduation ceremony for June 1, 1949. The graduates would attend mass and receive holy communion followed by a breakfast prepared by the Visitation Women's Club. Spiritual exercises would be presented by Father Michael Feeney, O.S.B., of St. Martin's College. View of Visitation School graduates on the altar.

Church schools--Tacoma; Students--Tacoma--1940-1950; Events--Tacoma; Graduation ceremonies--Tacoma--1940-1950; Altars--Tacoma; Church of the Visitation (Tacoma); School of the Visitation (Tacoma);

Dr. J. Renwick McCullough would be leaving Tacoma's First Presbyterian Church and joining Lincoln Avenue Presbyterian Church in Pasadena, California. His Tacoma congregation gave Dr. McCullough and his family a farewell dinner and gift. View of Dr. J. Renwick McCullough delivering his last sermon at First Presbyterian Church on April 24, 1949 (T.N.T., 4/21/49, p. A-5).

Presbyterian churches--Tacoma; Christianity--Tacoma--1940-1950; Clergy--Tacoma; Preaching--Tacoma--1940-1950; Religious services--Tacoma--1940-1950; First Presbyterian Church (Tacoma); McCullough, J. Renwick;

Group at First Baptist Church, Times, Dick Yost. William Anderson, a student at Stewart Junior High School, right, is pointing to a strategic point on the map of Palestine in this February 24, 1948 photograph. Looking on are, L-R, Glen Coe, Inez Jackson, Director of Mason Junior High robed choir, Suzanne Haskin, Robert Gray Junior High and E.T. Munz, counselor, First Baptist Church junior high fellowship. The junior high school students were in charge of providing music and the message at the evening services at First Baptist this week. (T.Times, 2/28/1948, p.3)

First Baptist Church (Tacoma); Anderson, William; Coe, Glen; Jackson, Inez; Haskin, Suzanne; Baptist churches--Tacoma; Teenagers--1940-1950; Maps; Meetings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Women--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Bethlehem Baptist Church primarily had African-American members. In January 1959 Bethlehem Baptist Church was destroyed by a fire, the congregation decided to rebuild their facilities. View of banquet celebrating the 10th anniversary of Reverend Edward Byard Wilson; Reverend Wilson (seated on the right next to wife Allie) is joined by family, friends, and other church members. TPL-8582

Baptist churches--Tacoma; Banquets--Tacoma--1940-1950; Rites & ceremonies--Tacoma--1940-1950; African American churches--Tacoma; Bethlehem Baptist Church (Tacoma); Wilson, Edward Byard; Clergy--Tacoma; Wilson, Allie;

Reverend Carl A. Johnson, minister of the First Christian Church of Tacoma would be presenting six sermons, all open to the public. Reverend Johnson would be preaching about "Practical Christian Living" from the Book of James. The six sermons would be: "Living Practically", "Living Enthusiastically", "Living Spiritually", "Living Prayerfully", "Living Victoriously" and "Living Seriously". Photo ordered by United Full Gospel City-Wide Revival (T.N.T., 8/20/49, p. 7).

Revivals--Tacoma--1940-1950; Evangelists; Religious groups--Tacoma; Christianity--Tacoma; Temporary buildings--Tacoma; Show tents--Tacoma; United Full Gospel City-Wide Revival (Tacoma);

Packed attendance at the Lorne F. Fox Party, the city wide salvation and healing campaign held at the Tent Cathedral at So. 23rd & Steele in August of 1953. The Rev. Lorne F. Fox was a traveling evangelist who appeared in Tacoma sponsored by the Full Gospel Fellowship of Tacoma. His traveling ministry offered music, prayer for the sick and claimed conversion of thousands. Rev. Lorne F. Fox was the primary speaker and musician. He played the piano, organ, accordion and Hawaiian guitar. Ruth L. Fox was the song leader and contralto soloist. Joe & Gerry Pontrello filled in as organist, trumpeter and vocalist. The Crusade had taken the internationally known musicians and evangelists to Alaska, Mexico, the West Indies and South America. The revival opened August 16, 1953 at 3 & 7:30p.m. and would continue nightly, except for Mondays. (TNT 8/8/1953, pg. 4 & 8/15/1953, pg. 4)

Revivals--Tacoma--1950-1960; Religious meetings--Tacoma--1950-1960;

First Lutheran Church, confirmation picture. A group of young people pose in white confirmation robes. The boys have suits and ties underneath the robes; the girls have corsages pinned to the robes.

First Lutheran Church (Tacoma); Lutheran churches--Tacoma; Confirmations--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Seventh-day Adventist Disaster Emergency Unit. In March of 1953 Tacoma's Adventist churches spent a full day having their members demonstrate first-aid techniques and preparing emergency disaster kits filled with medicines, bandages and other supplies. Nurse Roberta Sharley is pictured above with two unidentified women as she looks over the items to be placed within the white SDA buckets. About $19 worth of first-aid items were placed in each emergency kit. (TNT 3-22-1953, A-15-article)

Seventh-day Adventist Church (Tacoma); Civil defense--Tacoma--1950-1960; Sharley, Roberta; Nurses--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Pastor Louis Kephart ministers to his congregation at the new Who So Ever Will Come chapel on Pacific Avenue in June, 1953. The small storefront church appears packed with parishioners during the mid-afternoon service. Entire families, dressed in Sunday best, attentively listen to Rev. Kephart. This was the opening service at the church's new Pacific Avenue location. According to an advertisement in the June 6, 1953, News Tribune, the church believed and preached divine healing. They invited all to attend a Holy Ghost revival featuring evangelist R. James Vaughn on the evening of June 7th. (TNT 6-6-53, p. 7 - Ad)

Churches--Tacoma--1950-1960; Who So Ever Will Come (Tacoma); Kephart, Louis;

First Presbyterian Church and approximately 300 children attending the 1953 Vacation Bible School. Vacation Bible School was sponsored by area churches during a week in the summer to give children a chance to study the scriptures during their free time, and for parents to keep their children busy during the long summer days. For many baby boomers, summer brings fond memories of Vacation Bible School - memorizing Bible verses, singing songs, making Biblical characters out of clothespins and having snacks of cookies and Koolaid.

Presbyterian churches--Tacoma; Christianity--Tacoma--1950-1960; First Presbyterian Church (Tacoma); School children--Tacoma--1950-1960; Christian vacation schools--1950-1960;

Dorothy Hanson (far left) and Al Bellandi were crowned king and queen of the Young People's Fellowship's Mardi Gras carnival held on Friday February 22, 1952 at Holy Communion Church parish house. Toni Jones (right), president of the Young People's Fellowship, is helping arrange King Bellandi's royal cape. Booths, a box supper and games were followed by dancing and cards. Proceeds from the affair benefited the church. (TNT, 2/20/1952, p.A-12) TPL-10520

Church of the Holy Communion (Tacoma); Episcopal churches--Tacoma; Hanson, Dorothy; Bellandi, Al; Jones, Toni;

Visitation School's 1952 graduating Class of 42 students taken in church sanctuary. Visitation Church was designed by C. Frank Mahon, Architect, and constructed in 1913. The school was added in 1925 and opened on September 8th with an enrollment of 170 students, at a cost of $1.00 per month for in parrish families. The school was staffed by the Benedictine Sisters of St. Benedict's Convent in Minnesota. ("A History of Pierce County" V. 3)

Church schools--Tacoma; Students--Tacoma--1950-1960; Graduation ceremonies--Tacoma--1950-1960; Altars--Tacoma; Church of the Visitation (Tacoma); School of the Visitation (Tacoma);

Children fill the stage at Faith Temple. They may have taken part in a Christmas pageant since this photograph was taken two days before Christmas 1951. Stripes, plaids and western wear seem popular in children's wear at this time.

Congregational churches--Tacoma; Faith Temple (Tacoma); Theatrical productions--Tacoma; Children performing in theatrical productions--Tacoma; Children--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Federal Old Line Life Insurance Company banquet at First Presbyterian Church on September 12, 1939. Federal Old Line was formed by J.R. Cissna and licensed in the state of Washington in 1937. His vision was a company that paid off claims within 48 hours after death. (filed with Argentum)

First Presbyterian Church (Tacoma); Protestant churches--Tacoma--1930-1940; Presbyterian churches--Tacoma--1930-1940; Federal Old Line Life Insurance Co. (Tacoma);

Wedding of Gertrude McCutcheon and William Fry at the Little Church on the Prairie, Lakewood. Building converted from commercial uses to church in 1940. Gertrude McCutcheon, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Parsneau, exchanged vows with William Landis Fry, son of Mr. and Mrs. Lindsey Fry of Oroville, California, in a double-ring ceremony on August 11, 1940. Mrs. Franklyn Coffield Ellis of San Francisco served as her sister's matron of honor. Burritt Anderson was the best man. The bride wore a silk jersey afternoon dress adorned with white orchids and carried a white prayer book. The new Mrs. Fry had graduated from Stadium High School and Racine's Western Institute (Seattle). The groom graduated from the University of California and was a member of Sigma Chi fraternity. Their first home will be in Oakland. (T. Times 8-12-1940, p. 7)

Little Church on the Prairie (Lakewood); Weddings--Lakewood--1940-1950; Fry, William Landis; McCutcheon, Gertrude--Marriage; Brides--1940-1950; Grooms (Weddings)--1940-1950; Wedding costume--1940-1950;

Easter Sunday in 1939 at churches. The congregation of the First (Evangelical) Lutheran Church is photographed after services and shown mingling on the sidewalks and steps. 1930s automobiles on street. General view of building with corner steeple, by Heath and Gove, Architects; 1926. Construction of the massive tapestry brick with Tenino stone trim building commenced in late 1925 and was completed in early 1929. It had a large Scandinavian congregation. (T. Times)

Lutheran churches--Tacoma--1930-1940; First Lutheran Church (Tacoma); Easter--Tacoma; Automobiles--Tacoma--1930-1940;

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

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;

First Methodist Church, general view of exterior. Heath and Gove, Architects; 1916. (T. Times, Special Edition) [Also dated February, 1940]

Methodist churches--Tacoma; First Methodist Church (Tacoma);

First Presbyterian Church ,general view of exterior. Cram and Ferguson with Sutton, Whitney and Dugan, Architects; 1920-24. (filed with Argentum)

Presbyterian churches--Tacoma; First Presbyterian Church (Tacoma);

Conference at the First Methodist Church. Registration. Several men gathered at table with adding machines and papers. Tacoma's First Methodist Church hosted the second annual Methodists Northwest conference from June 12- June 16, 1940. Bishop William E. Martin of Omaha presided. In 1939 two branches of the Methodist church in the Northwest, Methodist Episcopal and Protestant Methodist church united to become the Methodist Church. (T. Times 6-11-1940, p. 5-article; T.Times 6-13-1940, p. 1,24-article)

Methodist churches--Tacoma--1940-1950; Meetings--Tacoma--1940-1950; First Methodist Church (Tacoma); Recording & registration--Tacoma--1940-1950;

On a sunny Easter Sunday in 1939, three boys struggled with a potted lilly in front of the Central Baptist Church at 1201 So. J St. The boys were, left to right, solemn Gerald Larson, Gene Johnson balancing the plant and a huge grin and Peter Larson. A female parishioner, with corsage, watched from the background. The Gothic wooden church in the background was built in 1900 as the First Swedish Baptist Church. In 2005, it was named to the Tacoma Registry of Historic Places and is currently being restored. (T. Times 4/10/1939, pg. 3)

Central Baptist Church (Tacoma); Baptist churches--Tacoma; Easter--Tacoma; Larson, Gerald; Johnson, Gene; Larson, Peter;

Tacoma Oratorio Society at First Congregational Church in "The Creation", J.W. Bixel, conductor. 51 people posed in an auditorium. (filed with Argentum)

Tacoma Oratorio Society (Tacoma); First Congregational Church (Tacoma);

In June of 1927, Seattlite and frequent Tacoma visitor Esther Landstrom (in coat) was pictured with her new Willys-Knight 70-A coupe in front of the First Presbyterian Church at 20 Tacoma Avenue South. Her small dog stands on the running board. Her friend Dolly Wescott, a bookkeeper at Manley Motors, was at the wheel. Mrs. Landstrom had recently purchased her car from Manley Motor Company, 956-58 Fawcett Avenue, in Tacoma. Manley Motors were the authorized dealers of Overland, Willys-Knight, and Whippet automobiles. (TDL 6/19/1927, pg. G2) (WSHS)

Automobiles--Tacoma--1920-1930; Presbyterian churches--Tacoma; First Presbyterian Church (Tacoma); Landstrom, Esther; Wescott, Dolly; Willys-Knight automobile; Dogs--Tacoma--1920-1930;

The early Gothic facade of the First Congregational Church was built 1907-1908. It was designed by architect George W. Bullard and is of brick faced with Tenino sandstone. Ordered by Rev. Harold Booch, Pastor. [Also dated 04-18-1943]

Congregational churches--Tacoma; First Congregational Church (Tacoma); Stone buildings;

The cornerstone for the Tudor First Congregational Church was laid September 5,1907 and the adjacent educational building was added in 1928. The buildings are of brick faced with Tenino sandstone.

Congregational churches--Tacoma; First Congregational Church (Tacoma); Stone buildings;

Ellen Bell, wife of Rev. Arthur Bell, poses with stones from Westminster Abbey. The stones will be built into the reconstructed St. Lukes Memorial Episcopal Church. They were taken from part of a wall at the Abbey torn out during World War II air raids. The Westminster stones, as well as a piece of jasper from Jerusalem, believed to be from the site of David's temple, and a piece of sandstone from the Cathedral at Washington, D.C., will be placed in an inside wall of the sanctuary. When the original St. Lukes Church at 6th and Broadway was wrecked, the congregation plus that of the St. Marks Church at 36th and Gove had the stones numbered and dismantled to use in the construction of a new church at the Gove location. (T. Times 4/9/1941, pg. 3))

St. Luke's Episcopal Church (Tacoma); St. Mark's Episcopal Church (Tacoma); Episcopal Churches--Tacoma; Bell, Ellen;

On the morning of September 2, 1941, guests wait outside of St. Patrick's Catholic Church for the newly wedded couple Anne Louise Greiwe and Lt. John William Winship to exit the church on their way to the reception at the bride's parents' home. The couple had been married that morning by the Rt. Rev. Monsignor William J. Noonan before 200 friends and family. A week later, September 9th, the McChord Douglas B-18 bomber that the bridegroom was co-piloting crashed into the side of Mount Constance on the Olympic Peninsula on a night training flight. Everyone on board was killed instantly. (T. Times 9/2/1941, pg. 7)

St. Patrick's Catholic Church (Tacoma); Catholic churches--Tacoma; Greiwe, Anne Louise--Marriage; Weddings--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Interior of Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church showing Reverend Harold H. Engelbrecht at altar. Building built as Zion German Evangelical Lutheran in 1908, H. Crosley, Architect. After 16 years at the pulpit, Rev. Engelbrecht was leaving Tacoma to join the staff at the Lutheran University in Indiana. He came to Tacoma in 1925, after five years with a church in Puyallup. He co-founded Concordia Lutheran School and served the school in its early years in many capacities. (T. Times 10/14/1941, pg. 18)

Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church (Tacoma); Lutheran churches--Tacoma--1940-1950; Engelbrecht, Harold H.; Clergy--Tacoma--1940-1950;