First USO music festival at Point Defiance July 29, 1945. Six thousand music lovers sat on the grass to listen to the 362nd Army Band from Fort Lewis play Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue. Also performing were the 29th Special Service Band directed by Sgt. Earnest Hayden and the 25 voice Naval choir from Bremerton. Photograph…
Parking Brake Wasn’t Used
Tacoma policeman looks over his report on an accident which occurred on Wednesday, July 26, 1950 involving a runaway convertible. The automobile was left with its motor still running. It jumped the curb and came to rest against a light pole at 9th and Commerce. The owner of the vehicle had left his car at…
The One That Didn’t Get Away
Mary Ann Haisch smilingly clutching the large salmon that she caught in July of 1950 at the annual Tacoma Poggie Club fishing derby held at Point Defiance. Mary Ann's catch was the largest of the day, as her salmon weighed in at 19 pounds, 14 ounces. Fishing officially began at dawn and more than 300…
Happy 100th!
Mrs. Susan Richardson celebrated her 100th birthday in her wheelchair at the Old Soldiers Home at Retsil. The feisty centenarian had one message for the Tacoma Times readers, "Keep Hitler Out of America." She was born in Shelby County Ohio July 22, 1840 and crossed the Oregon Trail in 1843 with her grandmother, settling in…
Esther Williams Girls
The Esther Williams Girls are in Tacoma for publicity arranged by Ernie Grindley, advertising manager for the Washington Sports Shop. The bathing beauties also showcased foreign automobiles at the new showroom of Tom Carstens' Imported Motors, dealer for the Austin-Healey, MG. Jaguar, Porsche, and Morris 1000. Leaning against the sports car is believed to be…
Mother of All Block Parties
On a warm summer evening, July 14th, 1920, the residents of Trafton Street between 6th Ave and South 8th Street were treated to Tacoma's first Block Party. The party was hosted by the Community Service Club in an effort to end the isolation of city life and help neighbors get to know one another. The…
All Aboard!
With his pipe clinched in his teeth, and his hands at the control switches, Harry E. Flickinger maneuvers one of the trains on his elaborate model railroad in this photograph from July 1940. Mr. Flickinger, who was a draftsman by day, spent his weekends and evenings building a detailed, realistic model railroad in his American…
American Girl
View of Joe and Lucille Machado aboard the "American Girl" tuna boat after her July 23, 1944, launching. Joe Machado, 23, was the captain of the fishing vessel and his wife, Lucille, was the ship's sponsor. Captain Machado and co-owner Joe Alves were affiliated with Van Camp's sea food company out of San Diego. The…
LibraryReads July 2021
Nothing says “must read” quite like a Librarian’s stamp of approval! Every month LibraryReads.org releases the top picks for the month, as voted on by Librarians across the country. Subscribe to Tacoma Library’s e-Newsletter service and get the Library Reads picks and more delivered straight to your inbox. Check out the LibraryReads’ picks for July 2021: Such A Quiet…
I Don’t Need to See to Drive!
Narrows Bridge - McChord Field Parade, July 1, 1940. A variety of cars, trucks and floats took part in the 1940 celebratory parade for the new (first) Tacoma Narrows Bridge and opening of McChord Flying Field. View of automobile decorated as a float with crepe paper streamers for Skansie Brothers' Richfield Service; it was parked…
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