TacomaLibrary_NW_History

In November of 1939, Paul Roberts and Augusta C. Semmern offered Tacomans something other than turkey from the Thomsen's Health Foods booth at the second annual Show of Progress sponsored by the Tacoma Lions Club. A hungry shopper could buy a large, freshly prepared glass of raw vegetable juice, or take home canned soybeans, raw…

Popular KTNT-TV children's show host Brakeman Bill, Bill McLain (right), is pictured on the set of the daily "Brakeman Bill Show" with Phillip C. McCaffery, car inspector with the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad on November 9, 1955. Mr. The Brakeman Bill Show left the air in 1974, after 20 years on KTNT…

On the 16th anniversary of the World War I Armistice, November 11, 1934, Harry Hanson, Great War veteran, sat on a lonely park bench beneath barren trees staring into space. Mr. Hanson was one of thousands of veterans still fighting; only this time it was the Battle of the Great Depression. Homeless, jobless and penniless…

On November 12th, 1940, Auditor S. Clifford Davis, right, and Deputy Auditor Arthur W. Schlegel examined the railroad car seal and padlock on the last of three ballot boxes filled with absentee ballots. These ballots were particularly important because the election of Washington's Governor was hanging in the balance. Guarded from the public by a…

In November of 1947, the Tacoma Exposition Hall at East 26th and Bay Street was being used as a factory warehouse by Weisfield & Goldberg for their Weisfield Warehouse Furniture store. Originally planned as the Pacific Ice Arena, the building was started in 1931 but not finished until 1940. Named for Tacoma's original Exposition Building…

Nalley's created three separate bags of candies for Halloween in 1952: a mixed trick or treat selection of individually wrapped candies, candies in Halloween shapes of pumpkins, ghosts and bats for 39 cents a bag, and spiced gum drops. See more featured images and posts…

An unidentified man is pictured on October 24 1952, on the grand central staircase at the new Tacoma Public Library, 1102 Tacoma Avenue South. The feeling of spaciousness was accentuated by the use of bowed stainless steel balustrades and fine grained birch handrails. The staircase would be altered in future library remodeling, removing the pictured…

In October of 1942, everyone was trying to "duck the duck." The live duck "War Chest" was given to the person who had solicited the least donations in the War Chest campaign each day. The duck had been the property of Armand Marion, manager of the Winthrop Hotel, since early in the week. Finally out…

Mrs. Bernice Rupp (now Mrs. Bernice Rupp Johnson) points out one of several new Motorola television sets being sold in October of 1956 at Paulson's Appliances, located at the corner of South 11th & "K" (now Martin Luther King Jr. Way). The store was owned by Cliff Paulson. They sold radios, furniture, and appliances including…

Judy Maida tests a phone line while securely strapped to a telephone pole by her lineman's belt in October of 1974. Ms. Maida was employed by Pacific Northwest Bell. By the 1970s, telephone companies were using women as linemen. Women were given the opportunity to move out of the business office to good paying outdoor…