History of the Tacoma South End Sunday School
Lincoln Branch and Lincoln Ward
September 1938 , Sister Ruth Allred, a missionary was inspired to
start a Sunday School in the south end of Tacoma, Washington.
A branch was already established in the north end of Tacoma,
but Sister Allred, a lady missionary, felt a Sunday School was
needed to support those in the south end. She received
permission from President Preston Nibley of the Northwestern
States Mission in Portland Oregon to start the Sunday School on
McKinley Hill.
The first meeting was held October 3, 1937 at the Home of Jessie
Anderson. At this meeting the following were present, Sister Ruth
Allred, Carol Goddard ( missionaries), Sister Anderson,
Mary Roberta Brown, Bessie Dickson, Sister Anderson’s two
Children, And three neighborhood Children. Two of those children
were Wesley Bottoms Children.
On October 17, 1937, the Meeting began meeting in what was
known as the Little Brown Church on the Hill. The building was
located on east Morton and G Street,On October 30, 1937, a
party was held for the Sunday School at Sister Anderson’s Home
for the financial benefit of the Sunday School.
The Bottom Family found a piano for 150.00 Dollars and help
finance it.
The following people held positions in the Sunday School:
Superintendent; Ivan Hamilton , 1st asst.; Robert Clark, 2nd
Assistant; Milton Avery, Gospel Doctrine Teacher; Robert Clark,
later taught by Milton Avery, Book of Mormon Teacher; Mary
Roberta Brown, Primary Teachers; Ella Hamilton and May
Thayne, Cradle Roll and Kindergarten; Gordon Tyler, later
taught by Ruth Avery. The First Organist was Ted Smith, a
neighborhood boy, later the organist was Mary Brown.
The Chorister was Ella Hamilton assisted by Steve Halliday,
J. W. Wheeler, and Grace Halverson. Maxine Thayne was Secretary.
The Sunday School started in the little Brown Church with twelve
in attendance and within six weeks we were averaging thirty
or more each Sunday.
Friday, December 10, 1937, a carnival was held in the little Brown
Church for the benefit of the Sunday School and was a great
Success.
The Carnival was sponsored by Sisters Allred, Goddard
and Hamilton with the active members participating.
On February 4, 1938, under the direction of Brother Hamilton,
the Sunday School held a skating party for the benefit of the
Sunday School which netted Sixteen Dollars to bolster the Sunday
School treasury.
March 20, 1938, fifty nine were in attendance at Sunday School.
April 1, 1938, Sister Vilate Bottoms held a party for the McKinley
Hill mothers. This was a forerunner of the Branch Relief Society.
April 15, 1938 the group of women met in the home of Sister
Rhoda Avery.
Sunday April 17, 1938, the first Easter Sunday services were held.
The Previous Sunday the School School held a waffle Breakfast
at the Church before Sunday School.
When the time came for better music, Brother Chris Erickson
and Daughter Opal Lefirth stepped forward and presented the
Sunday School with an organ.
Mothers Day, May 8, 1938, we had an attendance of one hundred
and sixteen. All the Mother’s received lovely Corsages. Later that
evening James Wallace Hoyer was baptized at the Tacoma
Central Branch. He later became a Sunday School Superintendent
on Lincoln Ward.
On June 5,1938 at the Tacoma Central Branch Conference,
President Alexander Brown and O.Ragner Linde of the Puget Sound
District, Released Denton K. Thomsen as Branch President and
Sustained Elvin E. Evans. They then organized the McKinley Hill
Sunday School as an Independent Branch. The following officers
were set apart. Branch President; James H. Pike, With Owen H.
Dickson, first counselor and Thomas F. Judd as second counselor
and William J.Pike as Branch Clerk.
On July 31, 1939 in Seattle, Washington, a Puget Sound District
Conference of the Northwestern States Mission was held.
President Heber J. Grant Presided. And Elder Melvin J. Ballard
assisted him in Organizing the Seattle Stake as the125th stake
of the Church of JesusChrist of Latter Day Saints.
In that afternoon session of the conference the McKinley Hill Branch
became the Lincoln Ward. The Tacoma Central Branch became
the Tacoma Central Ward.
Lincoln Wards Officers consisted of the Men mentioned above.
Mary A. Brown was sustained as Relief Society President, Mae
Thayne as first Counselor and Eva Pickett as second counselor
and Vilate Bottoms as secretary. She held that Job for 14 years.
YMMIA President; J.W.Wheeler, James W. Hoyer as first Counselor,
and Steven Halliday as second counselor. Richard Orth as secretary.
YWMIA President; Grace Halverson, Mary R. Brown as first counselor,
and Wilma Pike as second counselor. Georgiana Judd as Secretary.
Sunday School Superintendent; Ivan Hamilton, Robert G. Clark
as first counselor and Milton H. Avery as second counselor.
Maxine Thayne as secretary.
Primary President; Thora Sweet President, Sister Shumake as
first counselor, and Hazel Britt as second counselor.
Elizabeth Johnson as secretary.
Shortly after our ward was formed, we grew out of the McKinley Hill
building and in January1939 we rented and moved to the Odd Fellows
Hall to rent on 83rd and Park Avenue. We went each Sunday morning
early in the winter to build a fire in the wood stove to heat the Two story
building. Attendance continued to increase during the war years as
servicemen were trained at McChord and Fort Lewis prior to shipping
out overseas.
The Masonic Lodge was rented in 1945 and we moved to 84th and Park
Avenue where we remained until we were able to build a chapel of
our own.
Over fifty Civil Marriages were performed by the ward Bishop during
this time.
James Howard Pike served as Bishop through the Second World War
until1948.
During the War Period, Government restrictions prevented any new
buildings from being constructed.
There were many money making activities, such as bazaars and
pot luck dinners, three act plays, etc. to add to the building fund.
We were not a rich ward, so money was hard to come by
especially during the war years. These activities helped us be a close
knit ward family.
In 1945, We had enough money in our building fund to Purchase land.
Brother Alvin L. Morris ,1st Counselor in the bishopric, was a realtor
and was assigned to find and purchase a piece of land.
He found and purchased property on 5016 South A Street October 23,
1945. While we were saving more money to build a building,
The ward raised a garden on the property to share with the members.
On May 30th,1948, Bishop James H. Pike was Released as Bishop
and Alvin L. Morris sustained as Bishop and Fred Smith as 1st Counselor,
and Wayne P. McMullin as Second Counselor. Frank Paxman as Ward
Clerk.
In the fall of 1949 we were financially able to start on a building project
and a few of the members started clearing the Land.
Later a concrete building block machine was purchased. And a
temporary building was constructed to make concrete blocks.
Quorums of the Priesthood were assigned to make the Blocks.
December 11th 1949 Fred Smith became a High Councilman
and Wayne P. McMullin became the 1st Counselor with Cheslie Thompson
2nd Counselor.
On June 14th 1950, a contract was signed with the firm of Wood and
Wood, Architects in Salt Lake City for plans for the Building.
Excavating began for the foundation and by August 1951 the building
was ready for the Roof and Inside walls. A firm was hired to do the
Plastering on the Walls.
On May 6.1951, the Old Lincoln Ward was divided and renamed the
Tacoma Second and Third Ward. Thus ending the Lincoln Ward
pioneering era and establishing a new era in the Tacoma Area.
September 28,1952 the Seattle Stake was divided and the
Tacoma Stake was created.
Many Wards and two stakes now exist in it's boundaries.