Helen Grayco – The Lady in Red
— by Maliyah Schiff Imagine my disbelief when I found out that not a lot of people know about incredible singer and actress Helen Grayco. Helen was born here in our wonderful city of Tacoma and was already singing by the age of 4. Two years later she became the six-year-old blues singer for Seattle’s KOL radio station. Then at age 8 she got a … Continue reading Helen Grayco – The Lady in Red
Leo Dobry and the Indy 500
— by Mike Goldfine My grandfather, Leo Dobry, loved talking about his racing days. He called them his glory days. By the time I was a young teenager, I could appreciate listening to his stories — both the wins on the track and the close calls. He would often start way back with his midget cars, and then his dirt track racing cars. And then … Continue reading Leo Dobry and the Indy 500
Tacoma’s Family Table: Episode 3
In Episode 3 of Tacoma’s Family Table, host Rose Mattison is joined by former THS managing director Michael Lafreniere and his sister Renee, as they share their family’s version of Tourtière, a French-Canadian meat pie. Jump over to our YouTube channel or click below to watch the episode! Thank you to host Rose Mattison for sharing her time and passion with us! We all have … Continue reading Tacoma’s Family Table: Episode 3
Remembering Polly Medlock
In Memory of Charolotte “Polly” MedlockTHS Board EmeritusMurray Morgan AwardOriginal THS MemberMarch 9, 1925 – February 27, 2024 Polly Medlock passed away on February 27, 2024, at the age of 98, less than two weeks before her next birthday. Polly was predeceased by her husband of 72 years, Robert Leonard Medlock. Both Polly and Leonard were members of the 1989 group whose discussions and decisions … Continue reading Remembering Polly Medlock
Tacoma’s Family Table: Episode 2
In Episode 2 of Tacoma’s Family Table, we meet Dave Usher and his family, and learn how to make a traditional recipe from his native Belize, chimole: Jump over to our YouTube channel or click below to watch the episode! Thank you to host Rose Mattison for sharing her time and passion with us! We all have food in common. Most of us get together … Continue reading Tacoma’s Family Table: Episode 2
Artifacts Tell Stories
Thanks to one of our followers, Jason Bisig, for sharing the following photographs with us. He recently purchased this 1950s-era combination TV/radio/turntable unit and was curious to learn more about the Tacoma business where it was originally sold, as documented by the still-intact tag. So far as we have been able to tell, Harold’s Radio & Television went through a number of names and addresses … Continue reading Artifacts Tell Stories
Tacoma’s USO #2
— by Sydney Jaxon For those who are unaware, let us begin with what USO stands for: United Service Organizations. The USO is an organization that serves active-duty service members and military families. Originating in 1941, the purpose was to provide recreational activities and resources for our troops. This was a great idea, as the 1940’s was a tumultuous time for the United States, right … Continue reading Tacoma’s USO #2
Remembering Juan Perez
— by Kim Davenport Many Tacomans will remember Juan Perez (1948-2017), who played the piano at the Tacoma Nordstrom store for 27 years. UW Tacoma student Nathan Hiatt was moved by Perez’ story while enrolled in the class “Musical History of Tacoma” this Autumn, and decided to make it his final project in the class to record an episode for our podcast which honored Perez’ … Continue reading Remembering Juan Perez
Ghost Story at the Logging and Railroad Museum
by Ed Mattison It was in the fall on one of the weekends I was working at the former Camp 6 Logging Museum. On this particular day I was the switchman, one of many jobs I held at the museum. This job was important but not too difficult. Basically I rode in the caboose and after the train left the station it would stop on … Continue reading Ghost Story at the Logging and Railroad Museum
Batsuren Battumur: Biography and Legacy of a Traditional Mongolian Dancer
– by Anu Batsuren Batsuren Battumur was born on October 18, 1967, in the Uvs province of Mongolia. He was the oldest of three sons birthed by Ondogoo Legtseg and Battumur Darjaa. He was raised by his loving grandparents in the northern countryside of Mongolia, where access to basic needs was much more limited. Living in the countryside meant taking care of livestock, melting the … Continue reading Batsuren Battumur: Biography and Legacy of a Traditional Mongolian Dancer
Tales of Tacoma 