Wills and bequests of the very wealthy and family members who stand to gain from them are longtime media fodder. The richer, more beautiful or handsome the heirs and recently the most bizarre - the better for covers and sales of tabloid publications in all forms on and off the Internet. Almost everyone is fascinated by the personal stories sharing the trials and tribulations of men and women living in today's growing-up with the certainty of a monetary inheritance.
Those families like my own whose trees are not stocked with rich relatives, can only look at how many people in the state participate in the lottery if they don't understand how many of us occasionally spend minutes of our lives toying with this all too pleasant fantasy of becoming instantly rich.
Is it possible, that unknowing heirs and heiresses to another, but no less valuable legacy which is local history - might equally enjoy when introduced as well to the abundance of riches they already have? Is such self-knowledge for a city the size of Tacoma, or for that matter King County's Federal Way where I live, merely regarded as a pleasant incidental or a powerful community asset? - M. Sugimura, FW resident
My own hubby has waxed-on and off about either winning the lotto or waiting for his proverbial ship during the 30 years of our marriage. And I know he’ll continue playing with the idea: “Hey Mizu, when I win the lottery I’m buying that Lexus I told you about” simply because it’s so much fun. (Between you and me, it’s such an old, very old song - that barring the unforeseen, I’m going to hear the same tune for a good twenty more. Maybe the little bit of hearing loss I've had will turn out to be a blessing!)
Nevertheless, winning it all is a prospect that can squeeze imaginative and creativity from relatives, friends and acquaintances who will literally ooze with it overnight despite a lifetime of being self-described creative stick-in-the-muds. The novelty of free cash is a prospect that ignites most any brain.
If broken tree fragments lodged in damp dirt can be brought to life by the mere mention of dollars, is possible, that unknowing heirs and heiresses to another, but no less valuable legacy which is local history - might equally enjoy when introduced as well to the abundance of riches they already have? Is such self-knowledge for a city the size of Tacoma, or for that matter King County's Federal Way where I live, merely regarded as a pleasant incidental or a powerful community asset?
Such is the gamble made by volunteers at The Tacoma Historical Society (TTHS) who have staffed the Allen C. Mason Exhibit Center, 747 Broadway, Wed. - Sat., 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m., tucked away in what appears on the outside to be a tidy but modest downtown storefront in the Old City Hall Historic District.
Personable volunteers such as society president, Dr. Dale Wirsing, Ph.D., former history professor at Tacoma Community College and school public relations professional and Lee Hendley, MSW, a personable retired Army warrant officer and retired social worker who was on hand the afternoon two out-of-town shoppers visiting the Tacoma Farmer's Market stumbled upon by accident the face of this unassuming city treasure!
Allen C. Mason Exhibit Center Serves Many Needs
Powered by the energy of highly personable and dedicated volunteers, The Tacoma Historical Society is a locally-driven, non-profit organization of individuals dedicated to the presentation, promotion and preservation of the history of Tacoma.
Over the years, their creativity has resulted in a record of wonderful projects over the history of the society including but not limited to: monthly heritage presentations, walking tours, Annual Historic Homes of Tacoma tour, education outreach, exhibit center and historic building visits.
The interior of the Allen C. Mason Exhibit Center is visually appealing, warm, bright and well-lighted a pleasant surprise for those of us whose last visit foray into history was the senior paper we wrote in school and last trip to a museum in fifth-grade is remembered as a dark, lonely cramped space with a damp, cobwebbed interior and the tight-lipped identical twin-sister of a severe-looking stereotypical librarian manning the help desk.
Wall-sized photographic murals convey more energy than those dusty glass cases of the past and capture with equal clarity a number of milestones from the past including the men and women who gave their names to a number of Tacoma streets and landmarks.
For an exhibit center of this size, even those citizens with a historic bent who demand more detail will be delighted with the quality and quantity of materials available. Not only are lists of the latest books published on Tacoma history compiled, but news can often be obtained about new and upcoming volumes on their way.
Society's Un-Stuffy History Programs Designed To Span Community
Programming verstility is also evident at a recent THS sponsored event consisting of a silent auction, live auction and dinner October 14 at Tacoma's Temple Ballroom at the Landmark Convention Center featuring a talk about preservation possibilities by architect Jim Merritt speaking on the “Elks Temple: Past and Potential” and a rare opportunity for area residents to bid for their own piece of Tacoma history including: unusual historic memorabilia, exclusive private tours of historic homes, vintage car rides and autographed copies of local history books.
In keeping with their mission to promote local history a society newsletter provides a forum for local writers offering not only chance at publication but in some cases, further encouragement in the form of their own annual prize, the Murray Morgan Award. The newsletter also links members with current activities while inspiring ideas for upcoming events and outreach to city audiences of the future, of all ages, diversity, interests, walks of life and varied interests.
Area Beauty Queens, Vancouver's Exploration of Sound
and South Tacoma Topics of Upcoming Evenings
Area mom's and daughters, for example, might enjoy the work put into Judith Williams Guthrie’s publicized arrangements to salute of hometown beauty queens entitled “Miss Tacoma…a look Back” set for the evening of Tuesday, November 13, at 7:00 p.m. at the Tacoma Public Library and sponsored by TTHS.
Other upcoming library events sponsored by the society:
Monday, December 10, 2007
“Vancouver’s Exploration of Puget Sound” – with Richard W. Blumenthal
7:00 p.m. Tacoma Public Library
Monday, January 14, 2008
“South Tacoma” – with Darlyne Reiter
7:00 p.m. Tacoma Public Library
And so, while actual legacy of Tacoma’s history is free to all, due to the fact society members with vision have been engaged on multiple fronts over the years in preserving, promoting and presenting the family story of the city to her people, a nominal membership fee is charged to support and defray expenses.
Annual memberships begin at: $15.00 students, $25.00 individual, $35.00 family, $75.00 business and $150.00 corporate. Donations are always welcome. Those wishing to take a personal visit through the Allen C. Mason Exhibit Center will also be requested to leave a small donation, $2.00 adults, $1.00 children.
For more information or membership details call TTHS at their information line 253-472-3738 or go to their webside link at: http//:www.tacomahistory.org
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