1962 – Long Term FTJ Employee Wielded Same Spade as Mrs. Jones 38 Years Ago to Break Ground for the Pratt-Tenzler Hall

Tacoma News Tribune May 20, 1962 “History will be re-lived as well as made Tuesday when ground is broken for a new $1 million unit for Tacoma’s well-known retirement Home, the Franke Tobey Jones Home.  The public is invited to ceremonies at 1:30 which will look forward to more than doubling the Home’s capacity, and backward to March 1924, when ground was broken for the first unit of the Home.”

Tacoma News Tribune May 23, 1962 “About 100 persons undaunted by rain huddled under a large tent on the edge of a cleared field near the Franke Tobey Jones Home.  A plow nearby was dwarfed by a huge Caterpillar tractor.  A spade, used 38 years ago by Mrs. Franke Tobey Jones to break ground for a proposed retirement Home, was put into the damp earth again yesterday as history was repeated.  It was a tribute to the success of the Home which is adding a new $1 million unit, doubling its accommodations.  Margaret Long, secretary of the Home for 36 years, wielded the spade yesterday at ceremonies to break ground for the new unit.  Otto Strauch who provided the horses and plow for the ceremony in 1924, stood by the plow handles.  However, giant mechanized earth moving equipment started work immediately following the ceremonies.  Participating in the event were contributors of the building fund, members of the Board, members and former members of the Franke Tobey Jones Circles and residents of the Home.  Attorney, Frank Neal, President of the Board, appropriately opened the program.  He is the only living person who played a part in the ceremonies in 1924.”