ca. 1958. The Christmas shopping season was rapidly approaching and the Villa Plaza's Woolworth's was set for hordes of shoppers eager to stretch their dollars at the nation's premier five-and-dime store. Clothing for men, women and children could be purchased relatively inexpensively and still prove serviceable. An array of toys were on hand to delight youngsters on Christmas morning.

F.W. Woolworth Co. (Lakewood); Variety stores--Lakewood--1950-1960; Merchandise displays--Lakewood--1950-1960; Villa Plaza Shopping Center (Lakewood); Shopping centers--Lakewood--1950-1960; Signs (Notices);

ca. 1958. Interior of Woolworth's at the Villa Plaza. The 15,000 square foot store was getting ready for the Christmas shopping season with decorated trees, assorted bulbs, and even ideas for the handyman on display. Woolworth's heavily promoted their wide aisles, flurorescent lighting, air conditioning and self-service shopping. Although Woolworth's maintained their large downtown store, they also sought to attract customers who lived outside the city limits by building a new store in the Villa Plaza Shopping Center. They joined fellow downtown giants J.C. Penny and Rhodes Brothers in this new concept of dozens of stores clustered in one shopping area with plenty of free parking. (TNT 5-8-57, A-8-article only)

F.W. Woolworth Co. (Lakewood); Variety stores--Lakewood--1950-1960; Merchandise displays--Lakewood--1950-1960; Villa Plaza Shopping Center (Lakewood); Shopping centers--Lakewood--1950-1960;

F.W. Woolworth Co. joined fellow downtown stalwarts Rhodes Brothers and J.C. Penney in establishing new stores in Lakewood's newest shopping center, the Villa Plaza. It had its grand opening on May 9, 1957. The concept of several dozen stores, side by side, in one location was a growing trend. Shoppers in suburban areas could now visit many familiar stores in one central location without having to travel to downtown Tacoma and face heavier traffic and parking woes. Presumably the same merchandise was available at the shopping center's stores as was in the main locations. The new Woolworth's was a two-story structure. It had unusually wide aisles for customer comfort, fluorescent lighting, and air conditioning. Customers used a self-service basis where items were selected, put into carts and then wheeled to cash registers. Jack E. Heagle was the Villa Plaza's Woolworth's first manager. Photograph ordered by Norman Iverson & Associates. (TNT 5-8-57, A-8)

F.W. Woolworth Co. (Lakewood); Variety stores--Lakewood--1950-1960; Villa Plaza Shopping Center (Lakewood); Shopping centers--Lakewood--1950-1960;

These seventeen little girls were members of the Visitation Villa school orchestra in March of 1925. The budding musicians included those playing on triangles, drums, violin, cymbals and even a harp. The Catholic girls' school Visitation Villa for boarders and day students opened in the Lakewood area in 1923. The Sisters of the Visitation built the school on 200-acres of the former Charles Richardson Estate, "Richmore." Visitation Villa closed in 1954. The Villa Plaza Shopping Center (now Lakewood Mall) opened on the former school site in 1957. TPL-6373; G40.1-002

Visitation Villa Academy (Lakewood); Private schools--Lakewood--1920-1930; School children--Lakewood--1920-1930; Youth orchestras--Lakewood;

Visitation Villa Academy, the May 27, 1936 May Day fete. Young girls holding balloons and standing under the boughs of fir trees. A two-story building is in the background. The May Day fete would start with a picnic lunch followed by games and races. May Queen Muriel Mullins would be entertained with a May pole dance and flag drill. (T. Times 5/23/1936, pg. 7; 5/29/1936, pg. 11)

Visitation Villa Academy (Lakewood); Private schools--Lakewood--1930-1940; May Day--Lakewood; Holidays--Lakewood--1930-1940; Festivals--Lakewood--1930-1940;

The Academy of the Visitation, Visitation Villa, moved from Tacoma in 1923 to the former Richardson estate "Richmore", a 200 acre site. The Catholic school served as a boarding and day school for girls and a summer retreat for women operated by the Sisters of Visitation. On this May Day event. the Queen's court walks to music played on a piano on the veranda of school's main building. The school closed in 1954 and is now the site of Villa Plaza. (T. Times 5/23/1936, pg.7; 5/29/1936, pg. 11)

Visitation Villa Academy (Lakewood); Private schools--Lakewood--1930-1940; May Day--Lakewood; Holidays--Lakewood--1930-1940; Festivals--Lakewood--1930-1940;

Visitation Villa Academy, May Day fete. Queen Muriel Mullen and her court seated among a grove of fir trees. People are seated on wooden chairs watching the ceremony.

Visitation Villa Academy (Lakewood); Private schools--Lakewood--1930-1940; May Day--Lakewood; Holidays--Lakewood--1930-1940; Festivals--Lakewood--1930-1940;

Visitation Villa Academy, May Day fete. Young girls dancing around a Maypole nestled among the fir trees. Other entertainment for the festivities will include a garland drill and a flag drill by the 7th & 8th graders. Activities will also include games and races. (T.Times 5/23/1936, pg. 7; 5/29/1936, pg. 11)

Visitation Villa Academy (Lakewood); Private schools--Lakewood--1930-1940; May Day--Lakewood; Holidays--Lakewood--1930-1940; Festivals--Lakewood--1930-1940; May poles--Lakewood;

Seven little girls helped to celebrate Visitation Villa Academy's annual May Day fete in 1936. The group, holding balloons, is gathered around a basket of flowers. Visitation Villa Academy was located on the grounds of the former Charles Richardson estate, "Richmore," in Lakewood. Built by the Sisters of the Visitation, the private Catholic girls school opened in 1923 and closed in 1954. The school children are from left to right: Dolores Peterson, Betty Howard, Patricia Lawler, Lorraine Roberts, Irene Nelson, Doris Spencer and Betty Wamba. The Villa Plaza Shopping Center (Lakewood Mall, Lakewood Towne Center) opened at this location in 1957. (T. Times 5/29/1936, pg. 11)

Visitation Villa Academy (Lakewood); Private schools--Lakewood--1930-1940; May Day--Lakewood; Peterson, Dolores; Howard, Betty; Lawler, Patricia; Roberts, Lorraine; Nelson, Irene; Spencer, Doris; Wamba, Betty; School children--Lakewood--1930-1940;

Visitation Villa Academy 1938 May Day exercises. Six girls dressed in formal attire holding umbrellas (parasols), and balloons. The afternoon was reserved for drills and dances performed by Visitation students for parents and guests. (T. Times 5/28/1938, p. 9).

Visitation Villa Academy (Lakewood); Private schools--Lakewood--1930-1940; May Day--Lakewood; Holidays--Lakewood--1930-1940; Festivals--Lakewood--1930-1940;

Visitation Villa Academy 1938 May Day exercises. Young women, grouped in pairs, walking in the traditional procession from the Main building after the coronation of the May Queen. The coronation would be held on the north lawn. They pass a two-story building with balcony and covered porch as they proceed into a crowd of visitors seated in chairs under large fir trees.

Visitation Villa Academy (Lakewood); Private schools--Lakewood--1930-1940; May Day--Lakewood; Holidays--Lakewood--1930-1940; Festivals--Lakewood--1930-1940;

Visitation Villa Academy, 1938 May Day exercises. A group of young women dressed in formal attire gather on the front steps of a two-story brick building. Mary Jane Haniger reigned as Queen of the May Day festivities. (T. Times, 5/28/38, p.9).

Visitation Villa Academy (Lakewood); Private schools--Lakewood--1930-1940; May Day--Lakewood; Holidays--Lakewood--1930-1940; Festivals--Lakewood--1930-1940;

Visitation Villa Academy, 1938 May Day festivities. The royal court poses surrounded by baskets of flowers. Mary Jane Haniger reigned as May Day Queen. Standing in the back row are the Maids of Honor, left to right, Marie Eskstein, Muriel Mullin, Phebe Pierce, Susan Manley and Paula Haniger. Standing by Queen Mary Jane is Jerome Rosenberger. The front row, left to right, is composed of Sharon Ann Mazza, Leslie Haniger, Margaret Haniger and Nadine Lee Gillis. (T.Times, 5/28/1938, p. 9).

Visitation Villa Academy (Lakewood); Private schools--Lakewood--1930-1940; May Day--Lakewood; Holidays--Lakewood--1930-1940; Festivals--Lakewood--1930-1940; Haniger, Mary Jane;

Visitation Villa Academy,1938 May Day exercises. Young women dressed in formal attire holding maypole streamers. The coronation of the May Day Queen was followed by an afternoon program of drills and dances, including the traditional May pole dance, performed by Visitation students. (T. Times, 5/28/1938, p. 9).

Visitation Villa Academy (Lakewood); Private schools--Lakewood--1930-1940; May Day--Lakewood; Holidays--Lakewood--1930-1940; Festivals--Lakewood--1930-1940; May poles;