ca. 1974. By 1974, Seattle-First National Bank had been in the Pierce County market for five years. It had purchased the main office and branches of the Bank of Tacoma. This view of the bank building with its familiar "1" sign was taken from the Pacific Avenue side. Commonwealth Title Insurance Co. is on the left (with flag) and Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan to Sea-First's right. The Rust Building (now known as the American Federal Building since the purchase of the building by the American Federal Savings & Loan Assn. in October, 1972) is at the far right.

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1970-1980; Seattle-First National Bank (Tacoma); Commonwealth Title Insurance Co. (Tacoma); Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan Association (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Rust Building (Tacoma);

ca. 1970. Close-up view of Seattle-First National Bank building, Commerce St. side, taken prior to remodeling, with its entrance and exit doors open for parking underneath the building. Once remodeling was complete in 1971, there would be double the banking area. The exterior of the building would be extruded aluminum. Tacoma architects Harris, Reed & Litzenberger would supervise the project; Sproul Construction would be the general contractor. Seattle-First National Bank was a relative newcomer to Tacoma; the bank had purchased the main office and branches of the Bank of Tacoma in 1969. This building had originally been the Publix Garage before the Bank of Tacoma moved there in 1965. Flanking the Sea-First building are the Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan (L) and Commonweath Title Insurance Co. (R). Photograph ordered by Construction Specialties, Inc., San Marcos, CA. (TNT 10-4-70, B-8 article)

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1970-1980; Seattle-First National Bank (Tacoma); Commonwealth Title Insurance Co. (Tacoma); Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan Association (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Rust Building (Tacoma);

David J. Williams, vice-president and manager of the Tacoma branch of Sea-First Bank, is pictured on February 25, 1972, with a plaque honoring his community service provided during his term of president of the United Good Neighbors. The plaque, which also contained a formal portrait of Mr. Williams, also commended him for his leadership during the 1971 term. With Mr. Williams is the newly-elected president of the organization, Joseph P. Lassoie. United Good Neighbors underwent a name change in January of 1972 to United Way of America. Photograph ordered by United Way.

Williams, David J.; Lassoie, Joseph P.; Awards; United Good Neighbors (Tacoma); United Way (Tacoma); Charitable organizations--Tacoma--1970-1980; Fund raising--Tacoma--1970-1980; Community service--Tacoma--1970-1980;

Wood carving of Thomas Mallon. Mr. Mallon was the founder and chairman of the Bank of Tacoma, and also the owner of Mallon Motors. A plaque attached to the carving indicates that it was presented to Mr. Mallon as a gesture of appreciation by the bank's board of directors on March 28, 1967. The carving hung in the bank's main office in the remodeled Publix Market & Garage at 11th & Pacific. Photograph ordered by the Bank of Tacoma.

Wood carvings; Mallon, Thomas--Associated objects; Bankers--Tacoma; Bank of Tacoma (Tacoma);

Informal portrait of Bank of Tacoma president David J. Williams. A peek through the open door finds Mr. Williams hard at work at bank headquarters, in the 1100 block of Pacific Avenue, on November 20, 1967. The Bank of Tacoma, organized in 1963, had moved to the remodeled Publix Garage from its original South Tacoma Way location a few years later and also changed its name from the South Tacoma State Bank. Mr. Williams assumed the presidency in 1967 when Frank Cooper left the bank. Photograph ordered by Bank of Tacoma.

Bank of Tacoma (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Bankers--Tacoma; Williams, David J.;

In October of 1959 Barks House of Music moved to a new location at 1114 Pacific Avenue, taking over a former Publix Market building. The new neon sign in the front of the store proudly displays their barking dog emblem and the slogan "Everything in Music." Owned by Earl and T.R. "Dick" Barks, the store sold wind, string and band instruments and accessories, as well as sheet music, records, tape recorders, televisions, radios and high fidelity phonographs. Earl and Dick Barks already had over 50 years of experience in the music business. They only stayed at this location until 1965 when they moved to 955 Commerce. T. R. "Dick" Barks died in January of 1968; Earl E. Barks died November 6, 2000. (TNT 10/15/1959, pg. A-7)

Barks House of Music (Tacoma); Musical instruments; Music stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1950-1960; Electric signs--Tacoma--1950-1960;

ca. 1892. California Building; view of horse-drawn buggies. The California Block, built in 1889, was located in the 1110-16 Pacific Avenue area of downtown Tacoma. Over the years the building, first known as the Wilson Building, would contain many local businesses. Arthur French, listed as photographer and crayon artist in the 1892 City Directory, both lived and worked in the California Building. He took the above photograph ca. 1892 of the solid Romaneque structure. Built of either stone or brick, there was heavy use of the semi-circular Roman arch. By 1892, occupants included French, the Merrick Bros. clothing and shoe store, St. John's Pharmacy, I.J. Sharick jewelers, and Fidelity Rent & Collection Co. The California Building was demolished in 1931 and the Publix Market & Garage built on that site. G19.1-004; TPL-1034

California Building (Tacoma); Commercial streets--Tacoma--1890-1900;

The Publix Market & Garage building at 1110-16 Pacific Ave. While under construction. This building was later remodeled, in 1965, and became the Bank of Tacoma.

Garages--Tacoma--1930-1940; Publix Market & Garage (Tacoma);

In July of 1931, the Publix Market and Garage at 1110-16 Pacific Ave. was under construction. North Coast Service Garage and Pacific Ave. Building Co. were the builders of the structure and Roberts & Johnson were the contractors. The structure was 9 stories with a "Z System" parking garage.

Garages--Tacoma--1930-1940;