Circa 1907.

Circa 1924.

Rust Building. One of the main occupants of downtown's Rust Building was American Federal Savings & Loan Assn. Their red and blue sign stood prominently on the rooftop of the 12-story structure. American Federal Savings & Loan was located on the Pacific Ave. level of the Rust Building which was constructed in 1920. The savings & loan would purchase the building from the Rust estate in October of 1972 for $840,000. The firm planned to change the name of the building to American Federal Building on December 1, 1972. Color photograph ordered by American Federal Savings & Loan Assn. (TNT 10-26-72, B-12)

American Federal Savings & Loan Association (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Rust Building (Tacoma);

Rust Building. Located at 950 Pacific Avenue, the Rust Building's 12 stories were occupied by a variety of businesses including the American Federal Savings & Loan Association. A large red and blue sign erected on top of the rooftop draws attention to the savings & loan located below. This photograph was taken on August 18, 1972, shortly before noon. Traffic was brisk in this prime downtown location. Next door to the Rust Building was the new Park Plaza North parking garage, built during urban renewal to help provide much needed parking. Across the street from the building at 9th & Broadway was the F.W. Woolworth department store. Photograph ordered by American Federal Savings & Loan Assn. who would purchase the Rust Building in October of 1972 for $840,000. The Rust Building was built in 1920 at a cost of $1,100,000. (TNT 10-26-72, B-12)

American Federal Savings & Loan Association (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Rust Building (Tacoma); Electric signs--Tacoma--1970-1980;

Employees of the Commonwealth Title Co. gather around a modern metal desk set containing new IBM equipment on January 17, 1958. The men appear to be waiting for the young woman who is holding a pile of papers, perhaps prior to passing them out. There is at least one IBM typewriter on the extended desk, and possibly two. The metal swivel chair would enable the secretary to have more than one document ready to type. Photograph ordered by IBM.

Office equipment & supplies; Typewriters; Offices--Tacoma--1950-1960; International Business Machines (Tacoma); Commonwealth Title Co. (Tacoma);

Metal door in Rust Building. Taken for the D.E. Fryer & Co. on May 8, 1924. The Rust Building, topping out at 12 stories, was built for $1,100,000 in 1920.

Rust Building (Tacoma); Office buildings--Tacoma--1920-1930; Doors & doorways--Tacoma--1920-1930;

The six-person staff of General Insurance Company of America posed in their Rust Building office on March 19, 1928. E.T. Stewart was manager of the firm. G37.1-199

General Insurance Company of America (Tacoma)--Employees; Offices--Tacoma--1920-1930; Office workers--Tacoma--1920-1930;

The Rathskeller, located at 950 Pacific Ave. in the ground floor of the Rust Building, was the newly opened restaurant in Tacoma, the Annex was previously located at this site. The facilities have been completely remodeled, George A. Sample Jr. is the manager of The Rathskeller restaurant. Interior view of The Rathskeller's food and booze bar, alcohol bottles are displayed above the cash register, beer taps behind the bar, stools are lined up around the bar (T. Times, 11/18/48, p. 7).

Restaurants--Tacoma; Bars--Tacoma; Barrooms--Tacoma; Alcoholic beverages; Bars (Furniture)--Tacoma; Stools; Rathskeller (Tacoma); Rust Building (Tacoma);

ca. 1937. Exterior elevation of the Rust Building, a multi-story office building, at So. 11th Street and Pacific Avenue. The Rust Building is named for its builder William R. Rust. It was designed by the architectural firm of Sutton, Whitney and Dugan. The twelve story building opened in 1920. Since 1986, it has been known as the Seafirst Center. For Johnson-Cox, printers, for school annuals. (Image also numbered 8A3 image 2 in Argentum)

Business districts--Tacoma; Office buildings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Rust Building (Tacoma);

ca. 1937. Full view of the Rust Building on 11th Street between Commerce and Pacific Avenue. Sandstone clad steel frame 12-story business block for William R. Rust by Sutton, Whitney and Dugan, Architects, 1920. It was known as the Townsend building from 1929- 1931. It was remodeled by Seafirst bank in 1986 and renamed the Seafirst Center.

Business districts--Tacoma; Office buildings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Rust Building (Tacoma);

ca. 1937. Corner view of Rust Building showing Bone-Dry Shoe Store. Banners in windows for Removal Sale, "Forced to vacate, all prices reduced."

Business districts--Tacoma; Office buildings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Rust Building (Tacoma); Bone Dry Shoe Store (Tacoma); Shoe stores--Tacoma--1930-1940;

ca. 1934. The Rathskeller, beer parlor, owned by Lyle Lane. New establishment showing modern counter, and mirrored walled above cabinets. The establishment was located on the ground floor of the Rust Building, 950 Pacific Ave. (WSHS)

Restaurants--Tacoma; Bars--Tacoma; Barrooms--Tacoma; Alcoholic beverages; Rathskeller (Tacoma);

ca. 1934. The Rathskeller, beer parlor, owned by Lyle L. Lane. New establishment opened at end of Prohibition on the ground floor of the Rust Building. Modern-style wood booths with abstract pattern floor covering. The beer parlor is empty at 11:25 a.m.

Restaurants--Tacoma; Bars--Tacoma; Barrooms--Tacoma; Alcoholic beverages; Rathskeller (Tacoma);

This night view taken at the corner of Commerce and 11th Street South shows the storefront of the Bone Dry Shoe Store which occupied two floors of the Rust Building for shoe sales and repairs. Motto: "Bone-Dry Shoes outwear them all." First United Mutual Savings Bank, right, another Rust Building tenant.

Office buildings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Rust Building (Tacoma); Bone Dry Shoe Store (Tacoma); Shoe stores--Tacoma--1930-1940;

This night view taken at the corner of Commerce and 11th Street South shows the storefront of the Bone Dry Shoe Store which occupied two floors of the Rust Building for shoe sales and repairs. First United Mutual Savings Bank, right, another Rust Building tenant.

Office buildings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Rust Building (Tacoma); Bone Dry Shoe Store (Tacoma); Shoe stores--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Commerce Street storefront window of Bone Dry Shoe Store, which occupied two floors of the Rust Building for shoe sales and repairs. Display features fishing creels and rods. Sign: "Campers and Outdoor Sportsmen Bone-Dry Shoes will keep your feet Warm and Dry in all Weather".

Office buildings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Rust Building (Tacoma); Bone Dry Shoe Store (Tacoma); Shoe stores--Tacoma--1930-1940; Window displays;

Part of a series for Bone Dry Shoe Manufacturing Company and Store. Display window of men's dress shoes with sign: "Pre-Showing of Smart Holiday Styles". Shoe signs: "The Clipper $3.85", "The Riverside $4.45", "The Century $4.45", and others.

Office buildings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Rust Building (Tacoma); Bone Dry Shoe Store (Tacoma); Shoe stores--Tacoma--1930-1940; Window displays;

Night time window display. Large sign behind display of shoes is ski scene which reads "There's a perfect Bone-Dry Shoe for every outdoor need" at the Bone-Dry Shoe Store in the Rust building.

Office buildings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Rust Building (Tacoma); Bone Dry Shoe Store (Tacoma); Shoe stores--Tacoma--1930-1940; Window displays;

ca. 1936. Andrew Holt, shoe repairer at Bone-Dry Shoe Store, standing at counter piled with many pairs of worn boots. Mr. Holt worked at the shoe store located in the Rust building at 11th and Commerce Streets.

Holt, Andrew; Shoemakers; Shoe industry--Tacoma; Shoemaking--Tacoma; Bone Dry Shoe Store (Tacoma);

ca. 1937. View of Bone Dry Shoe Company location in Rust Building. "Forced to Vacate - Removal Sale" signs on transoms. Ordered for designer to illustrate proposed alterations for Lundquist-Lilly Company.

Office buildings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Rust Building (Tacoma); Bone Dry Shoe Store (Tacoma); Shoe stores--Tacoma--1930-1940;

On June 20, 1940, soldiers crowd around the desk at the USO Center in the Rust Building. They are patiently waiting to sign up for beds. As soldiers on weekend leave from Fort Lewis during the war years poured into Tacoma; area churches, the mission and local homeowners set up makeshift dormitories to make sure they were not having to spend the night on the street.

World War, 1939-1945--Military life--Tacoma; USO clubs (Tacoma)--1940-1950;

On June 20, 1942, smiling volunteers take soldiers' reservations for available beds. This was a typical scene at the USO center in the Rust Building on Saturdays during the war years. Temporary weekend dormitories were set up at area churches, homes and the Mission. For 35 cents a soldier could get a bed; a hot breakfast would cost 20 cents more. TPL-1974 (TNT 7/5/1942, pg. 1)

World War, 1939-1945--Military life--Tacoma; USO clubs (Tacoma)--1940-1950;

In July of 1942, U.S.O. Junior Hostess registration was located at the United Services Organization office, Room 106, Rust Building. Five women pose for this publicity picture at a desk under a large U.S.O. banner.The women are, left to right, Eleanor Hoyt, unidentified woman in hat, Marie Caldwell, Grace Blangy and Phyllis Graves. Publicity for Community Chest. (TNT 8/2/1942, pg. A-7)

World War, 1939-1945--Social aspects--Tacoma; United Service Organizations (Tacoma); Hoyt, Eleanor; Caldwell, Marie; Blangy, Grace; Graves, Phyllis;

In July of 1942, U.S.O. Junior Hostess registration was located at the United Services Organization office in Room 106 of the Rust Building, 950 Pacific Avenue. Five women posed for this publicity picture at a desk under a large U.S.O. banner.The women were, left to right, Eleanor Hoyt, unidentified woman in hat, Marie Caldwell, Grace Blangy and Phyllis Graves. The junior hostesses were responsible for building morale by providing female companionship for soldiers in town, serving as dance and sports partners. Publicity for Community Chest. (TNT 8/2/1942, pg. A-7)

World War, 1939-1945--Social aspects--Tacoma; United Service Organizations (Tacoma); Hoyt, Eleanor; Caldwell, Marie; Blangy, Grace; Graves, Phyllis;

The Washington State Dairy Council was well staffed with nutritionalists that provide health education information to children, schools, parents and community members. View of children and their teachers enjoying cookies and milk after learning about the dairy industry.

Dairy products industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Dairying--Tacoma; Washington State Dairy Council (Tacoma);

The Washington State Dairy Council allowed community members to come in and receive information on the dairy industry and also brought the dairy industry together. June was dairy month so throughout June and July the Dairy Council was very busy. View of children visiting the dairy council and enjoying cookies and milk.

Dairy products industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Dairying--Tacoma; Washington State Dairy Council (Tacoma);

The Washington State Dairy Council elected a "Dairy Queen" who would help educate the community on the dairy industry. View of children enjoying cookies and milk after learning about the dairy business.

Dairy products industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Dairying--Tacoma; Washington State Dairy Council (Tacoma); Eating & drinking--Tacoma--1940-1950;

The three Tacoma women being saluted were on their way to boot camp in this photograph from June 1944.(l to r) Pvt. Edna Patricia Fisher, Pvt. Pauline May Hall, Pvt. Betty Jean Miller are shown in the Marine Corp recruiting office on the 7th floor of the Rust Building at 950 Pacific Ave. The recruiting officer was Sgt. Barbara Baker. The inductees will be leaving shortly for Camp Lejeune, New River, North Carolina. (T. Times, 6/10/44, p. 4).

Marines (Military personnel); World War, 1939-1945--Recruiting & enlistment--Tacoma; War posters; Women--Military service;

Taking the WAVES oath. Alice Mary Scheitlin, on left standing next to a floral anchor, takes the Navy Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service oath. Lt. Samuel Fleming, center, swore in Ms. Scheitlin at a "Kick-off" dinner for a wartime recruitment drive. Eleanor Frank, Specialist Recruiter, Second Class was also present, right. Eight unidentified individuals at head table stand for administering of oath. (T. Times, 6/6/44, p. 9).

Women--Military service--Tacoma; World War, 1939-1945--Recruiting & enlistment--Tacoma; Scheitlin, Alice Mary; Fleming, Samuel; Frank, Eleanor; Naval parades & ceremonies--Tacoma--1940-1950;

On August 22, 1944, these six young women went to the Navy recruiting station in the Rust Building, at 950 Pacific Ave., and joined the WAVES, Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service. Taking the oath of allegiance from Ensign Betsy Abbott are: (l to r) Shirley Rasmussen, Audrey Purchase, Peggy Olson, Betty Day, Florence Olson and Shirlee Beardempl. They will leave in October for the U.S. naval training school at New York City. Two of the enlistees each had two brother already serving in the armed forces. (T. Times, 8/23/44, p. 8). TPL-983

Women--Military personnel--Tacoma; World War, 1939-1945--Recruiting & enlistment--Tacoma; Oaths--Tacoma;