ca. 1958. Aerial view of the neighborhood around Tacoma Avenue South near the new County-City Building circa 1958. In the center is the County-City Building, with its two wings and tower at 930 Tacoma Avenue South, built to replace the deteriorating Pierce County Courthouse immediately to its rear. The Romanesque old Courthouse at 1012 South "G" would be demolished and the area used as a parking lot. At left center is the Tacoma Public Library, 1102 Tacoma Avenue South. The Central School, 601 South 8th, is at right center edge but McDonald's is yet to be built next door on Tacoma Avenue South.

Aerial views; Aerial photographs; Cityscapes--Tacoma--1950-1960; County-City Building (Tacoma); Pierce County Courthouse (Tacoma); Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma); Central School (Tacoma); Streets--Tacoma--1950-1960;

ca. 1958. This aerial view is looking west with focus upon the newly built County-City Building at 930 Tacoma Avenue South, circa 1958. The venerable Pierce County Courthouse, directly behind one of the County-City Building wings, was in poor shape and after much discussion, it was decided to build a new structure to replace it. Site preparation and excavation began in 1955 but the building would not be completed until 1959. Also in view are the Tacoma Public Library, directly across the street at 1102 Tacoma Avenue South, and the State Armory at 715 South 11th, behind the Pierce County Courthouse.

Aerial views; Aerial photographs; County-City Building (Tacoma); Pierce County Courthouse (Tacoma); Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma); State Armory (Tacoma); Commercial streets--Tacoma--1950-1960; Streets--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Educators Manufacturing Co., makers of school furniture, opened a new plant in the Tideflats area in 1958. Located at 3401 Lincoln Avenue, close to Taylor Way, the company shared the same address with Buffelen Woodworking & Buffelen Sales Co. The million dollar plant was located on a sprawling ten acre industrial site in the Tideflats. 133,000 square feet of plant space handled mass production of quality controlled classroom equipment. All production processes were located on one floor which reduced material handling cost. Hart Construction Co. were the general contractors. View of large plant, apparently divided into three sections, all with gently curved roofs. There is a large parking lot bordered by stacks of plywood. Washington Cooperative Farmers Feed Mill looms in the background. Photograph ordered by Educators Manufacturing Co. (TNT suppl. 11-9-58, p. 4) TPL-9831

Aerial photographs; Educators Manufacturing Co. (Tacoma); Furniture industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Industrial facilities--Tacoma--1950-1960;

This aerial photograph, taken for Allied Owners, Inc. in August of 1958, shows the area of South Tacoma that would become home to the Tacoma Mall Shopping Center. The winding, twisting roads toward the lower center are the Lincoln Heights neighborhood. The road on the far right is South Pine. South 38th Street cuts through the middle of the photo from left to right. The tree covered area at right center is now the site of the Tacoma Mall. I-5 is yet to be built. At the top is Wapato Park and Wapato Lake.

Aerial photographs; Neighborhoods--Tacoma;

The South Tacoma area would be experiencing many changes in the late 1950's with the coming of the Tacoma Mall and the freeways. Aerial photographs taken for Allied Owners, Inc., on August 8, 1958, show the carefully laid out streets of the South Tacoma. It shows South 56th Street running from left to right across the center of the picture to the wooded area at the right, Wapato Hills. The church with the tall steeple in the left corner is the Church of Visitation on South 58th St. The area where the Tacoma Mall would eventually be built may have been in or close to the woods in the upper center of the photograph, next to the flat L shaped area.

Aerial photographs; Neighborhoods--Tacoma;

A new building was under construction at the large Pederson Fryer Farms complex at 2901 East 72nd when this aerial photograph was taken on September 7, 1958. The automatic poultry processing equipment at Pederson's had the capacity to dress and package 2,500 chickens per hour. At that time, Pederson's employed 88 people. The family personally supervised the raising of special hybrids and controlled their feeding and housing. By the 1990s they were Washington State's largest producer of poultry with 450 employees. After 48 years in the poultry business, Pederson Farms declared bankruptcy in 1996; they were bought out by Foster Farms of Modesto, California in 1997. Photograph ordered by Pederson Fryer Farms.

Aerial photographs; Pederson Fryer Farms (Tacoma);

The Richards Studio went aloft on a cloudy September 22, 1958, to take views of the Tacoma landscape. Smoke billows from the industrial Tideflats area. View of city's downtown area includes 11th St. Bridge, City (now Thea Foss) Waterway, heavily wooded Wright Park, and new County-City Building. Streets are neatly aligned with trees on most residential lots. The Tacoma Lawn Tennis Club can be spotted near the right lower corner with its unusual curved streets.

Aerial photographs; Tacoma Lawn Tennis Club (Tacoma);

Aerial photographs taken on August 14, 1958, of the Center & Pine area paint an almost surrealistic view of the surroundings. The Lundberg Concrete Pipe Co. is the cluster of buildings located near the center of the picture. As their name indicates, they were pipe manufacturers. Located on top of a neighboring hillside is the storage area for the pipes. Beyond Lundberg Concrete appears to be the Allenmore Golf Course. Photograph ordered by Lundberg Concrete Pipe Co., Inc.

Aerial photographs; Lundberg Concrete Pipe Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Pipes (Conduits)--Tacoma; Industrial facilities--Tacoma;

The enormous Grandstand at the Western Washington Fair had been expanded since its construction circa 1908. W.H. Paulhamus served as president of the fair from 1906 to 1925; he acted as announcer and master of ceremonies for the grandstand acts. Hawaiian musicians, Arabian tumbling acts, and parades of livestock entertained viewers in the fair's early days. Later, horse racing became one of the most popular of all attractions on the fairgrounds. View of 1958 Western Washington Fair: Grandstand, exhibition halls, restaurants, and packed parking lots. Emmett Kelly, the world-famous, sad-faced clown, would be making his first West Coast appearance in eight years in twice-daily grandstand shows. For a $1.50, ticketholders could see Kelly, watch the three Zacchinis shot from cannons, admire the Dancing Dalmations, and cheer on three horse races and the cattle parades. Photograph ordered by Puyallup Fair Association. (Souvenir Booklet 50th Western Washington Fair, 1953, TNT 8-20-58, ad) TPL-9295

Aerial photographs; Western Washington Fair (Puyallup); Grandstands--Puyallup;

Mount Rainier was shrouded in clouds on August 8, 1958, when aerial photographs of the future Tacoma Mall area were taken for Allied Owners, Inc. A series of photographs were taken between South 38th & South 56th Streets from Sprague to Pine. The baseball field toward the center of the picture is probably Cheney Field which was on 38th & Lawrence. It is possible that the Tacoma Mall would be in or near the wooded area toward the top of the photograph. This south end area would be further changed with the coming of the freeway in a few years.

Aerial photographs; Aerial views; Neighborhoods--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Aerial photographs taken on an overcast August 14, 1958, show the bustling downtown area and beginnings of the Tideflats. The 11th and 15th St. bridges cross the City (now Thea Foss) Waterway leading to the city's industrial area. The new County-City Building and soon-to-be demolished Courthouse are clearly evident toward the center of the picture. Wright Park is the wooded area nearby. Schoenfelds enormous lettering always captures the camera's eye as it wanders along Pacific Avenue, with Puget Sound National Bank and the Washington Building further up the road. Shuster Parkway is not yet built but its pathway can be imagined near the wooded area close to the 11th St. bridge. The area around 24th & Pacific, including Jefferson, and other portions of downtown Tacoma, were scheduled for an urban renewal project in the late '50's. That area is near the lower left corner by the Union Station. This downtown area would be the home of the future University of Washington-Tacoma campus. TPL-8158

Aerial photographs; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Lundberg Concrete Pipe Co., Inc., occupied a large stretch of land on Center Street near Pine. Aerial photographs taken on August 14, 1958, show a modern industrial plant surrounded by sections of pipe. Lundberg Concrete also apparently used nearby hillside site for storing large pipes. The company was a family-owned business, headed by Oscar N. Lundberg as president. Allenmore Golf Course appears to be located on the photo's left side. Photograph ordered by Lundberg Concrete Pipe Co., Inc.

Aerial photographs; Lundberg Concrete Pipe Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Pipes (Conduits)--Tacoma; Industrial facilities--Tacoma--1950-1960;

A series of aerial photographs taken by the Richards Studio shows what the downtown area looked like back in the summer of 1958. Several log dumps float in the City (now Thea Foss) Waterway to the right. Union Station, Harmon Mfg. and Hunt & Mottet are clustered toward one end of Pacific Avenue while the large banks and retail stores, including Schoenfelds, are further up the street. Heidelberg Brewing, on South "C", painted large lettering on their rooftop, easily visible from the air. There were still some green spots on the sprawling cityscape, including the massive Wright Park toward to the top.

Aerial photographs; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1950-1960;

A closer view of downtown Tacoma streets taken by air on August 14, 1958, shows the carefully laid out, primarily business district. Heidelberg Brewery was in the 2100 block of South "C" Street, two blocks west of Pacific Avenue, as the street gently curves. The Union Station is in the upper part of the picture, toward the right side. The buildings across the street would become part of the University of Washington-Tacoma campus. The Museum of Glass would also be built on Dock Street, accessible by Chihuly's Bridge of Glass, which would cross busy Pacific Avenue and railroad tracks. The Harmon Mfg. Co. and the Hunt & Mottet Co. buildings on Pacific are easily identifiable in this 1958 photograph. Sections of the downtown area were scheduled for an urban renewal project in the late 1950's. It is believed that the city would have to match some funding from the federal government in order that repairs and remodels of the older section could occur. TPL-10508

Aerial photographs; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1950-1960; Heidelberg Brewing Co. (Tacoma)--1950-1960;

Aerial photographs of the Tideflats area showing the new Educators Manufacturing Co.'s plant on Lincoln Avenue were taken on August 26, 1958. Educators Mfg. made school furniture. The company built a one million dollar facility on ten acres in the Tideflats for mass production of quality controlled classroom equipment. They apparently shared the same address with Buffelen Woodworking & Buffelen Sales Co. View of large plant with three connected buildings. Industrial area to the right of the photograph was the Reichhold Chemicals plant. Photograph ordered by Educators Manufacturing Co. (TNT suppl. 11-9-58, p. 4)

Aerial photographs; Educators Manufacturing Co. (Tacoma); Furniture industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Industrial facilities--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Aerials of the Tacoma Tideflats industrial area were taken on August 20, 1958, on behalf of the Richards Studio. The Tideflats, already home to railroads, chemical plants and pulp mills, had plenty of room for future expansion. The long narrow street running horizontally is 11th Street with the Milwaukee Way intersecting it. Rows of railroad cars are lined up near the Sitcum and Milwaukee Waterways which are full of log dumps and platforms.

Aerial photographs; Industrial facilities--Tacoma--1950-1960;

This aerial view of the 46-acre Western Washington Fairgrounds, better known as the Puyallup Fair, and the surrounding area was taken on September 15, 1958. Several designated parking lots are crammed full of thousands of cars. Crowds stroll the Midway, enjoying the carnival rides and fair exhibits. The first fair opened on October 5, 1900, and it has run continuously since then, except for the war years of 1942-45. The complete fairgrounds can be seen including the Grandstand, exhibition halls, Midway, restaurants and the three official parking lots. (Photograph ordered by Puyallup Fair Association.) TPL-9273

Aerial views; Western Washington Fair (Puyallup); Grandstands--Puyallup;

Aerial photographs taken on September 9, 1958, show the nearly completed County-City Building on Tacoma Avenue South. The parking lot and landscaping still need to be done. The old Courthouse to the rear of the new building would be the last to be demolished. The land there, too, would become necessary parking. The State Armory, directly behind the Courthouse at 715 South 11th St., still remains. The Tacoma Public Library can be seen to the new County-City Building's right, at 1102 Tacoma Avenue South. Other prominent features include the Schoenfeld's furniture store and Union Station on Pacific Avenue and a portion of the City (now Thea Foss) Waterway. This view, looking southeast, was very similar to A116584-2. Hazy smoke or clouds nearly obliterate Mount Rainier in the distance as well as parts of the industrial Tideflats.

Aerial photographs; Aerial views; County-City Building (Tacoma); Pierce County Courthouse (Tacoma); State Armory (Tacoma); Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma); Streets--Tacoma--1950-1960; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Aerial photographs taken on September 9, 1958, show the nearly completed County-City Building on Tacoma Avenue South. The parking lot and landscaping still need to be done. The old Courthouse to the rear of the new building would be the last to be demolished. The land there, too, would become necessary parking. The Tacoma Public Library can be seen to the new building's right. Other prominent features include the Schoenfeld's furniture store and Union Station on Pacific Avenue and a portion of the City (now Thea Foss) Waterway. This aerial view was taken looking southeast toward the industrial Tideflats and a hazy Mount Rainier.

Aerial photographs; County-City Building (Tacoma); Pierce County Courthouse (Tacoma); Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma); City Waterway (Tacoma); Rainier, Mount (Wash.);

Aerial photographs of the Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington were taken on September 22, 1958. The Tacoma plant covered nearly 40 acres of land in the Tideflats near the Hylebos Waterway. It had easy access to motor and rail transportation as well as water routes. Despite its name, the firm did not manufacture table salt but was a thriving chemical concern, initially focusing on pulp and paper customers. TPL-6577

Aerial photographs; Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Industrial facilities--Tacoma--1950-1960;

ca. 1958. Copy of customer's print. An artist has placed his conceptualized drawing of the new regional shopping center, to be later called the Tacoma Mall, along with the future I-5 freeway over an aerial photograph of the South 38th St. area. Steele Street would lead into the shopping center from South 38th St. The Lincoln Heights housing development are the winding roads just off 38th St. The heavily wooded area near the Mall is presumably the Tacoma Cemetery and South Park. Allied Owners, Inc., had applied four times by August, 1958, for rezoning from a residential to regional shopping center district. They wanted to build a $20 million South Tacoma shopping headquarters, "Town Center," in an area surrounding South 43rd, South 48th & Pine Sts. and the freeway. Each time their request before the City Planning Commission had been denied. Photograph ordered by Allied Owners, Inc. (TNT 8-31-58, A-6)

Aerial photographs; Architectural drawings;

Although Annie Wright Seminary had been at this location, 827 Tacoma Ave. No., only since 1924; it was in the process of celebrating its Diamond Jubilee in October of 1958 when this picture was taken. The first class of 93 girls entered Annie Wright in the fall of 1884 in the school's first building at Tacoma & Division Avenues. Annie Wright experienced financial troubles due to decreased enrollment in the 1930's and increased expenses during the early part of WWII; the school was nearly forced to close in 1943. Headmistress Ruth Jenkins and the Board of Trustees were given 48 hours to raise enough money to pay the most outstanding debts. Friends, alumnae and students rallied to save the school. Annie Wright Seminary continued to expand with a new wing added in 1957. In 2002, the school had pupils from seven states and eight countries and was planning to add a 10.3 million three story addition. (The Shield:1959, TNT 9-30-02, B-1)

Aerial photographs; Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1950-1960; Private schools--Tacoma;

Aerial photographs taken on behalf of George Franklin on November 3, 1958, of the South 84th and Pacific Avenue neighborhoods show a growing southend presence in the city. While there appears to be room for development, Pacific Avenue around this area is starting to develop with many businesses. Safeway, Vaughan's Pacific Avenue Lumber and Puget Sound National Bank all are close by.

Aerial photographs; Neighborhoods--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Aerial photographs taken on November 3, 1958, show Tacoma city streets neatly gridded and stretching into the horizon. This area was the South 84th & Pacific Avenue neighborhood. A few large businesses had started to relocate to this southend location including Puget Sound National Bank, Safeway, and Vaughan's Pacific Avenue Lumber Co. Pacific Avenue was a major thoroughfare and businesses located on or near it attracted much drive-by traffic. Photograph ordered by George Franklin.

Aerial photographs; Neighborhoods--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Lakewood Center as pictured by air in August of 1957. Located near the busy streets of Bridgeport Way and Gravelly Lake Dr., the Lakewood Center was among the first of the nation's one-stop shopping centers. It underwent several expansions including a major addition in 1955 when the modified Colonial, shown above with an "open" triangular side, opened with fourteen new businesses. The shopping center was 15 minutes from downtown Tacoma, five minutes from McChord and ten from Fort Lewis. It provided an alternative shopping area for residents in the communities outside Tacoma city limits with the added attraction of more parking than in downtown Tacoma.

Aerial photographs; Lakewood Community Center (Lakewood); Shopping centers--Lakewood--1950-1960;

Aerial view of the Villa Plaza Shopping Center taken for its opening in August of 1957. One thing was clear: there was plenty of parking available for shoppers at Lakewood's newest shopping center, the Villa Plaza, and plenty of room for expansion if necessary. The Villa Plaza heavily advertised its free 4000-car parking lot and the convenience of many stores side-by-side including familiar names J.C. Penney's, Woolworth's and Rhodes Brothers. Acknowledging the buying power of suburbanites, these major department stores left their flagship operations downtown but garnered new shopping dollars by opening branches outside city limits. The Villa Plaza, like the older Lakewood Center, was closer to McChord and Fort Lewis than downtown.

Aerial views; Aerial photographs; Villa Plaza Shopping Center (Lakewood); Shopping centers--Lakewood--1950-1960; Parking lots--Lakewood;

An aerial photograph of the Hooker Electrochemical plant in the Tideflats was taken on July 24, 1957, for possible order by the company. Storage tanks appear to be loaded on railroad cars on two parallel tracks. Hooker was the second chlor-alkali plant in the United States and the first caustic soda plant in the Pacific Northwest. This was apparently an aerial view of an area of Hooker Electrochemical Co. on Industrial Waterway.

Aerial photographs; Hooker Electrochemical Co. (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Aerial photographs- U.S. Oil Refinery. Aerial photographs of the U.S. Oil refinery were taken on October 3, 1957. The petroleum "tank farm" was located on an 120 acre site in the Tideflats. The light colored round cylinders shown in the photograph are probably the storage tanks. The refinery would be close to both rail and water transport. Photograph ordered by U.S. Oil & Refining Co.

Aerial photographs; Storage tanks--Tacoma; US Oil & Refining Co. (Tacoma);

Additional aerial photographs of the Tideflats area were requested by Malcolm McGhie and taken on January 3, 1958. Earlier photographs were taken about a month prior. Dash Point can be spotted protruding into the bay on the right with Vashon Island at the top of the photograph. St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co., who in August, 1957, became a subsidiary of St. Regis Paper Co., can be clearly seen towards the middle of the photograph including its loaf-shaped buildings. Its sawmill had provided 35% of the pulp mill's wood requirements. St. Regis is adjacent to its new subsidiary and to the upper right. The City Waterway is the body of water to the extreme left; new developments, with the removal of warehouses, shipbuilding, and mills nearly 45 years later have changed its landscape and revitalized the area.

Aerial photographs; St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. (Tacoma); St. Regis Paper Co. (Tacoma)--1950-1960;

This was how Tacoma's Tideflats appeared from the air on January 3, 1958. The area was crowded with pulp and paper mills, lumber yards, log ponds and warehouses. Tacoma's easy access to rail and water made the transport of industrial and wood products a simpler process. View of, left to right, the City, Middle, St. Paul and Puyallup Waterways. The St. Regis plant was located on the finger between the Puyallup and St. Paul waterways in the buildings with the "L" shape. The St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber sawmill and buildings were close by, at the rear of the waterway in the loaf shaped buildings. In August 1957, St. Paul became an operating subsidiary of the St. Regis Paper Co. Photograph ordered by Malcolm McGhie.

Aerial photographs; St. Regis Paper Co. (Tacoma)--1950-1960; St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. (Tacoma);