This photograph from May of 1928 shows the buildings on the east side of St. Helens Avenue from 7th Street looking south. Second in from the corner is the building that was shared by the News Tribune and the Tacoma Daily Ledger from 1918 to 1937. Built in 1910 by Darmer & Cutting for the News Tribune, the Ledger moved into the building when it was bought out by the Tribune in 1918. Both papers published independently from this building until the Daily Ledger went out of business in 1937. The News Tribune kept the name of the Ledger alive in the masthead of its Sunday paper until August of 1979, The Tacoma News Tribune and Sunday Ledger.

ca. 1928. The Perkins building. The Perkins building was constructed in 1906 and named after its builder, Sydney Albert Perkins. It was designed by Russell & Babcock, Architects. At the time it was built, it was the first fireproof building and the tallest structure (at eight floors) in Tacoma. It housed the Tacoma Daily Ledger and the Daily News and it was the first home to the University of Washington, Tacoma. (WSHS- negative A655-0)

ca. 1929. Conjunction of Pacific Ave., and Commerce, Jefferson and South 17th Streets circa 1929. At the far left edge is the Carlton Hotel, 1552 Jefferson Ave. The building at 1701 Commerce St. (near lower center) was built on the site of the old Northern Pacific Railroad passenger station, dubbed "Villard Depot," which was subsequently moved across the street and demolished in 1909. The Teamsters & Chauffers Hiring Hall occupied the 1701 Commerce St. address from 1928-1977. In the 1500 block of Pacific Ave. (center) are the Hotel Croft and other businesses. Puget Sound National Bank's familiar spire is in the center background.

Cars and trucks line both sides of the 1300 block of Broadway in this photograph from July of 1931. All the buildings on the west side of the street including the Goodwill Store at 1320 Broadway, the Hotel Victoria at 1316 1/2 and the Brenden Hotel at 304 South 13th Street have been demolished. This whole block is currently occupied by the Sheraton Hotel, 1320 Broadway, which opened in 1984. Photograph taken for W.H. Opie & Co. Bowen # 310-266

ca. 1908. Bicycle shop and Storage business. The bicycle shop is probably the Amzie D. Browning Bicycle & General Repairing business. The bicycle shop has an advertisment painted on it for the Tacoma Baking Co. Print is somewhat out of focus.

ca. 1913. A view of the west side of the 5200 block of South Union (now South Tacoma Way) looking north. The Bobbi Burns Wine House was at 5238 South Union. A boy stands by a water fountain.

ca. 1908. Northern Pacific shops in South Tacoma.

Pietro Belluschi amazed the world with his modern office building in Portland, Oregon. The Equitable Building, later known as the Commonwealth Building, was an ethereal tower of sea green glass and aluminum. This was the first skyscraper to be built in over twenty five years in Portland. Aerial view of Portland's downtown business district.

Commercial facilities--Oregon--Portland; Office buildings--Oregon--Portland; Architecture--Oregon--Portland; Architects; Belluschi, Pietro; Equitable Building (Portland, Or.); Commonwealth Building (Portland, Or.);

The Equitable Building, later known as the Commonwealth Building, was completed in 1948. It was a completely modern office building, twelve stories high, built in the International style, but was called "distinctly American". Aerial view of Portland's downtown business district; the Willamette River separates the downtown and Old Town area from the east side of the city; view of Mount Hood in background.

Commercial facilities--Oregon--Portland; Office buildings--Oregon--Portland; Architecture--Oregon--Portland; Architects; Belluschi, Pietro; Equitable Building (Portland, Or.); Commonwealth Building (Portland, Or.); Hood, Mount (Or.);

January of 1949 view of building construction on Market Street; Wild Cat Bargain Center and Neal's Radio Sales Company are located next to the construction site; the building site is marked with a Roy T. Earley Company "Engineers -- Builders" sign. Neal's Radio Sales Company advertises their electric appliances; Wild Cat Bargain Center appears to be a grocery store and soda fountain; an "Olympia Beer" and West Coast Grocery Company truck is parked in front. TPL-10534

Commercial facilities--Tacoma; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1940-1950; Building construction--Tacoma--1940-1950; Business enterprises--Tacoma; Neal's Radio Sales Co. (Tacoma); Wild Cat Bargain Center (Tacoma); Automobiles--Tacoma--1940-1950;

ca. 1972. Downtown Tacoma wished its residents "Seasons Greetings" during the 1972 Christmas holidays with a lighted banner spanning Pacific Ave. Schoenfeld's, Puget Sound National Bank, and the Washington Building with the red neon Bank of California rooftop sign are some of the major businesses on the right side of Pacific, looking north. Bimbo's Italian Restaurant, Tacoma Rescue Mission and American Federal Savings are on the left.

Business districts--Tacoma--1970-1980; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1970-1980; Christmas decorations; Electric signs--Tacoma--1970-1980; Washington Building (Tacoma); Puget Sound National Bank (Tacoma); L. Schoenfeld & Sons (Tacoma);

ca. 1973. 1973 Richards stock footage. Intersection of South 9th & Broadway. The venerable Roxy theatre is on the left; a double bill of "Summer of 42" and "Play It Again Sam" advertised during the 1972 Christmas holiday season, or shortly thereafter. LeRoy Jewelers and Woolworth's are also on the left of the photograph, further down on Broadway. Sherman Clay & Co. (pianos) and the Singer Co. are on the right side of Broadway, next to the enormous tree decorated in lights.

Business districts--Tacoma--1970-1980; Roxy Theatre (Tacoma); Motion picture theaters--Tacoma--1970-1980; Sherman Clay & Co. (Tacoma); Singer Co. (Tacoma);

ca. 1972. Downtown Tacoma wished its residents "Seasons Greetings" during the 1972 Christmas holidays with a lighted banner spanning Pacific Ave. Schoenfeld's, Puget Sound National Bank, and the Washington Building with the red neon Bank of California rooftop sign are some of the major businesses on the right side of Pacific, looking north. Bimbo's Italian Restaurant, Tacoma Rescue Mission and American Federal Savings are on the left.

Business districts--Tacoma--1970-1980; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1970-1980; Christmas decorations; Electric signs--Tacoma--1970-1980; Washington Building (Tacoma); Puget Sound National Bank (Tacoma); L. Schoenfeld & Sons (Tacoma);

ca. 1973. 1973 Richards stock footage. Pacific Avenue at night during the 1972 Christmas holiday season or shortly thereafter. This view looks south; the Security (Provident) Building, Washington Building and Puget Sound National Bank are on the left with the Park Plaza North parking garage and the Rust Building, purchased in October of 1972 by American Federal Savings & Loan, on the right.

Business districts--Tacoma--1970-1980; Parking garages--Tacoma--1970-1980; Rust Building (Tacoma); Puget Sound National Bank (Tacoma); Washington Building (Tacoma); Security Building (Tacoma); Christmas decorations;

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);

Undated photograph taken at night of a business district, probably located in Centralia. Several taverns, a Bonanza 88 store, and a pharmacy dot the two-lane street. The area is brightly lit with freestanding light poles. Photograph ordered by General Electric.

Business districts; Lampposts; Street lights;

ca. 1900. This view of hilly 11th Street was probably taken in the late 1890s or very early 1900s. The street is relatively empty of traffic with pedestrians having time to stop and talk while still in the roadway. Peoples department store, built in 1895, is on the left side of 11th while the Fidelity Building, built in 1890, is at 9th & Broadway on the right hand side. The Fidelity Building is pictured without its additional six stories which were not added until 1909. The Fidelity Building was demolished in 1949 to make way for the F.W.Woolworth Co. Bldg. TPL-9915

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1890-1900; Peoples (Tacoma); Fidelity Building (Tacoma);

Washington Building. The venerable Washington Building is still located in downtown Tacoma at So. 11th & Pacific Ave. Initial construction was in 1919 for the Scandinavian-American Bank but was halted when the bank failed. It was finally completed in 1925 for the Washington-California Co. At 17-stories, it was the "second tallest in the entire Northwest" at the time. Located in the heart of the commercial district, the striking structure had a large red neon sign indicating the presence of its neighbor, the Bank of California. Other businesses in the vicinity included Peoples department store across the street and Selden's furniture store next door. A $700,000 cooling and heating system was installed in August of 1970 in the Washington Building. The system was set to begin operations on or about September 15, 1970. The 400-ton-capacity cooler was installed under the building and the 2-ton cooling tower on the roof. Photograph ordered by the Washington Building. (article on cooling system - TNT 8-16-70, A-18)

Washington Building (Tacoma); Electric signs--Tacoma--1970-1980; Peoples (Tacoma); Department stores--Tacoma--1970-1980; Seldens, Inc. (Tacoma); Business districts--Tacoma--1970-1980; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1970-1980;

Washington Building. This color photograph of the Washington Building was believed to have been taken from the viewpoint of the Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan Association building on August 6, 1970. The red neon Bank of California sign on top of the Washington Building stands brightly out amidst the gray landscape. One side of the 17-story structure faces 11th St.; at that time 11th St. was a one-way street only, heading uphill. Other notable buildings in the vicinity included Peoples department store across the street; Seldens furniture next door, and the Tacoma Building. A sliver of the Bank of California with the Commerce Savings & Loan banner is visible. Color photograph ordered by the Washington Building.

Washington Building (Tacoma); Electric signs--Tacoma--1970-1980; Seldens, Inc. (Tacoma); Peoples (Tacoma); Tacoma Building (Tacoma); Business districts--Tacoma--1970-1980; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1970-1980;

Washington Building. View of the Washington Building, 1019 Pacific Ave., believed to have been photographed from the top of the Perkins Building in August of 1970. From this angle, the distant Art-Deco styled Medical Arts Building (now Municipal Building) can be seen along the right-center edge. The Rust Building, another well known Tacoma landmark, is slightly up the hill at 950 Pacific. Seldens furniture store is in the right lower corner. A small section of the Bank of California, whose large red neon sign rested on top of the Washington Building, can be spotted at the lower right edge. Photograph ordered by the Washington Building.

Washington Building (Tacoma); Medical Arts Building (Tacoma); Rust Building (Tacoma); Seldens, Inc. (Tacoma); Business districts--Tacoma--1970-1980; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1970-1980; Electric signs--Tacoma--1970-1980;

1971 Richards color stock footage featuring the Washington Building in the downtown business district. The Bank of California's red neon sign and the United States flag are prominently displayed on top of the 17-story Washington Building at 1019 Pacific Ave. The Bank of California was a much smaller building nearby. Other neighbors include Seldens furniture store and the Tacoma Building.

Washington Building (Tacoma); Electric signs--Tacoma--1970-1980; Flags--United States; Business districts--Tacoma--1970-1980; Seldens, Inc. (Tacoma); Tacoma 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);

ca. 1971. Pacific Avenue view of remodeled Seattle-First National Bank building taken possibly in the spring of 1971. The large structure, with the bold "1," is in the center of the photograph with Commonweath Title Insurance Co. on its left and Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan Association on its right. A bit of the 12-story Rust Building is visible on the extreme right. Trees in planter boxes had recently been installed alongside the buildings' entrances on Pacific Avenue. Photograph ordered by Construction Specialties, Inc., San Marcos, CA.

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. 1971. This is believed to be the rear view on Commerce St. of the remodeled Seattle-First National Bank building (formerly Bank of Tacoma) and the Commonwealth Title Insurance Co. in early 1971. The brokerage firm of Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner & Smith occupied the entire second floor of the Commonweath Building. Next door to the Sea-First Building is the Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan Assn. The Rust Building, with enormous American Federal Savings sign, is also visible. Photograph ordered on 6-29-71 by Construction Specialties, Inc., San Marcos, CA.

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);

Intersection of 11th St. & St. Paul Ave, requested by law firm of Davies, Pearson, Anderson & Gadbow for Jennings vs. Bergsten case. This is a view of the 11th St. Bridge (now Murray Morgan Bridge) leading into the tideflats on November 21, 1971. Medical Arts Building (now Tacoma Municipal Building) can be seen in the distance on the right; Tacoma Building is on right side of the bridge with Perkins Building on left.

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1970-1980; 11th Street Bridge (Tacoma);

Wispy clouds race by dark blue skies in mid-October, 1972, in Tacoma's downtown business district. The temperature, as shown on Puget Sound National Bank's gauge, is a brisk 45 degrees. This view of Pacific Avenue looking north shows many of the city's long established buildings: (r-l) Tacoma Art Museum in the former home of the National Bank of Washington; Puget Sound National Bank with its prominent spire; Peoples department store; Washington Building with the striking Bank of California red neon sign; Bank of California, Security (Provident) Building and the Olympus Hotel. Color photograph ordered by De Vac Chamberlain, Seattle.

Business districts--Tacoma--1970-1980; Puget Sound National Bank (Tacoma); Tacoma Art Museum (Tacoma); Peoples (Tacoma); Washington Building (Tacoma); Electric signs--Tacoma--1970-1980; Security Building (Tacoma);

This is how the 800 block of Pacific Avenue looked like in November of 1972. In the foreground is the Hotel Olympus which was originally constructed in 1909. A free TV in every room was advertised and food and entertainment available in the coffee shop and the Mirror Room. The hotel was flanked by Dammeier Printing (Print NW) and the Tacoma Beauty Supply. Robblee's Safe & Lock Co. was next to the beauty supply store. Further down Pacific was Ghilarducci's Florists, the Trailways Bus Station and at the end of the street, the old Northern Pacific Headquarters building. Photograph ordered by Western Union, Seattle.

Business districts--Tacoma--1970-1980; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1970-1980; Olympus Hotel (Tacoma); Electric signs--Tacoma--1970-1980; Tacoma Beauty Supply (Tacoma); Robblee's Safe & Lock Co. (Tacoma); Dammeier Printing Co. (Tacoma);

View of downtown Tacoma's business district on Pacific Ave. In 1972, businesses on one side of Pacific Ave. included Dammeier Printing (Print NW), the Olympus Hotel, the Security (Provident) Building, the Washington Building with the giant neon Bank of California sign on its roof, and Puget Sound National Bank. In the foreground of this November 22, 1972, picture is the Olympus Hotel: it offered free television in every room and entertainment in the Frontier and Mirror Rooms. Built in 1909, the Olympus would close its doors as a hotel in November of 1974, later undergoing several changes in use of the property. Photograph ordered by Western Union, Seattle.

Business districts--Tacoma--1970-1980; Olympus Hotel (Tacoma); Security Building (Tacoma); Washington Building (Tacoma); Electric signs--Tacoma--1970-1980; Puget Sound National Bank (Tacoma);

Undated copy of customer postcard. View of Main Street in Sand Lake, Michigan. There is no moving traffic on Sand Lake's Main Street although several cars are parked along the town's business establishments. Estimated population in 2004 was barely over 500; it apparently has not changed much since the above photograph was taken perhaps in the 1930's. Photograph ordered by Pierce Powers, Puyallup.

Commercial streets--Michigan--Sand Lake; Business districts--Michigan--Sand Lake;