Small cruiser in process of making turn parallel to new plywood boathouse at the Fairliner boat plant. The boathouse already has most of its stalls occupied. Fairliner had three houses with 31 berths adjoining its plant on the Port Industrial Waterway. All berths were occupied by privately owned Fairliner pleasure craft owners. Fairliner was a division of the Western Boat Building Corp. Its boats were especially adaptable to the area's choppy waters and could hit speeds over 40 knots. Photograph ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association. (TNT 12-4-60, B-15, TNT 4-12-62, C-19)

Plywood; Boathouses; Boats--Tacoma;

Traffic was flowing smoothly in this November 1961 aerial photograph of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. The camera was looking east toward the rapidly developing west end of Tacoma. The graceful lines of the suspension bridge span nearly one-half mile, making it the 5th longest suspension bridge in the US. This was the second Narrows Bridge, dedicated in 1950; the first collapsed in high winds on November 7, 1940, only four months after its dedication. The 1950 bridge was designed to carry 60,000 cars a day. When area population growth increased that number by half, a third bridge was added; parallel to and south of the 1950 bridge. The third Narrows bridge was dedicated in July of 2007 and carries east bound traffic, leaving all lanes of the 1950 bridge open for west bound traffic. (www.wsdot.wa.gov)

Aerial photographs; Tacoma Narrows Bridge (Tacoma); Suspension bridges--Tacoma; Bridges--Tacoma--1960-1970; Neighborhoods--Tacoma--1960-1970;

Full front of Bernice Building, Pacific Avenue side. Located on the ground floor of the Victorian era Bernice Building was Bender's, women and men's clothing store owned by Jack R. Bender. Customers seem to be flocking to the ready-to-wear store, drawn by the low prices in the quitting business sale. The Bernice Building, as well as the adjacent Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan Assn. building, would be demolished to make way for a modern, expanded Pacific First Federal structure. The new building would open in September, 1964.

Bernice Building (Tacoma); Bender's (Tacoma);

ca. 1961. Side-view from south Stadium Way of eight-story reinforced concrete apartment building under construction in early 1961, taken as scenic and stock footage for 1961. GMC truck with "Lantz" painted on it is on sidewalk area in front of building. These are the Sky Terrace Apartments located at 235 Broadway. The balconies are on the rear of the building. Robert Billsbrough Price was the architect, O & M Builders Supply the builder, and Ostruske-Murphy, Inc., the contractor of the project.

Building construction--Tacoma--1960-1970; Apartment houses--Tacoma--1960-1970; Sky Terrace Apartments (Tacoma);

The George O. Swasey Memorial Branch Library opened at 7001 Sixth Ave. in October, 1960, to serve the readers of the growing West End of Tacoma. The open house and dedication on October 7th drew several hundred visitors; they were able to take a look at the 65 magazine and nearly 15,000 title collection. In this night exposure, the interior of the Swasey library can clearly be seen through the building's floor-to-ceiling glass walls. The library branch was designed by Lea, Pearson & Richards and built by McKasson Bros. Construction. Landscaping was provided primarily by the West End Gardeners League. The building was later renovated with funds provided by 1984's 15.8 million dollar bond project. (TNT 10-7-60, A-11-article, 10-8-60, p. 2-article)

Tacoma Public Library, George O. Swasey Memorial Branch (Tacoma); Public libraries--Tacoma--1960-1970;

In April of 1961 the distinctive neon double 88 sign of the Giant 88 discount store glowed in the evening sky of downtown Tacoma. Mr. and Mrs. Dirk DeLeve opened the Giant 88 store, at 1129 Broadway, in February of 1960. It was located next to the new escalade that carried shoppers on a "moving sidewalk" from Broadway to Commerce Street. The store was the first of its kind in Tacoma; nothing in the store was priced over 88 cents. They carried a stock of over 20,000 items - from ceramics and children's apparel to toys, gifts and cooking utensils. (TNT 2/15/1960 p.6)

Electric signs--Tacoma--1960-1970; Giant 88 (Tacoma); Signs (Notices);

Parking garage next to Rhodes Bros. Department store in downtown Tacoma, taken in March, 1961. The parking lot was an attempt to alleviate the problem of parking for downtown customers; however, cars are still parallel-parked on both sides of the street. The ramp style, self-parking garage cost over $1,000,000, and contained four levels which could handle 2,000 cars daily. Designed by Norman G. Jacobson, Jr., consulting structural engineer, the garage provided Rhodes customers with restrooms, phone booths, two high-speed elevators and four stairways. Photograph ordered by Norman Jacobson & Associates.

Parking garages--Tacoma--1960-1970; Automobiles--Tacoma--1960-1970;

50 uniformed members of the Lincoln High School band strut their stuff accompanied by a drum major, baton twirler and cheerleaders during the 1961 Daffodil Parade. Spectators are thickly clustered on both sides of the 900 block of Pacific Avenue. Temperatures were in the chilly 50's but did not dampen the crowd's and participants' high spirits. The theme of the 28th annual parade was "Wonders of the World." (TNT 4-8-61, p. 1)

Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1961 : Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1960-1970; Marching bands; Drum majors--Tacoma; Baton twirling--Tacoma;

Progress March 3, 1961, photograph of a lone worker who appears to be sanding down the ribs that will be connected to the rest of a boat. This may be at Tacoma Boat. Photograph ordered by West Coast Lumber Association. TPL-9393

Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Boats--Tacoma--1960-1970;

Boat under construction. Progress photographs of a fishing boat under construction were taken on March 3, 1961, at Martinac Shipbuilding on behalf of West Coast Lumber Association. TPL-9121

Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Boats--Tacoma--1960-1970;

View of kitchen taken for Home Builders of Greater Tacoma. Designed for convenience and family living, the "Greenbriar" model home was photographed on March 9, 1961, in preparation for the annual Tacoma Home Show. Built by James Griffin, the Puyallup-area three-bedroom rambler was one of three model homes built for the home show. View of kitchen shows built-in stove, ample walnut cabinets and plenty of convenient, accessible workspace. Aurora vinyl covers the floor. Built-in oven with cabinets above and below stands separate from the stove, next to the refrigerator. Brick wall or fireplace is on right edge of photograph. There is room enough for a small dining room table and four chairs. The home, located in the Greenbriar Estates, was designed by Louis M. Pedersen. (TNT 3-13-61, p. 32)

Kitchens--Puyallup;

Martinac Shipbuilding launching of #133, the Royal Pacific, occurred on May 16, 1961. View of boat; another boat, possibly a tug, the Edward A. Young, is to the left. The $600,000 Royal Pacific was the first tuna clipper to be built in Tacoma in ten years. It was also the first tuna clipper to be built from the keel up as a seine-type tuna vessel. The 142' vessel had a capacity of 425 tons of tuna under refrigeration. It was powered by a 1600-horsepower opposing piston engine. The crew of 13 would be skippered by Lou Brito, who would be transferring from Martinac-owned Southern Pacific tuna vessel. (TNT 5-17-61, A-5) TPL-9056

Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Fishing boats--Tacoma; J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma); Launchings--Tacoma--1960-1970;

Exterior view of C and G Electronics Co. Formerly known as longtime Tacoma business C & G Radio Supply, a wholesale tubes, radio and television parts facility, by June, 1961, the firm had changed its signage to "C and G Electronics." It was still owned by Lloyd Norberg and family. G.E. and Sylvania tubes could still be purchased there as well as hi-fi stereo components. TPL-3680

C and G Electronics (Tacoma); Stores & shops--Tacoma--1960-1970;

Informal portrait of Puget Sound National Bank president Reno Odlin. He led the Tacoma-based bank for 26 years, seeing deposits grow almost 50% between 1950 & 1960, and rewarding shareholders with cash plus stock dividends. He accomplished this growth internally, without buying or merging other banks. In 1964, Puget Sound National Bank was officially designated the largest bank in Tacoma with deposits exceeding $121 million. Mr. Odlin was also for many years president of the Washington State Historical Society. (Provorse: Banking on Independence)

Odlin, Reno, 1897-1979; Bankers--Tacoma; Banking--Tacoma--1960-1970;

Interior of Bunce Rental. A customer completes paperwork as he rents equipment from Bunce Rental on August 2, 1961. Bunce Rental was located at 4516 South Tacoma Way in 1961 and is still in operation there 43 years later. More than 300 different items could be rented there from vacation trailers to bulldozers to baby cribs to silver service. Customers were aware that no gasoline was provided and Bunce charged for the time checked out, not for time used unless a machine was metered. (TNT 9-8-61 Ad, p. 11)

Bunce Rental (Tacoma); Lease & rental services--Tacoma;

Exterior of Bunce Rental. Bunce's motto was "We Rent Most Everything" including party supplies, invalid equipment, vacation trailers, tools and tractors. One of the Bunce Ford vans is parked outside the company office on South Tacoma Way on August 2, 1961; the company advertised prompt delivery service. In the 1961 City Directory, there is one listing for Bunce Rental; by 2004, there were six Bunce Rentals in the Puget Sound region. Photograph ordered by Bunce Rental. (TNT ad 9-8-61, p. 11)

Bunce Rental (Tacoma); Lease & rental services--Tacoma; Ford automobile;

This row of classic older homes was photographed on behalf of architects Liddle & Jones on June 29, 1961. They, and others, were located on South Yakima, between Sixth Avenue and 8th St. Home in the center of photograph appears to be of the Queen Anne style. The large home was constructed mostly of brick with steeply pitched gabled roof, dormers, and a turret. Built on a smoothly sloped lot, it is separated from neighboring homes by hedges.

Houses--Tacoma--1960-1970;

ca. 1961. A Hyster lift truck loads lumber for shipment at the Klickitat, Washington, sawmill. The Spokane, Portland and Seattle Railway car is nearly full. The St. Regis Klickitat mill produces ponderosa pine exclusively. Ponderosa pine was an extremely versatile softwood, noted for its smoothness and fine appearance. It was used for millwork, interior finish, and residential and light commercial buildings. This picture was used in the 1961 St. Regis annual report. Photograph ordered by Malcolm McGhie, industrial consultant. (1961 St. Regis Annual Report, p. 20)

St. Regis Paper Co. (Klickitat); Lumber industry--Klickitat; Railroad freight cars--Klickitat;

Exterior - Temple Baptist Church, 1961. Designed by Silas E. Nelsen and built of reinforced concrete in 1949, the Temple Baptist Church was located at 245 Saint Helens Avenue. Dr. Robert L. Powell was the church's pastor. The sanctuary was completed in 1960. Temple Baptist has been located at 1108 Columbia Ave. in Fircrest since 2001.

Temple Baptist Church (Tacoma); Baptist churches--Tacoma;

Exterior - Thunderbird Garden Apartments. The Thunderbird Garden Apartments used a Northwest Indian motif as a decoration on the building's cedar-sided exterior. The 51-unit complex was built in 1961 in close proximity to the Thunderbird Shopping Center on Steilacoom Blvd. Each section of the apartment complex was no more than two stories high. All apartments had all-electric kitchens and heating and had insulated and soundproof ceilings and walls. Wall to wall carpeting was provided in the spacious living rooms and bedrooms. In addition, all the one and two bedroom units were pre-wired for phone and television. Parking was convenient with spaces located in the back of each unit. A luxurious swimming pool and tennis courts provided the residents with a country club atmosphere. Rents ranged from $75-135, unfurnished, with additional cost for furnishings. Photograph ordered by Thunderbird Investment Corporation. (TNT 3-26-61, B-8, TNT full page ad 8-20-61, B-9, B-10)

Thunderbird Garden Apartments (Lakewood); Apartment houses--Lakewood;

ca. 1962. Home portrait of Mr. and Mrs. Valentine Weisgerber, circa 1962.

Weisgerber, Valentine; Weisgerber, Valentine--Family;

ca. 1962. Weisgerber family, circa 1962. Mr. and Mrs. Valentine Weisgerber with sons Tony, Leo and George and daughters Roberta, Pauly and Irene.

Weisgerber, Valentine; Weisgerber, Valentine--Family; Families--Tacoma--1960-1970;

ca. 1962. Weisgerber family, circa 1962. Valentine and Magdalena Weisgerber with sons Tony, Leo and George and daughters Roberta Jackson, Pauly Miller and Irene Wilmonth.

Weisgerber, Valentine; Weisgerber, Valentine--Family; Families--Tacoma--1960-1970;

ca. 1962. Weisgerber family, circa 1962. Valentine and Magdalena Weisgerber with sons Tony, Leo and George and daughters Roberta Jackson, Pauly Miller and Irene Wilmonth.

Weisgerber, Valentine; Weisgerber, Valentine--Family; Families--Tacoma--1960-1970;

Copy of customer print. Artist Winfield Brown's rendition of the tug, Brynn Foss, as it moves swiftly through the waters of Commencement Bay. Once one of the most powerful tugs operating in the Puget Sound, the Brynn Foss did yeoman service for more than 25 years, primarily in ship-assisting. She was equipped with an 800 hp Nordberg diesel, hydraulic steering gear, air-powered towing winch and powerful fire-monitor for assisting at waterfront fires. In keeping with the company tradition of giving each vessel a Foss family name, she was named the "Brynn Foss" after the new daughter of Drew and Donna Foss. Date of original painting is unknown; copy was ordered in June, 1961. (Foss: Ninety Years of Towboating, p. 182-83)

Tugboats--Tacoma; Foss Launch & Tug Co. (Tacoma);

Ten small children pose near a large menorah at Temple Beth El on September 29, 1961. The four girls and six boys are dressed in their Friday best. A portion of the Star of David can be seen on the extreme right. Temple Beth El identified itself with the reform movement in Judaism; it was headed by Rabbi Richard Rosenthal. Photograph ordered by Temple Beth El. Information provided by patron, Top row: Phil Levy, Paul Etsekson, Carolyn (Carrie) Brashem, Corey Ruth, Jerry Jaffa. Bottom row: Shelly Rome, Stephen Robinson, Melanie Kosin, Jay Simon, Nina Spellman

Children--Tacoma--1960-1970; Synagogues--Tacoma; Temple Beth El (Tacoma); Judaism--Tacoma; Menorahs--Tacoma;

Gathering eggs in November, 1961, while caged hens busily eat, is an unidentified research farm employee. This poultry building, located in Puyallup, had several rows of tightly caged chickens. The cages appear slightly tilted so that the eggs would roll to the edge, making collection easier with no chance of being pecked. Photograph ordered by Western Farmers Association, Seattle.

Poultry--Puyallup; Chickens--Puyallup; Poultry houses--Puyallup; Poultry industry--Puyallup; Eggs;

Steven Motor Company, Chrysler and Plymouth dealers, general view of agency. Neon signs on building and posts, new Plymouths in showroom window and on outdoor lot, used car department beyond. Steven Motor Co. was located at 2705 South Tacoma Way. It would once again add Chrysler to the company's Plymouth-Valiant sales and service facilities in 1962. Armand Moceri was the manager and Everett Steven, president. (TNT ad 1-1-62, B-12,13)

Steven Motor Co. (Tacoma); Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1960-1970;

ca. 1961. View of Port Industrial area, possibly St. Regis Paper Co. plant. Smoke billows from several stacks on an autumn day in 1961. Northern Pacific boxcars are stationed next to a crowded parking lot. Logs float in a nearby waterway.

Smoke--Tacoma; Smokestacks--Tacoma; Industrial facilities--Tacoma; Logs; Railroad freight cars--Tacoma;

Weisfield's on Broadway underwent extensive remodeling in 1961; view of elaborate dangling ceiling lamps, showcases of rings, watches, and display tables of assorted costume jewelry. The $150,000 renovation of the 45-year-old Tacoma firm included new fixtures, lighting, and glass displays. Their building had been constructed in 1890 and previously housed a furniture store, the Orpheum Theater, offices, shoe and clothing stores before Weisfield & Goldberg Jewelers took occupancy in the late 1930's. The store's name changed slightly to Weisfield's, Inc., with additional emphasis on "credit jewelers." (TNT 9-6-61, A-6,7)

Weisfield's, Inc. (Tacoma); Jewelry stores--Tacoma--1960-1970; Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1960-1970;