Exterior- savings & loan. A close-up view of the Tacoma Savings & Loan Association front entrance was taken on June 27, 1957. Insulated glass panels surround the new building, including the front entrance. The main entrance doors were electronically operated. New trees have been planted, spaced carefully apart, to provide a touch of softness when contrasted with the modern sleek appearance of the financial institution. The Tacoma Savings & Loan was established in 1899. They urged customers to save, in order to "write your own future". Home loans were tailored to fit customers' individual needs. The new location of the downtown Tacoma Savings & Loan was directly across the street from its former headquarters in the Bowes Building. Photograph ordered by Tacoma Savings & Loan Association. (TNT 6-27-57, A-6-9)

Tacoma Savings & Loan Association (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Signs (Notices);

An alluring hula girl mannequin beckons Bank of California customers to protect their vacation funds by purchasing American Express travelers cheques. The June, 1957, display suggests that, whether visiting Hawaii or South Dakota, a cautious vacationer should play it safe by using travelers cheques instead of carrying large amounts of cash. A giant sea shell, a towel, a model Northwest Airlines plane, two palm trees and copious amounts of "sand" in the midst of a bank lobby would certainly draw the attention of the bank's vacation-minded customers. American Express launched its travelers cheque business in 1891; they introduced their travel charge card in 1958. (Photograph ordered by Bank of California.)

Bank of California National Association (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1950-1960; Mannequins;

Interior barbershop. Lyons opened a new barbershop on the grounds of Fort Lewis in May, 1957. This may have been the third Lyons Barber Shop on base. Customers are shown on May 27, 1957, getting close trims. A sergeant, haircut completed, receives change back from his barber. Photograph ordered by Lyons Barber Shop.

Barbershops--Fort Lewis; Barbers--Fort Lewis; Lyons Barber Shop (Fort Lewis);

The Villa Plaza Shopping Center, built on the grounds of the former 200-acre Visitation Villa, saw the opening of many new stores in the spring of 1957. Foreman & Clark, who specialized in fine men, women, and children's clothing, was one of the latest to celebrate its grand opening in early June, 1957. Besides offering clothing specials, bonus gifts for the family were also awarded. Credit was readily available with deferred payment until August. Foreman & Clark was a top clothing retailer with 90 stores coast-to-coast. The first Foreman & Clark store was opened in Los Angeles in 1909. It quickly built a reputation for excellent quality in its clothing line. Hal Miller would be the new Villa Plaza store manager. View of entrance to Foreman & Clark, with large store lettering, and overhanging roof. Photograph ordered by Foreman & Clark. (TNT 6-5-57, A-6)

Foreman & Clark (Lakewood); Clothing stores--Lakewood--1950-1960; Signs (Notices);

National clothiers Foreman & Clark opened up the latest in their 90 chain stores in the Villa Plaza Shopping Center on June 6, 1957. They were well-known for their fine quality men's, women's and children's line of clothing. Foreman & Clark's was established in Los Angeles in 1909 by W.A. Foreman. His policy of upstairs stores, low rental costs and inexpensive fixtures resulted in savings passed on to his customers in the form of quality merchandise at low prices. The Foreman & Clark chain ran from New York to California and then up to the Pacific Northwest. The Villa Plaza store had a prime location next to Rhodes Department Store. It was run by Hal Miller. This is probably the rear view of the store, taken on June 17, 1957. For another view, probably of the front, see A107266-1. Sepia photograph ordered by Walter Scott, Foreman & Clark. (TNT 6-5-57, A-6)

Foreman & Clark (Lakewood); Clothing stores--Lakewood--1950-1960; Signs (Notices); Villa Plaza Shopping Center (Lakewood);

ca. 1957. Exterior of the National Bank of Washington located in the Villa Plaza Shopping Center. The bank sponsored an open house on July 13, 1957, at its new banking office located in the north wing of the Lakewood shopping center. It was one of eight Tacoma area offices. The one-story building was 50-feet wide, 104-feet deep and totaled 5,200 square feet. The exterior was constructed of mottled blue ceramic tile with large areas of plate glass. The facility was designed by Lea, Pearson & Richards and built by general contractor Merritt Construction. Six teller units, a conference room and officers quarters were located on the east side lobby. There was a modern vault in the rear. The Villa Plaza-Lakewood branch of the National Bank of Washington had as its first manager Marc H. Miller. (TNT 7-11-57, A-6-article & alt. photograph; A-7 full page ad)

National Bank of Washington (Lakewood); Banks--Lakewood; Electric signs--Lakewood; Villa Plaza Shopping Center (Lakewood); Shopping centers--Lakewood--1950-1960; Facades--Lakewood--1950-1960;

Exterior of Pacific First Federal Savings Building. The large revolving corner clock indicates that it is 11:50 a.m. and the Pacific First Federal Savings Building is open for business. Plaques on the marbled foundation indicate that the bank offered a safe deposit vault for protection of valuables as well as insuring customers' savings and issuing home loans. Situated in the downtown business district of 11th & Pacific, the venerable building had been a local presence since 1891. Photograph ordered by Puget Sound Office Equipment.

Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan Association (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Pacific First Federal Building (Tacoma);

The Tacoma Savings & Loan Association invited local residents to attend an "Open House" on June 28, 1957, celebrating the completion of its new headquarters at 101 So. 9th St., across the street from its former location in the Bowes Building. The new building was a marvel of wall-to-wall insulating plate glass and featured a semi-circular open staircase that reached from the basement to the mezzanine level. The savings & loan also incorporated the "old" into their new headquarters; scenes of Tacoma's past were captured in enlarged photographs and mounted for display. View of visitors admiring a photograph of the horse and trolley days on 11th & Pacific. Photograph ordered by Tacoma Savings & Loan Association.

Tacoma Savings & Loan Association (Tacoma); Celebrations--Tacoma--1950-1960; Art exhibitions--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Just past the men's suits was the Forewyn Shop for Women located inside Foreman & Clark at the Villa Plaza. The latest fashions in suits, dresses, blouses and skirts could be found for the discerning shopper. While Foreman & Clark did not manufacture the women's clothing itself, as it did men and boys clothing, they made sure that the manufacturers chosen were worthy of the Forewyn name.

Foreman & Clark (Lakewood); Clothing stores--Lakewood--1950-1960; Merchandise displays--Lakewood--1950-1960; Villa Plaza Shopping Center (Lakewood); Shopping centers--Lakewood--1950-1960;

Foreman & Clark clothing store at the new Villa Plaza Shopping Center. Foreman & Clark took out a full page ad in the News Tribune on June 5, 1957, proclaiming the "West's largest clothier coming to Tacoma." The chain, established in 1909 in Los Angeles by W.A. Foreman, had 90 stores from coast-to-coast. It celebrated a three-day grand opening on June 6-8, 1957, at the Villa Plaza Shopping Center. Foreman & Clark's manufactured its own men's and boys' clothing to keep prices low while offering the public well made articles of clothing. (TNT 6-5-57, A-7-article & ad)

Foreman & Clark (Lakewood); Clothing stores--Lakewood--1950-1960; Window displays--Lakewood--1950-1960; Villa Plaza Shopping Center (Lakewood); Shopping centers--Lakewood--1950-1960;

Exterior- savings & loan building. The sleek new Tacoma Savings & Loan Association building on South 9th and A Street is ready to be opened in late June, 1957. It is directly across the street from its former headquarters in the Bowes Building. The ulta-modern glass-encased building was designed by architects Lea, Pearson & Richards, who were responsible for many notable buildings in Tacoma. The steel framed construction would total 95 feet by 75 feet. View of contrasting "old" and "new" Tacoma Savings & Loan Association bank buildings. Photograph ordered by Tacoma Savings & Loan Association. (TNT 6-27-57, A-6-9)

Tacoma Savings & Loan Association (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma;

A teller smilingly tabulates deposits at the drive-up window of Lakewood's Puget Sound National Bank. Drive-up service was becoming very popular in the 1950's as a convenience for busy customers who could not spare the time to enter the bank. Thick glass would protect the teller from robbers; customers would simply place their transactions in bins which would be accessible by the teller. Payments for loans, checking and savings deposits and withdrawls would all be accomplished without the customer ever leaving his car. Photograph ordered by Condon Co. (TNT ad 4-3-58, B-7) 10-JUN-2014

Banking--Lakewood; Banks--Lakewood; Puget Sound National Bank (Lakewood);

Large selection of men's suits at the new Foreman & Clark's clothing store in Lakewood's Villa Plaza Shopping Center. Foreman & Clark celebrated its grand opening with three days full of bargains on June 6-8, 1957. Men could purchase a 100% wool suit for only $39.90 and pick up a toggle car coat for $12.88. The firm manufactured its own men's and boys' clothing with men's sizes ranging from 34-50. Among the newest of 90 stores from coast-to-coast, the Villa Plaza location followed store policy of low rental expense and inexpensive fixtures so that quality merchandise could be manufactured while keeping costs low for shoppers. The Villa Plaza store was managed by Hal Miller who along with Byron W. Foreman, nephew of store founder W.A. Foreman and Walter Scott, regional manager, were present for the grand opening celebration. (TNT 6-5-57, A-6-article)

Foreman & Clark (Lakewood); Clothing stores--Lakewood--1950-1960; Merchandise displays--Lakewood--1950-1960; Suits (Clothing); Villa Plaza Shopping Center (Lakewood); Shopping centers--Lakewood--1950-1960;

American flags flank the marbled entrance to Pacific First Federal Savings on Flag Day, 1957. Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan Association was a mutual savings institution with branches in Bellingham, Seattle, Tacoma, Longview, Portland and Eugene. It served over 57, 000 families with $170 million in resources. Tacoma was its home office, established in 1907. Gerrit VanderEnde was the longtime president of the savings & loan.

Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan Association (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Flags; Doors & doorways--Tacoma--1950-1960; Pacific First Federal Building (Tacoma);

Rows and towers of safe-deposit units greet customers of Pacific First Federal Savings in June, 1957. Each box is numbered and two keys would be necessary to open each individual box, much as is done in 2002. Carpeted floors would muffle the tread of many footsteps. Pacific First Federal Savings was located at the corner of 11th and Pacific in downtown Tacoma. The Romanesque-style building was constructed in 1891 as the home of Merchants National Bank. Photograph ordered by Puget Sound Office Equipment.

Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan Association (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Safe-deposit boxes--Tacoma;

Interior- savings & loan. The expansive, brightly-lit lobby of the new Tacoma Savings & Loan was photographed on June 28, 1957, prior to its grand opening. After many years in the Bowes Building directly across the street, the savings & loan built an ultra-modern glass paneled new establishment. The spacious first floor included the customer service area, insurance department, department heads' offices, safe-deposit vault, and a separate lobby for safe-deposit customers. The building featured a free-standing reinforced concrete circular staircase which led from the basement to the mezzanine level. An elevator was also provided. Supporting columns were covered with Italian Cremo marble. Walls adjacent to the elevator shaft were covered with Breche Fantasia marble. Photograph ordered by Tacoma Savings & Loan Association. (TNT 6-27-57, A-6-9)

Tacoma Savings & Loan Association (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma;

Exterior-savings & loan building. Looking directly across 9th St., possibly from the former headquarters of the Tacoma Savings & Loan Association, the new location for the savings & loan comes into view. The rectangular building is primarily glass encased, glass on three sides which cantilever out from the inside columns and are suspended from the roof. Designed by architects Lea, Pearson & Richards, and built by Ketner Brothers, contractors, it has extruded aluminum and insulating glass with black granite trim and blue Spandrelite glass panels. The glass panels are 6 feet by 10 feet. Fiberglass draperies measuring 22 feet are designed to cover the glass areas. The Tacoma Savings & Loan was established in 1899, making it one of the city's oldest financial institutions. Photograph ordered by Tacoma Savings & Loan Association. (TNT 6-27-57, A-6-9)

Tacoma Savings & Loan Association (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Facades--Tacoma--1950-1960;