This was the view of Tacoma from the top of the Medical Arts Building (now the Tacoma Municipal Building), 747 Market Street, in September of 1953. Looking toward the southeast, Mount Rainier dominates the horizon. The tall building below Mt. Rainier, near the center of the picture, is the Washington Building, 1019 Pacific Avenue, with a giant Mobil Gas sign on top. To the far left is the Murray Morgan Bridge, providing access to the many businesses on Tacoma's tideflats. TPL-9496

Rainier, Mount (Wash.); Cityscapes--Tacoma--1950-1960; Business districts--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Mueller-Harkins Motor Co. exterior, for the Condon Co. This facility was considered to be one of the most complete automotive centers in the U.S. Founded in 1916 at 8th and A, the company was still run by the Mueller family. In September of 1953, negotiations were underway to sell the family owned business to a Seattle automobile man. Effective October 1, 1953, the new owner was identified as E.H. (Gene) Brus, a prominent Seattle automobile man since 1921. (TNT 9/14/1953, pg. 1 & TNT 10/4/1953, pg. B5-B7)

Buick automobile; Automobile dealerships--Tacoma; Mueller-Harkins Motor Co. (Tacoma); Brus Buick Co. (Tacoma);

Offices at Brown & Haley Candy Co., for West Disinfecting Co. A young woman sits typing at a desk labelled "information." Surrounding her are office cubicles, separated by plate glass windows. Light fixtures are suspended from the ceiling. Brown and Haley was founded in 1913 by J.C. Haley and grew because of the company's insistence on quality. In 1948, the company underwent a 1/2 million dollar expansion. The company's most famous product was Almond Roca, but they also made the Mountain Bar, Olympic Mint and the Almond Butter Crunch Bar. The company pioneered packing in a vacuum packed tin for freshness. (TNT 9/4/1953, pg. C-15)

Confections; Candy; Chocolate industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Brown & Haley (Tacoma); Offices--Tacoma--1950-1960; Office workers--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Although the company name "Brown & Haley" calls to mind their famous Almond Roca candies, the Brown & Haley Candy Company, 108-16 East 26th Street, has always made a variety of candy products. This photograph from September, 1953 shows seven women employees on the manufacturing line that made high quality, hand-dipped chocolates. The second woman on the line, counting from the right, has been identified as Katherine White. The last woman in the line has been identified as Mollie Tripple. TPL-8786

Confections; Candy; Chocolate industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Packaging; Assembly-line methods; Brown & Haley (Tacoma);

Holroyd Co.; exposure of five trucks in front of the plant at So. 52nd and Washington. Holroyd mixed concrete and manufactured concrete building units. These units were especially popular for building during the war when wood was in short supply. The large trucks are used for transporting materials. The company also had a gravel pit at Nisqually and another at Meadow Park.

Holroyd Co. (Tacoma); Concrete products industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Building materials industry--Tacoma--1940-1950;

New DFPA offices in the Fuller Building as pictured on September 18, 1953. This appears to be the mailroom. The Douglas Fir Plywood Association's headquarters in Tacoma was the center of the industry's national promotion of fir plywood. The cost of this promotion was over 2.5 million a year, much of it spent in postage. The DFPA was the highest volume customer of the Tacoma Post Office. TPL-8393

Plywood; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma); Lumber industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Offices--Tacoma--1950-1960; Office workers--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Packed attendance at the Lorne F. Fox Party, the city wide salvation and healing campaign held at the Tent Cathedral at So. 23rd & Steele in August of 1953. The Rev. Lorne F. Fox was a traveling evangelist who appeared in Tacoma sponsored by the Full Gospel Fellowship of Tacoma. His traveling ministry offered music, prayer for the sick and claimed conversion of thousands. Rev. Lorne F. Fox was the primary speaker and musician. He played the piano, organ, accordion and Hawaiian guitar. Ruth L. Fox was the song leader and contralto soloist. Joe & Gerry Pontrello filled in as organist, trumpeter and vocalist. The Crusade had taken the internationally known musicians and evangelists to Alaska, Mexico, the West Indies and South America. The revival opened August 16, 1953 at 3 & 7:30p.m. and would continue nightly, except for Mondays. (TNT 8/8/1953, pg. 4 & 8/15/1953, pg. 4)

Revivals--Tacoma--1950-1960; Religious meetings--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Fuel Oil Service Co.; exterior of trucks. Fuel Oil Service was a distributer of furnace and stove oil. Mark C. Dolliver was the Manager & Roger C. Stewart the Sales Manager. The trucks were used to deliver the oil to the residential customers.

Trucks--Tacoma--1950-1960; Fuel Oil Service (Tacoma);

Aerial of downtown Tacoma looking west from the Eleventh Street Bridge. The Dock Street Steam Plant can be seen at lower left. Railroad tracks and a green belt divide the commercial downtown area from the waterfront. The bridge crosses over the City Waterway into the industrial area.

Aerial photographs--1950-1960; Business districts--Tacoma--1950-1960;

This is an aerial of downtown Tacoma looking west from 11th and A street as it appeared in August of 1953. Beginning span of the 11th Street Bridge at lower right corner and smoke stacks from Dock Street Steam plant at lower left.

Aerial photographs--1950-1960; Business districts--Tacoma--1950-1960; 11th Street Bridge (Tacoma); Bridges--Tacoma--1950-1960; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Hooker Electrochemical Company; railroad barge and tug. Barge, with Vancouver B.C. registration, loaded with Hooker chemical tanks being pulled by tug from the waterway on a cloud covered, gray day. Tacoma Boatbuilding Co. is prominent in the background.

Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Hooker Electrochemical Co. (Tacoma); Barges; Shipping--Tacoma--1950-1960;

A young man, with the assistance of his family, is building a 20 ft. cabin cruiser in his back yard. The young man saws the plywood that he is using for the frame of the boat while listening to his tow headed son. Photo series ordered by the Douglas Fir Plywood Association to promote the use of plywood in boat building. The Association was a group formed to promote the use of plywood as the world's number 1 building material. TPL-9921

Boat & ship industry; Carpentry; Woodworking;

A young man, with the assistance of his family, is building a 20 ft. cabin cruiser in his back yard. He is building the boat out of plywood. Photograph series ordered by the Douglas Fir Plywood Association to promote the use of plywood for boats. TPL-9920

Boat & ship industry; Carpentry; Woodworking; Plywood;

James J. Barnes Construction Company's United Pacific Insurance Building project. Early phase of construction showing basement area with concrete forms in place. Heavy construction equipment being used. United Pacific Insurance had moved to Tacoma in 1941 and had commenced construction of a new addition next to the Medical Arts Building which the company also owned. For a while United Pacific was the only insurance company with headquarters in Tacoma.

Building construction--Tacoma--1950-1960; Progress photographs--1950-1960; United Pacific Insurance Co. (Tacoma); James J. Barnes Construction Co.;

As a part of the Northwest Territory Centennial celebration in 1953, it was "against the law" for Tacoma to shave from the beginning of August until the end of the celebration on August 29th. Those daring to shave were rounded up by the stubble patrol and transported to stubble pens where they awaited judgement by a bewigged Judge. Those found guilty of lacking appropriate facial hair could buy their way out of "jail" by showing a "stubble pass" or by paying a monetary fine. It was all in good fun, however, and all money collected was used to fund the celebrations. The Judge in this photo is probably either Bertil Johnson who was a real-life judge in Tacoma or Swan Johnson who was chairman of the Beard Committee. The Henry Block, 605 - 607 S. Pine, was pictured in the background. (TNT 8/2/1953, pg. 1)

Celebrations--Tacoma--1950-1960; Centennial celebrations--Tacoma;

Northwest Territory Centennial, "Stubble Patrol" removing a judge from the Courthouse in his chair. As a part of the Centennial celebration, Tacoman men were advised to throw away their razors and grow whiskers or pay the price. Clean shaven men were rounded up by the Stubble Patrol and taken away by paddy wagon to await trial in a kangaroo court. They had two choices; to buy their way out with a "stubble pass" or to pay the fine. All proceeds were used to finance the Centennial celebrations.

Celebrations--Tacoma--1950-1960; Centennial celebrations--Tacoma;

Northwest Territory Centennial Parade. Lincoln Electric sponsors a truck carrying the Merry Widow Kitchen Band. The Merry Widow Band was an all female musical group that made music with kitchen implements, such as rolling pins, hoses, plumber's friends, and stew pans. The Band had six kitchen musicians and one accordionist. Nearly 100,000 spectators viewed the 1 1/2 hour parade that featured 37 old automobiles as well as floats and marching bands representing the Army, Air Force and Navy.

Centennial celebrations--Tacoma; Merry Widow Kitchen Band (Tacoma); Lincoln Electric (Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Northwest Territory Centennial Parade. The smoking car reads on the back "Never a dull moment in 1409. Keep Washington Green- watch your butts, we don't mean these." This bucking and rearing car was entered by the Wilkeson Eagles Lodge, Aerie 1409, "the world's biggest little aerie, in the foothills of Mt. Rainier." The parade featured 125 entries, with more horses, mules and even oxen than in any previous Tacoma parade. The parade started at 11a.m. on one of the first sunny days that the Centennial celebration had seen. The entourage lined up on 17th, marched down Broadway to 9th & down the hill to Pacific & back to 19th. TPL-8794

Centennial celebrations--Tacoma; Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Fraternal organizations--Wilkeson; Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie No. 1409 (Wilkeson);

Hooker Electrochemical Company. Railroad barge owned by Griffco and tug "Mogul" moored side by side at wharf. Barge loaded with Hooker chemical tanks. Railroad yard in background.

Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Hooker Electrochemical Co. (Tacoma); Barges; Shipping--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Hooker Electrochemical Company. Railroad barge and tug. Barge loaded with Hooker chemical tanks. Night scene. Man walking along barge with waterway in background.

Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Hooker Electrochemical Co. (Tacoma); Barges; Shipping--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Hooker Electrochemical Company. Railroad barge and tug "Mogul." Barge loaded with Hooker chemical tanks. Scene from waterway with railroad yard in background. Photograph is from September of 1953.

Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Hooker Electrochemical Co. (Tacoma); Barges; Shipping--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tugboats--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Looking NW, a portable building is being moved by International Truck turning from 54th Ave. E. onto Pacific Highway E. at Fife Square on August 5, 1953. The Poodle Dog Restaurant is partly visible to left of truck, Fife Rexall Drugs at far left, Century Ballroom is at right. A man sits on top of the portable as it moves down the street. As baby boomers flooded the public school system, portables were used to ease the overcrowding in the classrooms.

City & town life--Fife--1950-1960; Streets--Fife; Moving of structures--Fife; Moving & storage trade--Fife; Trucks--Fife--1950-1960; School overcrowding--Fife--1950-1960; Classrooms--Fife--1950-1960;

Northern Pacific Railroad, Machine Shop #1 and offices, 75- 100 people in group portrait. Sign on building reads "Nothing is as important as the protection of life and limb. Be Careful." In 1953, Northern Pacific Railroad began a 7 1/2 million dollar improvement package on their passenger service, including the North Coast Limited. New dining cars were introduced. The diesel engines and streamliners were painted seafoam green and dark green. Twenty two men at the Northern Pacific shops were kept busy sanding, undercoating and painting the big three unit diesels. At the shop in St. Paul, the coaches were being painted in the car shops. The old orange & black color scheme would be retained by the freight diesels. The project would culminate in the delivery the following summer of 20 new Vista Dome and sleeping cars. (TNT 10/18/1953, pg. A-4 & 10/20/1953, pg. A-9)

Group portraits--1950-1960; Railroads--Tacoma; Railroad companies--Tacoma; Northern Pacific Railway Co. (Tacoma);

Trade Secrets Home. The home, opened to the public in May of 1953, was again displayed in the 1953 Parade of Homes. What made this home unique is that it was built cooperatively with ideas coming from members of the Master Builders. It featured a spacious interior with an open design where the kitchen overlooked the dining area, which in turn over looked the living room. The patio featured a built in sandbox and raised planter. Another unique feature were the truss beams, which placed the home's supports on the exterior. The home would be placed for sale following the Parade of Homes. (TNT 9/27/1953, pg. E-26)

Houses--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma Master Builders Association (Tacoma); Trade Secrets Model Home (Tacoma);

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. Family Day; employees' picnic and open house. Photograph labelled, left to right, Sgt. Bob Marshall, Mr. Fred Shanaman & Ed Sorger. Sgt. Marshall was the head of the Tacoma Police Department's Safety Division, Fred Shanaman was president and general manager of the company and Ed Sorger was Washington State's Safety Supervisor. The trio stand in front of a display case containing a trophy, certificates and memorabilia of the company's safety record. In 1950 & 52, Pennsalt won the National Safety Council's Award of Merit for no "lost time accidents" and the Pennsalt national award for best yearly safety record. Pennsalt opened on the Tideflats in June of 1929. The 40 acre plant manufactured industrial chemicals. (TNT 9/6/1953, pg. A-12)

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma)--Employees; Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Factories--Tacoma--1950-1960; Marshall, Bob; Sorger, Ed; Shanaman, Frederick Charles, 1901-1982;

Two unidentified young spacemen battle each other in a pre-Star Wars universe in this photograph from September 1953. This photograph was taken by the Richards Studio for the Douglas Fir Plywood Association. The DFPA strongly believed that anything and everything could be made from plywood - even ray guns. (photographs also numbered D77001)

Plywood; Boys--Tacoma--1950-1960; Children playing--Tacoma--1950-1960; Toy guns; Helmets;

Tacoma Police Department swing shift. The swing shift shows off the whiskers that they have grown for the Northwest Territory Centennial beard contest.

Police--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Tacoma's finest, along with their vehicles, stand alertly outside the Public Safety Building/City Hall Annex on August 29, 1953. They were members of the Tacoma Police Department's Motorcycle division. TPL-7118

Police--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma Police Department (Tacoma); Public Safety Building (Tacoma); City Hall Annex (Tacoma); Motorcycles--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Chicago-Milwaukee railroad night train crew. The front row appears to be the staff for the dining room. In the back row are stewards, conductors and engineers. The railroad company began operating passenger and freight trains out of Tacoma in 1909. TPL-995

Railroad employees; Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad Co. (Tacoma); Railroad locomotives--Tacoma; Railroad sidings--Tacoma; Railroad companies--Tacoma; African Americans--Tacoma;

Aerial view of Tacoma, downtown buildings and Eleventh street bridge with waterways and Tideflats beyond the city and Mt. Rainier in the background. The view is looking Northeast from approximately 8th and Tacoma Ave. S. TPL-5875

Rainier, Mount (Wash.); Cityscapes--Tacoma--1950-1960; Business districts--Tacoma--1950-1960;