Progress photograph of the United Pacific Insurance Co. building, ordered by James J. Barnes Construction. The clock tower of the Old City Hall can be seen in the background of this February 3, 1954 photograph. James J. Barnes was the general contractor for the planned five story home office for United Pacific. The building would be built of reinforced concrete faced with glass and designed to complement the Art Deco Medical Arts building, also owned by United Pacific. The finished product would cost over $500,000 and open for occupancy January of 1955.
United Pacific Insurance Co. (Tacoma); Building construction--Tacoma--1950-1960; Progress photographs--1950-1960;
Future home office of the United Pacific Insurance Company. Plywood fencing proudly proclaims the presence of the company and surrounds the construction site. Central School building can be seen in the right background of the picture taken on February 15, 1954. The structure would provide three floors of offices for the only Tacoma based insurance company and two floors of rental space. United Pacific also owned the Medical Arts building next door.
United Pacific Insurance Co. (Tacoma); Building construction--Tacoma--1950-1960; Progress photographs--1950-1960;
Remodeled departments at the Bank of California. This is a customer accessible area. It appears to be occupied by bank or loan officers. The officers occupy large wooden desks with comfortable leather chairs beside the desks for customers.
Banks--Tacoma; Bank of California National Association (Tacoma); Banking--Tacoma--1950-1960;
Interior of the trust department at the Bank of California, ordered by Botsford, Constantine and Gardner. Seated at desks on the right are Frank C. Carmody, Assistant Trust Officer- front, and Edward S. Walker, Trust Officer, at rear. On the left are Mr. McLeod, front, and Mr. Williams, at rear. To the left is a counter arrangement with three people behind it labelled Trust Department. At the right rear, the door is open to an interior office, perhaps belonging to one of the Vice Presidents of the bank.
Banks--Tacoma; Bank of California National Association (Tacoma); Carmody, Frank; Walker, Edward;
Winthrop Hotel, new sample furniture on display in rooms 505, 522 & 525. The room has been decorated for the discriminating traveler with a patterned embossed carpet, floral drapes, full bed with chenille bedspread, dresser, a desk/vanity and a variety of tables and chairs with numerous lamps. A bench has been placed at the end of the bed to hold an open suitcase or for sitting. A long coffee table, however, has been placed blocking a door.
Hotels--Tacoma--1950-1960; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Furniture;
Employees of Briggs Manufacturing Co. are blurred as they put up wall segments for a prefabricated home. A series of progress photographs was taken in one day, March 29, 1954, showing the speed that a prefabricated house could be built by experienced workers. A clock was drawn in the corner of each picture showing the exact time of day the photo was taken. At 8:05 a.m., the floor has already been laid and plumbing marked. Plywood forms and house sections are scattered near the site.
Prefabricated homes were becoming more common in the late 1940's and early 1950's to satisfy demand for more housing as our area's population grew. New homes were being built outside established city neighborhoods where lot sizes could be larger and land less expensive. The Briggs Manufacturing Co., located in the city's south end, specialized in prefabricated housing. In a series of photographs taken in one day, the Briggs company showed how prefabricated homes could be built quickly and with a small crew. Each photograph had a hand-drawn clock in the left corner showing the time of day it was taken; the progress of the construction could be then noted. At 9:30 a.m., several walls are already in place, with window and door openings. Because the location of the construction was not identified, it is possible that more than one home was being built on the same day.
Briggs Manufacturing Co. (Tacoma); Building construction; Prefabricated houses; Progress photographs;
Briggs Manufacturing Co. were specialists in prefabricated houses. Due to the expanding population in our area after World War II, housing demands increased. Prefabricated housing was one solution. A series of photographs were taken in one day, March 29, 1954, showing the speed a prefabricated home could be built. Each photograph had a hand-drawn clock in the corner showing the time of day the picture was taken. The work day seems to have begun by 8:00 a.m. as Briggs employees commence to lay the flooring. The location of the home is unknown, other than it appears to be in a heavily wooded area. This possibly could have been outside city limits as population growth was beginning to expand past the city's established neighborhoods.
Briggs Manufacturing Co. (Tacoma); Building construction; Prefabricated houses; Progress photographs;
Briggs Manufacturing Co. found a niche in the competitive building industry by specializing in prefabricated homes. As the population in the Puget Sound region grew steadily in the years following World War II, prefabricated housing answered the call for affordable, easily constructed housing. During the course of one day, March 29, 1954, a series of photographs was taken showing the progression in erecting a prefabricated house. The time of day the picture was taken was carefully noted by way of a clock drawn in the left corner of the photograph. Thus, the construction could be tracked with ease. View at 8:45 a.m.; the flooring is in place and some walls are up. Two men in top coats and suits examine the site while a Briggs employee finishes attaching two wall sections.
Briggs Manufacturing Co. (Tacoma); Building construction; Prefabricated houses; Progress photographs;
Workers on top of a prefabricated home are busy laying plywood sheets on the gently sloping roof in a photograph taken at 3:00 p.m. on March 29, 1954. The house apparently is a one-story rambler without a basement. The walls on at least one side of the house are up with window and door openings. A sign is nailed to a beam indicates this is a Cliff May home, manufactured and distributed by Briggs Manufacturing Co. This photograph is just one of a series of pictures taken during the course of one day, March 29, 1954, with clocks placed in the left hand corner so that construction progress could be tracked.
The "Auto Clinic" and its "pigeon hole" parking, for Bethlehem Steel Co. This unique parking plan, developed in Spokane, opened in Tacoma 12/7/1953. An hydraulic hoist operating on a track could move cars from level to level and side to side in the multi story parking garage in minutes. The company owned by John T. Long and Mr. Lily Schweizer also offered a full service repair shop, pump station, washing & polishing and auto accessories.
Auto Clinic (Tacoma); Automobile repair--Tacoma--1950-1960; Automobile service stations--Tacoma--1950-1960; Parking garages--Tacoma--1950-1960;
Nighttime view of Block's Furniture Mart. Block's was owned by Michael Block. The Grand Opening of the store was February 26, 1954. Customers could purchase a five piece chrome dinette set for $47.00- $87.77. A ten piece living room group could be bought for $189.50, with $20 down and $11 per month. Mattresses and box springs, in full or twin, could be obtained as low as $69.95 for the set.
Block's Furniture Mart (Lakewood); Furniture stores--Lakewood--1950-1960;
Modernistic furniture and design are present in the newly remodeled Pierce County Savings & Loan Association. The savings and loan had an open house for the public in March, 1954. The building was initially built in 1888 by Col. J. M. Dougan and housed a variety of businesses. It was purchased by the Pierce County Savings & Loan in 1950. Walter C. Steel was listed as president in the 1954 City Directory. First organized in Auburn in 1925, assets now total over five million dollars. Photograph taken for the TNT. (TNT 3-22-54, p. 6,7)
Pierce County Savings & Loan Association (Tacoma); Financial facilities--Tacoma;
Weisfield's Jewelers on Broadway was not only a well-known watch and diamond firm but also carried a wide range of housewares, including electric appliances, radios, refrigerators, televisions and bedding. One of their windows had Bates bedding on display; Bates was touted as "the most popular bedspread in the world." The showcase window had a tall poster composed of women's silhouettes all talking about Bates. In addition, there was a covered bed, drapes, and samples of various bedspreads with prices clearly marked. Weisfield's was previously known as Weisfield & Goldberg Inc.
Weisfield's, Inc. (Tacoma); Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1950-1960; Window displays; Bedspreads; Signs (Notices); Jewelry stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Department stores--Tacoma--1950-1960;
Construction worker in hard hat has one foot on the concrete forms while balancing the other on a plywood deck in an April, 1954, photograph. The forms are placed over plywood in the construction of the new United Pacific Insurance Company office building on Saint Helens Avenue. The building would take nearly two years to complete and cost an estimated $500,000. Photograph ordered by Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel Corporation.
United Pacific Insurance Co. (Tacoma); Building construction--Tacoma--1950-1960; Building materials; Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel Corp. (Seattle);
Motoramp Garage had been at its Commerce Street location since 1925. It was probably one of Tacoma' s first multi-story parking garages. Large signs identify the building, making it clear that covered parking was available for downtown customers. View of garage on Commerce close to 9th Street; Moose Temple is next door with Ben-Dew's restaurant at opposite end. Photograph ordered by Al Taylor, Standard Oil of California. TPL-1732
Two men sit on a bench on the first floor of the Motoramp Garage possibly waiting for their cars to be repaired in this January, 1953, photograph. The Motoramp was a multi-story parking garage located downtown on Commerce Street; it had parking available for over 300 cars. Besides covered parking, the Motoramp also offered car repairs, lubrication and the chance to purchase batteries and Prestone anti-freeze. No need to run to the gas station: the Motoramp also had at least two pumps for outgoing patrons. Photograph ordered by Al Taylor, Standard Oil of California.
Interior of new Tradewell store. Self-service ice cream freezers were becoming more available to the Tacoma shopper in 1953; these three freezers are compactly located at the ends of the store's aisles. The wide shopping aisles also made it easier for shoppers to push their carts through. The shelves are full of seafood cans, jars of prepared baby food, and juices. Tradewell also had a self-service meat department where meats were already pre-packaged for the busy shopper. Photograph ordered by Tradewell, Inc., Seattle.
Tradewell Stores, Inc. (Tacoma); Supermarkets; Freezers; Ice cream & ices;
B & B Glass and Paint Co. offered convenient drive-in service and glass installation at their 748 Market Street location. The company was owned by Benjamin E. Bassett and LeRoy O. Bertheau. They offered glass for every purpose, including plate, crystal, sheet, glass blocks, mirrors, re-silvering and residence glazing. They also sold Pabco paints. View of side of B & B Glass building with large advertising, including painting of two men holding a large plate glass, and parking lot full of cars. There is also a Rainier Beer billboard attached to the side of the building. Photograph ordered by Mrs. Ben Bassett.
B & B Glass & Paint Co. (Tacoma); Glass industry--Tacoma; Signs (Notices); Electric signs--Tacoma--1950-1960; Billboards--Tacoma;
A Lincoln Electric salesman, possibly Lincoln Electric co-owner, Tony Ricono, shows an interested customer a large Bendix television console. The television is encased in a fine wood cabinet with doors. The firm featured Bendix and Hoffman brands with a wide assortment of 1953 choices. Lincoln Electric had recently moved into a new building on South 38th and Park Avenue; besides selling and servicing appliances, they had also expanded into the furniture and juvenile market. TPL-2290
Lincoln Electric (Tacoma); Televisions--1950-1960; Shopping--Tacoma--1950-1960;
A large fleet of delivery trucks and vans is parked outside of Sepic Electric's South "K" Street (now known as Martin Luther King Jr. Way) store in February, 1953. Sepic's was well known as an appliance store; they also sold furniture and floor coverings. They maintained their own repair department so they could offer their customers repair and installation services. Sepic Electric was owned by brothers Fred and Stan Sepic. Photograph ordered by Stan Sepic.
Sepic Electric Co. (Tacoma); Appliance stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Furniture stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Trucks--Tacoma--1950-1960;
Sepic Electric was started as a repair shop by two brothers, Fred and Stan Sepic, in the early 1940's. It gradually expanded to include appliances, furniture, and floor coverings for sale. They continued to offer repair services, including washing machines and electric motors. Their South "K" Street (now known as Martin Luther King Jr. Way) store had been remodeled by February, 1950. In May, 1951, the Sepics opened a second furniture and appliance store at South 72nd and Pacific. Photograph ordered by Stan Sepic. TPL-3788
Sepic Electric Co. (Tacoma); Furniture stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Appliance stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Storefronts--Tacoma--1950-1960;
The Tacoma Plumbing Supply Co. were wholesale dealers in plumbing, heating and mill supplies. They were located at 315 South 23rd Street. According to the 1953 City Directory, Chauncey B. Baxter was listed as president with Ernest O. Thomson as sales manager. The large brick building is three stories high with two open garages. View of Tacoma Plumbing Supply building with employees shifting boxes of materials onto an Acme Transfer & Storage Co. flatbed truck.
Both cars and bicycles are parked outside the new Tradewell supermarket on South 56th and Pacific in February, 1953. As the signs posted on the wall indicated, Tradewell offered free parking for customers. The store was open seven days a week, with shorter hours on Sunday, and stayed open until 11 p.m. on Friday night. Specials changed frequently at Tradewell; a customer could purchase fresh red snapper at 29 cents a pound or giant size detergent Duz or Cheer at 65 cents. Photograph ordered by Washington Mutual Savings Bank.
Tradewell Stores, Inc. (Tacoma); Supermarkets; Parking lots--Tacoma--1950-1960;
W. H. Opie and Company, real estate. March, 1953, photograph shows corner entry to Art-Moderne-style building. It also displays a full corner view with tower forming point at second level and curve at first floor. The Anderson Building was constructed in 1941; it was designed by architect Albert Gardner. Knapp College was located on second floor. The Camera Shop, at right, with window display sold Ansco films and Kodak supplies.
W.H. Opie & Co. (Tacoma); Real estate business--Tacoma; Storefronts--Tacoma--1950-1960; Knapp College (Tacoma); Camera Shop (Tacoma);
Interior of florist shop. The interior of Angle's Flowers makes good use of the limited floor space as a customer could easily see the variety of flowers available for purchase. Pots of blooming plants along with cut flowers were carefully displayed on small shelves or grouped on the floor. Ceramic dolls and wall decorations were also for sale. Angle's Flowers were owned by Ralph and M. Anna Angle. The business was located at 1121 South "K" St. with Central Bank and Ko-Ko Cabaret as neighbors. Photograph ordered by Mrs. Ralph Angle.
A salesman is showing a bolt of fabric to a customer at Tutor Craft in May, 1953. Tutor Craft was located at 1531 Market St. and owned by Ralph S. Gale and Herbert J. Nightingale, according to the 1953 City Directory. The business was founded in 1944. They specialized in draperies and as the crowded store can attest, carried a wide variety of fabrics in many colors and textures. Photograph ordered by Ralph Gale.
The interior of the Federal Bakery. The Federal Bakery was located at 1107 So. K St. (now Martin Luther King Jr. Way) and owned by Mrs. Esther M. MacPherson. Mrs. MacPherson and an unidentified man stand behind a dazzling display of baked goods. The bakery had belonged in the MacPherson family since 1889 when Donald MacPherson built the original "Sunrise Bakery." It was demolished in 1923 to make way for this modern bakery building, called the Federal Bakery. Wallace & Esther MacPherson ran the bakery for many years and were an important component of the K Street shopping district, one of the largest neighborhood shopping areas. This building, along with others, was demolished in 1998 to make way for a new Rite Aid store. TPL-8121
Weisfield's Jewelers, exterior exposure of the entire store front. This six story brick building was built in 1890 and designed by Pickles & Sutton, architects. Its original tenant was the Holmes and Bull Furniture Co., followed by the Orpheum Theatre, a vaudeville house, in 1904. In 1906, the Theatre closed and the building was remodeled into offices and called the J.J. Roberts Building. Various stores occupied the building including S.A. Andrews Co.(in 1920) and Pessemier's Bootery (in 1936.) The building was modernized in 1938 and occupied by Weisfield and Goldberg Jewelers. The store front was altered again in 1941, under the direction of Pearson & Richards, architects.
Department stores--Tacoma; Window displays; Home furnishings stores--Tacoma; Merchandise displays--Tacoma; Weisfield's, Inc. (Tacoma); Jewelry stores--Tacoma--1950-1960;
Safeway store fire at 82nd & Pacific. The Safeway store sustained $260,000 in fire damage during an early morning fire on 7/7/1953. The Pacific Ave. wall of the store caved in completely. One firefighter collapsed at the site, and went to the hospital where he was reported in "satisfactory" condition. The fire was initially attributed to a faulty public address system or a forgotten cigarette. In a strange turn of events, the fire equipment had been there twelve hours before responding to an incinerator blaze. (TNT 7/7/1953, pg. 1)
Safeway Stores, Inc. (Tacoma); Grocery Stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Fires--Tacoma--1950-1960;
