In June of 1949, Ghilarducci's California Florists moved from 919 Pacific Avenue to a new shop at 909 Pacific ave. "Joe" Ghilarducci and his son "Gilly" had already been in the flower business in Tacoma for 42 years. Twenty years later, they moved again. This time to 809 Pacific where they stayed until they went out of business in 1988 - after more then 80 years on Pacific Avenue. Interior and exterior view of new store, Ghilarducci's, Elbert Baker. (TNT, 6/5/1949, p.B-12)
Ghilarducci's California Florists (Tacoma); Florist shops--Tacoma; Electric signs--Tacoma--1940-1950; Facades--Tacoma--1940-1950;
Selden's Inc. specialized in floor coverings, but also offered their customers a wide selection of home furnishings. View of window display at Selden's Incorporated featuring "Pabco" linoleum floor coverings in a variety of colors and patterns for the modern 1949 home; it is value priced at $2.95 per yard. On left side is a "Frigidaire" appliance sign and appliances, including ranges and refrigerators.
Home furnishings stores--Tacoma; Window displays--Tacoma--1940-1950; Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1940-1950; Appliance stores--Tacoma; Floor coverings; Selden's, Inc. (Tacoma);
Dinner for Mahncke staff at Hotel Winthrop, Wallace Silversmiths. Employees from Mahncke & Company are shown during a banquet presenting silver service from Wallace Silversmith. Mahncke & Company were a jewelry store at 919 Broadway.
Interior and exterior of restaurant and tavern, Rainbow Tavern, Mr. Howe. The bar stands along the length of the Rainbow Tavern on the right hand side. Stools are lined up against the bar. Mirrors are hung on the wall at the back. A bartender stands ready to pull a beer from the siphon handles in front of him. A woman and a companion are seated in one of the booths along the other side of the room. A slot machine stands in the middle.
Several shots of visit by Miss Washington to Tacoma, Tacoma Auto Parts, Sam LeBid. Grand Opening of Tacoma Auto Parts. Mayor Val Fawcett with Miss Washington 1949, Libby Aldrich of Kelso, wearing a floor-length gown and crown during drawing for door prizes which included a television set, car radio and an automobile sun shield. Boxes of "Hot Water Auto Heaters" stacked under tarp. Crowd in background, banners in windows. (TNT, 7/1/1949, p.B-4)
Automobile equipment & supplies stores--Tacoma;Tacoma Auto Parts (Tacoma);Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fawcett, Clarence Valdo, 1900-1965; Aldrich, Libby;
Several shots of visit by Miss Washington to Tacoma, Tacoma Auto Parts, Sam LeBid. Grand Opening of Tacoma Auto Parts. Mayor Val Fawcett, left in photo, with Miss Washington 1949, Libby Aldrich of Kelso, and an unidentified man. Miss Washington wears a floor-length gown, a crown and a corsage. A crowd stands in the background and banners have been hung in the windows. (TNT, 7/1/1949, p.B-4)
Automobile equipment & supplies stores--Tacoma;Tacoma Auto Parts (Tacoma);Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fawcett, Clarence Valdo, 1900-1965; Beauty contestants--Washington; Aldrich, Libby;
Several homes under construction, Briggs Construction Co., Mr. Spillman. A man works spreading top soil for a yard at the newly completed one-story, single family home. A baby stroller is sitting on the front step. The walkway curves from the sidewalk. An older house is seen on the right. Briggs-built homes were available in several price brackets as low as $6,300 for a complete two-bedroom home with $300 down and $35.78 per month to $7,250 for a three-bedroom home. (TNT, 8/7/1949, p.A-12)
Briggs Construction Co. (Tacoma); Houses--Tacoma--1940-1950; Building construction--Tacoma--1940-1950;
Blocks used for sidewalks on Consumer's Central Heating System at Pierce County Court House, Holroyd Company, Jim Holroyd. A workman is backfilling the trench for the Consumer's Central Heating Company pipe that had been lined with concrete blocks to provide easy access to the pipe. The area where the pipe ran is covered with a sturdy material.
Holroyd Co. (Tacoma); Consumer's Central Heating Co. (Tacoma); Building materials--Tacoma; Concrete products industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Heating & ventilation industry--Tacoma--1940-1950;
New home at North 14th and Washington Streets, Holroyd Company, Jim Holroyd. A one-story, single family residence is near completion. It has a cedar shake roof, large picture windows and a two-car garage. A brick planter has been built near the front door under one of the windows.
Holroyd Co. (Tacoma); Houses--Tacoma--1940-1950; Concrete products industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Building construction--Tacoma--1940-1950;
Concrete blocks for protection around new water meter at 7th & Commerce, Holroyd Company, Jim Holroyd. A barricade has been build around an underground water meter with concrete blocks at the corner of one of the sidewalks in downtown Tacoma. The sidewalk has been torn out to expose the water line.
Holroyd Co. (Tacoma); Water supply--Tacoma; Water use--Tacoma; Concrete products industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Building materials;
Tacoma Savings and Loan, 50th Anniversary, Mr. William Hopping, Sr. The Tacoma Savings and Loan celebrated its 50th anniversary with a newly remodeled, modern and greatly enlarged facilities at South 9th and A Streets. The savings and loan had started with the tiny capital of fifteen $20 gold pieces which had grown over the 50 years to more than $10 million. The floor plan of the remodeled facilities left all offices open to the public in keeping with the savings and loan's standard of friendliness. (TNT,6/27/1949, p.5)
Tacoma Savings & Loan Association (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Lobbies--Tacoma--1940-1950; Anniversaries--Tacoma--1940-1950;
The newest in automotive beauty and power was posed with the old in this photograph taken in front of the Mueller-Harkins Buick dealership at 455 Saint Helens Avenue on May 4, 1950. The car on the left is a 1950 Buick Eight sporting a "bumper guard grill"; the car to the right is a Model 31 Buick that was manufactured in 1912. The vintage Buick had been driven to Tacoma from Olympia during Olympia Centennial Week by its owner Cecil Barker, a Buick dealer in Olympia. The modern Mueller-Harkins dealership on St. Helens had opened at the end of 1948; today it is home to the U.S.A. of Yesterday Motor Car Company. (Ordered by the Condon Company, K. Shinn.)
An antique 1913 Buick touring car representing the City of Olympia's Centennial was driven to Mueller-Harkins Buick dealership in Tacoma. The people are L-R, Charles Barker, Mrs. Cecil Barker, Cecil Barker, R.A. Mueller and Mrs. Charles Barker. The 1913 Buick has spoked wheels, a windshield that was split horizontally and could be folded into either an up or down position, and a fabric top that may be removable. It took one and three-quarters hours to travel the 30 miles from Olympia to Tacoma in the old automobile. (TNT, 5/8/1950, p.2) TPL-6589
Smith's Shell Station is shown with a separate building for automobile repairs. Gasoline pumps stand in front of the sales booth. A gasoline service station had been at this location since 1929. A billboard advertising Shell products stands along the property line on the right. Ordered by Shell Oil Company, Mr. Holms.
Automobile service stations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Smith's Shell Station (Tacoma); Gasoline pumps--Tacoma--1940-1950; Billboards--Tacoma; Vehicle maintenance & repair--Tacoma--1940-1950;
Nez DuCharme & Sons Depot Service Station at its new location 1548 Pacific Avenue. A gas station attendant services a car in the driveway; filling the car with gas, checking under the hood, and cleaning the windows. The station was large and had a repair shop and oil change location to the right. A weathervane checks the direction of the wind from atop the gable of this unique building. (Ad TNT 4/14/1950, pg. 27)
Automobile service stations--Tacoma--1950-1960; Gasoline pumps--Tacoma--1950-1960; Nez DuCharme & Sons Depot Service Station (Tacoma); Automobiles--Tacoma--1950-1960;
This is the proud contest winner at the Music Box Theater happily posing with a new Westinghouse Rancho range. The electric stove has four burners, all on one side, an oven with a storage drawer underneath and an open area under the burners that has been labeld as "Tuck-Away" room. Ordered by Ross Schmidt.
Motion picture theaters--Tacoma; Music Box Theatre (Tacoma); Stoves--Tacoma--1950-1960; Contests--Tacoma--1950-1960;
The Mueller-Harkins Buick dealership added a new used car sales building on Saint Helens next to their large display and service facilities in 1950. The used automobiles are nosed towards the street to show passers-by the current inventory. Condon Company, Kay Shinn.
Mueller-Harkins Motor Co. (Tacoma); Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1950-1960; Buick automobile;
N.C. Garrison sat on a ladder as he helped prepare the display of 30 of his model ships in the lobby at the National Bank of Washington, 1123 Pacific Ave., for World Trade Week in May of 1950. Mr. Garrison had been building ship models since 1929 and this was the first complete display of his models. Among the models on display were "Old Ironsides," the "Pocahontas" and the "Beaver," which was the first steamship on the Pacific Ocean and was seen on Puget Sound for 50 years. (TNT, 5/24/1950, p.26) Ordered by Mrs. Lindquist. TPL-5044
Banks--Tacoma; Banking--Tacoma--1940-1950; National Bank of Washington (Tacoma); Lobbies--Tacoma--1940-1950; Model ships; Garrison, N.C.;
Lee's Shell Oil station at Division and North Yakima. A Shell Oil Company service station had been at this location since 1929. Ed Lee opened his Shell Service across from Wright Park April 1, 1950. He celebrated his opening with free gardenias for the ladies and free balloons for the kiddies and he was open until 11 pm. Apartments buildings, the Rutland at 115 No. Yakima and the Casablanca at 117 No. Yakima, can be seen on the right and single-family residences behind the service station on the left. Ordered by Shell Oil Company, Ivar Holms. (TNT, 4/3/1950, p.8)
Shell Oil Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Automobile service stations--Tacoma--1950-1960; Gasoline pumps--Tacoma--1950-1960; Neighborhoods--Tacoma; Cities & towns--Tacoma;
Washington Gas & Electric Building as pictured on May 25, 1950. The mission-style building was located at 101-11 So. 10th St. near the Tacoma Hotel Annex. It formerly was a Military Store before being purchased by the gas company in 1937. It has since been demolished. (scan from original negative, no print on file)
Washington Gas & Electric Co. (Tacoma); Public utility companies--Tacoma; Facades--Tacoma--1950-1960;
Washington Gas & Electric Building. The two-story warehouse was built in 1920 for the Danard Auto Machine Works. Washington Gas & Electric Co. bought it in 1939. A truck is seen through the open garage door on the left and a workman is looking out of the upper, right window. Ordered by F.C. Hawks.
Washington Gas & Electric Co. (Tacoma); Public utility companies--Tacoma; Warehouses--Tacoma;
Two gentlemen who were present at the Chicago-Milwaukee Railroads board of directors luncheon on July 13, 1950, at the Hotel Winthrop, gaze at an enlarged photograph of the newly completed Tacoma Narrows Bridge. The first Tacoma Narrows Bridge collapsed during high winds on November 7, 1940. The man seated is C.H. Buford, president of Milwaukee Road.
Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad Co. (Tacoma); Railroad companies--Tacoma--1950-1960; Buford, C.H.; Tacoma Narrows Bridge (Tacoma);
The Hotel Winthrop on Broadway is the location for a luncheon honoring the board of directors of the Chicago-Milwaukee Railroads on July 13, 1950. The nine men are posed under the Rotary Club's banner. Seated second to the left is C.H. Buford, president of the Milwaukee Road. According to the Northwest Room's clipping files, this railroad was the first with improvements in transportation: owning and operating its own sleeping and dining cars, installing electric lighting and radio-phones in passenger trains, and being the only road to operate its own through tracks on its own tracks from Chicago to Puget Sound.
Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Luncheons--Tacoma; Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad Co. (Tacoma); Railroad companies--Tacoma--1950-1960; Buford, C.H.;
Front and side, Western Auto, Herb Sturtridge. A view of the Dr. Bostwick Building, front, and the Cornell House, rear, from across 8th Street. The site includes 111-19 South 8th Street and 715-17 Pacific Avenue. The building at 715-17 Pacific Avenue was built c. 1884 as the Dr. Bostwick Building. The separate building at 111-15 South 8th Street was built c. 1892-1910. The two buildings were later combined. North Pacific Bank Note Company purchased the building in 1919. The entrance to North Pacific Bank Note Company is shown on South 8th Street. Western Auto Supply Co, managed by Herb Sturtridge, occupies the street level storefronts.
Western Auto Supply Co. (Tacoma); Commercial facilities--Tacoma--1940-1950; Automobile equipment & supplies; North Pacific Bank Note Co. (Tacoma); Financial facilities--Tacoma--1940-1950; Buildings--Tacoma--1940-1950;
Mr. Hess & sales force, L.L. Hess Furniture. The L.L. Hess Furniture Company opened a new store on the corner of South 39th and M Streets in October 1948. The company has a tall neon sign above the entrance. The floor to ceiling front windows slant inwards at the bottom. The company was headed by Lawrence L. Hess who began making furniture in his basement 20 years earlier. With this new store he stocked the best offerings from 50 manufacturers. He would build custom furniture in his new upholstery shop. (TNT, 11/17/1948, p.8)
L.L. Hess Furniture Co. (Tacoma); Furniture stores--Tacoma--1940-1950; Electric signs--Tacoma--1940-1950;
Publicity for Community Chest at Manning's Bakers, Robert Sconce Advertising, Robert Sconce. Four waitresses stand ready to take an order from a gentleman looking into the case of baked goods with cookies and several cakes to choose from. As of Friday, October 29, 1948 some $308,893 had been collected under the just concluded Tacoma Community Chest campaign drive. Businesses and individuals donated the funds to support many social services agencies in Tacoma. The 1948 goal was $358,000 but several groups had yet to report with their donations. TPL-9504 (TNT 10-30-1948, p. 1-article on Tacoma Community Chest)
news press. A Tacoma Times employee focuses his attention on the first issue ever published of the Tacoma Sunday Times as it rolls off the press on December 5, 1948. The paper cost 10 cents for the Sunday edition, twice the price of the daily version. Pressmen and mailers called it a smooth run and nearly every newstand in the Tacoma area sold out by noon. The newspaper promised to have more copies printed the following Sunday so that all could enjoy reading the new Sunday Times. (T.Times 12-5-1948, p. 1-article; T.Times 12-6-1948, p. 1-article)
The new full service Buick Center had just opened up in Tacoma in late 1948. Mueller-Harkins Motor Company was offering their customers a one-stop automotive center. Exterior view of Texaco service station, this service station was part of the new Mueller-Harkins Motor Company facilities; view of four Texaco gas pumps; Firestone tires and automotive supplies in store (T. Times, 12/3/48, p. 8-9).
Buick automobile; Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Vehicle maintenance & repair--Tacoma; Automobile service stations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Texaco (Tacoma); Mueller-Harkins Motor Co. (Tacoma);
Paulson's Radios & Appliances had a Grand Opening on November 19, 1948 for its brand new, ultra modern, 75,000 square foot store. The store was located on the southeast corner of South 11th Street and K Street (now known as Martin Luther King Jr. Way) at 1101 So. K, just across the street from where the company had been located since 1940. Their new modern facility was fronted with glass to show off the main floor full of appliances for the home; and had a repair shop on the second floor, as well as radios and photograph records. The concrete and steel structure was designed by John Sutton, of Sutton, Whitney and Dugan- architects. The Mueller Building, built in 1889, was razed to make way for Paulson's; and Paulson's itself was razed in August of 1998 to make way for a Rite Aid drugstore. (T. Times, 11/19/48, p. 8-9).
Sepic has large spacious windows, which allows the company to display their furniture and appliances. Sepic's first store was originally located on South 17th Street and Tacoma Avenue South, in 1945 the brothers purchased this property and started building their new store location. Exterior view of Sepic Electric Company, window displays show automatic washing machines, kitchen appliances, water heaters and furniture in background (T. Times, 11/16/48, p. 8-9).
Home furnishings stores--Tacoma; Furniture stores--Tacoma; Appliance stores--Tacoma; Window displays; Merchandise displays--Tacoma; Appliances; Sepic Electric Co. (Tacoma);
