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.

Briggs Manufacturing Co. (Tacoma); Building construction; Prefabricated houses; Signs (Notices); Progress photographs;

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

Motoramp Garage (Tacoma); Parking garages--Tacoma; Signs (Notices);

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.

Motoramp Garage (Tacoma); Parking garages--Tacoma; Signs (Notices);

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.

Tacoma Plumbing Supply Co. (Tacoma); Plumbing stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Storefronts--Tacoma--1950-1960;

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.

Angle's Flowers (Tacoma); Florist shops--Tacoma--1950-1960; Flowers--Tacoma;

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.

Fabric shops--Tacoma; Draperies; Textiles; Sales personnel--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tutor Craft Co. (Tacoma);

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

Federal Bakery (Tacoma); Bakeries--Tacoma;

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;

Safeway store fire at 82nd & Pacific. Fire broke out at approximately 4:45 a.m. on 7/7/1953 at the Safeway store. Station 10 was the first to respond. Before the fire was under control, Fire Chief Harold Fisk was personally directing the fire fighting force of 6 engine companies, the city rescue unit and 2 hook & ladder companies. The fire fight was aided by daylight conditions and the low number of sightseers at this early hour, but hampered by low water pressure in Fern Hill district fire hydrants. (TNT 7/7/1953, pg. 1)

Safeway Stores, Inc. (Tacoma); Grocery Stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Fires--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Love Electric Co. Ordered by Smith & Murray, Consulting Engineers. This new location for Love Electric opened in 1953. The company was a wholesale supplier of electrical products and appliances. This new location offered 25,000 square feet of floor space for merchandising.

Love Electric Co. (Tacoma);

A crowd is admiring the 1952 Chevrolets at South Tacoma Motor Company. Banners promoting Ride Control suspension and Powerglide (automatic) transmission hang from columns. Styling refinements for 1952 presented a fresh, fleet appearance with Bodies by Fisher. You had a choice of 26 sparkling solid tone and two-tone color combinations. Eleven body types comprised the passenger car line for 1952 ranging from the ultra-practical business coupe to the swank Bel Air. New and improved shock absorber action presented a smoother, softer ride. A combination of Powerglide Automatic Transmission and 105-hp engine was optional on DeLuxe models. (TNT, 1/19/1952, p.10, 11) TPL-5868

Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1950-1960; South Tacoma Motor Co. (Tacoma); Chevrolet automobile; Showrooms--Tacoma--1950-1960;

On February 11, 1952 two of the mechanics at Big 6 Service Station were photographed while lubricating a Cadillac while it was up on the hoist in the garage at Sixth and Proctor. The mechanic at the far right has been identified as Paul Eaton. TPL-7181

Big Six Service (Tacoma); Automobile service stations--Tacoma--1950-1960; Vehicle maintenance & repair--Tacoma; Cadillac automobile; Mechanics (Persons)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Eaton, Paul;

Two men present information about injury frequency rates using a graph during the Pacific Coast Association of Pulp and Paper Manufacturers banquet at the Winthrop Hotel.

Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Pacific Coast Association of Pulp & Paper Manufacturers (Tacoma); Safety; Charts;

A woman bends over to look under her car as one of the mechanics at the Shell station at Division and Yakima lubricates it while the car is up on the rack. Tires, belts and other supplies are stored along the back line.

Shell Oil Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Automobile service stations--Tacoma--1950-1960; Mechanics (Persons)--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Tietz, Inc., is making progress in building this new home in the Narrowmoor Addition, believed to be 1274 So. Fernside Dr. The walls have been raised and the rafters are being added. Homes in this addition have a broad view over the Tacoma Narrows towards Fox Island and Key Peninsula. Tietz, Inc., advertised custom built and designed homes. Bill Tietz was the owner and operator of this company as well as Tietz Construction Company.

Tietz Construction Inc. (Lakewood); Houses--Tacoma--1950-1960; Housing developments--Tacoma; Real estate development--Tacoma;

The interior of A-G Food Store No. 5 where Stan R. Engle was manager. A display of Nalley's potato chips is in the center of this view. A dairy case is on the left. Produce is displayed in the rear on the left and the other shelves are filled with bags and cans of other grocery items.

A-G Food Store No. 5 (Tacoma); Grocery stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1950-1960;

The interior of Avenue Cafe shows the cooking area in the left foreground with the lunch counter further along the left side. Tables and benches are placed along the right. The long room is divided with pillars that have been faced with mirrors. The newly remodeled cafe held a grand opening January 31, 1952. The cafe was opened in 1921 by Vittorio "Bimbo" Perniconi and John Teglia. It was named Avenue Cafe in 1935 and renamed Bimbo's Avenue Cafe in 1953. The restaurant closed in 2001 when the City of Tacoma bought the property to make way for the new convention center. (TNT, 1/31/1952, p.12) TPL-6414

Avenue Cafe (Tacoma); Cafes--Tacoma--1950-1960;