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;

The exterior of the Avenue Cafe is shown at night with neon signs in the front windows, above the upper windows and on the sign perpendicular to the front of the cafe. Another neon sign spelling "Cocktails" over the entrance is not lit. The cafe advertises food to go. Vittorio Perniconi owned Avenue Cafe at 1516 Pacific Avenue and Reno Rose served as manager. The cafe was renamed "Bimbo's Avenue Cafe" in 1953. (TNT, 1/31/1952, p.12) TPL-3841

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

Central Bank held an open house for their new K Street branch at K street and South 12th. At the rear of the new facility were private offices for conferences, finished in walnut panels and divided by folding doors. Safe deposit booths, also finished in walnut and affording complete privacy, were also available in this area. This view shows the safety deposit box vault with the vault door open. The door to an office is open on the left. (TNT, 1/24/1952, p.9)

Bankers--Tacoma; Banking--Tacoma--1950-1960; Banks--Tacoma; Central Bank (Tacoma); Vaults (Strong rooms)--Tacoma; Safe-deposit boxes--Tacoma;

A crowd has gathered at Buck & Sons for an open house and demonstration of the new tractors and other farm equipment available for 1952.

Buck & Sons Tractor & Implement Co. (Tacoma); Tractors--Tacoma; Showrooms--Tacoma--1950-1960; Slides;

Mobilgas Station, automobile by gas pumps, Coke Machine. For West Marquis Inc., Dexter Horton Inc., Seattle Account of General Petroleum.

Business Enterprises - Automobile Service Stations - Mobil Oil Dealers - Tacoma

This view shows the shaft built for the escalator being installed inside Fisher's department store. Steel beams have been added to suppport the structure and plywood has been used to cover the exterior of the shaft.

Department stores--Tacoma; Fisher's Department Store (Tacoma); Escalators--Tacoma;

Outdoor teller windows at the National Bank of Washington annex provided an early form of drive-up banking. A neon sign announces, "Parking Reserved for Exterior Window Banking". A man is seen at one of the windows completing an transaction.

National Bank of Washington (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Banking--Tacoma--1950-1960;

A view looking northeast along Jefferson Avenue towards Pacific Avenue and north along Broadway on the left featuring the triangular building in the center of the photograph. The building was located at the intersection of Jefferson Avenue and Broadway. No tenants were listed for the building in 1951. The Hotel Earle at 1552 Jefferson with the 1555 Tavern on the corner can be seen behind and above the triangle building Schoenfelds can be seen on Pacific Avenue. Ordered by Electrical Products Consolidated. TPL-9777;

Hotel Earle (Tacoma); Commercial streets--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Jordan Baking Company banquet at the Winthrop Hotel. The bakery was introducing a new and improved loaf of bread, "Sunbeam Bread". The new trademark showed a little blonde girl eating a slice of bread and butter. "Sunbeam Bread was an achievement of many years experimentation to produce a truly superior loaf of bread," according to Arthur K. Jordan, owner of the bakery. The new wrapper design was executed in a light blue and white with a floral border and a picture of the girl eating a slice of bread and butter. Arthur K. Jordan is seated in the middle of the front row wearing a lei. (TNT, 3/6/1952, p.16)

Jordan Baking Co. (Tacoma); Bakeries--Tacoma--1950-1960; Jordan, Arthur K.; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

Workmen are laying the stone veneer on the new home of Bill Tietz, a contractor from Lakewood. This view of the large house in Narrowmoor is from the Suspension street side looking up the hill. The large windows and covered outdoor area will provide breathtaking views of the Tacoma Narrows.

Tietz Construction Inc. (Lakewood); Tietz, Bill--Homes & haunts; Houses--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Interior views of Tietz home showing construction progress. Appears to be West Slope house, perhaps on Fernside Drive. Post and beam construction with flagstone fireplace and room divider. For Tietz Construction Company. Possibly 1274 So. Fernside Dr., the home of contractor Bill Tietz.

Tietz Construction Inc. (Lakewood); Tietz, Bill--Homes & haunts; Houses--Tacoma--1950-1960; Construction--Tacoma--1950-1960;

The interior of Lincoln Electric's showroom features lines of Hotpoint appliances. Electric stoves are seen in the center. Televisions and refrigerators are seen on the left while hot water heaters dominate the display on the right.

Lincoln Electric (Tacoma); Appliance stores--Tacoma;

Progress photographs on construction of Puget Sound National Bank's temporary Lakewood Branch. The Lakewood Branch opened in temporary headquarters - a 35 x 75 foot plywood building - 10 working days after obtaining the Comptroller's approval. Plans for a permanent building to be located adjacent to the temporary building and on Gravelly Lake Drive were to begin immediately. The permanent branch opened on October 5, 1953. (TNT, 3/8/1952, p.A-3)

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

Interior view of living room in Bill Tietz's new residence, believed to be 1274 So. Fernside Dr. View toward television alcove., glass block trim on right. For Tietz Construction Company.

Tietz Construction Inc. (Lakewood); Tietz, Bill--Homes & haunts; Houses--Tacoma--1950-1960;