Automobiles reflect in the plate glass windows at the new location of International Business Machines, 12 Tacoma Ave. No. The IBM store displays clocks in the window and typewriters. What appears to be fluorescent lighting hangs from the ceiling inside the store.

International Business Machines (Tacoma); Office equipment & supplies;

Progress picture of Puget Sound Bank parking lot being built on the site of the demolished Tacoma Transit Co. Garages. The Eleventh Street Bridge can be seen in the background. The Richards photographer captured his own vehicle in the foreground. Earth moving equipment can be seen at the center of the picture. This site will soon become the 126 car courtesy parking lot for Puget Sound Bank. The bank for several years had seen the need for a parking area and was pleased to purchase the transit site. As more customers owned their own autos and mass transit was less utilized, free parking was essential to the survival of downtown businesses.

Tacoma Transit Co. (Tacoma); Tacoma Transit Co. Garage (Tacoma); Puget Sound National Bank (Tacoma); Progress photographs--1950-1960; Banks--Tacoma;

Interior of South Tacoma Motor Co. parts department. Workers stand behind a glass fronted service counter. Arched doorways lead to the parts storage area beyond.

Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1950-1960; Automobile equipment & supplies stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; South Tacoma Motor Co. (Tacoma);

Fixture displays at Sib's Thriftway, 1215 So. Union Ave., showing personal care products including Colgate, Pepsodent & Ipana tooth paste. The grocery store was owned by Sib L. Carstensen. Groceries line the shelves on either side of the personal product display. What appears to be a butcher shop can be seen at the right rear of the picture. Two unidentified men stand by the display and a fire extinguisher hangs prominently on the post.

Sib's Thriftway (Tacoma); Grocery stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Toiletries; Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Thomas Grocery Company, store interior. Aisle of canned foods and bagged "Red and White" coffee. September of 1951 saw the grand opening of the Thomas Bros. Foodliner in University Place. Al, Frank and Joe Thomas had been in the grocery business since they assisted their family, the Frank Thomas Srs., as youngsters. This supermarket stood nearly at the location of the old family store. It was considered a very modern business, offering customers the convenience of pre-packaged meats, high-speed conveyor checkstands and refrigerated produce. A wide selection of foods was available for the discerning shopper.

Thomas Bros. Foodliner (University Place); Grocery stores--University Place--1950-1960; Merchandise displays--University Place; Food--University Place--1950-1960;

Oscar Peterson and Bill Harris express exaggerated shock at the prices on the menu of the newly remodeled New Yorker Cafe. Holding the menu are possibly owners Patricia and Michael DeVoto. The presence of the jazz greats at the opening was a happy surprise. Peterson and Harris were performing in Seattle with the Jazz at the Philharmonic road show when they called old pal Art Mineo, now settled in Tacoma and hired to provide music for the opening, to "sit in" with his orchestra. The rest is history as the group jammed until closing, providing a memorial night of jazz for the opening night club goers.

New Yorker Cafe (Tacoma); Cafes--Tacoma--1950-1960; Peterson, Oscar; Harris, Bill;

Heavy wire screens served not only to keep insects at bay but also provided additional security features. The California Wire Cloth Corporation, located in Seattle, sold heavy screens to the National Guard; view of wooden building at Camp Murray with doorway and three windows all screened. Photograph ordered by California Wire Cloth Corporation.

California Wire Cloth Corp. (Seattle); Screens--Camp Murray; Camp Murray (Wash.);

The California Wire Cloth Corporation manufactured heavy wire screens. They were located in Seattle at 3434 - 2nd Avenue South. They sold their products to the Washington State Department of Military, which outfitted their buildings at Camp Murray. Daylight longshot view of building at Camp Murray with screens; photograph taken on November 5, 1951. Photograph ordered by California Wire Cloth Corporation.

California Wire Cloth Corp. (Seattle); Screens--Camp Murray; Camp Murray (Wash.);

The Lakewood Country Store purchased several full page ads welcoming customers to their new location on Mount Tacoma Dr. in the newly expanded Lakewood Community Center. Headlines proclaiming the Lakewood Country Store as the "Northwest's newest and most unusual department store" ran in November, 1951, newspapers. The Country Store, owned by Ed Stevens, carried such varied items as hardware, notions, paints and women's clothing. View of notions department with napkins, imported towels, non-shrink yarns on display. The old cracker barrel and supply of cheese, a favorite of adults and children alike, would also remain in the new store. Artist Connie Brady's murals also decorated the store; her mural of an old country store is placed directly over a display of brooms and mops. (TNT 11-14-51, C-2,3)

Department stores--Lakewood--1950-1960; Stores & shops--Lakewood--1950-1960; Lakewood Country Store (Lakewood); Yarn; Towels; Murals--Lakewood;

The "Staten Room" was the main dining room of the "new" New Yorker restaurant located at Sixth & Cushman in 1951. It had a capacity of 150 diners. The rubberized folding walls made it possible to have smaller private rooms for special occasions. (TNT 11-15-1951, C-11)

Dining rooms--Tacoma--1950-1960; New Yorker Cafe (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Interior of Ghilarducci's Floral Shop, Lakewood. Cool room on right with floral arrangements inside, cash register and counter at the rear with shelves above and beside it with plants and planters. Known as "Gilly's," it was a small scale reproduction of the downtown Ghilarducci's California Florist store. Located next to the new Town & Country shop, Gilly's aim was to serve suburbanites. The 30 X 24 foot interior had one wall of cork, one of red brick and one of glass. It opened on November 5, 1951 and was managed by Margaret Moritz. (TNT 11-14-1951, C-6)

Gilly's (Lakewood); Florist shops--Lakewood;

South Tacoma's Main Yon Cafe had the grand opening of their new dining room in early November, 1951. The Main Yon's new dining room had comfortable booth seating and was beautifully decorated with a Chinese themed wall mural. Orchids for the ladies and ice cream and coffee were offered free during the grand opening. Owned and operated by "Charlie" Eng Sing Poy, the Main Yon had been in business for 16 years. Originally from Canton, China, Mr. Eng Sing Poy received his naturalization papers in October, 1951. Photograph ordered by Udall Construction Company. TPL-8120 (TNT 11-6-1951, p. 7)

Main Yon Cafe (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1950-1960; Eng, Sing Poy; Murals--Tacoma; Udall Construction Co. (Tacoma);

Coffee shop with long bar with stools, rows of booths on right, three rounded booths at rear. This was dubbed the "Long Island Coffee Shop," part of the "new" New Yorker restaurant in November of 1951. The restaurant was celebrating its grand opening on November 16, 1951. The coffee shop faced Sixth Avenue and was open from 7 a.m. to closing (either midnight or 1 a.m.) weekdays. Only food was served on Sundays at the New Yorker. (TNT 11-15-1951, C-11-article)

New Yorker Cafe (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1950-1960; Flower arrangements;

Two men were inducted into the Quarter Century club of Standard Brands, Inc., at the annual dinner for the Northwest area at Winthrop Hotel. They were Walter A. Logan, a machinist in the maintenance deparment of the Sumner Fleischmann's yeast plant, and Clarence H. Romnes, who worked in the vinegar department. Acme News, Ronald Schaad. (TNT, 11/15/1950, p.27)

Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Standard Brands, Inc. (Tacoma);

Employees of Sears, Roebuck & Co. attended a banquet held at the Top of the Ocean in October, 1950. The photograph commissioned by Mr. Moore of Sears Roebuck showed the head table with amusing signs and slogans.

Sears, Roebuck & Co. (Tacoma)--People--1950-1960; Group portraits--1950-1960; Signs (Notices);

Fruit and vegetable display equipment at Market Street Thriftway. The display cases are filled with fall vegetables: cabbage, carrots, celery, followed by parsnips later on. Oranges and apples are behind the two men wearing green aprons. Small pumpkins sit along the top of the cases. Ordered by Washington Equipment and Sales Company, Seattle. ALBUM 15.

Market Street Thriftway (Tacoma); Grocery stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Showcases; Fruit--Tacoma; Vegetables--Tacoma; Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Mayberry Motor Parts, Inc. and Oxygen Sales & Service Co. were owned and operated by members of the Mayberry family. Roy B. Mayberry is listed as president of both companies in the 1951 City Directory. Angled view of exterior of businesses; photographed on September 28, 1950. Both Mayberry Motor Parts and Oxygen Sales & Service occupied the same long rectangular building on Market Street.

Mayberry Motor Parts, Inc. (Tacoma); Oxygen Sales & Service Co. (Tacoma); Mayberry, Roy B.;

Santa Claus has joined a group from Puget Sound National Bank at Fisher's Toy Department. The group have gathered for their portrait at "Santa's Western Home". Ordered by Puget Sound National Bank, Bob Gordon.

Department Stores--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fisher's Department Store (Tacoma); Bankers--Tacoma; Puget Sound National Bank (Tacoma)--People;

Exposures of several after remodeling pictures of Manning's Market. Manning's underwent extensive remodeling in 1950. This photograph, taken on July 31, 1950, shows a multitude of small tables and booths in the cafe section of the store. Recessed lighting, painted murals, and new linoleum flooring enhance the dining atmosphere.

Manning's Market (Tacoma); Manning's Inc. (Tacoma); Cafes--Tacoma;

ca. 1950. Interior view of Washington Hardware, Wholesale Division, taken in 1950. Double glass doors are framed with glass blocks. Main portion of the room has picture windows providing lots of natural illumination. Washington Hardware had such varied items as door knobs, ventilators, door canopies for sale. The newly constructed building contained 50,000 square feet and was designed by the architectural firm of Lance, McGuire & Muri.

Washington Hardware Co. (Tacoma); Hardware stores--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Craig Furniture, Inc., was one of the many Tacoma furniture stores holding open houses in September, 1950, to celebrate the national Home Fashion Time week. Located at 1136 Broadway, Craig Furniture ran a nearly full page ad in the News Tribune on September 24, inviting the public to attend an evening open house. The event helped to attract many browsers who sampled the comforts of national brand furniture and took the time to inspect new freezers and rugs as well. Photograph commissioned by Art Jensen, president of Craig Furniture. (TNT 9-24-50, p. B-7)

Craig Furniture, Inc. (Tacoma); Furniture stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Chairs; Couches; Freezers;

An unusual sight in the early 1950's was a self-service gas station. Instead of having an attendant come out and pump the gas, the customer would do the work himself. As the large sign on the light pole proclaims, it would be possible to "save" money if you were willing to "serve-ur-self". Photograph ordered by Fletcher Oil Company.

Automobile service stations--Tacoma; Signs (Notices); Fletcher Oil Co. (Tacoma);

The Lincoln High School Choir sang at Lincoln Branch of Puget Sound National Bank for Christmas 1951. Reno Odlin, president of the bank, can be seen next to the choir standing at the back on the right. The bank was located just across the street from the high school.

Puget Sound National Bank (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Banking--Tacoma--1950-1960; Odlin, Reno, 1897-1979; Choirs (Music); Students--Tacoma--1950-1960; Lincoln High School (Tacoma);

Portrait of cooks and servers standing behind buffet-style table at Steve's (Gay Nineties) Cafe. Street scene on wall with representations of Tacoma businesses by Knabel.

Steve's Gay '90s (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1950-1960; Buffets (Cookery)--Tacoma--1950-1960;

A view of bins made with plywood at Washington Hardware. An employee is filling a bag with small pieces of hardware from an open bin showing that the bin pulls out and the front swings down to allow easy access to the contents. A wall of several sizes of pulleys is seen on the left. Ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association.

Washington Hardware Co. (Tacoma); Hardware stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Containers; Drawers (Furniture components); Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma); Plywood;

Sepic Electric's new store was located one-half block north of Lakewood Community Center. Stan and Fred Sepic were proud to open their new store in a brand new building located for easy access to the thickly populated areas south of Tacoma - Nisqually, Lacey, Olympia and Shelton. The store was of a modified colonial design with combination cement block walls, brick front and white columned balustrade topping the front area. (TNT, 1/17/1952, p.11)

Furniture stores--Lakewood; Appliance stores--Lakewood; Sepic Electric Co. (Lakewood);

This night view of the exterior of the new General Paint Corporation building at 2305 South Tacoma Way was taken in December of 1951 shortly after the store moved from its old address at 102 South 10th. The company logo in neon of a uniformed toy soldier standing at attention is attached to a pole along South Tacoma Way. The Tacoma General Paint store closed in 1962. (Ordered by John Jones.)

General Paint Corp. (Tacoma); Electric signs--Tacoma--1950-1960; Mercantile facilities--Tacoma; Paint industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;

This exterior view of General Paint Corp., featuring a large freestanding neon sign of a toy soldier standing at attention, was taken on December 19, 1951. The company had recently vacated its downtown location of 102 So. 10th St. as the building was to be demolished to make way for a Bank of California parking lot. The firm moved to 2305 South Tacoma Way where it would remain until its closure in 1962.

General Paint Corp. (Tacoma); Electric signs--Tacoma--1950-1960; Stores & shops--Tacoma--1950-1960; Paint industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Sepic Electric Company, Lakewood Store. Furniture and appliances are seen through the windows that fill the front wall of the store. A Hotpoint sign can be seen against one of the walls. The store had departments for carpet, bedroom furniture, living room furniture and appliances. Directing sales activities were: Charles Kelly, television; Marvin Frank, appliances; Will B. Dial, furniture; and Karl Jackson, office manager. (TNT 1/17/1952, p.11)

Home furnishings stores--Lakewood; Furniture stores--Lakewood; Appliance stores--Lakewood; Sepic Electric Co. (Lakewood);

A veneer clipper is shown at Northwest Door Company. Pulleys and belts dominate this view of the machine. Ordered by Wheeler-Osgood.

Northwest Door Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Machinery; Wheeler, Osgood Co. (Tacoma); Lumber industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;