View of merchandise on display at Washington Hardware. Special plywood shelving was constructed to make an attractive display of various sample products ranging from door knobs to grates on sale at a Washington Hardware location. Washington Hardware had three facilities in downtown Tacoma, including 924 Pacific Avenue, 923 Commerce, and a sales warehouse at 1247 Puyallup Avenue. Photograph taken on October 11, 1951; ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association.

Washington Hardware Co. (Tacoma); Hardware stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Door knobs; Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1950-1960; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma);

Cornerstone ceremony. Bank executives from Tacoma and Seattle lay the cornerstone to the new National Bank of Washington building at South 12th and Pacific in November, 1951. From left to right are James Byers, J.K. Ewart, C.T. Chandler, G.T. Pierce, Ward Estey, Maxwell Carlson and A.H. Brouse at the site of the new annex. Carlson was the president of National Bank of Commerce (Seattle) and Brouse, trowel in hand, was the National Bank of Washington president. One of the highlights of the formal opening was the placing of a specially designed copper box in the cornerstone which contained historical documents for future generations. (TNT 11-17-51, p. 9)

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

Rain soaked streets would not prevent the opening of the new National Bank of Washington branch at South 12th and Pacific in November, 1951. The new branch addition was built on the site of the original Tacoma Chamber of Commerce building, and would house the installment credit department. A well-lit tunnel would connect the main bank building and its new annex. Under the direction of president A.H. Brouse, the National Bank of Washington saw its assets grow from 19 million in 1937 to 119 million dollars by 1951. The bank had provided uninterrupted service in Tacoma since 1885. Exterior view of National Bank of Washington; Pioneer, Inc., manufacturers of business forms for banks and commercial printers, to the rear. (TNT 11-15-51, A-4, A-5)

Banking--Tacoma--1950-1960; Banks--Tacoma; National Bank of Washington (Tacoma); Pioneer, Inc. (Tacoma);

Exterior of new National Bank of Washington building at South 12th and Pacific Avenue as pictured on November 11, 1951. It was built on the site of the original Tacoma Chamber of Commerce building erected in 1885 and was the first home of Pacific National Bank, the predecessor of the National Bank of Washington. Cornerstone laying ceremonies would occur on Friday, November 16th. The new building, containing the installment credit department, was designed by local architects Lea, Pearson and Richards with concrete and ceramic tile wainscoting. A 70-foot tunnel across 12th St. connected the head office and the new addition. (TNT 11-15-51, A-4, A-5)

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

Exterior view of Selden's of Lakewood. Large plate glass windows display Selden's merchandise in the Selden's of Lakewood new store located in the new addition to the Lakewood Community Center. The November, 1951, photograph shows floor coverings, stoves and refrigerators in the Colonial style brick building. Sydney C. Selden, Jr., son of Selden's Inc. founder, Sydney C. Selden, Sr., was the president of Selden's of Lakewood. He began his career in the family business as an apprentice before becoming credit manager. Selden, Sr., saw the business expand from five employees to 180 with stores in Tacoma, Longview, Chehalis, Olympia, and now Lakewood. (TNT 11-14-51, C-18)

Selden's of Lakewood, Inc. (Lakewood); Stores & shops--Lakewood--1950-1960; Floor coverings; Rugs; Refrigerators;

Art Mineo, at left kneeling with hat in hand, and a group of raucous, laughing musicians. In the top row, third from left is the great jazz pianist Oscar Peterson. This photograph was taken at the opening of the newly remodeled New Yorker Cafe in November of 1951. Peterson, tenor saxophonist "Flip" Phillips (standing, far right) and trombonist Bill Harris (front row center) came down from Seattle, where they were appearing with the Jazz at the Philharmonic road show, to sit in and jam for the opening.

New Yorker Cafe (Tacoma); Art Mineo Orchestra (Tacoma); Musicians--Tacoma--1950-1960; Mineo, Art; Cafes--Tacoma--1950-1960; Peterson, Oscar;

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;

Legendary jazz pianist Oscar Peterson "jams" with Art Mineo on bass, Dick Morehead on drums, Joe "Flip" Phillips on tenor saxophone and Bill Harris on trombone on November 12, 1951, the opening night of the newly remodeled New Yorker Cafe. Peterson, Phillips and Harris were performing in Seattle with the Jazz at the Philharmonic road show when they called Mineo to sit in at the opening. The jazz greats jammed until closing, creating an unforgettable night of music in Tacoma. Peterson had joined Jazz at the Philharmonic in 1950 as a relative unknown and was rapidly gaining recognition in the jazz world. (information supplied by Art Mineo)

New Yorker Cafe (Tacoma); Art Mineo Orchestra (Tacoma); Mineo, Art; Musicians--Tacoma--1950-1960; Cafes--Tacoma--1950-1960; Peterson, Oscar; Phillips, Joe "Flip"; Harris, Bill; Morehead, Dick;

Attilio (Art) Mineo on bass, Dick Morehead on drums, Oscar Peterson on piano, Joe (Flip) Phillips on saxophone and Bill Harris on trombone "jam" in the Coney Island Room on the opening night of Mike DeVoto's New Yorker, in November of 1951. Peterson, Phillips and Harris were performing in Seattle with the Jazz at the Philharmonic road show when they saw a notice for the opening. They called Mineo and asked to sit in. Musical history was made as they jammed until closing, leaving Mineo's hired orchestra in the audience to enjoy the music. Art Mineo's career in music began in the 1930s with dance bands on the east coast. He moved to Tacoma after the Second World War and stayed after he married Toni Lento, whose father was a well-known Tacoma musician. The Art Mineo Quartet performed three nights a week at the New Yorker, 1501 6th Ave., for over 20 years. (TNT 11-15-51, C-10, 11& firsthand information supplied by Art Mineo)

New Yorker Cafe (Tacoma); Art Mineo Orchestra (Tacoma); Musicians--Tacoma--1950-1960; Mineo, Art; Cafes--Tacoma--1950-1960; Peterson, Oscar; Phillips, Joe "Flip"; Harris, Bill; Morehead, Dick;

The Coney Island room of the newly remodeled New Yorker cafe and nightclub is packed with dancers enjoying the sweet swing sounds of the Art Mineo Orchestra in a November, 1951, photograph. The showroom had hardwood dance floors and a clever two stages-in-one concept. Nightly dancing and big time entertainment were staples of the New Yorker, owned by Mike and Pat DeVoto. (TNT 11-15-51, C-10, 11)

New Yorker Cafe (Tacoma); Art Mineo Orchestra (Tacoma); Mineo, Art; Cafes--Tacoma--1950-1960; Musicians--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Jazz greats, left to right, Art Mineo on bass, Joe "Flip" Phillips on tenor saxophone, Oscar Peterson on piano and Bill Harris on trombone deliver sweet sounds for the opening of the newly remodeled New Yorker Cafe in November of 1951. Mineo and his 10-piece orchestra had been hired to play the opening night when Mineo received a call from Peterson, Phillips and Harris asking to sit in. The trio were playing in Seattle with the Jazz at the Philharmonic road show. The result was Tacoma history, as the group jammed into the small hours of the morning, closing the club and sending the lucky audience dancing into the dawn. Art Mineo passed away at age 91 on July 27, 2010. (from information previously supplied by Art Mineo)

New Yorker Cafe (Tacoma); Cafes--Tacoma--1950-1960; Art Mineo Orchestra (Tacoma); Mineo, Art; Musicians--Tacoma--1950-1960; Phillips, Joe; Peterson, Oscar; Harris, Bill;

A group portrait of the employees at Tacoma Auto Sales. This photograph was part of a one-page advertisement in the Tacoma News Tribune in which Tacoma Auto Sales' president, E.A. Riebe, wished everyone a, "Merry Christmas from the men and women of the company who sell and service Pontiac and Cadillac passenger cars" and thanking customers for their support during 1951. (TNT, 12/25/1951, p.B-12)

Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Auto Sales Co. (Tacoma)--Employees;

A barbershop quartet sings during Tacoma Savings & Loan Association's annual Christmas party held in Fircrest on December 21, 1951. Members of the quartet wear costumes from near the turn-of-the-20th century with tall top hats, cut-away coats, bow ties and handle-bar moustaches.

Tacoma Savings & Loan Association (Tacoma)--Employees; Financial facilities--Tacoma--1940-1950; Barbershop quartets; Singers; Costumes; Holidays--Tacoma; Christmas trees--Tacoma--1950-1960;

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);

Twenty-three men are seen around the large table for the last board meeting in the old board room at the National Bank of Washington. A landscape mural is seen on the far wall above the wainscoting. Skylights can be seen above the table. The National Bank of Washington had recently completed an annex across the street at 1201-03 Pacific Avenue. A.H. Brouse was president of the bank at this time.

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

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;

Jane Powers is at the Hammond organ and Arnold Leverenz is holding the microphone at Steve's (Gay Nineties) Cafe. Jane Powers entertained diners with music during the dinner hour and Leverenz was the featured song stylist of Gay 90's music. These two performers both wear costumes from the 1890's to match the Gay Nineties theme of Steve's Cafe. A sign board lists the show times behind Arnold Leverenz. A scroll painting decorates the back of the organ and a mural of Mount Rainier has been painted on the wall by Knabel. (TNT, 1/10/1952, p.21) TPL-4542

Steve's Gay '90s (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1950-1960; Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1890-1900; Powers, Jane; Leverenz, Arnold; Musicians--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;

The Golden Gloves Committee met at the Top of the Ocean. Amateur boxers from as far away as Vancouver, B.C. and Eugene, Oregon, were expected for the fourth annual Tacoma Golden Gloves tournament that was held at the College of Puget Sound fieldhouse. There were 48 entrants in the 1951 bout and 85 were expected this year. Shown are, L-R, seated: Carter Lee, Ken Purchase, Ples Irwin, George Sheridan, Ray Kelly, Henry Auge, and Charles Funk. Standing: Howie Welsh, John Rockway, Bob Martin, Jim Rondeau, Al Kemp, Vernie Reed, Clay Huntington, and Harry (Scotty) Weinstone. Ordered by Tacoma Athletic Commission. (TNT, 1/25/1952, p.C-9)

Top of the Ocean (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma); Boxing--Tacoma--1950-1960;

The March of Dimes merry-go-round operated in Bank of California's new parking lot at South 10th and A Streets. The bank set back their opening day for the new parking lot to assist with the polio drive. City buildings can be seen in the background. (TNT, 1/20/1952, p.C-15) TPL-8769

Bank of California National Association (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Banking--Tacoma--1950-1960; Parking lots--Tacoma; Fund raising--Tacoma--1950-1960; National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis (Tacoma); March of Dimes (Tacoma);

Central Bank held an open house for their new K Street branch at the corner of K Street and South 12th January 25, 1952. This view shows the staff at the new branch with seven women standing behind five men seated in the front. P.W. Bourgaize, president of Central Bank, is seated in the middle. Central Bank opened for business on March 9, 1925, at the corner of 6th Avenue and Pine Street. The growth of Central Bank, leading to the extension of its banking facilities to the K Street district, is shown by the consistent rise of its assets, from $654,156.43 at the end of 1939 to $4,996,978.81 at the close of 1951. (TNT, 1/24/1952, p.9)

Bankers--Tacoma; Banking--Tacoma--1950-1960; Banks--Tacoma; Central Bank (Tacoma)--People; Central Bank (Tacoma); Bourgaize, P.W.;

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;

Showroom at South Tacoma Motor Company. People viewing new Chevrolet, two-door sedan with rear skirts. Sign on wall: " America's Best Seller. Chevrolet. America's Best Buy."

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

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;

Tietz, Inc., is building more new homes in the Narrowmoor Addition. A concrete foundation has been poured and a cable grid has been laid where the main floor will be built for this H-shaped home. Another new home under construction can be seen behind this one and lines of new homes on the streets above have already been completed. Tietz Construction Company was located at 3853 Steilacoom Boulevard SW in Lakewood. They advertised as building contractors and general contractors. The company was a member of the Tacoma Master Builders Association.

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

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;

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;

Ray Gamble has brought a few of the carved elephants in his collection to display at the new offices of Central Bank. He and the staff at the new branch are seen behind the counter where the carved elephants are displayed. Tacoma businessman Ray Gamble owned the largest collection of elephants in the world.

Bankers--Tacoma; Banking--Tacoma--1950-1960; Banks--Tacoma; Central Bank (Tacoma)--People; Central Bank (Tacoma); Gamble, Ray, 1886-1972; Collectors--Tacoma;

Tietz Construction has nearly completed this new home near the corner of Suspension and Fernside, believed to be 1274 South Fernside, in the Narrowmoor Addition of Tacoma. Roofing material is being added on this day. Building Center, Inc.'s, panel truck is parked in front of the new home along with automobiles from a variety of different years. A yard sign on the right proclaims, "Custom Built by Tietz Construction".

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

Fisher's is installing an escalator inside their department store. Plywood has been used to surface the outside of the opening where the escalator will be placed. Supporting columns and various pipes are seen outside the area enclosed by plywood. Counters are filled with children's hats and clothing. A sign points the way to infant's wear, girls wear, infants furniture and toyland. A sales area with a cash register is seen in the center by one of the columns.

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