Grand Officers of the Eastern Star on stage in June of 1942. Flags of several nations, including the United States, and silhouettes of Presidents Lincoln and Washington serve as decorations. 1500 Eastern Star members attended the organization's 59th annual meeting held at the Masonic Temple. Mayme Harmony was elected worthy grand matron and Irwin Jones, worthy grand patron. (T.Times 6-17-42, p. 8-article; T.Times 6-19-42, p. 9-article)
Order of the Eastern Star (Tacoma); Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Flags--United States; Flags; Silhouettes; Meetings--Tacoma--1940-1950;
An unidentified employee of the Puget Sound National Bank put the bank's new IBM 1210 Reader Sorter through its paces for (l to r) Robert G. Gordon, Vice President and Cashier, and Harold Stephens, Assistant Vice-President, on January 13, 1961. In 1959 PSNB became the first bank in the State of Washington - and the second on the west coast - to convert to the use of computers. The other banks in the northwest resisted computerization, and attempted to talk PSNB out of taking this radical step, because they felt that banking customers would not accept being numbered. (Banking on Independence; the first century of Puget Sound Bankcorp, c1990)
Puget Sound National Bank (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma;
The Grand Chapter of the State of Washington, Order of the Eastern Star, opened their "Victory Session" at Fellowship Hall in the Masonic Temple on June 18, 1942. The Grand Officers posed for a group portrait for the 59th annual meeting. Hanging above them are flags from many nations. Since America was at war then the flags shown are from some of their allies, including Great Britain and the USSR. Silhouettes of Presidents Washington and Lincoln flank the officials on stage. 1500 Eastern Star members attended the meeting. Mayme Harmony of Seattle and Irwin Jones were selected as worthy grand matron and worthy grand patron, respectively. (T.Times 6-17-42, p. 8-article; T.Times 6-19-42, p. 9-article)
Order of the Eastern Star (Tacoma); Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Flags--United States; Flags; Silhouettes; Meetings--Tacoma--1940-1950;
Fleharty Meat Market, Seattle, circa 1926. View through windows into meat market. Man and woman, likely Mr. and Mrs. George Fleharty, behind counter, fresh meat case, scale, flowers and plants, calendars on back wall . (filed with Argentum)
Exterior of Swasey library. The 7,000 square foot George O. Swasey Memorial Library was dedicated on October 7, 1960, and opened for business the following day. Designed by the Tacoma architectural firm of Lea, Pearson & Richards, the West End branch library cost $160,000 including land, construction, equipment and books. The entire cost was funded from the estate of the late George O. Swasey who had lived here for fifty years after his arrival in 1908 from the east. The opening of the branch would inaugurate public library service in the West End of Tacoma. At that time it was Tacoma's largest branch library. Norman McDonald would serve as the branch's first librarian. (TNT 9-25-60, C-15, TNT 10-7-60, A-11))
Tacoma Public Library, George O. Swasey Memorial Branch (Tacoma); Public libraries--Tacoma;
The George O. Swasey Memorial Branch Library opened at 7001 Sixth Ave. in October, 1960, to serve the readers of the growing West End of Tacoma. The open house and dedication on October 7th drew several hundred visitors; they were able to take a look at the 65 magazine and nearly 15,000 title collection. In this night exposure, the interior of the Swasey library can clearly be seen through the building's floor-to-ceiling glass walls. The library branch was designed by Lea, Pearson & Richards and built by McKasson Bros. Construction. Landscaping was provided primarily by the West End Gardeners League. The building was later renovated with funds provided by 1984's 15.8 million dollar bond project. (TNT 10-7-60, A-11-article, 10-8-60, p. 2-article)
Tacoma Public Library, George O. Swasey Memorial Branch (Tacoma); Public libraries--Tacoma--1960-1970;
Commerce St. side of Bernice Building. By 1960, there were many vacancies in the venerable Bernice Building located in the 1100 block of Pacific Avenue. The building would be demolished later to make room for the new Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan Assn.site. Pacific First Federal had requested photographs of the front and rear of the Bernice Building with adjoining buildings removed.
Full front of Bernice Building, Pacific Avenue side. Located on the ground floor of the Victorian era Bernice Building was Bender's, women and men's clothing store owned by Jack R. Bender. Customers seem to be flocking to the ready-to-wear store, drawn by the low prices in the quitting business sale. The Bernice Building, as well as the adjacent Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan Assn. building, would be demolished to make way for a modern, expanded Pacific First Federal structure. The new building would open in September, 1964.
Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan building at intersection of S. 11th & Commerce Sts. Pedestrians wait to cross busy Commerce St. on February 1, 1961. The savings & loan association had announced two weeks before that they would be constructing a new building on the original site and including the Bernice Building location next door. Both buildings had been built in the late 1800's and heavily utilized the semi-circular Roman arch feature. Photograph ordered by Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan Assn.
Pacific First Federal Building (Tacoma); Bernice Building (Tacoma);
Originally built in 1891 as the Merchants National Bank, the building on the corner of 11th and Pacific Avenue became home to Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan in 1939. When the building was remodeled in 1949 many innovations were added to the venerable structure including Tacoma's first escalator. Both the Pacific First Federal building at 1102-04 Pacific and the Bernice Building next to it were torn down shortly after this photograph was taken in 1961; a new, larger Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan Association building was built on the site. The new savings and loan had its grand opening in September 1964. Today it is home to Washington Mutual Bank. (Photograph ordered by Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan Assn.)
Pacific First Federal Building (Tacoma); Bernice Building (Tacoma); Bender's (Tacoma);
B.D. Lamb, driver for Williams Bros., stands next to his Ford truck outside of Eleanor's Restaurant on (Old) Hwy. 99 on February 2, 1961. Mr. Lamb has the driver's door open. There are large signs on the truck advertising Hartz Western Style Beer and Pilsener Beer.
ca. 1961. Stock footage, 1961. Aerial view of Yakima Avenue Bridge under construction in 1961. Northern Pacific railroad tracks below. The $1,300,000 bridge was scheduled to be completed by late spring and opened to traffic in April or May. The Yakima Avenue Bridge would give Tacoma a new route to the city's South End. (TNT 12-11-60, A-1)
ca. 1961. The $1,300,000 Yakima Avenue Bridge was scheduled to be completed by late April or early May 1961. It was part of Tacoma's six-year capital improvement program which began in 1959. This aerial view of the bridge while under construction clearly shows the Hood Street Reservoir (top center) to the southwest of the bridge, South Tacoma Way (bottom left to top right), and Center Street. (TNT 12-11-60, A-1)
ca. 1961. Scenic view and stock footage, 1961. Aerial view of busy Port of Tacoma in 1961on Sitcum and Port Industrial Waterways; building in the center is the port's own grain elevators along with loading dock and storage buildings. The two buildings above the granary are terminals and warehouse #1 belonging to the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific RR. Ships are docked waiting to load plywood and other lumber products. Log dumps located nearby.
ca. 1961. Scenic view and stock footage, 1961. Smoke billowing, the American Smelting & Refining Co. (better known as ASARCO)'s smokestack was once the largest smokestack in the world at 571 feet when completed in 1917. Repairs shortened it to 562 feet twenty years later. ASARCO was a major employer in Tacoma for decades; it closed in 1985 due to economic and environmental reasons. The smelter stack was demolished on January 17, 1993.
Traffic was flowing smoothly in this November 1961 aerial photograph of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. The camera was looking east toward the rapidly developing west end of Tacoma. The graceful lines of the suspension bridge span nearly one-half mile, making it the 5th longest suspension bridge in the US. This was the second Narrows Bridge, dedicated in 1950; the first collapsed in high winds on November 7, 1940, only four months after its dedication. The 1950 bridge was designed to carry 60,000 cars a day. When area population growth increased that number by half, a third bridge was added; parallel to and south of the 1950 bridge. The third Narrows bridge was dedicated in July of 2007 and carries east bound traffic, leaving all lanes of the 1950 bridge open for west bound traffic. (www.wsdot.wa.gov)
ca. 1961. 1961 scenic and stock footage. Sky Terrace Apartments, an eight-story reinforced concrete structure, under construction in early 1961. The 39-unit apartment building was designed by Robert Billsbrough Price with Ostruske-Murphy, Inc. as contractors. The $750,000 structure would consist of one and two bedroom apartments with views of Commencement Bay. This view is of the rear of the Sky Terrace. The building was expected to be completed in July, 1961. (TNT 1-25-61, B-4)
Building construction--Tacoma--1960-1970; Apartment houses--Tacoma--1960-1970; Sky Terrace Apartments (Tacoma);
ca. 1961. Side-view from south Stadium Way of eight-story reinforced concrete apartment building under construction in early 1961, taken as scenic and stock footage for 1961. GMC truck with "Lantz" painted on it is on sidewalk area in front of building. These are the Sky Terrace Apartments located at 235 Broadway. The balconies are on the rear of the building. Robert Billsbrough Price was the architect, O & M Builders Supply the builder, and Ostruske-Murphy, Inc., the contractor of the project.
Building construction--Tacoma--1960-1970; Apartment houses--Tacoma--1960-1970; Sky Terrace Apartments (Tacoma);
ca. 1926. Unidentified restaurant interior, circa 1926. Build in wicker stools at lunch counter, backbar with leaded glass, two men and two women employees behind counter. (filed with Argentum)
Dining room of the Doric Tacoma Motor Hotel. Upholstered in gold leather and midnight blue, the semi-circular seating provides comfort and some privacy in the dining room of the new Doric Hotel. Walls were constructed of cedar panels and paintings highlighted of Native Americans. The patrons look pleased to be dining at this new facility, the "Tahoma." Chef John Espinoza offered a menu of many speciality dishes, including sauerbraten and wiener schnitzel. The hotel had opened in August, 1960, at 242 Saint Helens Avenue. It was conveniently located to downtown businesses and shopping with ample free parking. (TNT ad, 1-31-61, A-7) TPL-9886
Doric Tacoma Motor Hotel (Tacoma); Hotels--Tacoma--1960-1970; Dining rooms--Tacoma--1960-1970;
Outfitted in a sleeveless black dress in January, 1961, Chic Styling Salon owner Bette (Mrs. Bert) La Pore poses in her beauty shop located in the Gamble Building on No. Proctor St. Three hair dryers are visible along with an equal number of work stations. A spritely mannequin is on display in the background. This photograph ran with a large ad in the February 5, 1961, issue of the News Tribune. The Chic Styling Salon was welcoming back Miss Marlene and announcing the addition of two new stylists, Mr. Jim and Miss Lynne. (TNT 2-5-61, D-4)
La Pore, Bette; Chic Styling Salon (Tacoma); Beauty shops--Tacoma--1960-1970; Mannequins;
The February, 1961, sun casts a long shadow of the photographer on the dark parking lot of Busch's Sixth Avenue Drive-In Restaurant. The drive-in had opened in 1960 near the intersection of Sixth and Orchard. It was owned by William Busch, who also owned a Busch's Drive-In on South Tacoma Way. View of large lot, with extended roof that offered partial coverage of vehicles and walkway to dine-in service at the restaurant.
Interior of restaurant, ca. 1961. This is believed to be the interior of Busch's Sixth Avenue Drive-In Restaurant which opened in 1960 and was owned by William Busch. A long curved laminated counter has room for ten seats; miniature jukeboxes on counter for patrons' listening pleasure. Padded booth seating is also available. Glimpse of diagonal parking with covered walkway.
Exterior of Busch's Sixth Avenue Drive-In. Directional arrows guide hungry customers to the Busch's Sixth Avenue Drive-In on February 16, 1961. This was the second Busch's restaurant in the Tacoma area; the first was the longtime establishment famous for its car hops located on South Tacoma Way. Busch's Sixth Avenue was designed by Percy G. Ball and built in 1960. It featured covered parking and walkway along with dine-in service. TPL-5805
ca. 1926. Winthrop Hotel, circa 1926, sitting room of the Presidential Suite. Building design by W.L. Stoddard with Roland Borhek as associated architect, 1925. In 1922, a group of concerned citizens got together to raise funds and make plans for a grand hotel for Tacoma. The Winthrop was built at a cost of over two million dollars and had its Grand Opening on May 16, 1925. The Presidential Suite, with the pictured 18 x30 foot living, or sitting, room was the most elaborate accommodation at the hotel. (filed with Argentum)
Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Hotels--Tacoma--1920-1930;
ca. 1926. Winthrop Hotel, circa 1926, same sitting room as in A1301 image 1, the sitting room of the Presidential Suite. Writing desk that folds up into cabinet against wall right. The suite was finished in mahogany with paneled plastered walls.(filed with Argentum)
Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Hotels--Tacoma--1920-1930;
Progress March 3, 1961, photograph of a lone worker who appears to be sanding down the ribs that will be connected to the rest of a boat. This may be at Tacoma Boat. Photograph ordered by West Coast Lumber Association. TPL-9393
