The Hotel Winthrop on Broadway is the location for a luncheon honoring the board of directors of the Chicago-Milwaukee Railroads on July 13, 1950. The nine men are posed under the Rotary Club's banner. Seated second to the left is C.H. Buford, president of the Milwaukee Road. According to the Northwest Room's clipping files, this railroad was the first with improvements in transportation: owning and operating its own sleeping and dining cars, installing electric lighting and radio-phones in passenger trains, and being the only road to operate its own through tracks on its own tracks from Chicago to Puget Sound.
Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Luncheons--Tacoma; Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad Co. (Tacoma); Railroad companies--Tacoma--1950-1960; Buford, C.H.;
Front and side, Western Auto, Herb Sturtridge. A view of the Dr. Bostwick Building, front, and the Cornell House, rear, from across 8th Street. The site includes 111-19 South 8th Street and 715-17 Pacific Avenue. The building at 715-17 Pacific Avenue was built c. 1884 as the Dr. Bostwick Building. The separate building at 111-15 South 8th Street was built c. 1892-1910. The two buildings were later combined. North Pacific Bank Note Company purchased the building in 1919. The entrance to North Pacific Bank Note Company is shown on South 8th Street. Western Auto Supply Co, managed by Herb Sturtridge, occupies the street level storefronts.
Western Auto Supply Co. (Tacoma); Commercial facilities--Tacoma--1940-1950; Automobile equipment & supplies; North Pacific Bank Note Co. (Tacoma); Financial facilities--Tacoma--1940-1950; Buildings--Tacoma--1940-1950;
Mr. Hess & sales force, L.L. Hess Furniture. The L.L. Hess Furniture Company opened a new store on the corner of South 39th and M Streets in October 1948. The company has a tall neon sign above the entrance. The floor to ceiling front windows slant inwards at the bottom. The company was headed by Lawrence L. Hess who began making furniture in his basement 20 years earlier. With this new store he stocked the best offerings from 50 manufacturers. He would build custom furniture in his new upholstery shop. (TNT, 11/17/1948, p.8)
L.L. Hess Furniture Co. (Tacoma); Furniture stores--Tacoma--1940-1950; Electric signs--Tacoma--1940-1950;
Publicity for Community Chest at Manning's Bakers, Robert Sconce Advertising, Robert Sconce. Four waitresses stand ready to take an order from a gentleman looking into the case of baked goods with cookies and several cakes to choose from. As of Friday, October 29, 1948 some $308,893 had been collected under the just concluded Tacoma Community Chest campaign drive. Businesses and individuals donated the funds to support many social services agencies in Tacoma. The 1948 goal was $358,000 but several groups had yet to report with their donations. TPL-9504 (TNT 10-30-1948, p. 1-article on Tacoma Community Chest)
news press. A Tacoma Times employee focuses his attention on the first issue ever published of the Tacoma Sunday Times as it rolls off the press on December 5, 1948. The paper cost 10 cents for the Sunday edition, twice the price of the daily version. Pressmen and mailers called it a smooth run and nearly every newstand in the Tacoma area sold out by noon. The newspaper promised to have more copies printed the following Sunday so that all could enjoy reading the new Sunday Times. (T.Times 12-5-1948, p. 1-article; T.Times 12-6-1948, p. 1-article)
The new full service Buick Center had just opened up in Tacoma in late 1948. Mueller-Harkins Motor Company was offering their customers a one-stop automotive center. Exterior view of Texaco service station, this service station was part of the new Mueller-Harkins Motor Company facilities; view of four Texaco gas pumps; Firestone tires and automotive supplies in store (T. Times, 12/3/48, p. 8-9).
Buick automobile; Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Vehicle maintenance & repair--Tacoma; Automobile service stations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Texaco (Tacoma); Mueller-Harkins Motor Co. (Tacoma);
Paulson's Radios & Appliances had a Grand Opening on November 19, 1948 for its brand new, ultra modern, 75,000 square foot store. The store was located on the southeast corner of South 11th Street and K Street (now known as Martin Luther King Jr. Way) at 1101 So. K, just across the street from where the company had been located since 1940. Their new modern facility was fronted with glass to show off the main floor full of appliances for the home; and had a repair shop on the second floor, as well as radios and photograph records. The concrete and steel structure was designed by John Sutton, of Sutton, Whitney and Dugan- architects. The Mueller Building, built in 1889, was razed to make way for Paulson's; and Paulson's itself was razed in August of 1998 to make way for a Rite Aid drugstore. (T. Times, 11/19/48, p. 8-9).
Sepic has large spacious windows, which allows the company to display their furniture and appliances. Sepic's first store was originally located on South 17th Street and Tacoma Avenue South, in 1945 the brothers purchased this property and started building their new store location. Exterior view of Sepic Electric Company, window displays show automatic washing machines, kitchen appliances, water heaters and furniture in background (T. Times, 11/16/48, p. 8-9).
Home furnishings stores--Tacoma; Furniture stores--Tacoma; Appliance stores--Tacoma; Window displays; Merchandise displays--Tacoma; Appliances; Sepic Electric Co. (Tacoma);
Truck and driver, Motor Parts and Equipment, Inc. The driver stands proudly by the new Chevrolet panel truck used by Motor Parts and Equipment for delivering parts. They stand outside Harmon Service owned by Jim Harmon. The sign declares this is a "Koetherizer Car" for American Hammered Piston Rings and Piston Resizing.
Motor Parts & Equipment, Inc. (Tacoma); Harmon Service (Tacoma); Chevrolet trucks; Vehicle maintenance & repair--Tacoma--1940-1950;
On-the-spot photographs at new Mueller-Harkins Building, Condon Co., Kay Shinn. An interior view of the service department at Mueller-Harkins showing the several service bays available and the ramp up to street level on the far right. Several cars can be parked under cover until their owners return for them.
Mueller-Harkins Motor Co. (Tacoma); Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Vehicle maintenance & repair--Tacoma--1940-1950;
On-the-spot photographs at new Mueller-Harkins Building, Condon Co., Kay Shinn. An interior view of the service department at Mueller-Harkins. An employee is painting the exterior body of an automobile. The windows and other vulnerable parts of the car have been covered with paper.
Mueller-Harkins Motor Co. (Tacoma); Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Vehicle maintenance & repair--Tacoma--1940-1950;
On-the-spot photographs at new Mueller-Harkins Building, Condon Co., Kay Shinn. An interior view of the service department at Mueller-Harkins where Joe Elliott is taking notes from a display that is coming from the "Visualiner". This modern device gave a graphic picture of the front-end alighment of vehicles connected to it. See A37167-1. (T.Times, 12/26/1948, p.28)
On-the-spot photographs at new Mueller-Harkins Building, Condon Co., Kay Shinn. An interior view of the parts department at Mueller-Harkins. Two men stand at the counter asking for help with parts while two men behind the counter assist them. Two more men are working in the shelving area and several more are seen in the background behind glass windows.
South Tacoma Motor Company, Mr. Sheehan. A model stands next to a 1949 Chevrolet DeLuxe Styleline convertible, framed by showroom window that is decorated with slogans. TPL-5872
Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; South Tacoma Motor Co. (Tacoma); Chevrolet automobile; Convertible automobiles; Showrooms--Tacoma--1940-1950;
South Tacoma Motor Company, Mr. Sheehan. A general view of the newly remodeled showroom. The new 1949 Chevrolet 4-door Styleline sedan is seen in the foreground with black tires. The 2-door Fleetline fastback is seen at the right background with a pickup truck at the far right. The 1949 Styleline Convertible is in the showroom window at left center. Desks are along the wall on the left in case anyone wanted to make a deal. A freestanding display board shows the available accessories. (T.Times, 1/20/1949, p.13)
Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; South Tacoma Motor Co. (Tacoma); Chevrolet automobile; Convertible automobiles; Showrooms--Tacoma--1940-1950;
South Tacoma Motor Company. Crowd viewing a 1949 Chevrolet. People look under the hood, inside the driver's side door and in the trunk of this two-door Fleetline model. The 1949 models represented three-year's development. They were completely restyled: they were lower, wider and more distinctive. (T.Times, 1/20/1949, p.13)
Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; South Tacoma Motor Co. (Tacoma); Chevrolet automobile; Showrooms--Tacoma--1940-1950;
In this photograph from December of 1948, Ernie Rice, the owner of Hoyt's Doughnut Shop at 2412 6th Ave., holds a tray of freshly deep fried doughnuts. Ernest A. (Ernie) Rice and the Hoyt Doughnut Co. shop were synonymous, and the two were legendary in the history of the Sixth Avenue Business District. Mr. Rice started working at Hoyt's in 1911, the business was originally owned by Jim and Hoyt Lesher, Ernie later married Jim and Hoyt's sister. He purchased the business in 1947. After making donuts for 48 years, he retired in 1959 (T. Times, 12/19/48, p. 2). TPL-10187
Tacoma Athletic Commission would be remembering the past year's triumphs, including a $12,500 Tacoma Open-Golf Tournament, the Penn State and Washington State football game, Fourth of July Show at Tacoma Stadium and many other events. Howard R. Smith, 1948's T.A.C. club president, admires a mirror decorated for Christmas; his image appears to have been painted with a list of the major 1948 Tacoma Athletic Club events. (T. Times, 1/23/49, p. 21).
Restaurants--Tacoma--1940-1950; Athletic clubs--Tacoma; Christmas decorations; Bars--Tacoma; Lounges--Tacoma; Mirrors; Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma); Top of the Ocean (Tacoma); Smith, Howard R.;
Service area at Mueller- Harkins Buick Agency. Elevated " Service Master " command post overlooking the bays. Pneumatic tubes for delivery of service orders, control panels with many lights and switches, digital clock and microphone. Man at controls.
Automobile dealerships--Tacoma; Mueller-Harkins Motor Co. (Tacoma);
The new Mueller-Harkins Buick center provided their customers with all of their automotive needs, the new building was officially opened to the public on December 6, 1948. Interior view of Mueller-Harkins Buick Agency; showroom features 1949 Buick Roadmaster on display, architect's model of building in left foreground. Model still exists inside the building, which now houses USA of Yesteryear Motor Car Company (T. Times, 12/26/48, p. 28).
The new Buick building for Mueller-Harkins was designed by Silas E. Nelsen, a local Tacoma architect. Interior view of service area at Mueller- Harkins Buick Agency; machine shop area, work benches with grinders, a drill press and other power tools, roll-away tool boxes, two unidentified mechanics working on Buicks (T. Times, 12/26/48, p. 28).
Mueller-Harkins Buick dealership had just moved into their new building and had officially opened to the public on December 6, 1948. View of the service area at Mueller-Harkins Buick Agency, station #23, steering service, late 1940s Buick with whitewall tires on elevated rack, Joe Elliot is standing beside "Visualiner" front end alignment machine (T. Times, 12/26/48, p. 28).
The new Mueller-Harkins Buick center had a staff of 80 people, they were proud to deliver fast and efficient service. Interior view of service area at Mueller- Harkins Buick Agency, engine diagnostic area, station #2 in foreground; Sun Equipment Co. testing equipment, glass partitions, Delco industrial battery on floor. unidentified men are working on Buick automobiles (T. Times, 12/26/48, p. 28).
The new Mueller-Harkins building was constructed in joint slab construction style and has 30 foot spans; all fixtures are made of aluminum. Interior view of service area at Mueller- Harkins Buick Agency; "Heavy Repair" area for body work, unidentified man is stripping smashed parts off a late 1940s Buick, placing the scrap in a GMC pickup, another mechanic inspects the passenger side of a Buick of similar vintage (T. Times, 12/26/48, p. 28).
The main showroom at Mueller-Harkins had twin turn tables with windows surrounding the huge display room, two new 1949 Buicks were currently being displayed. Interior view of service area at Mueller-Harkins Buick Agency; painting or detail area, unidentified man inspects a late 1940's Buick Special, another looks on and a third polishes a car in the background; container of "Nason Thinner" on shelf, "Quaker State Motor Oil" on bench (T. Times, 12/26/48, p. 28).
The Mueller-Harkins building included a collision and paint room, upholstery shop, regular service department, Texaco Station, Firestone store, used cars, new cars, new car delivery service and many other unique automotive features. Interior view of service area at Mueller-Harkins Buick; motor overhaul stations 11 through 13, "Straight-eight" engine head on bench, automobile with canvas on fenders, hood removed and propped against stub wall, unidentified mechanic reads service order at station 11 (T. Times, 12/26/48, p. 28).
The new Mueller-Harkins building was one finest and most modern sales and service centers in the United States. Interior view of service area at Mueller- Harkins Buick, elevated "Service Master" command post with customer waiting room below, parts counter, lighted overhead chart of stations/services available, Quaker State clock, two Buick convertibles at stations 17 & 18 (T. Times, 12/26/48, p. 28).
Associated Oil Service Stations, Omundson & Crosby Station #633. This October, 1948 view of the service station shows the service garage with the double doors open. The station advertises Veedol Lubrication. A drinking fountain is located on the front of the building. Three gasoline pumps are available at the service island.
Associated Oil Service Stations (Tacoma); Automobile service stations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Omundson & Crosby Gas Station (Tacoma); Automobiles--Tacoma--1940-1950; Electric signs--Tacoma--1940-1950;
Associated Oil Service Stations, Charlie Walker's Associated Service, station #634. This view of the station clearly shows the two separate buildings for the garage where repairs were performed and the gasoline pumping area. The company advertises Veedol Lubrication and Motor Oil. An automobile is parked for gasoline.
Associated Oil Service Stations (Tacoma); Automobile service stations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Walkers Associated Service Station (Tacoma); Electric signs--Tacoma--1940-1950; Gasoline pumps--Tacoma--1940-1950;
