A worker at the St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. retail yard walks on top of a large piece of timber, preparing to hook up the hoisting machinery to it, and move it from the truck to a stack of lumber. St Paul's three mile long lumber yard was believed to be the largest in the world by the 1940's. St. Paul was a pioneer in the plywood industry, and also in reforestation.
Lumber industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. (Tacoma); Hoisting machinery;
Several Rucker Bros. trucks loaded with lumber at the St. Paul & Tacoma retail yard. The retail yard was the largest in the Northwest. Rucker Brothers Trucking was located at the retail yard, facilitating the delivery of the wood throughout the Northwest.
Lumber industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. (Tacoma); Rucker Brothers (Tacoma); Trucks--Tacoma--1950-1960;
Beautiful Mount Rainier dominates the skyline for many miles, as seen from Yelm. This glacier covered dormant volcano at 14,410 feet above sea level is the highest mountain in the Pacific Northwest and the fifth highest in the contiguous United States. It is the crowning jewel of the 241, 000 acre Mount Rainier National Park, one of the most heavily used parks in the national system. The Park is known for its abundant wildflowers and wildlife, including elk, the elusive mountain goat and bear. The mountain was "discovered" by Captain George Vancouver in 1792 while exploring Puget Sound, however it has always figured prominently in Northwest native mythology and legends. TPL-8493
Mountains--Washington--1950-1960; Rainier, Mount (Wash.);
Plywood building to be used for salesman's office at a housing project east side of the Narrows Bridge. Construction boomed in Tacoma in the fifties, with new projects going up all over town. Affordable two or more bedroom homes were within the financial reach of most families, with low down payment and easy term V.A. loans.
Plywood; Offices--Tacoma--1950-1960; Construction--Tacoma; Carpentry--Tacoma; Construction industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;
Ed Lee's new Shell Oil station at the intersection of Division and No. Yakima was photographed just before its Grand Opening on March 31st, 1950. The station, at 102 No. Yakima Ave., had a garage for car repairs and new gasoline pumps. For the Grand Opening, 32 hourly drawings were held for prizes, with the grand prize being a set of four Firestone Champion tires. The signpost in front pointed out the directions to the Fox Island and Bremerton ferries and the Stadium city center.The billboard to the left of the station was an advertisement for Shell Oil. Gas at the Grand Opening sold for between 25.2 and 27.2 cents per gallon. TPL-10300
Shell Oil Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Automobile service stations--Tacoma--1950-1960; Gasoline pumps--Tacoma--1950-1960; Billboards--Tacoma;
The Washington State Historical Building, originally the Ferry Museum after its founder, Col. Clinton Peyre Ferry, was part of the "Kla-How-Ya" trail dedicated in the spring of 1950. The Trail was a 26 mile sightseeing tour around the Tacoma area, marked by green salmon direction signs. The trail was designed to bring the tourist dollar to Tacoma. The State Historical Museum was the largest in the Northwest and noted for its illuminated photo murals and its northwest pioneer, Indian and Alaskan exhibits, as well as its curios from around the world. The four story building also contained a reference library and art gallery, and had breathtaking views of the Stadium Bowl and the Puget Sound. (TNT 7/16/1950)
Publicity photo of window transparencies in the Washington Hall of the Washington State Historical Building celebrating the completion of another unit in the ongoing S.A. Perkins historical photographic mural project. Mr. Perkins, President of the Historical Society, and Chapin Foster, Society Director, pose in front of the large view window overlooking the stadium bowl and the sound. The view is surrounded by a transparency of Mount Baker. Also new to the project were two murals flanking the doorway commemorating transportation in the Northwest, the coming of the Northern Pacific Railroad and the inauguration of air service. (TNT 3/31/1950, pg. 1)
Washington State Historical Building (Tacoma); Washington State Historical Society (Tacoma)--Exhibitions & displays; Paintings; Transparencies; Perkins, S.A.; Foster, Chapin D.;
Studio portrait- wedding pictures- Miss Edna Williams, soon to be Mrs. Gus Martigopoulos. For her March 11, 1950 wedding, the bride wore an off white jersey suit with balenciago accessories. Her corsage was a green orchid. Miss Pat Stewart, in a green suit, was maid of honor and Harry Martigopoulos was best man for his brother. The couple made their first home in Portland. (TNT 3/30/1950 pg. 24)
Women of Rotary salute their husbands with "Back to the Gay 90's" party on 2-23-1950 at Wells Hall. Live entertainment provided by members and handlebar mustaches assist in the theme.
Women of Rotary (Tacoma); Clubs--Tacoma--1950-1960; Costumes; Parties--Tacoma--1950-1960; Entertainment--Tacoma--1950-1960;
Interior of the pleasure craft Acania, restored by J.M. Martinac and available for charter through Emmett T. Krefting, Charter Representatives, 903 Commerce St. This March of 1950 photo shows the food preparation galley, which is the size of a land based kitchen.
Interior of the pleasure craft Acania, restored by J.M. Martinac and available for charter through Emmett T. Krefting, Charter Representatives, 903 Commerce St. This photo shows the sleeping berths.
Interior of the pleasure craft Acania, restored by J.M. Martinac and available for charter through Emmett T. Krefting, Charter Representatives, 903 Commerce St. This photo shows the dining area which seats fifteen comfortably.
Progress shot of the work on the Tacoma Narrows Bridge during preliminary deck construction. Workmen this week were putting cable bands on the main cables and dropping suspension cables which would support the roadway. The Narrows Bridge was the third longest suspension span in the world. It had an aerodynamic design enabling it to withstand heavy winds. (TNT 2-26-1950 pg. 1)
Exterior of General Paint Corporation at 102 So.10th, Tacoma. Rolls of wallpaper are displayed in the store windows, beckoning passerbys to redecorate with the latest styles. A large sign of a uniformed toy soldier at attention, the emblem of General Paint, outlined with neon adorns the building. Above the retail space is the second floor office of O'Connell-Ragan Advertising.
Washington Gas and Electric Co.'s booth at the second annual Greater Tacoma Home Show featuring natural gas appliances. The exhibit includes Servel "silent" gas refrigerators, Wedgewood gas ranges and Hamilton clothes dryers. Easy chairs are provided for foot sore exhibit goers. Washington Gas and Electric Co. was located at 101 So. 10th in Tacoma.
Exhibitions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Exhibit booths--Tacoma; Appliances; Ovens; Natural gas--Tacoma--1950-1960; Gas industry; Refrigerators; Washington Gas & Electric Co. (Tacoma); Greater Tacoma Home Show (Tacoma);
Tappan Ranges of Portland Oregon sponsored this booth at the second annual Greater Tacoma Home Show, March 21-26, 1950 at the College of Puget Sound fieldhouse. Tappan displayed their new electric and gas ranges and also their space heaters for the home show attendees.
Exhibitions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Exhibit booths--Tacoma; Appliances; Tappan Ranges (Portland); Greater Tacoma Home Show (Tacoma);
Booth at the second annual Greater Tacoma Home Show by Rossoe Manufacturing, makers of the Rossoe pressure burner floor furnace. The Rossoe model was a diesel oil burning furnance, advertised as "economatic", offering low cost heating. Cut aways show the inner workings of the furnace, important for the more technically advanced home owners.
Exhibitions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Exhibit booths--Tacoma; Furnaces--Tacoma--1950-1960; Heating & ventilation industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; HVAC systems--Tacoma--1950-1960; Greater Tacoma Home Show (Tacoma);
Booth at the second annual Greater Tacoma Home Show for Zingler Electric Co., 1112 Pacific Ave. The Home Show took place March 21-26, 1950 at the College of Puget Sound fieldhouse. This shot shows the latest in electric appliances- cabinet style sewing machines, an automatic wringer washer, new ranges and Frigidaire refrigerators. The electric sewing machine retailed for $89.95 at Zingler, $9 down and $5 per month.
Exhibitions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Exhibit booths--Tacoma; Zingler Electric Co. (Tacoma); Appliances; Refrigerators; Ovens; Washing machines; Sewing machines; Greater Tacoma Home Show (Tacoma);
Interior of Gambles Western Auto Supply Co. store at 8104 South Tacoma Way during their Grand Opening. In addition to auto supplies, the store also sold housewares and appliances, such as the wringer washer on the right hand side. Flexible flyer wagons line up under the windows. Prominent in the foreground of the picture are kitchen aids- mixers, irons, hot plate, pans and baking pans.
Gambles Western Auto Supply Co. (Tacoma); Automobile equipment & supplies stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Stores & shops--Tacoma--1950-1960;
Tacoma Master Builders Association exhibit booth at the second annual Greater Tacoma Home Show.The TMB was an organization for contractors that ensured quality by its logo "Master-built." The 6 day and 5 night 1950 Home Show was sponsored by the Master Builders and Associates and had over 100 exhibitors- roughly double the size of the 1949 show. Admission cost was 55 cents for adults, 25 cents for children and included admission to the $20,000 "Home of Ideas", at No. 11th and Jackson, that was constructed for this event and given away as a prize. Exhibits covered all aspects of home construction, remodeling, decorating, and landscaping. Special entertainment events were also scheduled throughout the show. The 1950 Home Show was a rousing success attended by over 21,000.
Greater Tacoma Home Show (Tacoma); Tacoma Master Builders Association (Tacoma); Construction industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Exhibitions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Exhibit booths--Tacoma;
Exterior of the Griffin Wheel Company plant at 5202 So. Proctor Street. Started in Chicago in 1887 by T.F. Griffin, the company made chilled wheels for freight cars. The Tacoma plant was established in south Tacoma in 1897 after acquiring the property of the American Foundry Company.
Interior of Federal Finance Company office at 915 1/2 Pacific Ave., the Provident Building, #206.The office cubicles lie empty at 9:05a.m. waiting for the day's business to begin. A calendar, plant and ash tray adorn the front counter. The first desk has an adding machine and a typewriter available for use. Radiators for heat line the walls.
Offices--Tacoma--1950-1960; Office furniture; Federal Finance Co. (Tacoma);
The "noon rush" filled the booths, tables and counter space at Peters' Golden Gate Oyster House, 1122 Pacific Avenue, in February of 1950. The restaurant, in the heart of Tacoma's financial and office building district, was owned and operated by Gus and Mike Peters. The brothers came to Tacoma from the Island of Crete in Greece in 1912 and entered the restaurant and seafood catering business while still teenagers. Gus Peters' original Greek name was believed to be Paneoto Constantine Rodakalikis. They had owned and operated restaurants in Tacoma for 26 years when they opened this new cafe in 1948. It was open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. (TNT 12/9/1948 p.B-9) (Additional information provided by a reader)
Restaurants--Tacoma--1950-1960; Eating & drinking--Tacoma--1950-1960; Counters--Tacoma--1950-1960; Restaurant workers--Tacoma--1950-1960; Waitresses--Tacoma--1950-1960; Peters Golden Gate Oyster House (Tacoma);
Exhibit by Richards Ceramic Supply Shop at the second annual Greater Tacoma Home Show, March 21-26, 1950, at the College of Puget Sound fieldhouse. Owner/operator Margaret Richards and her husband were also partial owners of the Richards Photography Studio. Mrs. Richards works on a piece of ceramics and is surrounded by her products and admiring show attendees.
Richards, Margaret; Richards Ceramic Supply Shop (Tacoma); Greater Tacoma Home Show (Tacoma); Exhibitions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Exhibit booths--Tacoma; Pottery--Tacoma--1950-1960;
Commercial gardening exhibit booth sponsored by Tacoma Seed Company, 805 Pacific Ave., at the spring flower show at the College of Puget Sound fieldhouse March 31- April 2, 1950. Organized by the women of the area's garden clubs, the spring flower show was part of the Daffodil Festival celebrations. The booth displayed yard machinery, Zehrung garden chemicals and Fletcher-Bilt all cedar greenhouses. In the foreground of the picture is a profusion of spring flowers supplied by the garden clubs and professional growers as decoration. Cut flowers were also available for sale to the public throughout the show. (TNT 3/26/1950, pg. D-4, TNT 4/1/1950, pg. 1)
Interior view in 1950 of the home of Clarence W. and Evelyn Todd at 226 Del Monte Ave., Fircrest. R.N. Harrington, contractor. C.W. Todd was executive secretary and manager of the Tacoma Chapter of the Associated General Contractors of America. The room is dominated by the large fireplace and crescent shaped deep sofa. A bookcase holds collectibles. (picture used in layout for National Home Week TNT 9/10/1950, pg. B-6)
Todd, Clarence W. --Homes & haunts; Houses--Fircrest--1950-1960; Interiors--1950-1960; Interior decoration; Fireplaces; Furniture--1950-1960; Living rooms--Fircrest--1950-1960;
Copy of artist's rendering of the new elementary school for Alder, Elbe & Ashford, Washington, school district #404. Lance, McGuire and Muri, Architects. "Columbia Crest" was the name chosen for the school. It was submitted in the naming contest by student Barbara Ann Barnett, based on the excellent view from the school's site of the Columbia Crest on Mount Rainier. 12 contractors were expected to submit bids on construction on Feb. 13th, 1951. Bids were reopened on March 5, 1951 and earlier bids rejected when the decision was made to eliminate a multipurpose room from the specifications. Construction was underway by April of 1951 for the six room school for a cost of $181,000, the multipurpose room to be added later as funds were available. Located halfway between Elbe and Ashford, the school was fire and earthquake proof and built to serve 200 students. (TNT 2/1/1951, 2/23/1951 & 4/29/1951)
Education--Pierce County--1950-1960; Public schools--Pierce County; Building construction--Pierce County--1950-1960;
ca. 1950. Copy of old prints of airplanes pinned to a board. People boarding United Airlines. Large group of people next to Pacific Air transport air mail airplane. Ordered by WSHS, Chapin Foster, 2/20/50. (Argentum)
Copy of customer's print, probably wedding pictures of the ancestors of Mr. or Mrs. H.A. Larkin at 705 No. 5th. The groom is dressed in a formal suit with a pocket watch. The bride is dressed in small waisted Gibson girl style with an extravagant hat and carries a bouquet of flowers. The bride's dress in adorned with a brooch at the neck and she wears a pendant on a chain.
