National Bank of Washington; Branch & Senior management of bank. Twenty men and one woman gather around the boardroom table. Carl L. Phillips, president of the bank, sits at the head of the table with C.T. Chandler, vice-president, to the right. The man to the right of Chandler in the chair is unidentified. The bank was known from 1913-1938 as the National Bank of Tacoma and was housed in the Italian-Renaissance building at the northeast corner of 12th and Pacific, that since 1971 has housed the Tacoma Art Museum.
Banks--Tacoma; Banking--Tacoma--1950-1960; Bankers--Tacoma; National Bank of Washington (Tacoma)--People; Phillips, Carl L.; Chandler, C.T.;
Herb Satterlee Motor Company's repair shop. Several 1940s and 50s Packards in work area, signs promote services. Satterlee sold and serviced Packards and British Austins. The company was owned by Herb F. Satterlee, who served as president, with Herb Jr. as secretary-treasurer. The company did body and paint work, auto glass, mechanical servicing and tailored seat covers at this location.
Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1950-1960; Packard automobile; Herb Satterlee Motors (Tacoma);
Mueller-Harkins Buick Agency. Staff group photo on roof parking lot; building's pylon sign in background. Medical Arts, now Tacoma Municipal, building visible at far left in photo. In October of 1953, The Muellers retired and sold their company to E.H. (Gene) Brus from Seattle. The other founding owner Leo W. Harkins had retired in 1931. There was no change in personnel or policies, but the company now became Brus Buick Co. Brus would also take over the used car lot at 8th and Tacoma Ave. (TNT 10/4/1953, pg. B-6 - B-7)
Automobile dealerships--Tacoma; Mueller-Harkins Motor Co. (Tacoma)--Employees; Brus Buick Co. (Tacoma);
New service station at 54th & Pacific, for General Petroleum. Doug & Cliff's Mobilgas Service Station. The station was owned by Douglas E. Garrett & Clifford J. Lawson. The pair ran large ads for their Grand Opening October 23 & 24, 1953. Opening give-aways included gifts for the ladies, balloons & candy for the kiddies and twelve turkeys. (TNT 10/22/1953, pg. C-13)
Doug & Cliff's Service (Tacoma); Automobile service stations--Tacoma--1950-1960; Gasoline pumps--Tacoma--1950-1960; Automobiles--Tacoma--1950-1960;
Dupont Works, E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co. - annual dinner and 25 year club at the New Yorker. Eight five pensioners and 25 year men were honored at the dinner at the New Yorker. C.H. Miller, service manager of the explosives department, paid tribute to the DuPont old timers. (TNT 10/30/1953, pg. 3-- see article for names)
New Yorker Cafe (Tacoma); Banquets--Tacoma--1950-1960; Business people--Tacoma--1950-1960; E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co. (Dupont)--People;
Richfield oil men and Stadium High School students servicing cars on "Stadium Day," November 25, 1953, at a local Richfield gas station. "Let's Hit the 3000 Mark!" banner on service station with an accompanying tally board nearby. "Richfield Day" was a successful project of the Stadium Student Council, according to a brief mention in the 1954 Tahoma yearbook. (Tahoma yearbook, p. 132)
Automobile service stations--Tacoma--1950-1960; Students--Tacoma--1950-1960; Banners; Stadium High School (Tacoma); Automobiles--Tacoma--1950-1960;
No. Stevens, looking north at the intersection of No. 26th St. On the right is the Hilltop Market at 2517 No. Stevens. On the left is Pop's Service Station at 2601 No. Stevens. Safeway stores ordered these pictures. The City Council would be hearing their application to erect a store at 26th and Stevens on January 4, 1954. The application had been turned down by the City Planning Commission. The hearing was viewed by an overflowing crowd. The main argument against rezoning this area for the erection of a $525,000 Safeway store was the resulting increased traffic. Residents felt that increasing the already heavy flow of traffic would endanger neighborhood children. Safeway argued that traffic was already bad & their off street parking would make the situation better. The supermarket chain also felt that the Planning Commission was protecting the smaller businesses. (TNT 1/5/1954, pg.1) TPL-9908
Hilltop Market (Tacoma); Pop's Service Stations (Tacoma); Safeway Stores, Inc. (Tacoma); Grocery Stores--Tacoma--1950-1960;
No. 26th St., looking west to the intersection of No. Stevens St. A school bus is turning next to the Hilltop Market at 2517 No. Stevens. Safeway stores ordered these pictures. The City Council was hearing an application from Safeway to erect a $525,000 supermarket at 26th and Stevens. The City Planning Commission had already turned down the application citing the dangers of increased traffic and opposition of the area's residents. The hearing was jammed to overflowing with spectators. Both sides argued their point and the hearing was adjourned without a resolution. (TNT 12/8/1953)
Progress photograph of the United Pacific Insurance Co. building, ordered by James J. Barnes Construction. The clock tower of the Old City Hall can be seen in the background of this February 3, 1954 photograph. James J. Barnes was the general contractor for the planned five story home office for United Pacific. The building would be built of reinforced concrete faced with glass and designed to complement the Art Deco Medical Arts building, also owned by United Pacific. The finished product would cost over $500,000 and open for occupancy January of 1955.
United Pacific Insurance Co. (Tacoma); Building construction--Tacoma--1950-1960; Progress photographs--1950-1960;
Future home office of the United Pacific Insurance Company. Plywood fencing proudly proclaims the presence of the company and surrounds the construction site. Central School building can be seen in the right background of the picture taken on February 15, 1954. The structure would provide three floors of offices for the only Tacoma based insurance company and two floors of rental space. United Pacific also owned the Medical Arts building next door.
United Pacific Insurance Co. (Tacoma); Building construction--Tacoma--1950-1960; Progress photographs--1950-1960;
Remodeled departments at the Bank of California. This is a customer accessible area. It appears to be occupied by bank or loan officers. The officers occupy large wooden desks with comfortable leather chairs beside the desks for customers.
Banks--Tacoma; Bank of California National Association (Tacoma); Banking--Tacoma--1950-1960;
Interior of the trust department at the Bank of California, ordered by Botsford, Constantine and Gardner. Seated at desks on the right are Frank C. Carmody, Assistant Trust Officer- front, and Edward S. Walker, Trust Officer, at rear. On the left are Mr. McLeod, front, and Mr. Williams, at rear. To the left is a counter arrangement with three people behind it labelled Trust Department. At the right rear, the door is open to an interior office, perhaps belonging to one of the Vice Presidents of the bank.
Banks--Tacoma; Bank of California National Association (Tacoma); Carmody, Frank; Walker, Edward;
Winthrop Hotel, new sample furniture on display in rooms 505, 522 & 525. The room has been decorated for the discriminating traveler with a patterned embossed carpet, floral drapes, full bed with chenille bedspread, dresser, a desk/vanity and a variety of tables and chairs with numerous lamps. A bench has been placed at the end of the bed to hold an open suitcase or for sitting. A long coffee table, however, has been placed blocking a door.
Hotels--Tacoma--1950-1960; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Furniture;
Employees of Briggs Manufacturing Co. are blurred as they put up wall segments for a prefabricated home. A series of progress photographs was taken in one day, March 29, 1954, showing the speed that a prefabricated house could be built by experienced workers. A clock was drawn in the corner of each picture showing the exact time of day the photo was taken. At 8:05 a.m., the floor has already been laid and plumbing marked. Plywood forms and house sections are scattered near the site.
Prefabricated homes were becoming more common in the late 1940's and early 1950's to satisfy demand for more housing as our area's population grew. New homes were being built outside established city neighborhoods where lot sizes could be larger and land less expensive. The Briggs Manufacturing Co., located in the city's south end, specialized in prefabricated housing. In a series of photographs taken in one day, the Briggs company showed how prefabricated homes could be built quickly and with a small crew. Each photograph had a hand-drawn clock in the left corner showing the time of day it was taken; the progress of the construction could be then noted. At 9:30 a.m., several walls are already in place, with window and door openings. Because the location of the construction was not identified, it is possible that more than one home was being built on the same day.
Briggs Manufacturing Co. (Tacoma); Building construction; Prefabricated houses; Progress photographs;
Briggs Manufacturing Co. were specialists in prefabricated houses. Due to the expanding population in our area after World War II, housing demands increased. Prefabricated housing was one solution. A series of photographs were taken in one day, March 29, 1954, showing the speed a prefabricated home could be built. Each photograph had a hand-drawn clock in the corner showing the time of day the picture was taken. The work day seems to have begun by 8:00 a.m. as Briggs employees commence to lay the flooring. The location of the home is unknown, other than it appears to be in a heavily wooded area. This possibly could have been outside city limits as population growth was beginning to expand past the city's established neighborhoods.
Briggs Manufacturing Co. (Tacoma); Building construction; Prefabricated houses; Progress photographs;
Briggs Manufacturing Co. found a niche in the competitive building industry by specializing in prefabricated homes. As the population in the Puget Sound region grew steadily in the years following World War II, prefabricated housing answered the call for affordable, easily constructed housing. During the course of one day, March 29, 1954, a series of photographs was taken showing the progression in erecting a prefabricated house. The time of day the picture was taken was carefully noted by way of a clock drawn in the left corner of the photograph. Thus, the construction could be tracked with ease. View at 8:45 a.m.; the flooring is in place and some walls are up. Two men in top coats and suits examine the site while a Briggs employee finishes attaching two wall sections.
Briggs Manufacturing Co. (Tacoma); Building construction; Prefabricated houses; Progress photographs;
Workers on top of a prefabricated home are busy laying plywood sheets on the gently sloping roof in a photograph taken at 3:00 p.m. on March 29, 1954. The house apparently is a one-story rambler without a basement. The walls on at least one side of the house are up with window and door openings. A sign is nailed to a beam indicates this is a Cliff May home, manufactured and distributed by Briggs Manufacturing Co. This photograph is just one of a series of pictures taken during the course of one day, March 29, 1954, with clocks placed in the left hand corner so that construction progress could be tracked.
The "Auto Clinic" and its "pigeon hole" parking, for Bethlehem Steel Co. This unique parking plan, developed in Spokane, opened in Tacoma 12/7/1953. An hydraulic hoist operating on a track could move cars from level to level and side to side in the multi story parking garage in minutes. The company owned by John T. Long and Mr. Lily Schweizer also offered a full service repair shop, pump station, washing & polishing and auto accessories.
Auto Clinic (Tacoma); Automobile repair--Tacoma--1950-1960; Automobile service stations--Tacoma--1950-1960; Parking garages--Tacoma--1950-1960;
Nighttime view of Block's Furniture Mart. Block's was owned by Michael Block. The Grand Opening of the store was February 26, 1954. Customers could purchase a five piece chrome dinette set for $47.00- $87.77. A ten piece living room group could be bought for $189.50, with $20 down and $11 per month. Mattresses and box springs, in full or twin, could be obtained as low as $69.95 for the set.
Block's Furniture Mart (Lakewood); Furniture stores--Lakewood--1950-1960;
Modernistic furniture and design are present in the newly remodeled Pierce County Savings & Loan Association. The savings and loan had an open house for the public in March, 1954. The building was initially built in 1888 by Col. J. M. Dougan and housed a variety of businesses. It was purchased by the Pierce County Savings & Loan in 1950. Walter C. Steel was listed as president in the 1954 City Directory. First organized in Auburn in 1925, assets now total over five million dollars. Photograph taken for the TNT. (TNT 3-22-54, p. 6,7)
Pierce County Savings & Loan Association (Tacoma); Financial facilities--Tacoma;
Weisfield's Jewelers on Broadway was not only a well-known watch and diamond firm but also carried a wide range of housewares, including electric appliances, radios, refrigerators, televisions and bedding. One of their windows had Bates bedding on display; Bates was touted as "the most popular bedspread in the world." The showcase window had a tall poster composed of women's silhouettes all talking about Bates. In addition, there was a covered bed, drapes, and samples of various bedspreads with prices clearly marked. Weisfield's was previously known as Weisfield & Goldberg Inc.
Weisfield's, Inc. (Tacoma); Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1950-1960; Window displays; Bedspreads; Signs (Notices); Jewelry stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Department stores--Tacoma--1950-1960;
Construction worker in hard hat has one foot on the concrete forms while balancing the other on a plywood deck in an April, 1954, photograph. The forms are placed over plywood in the construction of the new United Pacific Insurance Company office building on Saint Helens Avenue. The building would take nearly two years to complete and cost an estimated $500,000. Photograph ordered by Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel Corporation.
United Pacific Insurance Co. (Tacoma); Building construction--Tacoma--1950-1960; Building materials; Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel Corp. (Seattle);
Motoramp Garage had been at its Commerce Street location since 1925. It was probably one of Tacoma' s first multi-story parking garages. Large signs identify the building, making it clear that covered parking was available for downtown customers. View of garage on Commerce close to 9th Street; Moose Temple is next door with Ben-Dew's restaurant at opposite end. Photograph ordered by Al Taylor, Standard Oil of California. TPL-1732
Two men sit on a bench on the first floor of the Motoramp Garage possibly waiting for their cars to be repaired in this January, 1953, photograph. The Motoramp was a multi-story parking garage located downtown on Commerce Street; it had parking available for over 300 cars. Besides covered parking, the Motoramp also offered car repairs, lubrication and the chance to purchase batteries and Prestone anti-freeze. No need to run to the gas station: the Motoramp also had at least two pumps for outgoing patrons. Photograph ordered by Al Taylor, Standard Oil of California.
Interior of new Tradewell store. Self-service ice cream freezers were becoming more available to the Tacoma shopper in 1953; these three freezers are compactly located at the ends of the store's aisles. The wide shopping aisles also made it easier for shoppers to push their carts through. The shelves are full of seafood cans, jars of prepared baby food, and juices. Tradewell also had a self-service meat department where meats were already pre-packaged for the busy shopper. Photograph ordered by Tradewell, Inc., Seattle.
Tradewell Stores, Inc. (Tacoma); Supermarkets; Freezers; Ice cream & ices;
B & B Glass and Paint Co. offered convenient drive-in service and glass installation at their 748 Market Street location. The company was owned by Benjamin E. Bassett and LeRoy O. Bertheau. They offered glass for every purpose, including plate, crystal, sheet, glass blocks, mirrors, re-silvering and residence glazing. They also sold Pabco paints. View of side of B & B Glass building with large advertising, including painting of two men holding a large plate glass, and parking lot full of cars. There is also a Rainier Beer billboard attached to the side of the building. Photograph ordered by Mrs. Ben Bassett.
B & B Glass & Paint Co. (Tacoma); Glass industry--Tacoma; Signs (Notices); Electric signs--Tacoma--1950-1960; Billboards--Tacoma;
A Lincoln Electric salesman, possibly Lincoln Electric co-owner, Tony Ricono, shows an interested customer a large Bendix television console. The television is encased in a fine wood cabinet with doors. The firm featured Bendix and Hoffman brands with a wide assortment of 1953 choices. Lincoln Electric had recently moved into a new building on South 38th and Park Avenue; besides selling and servicing appliances, they had also expanded into the furniture and juvenile market. TPL-2290
Lincoln Electric (Tacoma); Televisions--1950-1960; Shopping--Tacoma--1950-1960;
A large fleet of delivery trucks and vans is parked outside of Sepic Electric's South "K" Street (now known as Martin Luther King Jr. Way) store in February, 1953. Sepic's was well known as an appliance store; they also sold furniture and floor coverings. They maintained their own repair department so they could offer their customers repair and installation services. Sepic Electric was owned by brothers Fred and Stan Sepic. Photograph ordered by Stan Sepic.
Sepic Electric Co. (Tacoma); Appliance stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Furniture stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Trucks--Tacoma--1950-1960;
Sepic Electric was started as a repair shop by two brothers, Fred and Stan Sepic, in the early 1940's. It gradually expanded to include appliances, furniture, and floor coverings for sale. They continued to offer repair services, including washing machines and electric motors. Their South "K" Street (now known as Martin Luther King Jr. Way) store had been remodeled by February, 1950. In May, 1951, the Sepics opened a second furniture and appliance store at South 72nd and Pacific. Photograph ordered by Stan Sepic. TPL-3788
Sepic Electric Co. (Tacoma); Furniture stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Appliance stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Storefronts--Tacoma--1950-1960;
