A view into Mrs. Renna Ringo's living room. The ceiling beams have been left exposed with tounge-in-groove boards showing above. The room has nearly floor-to-ceiling windows on the left to take advantage of a view of the Tacoma Narrows from this Narrowmoor home. A large brick fireplace creates a focal point at the opposite end of the room. The is a minimum of furniture and woodwork in the room. A large, open doorway leads off to the right and a division from the living room and hallway has been created with a bookcase with translucent backing on the right. Mrs. Ringo is seated near the fireplace. Her sister, Mrs. Stewart L. Johnson, is in the foreground working on needlepoint.
This photograph of the Rust Building, at the corner of South 11th and Pacific, was taken in October of 1950, thirty years after it was built. Lundquist-Lily men's clothiers, Thom McAn shoes, Regal Shoe Company and C.P. Fawcett jewelers were located in the storefronts along Pacific Avenue. The neon sign advertising the name of the building can be seen on top of the 12- story building. The new F.W. Woolworth building can be seen behind the Rust Building on the far left side of the photograph. In 2003 it was renamed The Commerce Center. TPL-9495
Office buildings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Rust Building (Tacoma); Business districts--Tacoma;
The exterior of the Union Pacific Railroad Company office. The company is advertising the Streamliner with sleeping car service to Chicago and Sun Valley.
Railroad companies--Tacoma; Union Pacific Railroad Co. (Tacoma); Offices--Tacoma--1950-1960; Facades--Tacoma--1950-1960;
The exterior of the Franke Tobey Jones Home. The English Tudor-style home for old ladies was built in 1924. The facility was first called Restholme but was later renamed in honor of its benefactor Franke M. Tobey Jones. Franke M. Tobey Jones was the wife of C.H. Jones, one of the four founders of the St. Paul and Tacoma Lumber Company. TPL-5772
Franke Tobey Jones Home (Tacoma); Rest homes--Tacoma--1950-1960;
The exterior of the Franke Tobey Jones Home. The English Tudor-style retirement home was built in 1924 and named in honor of its benefactor Franke M. Tobey Jones. As of 2001 it is still one of the more sought-after retirement facilities in Tacoma. It had various facilities for individuals living independently, married couples and those who needed assisted living.
Franke Tobey Jones Home (Tacoma); Rest homes--Tacoma--1950-1960;
This plastic display rack was included in the exhibit at Washington Steel Products. Plastic was used to provide a see through display of new innovations in kitchen storage with revolving corner shelving, racks for lids to pots and hanging utensils, drying racks for kitchen towels and spice racks. A display board on the left shows different door and drawer knobs. Ordered by Tech Craft Inc., Tom Estep.
Tech-Craft Plastics, Inc. (Tacoma); Plastics industry--Tacoma; Showcases; Cooking utensils; Cupboards--Tacoma; Washington Steel & Welding Co. (Tacoma);
Exterior of a newly completed, one-story rambler in a wooded area. The exterior is partially covered with brick. The roof is covered with cedar shakes. A two-car garage opens on the left and appears to connect with the kitchen through an opening at the back of the garage. The fence around a curved concrete play area has not yet been completed. The kitchen is located in the corner of the L-shaped floor plan. Ordered by John T. Steward who owned a real estate office in Lakewood. This could possibly be his home at 12305 Nyanza Road Southwest.
Interior of home featuring the kitchen. A desk with telephone has been fitted into the near corner of the kitchen. Windows stretch around the corner and look out onto the paved play area. The design includes plenty of counter and storage space with the stove on the right and the sink by the windows on the left. A counter on the far end is open to both the kitchen and eating area on the other side. Ordered by John T. Steward.
The back side of a newly completed rambler in Lakewood looking out into a wooded lot. The massive chimney is built of the same brick as the lower portion of the house. The garage can be seen on the far left. Ordered by John T. Steward.
Dust collecting equipment at Tacoma Smelter. The steps taken in the production of copper and other metals at the American Smelting and Refining Company included crushing the raw materials that were delived to ASARCO by ship and by rail from all parts of the world. Following crushing the different types of concentrates and ores required for each refined metal were processed by Bedding and Roasting prior to Smelting. These processes were followed by Converting and Electrolytic Refining. Ordered by American Air Filter Company, c/o R.E. Chase & Company, Mr. Warren. (Tacoma Progress, June 1955)
Dust collecting equipment at Tacoma Smelter. During 1950 the American Smelting and Refining Company added a new sulphuric acid recovery plant. Other improvements during the year included modernization of the arsenic plant and installation of new ore-handling facilities to increase capacity to 200 tons an hour, replacing facilities which had been installed before they took over the Tacoma plant in 1905. Ordered by American Air Filter Company, c/o R.E. Chase & Company, Mr. Warren.
Dust collecting equipment at Tacoma Smelter. While copper was the principal product from the Tacoma plant of American Smelting and Refining Company (ASARCO), there were also by-products including gold, silver, arsenic and nickel sulphate. The acid plant which went onto production in April 1950 produced 100 tons of sulphuric acid a day that was used by the Stauffer Chemical Company in the manufacture of super-phosphate fertilizer. Ordered by American Air Filter Company, c/o R.E. Chase & Company, Mr. Warren.
The F.W. Woolworth Company celebrated the grand opening of their store # 105 (in Tacoma) on November 2, 1950. The four-story building at 955 Broadway had entrances on both the Broadway and Commerce Street levels. It replaced the Fidelity Building which had stood on the corner from 1890 until in was demolished in 1949. Woolworth closed their Tacoma store in 1993.
A view of the exterior of the F.W. Woolworth Company building recently completed in Tacoma from across Commerce Street. The store's escalator can be seen through the large window on this side of the five-and-dime's building. TPL-4551
Fruit and vegetable display equipment at Market Street Thriftway. The display cases are filled with fall vegetables: cabbage, carrots, celery, followed by parsnips later on. Oranges and apples are behind the two men wearing green aprons. Small pumpkins sit along the top of the cases. Ordered by Washington Equipment and Sales Company, Seattle. ALBUM 15.
A doll house for reproduction by the Harriet Deering Orthopedic Guild. The two-story doll house has been finished with floral wallpapers, wooden and upholstered furniture in the living room, dining room, master bedroom, and the nursery, and the kitchen includes a washer and ironing machine along with a table and chairs - a girl's dream house. Ordered by Shirley Laird.
Window display of Motorola television sets at Barnes Radio and Television Company. Three different television models are shown including a table model and one with doors that close over the not-quite-round screen. Televisions were advertised as a gift for the home at Christmas 1950. "Christmas 1950 can be the most wonderful Christmas ever", "Television may never again cost so little", and a quote from Eleanor Roosevelt, "To me television offers a magnificent opportunity to increase the education which we make available to the children of today". Ordered by Don Wok. (TNT, 11/25/1950, p.12)
Barnes Radio & Television Co. (Tacoma); Televisions--1950-1960; Window displays--Tacoma--1950-1960; Storefronts--Tacoma;
A window display of Motorola radios and television sets is shown at Neal's Radio Sales Company. Everyone wanted a television but they were still not in every household. Prices ranged from $229.95 for a 16-inch Philco portable to $620 for a Packard Bell 19-inch combination with radio and record player in November 1950. Ordered by Don Wok. TPL-9679
Neal's Radio Sales Co. (Tacoma); Televisions--1950-1960; Window displays--Tacoma--1950-1960; Storefronts--Tacoma;
The Connoisseur Shop was newly opened at 8 Tacoma Avenue North. It was owned by Maude R. (Mrs. Frank) Herbert. The well-lit interior shows the array of beautiful gifts and accessories available.
Connoisseur Shop (Tacoma); Gift shops--Tacoma--1950-1960; Facades--Tacoma--1950-1960; Show windows--Tacoma--1950-1960;
The interior of the newly opened Connoisseur Shop at 8 Tacoma Avenue North owned by Maude Ross Herbert. Cases along the left wall are closed and display home accessories along the top. Lamps, tables, glassware and china are also featured. A stairway on the right leads upwards.
Connoisseur Shop (Tacoma); Gift shops--Tacoma--1950-1960;
Interior of Tacoma Fixture Company's cabinet shop. Several men are seen at work on the various processes involved in completing custom cabinets. Stacks of pre-cut wood are seen in the foreground as well as partially completed drawers and shelves. Ordered by Bill Koski.
Tacoma Fixture Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Cabinetmaking--Tacoma; Workshops--Tacoma;
A close-up of insulated caustic evaporation tanks and piping at Hooker Chemical. The Tacoma plant was expanded in 1950 and was fully operational by Januray 1951. The increase in production helped the company meet enlarged requirements of its current customers and to supply several important new consumers with caustic soda and liquid chlorine. (Hooker Electrochemical Company Annual Report, 1950)
Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Hooker Electrochemical Co. (Tacoma);
Hundreds of electrolytic cells, in row after row, work 24 hours a day at Hooker Electrochemical producing the basic ingredients of all Hooker Chemicals. In each of the Hooker cells, under the action of direct electric current, salt and water are broken down into a constant flow of caustic soda, chlorine, and hydrogen. Many other large producers of chlorine were licensed to use the Hooker cels in their own plants. Thus Hooker Cells, continually improved in design and efficiency, accounted for nearly half of all the chlorine produced in the United States. (Hooker Electrochemical Company Annual Report, 1950)
Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Hooker Electrochemical Co. (Tacoma);
Wallander Homes. A view of the front of a one-story, ranch-style home built of concrete blocks with a cedar shake roof. A brick chimney comes through the roof near the one-car garage. A brick flower box has been built by the front door. Ordered by W.A. Wollander.
Houses--Tacoma--1950-1960; Wollander Homes (Tacoma);
Wollander Homes. A view of several one-story, ranch-style homes built of concrete blocks with cedar shake roofs along a curving residential street. The lawns are large with concrete driveways also serving as walkways. A few trees have been left standing in the housing development. Ordered by W.A. Wollander. TPL-8309
Houses--Tacoma; Housing developments--Tacoma; Suburban life--Tacoma; Wollander Homes (Tacoma);
Wollander Homes. The front door of this recently completed home in Mountlake Terrace has been left open to show the use of the interior space. Two large windows face the street. An L-shaped room accomodates a living and dining area. Ordered by W.A. Wollander.
Interiors--Mountlake Terrace--1950-1960; Houses--Mountlake Terrace; Wollander Homes (Tacoma);
Wollander Homes. Draperies have been closed over the two large windows along the front of this house. A striped sofa with wooden arms stands against the far wall and two charis face each other in the foreground. A dining table and hutch are seen in the area to the right. The floor is covered with linoleum tile. Tables and lamps have been placed conveniently with the other furniture. Smooth, uncluttered lines are used in the building and furniture in keeping with the modern look. Ordered by W.A. Wollander.
Interiors--Mountlake Terrace--1950-1960; Living rooms--Mountlake Terrace--1950-1960; Wollander Homes (Tacoma);
Wollander Homes. Another configuration of a living room in an affordable home designed by W.A. Wollander. The front door opens directly into the living room. A large, stone fireplace is seen along the wall on the left. Chairs and a sofa with fabric coverings of floral and abstract patterns are used along with blond wood tables. The floor has been covered with linoleum tile. Ordered by W.A. Wollander.
Interiors--Tacoma--1950-1960; Living rooms--Mountlake Terrace--1950-1960; Wollander Homes (Tacoma);
Exterior of Sears store at the corner of South 13th Street and Broadway as pictured on November 15, 1950. The Coliseum Bowling Alley is seen up the hill along South 13th Street and the Savon Rexall Drug store is across Broadway. Ordered by Herb Moore.
