Exterior exposure of Allied Arts Building. Originally the site of the Northern Pacific Railroad headquarters and later purchased by the City of Tacoma for use as an annex and Public Safety Building, the building at 6th and Pacific was empty by 1962 as law enforcement agencies had moved to the new County-City Building on Tacoma Avenue South. Architect Alan Liddle had proposed the transformation of the building into an art center. Allied Arts of Tacoma accepted a 15-year lease from the city and took formal possession of the old Public Safety Building on November 30, 1961. Now called the Allied Arts Center, remodeling commenced in March, 1962, and dedication of the building would follow on June 4, 1962. View of remodeled building; plywood "fins" protruding were painted in bright shades of blue, yellow and off-orange in contrast to the chocolate brown outer walls. The first floor would be the headquarters of the Tacoma Convention Bureau and Housing Information Center. Photograph ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association. (TNT 11-30-61, p. 1, TNT 6-3-62, p. 1, TNT 6-5-62, p. 3)

Allied Arts Building (Tacoma); Public Safety Building (Tacoma); City Hall Annex (Tacoma);

ca. 1979. The cupola of the Northern Pacific Headquarters Building, 621 Pacific Ave.

Public Safety Building (Tacoma); Northern Pacific Headquarters Building (Tacoma);

Circa 1913.

Glory Ragland (second from left), a public health service nurse, and Percy Brush, look on as a dentist who preferred to remain anonymous provided free dental work to a young patient at the new free dental clinic in the City Hall Annex, 621 Pacific Ave. Opened January 21, 1924 and organized by the Kiwanis Club with the cooperation of county, professional and fraternal organizations, the clinic provided free dental services Monday and Tuesday from 9 am to 12 noon, with a local dentist on duty to volunteer his services. A room in the annex had been completely furnished and painted white. The Kiwanis and Elks provided the equipment. Percy Brush was president of the Kiwanis and chairman of the committee responsible for the clinic when it was founded. (TDL 3/26/1924, pg. 3) TPL-659; G27.1-118

Ragland, Glory; Brush, Percy; Dentistry--Tacoma--1920-1930; Dental equipment & supplies--1920-1930; Dental hygiene--Tacoma; Health care facilities--Tacoma;

A roll of knotted bed sheets remains dangling from a window at the jail in the Public Safety Building, 621 Pacific Ave., on July 3, 1950. Federal prisoner Stanley P. O'Carter, age 34 of Phoenix, Arizona, made a daring attempt at escape from the multi-floored jail at 3:50 a.m. that morning. Only by chance was he captured as Officers Ed Cutler and Robert Hubert were passing nearby in the darkness at the time Mr. Carter dropped 12 feet onto the ground from the makeshift "ladder." Mr. Carter was one of only three federal prisoners in the government tank and had been alone in his cell for several days. It was believed that tools smuggled to him enabled him to cut a hole through the back of his cell and allowed him access to a small unbarred ventillating window on the north side of the building, immediately above the driveway. No tools were found on the prisoner nor in his cell. Mr. Carter did not resist arrest and was returned to the jail. (TNT 7-4-50, p. 1-article) TPL-6665

Public Safety Building (Tacoma); Prison escapes--Tacoma; Jails--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Lt. Frances Rich posed with fellow WAVES Lt. Jane Horsfall and Ensign Carol Citron at the Naval recruiting office at the City Hall Annex. Lt. Rich was the daughter of actress Irene Rich and one of the first women to enter officer's training at Smith College. She was attached to the Postal Commission of the Naval Department and was in town to extol V-Mail as well as interview prospective WAVES. (T. Times 4/5/1943, pg. 6)

Rich, Frances; World War, 1939-1945--Recruiting & enlistment--Tacoma;

Circa 1910.

Circa 1919.

Circa 1905.