Exterior of Casa Blanca Apartments designed and owned by Ray Gamble. View of three-story brick building from corner of North 2nd and Yakima Avenue. Ordered by Earl C. Walters, Continental Inc., Seattle. Originally built in 1890 as flats, the structure was known as the Lincoln Apartments. In 1944, Ray Gamble remodeled the structure serving both as architect and owner. It was a labor of love that went on for 18 years of construction. The building has 30 units. Much of the mosaic tile work was designed by Gamble himself, out of tiles selected in his travels. The electric eyes and push-button patio coverings for rainy days are his own designs. There are even gold plated door knobs. In the late 60's, he turned over the income form the Casa Blanca to the University of Puget Sound for scholarships. Having no education himself, he wished to help others. (Seattle Times 2/18/1968)
Scenic views from Eastern Washington. An aerial view of the housing area across the Columbia River from the utility facilities at Grand Coulee Dam. Mason City was built on one side of the river during the dam construction and Engineer's Town grew on the opposite side. This view shows the land forms above the river into the distance.
Three young boys, (l to r) Gregg White, Ricky Garoutte and Douglas Williams, were photographed, in November of 1950, while playing in the sand table at the Lakewood Cooperative Play Group No. 1. The Lakewood co-op play group was formed by a group of clever Lakes district mothers in March of 1950. The young mothers reasoned that by forming their own non-profit organization, with the member/mothers taking turns at supervising, they could both provide playmates for their young children and free-up more of their own time. (TNT, 12/17/1950, p.D-1) Ordered by the Tribune, Barbara Dana.
Day care; Children playing in sand--Lakewood; Children playing with toys--Lakewood--1950-1960; White, Gregg; Garoutte, Ricky; Williams, Douglas;
Thirteen children from the Lakewood Cooperative Play Group No. 1 pose for a group portrait, dressed in their winter clothes, on Jungle Jim playground equipment. The co-op playgroup met Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 9:30 - 11:30 at the Washington Horseman's Club. The children enjoyed all the open space - and the organized activities like finger-painting and clay modeling. The mothers shared the responsibility of watching and supervising the children. Ordered by the Tribune, Barbara Dana. (TNT, 12/17/1950, p.D-2))
Day care; Children playing outdoors--Lakewood--1950-1960;
Publicity for National Flower Week. Woman placing carnation in lapel of man seated at desk and surrounded by five men. Bouquets of carnations and mums are on desk. The seated man is believed to be C.A. Erdahl, longtime Commissioner of Public Utilities. Ordered by Mr. Farley, Farley Florists.
In November of 1950, Wallace A. "Wally" Macpherson was photographed in the Federal Bakery at 1107 South K Street (now Martin Luther King Jr. Way) surrounded by two, three and four tier wedding cakes. The Federal Bakery was founded by Mr. Macpherson's Scottish-born father, Donald Macpherson, in 1889. Wally took over management of the business in 1918. He was a graduate of Stadium H.S. , and went to the University of Washington, Drake University and the College of Puget Sound. In 1921 he became the youngest member admitted to the Washington state bar, but he never practiced law professionally concentrating instead on the bakery business. He died on February 1, 1951 and his wife, Esther, took over management of the bakery; the bakery closed in the mid-1960s.
Federal Bakery (Tacoma); Macpherson, Wallace A.; Cakes--Tacoma--1950-1960;
Launching of M.V. Golden Glow at Peterson Boat Building Company. Woman holding bouquet of roses and champagne bottle. Ordered by George Peterson, general manager.
Launching of M.V. Golden Glow at Peterson Boat Building Company. Vessel leaving, framed by the shadows of building. Ordered by George Peterson, general manager.
Launching of M.V. Golden Glow at Peterson Boat Building Company. Woman smashing champagne bottle on hull of ship. Ordered by George Peterson, general manager.
Thirty-four children in one of the lower grades at the Dupont School. Two cub scouts in the front row are wearing their scout uniforms. The children sit with their hands folded in their laps in front of a North Pole scene on a bulletin board. Dupont had an elementary school enrollment of 376 students for the 1950-1951 school year. Lulu Bennett, Ida Franklin and Alma Hanson taught 1st grade.
Schools--Dupont--1950-1960; School children--Dupont--1950-1960;
Bette M. (Mrs. Vitor) Parber, left, and Mildred B. (Mrs. Harold) Keyser work on the set hanging curtains for the production of "You Touched Me", a comedy-drama by Tennessee Williams, to be presented by the Theatre Guild at the South Tacoma Community Center. The play was scheduled for November 30, December 1 and 2, 1950. Ordered by the Tribune, Barbara Dana. (TNT, 11/26/1950, p.D-1)
South Tacoma Community Center (Tacoma); Theatre Guild (Tacoma); Theatrical productions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Stage props; Parber, Bette M.; Keyser, Mildred B.;
A large contingent of Master Builders met at the Top of the Ocean restaurant on November 29, 1950. The group was composed of local contractors and others in the building industry who were proud of their craftsmanship. They had their association headquarters at 1103 1/2 Division Ave.
Tacoma Master Builders Association (Tacoma); Meetings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Top of the Ocean (Tacoma);
The Tacoma Master Builders combined the installation of their 1951 officers and their Christmas Party for 1950 at the New Yorker Cafe. Ten men and their wives are seated or standing behind the head table. Mel Pedersen, retiring president of the organization, is seated behind the podium. Rex N. Harrington, to the right, was the newly installed president. Ordered by J. Howard Kane, executive vice-president. Other names were listed in the newspaper. (TNT, 12/17/1950, p.C-14)
Tacoma Master Builders Association (Tacoma); Pedersen, Mel; Harrington, Rex N.; New Yorker Cafe (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1950-1960;
Vaudeville Party at the Top of the Ocean, photograph ordered by Tacoma Actors Guild. Two men and three women, acting as restaurant staff, at bar. For Tacoma Actors Guild, Frank Murtough.
Top of the Ocean (Tacoma); Tacoma Actors Guild (Tacoma); Parties--Tacoma--1950-1960;
Vaudeville Party at the Top of the Ocean, photograph ordered by the Tacoma Actors Guild.. Man at microphone addressing audience seated at tables around dance floor. Two of the columns in the room have sea shell decorations near top of column. For Tacoma Actors Guild, Frank Murtough.
Top of the Ocean (Tacoma); Tacoma Actors Guild (Tacoma); Parties--Tacoma--1950-1960;
Footprints on the sidewalk lead people to South Tacoma Motor Company to see the 1951 Chevrolets. Fourteen passenger body types were included in the 1951 line. Two- and four-door sedans were available in the Styleline and Fleetline series. All sedans and the sport coupe came in de luxe or special trim. A convertible coupe, all-steel station wagon and the Bel Air were exclusively in the de luxe series. The business coupe was only available in the Special series. (TNT, 12/9/1950, p.13)
Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; South Tacoma Motor Co. (Tacoma); Chevrolet automobile; Showrooms--Tacoma--1950-1960;
December was the month to showcase the upcoming year's new automobile models. Here the 1951 Chevrolets, including the Bel Air, are gleaming under the overhead lights of South Tacoma Motor Company at 5602 South Tacoma Way. The Bel Air's white-wall tires set off its new styling, where improvements and changes were featured in both the chassis and body for 1951. Model changes ranged from the "biggest brakes in the low-price field" to longer and lower design innovations. The Powerglide automatic transmission, optional on the deluxe models only, was also refined. Both South Tacoma Motor Co. and Walker Chevrolet would open their showrooms at night during part of December to highlight the impressive catalog of new cars. (TNT, 12/8/1950, p.13-article )
Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; South Tacoma Motor Co. (Tacoma); Chevrolet automobile; Showrooms--Tacoma--1950-1960;
A general view of the South Tacoma Motor Company at night. The 1951 Chevrolets are seen through the showroom windows. A neon sign is elevated from the corner of the building and a banner promoting "America's Largest and Finest Low-Priced Car" is seen on the transom.
Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; South Tacoma Motor Co. (Tacoma); Chevrolet automobile; Showrooms--Tacoma--1950-1960; Electric signs--Tacoma--1950-1960;
The exterior of the old B.F. Goodrich building. B.F. Goodrich moved to their new location at 707 Pacific Avenue in May 1950. Lloyd Suiter Tire Company had taken over this location by 1951. Lloyd Suiter had formerly been located at 2302 Pacific Avenue. Lloyd Suiter died in April 1949. Ted L. Fix served as president of the Lloyd Suiter Tire Company in 1951. Wesley Maitland served as secretary. Ordered by Lloyd Suiter Tire Company, Mrs. McGorran.
Newly remodeled 2nd floor at Harold E. Dahl Company. The company sold office supplies and furniture, Mosler safes, typewriters, adding machines, and duplicators. This view features metal and wooden desks, desk chairs, visitor chairs, tables, file cabinets, coat racks and lamps.
Harold E. Dahl Co. (Tacoma); Office furniture; Stores & shops--Tacoma--1950-1960; Desks; Chairs;
Wollander Far West Homes at Mountlake Terrace. A row of one-story, rambler-style houses from the Mountlake Terrace housing development are shown in December of 1950. The houses appear to have similar floor plans, being turned left to right to create some variance in the facades of the homes.
Houses--Mountlake Terrace; Real estate business--Mountlake Terrace; Neighborhoods--Mountlake Terrace; Wollander Farwest Homes (Tacoma);
Wollander Far West Homes at Mountlake Terrace. A one-story house built of cement block located in the Mountlake Terrace housing development was photographed in December of 1950. The exterior has been painted a light color. A decorative screen has been added to the left of the front door.
Houses--Mountlake Terrace; Real estate business--Mountlake Terrace; Neighborhoods--Mountlake Terrace; Wollander Farwest Homes (Tacoma); Housing developments--Mountlake Terrace;
Wollander Far West Homes at Mountlake Terrace. A one-story house in the Mountlake Terrace housing development built of cement block is shown. The home in December of 1950 was probably occupied as several full glass bottles of milk stand on the front porch.
Houses--Mountlake Terrace; Real estate business--Mountlake Terrace; Neighborhoods--Mountlake Terrace; Wollander Farwest Homes (Tacoma); Housing developments--Mountlake Terrace;
A Trendmaker House designed by W.A. Wollander. A newly constructed, one-story ranch house with a low-pitched roof, over-hanging eves, picture windows and a wide, brick chimney sits on the highest part of the lot.
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. 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);
In December of 1950, passersby could pause in their nightly stroll downtown to peer through the curved windows into the festive showroom at the Mueller-Harkins Buick dealership, 455 Saint Helens Ave. The showroom was decorated for Christmas and featured two new 1950 Buicks on display. A neon sign promoting "Buick Dynaflow Drive" (automatic transmission) hung in the showroom window. Buick sold over half a million of their 1950 models using the slogan "Better Get a Buick." Prices in December 1950 in Tacoma ranged from $2256 for a Buick Special to $3157 for the Roadmaster. TPL-5045
A night view of Mueller-Harkins Buick dealership decorated for Christmas. A Buick has been placed on top of the roof of the service marquee with trees and "Make this a Buick Christmas" banner. Glass-topped Texaco gas pumps, a Firestone neon sign, US Royal Master tire banner, and a motor oil display are also shown. The dealership's neon sign advertising Buick shines brightly on the vertical sign. TPL-10295
Mueller-Harkins Motor Co. (Tacoma); Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1950-1960; Buick automobile; Christmas decorations; Window displays--Tacoma--1950-1960; Electric signs--Tacoma--1950-1960;
