Ed and Jean Springer are checking the tree lights while decorating their Christmas tree. Fashions for winter 1950 included this wool hostess gown worn by Mrs. Springer. (TNT, 12/10/1950, p.D-1)

Christmas decorations; Christmas trees--Tacoma--1950-1960; Spouses--Tacoma--1950-1960; Springer, Ed; Springer, Jean;

A close up of one of the beer steins in the Columbia Breweries collection. A metal stein with a pedestal foot, a winged faun on the handle and a sheep's head on the lid. Varoius shaped organic medalions decorate the body of the stein.

Drinking vessels; Columbia Breweries, Inc. (Tacoma);

A close up of one of the beer steins in the Columbia Breweries collection. Deep relief figures of Baccus are shown around the outside of the covered stein.

Drinking vessels; Columbia Breweries, Inc. (Tacoma);

A close up one of the beer steins in the Columbia Breweries collection. A metal and ceramic stein with a deep carving of a bacchanalia including fauns and nymphs. A man with a staff and horn stands on the lid.

Drinking vessels; Columbia Breweries, Inc. (Tacoma);

Portrait of Andre DuBuc, B11 Headquarters Company, Fort Lewis. The smiling soldier in uniform with beret was photographed on November 18, 1950.

DuBuc, Andre; Military personnel--Fort Lewis; Berets; Military uniforms;

The play has 30 experienced professional actors travelling with the production throughout the United States. More than 75 actors were local talent, including students from Lincoln High School and Stadium High School. Music is provided by 18 chorus members from Tacoma, under the direction of Clayton Johnson, music director at Stadium High School. View of actor, fully dressed in his costume for the Black Hills Passion Play (T.N.T., 10/5/49, p. 8).

Theatrical productions--Tacoma; Actors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Costumes; Historical dramas; Biblical events; Tacoma Council of Churches (Tacoma); Temple Theatre (Tacoma);

ca. 1949. In this circa 1949 photograph, two older men are sitting on the concrete floor of an office with a display of toy trucks, tractors and farming equipment, some loaded with large russet potatoes. Burlap sack advertises "Big Chief U. S. No. 1 Washington Potatoes. Balcom & Moe." Bob Richards, photographer.

Toys; Potatoes;

Elsie E. (Mrs. Henry J.) Walters was installed as president of the Tacoma and District Chrysanthemum society at the society's annual banquet in November 1949. Mrs. Walters succeeded Mrs. Jack Johnson to the post. The society had recently held their show which had a wedding theme at the Building Laborers hall. (TNT, 11/3/1949, p.A-10; 11/12/1949, p.14)

Women--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1940-1950; Hats--1940-1950; Clubwomen--Tacoma--1940-1950; Women--Social life--1940-1950; Walters, Elsie E.;

Joan Worley, Medical Arts Building, Dr. Friars' office, studio portrait for passport. Joan Worley was a dental assistant in Dr. C.E. Friars' office.

Worley, Joan; Women--Tacoma--1940-1950; Portraits; Dental hygiene--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Sylvania Electric Products, Incorporated was a lighting equipment manufacturing company, the business location was 1318 4th Avenue in Seattle, Washington; and Charles D. Dickinson was the Division Manager. View of Sylvania Electric Products, Inc. employees gathered together for a regional meeting; electrical information posters are on walls of meeting room, and products are displayed in the right rear area of room.

Business people--Tacoma--1940-1950; Conference rooms--Tacoma; Meetings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Sylvania Electric Products, Inc. (Seattle)--Employees;

This view of the very busy Kindergarten class at Washington School shows two children on an indoor teeter-totter, several sitting around a large table looking at books, some working on art projects, painting on easels, building with notched pieces of 2'x4' lumber and cleaning up with a broom and dust pan. The teacher has all in hand from the front of the classroom. TPL-5714

Classrooms--Tacoma; Teachers--Tacoma; Elementary school teaching; Children--Education--Tacoma; Blackboards; School children--Tacoma--1940-1950; Public schools--Tacoma; Washington School (Tacoma);

Washington Hardware Company was one of the largest hardware and sporting goods store in Tacoma. The company was building a new wholesale division at 1247 Puyallup Avenue. View of window display advertising the "Who is Miss Famous" contest with over $25,000 in prizes and first prize was $5,000. The sign indicates to enter contest you must buy three "Westinghouse" light bulbs and finish the simple jingle.

Contests--Tacoma--1940-1950; Light bulbs--Tacoma; Signs (Notices); Hardware stores--Tacoma; Window displays--Tacoma; Washington Hardware Co. (Tacoma);

Evening exterior view of Jess McGee's Shell Service station located at 3704 Sixth Avenue near Washington Street. This shell station offered their customer the famous "Shellubrication", Shell products, automobile accessories, and full service vehicle maintenance.

Gasoline--Tacoma; Vehicle maintenance & repair--Tacoma; Electric signs--Tacoma--1940-1950; Automobile service stations--Tacoma; Jess McGee's Shell Service (Tacoma);

This aerial photograph of the Pioneer Sand and Gravel Company gravel pit was taken in November of 1949. The large gravel pit was located in Steilacoom adjacent what is now University Place; their offices were in Seattle, at 901 Fairview Avenue North. The company specialized in sand, gravel, building materials and "Tru-Mix" concrete. Some years later the pit and the land surrounding it became part of Chambers Creek Properties. In June of 2007 the $21 million Chambers Bay Golf Course opened on this site. TPL-10540

Industry--Steilacoom; Sand--Steilacoom; Digging--Steilacoom; Waterfronts; Harbors--Steilacoom; Sandstone quarrying--Steilacoom; Industrial facilities--Steilacoom; Aerial views; Pioneer Sand & Gravel Co. (Steilacoom);

Irving's Clothes Shop was operated by Gussman's Clothes Shops, Incorporated. Irving's advertised that they were "One of Tacoma's Smartest Men's Shops" and "Credit with Courtesy", this store was located at 919 Market Street in Tacoma's business district. Interior view of the spacious Irving's Clothes Shop, racks of men's dress slacks and sports coats are displayed, fitting rooms in right side background (T.N.T., 10/20/49, p. 6).

Men--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1940-1950; Merchandise displays--Tacoma; Clothing stores--Tacoma; Gussman's Clothes Shops, Inc. (Tacoma); Irving's Clothes Shop (Tacoma);

St. Regis had been expanding their facilities for many years, the company had added new buildings and had recently begun the mass production of paper in Tacoma. St. Regis began producing paper in January 1949; the paper mill was converting the liquid pulp into heavy multiwall Kraft paper, using the most modern equipment available. Interior view of plant and new roll grinding machine.

Paper industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Mechanical systems--Tacoma; Machinery; Machinery industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Industrial facilities--Tacoma; St. Regis Paper Co. (Tacoma)--1940-1950;

Puget Sound Feed Company was owned by Myrle L. White, the main store was located at 302 East 26th Street in Tacoma. The business also had a branch store in Lakewood at 8920 Gravelly Lake Drive Southwest, this store was managed by William C. Swan. View of new multi-level chicken coop; chickens appear to be eating.

Poultry houses--Tacoma; Chickens--Tacoma; Feed stores--Tacoma; Animal feeding--Tacoma; Puget Sound Feed Co. (Tacoma);

The Last Round Cafe was located at 1516 Broadway in Tacoma's downtown district. The restaurant was owned and operated by William M. Hamilton. Interior view of the Last Round Cafe; stools and bar area on left side, doorway leading into the kitchen on left corner area; eating booths and jukebox on right side of restaurant. Photo ordered by the Washington State Liquor Board for the tavern's liquor license.

Restaurants--Tacoma; Taverns (Inns)--Tacoma; Kitchens--Tacoma--1940-1950; Seating furniture--Tacoma; Bars (Furniture)--Tacoma; Jukeboxes; Last Round Cafe (Tacoma);

Exterior view of the Poodle Dog in Fife; view from the southwest of new building at location where Rocco "Mac" Manza and James Zarelli opened their hamburger stand in 1933. This structure was replaced by the current building in 1967; photo ordered by the Tacoma Fixture Company, Incorporated. The Poodle Dog offered their customers good food including: hamburgers, chicken, steaks and seafood. TPL-9684

Soda fountains--Fife; Light fixtures; Business enterprises--Fife; Electric signs--Fife; Diners (Restaurants)--Fife; Poodle Dog (Fife); Tacoma Fixture Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

View of North Pacific Plywood, Incorporated facilities, laborers are sorting plywood panels in the dryer area of plant. Stacks of plywood are being gathered for the large hot press machine. Workers would feed these "sandwiches" between the metal sheets. Copy of photograph ordered by North Pacific Plywood, Incorporated.

Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Plywood; Industrial facilities--Tacoma; Laborers--Tacoma; Machinery; Equipment; North Pacific Plywood, Inc. (Tacoma);

Coal yard pictures, Aaberg Fuel Company, Johnson. A view of the machinery used to fill the coal delivery trucks at Aaberg's. A bull-dozer fitted with a scoop loads coal into a hopper which drops the coal onto a conveyor system which in turn lifts the coal over the truck and drops it in. One of the drivers watches to know when to stop moving coal into the truck. When the company was moved from McKinley Avenue, Herbert Johnson, Jr., decided to change the name of the company from McKinley Coal Company. He thought the name Johnson's Fuel might be encountered too often so he chose another Scahdinavian name he ran across, Aaberg. It was catchy and intriguing. (TNT, 12/14/1949, p.11, 12, & 13)

Aaberg's Fuel Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Coal--Tacoma; Fuel--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fuel trade--Tacoma--1940-1950; Conveying systems--Tacoma--1940-1950; Trucks--Tacoma--1940-1950;

New machinery went into operation in December 1949 at Aaberg Fuel Company's yard between East Bay Street and the Puyallup River, at the foot of Puyallup Avenue. When drivers backed their trucks into the coal filling stations at Aaberg's, the trucks were filled automatically. A system of long conveyors was used to move the coal into the hoppers that filled the trucks. The coveyors automatically sorted the coal by grade. Each hopper could hold from 25 to 40 tons of coal. The Aaberg system was the first of its kind in the world, and was designed by Herbert Johnson Jr., the head of the company. (TNT, 12/14/1949, p.11, 12 & 13)

Aaberg's Fuel Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Coal--Tacoma; Fuel--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fuel trade--Tacoma--1940-1950; Conveying systems--Tacoma--1940-1950; Trucks--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Coal yard pictures, Aaberg Fuel Company, Johnson. Mrs. Anna Johnson was president of the company and Herbert P. Johnson, Jr., served as secretary-treasurer at this time. Herbert P. Johnson, Jr., designed the system of machinery that moved coal from box cars to the delivery trucks run by electricity provided by more than 20,000 feet of electric control cable. The company, "guaranteed the best quality coal or oil in town at the lowest possible prices". Delivery drivers stand beside their six trucks in front of large piles of coal. (TNT,12/14/1949, p.11, 12 & 13) Format 5" x 14" TPL-10241

Aaberg's Fuel Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Coal--Tacoma; Fuel--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fuel trade--Tacoma--1940-1950; Trucks--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Dinner at New Yorker, Last Man Club American Legion, December 10, 1949. Nineteen men pose with six empty chairs draped with American flags during their annual meeting held at the New Yorker. The Last Man Club was composed of World War I veterans who were past Commanders of the Rhodes Post of the American Legion. Capt. Chester Chastek became the "Last Man" in February 1992, at the age of 92. c/o Mr. B. Busselle.

American Legion Club (Tacoma); Patriotic societies--Tacoma--1940-1950; Clubs--Tacoma--1940-1950; Flags--United States; New Yorker Cafe (Tacoma); Last Man Club (Tacoma);

Activities at Annie Wright Seminary. In November of 1949, three students were photographed taking a break from studies in one of the large dormitory rooms at Annie Wright Seminary. One of the girls sits at a desk with a book open. Another student leans against one of the dressers in the room while sitting on the arm of an upholstered chair. The other girl sits on the end of her bed with stuffed animals. An Annie Wright banner is hung on the wall and there are also two bulletin boards hung on the walls. Annie Wright Seminary was a private school for girls, many of them boarding, which had been established in September of 1884.

Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1940-1950; Students--Tacoma--1940-1950; Teenagers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Dormitories--Tacoma; Stuffed animals (Toys); Banners--Tacoma; Desks; Beds; Dressers (Furniture);

Leed's Shoes exterior at Villa Plaza Shopping Center. Above the 12-foot canopy was cement stucco trimmed in redwood. There were two Leed's locations in the Tacoma area in 1957; one was at 938 Broadway in downtown Tacoma and the newest Leed's was situated at the Villa Plaza Shopping Center in Lakewood, next to the Rhodes Department Store. This view is believed to be of the front entrance to the shoe store. Most stores in the Villa Plaza had two entrances. The Villa Plaza Leed's, which handled exclusively women's shoes, hosiery and handbags, opened for business on April 4, 1957. Ellery Wybrow was promoted to store manager. (TNT 4-3-57, A-7-article)

Leed's Shoes (Lakewood); Shoe stores--Lakewood--1950-1960; Villa Plaza Shopping Center (Lakewood); Shopping centers--Lakewood--1950-1960;

Exterior- bank building. North Pacific Bank had been at the same location on South Tacoma Way since 1914. Designed by architects Lundberg & Mahon, the brick building also housed the South Tacoma Post Office for a while. Clarence W. Wallerich was listed as president of the one-branch bank according to the 1957 City Directory. General banking and safe deposit vaults were offered by North Pacific which had capital, surplus, reserves and undivided profits over $900,000,000. North Pacific Bank was purchased in November, 1998, by Heritage Bank. Photograph ordered by North Pacific Bank.

North Pacific Bank (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Banking--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Tucker & Sons, located on the 4600 block of Pacific Avenue, was a heating, furnace cleaning and hardware store. It was owned by the Tucker family: Orson, Roy, Howard and William. Employees, and possibly owners of the firm, were photographed on May 20, 1957, standing alongside their fleet of delivery trucks and vans. Signs on their building advertise the availability of Lennox heating systems; Tucker & Sons would be able to install, clean, and maintain gas, oil, and electric systems. An advertisement in the September 25, 1957, News Tribune indicated that 99 models of Lennox gas and oil furnances were available. In addition Coleman gas floor furnaces, wall and space heaters as well as Roberts-Gordon gas conversion burners could be purchased. Tucker & Sons also offered complete installation service. Sepia photograph ordered by Tucker & Sons. (TNT ad 9-25-57, A-11)

Tucker & Sons (Tacoma); Heating & ventilation industry (Tacoma); Trucks--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Wedding of University of Washington graduates Luana Chizuru Uyeda and Dr. Keith Hiroshi Yoshino.

The large and extended Stokes clan celebrated the 60th wedding anniversary of J.W. and Dora E. Stokes in Chehalis on June 9, 1957, combined with a family reunion. Mr. and Mrs. Stokes are seated in the middle section of the second row. Mrs. Stokes is wearing a printed dress and large corsage while Mr. Stokes, in glasses, is dressed in suit and tie along with a boutonniere. They are surrounded by a multitude of small children and other family members. Sepia photograph ordered by Mrs. L. Cain.

Anniversaries--Chehalis; Reunions--Chehalis; Group portraits; Stokes, J.W.; Stokes, Dora E.;