Exterior of supermarket. It appears that the Food King supermarket was the latest occupant at (then) 1202 South "K" Street in 1957. It had previously been the site of the West End Hotel & Saloon, K St. Public Market, and Hogan's. Built by contractor Claude Purvis, it was designed by architect Lyle Swedberg. Taken on a rainy evening, lights from the closed store reflect on the wet streets. Food King followed the new trend in shopping with multiple floor to ceiling windows and bright lighting. A neon crown stands atop of the flat roof of the brick building. According to the 1957 City Directory, Walter Hogan was listed as owner of three Food King stores in the Tacoma area. The "K" Street Food King was managed by Gene Sweet. Photograph ordered by Birkenwald, Inc. TPL-3797 (TNT 1-15-57, A-6,7, 10)
Food King (Tacoma); Supermarkets--Tacoma; Grocery stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Electric signs--Tacoma--1950-1960;
The bakery staff at a local Albertson's Food Center stand behind the V-shaped counter on January 30, 1957. Showcases are filled with a variety of cakes, pastries, donuts, and cream puffs. For those items needing refrigeration, Tyler Refrigerator Corporation provided welded steel commercial refrigerators to prevent spoilage. As in regular display cases, there were large glass windows in these refrigerators so that customers could see the bakery items. Photograph ordered by Tyler Refrigerator Corporation.
Refrigerators; Bakeries--Tacoma--1950-1960; Albertson's Food Center (Tacoma);
ca. 1940. Copy of customer print. An African American driver sits patiently behind the wheel of a Ford truck owned by Timber Structures, Inc. The truck is filled with several large wooden crates. At least one crate is marked "AutoStack". The truck advertised that it could transport crates, pallets and trusses on its flatbed. Date of original print is unknown, perhaps in the 1940's; print was made for Douglas Fir Plywood Association in February, 1957.
Crates; Ford trucks; Timber Structures, Inc. (Seattle); Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma);
An Aaberg's employee appears to be in the process of removing a cleaning filter from his truck in an April 9, 1957, photograph. He may be preparing to clean this customer's ductwork. Aaberg's provided Desert Dry fuel oil delivery with their radio-dispatched trucks on a 24 hour phone service basis. Aaberg's, located at 1713 Puyallup Ave., also provided furnace cleaning with the same quick service. View of new Chevrolet truck with cleaning supplies in back. Photograph ordered by Aaberg's. TPL-10243
Aaberg's Fuel Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Chevrolet trucks; Fuel trade--Tacoma--1950-1960;
This aerial view of Tacoma's West End and the Tacoma Narrows Bridge was taken in March of 1957. 6th Avenue cuts upward through the center of the picture curving to the right as it feeds onto the Narrows Bridge. The road starting at the bottom right and running into 6th Ave. is Pearl Street, with the Tacoma Auto View Theater, 1202 North Pearl near the right edge. The buildings at the corner of 6th and Pearl are the early Highland Hills Shopping Center, 5915 6th Ave.. The bare land just above and to the right of the Auto View became the Highland Hills Golf Course.
A bartender tops off a glass of Heidelberg for a waiting customer as other customers already have schooners in hand. Beer was cheap in March, 1957; Heidelberg on tap cost 10-15 cents a glass, 20 cents for a schooner, fifty cents a pitcher and only $1.25 for an entire gallon. If you wanted to take home a six-pack of Heidelberg, it would only cost $1.15 or should you splurge, $2.25 for two. The bartender could also supply his customers with eggs, pickles, pepperoni, and sardines. He could even whip up clam nectar, oyster or beef stew and chili for those hungry. Photograph ordered by Heidelberg Brewing.
Building construction continues slowly on the new County-City Building at 930 Tacoma Avenue South in April, 1957. After many years of argument and delay, construction finally began in July, 1956. It would not be completed until 1959, and dedicated in April of that year. View of concrete slip at the building site; forms are in place. The building would eventually be 12 stories high. A glimpse of the old County Court House can be seen; the Romanesque building of grey freestone would be used until the new building was complete and then torn down for a parking lot. Photograph ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association.
County-City Building (Tacoma); Building construction--Tacoma--1950-1960; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma);
Holroyd Co. cement mixers are on hand at the site of the new County-City Building on 9th and Tacoma Avenue South in April, 1957. Concrete forms are in place as work slowly progresses. Although voters had approved building joint city and county offices in November, 1952, it was not until July, 1956, that construction actually began. Delays occurred as site selections were debated, property condemned, architectural choices argued, and administrative officials scrapped. The County-City building would eventually top off at 12 stories and be dedicated on April 10, 1959. Photograph ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association.
County-City Building (Tacoma); Building construction--Tacoma--1950-1960; Progress photographs; Concrete mixers; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma);
A warning on the Sheffield Precisionaire column instrument indicates that the only persons authorized to handle the machine are paper inspectors and testing station personnel. The Sheffield machine may be used in testing paper strength. One technician has his hand on a handle of a smaller Sheffield product; the black disc is applying pressure on the sheet of paper. Photograph ordered by Merchandising Factors, Seattle.
Electrical apparatus; Testing; Measuring; Paper products; Merchandising Factors, Inc. (Seattle);
The location of the annual Tacoma Home Show model home was always kept secret until the day before the show opened. In 1957, the model home, "Oakhurst," was constructed in the Southgate neighborhood at 10103 Montrose Avenue S.W. in Lakewood. Streets around the new home are crowded with cars and there is a long line of people waiting to tour the house. The model homes were built under the auspices of the Tacoma Master Builders Association, a group of contractors, builders and architects who prided themselves on quality workmanship. Sherman L. Rowland was the builder of the 1957 model home; he had also built the 1954 model home, the TX 101. Photograph ordered by Tacoma Master Builders Association. (TNT 3-19-57, C-5)
Greater Tacoma Home Show (Tacoma); Houses--Lakewood--1950-1960; Tacoma Master Builders Association (Tacoma); Queues--Lakewood; Automobiles--Lakewood--1950-1960;
This two-story contemporary Northwest home was being prepared for the 1957 Western Builders Home Show in March, 1957. Located on a slight slope, the house had a wraparound balcony. There are many view windows on the front of the home. As was becoming more common, the multi-level roof was flat. ALBUM 15.
Judge Wilford A. Richmond, Superior Court judge, and his colleagues posed for a portrait at the Pierce County Court House on February 28, 1957. Photograph ordered by Washington Tuberculosis Association.
Richmond, W.A.; Judges--Tacoma; Washington Tuberculosis Association (Tacoma);
Pacific Lutheran College students prepare to entertain crowds gathered for the annual May Festival held on the Parkland campus in 1957. These dancers would perform a variety of folk art numbers. They are dressed in what appears to be Swiss and/or Scandinavian attire as well as casual Hawaiian. The three young men in the center, back row, are dressed as Lithuanian folk dancers with string ties. The two girls standing to the right and left of the "Hawaiians" also are dressed in Lithuanian folk costumes (vests) as well as the two girls seated on the floor. Lorraine Schmick and Melvin Novotney were scheduled to perform a puli stick rhythmic number. Photograph ordered by Pacific Lutheran College. (TNT 5-2-57, C-9) (Additional information provided by a reader)
Students--Parkland--1950-1960; Folk dancing--Parkland--1950-1960; Festivals--Parkland--1950-1960; Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--1950-1960;
Clutching a beribboned bouquet of long-stemmed roses, Pacific Lutheran College senior Joanne Bayne has just been crowned queen in a 1957 May Festival ceremony. She is wearing a wreath of leaves on her head and has a long cape draped behind her. The May Queen was crowned by Clover Park School District superintendent Alai Haganess. Joanne Bayne of Seattle received her Bachelor of Arts in Education degree that spring. Sepia photograph ordered by Pacific Lutheran College. (Saga yearbook, p. 38, 72)
Students--Parkland--1950-1960; Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--1950-1960;
Tuberculosis was still occurring in the 1950's. Medical professionals, hoping to catch the disease in its early stages, urged the public to make use of the mobile X-ray unit which would provide free chest X-rays. Sponsored by the Department of Health, State of Washington, the X-ray unit traveled around Pierce County by van. These shoppers in the downtown area lined up to receive information about T.B. and to have their chests X-rayed on March 12, 1957. By early February, 1957, 58,126 people had received the free chest X-rays. Photograph ordered by the Washington Tuberculosis Association. (TNT 2-10-57, A-13)
Tuberculosis--Tacoma--1950-1960; Washington Tuberculosis Association (Tacoma); Examinations--Tacoma;
ca. 1957. Exterior of Heidelberg brewery. Smoke billows from Heidelberg's chimneys in a 1957 photograph. Formerly Columbia Breweries, the business had been located in Tacoma since 1900. Heidelberg continued Columbia's line of popular beers and ales and employed about 350 local residents. In 1959, the brewery was sold to Carling Brewing Co. who maintained the plant until 1979 when it closed permanently. Photograph ordered by Heidelberg Brewing Co.
Interior of Inferno Charcoal Broiler Restaurant. An unusual lattice ceiling, artificial tree with spreading branches and potted plants brought the outdoors into the Inferno restaurant. Chairs and drapes were decorated in a floral pattern to further accentuate the garden atmosphere. Part of the walls were apparently draped in sack-like materials, with masks staring at the seated customers. The Inferno Charcoal Broiler Restaurant was located at 7430 Pacific Avenue. TPL-9662
Exterior view of mausoleum. In the mid-50's, the Mountain View Memorial Park added a Garden Mausoleum. With the addition of the mausoleum, their facilities were complete for all kinds of interment; a customer could now choose between earth or crypt burial and cremation. The one-story Garden Mausoleum appeared to be built of stone and brick with a flat, overhanging roof. Photograph ordered by Clark Richardson Advertising.
Mountain View Memorial Park (Lakewood); Cemeteries--Lakewood; Tombs & sepulchral monuments--Lakewood;
Close-up view of mausoleum as seen in March of 1957. The Garden Mausoleum was the Mountain View Memorial Park's latest addition. Mountain View Memorial's claim was "Everything in one place"; it combined a funeral home, cemetery, crematory, mausoleum, chapel and columbarium into one facility. The overhanging flat roof of the mausoleum provided shelter from harsh Northwest elements. Stone benches were available for mourners. Small metal vases were provided where flowers could be left to honor the deceased. Photograph ordered by Clark Richardson Advertising.
Mountain View Memorial Park (Lakewood); Cemeteries--Lakewood; Tombs & sepulchral monuments--Lakewood;
A Philco high-fidelity television is tucked away in the recesses of an attractive wooden wall unit. This Shelton home has an abundance of wood paneling, including louvered doors and cabinets to match. Objets d'art are placed in the wall unit's compartments. Photograph ordered by Merchandising Factors.
ca. 1957. Interior- Thriftway supermarket. A customer would not need to linger in lines for any length of time as the new Villa Thriftway came equipped with at least eleven check-out stands. At least one stand was expressly for quick check-out with six items or less. Customers were asked to place items on the movable belt with the prices up for faster service. Scales were provided at each stand so that produce could be weighed. Boxes of cigarettes were readily available on top of each cash register. The new 22,000 square foot supermarket was located in the Villa Plaza shopping center in Lakewood at the site of the former Visitation Villa. Photograph ordered by Associated Grocers, Inc. (TNT 4-2-57, B-7)
Villa Thriftway Food Stores (Lakewood); Supermarkets; Cash registers;
ca. 1957. Exterior- Thriftway. The Villa Thriftway supermarket would open for business in April, 1957. The store's name is in large neon letters on the building's porch roof. The overhanging porch would also protect customers from the elements as they entered or exited the store. Following an architectural trend, enormous windows are positioned at the supermarket's front. Located in Lakewood's new Villa Plaza Shopping Center, the 22,000 square foot store was built to order for a Thriftway market. It cost approximately $200,000. The shopping center boasted of plenty of parking; there was room for 4000 cars. Photograph ordered by Associated Grocers, Inc. (TNT 4-2-57, B-7)
Villa Thriftway Food Stores (Lakewood); Supermarkets; Electric signs--Lakewood;
ca. 1956. Copy of customer print. A bird's-eye view of the anticipated Tacoma Reichhold Chemicals plant was set forth, per a reader, in Latvian artist Matson's drawing. Reichhold had purchased fifty areas of Tideflats from the Port of Tacoma and would be constructing a chemicals plant south of Lincoln Avenue near Pennsalt. The drawing shows the main plant, auxiliary buildings, storage tanks and makes note of the close proximity of rail and water transportation. Original date of print is unknown; copy of print was made on March 25, 1957. Photograph ordered by Reichhold Chemicals, Inc. (Additional information provided by a reader)
Reichhold Chemicals, Inc. (Tacoma); Architectural drawings;
Two Annie Wright Seminary students stand at the net along with two men, perhaps their fathers, preparing to play tennis in May, 1957. Annie Wright traditionally had an annual Dads' Day when fathers spent the day with their children participating in various activities on school grounds. All four people pictured in this May 18, 1957, photograph are clutching wooden rackets; they are much smaller than the aluminum rackets used today. Photograph ordered by Annie Wright Seminary.
In April of 1957 sunrise services were offered on Easter Sunday at the Star-Lite Drive-In Theater, 8301 South Tacoma Way. Worshipers could listen to the service without leaving the comfort of their cars over the theater's car speakers. Those attending heard Dr. Fulton C. Lytle, guest speaker, and listened to singing by a men's chorus. The Star-Lite was the second drive-in built in the Tacoma area; it opened in May, 1948. The massive outdoor theater covered over three acres. (Photograph ordered by News Tribune.) (TNT 4-22-57, p. 7) TPL-8544
Drive-in theaters--Tacoma; Star-Lite Park In Theatre (Tacoma);
Pen display. The Parker Pen Co., based out of Janesville, Wisconsin, had a large display of their merchandise at the Fort Lewis Post Exchange in May, 1957. With Mother's Day rapidly approaching, Parker Pens were being promoted as fine gifts for the occasion. The pens came in elegant cases as low as $6.30. Photograph ordered by Parker Pen Co.
Exterior- Puget Sound National Bank. Bank officials, realizing that the city's southend continued to grow, placed a branch of Puget Sound National Bank at the corner of South 84th and Pacific Avenue. The branch had a large neon sign and also a time/temperature device above. The Main Office of the bank had a similiar "double T" sign placed at their Pacific Avenue headquarters only four years before. The 84th & Pacific branch was managed for many years by Ralph Hubbard. The bank is still in its same location 45 years later; it is now owned by KeyBank. Photograph ordered by the Condon Co.
Puget Sound National Bank (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Banking--Tacoma--1950-1960; Clocks & watches; Electric signs--Tacoma--1950-1960;
The Queen and her court on the Tacoma City Light float make the turn onto Pacific Avenue to the delight of thousands of spectators viewing the 1957 Daffodil Parade. Escorted by dapper caped men, the Portland Rosarians, Daffodil queen Janice Methven of Lincoln High School and princesses are seated on a slender barge of blossoms, with an enormous eye-catching lyre as the backdrop. The theme of the 24th annual Daffodil Festival was "Melodies in Daffodils". 60,000 King Alfred daffodils decorated the float "Pomp and Circumstance", including a fountain spraying streams of golden flowers. Photograph ordered by Tacoma City Light. (TNT 4-13-57, A-1)
Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1957 : Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Methven, Janice;
Sporting a very patriotic theme, the U.S. Army Reserve float was one of 47 entries in the 1957 Daffodil Parade. A giant eagle perches majestically aboard the float while Diane Ryan, Fife High School senior and newly elected Queen of the Army Reserve, and her four princesses wave and smile at the crowds thronging Pacific Avenue. As with all entered floats, only blossoms were used as decorations with other natural items, such as woods and foliage. 40,000 daffodils were used on the float which won first place in the Armed Services division. Photograph ordered by the U.S. Army Reserve. (TNT 4-14-57, A-1)
Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1957 : Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Patriotism; Ryan, Diane;
Crowds line the streets of downtown Tacoma to view the Lions Club entry cruise by during the 1957 Daffodil Parade. Children in sailor suits, possibly those of club members, frolic on the bright yellow tug. Even the smokestack and floating device are made of compressed daffodils. 50,000 daffodils were used for "On the Good Ship Lollipop". The Lions Club entry was awarded 3rd place among Service Clubs. Photograph ordered by the Tacoma Lions Club. (TNT 4-14-57, A-1)
Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1957 : Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Spectators--Tacoma; Lions Club (Tacoma);
