Twelve newly capped Gray Ladies, some holding their certificates, pose for a group portrait at Red Cross headquarters on October 5, 1955. Capping ceremonies occurred several times a year; the Gray Ladies were part of the Red Cross volunteer support units. They were a vital part of community services offered at various local hospitals. Seated from left to right are: Mrs. Albert Windsor, Catherine Pentimonti, Mrs. Carl Kerklau, Mrs. Clifton Price, Mrs. Ray Manges. Standing are: Clarreen Thelan, Mrs. Herman Hunt, Judy Trojan, Bobbie Trojan, Mrs. Harold Barwick, Shirlee Allen and Mrs. H.F. Weber. Mrs. Manges and Mrs. Weber were also recipients of service awards; they had been Gray Ladies for sevearl years. These Gray Ladies would be serving at Madigan Army Hospital. (TNT 10-9-55, A-9)
Charitable organizations--Tacoma; Community service--Tacoma--1950-1960; American National Red Cross Pierce County Chapter (Tacoma); Uniforms;
Each fall the News Tribune ran a layout on the latest fashions for men and women. Beverlee Crombie holds a striking pose dressed in a dark brown tunic suit with flared top and A-line skirt in an all wool fabric. Her fur hat is trimmed with ostrich feathers. Furs were still popular; there is a natural stone marten fur draped over her arm. What appear to be poles, perhaps made of bamboo, are in the background. Beverlee Crombie was well known as a dancer with Steve's Gay Nineties Revue, both in the can can and specialty numbers. By 1956, she was dancing in Las Vegas in a revue at the Frontier Hotel and had plans to appear at the Moulin Rouge in Los Angeles. Miss Crombie was a 1955 graduate of Clover Park High School. (TNT 9-11-55, D-15 & 8-12-1956, pg. D-12)
Bob Keister appears to be preparing to punt as the Lincoln High School sophomore practices with his varsity teammates on November 1, 1955. Besides lettering in football, Keister also was on the successful Sophomore Blacks basketball team and on the Reserve baseball roster. By the time his career concluded at Lincoln, Keister also lettered in varsity baseball as a pitcher and served as Hi-Y president. (1956 Lincolnian yearbook, p.52, p.63, p. 66; 1958 Lincolnian yearbook, p. 23)
Football players--Tacoma--1950-1960; Lincoln High School (Tacoma); Keister, Robert;
Display at Brewhouse. By 1954, Heidelberg Brewing (formerly Columbia Breweries) had tripled in size in seven years. Over 350 local residents were employed by the brewery at an annual payroll of $1,750,000. Heidelberg had added a $700,000 three-story cellar building for storage and fermentation of beer and installed a second brewing line, doubling brewhouse capacity. On display at the Brewhouse was a step-by-step demonstrational chart of how beer is produced along with samples of grain in tile bins. On top of the display was a miniature metallic or ceramic team of horses pulling a cart full of beer barrels. Photograph ordered by Heidelberg Brewing Co. (TNT 9-3-54, C-16)
B&I owner Earl (E.L.) Irwin (R) and W.W. ("Blackie") Ruhl stand in front of the large B&I Circus sign in September, 1955. Called "the biggest little store in the world", it was opened in 1946 by Leo Bradshaw and Irwin. For a while, Irwin and his assistant manager Ruhl were the sole employees of the store, which originally dealt in war surplus goods. After Irwin took sole possession of the store, he advertised heavily, increasing the store's size and goods available. It was the home of Ivan the Gorilla for over twenty years from 1967 to 1994. Also in mid-September, 1955, a huge new Safeway store opened as the B&I's neighbor. They had new safety lanes installed to make turns into the shopping center easier and safer, as well as an expanded parking lot that would serve both large stores. (TNT 9-13-55, . 10) TPL-8678
Irwin, E.L.; B&I Circus Store (Tacoma); Ruhl, W.W.; Electric signs--Tacoma--1950-1960;
Abbie E. (Mrs. Raymond) Keplinger posed for a studio portrait on September 12, 1955. She was elegantly dressed in a black lace and possibly satin gown. Standing in front of a piano, she held the sheet music to "Star Dust" by Hoagy Carmichael while the music to "Deep Purple" remained ready to be played. Mrs. Keplinger was listed in the 1955 City Directory as a musician with Stadium High School. She resided with husband Raymond M., a mechanic, at 8621 South Thompson Avenue.
Keplinger, Abbie E.; Sheet music covers; Pianos; Women--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1950-1960;
Three employees, possibly nurses, of the Laboure Nursing Home inspect charts on October 4, 1955. Laboure, located on Tule Lake Rd. in Parkland, was a rest home for the aged and convalescent. Residents were under the care of licensed nursing staff and had access to a house physician. Laboure, as with other licensed nursing homes, was regularly inspected by the state Department of Health and by the local inspector.
Laboure Nursing Home (Parkland)--Employees; Rest homes--Parkland;
Kenneth H. Cobb was listed in the 1955 City Directory as being in charge of the Telex Hearing Center, located in the historic Perkins Building at 1101 A Street. Telex high fidelity hearing aids were touted as the "world's finest". Signs in the Telex Hearing Center advertised the availability of the new Telex 5 transistor Telemaster, ten times more powerful than before. Customers could also purchase Eveready batteries for all makes of hearing aids. View of well-dressed employees behind the counter at Telex Hearing; there is a variety of testing equipment on the counter as well. Photograph taken on September 20, 1955, and ordered by Telex Hearing Center.
Telex Hearing Center (Tacoma); Hearing aids; Electric batteries; Signs (Notices);
James "Jim" Holroyd stands on the running board of an International Harvester truck owned by Holroyd Company, behind the door on the driver's side of the cab. The Holroyd Co. used durable International Harvester trucks to transport mixers, building materials, and concrete products. The trucks' large holding capacity would make delivery of ordered material economical and quick. Photograph ordered by International Harvester.
Trucks--Tacoma--1950-1960; International Harvester Co. (Tacoma); Holroyd Co. (Tacoma); Holroyd, James;
Aerial photographs of possibly military base were taken in November, 1955, on behalf of the law firm of Anderson, Pearson & Anderson. This may be on the grounds of Fort Lewis. There appears to be a church with steeple in the far left corner of the photograph. Other buildings appear to be temporary barracks.
Aerial photographs; Anderson, Pearson & Anderson (Tacoma);
Exterior of Electrical Products Consolidated. Electrical Products Consolidated had moved into new quarters in the fall of 1955. They were manufacturers of neon signs and also were involved in the street lighting of downtown Tacoma. They had vacated previous storefront at 723 Commerce St. and moved next door to the Winthrop Motor Co. on Saint Helens. View of exterior of Spanish-styled Electrical Products Consolidated building; doorway is flanked by two columns and there are two distinctly framed storefront windows. A large neon sign indicating the business sold Zeon signs and lighting juts high above the door. Sepia photograph taken on September 19, 1955, on behalf of Electrical Products Consolidated.
Electrical Products Consolidated (Tacoma); Electric signs--Tacoma--1950-1960;
Another view of the new Electrical Products Consolidated quarters was taken possibly in September, 1955. The Spanish-styled building was originally designed by architects Heath, Gove & Bell and constructed in 1929 as the home of Remmert Motor Co. It was built of stucco and colored terra cotta and had a truss roof. By 1955, it was the long-time location of Winthrop Motor Co., DeSoto and Plymouth dealers and a large parts distributor. Electrical Products Consolidated shared space with Winthrop Motor; Electrical Products was a well-known manufacturer of neon signs and heavily involved in downtown street lighting.
Electrical Products Consolidated (Tacoma); Electric signs--Tacoma--1950-1960; Facades--Tacoma--1950-1960;
Interior Electrical Products Consolidated. Employees of the Electrical Products Consolidated are busy designing and manufacturing neon signage in September, 1955. Their job is made easier with the bright fluorescent lights overhead and spacious work area in their new quarters on Saint Helens. Two of the company's trucks, with Zeon signs advertising prominently displayed on its doors, are parked nearby. A Heidelberg beer sign is nearing completion by one worker. Photograph ordered by Electrical Products Consolidated.
Electrical Products Consolidated (Tacoma); Electric signs--Tacoma--1950-1960; Trucks--Tacoma--1950-1960;
An overhanging roof protects the garden storage cabinet at the Ed Miller residence. The tall wood structure is set an an angle, with doors that close so that unsightly garbage cans and pesticides can be hidden from view. Garden tools like hoes, rakes and clippers can be neatly hung on walls. One section appears open to the patio so that potted flowers can be placed on its shelves to receive the full complement of sunshine and fresh air. Photograph ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association.
Gardening equipment & supplies; Sheds; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma);
Interior of Groff's Natural Foods. Groff's, in downtown Tacoma, stressed the importance of eating right, using "natural" foods and vitamins to keep a person healthy. Whole grain flour and cereals, a selection of salt-free foods, Vitamin A-packed carrot juice, 100% pure honey, and even mineralized cookies were offered to discerning customers. Jugs of papaya juice, surely not a standard on the 1950's breakfast tables, were also available for purchase. Groff's was to celebrate its grand reopening on October 28, 1955. The store had been in the same location in the Crystal Palace Shopping Center at 11th & Market Sts. for the past fifteen years. Owner Virgil Groff claimed his store had the largest supply of vitamins in Tacoma. Photograph ordered by Groff's Natural Foods. (TNT 10-27-55, A-8)
James Byers, vice-president of the National Bank of Washington, looks intently into the camera as he displays a large envelope stamped with the bank's logo. The National Bank of Washington was then involved in shooting a television series. Mr. Byers is flanked by two armed Tacoma police officers. Mr. Byers had joined the National Bank of Washington in February, 1941, as assistant cashier and chief clerk. He was elected cashier in 1948 and became vice president in 1954. Mr. Byers later left the bank when he was named new executive vice president and director of the Bank of Idaho in 1957. Photograph ordered by National Bank of Washington. (TNT 5-7-57, p. 2)
Byers, James; National Bank of Washington (Tacoma)--People; Tacoma Police Department (Tacoma);
The many windows in this large two-story contemporary Skyline Terrace home take advantage of the beautiful view before it. All homes built in Tacoma's Skyline Terrace neighborhood were on designated view lots so the new homeowner could have the Narrows Bridge, Puget Sound, Olympic mountains or city lights as landscapes to be savored. Miller Construction Co., headed by Edward P. Miller, built many of the homes in this newer housing development. It is possible that this home, pictured in 1954, is the personal residence of Mr. Miller. (TNT 5-18-54, C-16)
Houses--Tacoma--1950-1960; Housing developments--Tacoma--1950-1960; Miller Construction Co., Inc. (Tacoma);
Toy train display. Model trains, each numbered separately, are placed on individual shelves in a toy display by the James Stack Co., wholesalers and importers of toys. The Santa Fe, Erie, New York Central, and Wabash are just a few of the names listed. Traveling by railroad was a common means of transportation still in the 1950's and collecting model trains a popular hobby.
Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1950-1960; Model railroads; Toys;
Toy display. The James Stack Co., Inc., was a wholesaler and importer of toys. Owned by James R. Stack, it was located at 1422 Tacoma Avenue South. The company handled a wide variety of toys; pictured here in May, 1954, are just a few including Tiddley Winx and Crosswords games, a Li'l Abner & Daisy Mae Dogpatch construction kit, sand and gravel trucks, and realistic appearing guns. The three shelves are crammed full of toys for all ages. Little girls may have enjoyed the toy stove, telephone and piano while little boys would have probably gravitated toward the fire truck, airplanes, and trains. TPL-2292
Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1950-1960; Toy industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Toys; James Stack Co. (Tacoma);
The W.H. Buzzell Construction Co. were the building contractors for the new Fircrest residence of E.J. Burgoyne. A May, 1954, photograph shows the home on Regents Blvd. to have a full daylight basement and an attached one-car garage. The house has a contemporary look with many windows and a large chimney. The landscaping is still incomplete. Photograph ordered by the Buzzell Construction Co.
W.H. Buzzell Construction Co. (Tacoma); Building construction--Fircrest--1950-1960; Houses--Fircrest--1950-1960; Burgoyne, E.J.--Homes & haunts;
Parker Pens had a nationwide promotion of their new Jotter ball pen in 1954. The Stationers, Inc, prominently displayed samples of the new pen in their front windows. The Jotter came in three point sizes--fine, medium and broad, four colors and promised to last six times longer than the average ball pen. The rotating ball seat prevented wear and leaking. The Stationers, Inc., had two locations in downtown Tacoma. They were complete office outfitters; besides office supplies, they sold desks, chairs, typewriters, filing equipment and engineering supplies. The 1954 City Directory listed C. Howard Armstrong as president with J.F. Wilhelmi as vice-president/treasurer. View of Stationers' display window photographed at night; abundant signs promoting Parker Jotter ball pens.
Window displays--Tacoma; Pens; Stationers, Inc. (Tacoma); Signs (Notices);
Layout for newpaper showing families with lake fronts. Tranquill scene of couple in rowboat paddling beside lilypads. Girl sitting on diving board attached to boat dock where Irish Setter dog rests peacefully. (TNT).
Bodies of Water - LakesVessels - Boats - RowboatsAnimals - Domestic Animals - Dogs - Irish Setters
A large wooden cabinet with peg-board doors and open shelving makes a convenient location for a home's magazines. A young woman is pictured in this June 29, 1954, photograph casually reading a copy of House Beautiful. Although the opposite side of the cabinet is not shown, the fact that peg-board was used its construction may indicate that audio equipment and speakers might be placed within. A piano is visible in the left portion of the photograph; evidence of a library of books and reading lamps make it possible that this is a reading/music room. Photograph ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association.
Cabinets (Case furniture); Periodicals; Pianos; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma);
The George Collins family is pictured in this sepia photograph taken on July 3, 1954, at the home of Catherine and Arthur N. Gunderson. The Gundersons are the owners of Gunderson, jewelry stores on Broadway and in Seattle. From left to right are Georgia Kay, George Collins, Christie Frances, Anthony on Mrs. George Collins' lap, and Peter. Mrs. Collins, the former Mary Mettler, is reported to be the niece of the Gundersons. The Collins family is visiting from Detroit. (TNT 7-11-54, D-4)
Collins, George--Family; Families--Tacoma--1950-1960; Gunderson, Arthur N.--Homes & haunts;
A homeowner who is interested in gardening would greatly appreciate this well-conceived potting and storage area. Multiple shelves could hold insecticides like Go West Bait and Ortho-Klor out of the reach of small children. Large cabinets would hold a variety of pot sizes with little crowding. Cabinets on wheels would be convenient in transporting soil or heavy tools and equipment. A gardener would be able to put many plants or baskets on the long countertop. Photograph ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association.
Cupboards; Shelving; Flowers; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma);
Studio portrait of Robert Evans. Robert Evans posed for a series of character studies in late June, 1954. He is shown here with arms crossed, wearing a dark suit and large bowtie. Mr. Evans taught at Stadium High School for many years in the English department. He also was the school's drama coach and advisor to theatrical clubs. According to Tahoma, the school yearbook, he received his B.A. from the (then) College of Puget Sound and his M.A. from the University of Southern California.
The Ralph C. Schaeffer, Jr., family, dressed in swimsuits, pose against a small sand dune on Steilacoom Lake in a July 3, 1954, sepia photograph commissioned by the News Tribune. Mr. and Mrs. Schaeffer and son Gregg smile brightly for the camera while little Sara's attention appears to have been captured by something out of view. Basking in the sun and swimming in lakes were just a few of the summer activities enjoyed by local residents. Two little boys are glimpsed in the lake floating with tubes; the prow of a small boat juts out nearby.
Families; Lakes & ponds; Children swimming; Schaeffer, Ralph C.--Family;
