After pictures of homes. Safeway Builders apparently put the new siding on this apartment complex, perhaps known as the Claus Apartments, in spring, 1954. The two-story unit on North Fife St. had a long, wide porch, and heavy columns with possibly rock or brick column supports. Striped awnings shaded four upstairs windows. Unlike most bungalows, the apartments had a flat, not wide pitched roof. A long flight of steps led up from the street and then connected to the porch steps. The lawn appears to have been nicely manicured with neatly trimmed plants and shrubs surrounding the structure.
Houses appear to be packed in tightly in this section of North "M" Street in May, 1954. The Victorian style homes at 508 and 510 North "M" have tall, vertical proportions with steeply pitched gabled roofs. Both have porches and 510 North "M" has a balcony running the width of the home. They both have decorative shingles and may have been painted in multiple colors. Safeway Builders, according to a sign posted on one of the homes, appears to have been involved in the remodeling; Pioneer materials were used in at least one home. According to the Pierce County Building Index, both homes were constructed in the 1890's.
Studio portrait of John Hreha. John Hreha, in tuxedo, posed for a studio portrait on June 29, 1954, with a toy skunk in his hands. Mr. Hreha married the former LaMoyne Barcott, whose family were long-time prominent restaurateurs. Both he and LaMoyne were also avid magicians who had won the best comedy act award at the 1953 Convention of Pacific Coast Association of Magicians. He performed under the professional name of "John Jay"; comedy, magic and ventriloquism were offered in his act. The "Vanishing Skunk" starred in many of his performances. (TNT ad 11-20-54, p. 3)
After years of striving, the Tacoma Orthopedic Guild's dream of a children's hospital in Tacoma was finally being realized. The cornerstone of a $900,000 hospital was laid on June 9, 1954. Representing the many workers of the project were: (l-r) Mrs. Michael Yuscko, Mrs. Roscoe Smith, Mrs. Roy Elstrom and Mrs. C.H. Kane. Funding for the hospital came from the Orthopedic Guild, the estate of Dr. A.W. Bridge, and interest on the Rust trust.
Members of the American Society of Civil Engineers enjoy a banquet on May 26, 1954, concluding their two day conference. Daniel V. Terrell, Dean of Engineering at the University of Kentucky and national president of the A.S.C.E., gave the featured speech. Terrell is third from the left at the head table; he is flanked by Harland H. Edwards, president of the Seattle section and Horace J. Whitacre, president of the Tacoma section. Glenn W. Holcomb, Oregon State College, is second to the right. (TNT 5-27-54, A-4)
Meetings--Tacoma--1950-1960; American Society of Civil Engineers (Tacoma); Terrell, Daniel V.; Edwards, Harland H.; Whitacre, Horace; Holcomb, Glenn W.;
Four Rucker Bros. trucks are loaded with sheets of plywood and plywood boards in a July 3, 1954, photograph. An unidentified man, possibly one of the Rucker twins, leans an arm against the hood of the center truck. Murrell and Burrell Rucker owned and operated the Rucker Bros. Twin Service Trucking Co. which had its office at 733 E. 11th St. They hauled lumber for St. Paul & Tacoma Lumberyard as well as having contracts with many other lumber companies.
Television host and columnist Ed Sullivan met with Tacoma heavyweight boxer Pat McMurtry and his brother, Mike (far right), outside Ray Ridge Lincoln-Mercury at 124 Tacoma Avenue on June 9, 1954. Mr. Sullivan was in town to help lay the cornerstone for the new Mary Bridge Children's Hospital at 311 South L Street. He was guest speaker at the ceremony and later attended a large celebratory luncheon at the Masonic Temple. ALBUM 7.
Sullivan, Ed, 1902-1974; Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1950-1960; Ray Ridge Motors, Inc. (Tacoma); McMurtry, Pat; McMurtry, Mike;
Group portrait of banker association retired presidents. Reno Odlin, president of Puget Sound National Bank, hosted a reunion of Washington State Bankers Association's past presidents on June 20, 1954. Prior to the dinner in the Wedgewood Room, Winthrop Hotel, the group met at Mr. Odlin's home overlooking Commencement Bay. Reno Odlin is standing to the extreme right in the group portrait. He was the convention president in 1942. The Bankers Association was holding their 58th annual conference with 375 delegates in attendance; this was the first time since 1940 that the convention had been held in Tacoma. (TNT 6-21-54, A-1)
Washington State Bankers Association (Tacoma); Odlin, Reno, 1897-1979; Bankers--Tacoma--1950-1960; Group portraits;
Home portrait of the Weyerhaeusers. The couple pictured in this sepia photograph is John Philip ("Phil") and Helen Weyerhaeuser. They were enjoying a family gathering at their Thorne Lane residence on July 6, 1954. Phil Weyerhaeuser led the Weyerhaeuser Timber Company from 1933 to 1956, a span of time which included the changes brought about by the Great Depression and World War ll. He believed that the best way a forest products company could operate would be to own its own timberlands. Phil Weyerhaeuser passed away on December 8, 1956. The 1956 Weyerhaeuser Timber Company annual report was dedicated to him; he was lauded as "a man of exceptional vision, kindliness and executive talents. It was he who activated the philosophy of managing forest lands for perpetual growth and harvest. His influence in the industry and the American community will be felt for generations to come." (Twining, Charles E., Phil Weyerhaeuser, Lumberman)
Exterior of Bank of California Building. Constructed in 1928 from Wilkeson sandstone and granite, the Bank of California building on Pacific Avenue was designed by architect John Graham and built by contractors J.E. Bonnell & Son. Enormous Ionic columns dwarf passersby; these four columns cost $3,500 apiece. The bank's name is engraved in large letters above the columns.
Bank of California National Association (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Columns--Tacoma;
The interior of Ben-Dew's Patio Cafe on Sixth Avenue provided a cozy, rustic atmosphere for dining on the restaurant's well-advertised fried chicken in May, 1954. Up to 60 customers could sit on bar stools resembling logs, paneled booth seating, or regular tables. Lanterns hung from long horizontal poles in the ceiling. The building had formerly housed the landmark Patio Shop before it was extensively remodeled and reopened in late May, 1954. Ben-Dew's was owned and operated by Dewey Tei and had been located formerly on Commerce Street. Nearly fifty years after this photograph was taken, Ben-Dew's Clubhouse Grill is still in its same location on Sixth Avenue. (TNT 5-28-54, p. 11)
By 1954 Lyon's Apparel had two stores on Broadway. According to the 1954 City Directory, these were located at 1126b and 1151 Broadway. Both were owned by Herman Lehrer. Lyon's specialized in women's clothing. Peering through the window in June, 1954, are two mannequins dressed in light summer dresses. Shirts, skirts, jackets and pants can be glimpsed on display. Wood paneling on one side of the interior wall appears to extend to the recessed entry with the glass display window and door as a separation point. Large neon letters spell out the store's name. Photograph ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association.
Lyon's Apparel (Tacoma); Clothing stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Mannequins; Electric signs--Tacoma--1950-1960;
Exterior view of City Light building. Completed in 1953, the Tacoma Public Utilities Center was located at 3628 South 35th St. and housed City Light and Water divisions. It was designed by architect Silas E. Nelsen, who also designed the Tacoma Public Library's main branch, and built by the Roy T. Earley Co. and Concrete Construction Co. The multi-storied, multi-windowed building was constructed with reinforced concrete. Photograph taken on July 1, 1954; it was commissioned by the Condon Co.
Tacoma Dept. of Public Utilities, Light Division (Tacoma); Public utility companies--Tacoma;
Copy of customer's print; view of Martinac Shipbuilding employees at work. Construction of a 171-foot mindsweeper for the Navy took many months. J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding had been awarded a contract to build several mindsweepers; this particular boat was the USS Endurance, the first. It was the largest wooden-hulled vessel to be built in Tacoma since World War 1. The Endurance would be launched in August, 1952, and commissioned on March 20, 1954.
Cement pouring at C.P.S. The student population at the College of Puget Sound was growing at a rapid rate in the 1950's and new construction was needed to keep pace. McPhail Engineering Co. won a large contract from the college to build an addition to Anderson Hall, the woman's dormitory, in January, 1954. The new wing, designed by noted architect Silas Nelsen, was completed in November, 1954. View of cement pouring by Holroyd Co. at construction site of new wing on C.P.S. campus on July 14, 1954. .
Building construction--Tacoma--1950-1960; Concrete mixers--Tacoma; Holroyd Co. (Tacoma); College of Puget Sound (Tacoma)--Buildings;
A young blonde leans against a finely crafted wooden desk as she reads some mail in a July 16, 1954, photograph. There is a dark cabinet mounted on the wall behind her; it has an open section to display books and curios next to closed panel doors with dark handles. Preceding photographs demonstrated how wood tape could be applied to the edges of cabinets and the cabinets themselves be constructed by homeowners with woodworking skills Photograph ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association.
Cabinets (Case furniture); Desks; Lamps; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma);
View on Lafayette Street. A young boy crosses the street heading perhaps toward the tennis courts on Lafayette Street in Steilacoom on a sunny day in August, 1954. Three youngsters linger outside the Bair Store nearby. The Bair Store is now a combination restaurant/museum. A glimpse of water can be seen by passersby. Photographs ordered by the Lakewood Log, a weekly community newspaper with offices in the Lakewood Center, who had apparently requested views of daily life in Steilacoom.
City & town life--Steilacoom; Neighborhoods--Steilacoom; Tennis courts--Steilacoom; Bair Store (Steilacoom); Lakewood Log (Lakewood);
A shirtless tennis player prepares to serve as he raises his racket overhead on a sunny day in August, 1954. These courts are very close to the Steilacoom Town Hall on Lafayette Street. There are at least two courts on a fenced lot. Photograph ordered by the Lakewood Log, a weekly community newspaper which operated out of the Lakewood Center. The newspaper had requested panoramic views of the Town of Steilacoom, apparently showing daily activities.
City & town life--Steilacoom; Neighborhoods--Steilacoom; Tennis--Steilacoom; Tennis courts--Steilacoom; Lakewood Log (Lakewood);
Mr. and Mrs. Jack Ekstrand prepare to cut a small wedding cake at their 50th wedding anniversary party on September 5, 1954. Friends and family gathered at the residence of Herbert Medlow on Flanegan Road to celebrate the joyous occasion. Sepia photograph ordered by C.A. Green.
Large tanks are being carefully loaded onto trucks by the Sunnen Crane Service on behalf of the George R. Marvin Co., steel fabricators, on August 9, 1954. The crane is in the process of lifting one tank; another tank has already been positioned onto a truck for delivery. The Marvin Co. handled fabricated steel products, API-ASME code tanks, boiler repairs and custom fabrication. They were located in the Tideflats at 1601 Taylor Way.
George R. Marvin Co. (Tacoma); Steel industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Storage tanks--Tacoma; Hoisting machinery; Sunnen Auto Freight & Heavy Hauling Co. (Tacoma);
Addition to women's dormitory. Work continues on the addition to Anderson Hall, the women's dormitory on the campus of the College of Puget Sound in July, 1954. An expanding student population necessitated the construction of many new buildings on the North Warner Street location. Charles McPhail of McPhail Engineering Co. was the general contractor and the addition was designed by local architect, Silas Nelsen. Work was completed in about ten months with an open house being held in November, 1954.
Progress photographs; Building construction--Tacoma--1950-1960; College of Puget Sound (Tacoma)--Buildings;
Keys for the new Peninsula School District buses are exchanged between the foursome standing in front of the buses on July 25, 1954. Five International Harvester buses were purchased by the school district to transport their growing enrollment. Photograph ordered by International Harvester Co.
School buses--Gig Harbor; Peninsula High School (Gig Harbor); Public schools--Gig Harbor; International Harvester Co. (Tacoma);
On August 13, 1954, Tacoma Mayor Harold Tollefson (second from left) presented Air Force General T. Alan Bennett and his wife with a special proclamation declaring them "Tacoma Citizens in Absentia." The Bennett family was being transferred to Fairbanks and Tacoma would sorely miss them. Because the Bennetts were the sort of "neighborly, friendly type of people" Tacoma wanted as residents, the proclamation urged their speedy return. This photograph was taken at the Tacoma Chamber of Commerce offices in the Winthrop Hotel.
Tollefson, Harold M., 1908-1985; Mayors--Tacoma--1950-1960; Bennett, T. Alan; Bennett, T. Alan--Family; Generals--United States; Proclamations;
Two long strings of Armour freight cars extend as far as the eye can see on July 27, 1954. This photograph was taken in Seattle; these freight cars, on separate tracks, are possibly loaded with Armour meats ready for delivery. The cars are refrigerated so that perishables could be transported without fear of spoilage. Photograph ordered by Armour Packing Co. TPL-10069
Smoke billows out of three smokestacks at one of Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel's Seattle plants on July 27, 1954; two other smokestacks are quiet. Bethlehem Steel produced much of the steel used in well-known landmarks: the Tacoma Narrows Bridge and the Alaskan Way Viaduct. They had several locations in Seattle including a Rolling Mill, Bolt & Nut Dept., Tank Farm, and Mill Depot. Photograph ordered by Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel Corp., Seattle.
In July of 1954 two Blake, Moffitt & Towne delivery trucks were photographed while being loaded with paper products in the company's new warehouse at 1157 Thorne Road. The new building had wooden ramps that made it possible for the trucks to back into the loading area, under cover and out of the wind and weather. Blake, Moffitt & Towne, one of the oldest paper and stationary companies on the west coast, opened in Tacoma in 1943 when they took over the Tacoma Paper Company. The Tacoma division was one of sixteen units the company maintained in six western states. They closed their warehouse in Tacoma around 1971. (TNT 7-18-54, C-15)
Blake, Moffitt & Towne, Inc. (Tacoma); Paper industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Warehouses--Tacoma--1950-1960;
Allen Lehman, master brewer, and Neil Andrews, kettle man, employees of the Silver Springs Brewing Co. are possibly doing some product testing on August 23,1954. Enormous brew kettle #1 is in the picture's foreground; it could brew over 150 barrels in one-eight hour shift. The Silver Springs Brewing Co. was located at 105 E. 26th and managed by Lyle L. Lane. They were listed as brewers of Old Style Pilsener Beer in the 1954 City Directory. Photograph ordered by the Condon Co, advertising. (TNT 9-3-54, C-14) TPL-8590
The Boedecker Chimney Construction Co. was owned and operated by Fred R. Boedecker and built many chimneys for industrial plants, among other customers. Workers are photographed on July 27, 1954, near the top of a new chimney constructed for Bethlehem Steel in Seattle. Power lines cross the nearby rooftop. Photograph ordered by Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel Corp., Seattle.
