ca. 1959. Harmon Manufacturing Co. of Tacoma, in business here since 1909, built classroom furniture as well as that for the home. The company was located at 1938 Pacific Ave.This studio setup is of portable lab equipment, the answer for a school that is pressed for space. The teacher model illustrates chemical formulas on a rolling blackboard, while she rests a glass of soda on the ledge at the top. The blackboard also appears to slide open, to access storage space inside. Beside her is a portable lab table with a faucet and small sink and bunsen burner on top. There is plenty of storage space inside the cabinet for chemicals.

Furniture industry--Tacoma; F.S. Harmon Manufacturing Co. (Tacoma); Cabinets (Case furniture);

ca. 1959. Apparently in 1959, Las Vegas was still viewed as a "cowboy" town by the women of Tacoma. This photograph, which ran in the News Tribune in October of that year shows (l to r) Mrs. Warren Peterson, Lucille (Mrs. Maurice) Finnigan, Mrs. Robert Holder, Dorothy (Mrs. Norbert) Knecht, Jean (Mrs. William) Jepsen and Patricia (Mrs. Jay) Dahl. They were all dressed in Western attire to help promote the two "Las Vegas Comes to Elks" parties that were being held at the Elks Club on October 23 and 24. (TNT 10/18/1959, pg. D-4)

Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Tacoma Lodge No. 174 (Tacoma); Finnigan, Lucille; Knecht, Dorothy; Jepsen, Jean; Dahl, Patricia;

ca. 1959. The latest in exercise machines featuring passive spot reducing, photograph ordered by Western Builders. The model stands at a machine on the right that contains a roller. Aimed at the midriff section, it was designed to roll the excess inches away. On the left, the model would stand with the belt around her middle, it would than vibrate back & forth, whittling down a waistline. All of this was of course wishful thinking, but it did not stop reducing from being a boom business in America, with weight reduction salons all across the country with names the Body Culture Studio. Known locally as the New Era Studio, the gym was owned by Donna and Riley N. Keith and located in Lakewood Square at 6011 Mt. Tacoma Dr. SW., across from the Embers Restaurant. The Keiths were returning to the area after opening Body Culture Studios from California to Canada. Their slogan was "Add years to your life and life to your years." (TNT 11/8/1959, pg. D-14)

Exercise equipment & supplies; Weight loss--Tacoma--1950-1960; Physical fitness--1950-1960; New Era Studio (Lakewood);

ca. 1959. Interiors of Steve's Gay Nineties Restaurant. Whenever the old famous structures of Tacoma were in danger of the wrecking ball, owner Steve Pease was first in line, with cash in hand, to purchase as much of the past as possible; and most of it ended up in his Gay Nineties Restaurant. This staircase came from the Hewitt mansion at 501 No. 4th St., once considered to be the most beautiful home in Tacoma. When it was razed in 1957 to make way for a parking lot, Pease purchased this staircase and panelling, among other things. To see a photograph of the staircase in the Hewitt home, see D97664 image 7.

Steve's Gay '90s (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1950-1960;

ca. 1959. Aerial of Tacoma, circa 1959. The gothic spires of Stadium High School can be seen about mid picture next to the City (Foss) Waterway. The Eleventh Street Bridge can be seen crossing the waterway next to downtown. To the lower left hand portion of the picture is the area where Schuster Parkway and Tacoma's waterfront will be constructed, it is during the fifties an area of graineries and mills. TPL-8689

Aerial photographs--1950-1960; City Waterway (Tacoma); Rainier, Mount (Wash.);

ca. 1959. The new County-City building from the intersection of 9th and Tacoma Ave. So. In April of 1959, Macdonald Building Co. had finally finished construction on the building that almost did not get built. In November of 1952, after a previous bond issue defeat, voters approved 6 million dollars to finance a joint county and city building. Over 20 sites were proposed, each with its own adamant supporters. The County Commissioners overrode all, including their own advisory committee that recommended the area bounded by So. 13th, 15th, Market and Tacoma Ave, to choose its present site. A Gordon Lumm was the controversial selection as architect. In midstream, 1953, Tacoma changed its form of government and the new council wanted the city to have its own wing, a demand that Lumm could not accomodate. In 1956, things went from bad to worse, as construction bids came in at 3 1/2 million over available funds. Voters voted in another bond issue to cover the shortfall. The council agreed on a lease agreement, after stormy negotiations, whereby the city would pay the county $80,000 a year for 20 years. The building was finally completed and dedicated on April 10, 1959, after much political blood letting. (TNT 4/7/1959, pg B1+) TPL-8169

County-City Building (Tacoma); Courthouses--Tacoma;

ca. 1959. A rare view of the modern fifties architecture of the County City Building (dedicated April of 1959) and the Romanesque building that it was replacing, the Pierce County Courthouse. The County Courthouse was built in 1892 and although beautiful, by the fifties it had deteriorated, had sagging floors and was a fire hazard. The building was demolished the summer of 1959 and the area used as additional parking for the County-City Building. With this added parking area, the County-City Building would have available parking for 604 cars. The increased need for parking reflected the increase in personal automobile ownership in the fifties. TPL-9929

County-City Building (Tacoma); Pierce County Courthouse (Tacoma);

ca. 1959. The gothic spires of the old Pierce County Courthouse overlook the new glass and aluminum County-City building in this photograph from April or May of 1959. The old Courthouse was scheduled to be demolished as soon as all offices were relocated to the the new building. Of special interest was the movement of thousands of paper records, required by law for the county to store. Four trucking firms were hired to move 5,000 beer cartons of public records to the new building. Approximately 9 additional truck loads of records that were over 10 years old were ordered destroyed. Demolition of the Old Courthouse began in June, 1959. It was replaced with a parking lot.

County-City Building (Tacoma); Pierce County Courthouse (Tacoma); Courthouses--Tacoma;

ca. 1959. Aerial of Hunt Junior High School, opened in 1958 to serve the growing communities of Fircrest and West Tacoma. When completed, the school designed by architect Robert Billsbrough Price was hailed as one of the most imaginative new schools in the country, and one of the least expensive per square foot. The reduced cost was due to the use of wood in construction, as opposed to concrete. The school's most distinctive feature was its mushroom shaped cafeteria/auditorium, growing from the landscape like something from P.T. Barnum. Hunt opened in 1958 with 27 teachers and 700 students under the guidance of Principal Trygve Blix. It was named after Henry F. Hunt, a Tacoma educator for 34 years who died in 1937. The school was expanded in 1964, 1974 and 1980. ("For the Record" by Winnifred L. Olsen) TPL-10159

Henry F. Hunt Junior High School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1950-1960; Aerial photographs; Aerial views;

ca. 1959. The St. Regis Paper Co. kraft pulp and paper mill and multiwall bag plant at Tacoma, Washington. The plant was a major producing unit serving the western states. Late in 1959, construction was started to expand the pulp mill and install a second machine which would produce kraft paper and board, more than doubling the output of the mill. The new kraft paper and paper board machine was 130 feet wide and 630 feet long. It would require 150 additional employees at a payroll of 3/4 million dollars. Additions were being made to the steam and recovery plants, pulp mill (left) and to the paper mill (right.) (St. Regis Paper Co. Annual Report- 1959; TNT 11/5/1959, pg. 1)

Paper industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Mills--Tacoma; Logs; St. Regis Paper Co. (Tacoma)--1950-1960;

ca. 1959. Reno Odlin, shown with Puget Sound Bank visitor Mrs. Wesley Clark from Fox Island, and the bank's new leased computer, the IBM 305 RAMAC (Random Access Memory Accounting Computer.) In 1959, Puget Sound Bank became the first bank in Washington and the second on the west coast to use computers. The IBM 305 and, because of the computer's 3,000 heat generating tubes, a new air conditioner were installed in the bank's basement. The computer used punch cards and it was able to process about 70 checks a minute, making it too slow for the larger banks to use. The selection and integration of the computer were the project of Senior Vice president Robert Gordon. The most unique feature of the computer was its magnetic memory file which looked like a vertical stack of 50 large metal disks the size of phonograph records. The disks rotated on a steel axle at a rate of 1,200 revolutions per minute. ("Banking on Independence" Provorse, pg. 110+, TNT 7/9/1959, pg. C-3)

Puget Sound National Bank (Tacoma); Computers--1950-1960; Banking--Tacoma--1950-1960; Odlin, Reno, 1897-1979; Clark, Wesley--Family;

ca. 1959. Ruth McLeod, Annie Wright senior 1960. Ruth is described in the yearbook by one word, "simplicity." TPL-233 (1960 yearbook "The Shield")

McLeod, Ruth; Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1950-1960; Private schools--Tacoma--1950-1960;

ca. 1959. One story rambler designed and built by Oscar Hokold. The home has an attached two car garage with living space above it. This home was being used as the display home for Hokold's new addition in the Wapato Lake area. These homes were priced from $23,500- $33,000 and featured built in appliances, a family room with fireplace and large lots. Hokold had sold over 100 new homes in the Wapato Lake area and had plans to built over 100 more at the north end of the lake and 300 at the south end of the lake, to be sold at a variety of prices. Hokold at this time actually resided in this house with his wife Olivann and children Harry (18), Jean (16) and Jack (14). At 44 years of age, Hokold had been in construction since 1939; he formed Hokold Construction in 1947. He was a Tacoma native, born in the southend and a graduate of Lincoln High School. He developed large sections of Tacoma in the fifties and even operated his own millwork and cabinet firm, Viking Millwork. He later developed the Northwest King Oscar chain of motels. (TNT 6/7/1959, pg. B-12)

Houses--1950-1960; Hokold, Oscar--Homes & haunts;

Back of Photo:
Honorable Harry H. Sprinker
Chairman
Pierce County Commissioners

ca. 1959. Davids & Royston Bulb Co., ordered by Rilco Laminated Products Co.

Davids & Royston Bulb Co.;

ca. 1959. Steve's Gay Nineties restaurant. This is believed to be the entrance to the restaurant conglomerate. The intricately carved wooden panel to the right came from the recently demolished County Courthouse. A cardboard cutout of Steve's famous can can dancers sits atop the panel. To the left rear is a piano, that also appears to have percussion equipment located at the bottom. This is believed to be the "Orchestron," originally from the Red Front Saloon, and located in the lobby of Steve's. The hand carved, hardwood instrument could play drums, cymbals, chimes, mandolin, organ and xylophone music. Steve's was divided into five restaurant areas, the Golden Era Cafe, the Cable Car Room, the Opera House (with the floorshow), the Gay Nineties Smorgasbord (with the fringed surrey seating) and the Memory Lane Banquet Room. They were celebrating their 10th year in the restaurant and entertainment business. (TNT 11/26/1959, pg D-2 - D-3)

Steve's Gay '90s (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1950-1960;

ca. 1959. Central Refuse Equipment Repair Yard, photograph ordered by Rilco Laminated Products. This site was probably owned by the City of Tacoma and was the location for repairing trash trucks.

ca. 1959. Proposed grandstand for the Tacoma-Pierce County baseball park, later known as Cheney Stadium, as submitted by Ben Cheney. The stadium began operation in April of 1960. The City Council voted 8-1 to award the construction contract for its baseball park to Ben Cheney based on this design, with Mrs. Clara Goering as the lone desenter. Associated with Cheney in his bid were Earley Construction and Concrete Technology. The $647,088 contract called for a prestressed concrete structure. The proposed stadium had convinced the San Francisco Giants to transfer their Phoenix Franchise to Tacoma, marking Tacoma's entrance into the Pacific Coast Baseball League. The opening saga had been the drawn out selection of a site for the baseball park. Ben Cheney proposed a plan under the lease-purchase act where the city would acquire the property he owned at Cheney Field at 1/2 its appraised evaluation. He would then build a $620, 000 stadium which the city would lease over a number of years with the property eventually reverting to the city. The county and city finally agreed jointly on a undeveloped site owned by Metropolitan Parks at Snake Lake, south of Heidelberg Park, that would be gifted to the city. A baseball park that seats 7,000 would be constructed at a cost of $590,000. The city and county would each pay $21,700 a year for 20 years; anticipated revenue from the park was a minimum of $14,000 a year. Ben Cheney made a counter proposal and Snake Lake was still selected as the site. After further discussions and concessions, including offering the majority of the property for free, the stadium site was moved to Cheney Field in order to meet the April completion deadline and possibly to avoid offending Cheney, one of the main contributors to sports in Tacoma. Then it was moved back to the Snake Lake Recreational area, at So. 23rd & Cheyenne, by a 6-2 vote with only Mayor Ben Hanson and Mrs. Clara Goering voting for the Cheney Field site. Objections included the 426 foot strip along So. 38th retained by Cheney and potential traffic problems. The stadium was finally built at the Snake Lake site and named for Cheney, sports greatest friend and benefactor in Tacoma. (TNT 8/15/1959, pg. 1; 8/18/1959, pg 1; 9/11/1959, pg. 1; 9/15/1959, pg.1; 12/22/1959, pg. 1)

Cheney Stadium (Tacoma); Baseball--Tacoma--1960-1970;

The Richards Studio worked even on New Year's Day as they took some aerial photographs of the 108th St. and Bridgeport Way S.W. area. Ellie's Shell Service was located at 10808 Bridgeport Way S.W. It appears to have had six pumps and a garage. Behind Ellie's was a brushy area with a flooded gravel pit. This was a growing area and there were many homes and apartment units scattered along these streets. There appeared to be still more room for expansion.

Aerial photographs; Neighborhoods--Lakewood--1950-1960; Ellie's Shell Service (Lakewood);

ca. 1959. Russ Dunmire Oldsmobile Inc. In 1958, Munson Motors became Russ Dunmire. The company sold and serviced Oldsmobiles. Here uniformed employees are in training about 10:30 in the morning studying slide projections of a late Fifties Olds motor part. President of the company was Russell Dunmire.

Russ Dunmire Oldsmobile, Inc. (Tacoma); Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1950-1960;

ca. 1959. A science class at Pacific Lutheran College. The class sits at two person lab tables, with scales. They intently listen to the professor who stands at the front of the group with a globe. Math inscriptions are chalked on the board. Sinks line the counters on either side. An almost completed addition to the Science Hall greeted the returning students in the fall of 1959. Soon the addition was opened, offering additional laboratory and classroom space as well as a new science library. The laboratory, classrooms, office and library for the physics and math departments occupied the first floor. Biology was on the second and Chemistry on the third. The wing was built of steel, masonry, concrete, wood and glass, designed by Lea, Pearson and Richards. (TNT 4-7-1959, pg. C-9)

Students--Parkland; Educational facilities--Parkland; Education--Parkland; Universities & colleges--Parkland; Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--1950-1960;

ca. 1959. Aerial of "Nalley Valley, " circa 1959. Tacoma Municipal Water Works building in the lower left hand corner. All of the buildings in the center of the picture, to the left of the railroad tracks, belong to Marcus Nalley's vast food production empire. Nalley's was founded in Tacoma in 1918 and grew rapidly due to the quality of their products. By 1959, their food production was centered in "Nalley Valley" where they produced potato chips, pickles and salad dressing, just to name a few products.

Nalley Valley (Tacoma); Nalley's, Inc. (Tacoma); Food--Tacoma--1950-1960; Food industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Aerial photographs;

ca. 1959. Aerial of downtown Tacoma and the almost completed County City Building at 930 Tacoma Ave. South. The CC building lies in the center of the photograph. To the left of the building is the new (1952) Tacoma Public Library at 1102 Tacoma Ave. So. Directly behind the CC building is the old Pierce County Courthouse, at 1012 So G. St., still in use until the CC building is completed but scheduled for demolition. Directly behind the Courthouse is the Washington National Guard Armory, at 715 So. 11th St., which remains at this location. The erection of the County City Building was a long time in coming; from its voter approval in 1952 to the start of construction in 1956 to the dedication of the new building April 10, 1959.

Progress photographs; County-City Building (Tacoma); Building construction--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma); Pierce County Courthouse (Tacoma); State Armory (Tacoma);

ca. 1959. Cement bags being produced in St. Regis's multi-wall bag plant in Tacoma. The bags are for Dacotah Portland Cement, produced by the South Dakota Cement plant in Rapid City, SD.

St. Regis Paper Co. (Tacoma)--1950-1960; Mills--Tacoma--1950-1960; Paper industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;

ca. 1959. Frank Stojack served as Pierce County Sheriff from 1958 to 1962. The Lincoln High School graduate played pro-football for the NFL's Brooklyn Dodgers in 1936 before launching an immensely successful wrestling career. Fans voted him the "King of Wrestling" in 1953. Stojack was elected to the Tacoma City Council the same year, running as the "Champion of Fair Play". He duties after being elected sheriff in 1958 included moving the department into the new County-City Building, seen in the background shortly after its completion in 1959. The Tacoma Boys Clubs received over $300,000 from the estate of Frank Stojack after his death in 1987.

horses

Tacoma Public Library - South Tacoma Branch
Photograph by John Bickel (D166-3)
From back of photo: South Tacoma dedication

South Tacoma Dedication

Tacoma Public Library - McCormick (Wheelock) Branch