This aerial photograph shows the original cloverleaf interchange at I-5 and 512 when it was under construction in January, 1959. The road cutting through from left to right is Hwy 99 right at the point where it changes from South Tacoma Way to being Pacific Hwy. SW. The houses at the bottom are part of the Southgate housing development. Southgate was a newer suburban park developed by Tacoma Master Builder Sherman Rowland which lay west of Hwy. 99. Plans were to build 300+ private homes in a park-like setting.
Aerial photographs were taken on New Year's Day, 1959, of the South End neighborhood in the vicinity of South 56th & Park Ave. This is 56th St. east of the new freeway which would carve out a section of the busy street. This area was already quite settled in the late 1950's. A new Safeway store would be built on South 56th St. just beyond Park Ave. to replace the Safeway on So. 54th & Sheridan, just off 56th St. The Moore branch of the Tacoma Public Library, on 56th close to Pacific Avenue and not visible in this photograph, would be completely rebuilt in 1988. Bethany Methodist Church and Clubhouse, the imposing buildings on Park near the top of the photograph, are still there. Traffic has increased substantially since 1959 on South 56th St.
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. 1958. Aerial view of newly built County-City Building, 930 Tacoma Avenue South, circa 1958, and surrounding neighborhood. The building would be dedicated in April of 1959. Directly behind its left wing is the venerable Pierce County Courthouse, 1012 South "G" St., soon to be demolished and ground transformed into parking for the County-City Building. At left lower corner is the Tacoma Public Library, 1102 Tacoma Avenue South.
Aerial views; Aerial photographs; County-City Building (Tacoma); Pierce County Courthouse (Tacoma); Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma); Streets--Tacoma--1950-1960; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1950-1960;
ca. 1958. Additional work had been done on C116559, image 1, to improve appearance of players manually added to the team's roster. This was the South End Boys Club baseball team sponsored by Stamey Insurance in 1958. They played in the Junior League of Metro Park's baseball program. Three boys apparently were not present at the time of the original photograph; the Richards Studio then cut and pasted their images into the group shot. Photograph ordered by Ben Cheney.
Baseball players--Tacoma--1960-1970; Baseball--Tacoma--1960-1970; Stamey Insurance, Inc. (Tacoma);
ca. 1958. The Christmas shopping season was rapidly approaching and the Villa Plaza's Woolworth's was set for hordes of shoppers eager to stretch their dollars at the nation's premier five-and-dime store. Clothing for men, women and children could be purchased relatively inexpensively and still prove serviceable. An array of toys were on hand to delight youngsters on Christmas morning.
F.W. Woolworth Co. (Lakewood); Variety stores--Lakewood--1950-1960; Merchandise displays--Lakewood--1950-1960; Villa Plaza Shopping Center (Lakewood); Shopping centers--Lakewood--1950-1960; Signs (Notices);
ca. 1958. The walls of Saunders Health Service were nearly all glass so passersby could easily view the merchandise within the store. Saunders carried a complete line of natural foods, vitamins and minerals. The one-story health food store was located in the Villa Plaza Shopping Center. There was also a Tacoma store located in the 900 block of Commerce St. in the downtown business district.
Saunders Health Service, Inc. (Lakewood); Nutrition--Lakewood; Villa Plaza Shopping Center (Lakewood); Shopping centers--Lakewood--1950-1960;
ca. 1958. Copy of customer's negative. Realizing that student population at Pacific Lutheran College would be greatly increasing in the near future, the Board of Trustees made plans for the buildings and facilities which would be needed to take care of these students. Among other additions and renovations was a proposed College Union Building addition, a social education annex providing more recreation facilities. This addition's cost was estimated at $75,000. The above architectural drawing was done by the firm of Johnson-Austin Associates. It appears that a new fellowship hall, called the Chris Knutzen Fellowship Hall, later opened in the CUB; the hall could be made into a large banquet room or divided with movable walls into three smaller meeting rooms. (1959 Saga yearbook, p. 219, TNT 3-12-58, B-2))
ca. 1958. Interior of Pacific 1st Federal Savings building, Villa Plaza. The 2000+ sq.ft. savings & loan opened at the Villa Plaza Shopping Center on January 2, 1958. It held an open house from January 2-10th. Tones of brown and gold decorated the building's interior. Its lobby had a white granite fireplace. Pacific 1st Federal was the largest savings & loan in the Northwest and served more than 57,000 families at the time. It had its main office in downtown Tacoma and branches elsewhere in Washington and Oregon. Rudolph J. Tollefson was the Villa Plaza location's first manager. He had been associated with the savings & loan since 1935 and prior to that had been employed by the University National Bank in Seattle and Bank of California in Tacoma. Mr. Tollefson was the brother of Congressman Thor Tollefson and Tacoma Mayor Harold Tollefson. (TNT 1-2-58, A-6-text only)
Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan Association (Lakewood); Villa Plaza Shopping Center (Lakewood); Shopping centers--Lakewood--1950-1960;
Ray Ridge Motors, Lincoln/Mercury dealer. New automobiles in showroom windows. Ford station wagon, Oldsmobile, 1958 Mercury, Chevrolet, small foreign car, likely a Simca, and Ford pickup truck at curb. From series, customers of KTVW-TV, Ch. 13.
Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1950-1960; Ray Ridge Motors, Inc. (Tacoma); Television advertising;
ca. 1958. Photograph taken in 1958 from in front of the Security Building (917 Pacific Ave.) looking south down Pacific, including the intersection at Pacific and 10th. On the left is the building originally constructed for the Tacoma National Bank in 1885-88. Its 1958 occupants included the Smoke Shop Tavern (921), the Travel Center of Tacoma (923) and Archie's Coffee Cup (925 Pacific Ave.) This building has since been demolished. On the south side of 10th is the W.H. Opie & Company building at 1001-05 Pacific Ave. It is followed by a narrow building housing the Pierce County Federal Savings and Loan Association (1007) and the ornate columns of the Bank of California (1011). The following building is the 17 story modern American style Washington Building. Construction started in 1919 for the Scandinavian- American Bank but was halted when the bank failed. It was completed in 1925.
Archie's Coffee Cup (Tacoma); Smoke Shop Tavern (Tacoma); Travel Center of Tacoma (Tacoma); W.H. Opie & Co. (Tacoma); Washington Building (Tacoma); Business districts--Tacoma--1950-1960; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1950-1960;
ca. 1958. Copy of customer print. An large, unidentified, Canadian pulp mill has carved out space amidst wooded terrain in an undated photograph. Beside the mill itself, it appears that there are several units separated from the mill by a strand of timber. These units may have been housing for mill employees. An extended dock has been constructed where mill products can be easily loaded for delivery. One building on the dock is labeled "Island Tug". Small islands full of trees dot the landscape. Photograph ordered by the Condon Co., an advertising agency. Date of original picture is unknown, however, print was made on March 25, 1958.
ca. 1958. Walter P. Farley is pictured circa 1958 loading a case of Rainier Beer into a truck which is nearly full of the popular brew. Mr. Farley was a driver for the Cammarano Brothers, local distributors of the beer. (Also part of the William Cammarano Collection under CAM 19) TPL-10423
Farley, Walter P.; Beer--Tacoma; Cammarano Bros. (Tacoma); Trucks--Tacoma--1950-1960;
ca. 1958. Victor Trowbridge is loading or unloading a vehicle containing cases of Rainier Beer in this photograph from 1958. Mr. Trowbridge was a driver for the Cammarano Brothers, local distributors of the Washington beer. (Also part of the William Cammarano Collection under CAM 23) TPL-10427
ca. 1958. Richardson's was located next door to Helene's at the Villa Plaza Shopping Center. Both stores featured women's clothing with Helene's advertised as the "Only Dress Shop in the Villa Plaza" and Richardson's specializing exclusively in sportswear for casual living. Richardson's had two stores in the local area, the store at the Villa Plaza and the other at 940 Commerce St. in downtown Tacoma. The Villa Plaza store, under the management of Mrs. Karl Richardson, opened in late 1957. (TNT ad 12-4-58, C-10- no photograph; TNT 8-6-58, B-10-ad for Helene's; TNT 12-5-57, B-5-article)
Richardson's (Lakewood); Helene's (Lakewood); Clothing stores--Lakewood--1950-1960; Villa Plaza Shopping Center (Lakewood); Shopping centers--Lakewood--1950-1960;
ca. 1958. Comfortable waiting room of a beauty salon with receptionist's counter found at the Rhodes Villa Plaza department store mezzanine circa 1958. It was staffed with beauty experts, knowledgeable in the latest styles and methods. Rhodes was the first to open at the Villa Plaza Shopping Center when it welcomed customers in March of 1957. (TNT 8-7-57, B-8-alt. photograph)
Beauty shops--Lakewood--1950-1960; Rhodes Brothers Department Store (Lakewood); Department stores--Lakewood--1950-1960;
ca. 1958. Exterior of Helene's at the Villa Plaza Shopping Center. Helene's, a women's clothing store, opened at Lakewood's Villa Plaza in early March of 1958. It was located on the north mall next to Richardson's. Helene's was formerly at 11118 Gravelly Lake Dr. S.W., about 1/2 mile south of the Villa Plaza Shopping Center. (TNT 2-16-58, D-5-ad, text only)
Helene's (Lakewood); Clothing stores--Lakewood--1950-1960; Villa Plaza Shopping Center (Lakewood); Shopping centers--Lakewood--1950-1960;
ca. 1958. Aerial view of No. 30th Street and Ruston Way. The largest street running vertically in the photograph is No. 30th Street. The street running along side of the water is Ruston Way. Just below the bottom of the picture is the intersection with Starr Street. The next street (that crosses the railroad tracks) is McCarver. The businesses running along Ruston Way (from the bottom up) are the Ocean Fish Mart, the Top of the Ocean nightclub, a small office building, Tacoma Boat Mart and the Dickman Lumber Mill (the largest group of buildings.) TPL-8657
Aerial photographs--Tacoma--1950-1960; Ocean Fish Mart (Tacoma); Top of the Ocean (Tacoma); Dickman Lumber Mill (Tacoma);
ca. 1958. Copy of customer print. An attractive garden storage unit and bench is framed by numerous trees in a residential backyard. The large storage closet, made of plywood, has two compartments. Each has shelves built in the inside doors to hold gardening equipment, including tools and plant potions. There is plenty of room inside the cabinet for lawnmowers and even camping gear. A convenient bench is built facing the cabinet; the overhead slanting roof would provide necessary shade. The pergola is positioned over a bed of gravel. With the storage unit doors closed, this could serve as an outdoor entertainment center for barbecues and parties. A copy of this picture was used in the News Tribune layout on March 16, 1958, advertising the 10th annual Tacoma Home Show. Photograph ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association; the actual date of the picture is unknown but it was copied on May 27, 1958. (TNT 3-16-58, B-18)
ca. 1958. The seven-member staff of this ice cream parlor believed to be named the "24 Flavors Ice Cream" store posed for a group portrait behind the store counter circa 1958. The ice cream parlor offered 24 flavors of ice cream made from Carnation milk and cream which could be purchased by cone, pint or gallon. Fresh banana, blueberry, cantaloupe and strawberry could be selected as well as such unique flavors as licorice, butter brickle and lemon custard. Shakes, sundaes and sherbets were also on the menu. There was a "24 Flavors Ice Cream" store that opened in the Villa Plaza Shopping Center next to Thrifty Drugs in May of 1958. It had previously been located elsewhere on Gravelly Lake Dr. for five years. Mrs. Ellice Westrope was the store's owner.
ca. 1958. Aerial view of the neighborhood around Tacoma Avenue South near the new County-City Building circa 1958. In the center is the County-City Building, with its two wings and tower at 930 Tacoma Avenue South, built to replace the deteriorating Pierce County Courthouse immediately to its rear. The Romanesque old Courthouse at 1012 South "G" would be demolished and the area used as a parking lot. At left center is the Tacoma Public Library, 1102 Tacoma Avenue South. The Central School, 601 South 8th, is at right center edge but McDonald's is yet to be built next door on Tacoma Avenue South.
Aerial views; Aerial photographs; Cityscapes--Tacoma--1950-1960; County-City Building (Tacoma); Pierce County Courthouse (Tacoma); Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma); Central School (Tacoma); Streets--Tacoma--1950-1960;
ca. 1958. This aerial view is looking west with focus upon the newly built County-City Building at 930 Tacoma Avenue South, circa 1958. The venerable Pierce County Courthouse, directly behind one of the County-City Building wings, was in poor shape and after much discussion, it was decided to build a new structure to replace it. Site preparation and excavation began in 1955 but the building would not be completed until 1959. Also in view are the Tacoma Public Library, directly across the street at 1102 Tacoma Avenue South, and the State Armory at 715 South 11th, behind the Pierce County Courthouse.
Aerial views; Aerial photographs; County-City Building (Tacoma); Pierce County Courthouse (Tacoma); Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma); State Armory (Tacoma); Commercial streets--Tacoma--1950-1960; Streets--Tacoma--1950-1960;
ca. 1958. Copy of customer's print. An artist has placed his conceptualized drawing of the new regional shopping center, to be later called the Tacoma Mall, along with the future I-5 freeway over an aerial photograph of the South 38th St. area. Steele Street would lead into the shopping center from South 38th St. The Lincoln Heights housing development are the winding roads just off 38th St. The heavily wooded area near the Mall is presumably the Tacoma Cemetery and South Park. Allied Owners, Inc., had applied four times by August, 1958, for rezoning from a residential to regional shopping center district. They wanted to build a $20 million South Tacoma shopping headquarters, "Town Center," in an area surrounding South 43rd, South 48th & Pine Sts. and the freeway. Each time their request before the City Planning Commission had been denied. Photograph ordered by Allied Owners, Inc. (TNT 8-31-58, A-6)
ca. 1958. Interior of Woolworth's at the Villa Plaza. The 15,000 square foot store was getting ready for the Christmas shopping season with decorated trees, assorted bulbs, and even ideas for the handyman on display. Woolworth's heavily promoted their wide aisles, flurorescent lighting, air conditioning and self-service shopping. Although Woolworth's maintained their large downtown store, they also sought to attract customers who lived outside the city limits by building a new store in the Villa Plaza Shopping Center. They joined fellow downtown giants J.C. Penny and Rhodes Brothers in this new concept of dozens of stores clustered in one shopping area with plenty of free parking. (TNT 5-8-57, A-8-article only)
F.W. Woolworth Co. (Lakewood); Variety stores--Lakewood--1950-1960; Merchandise displays--Lakewood--1950-1960; Villa Plaza Shopping Center (Lakewood); Shopping centers--Lakewood--1950-1960;
ca. 1958. Lakewood's Firestone Store with neighboring Villa Plaza Garden Center. Firestone offered something for everyone...tires, televisions, bicycles and tricycles, housewares and household appliances, in addition to complete car service. Rather than flipping through magazines waiting for maintenance and/or repairs on their vehicles, families could spend that time perusing and perhaps purchasing non-automotive items for sale. Firestone was located in the SW portion of the new Villa Plaza Shopping Center.
Firestone Store (Lakewood); Automobile equipment & supplies stores--Lakewood; Villa Plaza Garden Center (Lakewood); Gardening equipment & supplies; Villa Plaza Shopping Center (Lakewood); Shopping centers--Lakewood--1950-1960;
ca. 1958. Exterior - The Pantry, ca. 1958. Brick and wood formed the exterior of The Pantry restaurant in Lakewood's Villa Plaza Shopping Center. It was owned and operated by Eugene and Betty Sobolik and was one of the original 24 occupants of the Plaza, opening on Sunday, May 12, 1957. There was a flowering bed of plants and bushes positioned in a cement planter opposite the restaurant door. Located next to Rhodes Bros. Department Store, the Pantry advertised itself as the only complete dinner restaurant in the Villa Plaza. It featured roast prime sirloin of beef and homemade bread and pastries. The Pantry was a cafeteria until 4 pm and then became a restaurant for evening meals. The restaurant had a colonial-style atmosphere with maple furniture and accessories. It was accessible through Rhodes and the breezeway. The Villa Plaza Shopping Center continued to attract new businesses to their suburban location, including department stores, financial institutions and restaurants. Photograph ordered by the Villa Plaza Development. (TNT 1-30-59, p. 3- Ad, TNT 8-7-57, B-16; TNT 5-10-57, B-10-article)
ca. 1958. Copy of customer print, ordered by Wesley Johnson, Hoodsport. Architectural drawing of proposed Alderbrook Inn on Hood Canal. Drawing shows a luxurious resort consisting of multi-storied buildings and outlying structures, golf course, tennis courts, large swimming pool and mooring for boats. Surrounded by lush forest lands, there would be plenty of parking and amenities such as waterskiing and helicopter rides. The firm of Percy & Ball, Tacoma, are listed as the architects. Date of original print is not known; sepia copy made on December 26, 1958.
Architectural drawings; Alderbrook Inn (Hood Canal);
ca. 1958. Two Cammarano brothers posed with two company drivers at 25th & "F" Sts. in this circa 1958 photograph. They are standing in front of one of two new Dodge trucks that carry Rainier Beer. From left to right are: James Cammarano, Victor Trowbridge, William Cammarano and Walter Farley. The Cammarano Bros. firm were local distributors of beer and carbonated beverages. (Photograph courtesy of the William Cammarano Collection) TPL-10419
