The Douglas Fir Plywood Association's (DFPA) annual meeting in 1955. The Golden Jubilee Convention was held in Portland, Oregon, celebrating 50 years of the plywood industry from its inception in 1905 to 1955. Over 12,000 plywood manufacturers and distributers attended the meeting. One of the highlights was the unveiling of the Plywood Memorial at the Forestry building in Portland. The Memorial was designed around the original sheet of plywood manufactured in 1905 for display at the Lewis and Clark International Exposition in Portland.

Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Portland); Exhibition buildings--Portland; Exhibitions--Portland; Plywood;

Exposure showing radiant heating panel in the bathroom of the Kenith Aarhaus residence at 5923 East Vickery Rd. The panel is located underneath the window that opens out providing ventilation in the bath. Radiant heating supplied clean and economical heat.The bathroom has the bottom half of the walls covered with tile. It has two bathroom sinks underneath the mirror and a dividing half wall between the sink and toilet. The tub is on the right. Kenith D. was listed as machinist with Coast Iron and Machine Works in the 1955 City Directory and as an employee of St. Regis in the 1956 Directory. His wife's name was Esther. Photos ordered by Glassray of Tacoma.

Heating & ventilation industry--Tacoma; HVAC systems--Tacoma--1950-1960; Radiators; Bathrooms--Tacoma--1950-1960; Aarhaus, Kenith--Homes & haunts;

Fiftieth Anniversary portrait of Mr. & Mrs. Clarence O. Lynn, owners of the C.O. Lynn Mortuary. The Lynns were honored at a reception on June 19, 1955 held at the Tacoma Lawn Tennis Club by their sons and daughter in laws. The Lynns had two sons, C. Nathan and J. Marvin, who continued in the funeral business. Both of the Lynns were active in the First Lutheran Church of Tacoma. Mrs. Lynn was noted for her volunteer, lodge and philanthropic work. Mr. Lynn was a Mason and a Kiwanian as well as a past president of the Washington State Funeral Directors. (TNT 6/12/1955, pg. D-1)

Lynn, C. O.; Lynn, Hilma; Anniversaries--Tacoma--1950-1960;

ca. 1955. Photographer sets up the scale model of a garden structure at Wapato Lake for a photo shoot. Photo series ordered by the Douglas Fir Plywood Association. The model of a Japanese garden retreat was photographed at different locations utilizing perspective to make it appear full size. For two of these photographs see D90771-image 16 and A90771-image 11. In this picture, the actual scale of the model can be seen in comparison to the man.

Models; Architectural models; Patios--Tacoma; Garden structures--Tacoma;

Dupont school baseball team of 1955, the Tigers. By 1975, the high school had closed and children no longer attended school in their home town. Anderson Island, Steilacoom and DuPont formed one school district, Steilacoom Historical District #1.

Schools--Dupont--1950-1960; Students--Dupont--1950-1960; Baseball players--Dupont;

The Tacoma Tennis Club, at 502 Borough Road, held its second annual steak fry on June 12, 1955 for the members of the club and their families. These six volunteer chefs, dressed in sparkling white aprons and tall chef's hats, were on hand to grill each steak to perfection. Standing from left to right are: Robert Earley, Mayor Harold Tollefson, Phil Horther, James M. Koon, Carl Conrad and Fred Osmers, president of the Club. (TNT 6/12/1955, pg. D-1 & 6/19/1955, pg D-7) TPL-8621

Tacoma Lawn Tennis Club (Tacoma); Tollefson, Harold M., 1908-1985; Cookery--Tacoma; Cooks; Earley, Robert; Horther, Phil; Koon, James; Conrad, Carl; Osmers, Fred;

ca. 1955. Franklin Pierce High School, Parkland, showing gym floor. Built in 1953, the address was listed originally as 11002 Portland Ave. The school is listed in the phone book as being located at S. 112th & Portland Ave. This appears to be a multipurpose room with a curtained stage at one end, a gym floor and bleachers that fold out from the side walls.

Franklin Pierce High School (Parkland); Public schools--Parkland--1950-1960; Gymnasiums--Parkland--1950-1960;

Exterior of bulk feed truck, labelled Larro Feeds, at General Mills, on Schuster Parkway near 6th. The truck is a White truck 3000. General Mills, Sperry Division, grain elevators can be seen in the background. The White truck will be loaded with grain that will then be delivered to area farmers for feeding their livestock.

General Mills, Inc., Sperry Division (Tacoma); White trucks--Tacoma; Trucks--Tacoma--1950-1960; Flour & meal industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Shipping--Tacoma--1950-1960; Grain elevators--Tacoma--1950-1960; Grain industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Window display at Schoenfelds of the Davy Crockett bedroom furniture group in "silver gulch" finish. The furniture was available in open stock on easy terms. Key pieces were the bunk beds, dressers and student desk. A Crockett coonskin cap is hanging from the hat stand to the right. Davy Crockett was a folklore hero who became a familiar name to the children of the fifties through the popular ballad and the Disney television production. In the summer of 1955, the Disney feature length film starring Fess Parker was making the rounds of the movie theatres. Coonskin caps were the fashionable headgear for fans, causing a shortage of small animal furs. In fact, the "King of the Wild Frontier" was the champion retailer of the fifties, with estimated sales of $300 million dollars worth of Crockett labelled merchandise in 1955.

L. Schoenfeld & Sons (Tacoma); Home furnishings stores--Tacoma; Children's furniture; Furniture stores--Tacoma; Window displays--Tacoma;

Switch gear equipment at Pacific Oerlikon Co. The worker eyes suspiciously the hook used to lift this product packaged for transport. Although the hook reads Yale five ton, the worker looks doubtful that it will hold. The product is labelled "porcelain, handle with care, fragile." Pacific Oerlikon manufactured large breakers and equipment used in the transmission of electric power.

Pacific Oerlikon Co. (Tacoma); Machinery; Equipment;

The new saltwater public swimming pool at Titlow Beach was dedicated on June 4, 1955. The new pool measured 165 feet long by 75 feet wide with a depth of 3-5 feet for 85% of the length, with 15% deeper and used for diving. The pool had 3 diving boards, 2 one meter boards and 1 three meter board. The water was filtered continually and heated and chlorinated and lit by underwater and overhead lighting. Twenty feet of deck space was provided for sunbathing. Funded by special tax funds voted in 1952 plus appropriations and constructed at a cost of $225,796.54, the pool also had a 500 car parking area and bathhouses with automatic showers and large dressing rooms. Pool design was by Lea, Pearson & Richards. A two day pancake feed called the "Griddle Go Round" was planned for June 4-5. The TAC expected to fill 10,000 people with griddle cakes, syrup, orange juice and sausage. Entertainment would be provided by a touring Aunt Jemima (Palmere Jackson) and her troupe. There would be bubble gum and pancake eating contests, a water show and vaudeville acts with proceeds going to the fund to build a band shell at the lagoon at the entrance of Point Defiance Park. (TNT 5/29/1955, pg. A-10, 6/1/1955, pg. 11, 6/3/1955, pg. B-2, 6/5/1955, pg. 1)

Swimming pools--Tacoma; Titlow Park (Tacoma);

The Tacoma City Lights Administration Building, now known as the Tacoma Public Utilities Center, opened in 1953. Silas E. Nelson was the architect and Roy T. Early Co. was the contractor. Photo series ordered by Bethlehem Pacific Steel Co. (SA-7) The Administration Building was the center of Tacoma's controversial new multi-million dollar Public Utility operating headquarters at So. 35th & Union Ave. The administrative, service and engineering staffs of both the Light and Water Divisions would be housed here. In addition to office and working space, the building had an auditorium, cafeteria, first aid and dispensary room, a model kitchen and a home economics department.

Tacoma Dept. of Public Utilities, Light Division (Tacoma); Silas E. Nelsen Architects (Tacoma); Public utility companies--Tacoma;

Golden Jubilee Circus in Seattle with the Sea Fair Queen. Photo ordered by the Douglas Fir Plywood Association. The Sea Fair Queen makes friends with a lion, tiger and giraffe, part of the plywood menagerie travelling with the "Fir Plywood Golden Jubilee Show." The free show had something for every member of the family. It featured a color film showing how plywood is manufactured and some new ideas for modern living. Part of the celebration of the 50th anniversary of plywood production, the show would be touring West Coast regions where plywood is manufactured. (TNT 7/10/1955, pg. C-17)

Animal training--Seattle; Circus animals--Seattle; Circuses & shows--Seattle; Circus performers;

Unidentified young baseball player with the 1955 Washington Cheney Studs team. The Cheney Studs were an amateur team made up of the most talented high school and college talent in the Seattle-Tacoma area. The Studs began the season by playing exhibition games against professional farm teams and also the amateur city league. They ended the season by finishing second in the nation, behind Houston, at the nationals of the American Baseball Congress.

Baseball players--Tacoma--1950-1960; Baseball--Tacoma--1950-1960; Washington Cheney Studs (Tacoma);

George Kritsonis; young baseball player with the 1955 Washington Cheney Studs team. The Cheney Studs were an amateur team made up of the most talented high school and college talent in the Seattle-Tacoma area. George was one of the pitchers for the team and attended Seattle University. He also played outfield for the Studs. He was 18 years old during the season, 6'1" tall and 160 pounds and was a native of Issaquah, Wa. George was voted "Most Valuable Player" of the Northwest series of the American Baseball Congress at Watertown, S.D. The Studs defeated Omaha 12-3 to clinch the Northwest title.

Baseball players--Tacoma--1950-1960; Kritsonis, George; Washington Cheney Studs (Tacoma); Baseball--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Launching of the MSO 505 at Tacoma Boat Building. Photo ordered by the Industrial Development Service. Grain elevators in the background. The Navy's newest minesweeper, the 171 foot MSO 505, was launched Saturday August 6, 1955 at Tacoma Boatbuilding. Mrs. C. E. Trescott was the sponsor and Miss Irene Trescott was the attendant. They were introduced by Capt. James R. Davis, USN. The 13th Naval District band played. (TNT 8/8/1955, pg. 9)

Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

ca. 1955. Prominent Tacoma businessman Ben Cheney in a ca. 1955 portrait. He was well known as the president and founder of Cheney Lumber Co. but became even better known for his generosity in supporting athletics for the young. Thousands of children were given the chance to participate in sports including baseball, football and basketball. It is estimated that over 5,000 people played on Mr. Cheney's various Studs teams over twenty years.

Cheney, Ben B., 1905-1971; Philanthropists;

Four women in print, Hawaiian-like dresses, with leis around their necks, posed in August of 1955 to help publicize the University Union Club's Hawaiian Party. Planned for August 18, the party featured an exotic luau, followed by dancing to the strains of a Hawaiian orchestra. Pictured (left to right) are Jeanette (Mrs. William) Shaw, Jean (Mrs. William) Drury, Ruth (Mrs. Thomas) Murphy and Jeanne (Mrs. Frank) Kraucunas. (TNT 8/18/1955, pg. 13, 8/14/1955, pg. D-1)

Clubs--Tacoma; University Union Club of Tacoma (Tacoma); Dinner parties--Tacoma--1950-1960; Costumes; Shaw, Jeanette; Drury, Jean; Murphy, Ruth; Kraucunas, Jeanne;

Mrs. Ralph Chantry is pictured in August of 1955 with two unidenfied men admiring the new 1955 Custom Royal Lancer Dodge she recently won as the grand prize in a U & I Sugar contest. She had previously received the keys to the automobile from C.M. Young of B & Y Motors, Dodge representatives. She was especially happy to get a new car as her 1949 vehicle had just been sent to the garage for repairs. In addition, Mrs. Chantry, with her husband, would be going on an all-expense-paid trip to Hollywood as guests of the sugar company. Mr. and Mrs. Chantry resided in a newly built home in Bonney Lake, four miles from Sumner. Photograph ordered by David Evans & Associates. (Puyallup Valley Tribune, 8-11-55-alt. photograph & article)

Dodge automobile; Contests; Chantry, Ralph--Family;

The "All Electric Starliner" home by Miller Construction Co., built for the 1955 Parade of Homes. This home was one of the model homes in the 1955 Parade of Homes in University Estates, 2 miles south of the University Place school. The homes were built by members of the Tacoma Master Builders Association and their location was kept secret until their unveiling Sept. 10th. The 21 homes in 1955 were located on 42 acres in University Place. The Starliner was built of clinker brick and cedar siding and featured 3 bedrooms, a merged living and dining area, planned kitchen, 2 baths and a family room with an 8 ft wide sliding glass door opening onto a partially paved play area. The play area had a built in sunken sandbox and wading pool. The children in the picture are Penny Valley (on tricycle), Polly Valley (filling pool with hose) and Beidra Miller, daughter of Edward P. Miller- builder and contractor. The home also had an attached garage and a large storage room. After the Parade of Homes, the house was placed on the market for $15,000. (TNT 9/9/1955, pg. B-16, B-29)

Houses--University Place--1950-1960; Children playing in sand; Children playing in water; Children playing outdoors--University Place--1950-1960; Children riding bicycles & tricycles; Valley, Penny; Valley, Polly; Miller, Beidra;

Ground breaking for U.S. Oil and Refining Co. plant on Tideflats. Senators Warren G. Magnuson and Henry M. Jackson (5th and 8th from L), Congressman Thor Tollefson (6th from L) and Mayor Harold Tollefson behind Fun Fair Queen Shiela Widener. Seated in the giant diesel shovel is U.S. Oil & Refining Co. president, Dr. Ernest Lyder. Perched on the shovel's front are Port Commissioners M.S. Erdahl and Maurice Raymond, who was the principal speaker at the event. Many of those present, including hundreds of spectators, had used the site formerly as a swimming hole and for duck hunting. (TNT 7-21-55, p. 1, TNT 7-22-55, p. 1) ALBUM 4

Magnuson, Warren G., 1905-1989; Jackson, Henry M., 1912-1983; US Oil & Refining Co. (Tacoma); Legislators--Washington--1950-1960; Tollefson, Thor C., 1901-1982; Mayors--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tollefson, Harold M., 1908-1985; Lyder, Ernest;

Graduating class from Tacoma General Hospital's nursing school. The Baccalaureate service for the 1955 graduates from the Tacoma General Hospital School of Nursing was held at the First Methodist Church. The graduation of the thirty nine new nurses signalled the end of three years of training. The student nurses will later take the state exams to earn the designation of RN, Registered Nurse. The students represented the state of Washington, as well as 3 other states, 2 foreign countries and the territory of Alaska. It was the 59th graduating class in the history of TGH. Mrs. Grace Marlene Koski Guenther won a $200 scholarship for her top scholastic standings. Miss Annette George was second in the class and received a $150 scholarship to continue her studies. Al Babbit, hospital business administrator, presented the scholarships. (TNT 9/4/1955, pg. C-9)

Nurses--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma General Hospital School of Nursing (Tacoma); Graduation ceremonies--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Group boarding bus at the Olympus Hotel, photograph ordered by the Young Calvinist. Members of the group appear to be of many different ages. Based on the ordering newspaper, the group must be followers of Calvinism. According to the Webster's Dictionary, the theological system of John Calvin and his followers is marked by a strong emphasis on the sovereignty of God, the depravity of mankind and the doctrine of predestination.

Olympus Hotel (Tacoma); Hotels--Tacoma--1950-1960;

One of the two men in #10 poses with a woman and a new General Electric stove. They appear to be perusing the directions for the stove. Appointment book labels this series as Pease & Sons Appliances. Photographs ordered by David Evans & Assoc.

Stoves--Tacoma; Appliances; Pease & Sons Appliance Center (Tacoma);

The PNGA Junior Championship banquet and trophy presentation at the Tacoma Country & Golf Club. The Pacific Northwest Golf Association sponsored the junior tournament held August 29- September 1st. Entrants were boys under the age of 19 on Aug. 29th. They were anticipating around 125 entrants from Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, British Columbia and Alberta, Canada to participate in the 9 hole qualifying round. Erv Parent (left), president of the PNGA, is presenting Bryan Copp (center), of Vancouver BC, the medalist trophy at the conclusion of the qualifying round held on August 29, 1955. The wiry, red headed seventeen year old Copp was the current British Columbia Junior Champion. He posted one over par in the 9 hole play off to break a three way tie with Gary Congdon and Bobby Pratt of Tacoma. Qualifiers will continue play until there is a single winner. Copp was defeated in the final round by Ted Puetz of Seattle. (TNT 8/7/1955, pg. B-10, 8/30/1955, pg. 2, 9/2/1955, pg. 20)

Tacoma Country & Golf Club (Tacoma); Country clubs--Tacoma; Golf--Tacoma; Parent, Erv; Copp, Bryan;

On August 12, 1955, Mayor Harold Tollefson christened a new Trailways bus at the Trailway Bus Depot, 114-116 So. 8th St. The unidentified members of an all girl accordion band, in satin skirts with matching beanies and slippers, looked on in varying states of surprise. Three of the accordions had advertisement on them for the "Vista Liner." The luxury Continental Trailways "Vista Liner 100" bus being unveiled at the station on 8th and Pacific Ave. The fleet of new liners was being placed in service on Trailways' Evergreen routes from Seattle to San Diego and Los Angeles to San Francisco. The term "Vista Liner" refers to the raised rear deck with skylights for full enjoyment of passing scenery. The bus features contour seating with adjustable headrests, FM background music, springs to absorb road shock and facing seats with card tables. (TNT 8/10/1955, pg. B-1) TPL-8354

Tollefson, Harold M., 1908-1985; Mayors--Tacoma--1950-1960; Buses--Tacoma; Bus terminals--Tacoma; Accordions;

In September of 1955, three tow trucks and their drivers stand at the ready in front of Del's Service and Repair at 711 Tacoma Ave So. Del's was owned by Delbert Heim who took over Art's Auto Repair around 1953 and changed the name. The garage specialized in brake repair, and towing was available 24 hours a day. The building was originally constructed in 1929 for a cost of $38,000. The site includes the Washington Grocery (to the left) at 707 Tacoma Ave So. The same builder, Oscar Volk, built the 85 unit brick Washington Apartments to the left of the photograph at 7th and Tacoma Ave So. (actual address 518 So. 7th St.). Del moved his business to 224 St. Helens Ave. in the late 1950s.

Del's Service & Repair (Tacoma); Automobile repair--Tacoma--1950-1960; Wreckers (Vehicles);

ca. 1955. The Winthrop Hotel, circa 1955. The hotel, designed by W.L. Stoddard, architect, and Roland Borhek, associate architect, had its grand opening on 5/16/1925. The hotel was named in a Tacoma Ledger newspaper contest. The winning name was submitted by George L. Dickson. It was named after explorer and writer Theodore Winthrop, author of "The Canoe and the Saddle," which helped popularize the Northwest. The building was eleven stories and 110 feet high. In 1973, it was converted into apartments. In 1955, it was home to the Sabre Room and the Daffodil Room.

Hotels--Tacoma--1950-1960; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

American Wholesale Grocers. Nighttime view of exterior of new IGA Foodtown store located at Park Ave. and Airport Way. The supermarket shares the same strip mall with Devereaux Realty, Ruth's Cafe, a beauty and barber shop and a drycleaning plant. The entrance to the grocery store is to the right. The variety section may have had its own entrance to the left of the brick wall. Each IGA was independently owned and operated, but affiliated with IGA, the second largest retail food outlet in the country. (TNT 8/16/1955, pg. 7-10)

IGA Foodtown (Parkland); Grocery stores--1950-1960; Supermarkets;

American Wholesale Grocers. Exterior of new IGA Foodtown store located at Park Ave. and Airport Way. A planter box and flagstone paving lead to the entrance of the store. The 20,000 square foot building was built of concrete block and roman brick with large plate glass windows across the north side. A large modernistic marquee extended over the northwest corner and a raised planting area with flowering and evergreen shrubs included two oriental trees that extended through the roof. (TNT 8/16/1955, pg. 7-10)

IGA Foodtown (Parkland); Grocery stores--1950-1960; Supermarkets;