This is the area of 112th & Meridian as seen by air on April 3, 1973. At that time the great stands of evergreens occupied most of the land. The Willows Mobile Home Park and the Willows Lumber Co. are located in the center of the aerial. Much of this area has since been developed. Photograph ordered by Collison Realty.

Aerial views; Neighborhoods--Puyallup--1970-1980;

These buildings at the intersection of 112th & Meridian appears to be under construction in April of 1973. This may be the location of the new "Willows" 10-acre shopping center which would open in May. Piggly-Wiggly supermarket and 15 other stores including a Hallmark, State Farm Insurance, and Sunrise Brokers would be the first stores to open; Pay N Save, Puget Sound National Bank, and others would follow in August or September. Aerial photograph ordered by Collison Realty. (TNT 3-18-73, D-10-article on shopping center)

Aerial views; Neighborhoods--Puyallup--1970-1980; Building construction--Puyallup--1970-1980;

One of a series of photographs taken on behalf of Collison Realty by the Richards Studio on April 3, 1973. These aerial views focused on the 112th & Meridian neighborhood. Eventually, the South Hill Mall would be built in this area.

Aerial views; Neighborhoods--Puyallup--1970-1980;

Aerial view looking northwest of the 112th & Meridian area in April of 1973. 112th St. runs diagonally past the Willows Mobile Home Park. At the far right center, according to a reader, was the brand new Willows Shopping Center with Piggly Wiggly and a Pay-N-Save. Just below the center of the photograph was the intersection of 116th St. E. and Meridian. The newer L-shaped building south of the trailer park was another shopping center, later home to MegaFoods, and presently a redeveloped shopping center containing Best Buy. Photograph ordered by Collison Realty. (Additional information provided by a reader)

Aerial views; Neighborhoods--Puyallup--1970-1980;

Northeast view from Manitou Park to the Tacoma Mall, taken via helicopter on April 2, 1973. In the near center of the photograph is the sprawling campus of Mount Tahoma High School, built in 1961. The school has since been relocated to a 50-acre site formerly part of the old Flett Dairy. The Tacoma Mall Shopping Center is center, near the top of the photograph, with I-5 traffic flowing adjacent to the busy Mall. Photograph ordered by Puget Sound National Bank.

Aerial view; Neighborhoods--Tacoma--1970-1980; Mount Tahoma High School (Tacoma); Tacoma Mall Shopping Center (Tacoma);

This is what the populous south side of Tacoma looked like in April of 1973. The aerial photograph of the South 72nd and South Lawrence Sts. looking north was taken on behalf of Puget Sound National Bank. The Tacoma Mall Shopping Center is at the extreme top -right side- of the photograph.

Aerial views; Neighborhoods--Tacoma--1970-1980;

One of a series of aerial views, taken aboard a helicopter on April 2, 1973, of the Tacoma Mall area as requested by Puget Sound National Bank. This view is east from South 56th & Manitou area. The Tacoma Mall is upper center with I-5 running next to the shopping center. Heavily wooded area in direct center is part of South Park and also the Tacoma Cemetery, established in 1875. Northern Pacific Shops are lower center.

Aerial views; Neighborhoods--Tacoma--1970-1980; Tacoma Mall Shopping Center (Tacoma);

Aerial view on April 2, 1973, of the Nalley Valley and 38th St. interchange. Atlas Foundry is on the right side. The Tacoma Mall is left-center, adjacent to the freeway. There were a variety of ways to get to the Mall, including the heavily utilized South Pine and South 38th St. entrances. Less than nine years old and already boasting of several large department stores as well as specialty shops, the Mall was able to draw a shopping population from as far south as Olympia and from as far north as Seattle. Photograph ordered by Puget Sound National Bank.

Aerial views; Neighborhoods--Tacoma--1970-1980; Tacoma Mall Shopping Center (Tacoma); Shopping centers--Tacoma--1970-1980; Express highways--Tacoma--1970-1980;

Another in a series of aerial photographs taken on April 2, 1973, for Puget Sound National Bank regarding the Tacoma Mall and surrounding areas. The hundreds of automobiles in the parking lot appear the size of matchbox cars when viewed via helicopter on this sunny spring day. Parking was obviously no problem and the weather would not be a factor either, since the Tacoma Mall was an enclosed, climate-controlled shopping center. J.C. Penney, the Bon Marche, Nordstrom and the soon-to-be constructed Rhodes department store on the west side would be the four major stores anchoring the Mall. Separate buildings in the Mall area included (l-r)the Tacoma Mall Office Building, the Bon Marche Tire Center, the round Pacific National Bank of Washington and the Tacoma Mall Theatre.

Aerial views; Parking lots--Tacoma--1970-1980; Tacoma Mall Shopping Center (Tacoma); Shopping centers--Tacoma--1970-1980; Tacoma Mall Office Building (Tacoma); Tacoma Mall Theater (Tacoma); Pacific National Bank of Washington (Tacoma);

Closer look at the Tacoma Mall Shopping Center as seen by air on April 2, 1973. 25 more stores would open on July 25th bringing the total number of stores found within the Mall to 110. Construction would begin soon on the two-story Rhodes Bros. department store at the far west end. Prominent buildings easily noted in this photograph are the Bon Marche, which was the first occupant of the Mall; the luxurious Tacoma Mall Theatre (bottom center); Pacific National Bank of Washington's circular building; the Bon Marche Tire Center, directly across from the Bon and the six-story Tacoma Mall Office Building. What the Tacoma Mall enjoyed, and downtown shopping lacked, was an abundance of free parking and a climate controlled atmosphere. Access to the Mall was easy with several entrances and quick freeway travel time. The wooded area across the Mall on South 48th St. would eventually become Best Buy, a Pierce County Transit Center, and closer to Pine St., the Social Security office. Ordered by Puget Sound National Bank.

Aerial views; Tacoma Mall Shopping Center (Tacoma); Shopping centers--Tacoma--1970-1980; Parking lots--Tacoma--1970-1980; Bon Marche (Tacoma); Tacoma Mall Theater (Tacoma); Pacific National Bank of Washington (Tacoma); Tacoma Mall Office Building (Tacoma)

Aerial view of Tacoma's largest shopping center, the Tacoma Mall, on April 2, 1973. Traffic on I-5 flows quickly along and there was easy access to the shopping center. South 48th St. with its overpass over I-5 intersects with South Ferry at the Mall. The Allstate Insurance Co.district office is the large building at the southwest corner of South 48th & Ferry. The wooded area next to Allstate would later be developed. This view, looking north, shows the Mall in its entirety, including the separate structures of the Tacoma Mall Theatre, Pacific National Bank of Washington, and the Tacoma Mall Office Building. With 83 acres of land, there was plenty of room for free parking and also for later expansion. Rhodes department store had already announced plans to open a branch at the Mall; it would be built on the extreme far west section. This aerial also shows the Mall's surrounding neighborhoods including Lincoln Heights off 38th St. past the grove of evergreens. Photograph ordered by Puget Sound National Bankl.

Aerial views; Tacoma Mall Shopping Center (Tacoma); Shopping centers--Tacoma--1970-1980; Express highways--Tacoma--1970-1980; Allstate Insurance Co. (Tacoma); Tacoma Mall Theater (Tacoma); Tacoma Mall Office Building (Tacoma);

The focus of this April, 1973, aerial is the Tacoma Mall Shopping Center and its environs. Located in the city's south end, the Tacoma Mall enjoyed easy access from the freeway and acres of free parking space. Customers could choose from about 100 stores, all under one climate-controlled roof. Rhodes Bros. would be the next large department store to open in the newly expanded Mall, a move that would eventually mean the closing of its flagship downtown location in late 1974. This view, looking east, also shows South Tacoma Way at the bottom. Photograph ordered by Puget Sound National Bank.

Aerial views; Neighborhoods--Tacoma--1970-1980; Tacoma Mall Shopping Center (Tacoma); Shopping centers--Tacoma--1970-1980; Express highways--Tacoma--1970-1980;

Northwest view from South 84th & Park Ave. This aerial look at Tacoma's south side was taken on behalf of Puget Sound National Bank on April 2, 1973. Lake in the center is Wapato Lake, bordered by South Alaska, South 72nd and Sheridan Ave. John S. Baker Junior High (now Middle School) is near bottom-center. Park Ave. has been marked in ink. Yakima Ave. is parallel to Park and is left of Park.

Aerial views; Neighborhoods--Tacoma--1970-1980; Wapato Lake (Tacoma); Baker Junior High School (Tacoma);

Looking west from South 56th & Pacific Ave. Aerial view on April 2, 1973, of the densely populated area around the Tacoma Mall. The Mall itself is right-center. Olympics are at the top of the photograph. Photograph ordered by Puget Sound National Bank.

Aerial views; Neighborhoods--Tacoma--1970-1980; Tacoma Mall Shopping Center (Tacoma); Shopping centers--Tacoma--1970-1980;

1973 Richards stock footage. Aerial view of shipyard believed to be Tacoma Boatbuilding Co. taken on a clear February day in 1973. Masses of logs float nearby until needed. The shipyard faces the Hylebos Waterway and was moved there after Tacoma Boatbuilding's longtime plant on the Sitcum Waterway was destroyed by fire in 1968.

Aerial views; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1970-1980; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Logs; Hylebos Waterway (Tacoma);

ca. 1972. Copy of customer print, ordered by law firm of Murray, Scott & McGavick on October 16, 1972. This is an aerial of the Gig Harbor area with various streets and company names written in. It appears that future construction of on and off-ramps and an overpass will impact housing and businesses already present. This is in the vicinity of Wollochet Gig Harbor Road.

Aerial views; Maps;

This is the Kaiser Aluminum plant in the tideflats as seen by air during the fall of 1972. The 500-foot smokestack was built in 1968 during plant expansion. Photograph taken on speculation.

Aerial views; Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corp. (Tacoma); Aluminum industry--Tacoma--1970-1980; Smokestacks--Tacoma;

Smoke pours from the 500-foot smokestack at the Kaiser Aluminum plant, 3400 Taylor Way, on October 12, 1972. The company had undergone expansion in the late 1960s and built a new aluminum rod mill and second aluminum dome in addition to the smokestack. Kaiser Aluminum would permanently close in 2002 and the smokestack demolished four years later.

Aerial views; Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corp. (Tacoma); Aluminum industry--Tacoma--1970-1980; Smokestacks--Tacoma;

Aerial view of Kent-based Convoy Co. taken on May 1, 1972. Massive parking lot with hundreds of cars, easy access to major roadways. Railroad cars parked next to facility, many loaded with automobiles. Convoy Co. was located in Kent at 27430 - So. 72nd. Photograph ordered by the Convoy Co.

Aerial views; Convoy Co. (Kent); Automobiles--Kent;

This is possibly Thun Field, just south of the City of Puyallup in the South Hill neighborhood. The air field appears to be hemmed in by tall firs. Photograph taken on January 2, 1972; ordered by Puget Sound National Bank.

Aerial views; Airports;

One of a series of photographs taken by air on January 2, 1972, of the Puyallup-area neighborhoods of 112th & Meridian and vicinity. Tall evergreens blanket the area with a few homes carved out of the forests. Photograph ordered by Puget Sound National Bank.

Aerial views; Neighborhoods--Puyallup--1970-1980;

Another in a series of photographs taken by air on January 2, 1972, of the Meridian South & 112th St. neighborhoods. The landscape would change in the following years as the area started to expand. Photograph ordered by Puget Sound National Bank.

Aerial views; Neighborhoods--Puyallup--1970-1980;

View by air of the area around 112th & Meridian near Puyallup. This was taken on January 2, 1972, on behalf of Puget Sound National Bank.

Aerial views; Neighborhoods--Puyallup--1970-1980;

This is an aerial of roughly the future location of the South Hill Mall area in January of 1972. Running vertically in the center of the photograph is 112th St. Meridian is the street that intersects 112th. Other than the cluster of homes on the left, much of the area is still very rural and wooded. Photograph ordered by Puget Sound National Bank.

Aerial views; Neighborhoods--Puyallup--1970-1980;

Aerial view of Puyallup Valley taken on January 2, 1972. This is roughly around the Meridian South vicinity; nestled among tall firs is a water tower visible at bottom of photograph. Photograph ordered by Puget Sound National Bank.

Aerial views; Neighborhoods--Puyallup--1970-1980; Water towers--Puyallup;

Aerial view of the Puyallup neighborhoods taken in January of 1972; the Western Washington Fairgrounds are located at Meridian South and 9th Ave. S.W. near center-right. Acres of trees at upper left-center. Photograph ordered by Puget Sound National Bank.

Aerial views; Neighborhoods--Puyallup--1970-1980; Western Washington Fair (Puyallup);

This aerial view of the Puyallup neighborhoods near 112th & Meridian was taken by the Richards Studio on January 2, 1972, on behalf of Puget Sound National Bank. Sand and gravel pit on the left; sprinkling of homes and businesses nearby.

Aerial views; Neighborhoods--Puyallup--1970-1980;

Another in a series of aerials of the area around 112th & Meridian in early 1972. In the late 1980s, the South Hill Mall would be built about this location. Photograph ordered by Puget Sound National Bank.

Aerial views; Neighborhoods--Puyallup--1970-1980;

This is what the 112th & Meridian area looked like in early 1972. The South Hill Mall would be built 16 years later on Meridian. What is noticeable is the large amount of woods and relatively few homes. Aerial photograph ordered by Puget Sound National Bank.

Aerial views; Neighborhoods--Puyallup--1970-1980;

The 112th & Meridian neighborhoods as seen by air in January of 1972. At that time there was an abundance of wooded acreage and not many homes. Photograph ordered by Puget Sound National Bank.

Aerial views; Neighborhoods--Puyallup--1970-1980;