Exterior exposure of Temple Beth El's South Temple, formerly known as Talmud Torah Synagogue and Sinai Temple. Designed by architects Hill & Mock, and built by contractors Knoell & Westerfield in 1925, the Italian Renaissance Romanesque Talmud Torah Synagogue was located at So. 4th & I Sts. Its congregation was more traditionally minded than Temple Beth Israel's reformists, however in 1960 both congregations voted to merge. Rabbi Richard Rosenthal was elected to lead the combined congregations, now called Temple Beth El. Temple Beth Israel on No. 4th St. was sold in 1964 to the Apostolic Faith Church and Talmud Torah, the South Temple, was sold in 1968 to the Tacoma Blood Bank. The Talmud Torah was demolished and its site used as a parking lot for Tacoma General Hospital. Photograph ordered by Tacoma Realty. (History of Pierce County, Vol. 1, p. 15) TPL-8677

Talmud Torah Synagogue (Tacoma); Synagogues--Tacoma;

Interior view of the Temple Beth El's South Temple on May 28, 1964. The Star of David is carved onto the many pews in the sanctuary as well as on the large circular window behind the curtained Ark. Two menorahs flank the bimah. Temple Beth El's South Temple was known as the Talmud Torah Synagogue. It was built in 1925 in the classic Italian Renaissance style with arched ceilings and glass windows. Talmud Torah Synagogue, although more traditionally minded, had merged with Temple Beth Israel in 1960. Now called Temple Beth El, it would sell its North Temple on No. 4th & J in 1964 to the Apostolic Faith Church; four years later, the Tacoma Blood Bank would acquire the Talmud Torah property. It was demolished and a parking lot established in its place. A new synagogue for the combined congregations was dedicated in 1968 at So. 12th & Vassault. (History of Pierce County, Vol. 1, p. 15) Photograph ordered by Tacoma Realty.

Talmud Torah Synagogue (Tacoma); Synagogues--Tacoma;

Confirmation class. Rabbi Richard Rosenthal stands among the May, 1964, confirmation class at Temple Beth Israel. The fourteen young men and women are dressed in robes with the males wearing talliths with a striped design.

Rosenthal, Richard; Rabbis--Tacoma; Confirmations--Tacoma; Judaism--Tacoma; Temple Beth El (Tacoma); Synagogues--Tacoma;

Members of Tacoma's Rainbow Court No. 42 and Seattle's Sarah W. Dupree Court No. 19 of the Heroines of Jericho held joint Holy Week services in Tacoma at Bethlehem Baptist Church in March of 1964. Members and officials of the Rainbow Court are posed in the foreground; Seattle contingent in back row. L-R, front row: Era M. Martin, Vivian Jones, Lucy B. Marshall, Jessie M. Baldwin, Worthy Joshua Gerald L. Baldwin, Hallie Brooks, Sarah Booth, Julie Gillum and Berdie Johnson. 2nd row: Maggie White, Lizzy Green, Cora Walker, Octavia Charles, Benny Ruth Fox, Elizabeth Wesley and Laura Latmier. 3rd row: Court directors Louis J. Marshall and Robert L. White, Helen Adams. 4th row: Clara White, Mrs. Allen M. Douglas, Helen Krisel, Edith Allen, Janie M. Bennett, Leona Kidd, Floy Ruffins, Addalana Moore, Beatrice Chatters and past Worthy Joshua William Hawkins. (TNT 3-26-64, p. 7)

Group portraits; Women--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1960-1970; African Americans--Tacoma--1960-1970; Bethlehem Baptist Church (Tacoma); Heroines of Jericho;

Interior of unidentified church near Seattle-Tacoma Airport, taken on June 28, 1962. Photograph features unusual open-beamed ceiling, apparently circular, with suspended lighting. Note there are no pews, only folding chairs. There is plenty of natural light with skylight and large windows. This is probably the hexagonal chapel of the Wayside Congregational Christian Church. Located in a former swampy area in Federal Way at Maltby Rd. & 312th St., the newly completed cedar building was connected by a bridge to an education building. Photograph ordered by the National Lumber Manufacturers Association. (TNT 7-25-62, A-9)

Churches;

Exterior of contemporary wooden church near Seattle-Tacoma Airport, taken on June 28, 1962. This unidentified church appears to be newly constructed as there is no landscaping present. The church has a modified steeple on its round roof and a connected walkway between it and a nearby building, possibly classrooms. This is tentatively identified as the newly built Wayside Congregational Christian Church chapel and education building in Federal Way. The three-year-old church had 120 members. Photograph ordered by the National Lumber Manufacturers Association. (TNT 7-25-62, A-9)

Churches; Steeples;

Youngsters 9-17 gathered at the First Assembly of God Church at 1121 So. "G" (now Altheimer) on August 22, 1962, for a missionary convention. View of approximately 300 children and older members in church's sanctuary, including many in the extended balcony. The First Assembly of God was host to the Western Washington Missionette Convention of the Assemblies of God. Missionettes are girls age 9-17 whose aim it is to help missionaries at home and abroad by supplying clothing, literature and visual aids. (TNT 8-18-62, p. 4)

Meetings--Tacoma--1960-1970; Religious meetings--Tacoma--1960-1970; First Assembly of God (Tacoma); Churches--Tacoma--1960-1970;

Exterior - Temple Baptist Church, 1961. Designed by Silas E. Nelsen and built of reinforced concrete in 1949, the Temple Baptist Church was located at 245 Saint Helens Avenue. Dr. Robert L. Powell was the church's pastor. The sanctuary was completed in 1960. Temple Baptist has been located at 1108 Columbia Ave. in Fircrest since 2001.

Temple Baptist Church (Tacoma); Baptist churches--Tacoma;

Rabbi Richard Rosenthal poses with a wide-eyed group of nine children, seven boys and two girls, at the Temple Beth Israel Synagogue on October 23, 1959.

Rosenthal, Richard; Rabbis--Tacoma; Judaism--Tacoma; Temple Beth Israel Synagogue (Tacoma); Synagogues--Tacoma; Children--Tacoma--1950-1960;

ca. 1960. Exterior of St. Patrick's Church. Designed by architect Frederick Heath, the French Gothic-styled church celebrated its first services on Christmas, 1906. The church was dedicated on June 30, 1907. View of the massive stone building shows a crowd of people milling around the open doors; this spring, 1960, photograph was probably taken at one of the many weddings which occurred on its premises.

St. Patricks Catholic Church (Tacoma); Catholic churches--Tacoma;

Trinity Lutheran Church, 121st St. and So. Park Ave., Parkland. Trinity was the area's largest Lutheran church. It was designed by John Richards of Lea, Pearson & Richards, architects. The main sanctuary could seat 800-1,000 people. A parsonage was added in 1961, designed by the same architectural firm. The church was remodeled in 1993, under the direction of the BJSS Group, architects. (TNT 3/8/1959, pg. C-15)

Trinity Lutheran Church (Parkland); Lutheran churches--Parkland;

Trinity Lutheran Church, 121st St. and So. Park Ave., Parkland. Three bells adorn the tower above the Trinity Lutheran Church, designed by John Richards of Lea, Pearson & Richards, Architects. Trinity was the area's largest Lutheran church; its sanctuary could seat 800-1000 worshipers. It was dedicated on March 8, 1959 and over 2600 persons attended the dedication. (TNT 3/8/1959, pg. C-15)

Trinity Lutheran Church (Parkland); Lutheran churches--Parkland;

Trinity Lutheran Church, 121st St. and So. Park Ave., Parkland. This bas relief over the main entrance was designed by Pacific Lutheran College Assistant Professor of Art George Roskos. It illustrates the parable of the sower. The 3 ton sculpture relates how the word and the seed need friendly soil. The first figure on the left is depicted preaching the word and sowing the seed. The next group depicts non-concern and egotism, also the birds eat the seed. The next seed are cast in rocky and shallow soil and wither away. The next group of figures have the trappings of the church, but still show lack of interest. The third group shows greed and lust for riches, as one of them clutches a money bag. In the group furtherest to the right, all seven figures hold a reaper. The seed has been planted in rich, deep soil and is bearing fruit. During the design period, the artist worked with a 5 x 18 foot canvas and applied wire lath and clay. It took 1500 pounds of plaster to make a 14 piece mold. The mold was filled with aggregate. The sculpture weighed 3 tons and was lifted up at either end with 1 ton hoists. The area's largest Lutheran Church was dedicated on March 3, 1959. Over 2600 persons attended the dedication. (TNT 3/8/1959, pg. C-15, 3/22/1959, pg. C-17)

Trinity Lutheran Church (Parkland); Lutheran churches--Parkland; Bas-reliefs;

The bas relief at the front of the Trinity Lutheran Church in Parkland, ordered by the Olympian Stone Co. of Seattle. The original church at this site was "The Gray Church" built in 1907 and also named Trinity Lutheran. It was demolished in 1957 and this new church, designed by John Richards of Lea, Pearson and Richards, was dedicated in March of 1959. The relief over the door was designed by Pacific Lutheran College Art Professor George Roskos. The three ton sculpture illustrates the parable of the sower, how both seed and the word of God need fertile soil to take root and grow.

Trinity Lutheran Church (Parkland); Lutheran churches--Parkland; Bas-reliefs;

This is believed to be the Rev. Martin J. Duggan, pastor of Holy Cross Catholic Church. Father Duggan had celebrated his 25th anniversary as a priest in 1950. He is dressed in special vestments which appear to be made of brocade. Six tall candles and candelabra are on the altar behind the pastor with a large cross hanging above. Sepia photograph ordered by Holy Cross Church.

Priests--Tacoma--1950-1960; Holy Cross Catholic Church (Tacoma); Catholic churches--Tacoma; Altars--Tacoma;

The "ultra-modern" St. Mary's Episcopal Church in Lakewood was dedicated in September, 1957. It was designed by architect Robert Billsbrough Price and built by the Korsmo Brothers. The unusual A-framed building appears to have had heavy duty laminated beams anchoring it to cement blocks. These beams are very similar to those glue-lam beams installed in the cafetorium at the new Henry F. Hunt Junior High School in Tacoma, which was also designed by architect Price. Photograph ordered by Woodlam, Inc.

St. Mary's Episcopal Church (Lakewood); Episcopal churches--Lakewood;

Dark laminated beams draw attention to the arched wooden ceilings of Messiah Lutheran Church in Auburn. The eye is caught, not only by the dramatic arches, but by the large, simple cross on the brick tower behind the altar. The arches serve to focus concentration on the cross. This July 17, 1958, photograph was taken from the rear of the church, possibly in the choir loft or balcony. From this viewpoint the many rows of wooden pews can be seen. The new $100,000 building included church offices and a conference room in addition to the sanctuary. Built on a concrete slab with glue-laminated arches and partial brick veneer, the Lutheran church was dedicated on Sunday, July 13, 1958 by Dr. Swen L. Swenson. Rev. Carlton L. Berg was to be the new pastor. The church was located at 4th and "H" Sts. N.E. in Auburn. Photograph ordered by Woodlam, Inc. (TNT 7-12-58, p. 4)

Messiah Lutheran Church (Auburn); Lutheran churches--Auburn; Laminated wood;

Modest altar - St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church. The new church had an enormous sanctuary; this September 8, 1958, photograph has been identified by a reader as in all likelihood the chapel in the convent. There were several pews and a wood-based altar. Vertical shutters were slightly opened, allowing light from the stained glass windows to enter. Photograph ordered by St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church.

St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church (Tacoma); Catholic churches--Tacoma--1950-1960; Pews--Tacoma; Altars--Tacoma;

Sanctuary at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church. A new parish was formed to serve the people of the city's west end and bridge area; St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church had its first buildings completed in 1958. It was dedicated that year by the Archbishop of Seattle. View of large, wood-enhanced sanctuary shows arched beams, rows of pews and two statues of Mary and the Sacred Heart flanking the altar. Archibishop of Seattle, Thomas A. Connolly, dedicated the rectory, school, and convent on September 21, 1958. The school gym was used as the church at this time since the church was not yet finished. Photograph ordered by St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church. (TNT 9-20-58, p. 4)

St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church (Tacoma); Catholic churches--Tacoma--1950-1960; Pews--Tacoma; Altars--Tacoma; Sculpture--Tacoma;

Interior and exterior exposures of St. Charles Borromeo Church and buildings were taken on September 8, 1958. This view has been identified by a reader as the front hall/entryway of St. Charles Borromeo School. There is a large statue of St. Joseph holding a small child on the left. Trophy and display cases now flank the statue today. Over 200 children, up to the sixth grade, were enrolled in the new school taught by Franciscan sisters.The church sanctuary, school, parish hall, gym, convent and rectory may have been completed in 1958. The church building was finished in 1969. Photograph ordered by St. Charles Borromeo Church. (TNT 9-20-58, p. 4) (Additional information provided by a reader)

St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church (Tacoma); Catholic churches--Tacoma; Sculpture--Tacoma;

A new Aquinas Academy rose on the site of the former girls' school in 1957. A workman is shown on August 28, 1957, smoothing down a concrete walkway in front of the modern pre-fabricated concrete building. The original Aquinas Academy opened in Tacoma under the auspices of the Sisters of St. Dominic in 1899. The school was razed in October, 1955, and a new school with facilities for 400 students was designed by local architects Lea, Pearson & Richards. The new Aquinas was dedicated on October 27, 1957, by Seattle Archbishop Thomas A. Connolly. The three-story building had 10 classrooms, a library, two science laboratories, a home economics room, a gymnasium and a cafeteria. It was built at a cost of $656,000. 1112 North "G" St. is now the site of the Saint Patrick School. When Aquinas vacated the building in 1974 to consolidate with Bellarmine and Saint Leo's as Bellarmine, Saint Patrick School left their 55-year-old building at North 11th & "J" and moved down the hill to occupy the newer Aquinas structure. Photograph ordered by Catholic Northwest Progress. (TNT 10-27-57, B-8; www.saintpats.org) ) (Additional information provided by a reader)

Aquinas Academy (Tacoma); Church schools--Tacoma; Building construction--Tacoma--1950-1960; St. Patrick's Parochial School (Tacoma);

Interior of Calvary Baptist Church. Standing behind the pulpit is believed to be the Rev. Robert S. Hess, pastor of the Calvary Baptist Church. There is an abundance of wood in this church, from the long rows of pews to the arched and beamed ceilings. Rilco Laminated Products, Inc., may have supplied some of the wood products used in the sanctuary. Calvary Baptist Church has had a long history in Tacoma; it celebrated its 100th anniversary in 1999. In June, 1997, a rare twister damaged the church buildings; it was subsequently rededicated in September, 1997. Photograph ordered by Calvary Baptist Church.

Calvary Baptist Church (Tacoma); Baptist churches--Tacoma; Protestant churches--Tacoma;

Kitchen - First Congregational Church. The kitchen in the First Congregational Church was well equipped to handle hundreds of parishioners' dietary needs for church teas, luncheons, suppers, and receptions. The section of the kitchen shown in this September 17, 1957, photograph indicates that dishwashing would be fast and efficient. The Blakeslee Kitchen Machine may have been an industrial dishwasher. Photograph ordered by the Patrick Co., dealer in restaurant supplies.

Kitchens--Tacoma--1950-1960; First Congregational Church (Tacoma);

Interior of church. The sanctuary of this simple church is highlighted by the V-shaped ceilings, made of laminated wood, perhaps provided by Rilco Laminated Products, Inc. Looking directly from the preacher's pulpit, a large window, possibly stained glass, adds more light to complement the unusual chandeliers. The location and identity of this church is not known. Photograph ordered by Rilco Laminated Products, Inc.

Churches; Rilco Laminated Products, Inc. (Tacoma);

Exterior of Holy Cross Catholic Church. The exterior of the new Holy Cross Catholic Church was photographed near Thanksgiving, 1957. The large church appears to be nearly completed, including tower with cross and arched windows, although the landscaping is yet to be done. Several piles of bricks are undercover, protected from the rain, as they might be necessary to extend the brick border in front of the pillars. Mill & Associates were the architects involved in the project; the contractors were the Jardeen Brothers. The new $250,000 church would be dedicated by the Archbishop of Seattle, the Most Rev. Thomas A. Connolly on December 2, 1957. The Sacrament would be carried in a procession by clergy and laymen from the old Holy Cross Church at No. 43rd and Shirley around the corner to the new church building after the final Mass in the old location. Photograph ordered by Catholic Northwest Progress. (TNT 12-1-57, C-12)

Catholic churches--Tacoma; Holy Cross Catholic Church (Tacoma);

The Japanese Methodist Church celebrated its 50th anniversary October 25-57, 1957. The congregation is amassed in front of the venerable church at South 19th and Fawcett. One of the special guests on October 27, 1957, was the first minister of the (then) Tacoma Japanese Methodist Episcopal Church, the Rev. Seichi Higashida. The building at 19th & Fawcett was started in 1929 and paid off in 1933. Begun in 1907 as a mission society for Japanese immigrants, the church was to change its name to Whitney Memorial United Methodist Church in the 1960's. It was to later close in 1999, due to declining attendance, and the property purchased by the University of Washington. Photograph ordered by Kaz Yamane, Tacoma Japanese Methodist Church. (TNT 10-26-57, p. 14)

Tacoma Japanese Methodist Church (Tacoma); Whitney Memorial United Methodist Church (Tacoma); Protestant churches--Tacoma; Japanese Americans--Tacoma;

This view of the Calvary Baptist Church's sanctuary was taken from a rear balcony, perhaps the choir loft, on February 7, 1958. The arched open beams emphasize the ceiling's height. Wooden pews face the plain altar. The piano and organ are hidden from parishioners' viewpoint by wooden screens. There are also rows of seats behind the altar. In September, 1999, the church celebrated its 100th anniversary. Photograph ordered by Rilco Laminated Products, Inc.

Calvary Baptist Church (Tacoma); Baptist churches--Tacoma; Protestant churches--Tacoma; Rilco Laminated Products, Inc. (Tacoma);

Exterior - Calvary Baptist Church. A brick tower with a simple cross stands between the Calvary Baptist Church and its auxiliary building in a February 7, 1958, photograph. The church is located in a brick building with a steep roofline. A cross is placed on one end of the building. The auxiliary building is a modern structure, also made of brick, with multiple windows. Calvary Baptist remains located today at 6511 South C St., a couple of blocks from Pacific Avenue. Photograph ordered by Rilco Laminiated Products, Inc.

Calvary Baptist Church (Tacoma); Baptist churches--Tacoma; Protestant churches--Tacoma;

Frosted windows, open beam ceilings, and parquet block walls provide a cozy setting for a study room in the Calvary Baptist Church. This is possibly in the church's auxiliary building. A large screen is placed before rows of wooden seats; a piano is close by. This may have been the setting for a Sunday School class or possibly a Bible study room. Photograph ordered by Rilco Laminated Products, Inc.

Calvary Baptist Church (Tacoma); Baptist churches--Tacoma; Protestant churches--Tacoma;

The Calvary Baptist Church on South C St., near Pacific Avenue, had a large auditorium built in its auxiliary building next to the church. Open beam ceilings and multiple windows accentuated the spaciousness of the room. The linoleum flooring had shuffleboard and a checkered square imprinted on it. A small stage with two plants is next to the piano. A loudspeaker is positioned on top of a tall cabinet. Calvary Baptist has been a long-time presence in Tacoma; the church celebrated its 100th anniversary in 1999. Photograph ordered by Rilco Laminated Products, Inc.

Calvary Baptist Church (Tacoma); Baptist churches--Tacoma; Protestant churches--Tacoma; Auditoriums--Tacoma;