In July of 1951, a tunnel was built under South 12th Street to connect the main National Bank of Washington building at the northwest corner of South 12th Street and Pacific Avenue with the new bank annex that was under construction across 12th Street. The six foot wide passageway was built to permit the movement of money and securities between the two buildings without going out-of-doors. It also provided access to the employees' room in the basement of the new building for those working in the main office. Plywood was used to build the forms into which the concrete was poured. (TNT, 7/15/1951, p.B-4)
National Bank of Washington (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Banking--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tunnels--Tacoma; Plywood; Construction--Tacoma--1950-1960;
Plywood was used to build the forms where concrete was poured to make a tunnel between National Bank of Washington and their new building across South 12th Street on Pacific Avenue. The passageway, which was six feet wide and seven feet high, allowed the moving of money and securities between the two buildings without going out-of-doors and also provided access to an employee room in the basement of the new building for those working at the main office. (TNT, 7/15/1951, p.B-4)
National Bank of Washington (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Banking--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tunnels--Tacoma; Plywood; Construction--Tacoma--1950-1960; Concrete--Tacoma;
Lincoln Branch, Puget Sound National Bank, view from northwest. International style brick building with large plate glass windows, neon sign over entrance. The building was designed by the architectural firm of Charles and Clarence Rueger and constructed by Industrial Engineers and Contractors, Inc. The exterior of the building is faced with Roman brick with large areas of glass. There are public entrances on both G and 37th streets. In the rear of the building is a large asphalt paved free parking area and on the south end of the building is a drive-through banking window. The building was constructed so that a second story could be added, if needed. (TNT 10/14/1951, pg. C-15)
Puget Sound National Bank (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma;
Twenty-three men are seen around the large table for the last board meeting in the old board room at the National Bank of Washington. A landscape mural is seen on the far wall above the wainscoting. Skylights can be seen above the table. The National Bank of Washington had recently completed an annex across the street at 1201-03 Pacific Avenue. A.H. Brouse was president of the bank at this time.
Banks--Tacoma; Banking--Tacoma--1950-1960; National Bank of Washington (Tacoma); Conference rooms--Tacoma; Meetings--Tacoma;
Door of safety deposit vault showing locks at the Lincoln branch, Puget Sound National Bank. The safe was from Mosler Safe Company, Hamilton, Ohio. The bank offered a safe deposit vault with all the latest safety features and 1,600 safe deposit boxes. (TNT 10/14/1951, pg. C-15)
Puget Sound National Bank (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Banking--Tacoma--1950-1960; Vaults (Strong rooms)--Tacoma;
The interior of Puget Sound National Bank's Lincoln Branch showing the backside of at least six teller windows on right and the safety deposit vault on left. The new building was designed to provide the rapidly growing Lincoln district with what bank experts stated was the most modern and up to date service of any district bank in America. The new bank contained large, convenient areas for both customers and bank personnel. (TNT 10/14/1951, pg. C-15)
Puget Sound National Bank (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Banking--Tacoma--1950-1960; Vaults (Strong rooms)--Tacoma;
Puget Sound National Bank's Lincoln Branch showing six employee desks with telephones and three with dictaphones. The new building contained large, convenient areas for both employees and customers. It was completely departmentalized with the savings and commercial departments in separate sections. (TNT 10/14/1951, pg. C-15)
Puget Sound National Bank (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Banking--Tacoma--1950-1960;
Puget Sound National Bank, Lincoln Branch. Back of teller area showing stool, cupboards, cubbies for forms and adding machines. Herbert Hunt, popular Lincoln Branch manager, who had been with the bank for 20 years, increased the bank's staff to accommodate the larger facilities. (TNT 10/14/1951, pg. C-15)
Puget Sound National Bank (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Banking--Tacoma--1950-1960;
Puget Sound National Bank, Lincoln Branch. Bank employee desks in the foreground. Teller stations on the left and at rear, with vault behind. G St. entrance on the right of the picture. The new bank, designed by the architectural firm of Charles and Clarence Rueger, occupied a space 82 ft. by 63 ft. and offered 7,800 sq. ft. of banking room. (TNT 10/14/1951, pg. C-15)
Puget Sound National Bank (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Banking--Tacoma--1950-1960;
The interior of Puget Sound National Bank's Lincoln Branch showing teller windows on right with safe behind them. The administrative and commercial area is at the rear with a large window behind it. The entrance on the left opens onto G Street and 37th Street lies behind the rear of the photo. The new bank occupied a space 82 feet by 63 feet and provided 7,800 sq. ft. of banking space, nearly 3 1/2 times the area of the former Lincoln branch. (TNT 10/14/1951, pg. C-15)
Puget Sound National Bank (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Banking--Tacoma--1950-1960;
The back of the tellers cages at the Lincoln Branch of Puget Sound National Bank is shown with the windows closed. Cubbies are shown to the right of the stool and locking drawers are under the counter on the left and in the center. A calculating machine is seen to the left on the counter and another instrument is covered with plastic. Small cubbies for forms are seen just under the top of the upper level of the dividers. A rotary telephone is visible on the shelves between the two stations. The opening of this branch was the third step in the city wide expansion of Puget Sound National Bank. The opening followed in quick succession the completion of the downtown customer parking area at 13th and A Streets and the erection of the temporary K Street branch at 1115 So. L St. Ordered by Vince Carlstrom. TPL-9673 (TNT 10/14/1951, pg. C-15)
Puget Sound National Bank (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Banking--Tacoma--1950-1960;
Exterior of new National Bank of Washington building at South 12th and Pacific Avenue as pictured on November 11, 1951. It was built on the site of the original Tacoma Chamber of Commerce building erected in 1885 and was the first home of Pacific National Bank, the predecessor of the National Bank of Washington. Cornerstone laying ceremonies would occur on Friday, November 16th. The new building, containing the installment credit department, was designed by local architects Lea, Pearson and Richards with concrete and ceramic tile wainscoting. A 70-foot tunnel across 12th St. connected the head office and the new addition. (TNT 11-15-51, A-4, A-5)
Banking--Tacoma--1950-1960; Banks--Tacoma; National Bank of Washington (Tacoma);
Rain soaked streets would not prevent the opening of the new National Bank of Washington branch at South 12th and Pacific in November, 1951. The new branch addition was built on the site of the original Tacoma Chamber of Commerce building, and would house the installment credit department. A well-lit tunnel would connect the main bank building and its new annex. Under the direction of president A.H. Brouse, the National Bank of Washington saw its assets grow from 19 million in 1937 to 119 million dollars by 1951. The bank had provided uninterrupted service in Tacoma since 1885. Exterior view of National Bank of Washington; Pioneer, Inc., manufacturers of business forms for banks and commercial printers, to the rear. (TNT 11-15-51, A-4, A-5)
Banking--Tacoma--1950-1960; Banks--Tacoma; National Bank of Washington (Tacoma); Pioneer, Inc. (Tacoma);
Cornerstone ceremony. Bank executives from Tacoma and Seattle lay the cornerstone to the new National Bank of Washington building at South 12th and Pacific in November, 1951. From left to right are James Byers, J.K. Ewart, C.T. Chandler, G.T. Pierce, Ward Estey, Maxwell Carlson and A.H. Brouse at the site of the new annex. Carlson was the president of National Bank of Commerce (Seattle) and Brouse, trowel in hand, was the National Bank of Washington president. One of the highlights of the formal opening was the placing of a specially designed copper box in the cornerstone which contained historical documents for future generations. (TNT 11-17-51, p. 9)
National Bank of Washington (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Banking--Tacoma--1950-1960;
Floral displays decorate the lobby and main floor of the new National Bank of Washington's 12th and Pacific building in November, 1951. The building is an annex of the main branch and will house the installment credit department. Customers can also make deposits and withdrawls, including transactions through drive-up windows. A.H. Brouse is the president of National Bank of Washington; in his ten year term, he has seen bank assets grow 100 million dollars. (TNT 11-15-51, A-4, A-5)
National Bank of Washington (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Banking--Tacoma--1950-1960; Flowers--Tacoma;
A barbershop quartet sings during Tacoma Savings & Loan Association's annual Christmas party held in Fircrest on December 21, 1951. Members of the quartet wear costumes from near the turn-of-the-20th century with tall top hats, cut-away coats, bow ties and handle-bar moustaches.
The Lincoln High School Choir sang at Lincoln Branch of Puget Sound National Bank for Christmas 1951. Reno Odlin, president of the bank, can be seen next to the choir standing at the back on the right. The bank was located just across the street from the high school.
Puget Sound National Bank (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Banking--Tacoma--1950-1960; Odlin, Reno, 1897-1979; Choirs (Music); Students--Tacoma--1950-1960; Lincoln High School (Tacoma);
The March of Dimes merry-go-round operated in Bank of California's new parking lot at South 10th and A Streets. The bank set back their opening day for the new parking lot to assist with the polio drive. City buildings can be seen in the background. (TNT, 1/20/1952, p.C-15) TPL-8769
Bank of California National Association (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Banking--Tacoma--1950-1960; Parking lots--Tacoma; Fund raising--Tacoma--1950-1960; National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis (Tacoma); March of Dimes (Tacoma);
Central Bank held an open house for their new K Street branch at K street and South 12th. At the rear of the new facility were private offices for conferences, finished in walnut panels and divided by folding doors. Safe deposit booths, also finished in walnut and affording complete privacy, were also available in this area. This view shows the safety deposit box vault with the vault door open. The door to an office is open on the left. (TNT, 1/24/1952, p.9)
Bankers--Tacoma; Banking--Tacoma--1950-1960; Banks--Tacoma; Central Bank (Tacoma); Vaults (Strong rooms)--Tacoma; Safe-deposit boxes--Tacoma;
Central Bank held an open house for their new K Street branch at K street and South 12th. The interior of the new facility was a pleasing harmony of colors and materials. Flooring was of rubber tile and the ceiling was finished in acoustical tile. Walls were finished in tones of green and gray. Attractive fixtures of ebony wood included the paying and receiving and savings cages, the real estate department and check-writing desks. Bouquets of congratulation are seen along the counters and dotted around on the floor. (TNT, 1/24/1952, p.9)
Bankers--Tacoma; Banking--Tacoma--1950-1960; Banks--Tacoma; Central Bank (Tacoma);
Central Bank held an open house for their new K Street branch at the corner of K Street and South 12th January 25, 1952. This view shows the staff at the new branch with seven women standing behind five men seated in the front. P.W. Bourgaize, president of Central Bank, is seated in the middle. Central Bank opened for business on March 9, 1925, at the corner of 6th Avenue and Pine Street. The growth of Central Bank, leading to the extension of its banking facilities to the K Street district, is shown by the consistent rise of its assets, from $654,156.43 at the end of 1939 to $4,996,978.81 at the close of 1951. (TNT, 1/24/1952, p.9)
Bankers--Tacoma; Banking--Tacoma--1950-1960; Banks--Tacoma; Central Bank (Tacoma)--People; Central Bank (Tacoma); Bourgaize, P.W.;
Outdoor teller windows at the National Bank of Washington annex provided an early form of drive-up banking. A neon sign announces, "Parking Reserved for Exterior Window Banking". A man is seen at one of the windows completing an transaction.
National Bank of Washington (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Banking--Tacoma--1950-1960;
The recently opened National Bank of Washington annex on South 12th Street and Pacific Avenue, as photographed on February 6, 1952. Mondau's Tug Boat Restaurant can be seen next door (on the far right) at 1205 Pacific Avenue. Various automobiles are seen parked along South 12th Street.
National Bank of Washington (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Banking--Tacoma--1950-1960; Automobiles--Tacoma--1950-1960; Mondau's Tug Boat Restaurant & Tavern (Tacoma);
Ray Gamble has brought a few of the carved elephants in his collection to display at the new offices of Central Bank. He and the staff at the new branch are seen behind the counter where the carved elephants are displayed. Tacoma businessman Ray Gamble owned the largest collection of elephants in the world.
Bankers--Tacoma; Banking--Tacoma--1950-1960; Banks--Tacoma; Central Bank (Tacoma)--People; Central Bank (Tacoma); Gamble, Ray, 1886-1972; Collectors--Tacoma;
Progress photographs on construction of Puget Sound National Bank's temporary Lakewood Branch. A crew of 25 men finished the construction job for the temporary quarters of Puget Sound National Bank near Lakewood Center in 10 working days. The new branch opened March 24, 1952, just 28 days from the time the foundations were laid. Faced with a rapidly increasing population in the area and a growing need for modern branch banking facilities, bank officials made a quick decision to build a new bank and build it now. (TNT, 3/9/1952, p.C-12)
Puget Sound National Bank (Lakewood); Banks--Lakewood; Banking--Lakewood; Building construction--Lakewood--1950-1960;
Progress photographs on construction of Puget Sound National Bank's temporary Lakewood Branch. Workmen are seen putting the finishing touches on the exterior of the building constructed in a record 10 working days. Architect Lea, Pearson and Richards turned to what was virtually an all-plywood construction for a one-story building in keeping with the colonial design of Lakewood Center. (TNT, 3/9/1952, p.C-12)
Puget Sound National Bank (Lakewood); Banks--Lakewood; Banking--Lakewood; Building construction--Lakewood--1950-1960;
Exerior view of Puget Sound National Bank in Lakewood. The temporary Lakewood branch of the Puget Sound National Bank was completed and ready for occupancy in March, 1952. The branch was located at 6207 Mount Tacoma Drive S.W. , an addition of the Lakewood Center. View of bank shows it to be a one-story building, colonial in architecture, with porch and shutters. There is also a weathervane on the roof. Construction of the new branch was completed in less than one month. According to the 1953 City Directory, Charles McClallum was listed as Assistant Cashier and Branch Manager and F.A. White, Assistant Manager. Photograph ordered by Condon Co. (TNT 3-21-52, p. 9)
Puget Sound National Bank (Lakewood); Banks--Lakewood; Banking--Lakewood;
Progress photographs on construction of Puget Sound National Bank's temporary Lakewood Branch. The Lakewood Branch opened in temporary headquarters - a 35 x 75 foot plywood building - 10 working days after obtaining the Comptroller's approval. Plans for a permanent building to be located adjacent to the temporary building and on Gravelly Lake Drive were to begin immediately. The permanent branch opened on October 5, 1953. (TNT, 3/8/1952, p.A-3)
Puget Sound National Bank (Lakewood); Banks--Lakewood; Banking--Lakewood;
