The cooks and waitresses of the Husk Cafe at 1211 Pacific Avenue posed at 3:30 pm on January 25, 1943 following the lunch hour rush. They are standing behind the lunch counter with its miniature juke box selectors. Mrs. C. Isabelle Hardwick and Thomas C. Hardwick opened the Husk in 1934. According to a posted sign under the clock, customers could not get counter service unless they were prepared to spend at least 10 cents. For 20 cents, you could get a bowl of hot chili or some pie and ice cream to go with your coffee. The Husk Cafe closed in the late 1950s.
ca. 1943. Packed from wall to wall with customers, Sears and Roebuck Company's sale on alarm clocks was a huge success. This crowd was photographed circa 1943.
Sears, Roebuck & Co. (Tacoma); Department stores--Tacoma--1940-1950; Crowds--Tacoma--1940-1950; Shopping--Tacoma--1940-1950;
ca. 1943. Crowd lined-up on sidewalk at Sears, Roebuck and Company for sale on alarm clocks in this circa 1943 photograph. The department store advertised as "Tacoma's Modern Store" featured an updated facade of stucco with a black glass tiled corner entry. Hooded street lamp.
Sears, Roebuck & Co. (Tacoma); Department stores--Tacoma--1940-1950; Crowds--Tacoma--1940-1950; Queues--Tacoma; Shopping--Tacoma--1940-1950;
ca. 1943. Rudder Club, Mr. Avge. Interior of dining room with tables and chairs, doorways leading into additional seating. Floral wallpaper, a figured carpet draperies and lighting add to the ambiance.
Restaurants--Tacoma--1940-1950; Clubs--Tacoma--1940-1950; Rudder Club, Inc. (Tacoma);
ca. 1943. Rudder Club, Mr. Avge. Photograph of the interior of the Club, showing the restaurant counter with the kitchen seen through the doorway at the rear. Floral wallpaper, a figured carpet and gleaming linoleum are also shown. Coffee pots are at the ready and the cash register is, too. The Club facilities included a restaurant, bar and club room and lounge. (TNT 8/26/1943, pg. 19)
Restaurants--Tacoma--1940-1950; Rudder Club, Inc. (Tacoma);
ca. 1943. End cup of coffee rationing. A smiling waitress happily holds a trayful of coffee mugs as her co-worker begins to fill them for waiting customers in this circa 1943 photograph. WWll saw many shortages for common items as Americans learned to be patient and abide by federal rationing regulations. (T. Times).
ca. 1943. The Park Hotel, Nell Edwards, owner. Exterior view of south face of hotel also showing view north along South A Street. Potted trees and flower boxes decorate the front entrance. Public telephone and Red Cross signs can be seen in the lower, right, front window. See also A15760-1.
ca. 1943. Titus Motor Company reconditioning room. An unidentified employee is pictured steam cleaning an engine block in deep wash tubs. The engine is then lifted on a chain pulley above the sink. Photograph taken circa 1943.
Titus Motor Co. (Tacoma); Titus Motor Co. (Tacoma)--Employees;
At the end of December of 1942, Rhodes Brothers Department store devoted its windows to the sale of war bonds and stamps. The Tacoma Parent Teacher Association staffed the Victory Window, selling stamps and bonds from 11-4 each day.
Department stores--Tacoma; Rhodes Brothers Department Store (Tacoma); War bonds & funds--Tacoma--1940-1950; World War, 1939-1945--Economic aspects of war--Tacoma;
On December 26, 1942, young patriot John Flood perched on a table in the Rhodes Brothers Victory window and purchased enough war stamps to fill out his book and turn it in for a war bond. The department store's windows were devoted to the sale of war bonds and stamps and a huge sign called attention to the "Victory Window" as a center for sales. It was staffed by members of the Tacoma Council of Parent-Teacher Associations from 11-4 each day. Pictured left to right are Mrs. Edward T. Bowman, Mrs. Mary Gehri, Mrs. A. M. Ray, young Master Flood and Mrs. William H. Flood. (TNT 12/28/1942, pg. 8)
Department stores--Tacoma; Rhodes Brothers Department Store (Tacoma); Flood, John; War bonds & funds--Tacoma--1940-1950; World War, 1939-1945--Economic aspects of war--Tacoma;
Furniture at Overland Furniture Co. damaged by water. Located in the Milton building, on the ground floor of the Hotel Lansing, the store fronted on 1138-40 Commerce. The large furniture store was owned by Thomas Overland.
Reopening of Central Cafe, for Nick A. (Vic) Zvolis. The "Sagebrush Racketeers," two men and two women in Western outfits, with a guitar and a bass, on stage. "Kitty" box for tips at right.
Central Cafe (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1940-1950; Musicians--Tacoma--1940-1950;
Reopening of the Central Cafe, for Nick A. "Vic" Zvolis. Mr. Zvolis, the owner, is standing behind the counter on the right in this October 24, 1942, photograph. To the left of Mr. Zvolis are four women and two other men, probably employees. Mr. Zvolis was widely known in wrestling circles as a former competitor and a referee.
Central Cafe (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1940-1950; Zvolis, Nick;
Reopening of the Central Cafe, for Nick A. "Vic" Zvolis. Mr. Zvolis, the owner, is standing behind the counter on the right. To the left of Mr. Zvolis are four women and one other man, probably employees. Mr. Zvolis was widely known in wrestling circles as a former performer and a referee.
Central Cafe (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1940-1950; Zvolis, Nick;
Two baggage carts, loaded down with old tires, sit on the passenger platform at Tacoma's Union Station. In October of 1942, the U.S. Government began collecting all "excess" tires. By order of the Office of Price Administration, all motorists were required to sell or give to the Government all tires they had in excess of five. The Railway Express agencies at the nation's railroad stations collected the tires and sent them to Government warehouses. (T. Times)
Tires--Tacoma--1940-1950; Carts & wagons--Tacoma--1940-1950; Railway Express (Tacoma); Union Station (Tacoma); Railroad stations--Tacoma--1940-1950;
In October of 1942, the Railway Express Agency office on the track level of the Union Depot was swamped as motorists complied with the Office of Price Administration (OPA) and turned in all tires in excess of 5 per vehicle. F. W. Steere, left, foreman of the Agency and B.A. Benton, superintendent of the agency, compare two tires. One is almost new and the other good only for scrap. About 5% of the over 500 tires turned in the last few days were new, 70 % were usable and 25% were good only for scrap. (T. Times 10/19/1942, pg. 1)
Tires--Tacoma--1940-1950; Railway Express (Tacoma); Union Station (Tacoma); Railroad stations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Steere, F.W.; Benton, B.A.;
Interior of Safeway Store on South K Street. Empty of customers at the time of this late September, 1942, photograph, the store was still brightly lit with hanging lamps. Safeway in the 1940s had over 15 locations in the Tacoma area.
Safeway Stores, Inc. (Tacoma); Grocery stores--Tacoma--1940-1950;
Looking south on South K Street from north of 11th Street. Mottau Building, Russell and Lance, Architects, 1934 at right center. Taken for Safeway Stores on September 28, 1942.
Safeway Stores, Inc. (Tacoma); Grocery stores--Tacoma--1940-1950; Streets--Tacoma--1940-1950; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1940-1950; Mottau Building (Tacoma);
