ca. 1904. A window display of wedding dresses at the Rhodes Brothers Department Store, circa 1904. When Henry A. Rhodes opened his three story grand emporium at 950 Broadway in November of 1903, it quickly became famous for its lavish decorations and extensive window displays. Huge plate glass windows presented the most current fashions by seasons. The store employed a full time window trimmer and decorator, Herbert A. Foster, who had an office and studio on the third floor of the store. (Photograph donated by the Rhodes Reunion Committee) (TDL 11/8/1903, pg. 17)
Rhodes Brothers Department Store (Tacoma); Department stores--Tacoma; Wedding clothing & dress--1900-1910; Window displays--1900-1910;
ca. 1893. Ladies' entrance and private dining booths at the Chilberg, 1011-13 Pacific Ave., circa 1893. In the Gay Nineties, women did not dine without male companionship in public and the separate entrance and private dining made dining out possible for them. These booths also served as discreet, private dining rooms for those desiring a more intimate or quiet dining experience. In fact, a private dining booth at Chilberg's was the location of a triple murder in 1898 as a jealous ex-lover shot both his paramour and her new lover and was in turn shot by the woman. The proprietor of the restaurant was Isaac Chilberg. He had opened his first "chop house" in Tacoma around 1887 at 1111 Pacific. He moved to 1003 Pacific in 1888, remaining there until the size of clientele outgrew the establishment. His new restaurant at 1011-13 Pacific was designed by architect C.A. Darmer, and his business was relocated to this site in 1892. The building was three stories high, with the restaurant occupying the first floor and with lodging on the two stories above. By the early 1900's, the restaurant had closed and the structure was demolished in 1924 to make way for the Bank of California building. (TDL 1/1/1893, pg. 15; 6/16/1898, pg. 2-murder)
ca. 1893. Lunchtime at The Chilberg, 1011-13 Pacific Ave., circa 1893. The Chilberg was designed by architect C.A. Darmer to provide both mass dining, center, and a more intimate experience in one of the many private dining boxes, left or (seen from the back) right. During lunch, most of the large tables were occupied by businessmen and tradesmen, their hats hung on hooks surrounding the support pillars. Dark jacketed waiters in white aprons waited at the ends of each table, supplying the Chilberg's legendary attentive service. French Collection G45.1-054A
ca. 1893. The main entrance at The Chilberg, 1011-13 Pacific Ave., circa 1893. Natural light floods the room from the many windows at the entrance. A table, right, holds a selection of fruit and pastries, while the bar behind displays an array of wines and glasses. The Chilberg had previously been located down the block at 1003 Pacific Ave. This space was redesigned by Tacoma architect C.A. Darmer for proprietor Isaac Chilberg. The restaurant was located on the first floor, with hotel rooms located above. The restaurant was endorsed as the most elegant restaurant west of New York City.
ca. 1893. Dining room of The Chilberg, 1011-13 Pacific Ave., circa 1893. The Chilberg, Tacoma's finest restaurant, had moved in 1892 from its previous location at 1003 Pacific Ave. to these more spacious and elegant surroundings. The restaurant offered both open tables and rows of intimate dining boxes on the left and, seen from the back, on the right. These miniature dining rooms were for the use of ladies dining without male companionship or for those needing a quieter or more private dining experience. Large windows in the back and also "light wells" in the ceiling provided natural lighting. Tacoma architect C.A. Darmer redesigned the space specifically for proprietor Isaac Chilberg's restaurant and hotel. The restaurant was famous for its fare, but also for its orderly cleanliness and attentive service. Isaac Chilberg spent over 35 years in the restaurant business, running some of the finest restaurants in Tacoma. He died in 1923 at his home in Orting.
ca. 1893. The kitchen at The Chilberg, 1011-13 Pacific Ave., circa 1893. The Chilberg had recently moved into the spacious new quarters formerly occupied by the New York Kitchen. The kitchen was spotless. Five visible cooks prepared food (left) over a range, while two more prepared the ingredients (center.) The man and the two young boys to the right appear to be dishwashers. A long table was set left for the staff to take their meals. According to the newspapers of the time, the restaurant was open 24 hours a day. Known for their extensive menu, elegant appointments and attentive service; the restaurant was called "the Delmonico of the West." (Photograph damaged upper left corner and near lower right corner.)
ca. 1893. The table is set at The Chilberg, 1011-13 Pacific Ave., circa 1893; it is laid with a fine white tablecloth, set with damask napkins and heavy silver. Proprietor Isaac Chilberg awaits off camera for the arrival of his guests. The successful restaurateur had started with a chop house at 1003 Pacific Ave. and made his reputation on good food, a spotless dining room and kitchen and personalized service. In May of 1892, he moved his restaurant into the refurbished and more elegantly appointed space at 1011-13 Pacific Ave., formerly the home of the New York Kitchen. The Chilberg soon became known as the "Delmonico of the West," the finest restaurant west of New York City. (Photograph damaged)
ca. 1890. Tacoma Hotel and Mason Block Bldg. on A Street. Shaw & Naubert, a real estate company, occupied 1001 A Street, at right in the photograph. The firm was one of the first occupants of the Mason Block, built by Allen C. Mason in 1888. The building would later house the Mason Hotel and after remodeling, the Fairmont Hotel. The elegant Tacoma Hotel, 913 A Street (at left in photograph), was Tacoma's pride until it was destroyed by fire in 1935. Although parts of the downtown business area still had dirt streets, this portion boasted planked roadway. Photo from "Northern Pacific Railroad Scenery" with photos by F. Jay Haynes (F. Jay Haynes Collection)
Tacoma Hotel (Tacoma); Hotels--Tacoma--1890-1900; Shaw & Naubert (Tacoma); Real estate business--Tacoma--1890-1900; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1890-1900;
ca. 1890. The Tacoma Hotel as it looked circa 1890, before any of the numberous additions had been added to the structure of the building. Tacoma was justly proud of this elegant structure with its beautiful views of Commencement Bay. It had opened in August of 1884. Photo from "Northern Pacific Railroad Scenery" with photos by F. Jay Haynes (F. Jay Haynes Collection)
ca. 1890. View of Tacoma from Commencement Bay, circa 1890. The Tacoma Hotel dominates the skyline. The pilings in the foreground are probably the supports for the old Northern Pacific tracks that crossed the tideflats into Tacoma. Photo from "Northern Pacific Railroad Scenery" with photos by F. Jay Haynes (F. Jay Haynes Collection)
Commencement Bay (Wash.); Tacoma Hotel (Tacoma); Hotels--Tacoma--1890-1900; Pilings (Civil engineering)--Tacoma;
West Side Grocery (now the Tides Tavern), 2925 Harborview Dr., Gig Harbor . Docked beside it is the "Florence K," a passenger steamer built in Tacoma by Crawford & Reid in 1903. The "Florence K" would end her service career as a ferry called the "Beeline." Buildings to the right in this undated photograph are part of the Skansie Brothers shipyard. TPL-191, BU-12833 (Doecher Collection DOE- N001)
West Side Grocery (Gig Harbor); Grocery stores--Gig Harbor; Skansie's Shipbuilding Co. (Gig Harbor); Steamboats--Gig Harbor;
The entrance in the barricade to the bleacher seating, the best seat in town to watch the ongoing construction of the Tacoma Savings & Loan building. The new home office was being built across the street from its former headquarters. The city's oldest savings & loan was constructing a new aluminum and glass office building at this site. The new building would be 95 x 73 feet, on a lot that measured 120 x 75 feet. It had a basement, ground floor, mezzanine and penthouse for a total square footage of 21, 096 plus room for 2 additional floors. (TNT 6-27-1957)
Tacoma Savings & Loan Association (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Construction--Tacoma--1950-1960;
Earl Russell, Mr. Banjo, the featured banjo virtuoso at Steve's Gay '90s poses with two banjos. Steve's was famous in the fifties and sixties for its old fashioned home grown entertainment and for good food at a reasonable price. It was the brainchild of Steve Pease, whose goal was to create a wholesome family entertainment spot which providing dining and entertainment for one low price.
Jennie Wheeler poses with a menu at Steve's Gay Nineties in front of the Opera House Entertainment Coliseum in June of 1956. The public preview of the newest edition to Steve's was scheduled for June 14-17, 1956. The Opera House was the main entertainment venue, where the floor show was performed every Friday and Saturday night. The Gay Nineties revue featured can-can girls, keystone cops, banjo playing and old time sing-a-longs. Steves, owned by Steve Pease and John Stanley, grew in 10 years from a 20 customer cafe and the adjoining tavern to include 5 major dining, entertaining and banquet areas under one roof. The ornate gold facade to the Opera House formerly faced the Banker's Trust Building and its crystal chandeliers came from the recently razed Seattle Opera House. Pease did endless research to preserve portions of the most beautiful buildings of the area and place them in the perfect place in his restaurant. (TNT 6/13/1956, pg. C-9- C-11) (Ms. Wheeler's identification supplied by a former employee at Steve's)
Portrait of Jane McKee, formerly Powers, organist at Steve's Gay '90s. Monday through Saturday night McKee played dinner music on the Hammond organ from 6:15p.m.- 8:15p.m. She was one of the featured performers at Steve's.
Two waitresses, Jennie Wheeler (right) and Josephine Trumble, in dark dresses and crisply ruffled white aprons pause in setting a homey checked table to smile for the camera at Steve's Gay 90's. Behind them is a large antique mirrored hutch. Steve's was furnished with pieces from some of the finest mansions in South Tacoma, and the walls were decorated with pictures of those homes. (TNT 6/13/1956, pg. C-9- C-11)
Plywood barricade around the construction site for the new headquarters for Tacoma Savings & Loan; ordered by Simpson Plywood Barricades. The barricade reminds passerby that despite the inconvenience of the construction site, the bank is building for the future. Founded in 1899, it is the city's oldest savings & loan. The new headquarters is being built across the street from the current facility, and the bank has a branch at the Lakewood Center. Ketner Brothers are the general contractors for the project.
Tacoma Savings & Loan Association (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Construction--Tacoma--1950-1960;
Standard Oil; opening of new service station. Richards appointment book gives the station's address as 9821 South Tacoma Way. Three gas station employees in sparkling white uniforms and caps kneel in front of five men in suits. The Standard Oil neon sign is emblazoned over all.
Automobile service stations--Tacoma--1950-1960; Standard Oil Co. of California (Tacoma);
The barrier wall has gone up, anticipating the beginning of the construction of the new home-office headquarters of the Tacoma Savings and Loan. The Savings & Loan was founded June 28, 1899 in a lawyer's small office with assets of $2,000. At 57 years old, it was Tacoma's oldest and most respected savings and loan. Signs on the fence read "No knotholes in this fence. Get it all from a bleacher seat. Bleacher seats reserved for sidewalk superintendents, watch the show from a bleacher seat." Arrows point around the right hand fence where the bleachers must be located. The building, as designed by Lea, Pearson and Richards, would have modern glass and aluminum silhouette. Its main entrance would be on 9th, with a side entrance on Court A with a drive up window and space for 7 cars.(TNT 5/2.1956, pg. D-4)
Tacoma Savings & Loan Association (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Construction--Tacoma--1950-1960;
Washington Cleaners and Launderers, Ft. Lewis. Washington Cleaners had its main dry cleaning and laundry plant in Tacoma, but it had seven branches at Fort Lewis to serve the military. This appears to be the interior of the main Fort Lewis branch, at 3rd & Pendleton. Several women stand behind the counter, taking orders and delivering the clean uniforms to their owners. Several uniformed military men lean in against the counter. Most of the competed hanging clothes are uniforms. (TNT 5/13/1956, pg. A-15)
Washington Cleaners and Launderers (Fort Lewis); Cleaning establishments--Fort Lewis;
The 45th Annual convention of the Washington Bankers Association was held June 13th and 14th, 1940 at the Hotel Winthrop. A trio of bankers sits holding a conversation on a sofa; Reno Odlin, Puget Sound National Bank, is on the right. The Bankers Association was established in 1889 and boasts a membership of officials from all banks in Washington and representatives of all national affiliates.
Bankers; Odlin, Reno, 1897-1979; Washington Bankers Association (Tacoma);
The money men are singing a chorus at the Tacoma Club dinner hosted by S.M. Jackson on June 12, 1940. The dinner is the kick off for the 45th Annual convention of the Washington Bankers Association, held June 13th and 14th, 1940 at the Hotel Winthrop. Over 400 bankers from Washington state and national affiliates were in attendance. Third from left in the picture is J.H. Miner of Seattle, president of the state Bankers Association. To the far right are Robert M. Hanes of Winston-Salem, S.C., president of the American Bankers Association and S.M. Jackson, chairman of the board of National Bank. The major business of the convention, beyond election of officers, was to pass a resolution urging "active material aid to the Allied cause" and calling for an "aggressive program of preparedness" at home. (T. Times 6/13/1940, pg. 1)
Bankers; Singing; Jackson, Samuel M.; Washington Bankers Association (Tacoma); Miner, J.H.; Hanes, Robert M.; Tacoma Club (Tacoma);
The 45th Annual convention of the Washington Bankers Association was held June 13th and 14th, 1940 at the Hotel Winthrop. Harry Cain, newly elected Tacoma Mayor on right, is presenting a loving cup to an unidentified man. On the left is Robert M. Hanes, president of the American Bankers Association.
Bankers; Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979; Washington Bankers Association (Tacoma); Hanes, Robert M.;
Ground breaking for the new Tacoma Savings & Loan building, ordered by the Condon Advertising Co. Two of the three men present look anxiously up at the wrecking ball that will be used to break up the concrete where the new building will stand. The three men are bank officers Raymond Winden, vice president, W.D. Hopping, president, and Donald Kohler, secretary. Built across the street from the bank's current headquarters, the new building would be a modern edifice of aluminum and glass. It will have a basement, main floor, mezzanine and the ability to accomodate two additional floors when needed. The new building is estimated to be ready for occupancy in 10 months. Founded in 1899 in a lawyer's office while Tacoma was still a rowdy youngster with planks for sidewalks, Tacoma Savings and Loan is the city's oldest savings and loan. (TNT 5/2/1956, pg. D-4)
Tacoma Savings & Loan Association (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Construction--Tacoma--1950-1960; Winden, Raymond T.; Hopping, William D.; Kohler, Donald;
Dick Bevington pours a mug from the Triple XXX root beer barrel dispenser at his new drive-in restaurant in this photograph dated May 29, 1940. The franchise offered round the clock service, carhops and root beer on draft.
Dick Bevington's new Triple X Barrel drive-in restaurant. Dick and Gwyne Bevington pose behind the counter with a large congratulatory flower arrangement in this May 29, 1940 photograph. Triple XXX Root Beer barrel dispenser in background. The Bevingtons had the restaurant constructed at a cost of $29,000 and actually resided in an apartment on the premises.
An unidentified carhop delivers a tray holding two large mugs of Triple XXX Root Beer to a smiling customer sitting behind the wheel of his car. Dick Bevington opened his Triple XXX Barrel drive-in restaurant at 924 Puyallup Avenue in May of 1940. The restaurant offered booth, counter and car side service with a staff of six waitresses and six carhops.
Dick Bevington's new Triple XXX Barrel drive-in restaurant. Six waitresses and six carhops lined up in front of building with neon trim and giant barrels on roof. The restaurant offered booths, counter service, car side service and XXX root beer on draft. TPL-1514 (T. Times 6/4/1940, pg. 7)
Dick Bevington's new Triple XXX Barrel drive-in restaurant. Six waitresses and six carhops lined up on May 29, 1940 in front of the building with neon trim and giant barrels on the roof.The service department included Bea Joyce, Grayce Bailey, Marialyce Johnson, Lola Emerson, Della Reghitto, Betty Emerson, Winnie Cunningham, Lucille Bartholet, Anne Bullard, Irving Fleming and Kenneth Lilly. (T. Times 6/4/1940, pg. 7)
Tacoma Savings & Loan Association; drilling at site of the new savings and loan association. Raymond T. Winden, left, vice president of the association, inspects the drilling on a vacant lot at 9th and A St., the future site of the association's downtown headquarters. Built across the street from the bank's old headquarters, the new building would be modern in appearance and built of aluminum and glass with black granite trim. An exploratory hole is being drilled in hopes of finding enough water to operate the proposed air conditioning system. Called "reverse-cycle" air conditioning, the process pumps water up from far below ground to both heat and cool the building. The association building would be the first downtown to use this process, also used in the Public Utilities building. (TNT 4/5/1956, pg. A-13)
Tacoma Savings & Loan Association (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Drilling--Tacoma; Construction--Tacoma--1950-1960; Drilling & boring machinery; Winden, Raymond T.;
