Hickey Apartment Hotel (Walker Apartments), interior. Large dining room with seventeen tables and hardwood floor. Building by Roland Borhek, Architect, 1927. New owner J. Frank Hickey changed the apartment hotel's name to reflect his own in October of 1940. He had purchased the (then) Walker Apartments in January of 1938. Series of interior views taken in December of 1940.
Hickey Apartment Hotel, interior. Suite with telephone table, bedroom, and kitchen. Building by Roland Borhek, Architect, 1927. Renamed the Hickey Apartment Hotel in 1940, the eight-story, 68 apartment structure was originally called the Walker Apartments after its builder, Robert Walker of Walker Cut Stone. It was the first apartment house in the Northwest to be faced with stone. The Hickey name (after new owner J. Frank Hickey) did not last and the apartment hotel was sold in 1944. The Walker Apartments are on the City and National Register.
Hickey Apartment Hotel (Tacoma); Walker Apartments (Tacoma); Apartment hotels--Tacoma--1940-1950; Apartments--Tacoma--1940-1950;
Interior of Inferno Charcoal Broiler Restaurant. An unusual lattice ceiling, artificial tree with spreading branches and potted plants brought the outdoors into the Inferno restaurant. Chairs and drapes were decorated in a floral pattern to further accentuate the garden atmosphere. Part of the walls were apparently draped in sack-like materials, with masks staring at the seated customers. The Inferno Charcoal Broiler Restaurant was located at 7430 Pacific Avenue. TPL-9662
Exterior- Inferno restaurant. As their large signage indicates, the Inferno restaurant specialized in charcoal broiled steaks and chicken in 1957. Flames roar under the Inferno's name on their neon sign. A canopy covers the long walkway to the front door; awnings in the same material on windows provide shade. The Inferno was located in a modest wooden one-story building at 7430 Pacific Avenue. TPL-9663
Inferno Charcoal Broiler Restaurant (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1950-1960; Electric signs--Tacoma--1950-1960; Awnings--Tacoma;
Consolidated Freightways Building, front view. Consolidated was a moving and shipping company. It was conveniently located near the railroad tracks, making transportation easier.
Consolidated Freightways, Inc. (Tacoma); Shipping--Tacoma--1940-1950;
ca. 1957. Interior- Thriftway supermarket. A customer would not need to linger in lines for any length of time as the new Villa Thriftway came equipped with at least eleven check-out stands. At least one stand was expressly for quick check-out with six items or less. Customers were asked to place items on the movable belt with the prices up for faster service. Scales were provided at each stand so that produce could be weighed. Boxes of cigarettes were readily available on top of each cash register. The new 22,000 square foot supermarket was located in the Villa Plaza shopping center in Lakewood at the site of the former Visitation Villa. Photograph ordered by Associated Grocers, Inc. (TNT 4-2-57, B-7)
Villa Thriftway Food Stores (Lakewood); Supermarkets; Cash registers;
ca. 1957. Exterior- Thriftway. The Villa Thriftway supermarket would open for business in April, 1957. The store's name is in large neon letters on the building's porch roof. The overhanging porch would also protect customers from the elements as they entered or exited the store. Following an architectural trend, enormous windows are positioned at the supermarket's front. Located in Lakewood's new Villa Plaza Shopping Center, the 22,000 square foot store was built to order for a Thriftway market. It cost approximately $200,000. The shopping center boasted of plenty of parking; there was room for 4000 cars. Photograph ordered by Associated Grocers, Inc. (TNT 4-2-57, B-7)
Villa Thriftway Food Stores (Lakewood); Supermarkets; Electric signs--Lakewood;
In December of 1940 Northwest Airlines was advertising the cost savings and convenience of air travel in the Tacoma newspapers. Northwest Airlines could carry travelers from the Seattle-Tacoma area to Chicago in just 13 hours, meals aloft were free and tips were taboo. Tickets could be purchased in Tacoma at the Central Travel Bureau, 903 Pacific Avenue. Managed by Frank G. Ploof, Central Travel offered a complete line of travel and tourist services including steamship and airline tickets, reservations, travel insurance and American Express travelers checks. (T.Times 12/13/1940 p.3)
Northwest Airlines (Tacoma); Central Travel Bureau (Tacoma); Ticket offices--Tacoma; Tourism;
Exterior of new Leed's Shoes at the Villa Plaza Shopping Center. This is believed to be the back entrance to the shoe store; most of the stores in the new Villa Plaza had both back and front entrances. Leed's was located on the Rhodes and Grant department stores side of the promenade. In the Villa Plaza's first few months of existence, Leed's and Fashion Shoes were the only major shoe stores there. It celebrated its grand opening on Thursday, April 4, 1957.
Leed's Shoes (Lakewood); Shoe stores--Lakewood--1950-1960; Villa Plaza Shopping Center (Lakewood); Shopping centers--Lakewood--1950-1960;
Interior of new Leed's Shoes at Villa Plaza Shopping Center. Leed's advertised QualiCraft shoes. In addition, purses, handbags and hosiery could be purchased there. The new suburban store opened on April 4, 1957, as the 197th QualiCraft store in the United States, the 59th on the Pacific Coast and second in Tacoma. The first Tacoma Leed's opened at 932 Broadway in 1937. The Villa Plaza Leed's was about 30 feet wide and 150 feet deep. Its ceilings and main wall were painted pale turquoise and beige and oyster-white textured tweed carpet was laid on the floor. Ellery Wybrow was named as the Villa Plaza Leed's first manager. (TNT 4-3-57, A-7-article)
Leed's Shoes (Lakewood); Shoe stores--Lakewood--1950-1960; Merchandise displays--Lakewood--1950-1960; Villa Plaza Shopping Center (Lakewood); Shopping centers--Lakewood--1950-1960;
Expansive view of interior of new Leed's Shoes taken back to front. Leed's opened at the Villa Plaza Shopping Center on April 4, 1957. Located next to Rhodes, the new suburban store featured ladies shoes (primarily QualiCraft), hosiery and purses. This was the second Leed's in Tacoma with the first opening in downtown Tacoma in 1937. The 150-foot deep store used a blend of brick, glass, wood and stone in its construction. The stone was especially noticeable as the base for the hosiery, wrapping and cash counters. (TNT 4-3-57, A-7-article)
Leed's Shoes (Lakewood); Shoe stores--Lakewood--1950-1960; Villa Plaza Shopping Center (Lakewood); Shopping centers--Lakewood--1950-1960;
Leed's Shoes exterior at Villa Plaza Shopping Center. Above the 12-foot canopy was cement stucco trimmed in redwood. There were two Leed's locations in the Tacoma area in 1957; one was at 938 Broadway in downtown Tacoma and the newest Leed's was situated at the Villa Plaza Shopping Center in Lakewood, next to the Rhodes Department Store. This view is believed to be of the front entrance to the shoe store. Most stores in the Villa Plaza had two entrances. The Villa Plaza Leed's, which handled exclusively women's shoes, hosiery and handbags, opened for business on April 4, 1957. Ellery Wybrow was promoted to store manager. (TNT 4-3-57, A-7-article)
Leed's Shoes (Lakewood); Shoe stores--Lakewood--1950-1960; Villa Plaza Shopping Center (Lakewood); Shopping centers--Lakewood--1950-1960;
C & G Radio Supply were wholesalers of electronic equipment, televisions, and radio parts. Located in the 2500 block of Jefferson Avenue in the former Motor Truck Service Co. building since 1949, the large company was owned by Lloyd R. Norberg. The business had been operating in Tacoma since the 1930's. 33 employees lined up for a company picture on April 16, 1957. Photograph ordered by C & G Radio Supply Co.
C & G Radio Supply Co. (Tacoma); Stores & shops--Tacoma;
Exterior- bank building. North Pacific Bank had been at the same location on South Tacoma Way since 1914. Designed by architects Lundberg & Mahon, the brick building also housed the South Tacoma Post Office for a while. Clarence W. Wallerich was listed as president of the one-branch bank according to the 1957 City Directory. General banking and safe deposit vaults were offered by North Pacific which had capital, surplus, reserves and undivided profits over $900,000,000. North Pacific Bank was purchased in November, 1998, by Heritage Bank. Photograph ordered by North Pacific Bank.
North Pacific Bank (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Banking--Tacoma--1950-1960;
Washington Co-op Farmers Association "Co-op Eggs" egg shaped delivery van parked in front of the Safeway Store at Sixth and Proctor. The delivery truck was not only eye catching but also aerodynamic.
Grocery stores--Tacoma--1940-1950; Trucks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Poultry industry--Washington--1940-1950; Washington Cooperative Farmers Association (Tacoma);
The manager of the Safeway store at Sixth and Proctor takes delivery of a shipment of eggs from the Washington Co-op Farmers Association. The "Co-op Eggs" were delivered by an egg shaped delivery van.
Grocery stores--Tacoma--1940-1950; Trucks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Poultry industry--Washington--1940-1950; Washington Cooperative Farmers Association (Tacoma);
With its back hatch open, eggs are being removed from the appropriately egg shaped delivery van of the Washington Cooperative Farmers Association in January of 1941. The shipment of eggs were being delivered to the Safeway store at the corner of Sixth and Proctor. Names of the individuals above were not provided. TPL-3191
Grocery stores--Tacoma--1940-1950; Trucks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Poultry industry--Washington--1940-1950; Washington Cooperative Farmers Association (Tacoma);
The Villa Plaza Shopping Center, built on the grounds of the former 200-acre Visitation Villa, saw the opening of many new stores in the spring of 1957. Foreman & Clark, who specialized in fine men, women, and children's clothing, was one of the latest to celebrate its grand opening in early June, 1957. Besides offering clothing specials, bonus gifts for the family were also awarded. Credit was readily available with deferred payment until August. Foreman & Clark was a top clothing retailer with 90 stores coast-to-coast. The first Foreman & Clark store was opened in Los Angeles in 1909. It quickly built a reputation for excellent quality in its clothing line. Hal Miller would be the new Villa Plaza store manager. View of entrance to Foreman & Clark, with large store lettering, and overhanging roof. Photograph ordered by Foreman & Clark. (TNT 6-5-57, A-6)
Foreman & Clark (Lakewood); Clothing stores--Lakewood--1950-1960; Signs (Notices);
Exterior of Pacific First Federal Savings Building. The large revolving corner clock indicates that it is 11:50 a.m. and the Pacific First Federal Savings Building is open for business. Plaques on the marbled foundation indicate that the bank offered a safe deposit vault for protection of valuables as well as insuring customers' savings and issuing home loans. Situated in the downtown business district of 11th & Pacific, the venerable building had been a local presence since 1891. Photograph ordered by Puget Sound Office Equipment.
Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan Association (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Pacific First Federal Building (Tacoma);
American flags flank the marbled entrance to Pacific First Federal Savings on Flag Day, 1957. Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan Association was a mutual savings institution with branches in Bellingham, Seattle, Tacoma, Longview, Portland and Eugene. It served over 57, 000 families with $170 million in resources. Tacoma was its home office, established in 1907. Gerrit VanderEnde was the longtime president of the savings & loan.
Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan Association (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Flags; Doors & doorways--Tacoma--1950-1960; Pacific First Federal Building (Tacoma);
Rows and towers of safe-deposit units greet customers of Pacific First Federal Savings in June, 1957. Each box is numbered and two keys would be necessary to open each individual box, much as is done in 2002. Carpeted floors would muffle the tread of many footsteps. Pacific First Federal Savings was located at the corner of 11th and Pacific in downtown Tacoma. The Romanesque-style building was constructed in 1891 as the home of Merchants National Bank. Photograph ordered by Puget Sound Office Equipment.
Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan Association (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Safe-deposit boxes--Tacoma;
Exterior- savings & loan building. The sleek new Tacoma Savings & Loan Association building on South 9th and A Street is ready to be opened in late June, 1957. It is directly across the street from its former headquarters in the Bowes Building. The ulta-modern glass-encased building was designed by architects Lea, Pearson & Richards, who were responsible for many notable buildings in Tacoma. The steel framed construction would total 95 feet by 75 feet. View of contrasting "old" and "new" Tacoma Savings & Loan Association bank buildings. Photograph ordered by Tacoma Savings & Loan Association. (TNT 6-27-57, A-6-9)
Tacoma Savings & Loan Association (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma;
Exterior-savings & loan building. Looking directly across 9th St., possibly from the former headquarters of the Tacoma Savings & Loan Association, the new location for the savings & loan comes into view. The rectangular building is primarily glass encased, glass on three sides which cantilever out from the inside columns and are suspended from the roof. Designed by architects Lea, Pearson & Richards, and built by Ketner Brothers, contractors, it has extruded aluminum and insulating glass with black granite trim and blue Spandrelite glass panels. The glass panels are 6 feet by 10 feet. Fiberglass draperies measuring 22 feet are designed to cover the glass areas. The Tacoma Savings & Loan was established in 1899, making it one of the city's oldest financial institutions. Photograph ordered by Tacoma Savings & Loan Association. (TNT 6-27-57, A-6-9)
Tacoma Savings & Loan Association (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Facades--Tacoma--1950-1960;
Exterior- savings & loan. A close-up view of the Tacoma Savings & Loan Association front entrance was taken on June 27, 1957. Insulated glass panels surround the new building, including the front entrance. The main entrance doors were electronically operated. New trees have been planted, spaced carefully apart, to provide a touch of softness when contrasted with the modern sleek appearance of the financial institution. The Tacoma Savings & Loan was established in 1899. They urged customers to save, in order to "write your own future". Home loans were tailored to fit customers' individual needs. The new location of the downtown Tacoma Savings & Loan was directly across the street from its former headquarters in the Bowes Building. Photograph ordered by Tacoma Savings & Loan Association. (TNT 6-27-57, A-6-9)
Tacoma Savings & Loan Association (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Signs (Notices);
Interior- savings & loan. The expansive, brightly-lit lobby of the new Tacoma Savings & Loan was photographed on June 28, 1957, prior to its grand opening. After many years in the Bowes Building directly across the street, the savings & loan built an ultra-modern glass paneled new establishment. The spacious first floor included the customer service area, insurance department, department heads' offices, safe-deposit vault, and a separate lobby for safe-deposit customers. The building featured a free-standing reinforced concrete circular staircase which led from the basement to the mezzanine level. An elevator was also provided. Supporting columns were covered with Italian Cremo marble. Walls adjacent to the elevator shaft were covered with Breche Fantasia marble. Photograph ordered by Tacoma Savings & Loan Association. (TNT 6-27-57, A-6-9)
Tacoma Savings & Loan Association (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma;
