A shiny, new 1950 Chevrolet De Luxe 2 door sedan was on display in the showroom window at South Tacoma Motor Company in January of 1950. The transom above the large picture window was decorated with a banner, "Now on Display - New Chevrolet for '50". Peter Wallerich founded the South Tacoma Motor Company after he acquired a combined livery business and service store in 1919. He opened his new Chevrolet dealership at 5602 So. Tacoma Way in 1924. During the post-war boom of the 1950's, the South Tacoma Motor Company was selling 200 cars and trucks a year. (South on the Sound, Murray and Rosa Morgan) TPL-8566
Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1950-1960; Chevrolet automobile; South Tacoma Motor Co. (Tacoma);
South Tacoma Motor Company. A general view of the dealership at night. 1950 Chevrolets are on display in the showroom. A neon sign advertises the dealership at the corner while searchlights on the back of a truck pierce the night sky. South Tacoma Motor Company originated in the late 1800s as Union Street Livery. With the growing popularity of automobiles in the early 1900s, the owners combined the livery business with a service store and garage. Peter Wallerich acquired South Tacoma Motor in 1919. As of 1984 John Wallerich, Peter's grandson, headed the dealership. (South on the Sound, Murray and Rosa Morgan) TPL-6545
Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1950-1960; South Tacoma Motor Co. (Tacoma); Electric signs--Tacoma--1950-1960; Chevrolet automobile; Searchlights--Tacoma--1950-1960;
1950 Chevrolet Sedan Delivery truck, "Nalley's Inc. Advertising Car LA-63" on display in South Tacoma Motor Company's showroom. Slogan "If It's Nalley's It's Good" and product names "Treasure Pickles" and "Beef Stew" are painted on this side.
Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1950-1960; South Tacoma Motor Co. (Tacoma);Food industry--Tacoma; Nalley's, Inc. (Tacoma); Chevrolet trucks;
1,200 pound anniversary cake, Big Bear Store, Mr. Taylor. The Big Bear Stores were celebrating the second anniversary of their Tacoma store. The store at this location was opened January 1948. This enormous five-layer cake is shown in front of a display of Biskit Mix and Fisher's enriched flour. A banner hanging over the flour display says the cake was made with Fisher's Blend Flour, Medosweet milk, and C & H Pure Cane Sugar.
Big Bear Stores (Tacoma); Grocery stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Cakes--Tacoma--1950-1960; Anniversaries--Tacoma--1950-1960; Merchandise displays--Tacoma;
A major snow storm hit Tacoma January 13,1950. Tacoma received almost nine inches of snow, and the wind which reached over 25 miles per hour created drifts up to five feet high. It was the worst storm in years and caused major damage throughout the area. 20 foot waves washed away part of Ruston Way, and ten boats were sunk in the yacht club basin. This view of the front of the Olympus Hotel, 815 -17 Pacific Avenue, from January 14th, shows the snow heaped along the sidewalks where it was left by the plows trying to clear Pacific Avenue. TPL-5466;
Olympus Hotel (Tacoma); Hotels--Tacoma--1940-1950;Snow--Tacoma--1950-1960; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1950-1960;
Fire damage at Tacoma Transit. A fire destroyed four Tacomna Transit Company buses, several private automobiles and gutted the firm's repair shops and maintenance depot February 15, 1950. Losses were estimated at $267,000. The buses, in the process of repair, were probably totally ruined by the gasoline-fed flames. Ordered by United Pacific Insurance Company, Mr. Littlemore. (TNT, 2/16/1950, p.1)
Tacoma Transit Co. (Tacoma); Fires--Tacoma--1950-1960; Buses--Tacoma--1950-1960; Bus terminals--Tacoma;
On Friday the 13th of January, 1950, the worst blizzard in years hit Tacoma. The gale brought five foot snow drifts, twenty degree chills, several hours of 40-60 mph winds and an estimated million dollars worth of storm damage in Tacoma. As pictured, the bulkhead near the "bow" of the Top of the Ocean, the Tacoma Athletic Commission's Ruston Way nightclub shaped like a ship, collapsed. However, the club itself did not suffer extensive damage. Waves 20 feet high broke over Ruston Way during the storm. The freezing temperatures brought in by the storm stayed until the middle of the following week. In the background is the Henry Mill. Ordered by the Tacoma Athletic Commission. TPL-8836
Top of the Ocean (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1940-1950; Waterfronts; Storms--Tacoma--1950-1960;
Interior of C & G Radio Shop. This view shows the business offices for C & G Radio Shop, a wholesaler of radio, television and electronic parts. A wall with large windows separates the offices from the showroom area. Two wooden desks are set close to the windows. Each desk has a rotary dial telephone, a lamp, and organizers for incoming and outgoing items. Another office with windows into the larger office area and a door is seen in the back.
C & G Radio Supply Co. (Tacoma); Radios; Stores & shops--Tacoma; Offices--Tacoma--1950-1960; Office furniture; Office equipment & supplies;
Interior of C & G Radio Shop. A view of the display shelves, sales counters and parts storage areas at the wholesale distributor's showroom for radio, television and electronics parts. TPL-9680
C & G Radio Supply Co. (Tacoma); Radios; Stores & shops--Tacoma; Showrooms--Tacoma--1950-1960; Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1950-1960;
Four new Dodge trucks from the Irwin Jones Motor Company are parked in front of the Diamond F Meat Company. The DeLuxe "Route Van" bodies were designed, developed and built in Tacoma by the Irwin-Jones Motor company in their truck center. Ordered by Walt Dunlop, truck division. This photograph was used in an advertisement in the Tacoma News Tribune, 2/14/1950, p.A-14.
Diamond F Meat Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Irwin-Jones Motor Co. (Tacoma); Trucks--Tacoma--1950-1960; Dodge trucks; Advertising--Tacoma--1950-1960;
Sepic Electric employees are gathered for a group portrait outside the remodeled facilities. The furniture and appliance store was owned by Stan and Fred Sepic. Several of the men wearing coveralls are standing by the company's three delivery trucks. Administrative staff are standing by the show windows. The company advertises Kelvinator and Maytag appliances. Ordered by Stan Sepic. (TNT, 2/14/1950, p.D-14) TPL-8167
Sepic Electric Co. (Tacoma); Furniture stores--Tacoma--1940-1950; Appliance stores--Tacoma--1940-1950;
Flatbed with tractor manufactured by South Tacoma Welding. Two men stand behind the newly completed flatbed trailer with three sets of wheels at the back. It is set onto a tractor with a fifth-wheel hitch. The company specialized in welding and steel fabrication and were manufacturers of Bos-car, low bed and semi trailers, hoists and dump bodies. Ordered by Nick Bosko, Jr. owner of South Tacoma Welding.
South Tacoma Welding & Equipment Co. (Tacoma); Business enterprises--Tacoma--1950-1960; Equipment industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Trailers--Tacoma--1950-1960; Welding--Tacoma--1950-1960; Trucks--Tacoma--1940-1950;
The family dog posed outside the exterior of a new ranch block home. The home, nestled in the northwest evergreens, displayed lots of windows to let in the light and a single car garage.Photo ordered by Holroyd Co., manufacturer of concrete blocks, at 5047 S. Washington, Tacoma. As construction boomed, and wood became scarcer, even in the Northwest, concrete became a common construction material. Holyroyd manufactured a product that was economical and versatile, coming in a variety of colors and textures.
Ed Lee's new Shell Oil station at the intersection of Division and No. Yakima was photographed just before its Grand Opening on March 31st, 1950. The station, at 102 No. Yakima Ave., had a garage for car repairs and new gasoline pumps. For the Grand Opening, 32 hourly drawings were held for prizes, with the grand prize being a set of four Firestone Champion tires. The signpost in front pointed out the directions to the Fox Island and Bremerton ferries and the Stadium city center.The billboard to the left of the station was an advertisement for Shell Oil. Gas at the Grand Opening sold for between 25.2 and 27.2 cents per gallon. TPL-10300
Shell Oil Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Automobile service stations--Tacoma--1950-1960; Gasoline pumps--Tacoma--1950-1960; Billboards--Tacoma;
Interior of Gambles Western Auto Supply Co. store at 8104 South Tacoma Way during their Grand Opening. In addition to auto supplies, the store also sold housewares and appliances, such as the wringer washer on the right hand side. Flexible flyer wagons line up under the windows. Prominent in the foreground of the picture are kitchen aids- mixers, irons, hot plate, pans and baking pans.
Gambles Western Auto Supply Co. (Tacoma); Automobile equipment & supplies stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Stores & shops--Tacoma--1950-1960;
The "noon rush" filled the booths, tables and counter space at Peters' Golden Gate Oyster House, 1122 Pacific Avenue, in February of 1950. The restaurant, in the heart of Tacoma's financial and office building district, was owned and operated by Gus and Mike Peters. The brothers came to Tacoma from the Island of Crete in Greece in 1912 and entered the restaurant and seafood catering business while still teenagers. Gus Peters' original Greek name was believed to be Paneoto Constantine Rodakalikis. They had owned and operated restaurants in Tacoma for 26 years when they opened this new cafe in 1948. It was open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. (TNT 12/9/1948 p.B-9) (Additional information provided by a reader)
Restaurants--Tacoma--1950-1960; Eating & drinking--Tacoma--1950-1960; Counters--Tacoma--1950-1960; Restaurant workers--Tacoma--1950-1960; Waitresses--Tacoma--1950-1960; Peters Golden Gate Oyster House (Tacoma);
Exterior of new building at Center and Lawrence, Titus Manufacturing Company, Mr. Leon Titus. When demand for rebuilt engines increased in July 1946, Titus Motor Company restructured their engine rebuilding department which became Titus Manufacturing Company. They had continued at 624 Broadway until 1949 but now have moved into their new facilities at Center and Lawrence Streets in Nalley Valley. A large Ford truck is parked in front of the loading dock.
Titus Manufacturing Co. (Tacoma); Vehicle maintenance & repair--Tacoma--1940-1950;
Progress shots of Washington Hardware Building under construction. Signs at the construction site announce Strom Construction Company as the general contractor, Lance McGuire & Mure as architects. Walls are going up as the reinforced concrete forms are in place, supported by sticks of lumber. A portion of the wall on the far side has been poured and forms taken away. A workman's shack is seen in the foreground. (TNT, 7/3/1949, p.A-11)
Washington Hardware Co. (Tacoma); Reinforced concrete construction--Tacoma--1940-1950; Progress photographs; Strom Construction Co. (Tacoma);
Several views of new floor furnace, Heatlox Furnaces, Inc. Harry V. Smith served as president of Heatlox Furnaces, D.H. Powers was vice-president and E.J. Watson was Chairman of the Board in 1949. A view inside the plant shows a row of the new design of furnace manufactured by the company. The company manufactured several types of heating systems and offered "Minneapolis-Honeywell" controls.
Heatlox Furnaces, Inc. (Tacoma); Furnaces--Tacoma--1940-1950; Heating & ventilation industry--Tacoma--1940-1950;
Mueller-Harkins showroom, ordered by Bonnell Construction Co. An exterior view of the very modern automobile showroom built by Mueller-Harkins showing the two circular display windows that each contained a revolving stage for the newest models of Buick automobiles. The large, monolithic tower displaying the name "Buick" in neon on top has recently been completed. The sign for the Walker Apartment Hotel can be seen on the far left, across Saint Helens Avenue.
Mueller-Harkins Motor Co. (Tacoma); Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Electric signs--Tacoma--1940-1950;
Interior of new store at 1112 Pacific Avenue, Zingler Electric Company, Mr. Hans L. Zingler. Zingler's retained their earlier location at 767-69 South 38th Street when they opened their new store at 1112 Pacific Avenue. The company advertised a sale at the end of June 1949 where you could buy an electric range for $229.50. The company sold sewing machines with parts and repair a specialty, refrigerators, ranges, freezers, washers, and vacuum cleaners. (TNT, 6/24/1949, p.10)
Engines are taken from Ford cars and trucks, then replaced with a rebuilt engine by the Titus plant, payment is made with the trade in of the old engine and cash. Testing includes the engine being spun at over 800 r.p.m. while its operation, sound and oil pressure are carefully monitored. This service is available to individual owners, garages and Ford dealers. Interior view of Titus Manufacturing Company's engine rebuilding shop, two unidentified men are working on Ford engine parts; one man is operating a fork lift.
The exterior of Bill and Ted's Cafe for the liquor board, Mr. Pickering. The tavern stands on the corner of Puyallup Avenue and D Street East. The neon sign is set at an angle to be seen along both streets. "No Minors Allowed" is painted in the window. There are two more stories above the tavern and they appear to be apartments. A fire hydrant and light post can be seen on the left. TPL-6533
Bill & Ted's Cafe (Tacoma); Bars--Tacoma--1940-1950; Electric signs--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fire hydrants; Street lights--Tacoma--1940-1950;
Fabrication of trusses for Washington Hardware Wholesale Building, Timber Fabrication Co., Pete Solberg. The supporting timbers and trusses are in place and work has begun on the roof's covering. Cavanaugh's wholesale lumber company's facilities at 1423 Puyallup Avenue are seen in the right background.
Washington Hardware Co. (Tacoma); Progress photographs; Building construction--Tacoma--1940-1950; Roof trusses--Tacoma--1940-1950; Timber Fabrication Co. (Tacoma); Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950;
Bill and Ted's Tavern was owned by William J. Harris and Alfred G. Perella who also owned Bill and Ted's Restaurant, which was located next door. Interior view of Bill and Ted's Tavern in August of 1949; men are sitting along the long bar. Cigarettes, cigars and combs are located behind the bar, and a jukebox is in the background. Photo ordered by Mr. Pickering of the State Liquor Board.
Bars--Tacoma--1940-1950; City & town life--Tacoma--1940-1950; Taverns (Inns)--Tacoma--1940-1950; Beer halls--Tacoma--1940-1950; Restaurants--Tacoma--1940-1950; Bill & Ted's Tavern (Tacoma);
Murphy's was located at 938 Pacific Avenue in downtown Tacoma; the beer parlor was owned by Leland C. Lund, who also owned the Drift Inn Tavern. Interior view of Murphy's tavern; pin ball machines with signs indicating "No Minors" on right side; men and women are sitting at long eating counter, a waitress and cook are behind the counter.
Bars--Tacoma--1940-1950; City & town life--Tacoma--1940-1950; Taverns (Inns)--Tacoma--1940-1950; Beer halls--Tacoma--1940-1950; Restaurants--Tacoma--1940-1950; Murphy's (Tacoma);
Interior of newly remodeled store, Coopers Cleaners, Mr. Carl Cooper. The reception area of the cleaners is shown with plenty of room for storing items ready to be picked up by customers. A man's hat rests on the customer counter and an ornate cash register is seen on the far right in this photograph from August of 1949.
The Olympus hotel had just finished a two year remodeling project, initiated by the hotel manager, Virgil West. The new Mirror Room would offer dinner and dancing, and would feature the popular organist, Edith Stern with Ray Edwards. Interior view of the Mirror Room restaurant and night club, located in the recently remodeled Olympus Hotel (T.N.T., 8/29/49, p. 4-5).
Gas range, Washington Gas and Electric Company, John Slott. This natural gas stove has six burners and possibly two ovens. It has a cover that is hinged in the middle to fold at the back of the burners when in use. John L. Slott was the district representative for Washington Gas & Electric in 1949.
Washington Gas & Electric Co. (Tacoma); Stoves--Tacoma--1940-1950; Public utility companies--Tacoma; Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1940-1950;
