This is a view of Pacific Avenue looking south in January of 1941. Buildings on right in the 1900 block include Shaub-Ellison Co. featuring Goodyear tires, the American Plumbing & Steam Supply Co., Wiegel Candy Co. and Harmon Manufacturing Co. Photograph taken for the United Pacific Insurance Co.
ca. 1927. Paul Ludwig Schulze House, 1891, bedroom. In 1903, while owned by William Jones, President Theodore Roosevelt stayed at the house during his Tacoma visit. Ordered by Mrs. Christen Quevli, after renovations by Sutton, Whitney & Dugan, Architects. (filed with Argentum)
This photograph of the modern, Art-deco style Mottau Building was taken for Safeway Stores one year after the building opened. At its opening, the Tacoma News Tribune wrote: "The K street district may well be proud of this new addition to the several modern buildings erected there in the past two or three years." Russell & Lance, architects, designed the aluminum- and Virolite-clad (polished green and black glass) building for Pauline Mottau. It replaced an early 1880s structure, a two-story, Queen Anne-style wooden building with five stores on the first floor and apartments above. Mottau's husband, Robert, built two of Tacoma's first hotels in the early 1880s--the St. Charles and the Villard--and later built several apartment buildings in Tacoma. In 2000, the Mottau Building was razed for construction of another new building in the district where other older structures are being replaced with new additions. (T.N.T., 10/6/1933, p. 13).
Commercial buildings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Business districts--Tacoma; Grocery stores--Tacoma--1940-1950; Appliance stores--Tacoma; Paulson's Radios & Appliances (Tacoma); Mottau Building (Tacoma); Safeway Stores, Inc. (Tacoma);
Interior of Broadway Branch, Puget Sound National Bank General View. Wooden counter with glass partitions, fancy wall covering and light fixtures, terrazzo flooring and countertops. Fueled by the wartime economy and the able leadership of bank president Reno Odlin, Puget Sound Bank began to grow dramatically. With the increased business, the bank needed additional help as well as replacements for those men serving in the war. The bank could not find enough employees to cover both the Broadway and the Lincoln branches, as well as the main branch. The Broadway branch was closed and the main branch remodeled in 1942.
Commercial facilities--Tacoma--1940-1950; Puget Sound National Bank (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma;
Interior of Broadway Branch, Puget Sound National Bank. Wooden counter from customer's side. Glass partitions, fancy wall covering and light fixtures, terrazzo flooring and countertops. Fueled by the wartime economy and the able leadership of bank president Reno Odlin, Puget Sound Bank began to grow dramatically. With the increased business, the bank needed additional help as well as replacements for those men serving in the war. The bank could not find enough employees to cover both the Broadway and the Lincoln branches, as well as the main branch. The Broadway branch was closed and the main branch remodeled in 1942.
Commercial facilities--Tacoma--1940-1950; Puget Sound National Bank (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma;
War Housing; Housing facilities. During World War II, Tacoma was bursting at the seams with people- workers drawn by the lucrative defense jobs and families of military men stationed at Fort Lewis or McChord. Every available living space- room, apartment or house was occupied. Federal funds were available to convert buildings to living space. For example, this 1888 Colonial at 707-09 So. I St. which included six apartments was converted to 12. Ordered by Mr. H. Stubbs. (TNT 3/10/1943, pg. 19)
War Housing; Housing facilities. During World War II, every unoccupied house, room, or out building was converted to housing for defense workers and their families. Ordered by Mr. H. Stubbs.
ca. 1943. Sears window, Mr. Moor. Servistan Inlaid Linoleum is advertised at "$9.88 Covers average kitchen". Rolls of samples stand in the window. A sign indicates the store is open until 9 p.m. Monday nights to accomodate shoppers working in the war industry.
In October of 1941, the city had nearly completed the long awaited "face lift" of 6th Avenue. The work included widening and repaving Sixth Avenue at Pine Street (pictured) and near Sprague (in front of Jason Lee) to eliminate "jogs." The street was straightened by razing a building once occupied by Applings store. On the left are the new Safeway store (608 N. Pine) and gas station. The Safeway was located on property vacated in the straightening. The overall plan called for 6th to be widened as far south as 7th St. and for new road surfacing Sprague to Proctor St. (TT 10/3/1941, pg. 7)
Business districts--Tacoma--1940-1950; Safeway Stores, Inc. (Tacoma); Grocery stores--Tacoma--1940-1950;
The exterior of the reconditioned General Paint store. This nighttime view shows the illuminated neon sign in the shape of a toy soldier. O'Connell-Regan company is located on the second floor of the building.
Buildings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Stores & shops--Tacoma--1950-1960; Paints & varnishes; General Paint Corp. (Tacoma); Window displays--Tacoma--1950-1960; Electric signs--Tacoma--1950-1960; O'Connell-Ragan Co. (Tacoma);
Modernistic living room or waiting room of the combination home & dental office of Dr. William R. Taylor. The recently complete Lowell School, located in the next block to the west, can be seen through the large wall to wall windows. The room has very high ceilings with recessed lighting and a rectangular fireplace. A built-in unit has a bookcase and desk on one side, and a radio built into the short side. Another built-in unit encloses houseplants. The furniture is very angular and stark.
Taylor, William R.--Homes & haunts; Health care facilities--Tacoma; William R. Taylor Clinic (Tacoma); Dental offices--Tacoma; Houses--Tacoma--1950-1960;
Street scene, Stadium Way to City Hall, as pictured on June 19, 1951. A few cars motor down the otherwise uncrowded street. Ornamental street lamps visible on left side of roadway. Ordered by Electrical Products, Larry Moore.
Commercial streets--Tacoma--1950-1960; City & town life--Tacoma; Residential streets--Tacoma; Old City Hall (Tacoma); Street lights--Tacoma--1950-1960;
The exterior of P.D. Sanders' home at the corner of Union Avenue and Gove Street in Steilacoom. The photograph was ordered to show the home and garden for the family's Christmas card.
The exterior of P.D. Sanders' home at the corner of Union Avenue and Gove Street in Steilacoom, possibly 705 Gove Street, as pictured on August 15, 1951. The photograph was ordered to show the home and garden for the family's Christmas card.
This living room has been decorated with the contemporary 1950's look with abstract patterns in the covering on the sofa and lamp base, sleek, bond wooden furniture, found objects such as driftwood and non-symetrical arrangements. The carpet is a solid color with a longer nap but not yet a true "shag". It appears that the carpet has been protected with pieces of plywood so perhaps this home was a model home for the builder. Ordered by Phares Advertising.
A view from outside the house across the dining area to the front of the house and the living room. The kitchen can be seen to the left. The ceilings have been left open with a decorative shelf running across between the living room and dining area. A false ceiling has been added to the kitchen area. Ordered by Phares Advertising.
Living rooms--Mountlake Terrace--1950-1960; Dining rooms--Mountlake Terrace--1950-1960;
Before shot of exterior of house at 2104 So. 8th St. Photo ordered by Economy Roofing and Siding Co. whose office and warehouse were located at 406 Stadium Way.
Before photograph of kitchen at 3716 North 37th Street, owned by Harold Stamey, Stamey Insurance Service, Inc. This view from the kitchen into the breakfast nook includes the archway to the eating area with a small table and chairs and another door, possibly leading to the basement. A heating vent is seen at floor level. Another door, that appears to be a swinging door, leads into the house at the back of the breakfast nook.
Before photograph of kitchen at 3716 North 37th Street, owned by Harold Stamey, Stamey Insurance Service, Inc. This view from the breakfast nook into the kitchen the includes the archway and two built-in cabinets in the breakfast room, a corner cabinet on the left and an overhead cabinet on the right. A child's high chair stands near the corner where a pencil sharpener and note paper dispenser are attached to the wall. Looking into the kitchen, a refrigerator sits in a space left between the back door and the stove with built-in cupboards above it.
Interiors of homes ordered by Wm. W. Tietz. A view of an early 1950's kitchen. The working areas of the kitchen are lined against opposing walls with light-colored, shiny surfaced cabinets above and below the working surfaces. The walls are also light colored and the floor covering is a muted, light shade. Venetian blinds cover the windows, one over the sink and one in the breakfast nook. A rotary dial telephone sits on the counter with only a cookie jar to join it. A door at the back of the kitchen is closed.
Living rooms--Tacoma--1950-1960; Kitchens--Tacoma--1950-1960; Breakfast rooms--Tacoma--1950-1960;
Exterior of unidentified new fifties style ranch home, Rex Harrington, contractor, built by Kendall Construction. The rambler has a one car garage, a chimney indicating the presence of a fireplace and steps leading up to the front door. A brick surround flowerbed in front of the house remains empty until landscaping is complete.
A house and shed perch atop a cliff where dirt has been removed for construction near Puyallup Ave. in Tacoma. This is possibly the site being prepared for the construction of the new sanitation plant.
