Portland's Equitable Building cost approximately $4,000,000 to construct, it is one of the nation's few skyscrapers built since the end of World War II. Pietro Belluschi was the architect, Ross B. Hammond was the general contractor. Exterior view of the Equitable Building, now known as the Commonwealth Building in Portland, Oregon.

Commercial facilities--Oregon--Portland; Office buildings--Oregon--Portland; Architecture--Oregon--Portland; Architects; Belluschi, Pietro; Equitable Building (Portland, Or.); Commonwealth Building (Portland, Or.);

Aerial view of Mobilgas sign on the Washington Building, Rust Building, and Puget Sound National Bank building in downtown Tacoma. The South 11th Street bridge is on the right side, it connects downtown Tacoma to the Port of Tacoma, over the City Waterway; photo ordered by Columbia Breweries, possibly to display in their newly remodeled buildings.

Business districts--Tacoma; Cityscapes; Aerial photographs; Office buildings--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Aerial view of Tacoma's downtown business district, Shaffer Terminals, City Waterway, waterfront area and South 11th Street bridge on right side; Market Street on left side, photo is looking south from South 15th Street.

Business districts--Tacoma; Waterfronts; Office buildings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Cityscapes; Piers & wharves--Tacoma; Cities & towns--Tacoma; Aerial photographs;

Tacoma had two insurance brokers for Fireman's Fund Insurance Company, Mitchell & Erdahl and Busselle & Company. View of Tacoma Avenue South and South 9th Street intersection; Ballou and Wright, a wholesale auto parts store is located on left side, Radio Service Engineers is located on right, Tacoma Public Schools administration building in background; automobiles are parked along Tacoma Avenue. Photo ordered by Firemen's Fund, possibly for a traffic accident. TPL-1672

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1940-1950; Business districts--Tacoma; Automobiles--Tacoma--1940-1950; Insurance; Insurance companies--Tacoma; City & town life--Tacoma; Firemen's Fund Insurance Co. (Tacoma);

Roy Woods (left) and Joe McGovern stand on a platform outside the 17th floor of the Washington Building at 1019 Pacific Ave. in this photograph from September 1948. The Earl Painting Company, owned and managed by Earl Gallmeyer, had been contracted to paint the sashes and frames of the 900 windows in the 237 foot building. (T.Times, 10/11/1948, p.5)

Washington Building (Tacoma); Buildings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Earl Painting Co. (Tacoma); Painting--Tacoma--1940-1950; Architectural elements--Tacoma; Capitals (Columns)--Tacoma; Cornices--Tacoma; Pilasters--Tacoma; Sash windows--Tacoma;

Tacoma Transit was about to begin building new facilities, a bus transit center to be located on South Sprague Avenue between South 12th Street and South 15th Street, across from the athletic park. They had also ordered new buses, giving them a 120 unit fleet, Tacoma Transit had an increase in the usage of their transportation. View of intersection at South 26th Street and Pacific Avenue, Tacoma Transit bus in background, photo ordered by Tacoma Transit Company (T.N.T., 1/1/48, p. 1).

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1940-1950; Traffic congestion--Tacoma; Buses--Tacoma; Mass transit--Tacoma; Pierce Transit (Tacoma); Tacoma Transit Co. (Tacoma);

The W. R. Rust Building was built in 1920 by William R. Rust, the contractor was J. E. Bonnell and Sutton, Whitney and Dugan were the architects; it is twelve stories high. Between 1929 and 1931 the building was known as the Townsend Building. It is now the Seafirst Center in downtown Tacoma. Exterior view of building, Franwell fountain lunch, Virges Drug Company and Lundquist Lilly shops on ground level.

Business districts--Tacoma; Office buildings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Rust Building (Tacoma);

Safeway Stores bought out Totem Food Stores, a Washington owned and operated grocery stores, in 1942. In 1947 Safeway had over sixteen stores throughout the Tacoma area. Harry P. Brown was the district manager of Safeway Stores in Tacoma. Interior view of Safeway Stores Inc. offices in the Rust building.

Commercial facilities--Tacoma; Offices--Tacoma--1940-1950; Rust Building (Tacoma); Safeway Stores, Inc. (Tacoma);

Hotel Croft and Pacific Avenue for Electrical Products Consolidated. A view north along Pacific Avenue. Walker Brake and Wheel is on the right side of the street with Union Station just beyond. Standard Paper Company is about one-half block ahead on the left. This view of the bustling business district of Tacoma shows automobiles, delivery trucks and city busses. The Hotel Croft is six blocks north on the right hand side. Electrical Products Condolidated were sign manufacturers. TPL-1413; TPL-1450.

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1940-1950; Union Station (Tacoma); Railroad stations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Automobiles--Tacoma--1940-1950; Trucks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Buses--Tacoma--1940-1950; Cityscapes;

Broadway Furniture has vacated their premises at 1117-19 Broadway between Ted Brown's Music Company and GallenKamp Shoes. The building had six stories. The exterior of the ground floor was decorated with bas-relief stone carving framing the display windows and main entrance.

Commercial facilities--Tacoma; Mercantile facilities--Tacoma; Architectural decorations & ornaments--Tacoma; Broadway Furniture (Tacoma);

The F.W. Woolworth Co. building was constructed on the site formerly occupied by the Fidelity Building at 11th & Broadway in 1950. Woolworth's celebrated the grand opening of store #105 on November 2, 1950. It was the end of an era when the department store / variety store closed its doors for the last time in 1993. (TNT 11-2-50, B-6)

Commercial facilities; F.W. Woolworth Co. (Tacoma); Building construction--Tacoma--1950-1960;

The north-west corner of the Jones Building which currently housed the Roxy Theatre. The theater's neon sign is attached to the corner to be visible from both Broadway and North 9th Street and the marquee announces "The Lusty Men" starring Robert Mitchum and the "Wac from Walla Walla". The Broadway side of the building has two more stories than the rear of the building which served as offices for Poe Real Estate and Insurance, Ruby & Leroy's Beauty Salon, a chiropractor, dentist, architect, several physicians, lawyers, accountants, and A-1 Employment Agency among others. This view south along Broadway shows two-way traffic and Christmas decorations hanging over the street. TPL-821

Jones Building (Tacoma); Historic buildings--Tacoma; Roxy Theatre (Tacoma); Marquees--Tacoma;

Exterior Security Building. The venerable Provident Building at 9th & Pacific was renamed the Security Building in 1952. It was designed by architect George W. Bullard and originally built in 1903 by Henry Longstreth. The multi-floored Security Building in 1955 had a variety of occupants, including tailors, realtors, service organizations, physicians, insurance companies and even a detective agency run by former police chief Jack Elich. Businesses nearby included Archie's Coffee Cup, Smoke Shop tavern, and Lavik Travel Bureau. Photograph ordered by Comfort, Davis & Blangy.

Security Building (Tacoma); Provident Building (Tacoma); Facades--Tacoma--1950-1960; Comfort, Davis & Blangy (Tacoma);

ca. 1956. Aerial view of the West Coast Grocery Co. taken circa 1956. The wholesale grocery company moved into these offices in 1947. The building is fronted by the City Waterway and the Northern Pacific Railroad log dump. To the right of West Coast is Crawford, Wesley & Son at 420 E. 18th, wholesale produce. To the right of Crawford is the Northwestern Drug Co. The Northern Pacific railroad yards can be seen in the background.

Commercial facilities--Tacoma; Food industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; West Coast Grocery Co. (Tacoma); Crawford, Wesley & Son (Tacoma); Northwestern Drug Co. (Tacoma); Northern Pacific Railway Co. (Tacoma); City Waterway (Tacoma);

This gothic structure at 1301-07 Pacific Ave. was vacant and becoming derelict in August of 1956. The concrete facings were covered with posters. The building was built in 1888 from a design by Farrell and Darmer, Architects. Carved on the building at the top above the main entrance is "Union Block." The sign on the building reads "This US owned property Ordered Sold." The building had previously housed a Post Office annex and was vacated in 1953. It was demolished in January of 1957. TPL-8738

Business districts--Tacoma--1950-1960; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1950-1960;

ca. 1953. A Hunt & Mottet delivery truck is angled across railroad tracks at the company's west annex, warehouse #2. Two men appear to be examining paperwork while standing next to a dolly. An Evergreen Motor Freight truck is parked nearby. Hunt & Mottet were wholesale hardware and sporting goods dealers.

Hunt & Mottet Co. (Tacoma); Street railroad tracks--Tacoma; Trucks--Tacoma--1950-1960;

A view of the Hunt & Mottet Bldg. on Pacific Avenue was taken from across the street on October 21, 1957. The eight-story brick building is in stark contrast to the concrete-faced unit next door, which was designed by architect Frederick Heath and constructed by W.J. Collins, contractors. Hunt & Mottet, hardware and sporting goods dealers, apparently occupied space in both buildings, according to ground level signage. Enormous lettering emblazoned on one side of the brick building, not visible in this photograph, made the company a well-known presence in the Tacoma business district. Photograph ordered by Hunt & Mottet Co. TPL-4793

Hunt & Mottet Co. (Tacoma); Facades--Tacoma--1950-1960; Hardware stores--Tacoma;

Intersection of Bay St. and Puyallup Ave. Traffic appears light at 10 a.m. on March 13, 1958, at the intersection of Bay St. and Puyallup Ave. Only five cars are clearly visible on Puyallup Ave. Safeway and Brownie's Texaco station are across the street from Cavanaugh Lumber, where "Reject Plywood" can be purchased, and Ben's Truck Parts. Washington Hardware Co's wholesale division is next door. Smitty's Drive-In restaurant, "Open All Nite," is close to Safeway. Photograph ordered by Peterson & Peterson, attorneys, for Hess vs. Bettridge.

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1950-1960; Signs (Notices);

An unusual concrete roof, resembling a wave, highlights the new office building owned by Lundberg Concrete Pipe Co. Carports and storage units were located under the small building. The new modern building was designed by architect Robert Billsbrough Price. It measured 23 x 30 feet and was made of reinforced concrete, painted gold and white with black columns. Lundberg Concrete Pipe had recently consolidated its operations at the newly expanded plant at Center & Cedar Strs.; large pipe sections are visible in the August 30, 1958, photograph's background. The company was owned by the Lundberg family with Oscar N. Lundberg as president. Photograph ordered by Lone Star Cement Co. (TNT 9-1-58, C-8)

Office buildings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Lundberg Concrete Pipe Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Pipes (Conduits)--Tacoma;

View of businesses in 700 block of Saint Helens Ave. Honan's Restaurant was owned by John and Robert Honan. A large angled neon sign is placed over the canopy leading to the restaurant. Included in the restaurant was the Arbor Room cocktail lounge. The restaurant was situated between Shipman's Surgical Co. and Paul's Executive Juvenile Footwear. The Steven Motor Co.'s used car division and the R.E. Anderson Co. real estate firm sandwiched the 1924-built light art brick and terra cotta building. The Medical Arts Building was across the street. Photograph ordered by Ward Smith, Inc.

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1950-1960; Honan's Restaurant (Tacoma); Electric signs--Tacoma--1950-1960;

An early automobile shares Pacific Avenue with two street cars and a horse drawn wagon in August of 1907. The buildings on the east side of Pacific include: the Tourist Hotel, 1013 Pacific Avenue; The Royal saloon, 1015 Pacific Ave.; the Berlin Building, on the corner of South 11th and Pacific Ave.; and the Peoples Store, 1101-07 Pacific Avenue. Of the buildings in this two block section of Pacific Avenue, only the Peoples Store is still standing. TPL-8101

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1900-1910; Business districts--Tacoma--1900-1910; Street railroads--Tacoma--1900-1910; Automobiles--Tacoma--1900-1910;

ca. 1900. Copy of print made from glass plate. Pacific Avenue appears devoid of traffic other than one streetcar in the early years of the 20th century. This photograph was taken early one morning in the vicinity of 9th & Pacific; the distinct image of the Old City Hall can be observed clearly a block ahead. The names "Hotel Donnelly" and "Grand Theatre" have been imprinted onto the photograph. The Hotel Donnelly was probably one of the earliest hotels in the city, as it was listed in the 1893-94 City Directory. It was located on the northwest corner of Pacific Ave. & So. 9th St. The Motoramp Garage was to later be built on this site. Hotel Donnelly was in close proximity to the Hotel Revere, whose sign can be seen protruding from the building. The Hotel Revere, by 1907, was operated by John Fawcett and located at 732 1/2 Pacific Avenue. The Grand Theatre's first mention was in the 1907 City Directory. It was located on the northeast corner of Pacific & So. 9th. Sullivan & Considine were listed as proprietors and Dean B. Worley as manager. Date of original print is not known; copy from glass plate was made on October 3, 1958. TPL-8546

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1900-1910; Hotel Donnelly (Tacoma); Hotel Revere (Tacoma); Old City Hall (Tacoma); Cities & towns--Tacoma;

ca. 1900. Copy made from glass plate, Richards Studio. This may be a street scene from Yakima, Washington, circa 1900. The street is wide enough for a streetcar and many passing horses and carts. There are some carriages parked along the raised sidewalk. People could conduct business at the Yakima Valley Bank, get their teeth checked at Yakima Dental or buy a $12 suit at the Empire. Copy of glass plate made on October 3, 1958.

Commercial streets--Yakima; Street railroads--Yakima; Carts & wagons--Yakima;

Looking down S. 11th St. in downtown Tacoma on the first of September, 1964. Cross streets are Commerce, Pacific and A. Bright lighting helps to make the darkness less oppressive as Manning's Coffee Shop, Peoples store, and the Washington Building are lit from within and also on the street. Wide-Lite pole-mounted floodlights were turned on in a demonstration by Connors Electric Co. Other structures illuminated that night were the Tacoma Building, Schoenfeld's, National Bank of Washington and Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan. Photograph ordered by Wide-Lite Corp., Houston, Texas. (TNT 9-2-64, A-16)

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1960-1970; Lighting--Tacoma; Lampposts--Tacoma; Peoples (Tacoma); Washington Building (Tacoma); Manning's Market (Tacoma);

Located at the busy intersection of So. 11th & Pacific in downtown Tacoma's business district is the imposing 17-story Washington Building. To the photograph's left are the Commerce Savings & Loan Association and the Bank of California. A large red neon sign noting the presence of "Bank of California" is also on the rooftop of the Washington Building. Remodeling is occurring at Selden's Carpet & Floor Coverings, located behind the Washington Building on South 11th St., as the home center is completing modernization. The 1910-era Tacoma Building is the large structure on A Street close to Selden's. Photograph ordered by the Washington Building Co. BU-10,894

Washington Building (Tacoma); Electric signs--Tacoma--1960-1970; Bank of California National Association (Tacoma); Seldens, Inc. (Tacoma); Tacoma Building (Tacoma); Business districts--Tacoma--1960-1970;

Downtown Tacoma at night, vicinity of 10th & A Sts, on September 1, 1964. The Tacoma Building, headquarters of the Weyerhaeuser Co. and the Perkins Building are on the left along with Tacoma Office Supply. Modern Wide-Lite pole-mounted floodlights help to illuminate one of the primary business areas of downtown Tacoma. Connors Electric Co. demonstrated for area merchants the advantages of having buildings take on glowing white color and making streets and sidewalks "as bright as day." Photograph ordered by Wide-Lite Corp., Houston, Texas. (TNT 9-2-64, A-16) TPL-10578

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1960-1970; Tacoma Building (Tacoma); Perkins Building (Tacoma); Tacoma Office Supply (Tacoma); Lampposts--Tacoma; Lighting--Tacoma;

Commerce St. side of Bernice Building. By 1960, there were many vacancies in the venerable Bernice Building located in the 1100 block of Pacific Avenue. The building would be demolished later to make room for the new Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan Assn.site. Pacific First Federal had requested photographs of the front and rear of the Bernice Building with adjoining buildings removed.

Bernice Building (Tacoma);

On Sunday, April 16, 1961, a Richards Studio photographer journeyed to the third floor of the Washington Building to snap photos of the soon-to-be demolished Bernice Building and Pacific First Federal Savings. Bender's Ready to Wear fashions for men and women appears to already have vacated the premises; windows are either boarded up or empty. A modern Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan would emerge in 1964. The new building, designed by Tacoma architects Lea, Pearson & Richards, would cost $1,500,000, and more than double the present size of the savings and loan. (TNT 1-12-61, p. 1)

Bernice Building (Tacoma); Pacific First Federal Building (Tacoma); Bender's (Tacoma);

This is how the 800 block of Pacific Avenue looked like in November of 1972. In the foreground is the Hotel Olympus which was originally constructed in 1909. A free TV in every room was advertised and food and entertainment available in the coffee shop and the Mirror Room. The hotel was flanked by Dammeier Printing (Print NW) and the Tacoma Beauty Supply. Robblee's Safe & Lock Co. was next to the beauty supply store. Further down Pacific was Ghilarducci's Florists, the Trailways Bus Station and at the end of the street, the old Northern Pacific Headquarters building. Photograph ordered by Western Union, Seattle.

Business districts--Tacoma--1970-1980; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1970-1980; Olympus Hotel (Tacoma); Electric signs--Tacoma--1970-1980; Tacoma Beauty Supply (Tacoma); Robblee's Safe & Lock Co. (Tacoma); Dammeier Printing Co. (Tacoma);

ca. 1973. 1973 Richards stock footage. Intersection of South 9th & Broadway. The venerable Roxy theatre is on the left; a double bill of "Summer of 42" and "Play It Again Sam" advertised during the 1972 Christmas holiday season, or shortly thereafter. LeRoy Jewelers and Woolworth's are also on the left of the photograph, further down on Broadway. Sherman Clay & Co. (pianos) and the Singer Co. are on the right side of Broadway, next to the enormous tree decorated in lights.

Business districts--Tacoma--1970-1980; Roxy Theatre (Tacoma); Motion picture theaters--Tacoma--1970-1980; Sherman Clay & Co. (Tacoma); Singer Co. (Tacoma);