Interior of Calvary Baptist Church. Standing behind the pulpit is believed to be the Rev. Robert S. Hess, pastor of the Calvary Baptist Church. There is an abundance of wood in this church, from the long rows of pews to the arched and beamed ceilings. Rilco Laminated Products, Inc., may have supplied some of the wood products used in the sanctuary. Calvary Baptist Church has had a long history in Tacoma; it celebrated its 100th anniversary in 1999. In June, 1997, a rare twister damaged the church buildings; it was subsequently rededicated in September, 1997. Photograph ordered by Calvary Baptist Church.

Calvary Baptist Church (Tacoma); Baptist churches--Tacoma; Protestant churches--Tacoma;

ca. 1941. Detail view of Puget Sound National Bank (National Realty Company) building showing elaborate doorway featuring carved figures. Heath and Twichell, Architects, 1910.

Commercial facilities--Tacoma--1940-1950; Business districts--Tacoma--1940-1950; Puget Sound National Bank (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma;

ca. 1941. View of Puget Sound National Bank from across street. Building for National Reality Company by Heath and Twichell, Architects, 1910. Washington Building in background.

Commercial facilities--Tacoma--1940-1950; Business districts--Tacoma--1940-1950; Puget Sound National Bank (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma;

In April of 1925, members of the Dramatic Order Knights of Khorassan (DOKK) were planning an initiation in which hapless new members would be fed to their voracious tiger mascot (pictured.) The DOKK was a side degree of the Knights of Pythias committed to fun and revelry. On his knees, chained to the tiger, and being prepared for slaughter was E.A. Dexter, chancellor commander of the Commencement Lodge of Tacoma. Surrounding him, left to right, were J.A. Falconer, A.N. Bostwick, Ted Strong and Ben Haverkamp. The grand initiation and ceremony was held at the Swiss Hall, 1902-04 Jefferson Avenue. Over three hundred members from across Southwest Washington were expected to attend. More than 50 initiates were being prepared for lunch. At this time, the DOKK had no temple of their own in Tacoma, so the Kuh-Ala-Dagh Temple of Seattle served as host at the initiation. (TNT 4/24/1925, pg. 11) (WSHS)

Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1920-1930; Play (Recreation)--1920-1930; Knights of Pythias (Tacoma); Dramatic Order Knights of Khorassan (Tacoma); Dexter, E.A.; Falconer, J.A.; Bostwick, A.N.; Strong, Ted; Haverkamp, Ben;

View of Hunt & Mottet Co. building. Designed by the architectural firm of Bullard & Hill and constructed by Joseph Wells, the eight-story brick Hunt & Mottet Building was completed in 1907. Later, a smaller four-story unit was constructed to its left. The company were wholesalers of hardware and also sporting goods. Signs on the ground floor windows indicate that Hunt & Mottet also occupied space in the original Love-Johnson Co./Tacoma Grocery Co. building next door. Photograph ordered by Hunt & Mottet Co. TPL-4792

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

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;

Another view of the Hunt & Mottet Co. building showing the four-story addition and small parking lot was taken on October 21, 1957. Located on busy Pacific Avenue, near S. 22nd St., the wholesale hardware and sporting goods company had been doing business there since 1907. Lettering several feet high on one side of the main brick building alerted commuters to the company's presence. The eight-story concrete faced building to the right of Hunt & Mottet is believed to be the Love-Johnson Co./Tacoma Grocery Co.building constructed in 1906. Photograph ordered by Hunt & Mottet Co.

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

Hunt & Mottet Co. Building and parking lot shot from the side angle at S. 22nd and Pacific Avenue on October 21, 1957. A small parking lot is available for customers of the Hunt & Mottet Co., wholesale hardware and sporting goods dealer, in downtown Tacoma. The small four-story building adjacent to the parking lot was a later addition to the original 1907 eight-story unit. The company made sure that their name was highly visible for many blocks by the use of extremely large lettering on the side of the main building. TPL-4794

Hunt & Mottet Co. (Tacoma); Signs (Notices); Parking lots--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Saint Patrick's Day Dinner and Stag Night at University - Union Club. Club members pose in chef's hats and aprons. Traditionally for this annual event, members would prepare their own meal.

Saint Patrick's Day--Tacoma; Cooks; Men--Clubs--Tacoma; Aprons--Tacoma; University Union Club of Tacoma (Tacoma);

A view across the Tideflats and adjacent pond shows the expanded Kaiser Aluminum plant in November, 1957. Built originally for Olin Corporation in 1942, and purchased by Kaiser four years later, heavy demand for aluminum products post-war made expansion of the plant necessary. Kaiser spent nearly three million dollars in 1952 to improve their Tacoma plant facilities which led to a large increase in aluminum production. Photograph ordered by Kaiser Aluminum.

Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corp. (Tacoma); Aluminum industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Storage tanks at Kaiser Aluminum are massive in nature; they dwarf the Canadian National Railroad boxcars that are motionless in front of them. Olin Corporation Aluminum Plant was the first occupant of the 3400 Taylor Way site; it was sold to Kaiser Aluminum in late 1946. Kaiser spent nearly three million dollars in 1952 to expand its plant, thereby increasing aluminum production accordingly. Easy access to rail transportation made delivery of its product fast and efficient. Photograph ordered by Kaiser Aluminum.

Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corp. (Tacoma); Aluminum industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Storage tanks--Tacoma; Railroad freight cars--Canada;

The whole staff of the Tacoma Floor Company, along with their fleet of vehicles and their sanding and polishing equipment, posed for a group portrait in front of their business at 1319 Center Street on November 8, 1957. Tacoma Floor was owned by Leo Nelson and specialized in laying, sanding and refinishing hardwood floors. After the death of Mr. Nelson in 1958, at the age of 53, his wife Margaret managed the business for several years. (Photograph ordered by Tacoma Floor Co.)

Tacoma Floor Co. (Tacoma);

St. Leo's Parochial School Girls Glee Club. The combined Glee clubs of St. Leo's parochial high school were preparing for the spring music festival at the school auditorium, scheduled for April 29, 1941. (T. Times 4/11/1941, pg. 4- names in caption)

St. Leos Parochial School (Tacoma); Singers; Choirs (Music);

Bonnell Construction Co. was a contracting firm owned by Clement E. Bonnell. Bonnell had offices located at 760 1/2 Commerce St. The construction company apparently were involved in building the Dental Clinic #1, photographed on November 20, 1957. The L-shaped structure was a one-story building, with apparently a large lobby separating the two halves. It may have been made of concrete block and multiple windows; all windows were equipped with blinds. Photograph ordered by Bonnell Construction.

Dental offices; Bonnell Construction Co. (Tacoma);

View of Lowell Elementary School. The roots of Lowell School run deep as it is the Tacoma School District's oldest school. Established in 1869, and originally known as the First Ward School, it served families living west of Division Avenue in Old Tacoma. After moving to several locations, it was renamed Lowell after the American poet James Russell Lowell in 1890. A new Lowell School was built in 1950 on North 13th & Yakima Sts. as the nearly sixty year old Lowell, located a block away, was condemned following the 1949 earthquake. Students were moved into the new classrooms in November, 1950, although total construction was not completed until February, 1951. Photograph ordered by Bonnell Construction. (Olsen: For the Record, p. 43)

Lowell Elementary School (Tacoma)--Buildings; Public schools--Tacoma--1950-1960;

ca. 1925. The Motoramp Garage, 745 Commerce, under construction in the foreground. Construction began in April of 1925. The large building located behind the construction is the Winthrop Hotel, 773 Broadway, which had its Grand Opening on May 16, 1925. The Motoramp Garage was built as a multi-story parking garage with a 325 car capacity. Designed by architect A.J. Russell and constructed by the Hurley-Mason Co., it was built on the site of the Fife Hotel/Hotel Donnelly. (filed under Argentum)

Construction--Tacoma--1920-1930; Motoramp Garage (Tacoma); Parking garages--Tacoma; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Hotels--Tacoma--1920-1930;

ca. 1926. Exterior of Hill Shoe Shop storefront, 781 Broadway, at the Winthrop Hotel. The store was owned by Edwin F. Hill. Pairs of shoes on stands of varying heights decorate the two large display windows. (WSHS) BU-12146

Hill Shoe Shop (Tacoma); Shoes;

The Peoples Store at South 11th and Pacific was in the middle of its three year program of modernization when this photograph of its exterior was taken late March, 1941. A painter on scaffolding can be seen near the top of the building as painting of the department store's exterior has just commenced. Peoples was a longtime fixture in downtown Tacoma as it began operations in 1895. The store constantly ran ads in the local newspapers with their slogan "more merchandise for less money." It would finally close in 1983.

Department stores--Tacoma--1940-1950; Peoples (Tacoma); Facades--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Exterior of Peoples Store after painting.

Department stores--Tacoma--1940-1950; Peoples (Tacoma);

Painting crew from Sears and Antonson that painted the Peoples Store.

Painting--Tacoma; Sears & Antonson (Tacoma); Department stores--Tacoma--1940-1950; Peoples (Tacoma);

Exterior of Peoples Store after painting with new window awnings. The Peoples Store was founded in 1888. Their first consignment of merchandise left from New York City for the West on December 7, 1988. Newspapers followed the progress of the 27 train cars of goods as they traveled from NYC to the new western metropolis of Tacoma. On December 2, 1892, a retail store was opened at 19th and Pacific. It was first known as Garetson, Woodruff and Pratt. In 1896, the Peoples Store moved to this location at 11th and Pacific. When the store closed in 1983, it had operated at this location for 87 years. It was remodeled and opened as the Puget Sound Plaza in 1985.

Department stores--Tacoma--1940-1950; Peoples (Tacoma);

ca. 1926. Interior of Hill Shoe Shop, 781 Broadway, in the Winthrop Hotel. The store was owned by Edwin F. Hill. Rattan chairs and tables are available for customers, as well foot stools for salesmen to use for trying shoes on customers. Several baskets of flowers decorate the room, this might indicate a Grand Opening. (WSHS)

Hill Shoe Shop (Tacoma); Shoes;

Military unit at Fort Lewis. The flag identifies the group as Company B, 116th Regiment. The flag also has streamers identifying the group as the 1938 & 1939 attendance record holders.

Washington National Guard, Company B, 116th Regiment (Ft. Lewis);

Two new International Harvester trucks used by Tacoma City Light on display on March 29, 1941.

International Harvester Co. (Tacoma); Trucks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma City Light (Tacoma);

Shoe department of the new Sears store in Bremerton, 252 Fourth St. Signs on the wall indicate that the store has two floors and a mezzanine. Photograph ordered by the Bremerton Sun. Sears was at this location from late 1940 until 1985. The building in now occupied by a daycare operated by the Bremerton Calvary Chapel.

Sears, Roebuck & Co. (Bremerton); Merchandise displays--Bremerton; Shoes; Department stores--Bremerton;

Interiors of the appliance department of the new Sears store in Bremerton. Photograph ordered by the Bremerton Sun. New Coldspot refrigerators can be seen on the back wall. In the center, are new washing machines with wringers on top. Radios sit on shelves on the left. Sears was in business at this location from around 1940-1985.

Sears, Roebuck & Co. (Bremerton); Appliances; Washing machines; Refrigerators;

ca. 1926. Exterior view of the Winthrop Hotel from the southwest, circa 1926. Building designed by W.E. Stoddard and Roland Borhek, Associated Architects, in 1924. On the right is the Pantages Theater and on the left is the Bostwick Building. (filed under Argentum)

Hotels--Tacoma--1920-1930; Pantages Theater (Tacoma); Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

Clad in white, several rows of newly minted LPNs (licensed practical nurses) clutch their beribboned diplomas and certificates during Tacoma Vocational-Technical School's graduation ceremonies on November 14, 1957. Over a thousand hours of training was necessary to graduate and often included years of employment. Friends and family filled the seats in the school's auditorium to watch the 6th annual graduation exercises for the 49 recipients. Names of the new practical nurses are listed in the November 17, 1957, News Tribune. Photograph ordered by Tacoma Vocational-Technical School. (TNT 11-17-57, B-11) TPL-10124

Nursing--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma Vocational School (Tacoma); Vocational education--Tacoma;