Work proceeds steadily on the new County-City Building being constructed on Tacoma Avenue South, next door to the Tacoma Public Library. The massive, multi-storied central structure will be one of the very few in the country with exterior aluminum paneling. The two-story court building shown above is made of reinforced concrete. Although the interior court rooms are soundproof and windowless, there appear to be windows on the exterior walls. A. Gordon Lumm, A.I.A., is the architect of the project; Macdonald Building Co. is the contractor. There is a large sign at the site listing the names of the County Commissioners, Tacoma City Council, Architect, Engineers and Contractor. The County-City Building would be formally dedicated on April 10, 1959. Photograph ordered by Fentron Industries, Seattle.

Progress photographs; County-City Building (Tacoma); Building construction--Tacoma--1950-1960;

ca. 1958. Mount Rainier can barely be seen in the distance on an overcast day, to the right of the new County-City Building under construction. The smaller unit is the new law enforcement wing which will eventually become four stories tall. The steel frame work is now up; structural steel used in fabricating the framework was probably provided by Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel's Seattle plant. The large dirt area to the foreground will become parking. Photograph ordered by Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel Corporation.

Progress photographs; County-City Building (Tacoma); Building construction--Tacoma--1950-1960;

ca. 1926. Meat Market. Fresh meat in cases, scale, prices posted. (filed with Argentum)

Butcher shops--1920-1930;

ca. 1926. Meat Market. Meat grinding equipment, hanging meat and fresh meat cases. (filed with Argentum)

Butcher shops--1920-1930;

The new Bethel Junior High School under construction in May, 1958, combined the use of fabricated steel, brick, cement and glass materials. Here a worker in hard hat and overalls is shown climbing to possibly inspect the steel trusses. Wood car decking would be added to the roof. The long-awaited steel had finally arrived for the 7th, 8th, and 9th grade wings and for the gym, hallway and shop building. The school was designed to house 600 students. The school district hoped to open in Fall, 1958. The lunchroom, shop, gym were scheduled to be finished last; the first urgency was for the classrooms to be completed. Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel's fabrication plant in Seattle was responsible for cutting, punching, drilling, bending and machining the structural steel and plates prior to erection. Each column or girder is carefully marked to show its exact place in the completed structure before it is shipped to the erection site. Photograph ordered by Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel Corp. (Bethlehem Pacific Steel in the Northwest, Booklet #361, c. 1954, TNT 5-4-58, B-4)

Progress photographs; Building construction--Spanaway--1950-1960; Public schools--Spanaway--1950-1960;

ca. 1926. Interior of Grocery Store. Fresh meat cases, scale, beverage case, packaged foods on shelves. Sign on wall: "Cash - Please Do Not Ask For Credit." (filed with Argentum)

Grocery stores--1920-1930;

A little girl confidently takes the wheel of a Moss Midjet racing car on June 4, 1958. A small boy hops on for a ride, perched with one foot on the back tire. The sleek light-colored car had metal bumpers and a long metal sidebar, perhaps for the driver's protection. Photograph ordered by the Condon Co., an advertising agency.

Racing automobiles; Children driving;

As the store name indicated, a customer could buy 28 flavors of ice cream at Louis Lamken's 28 Flavors Ice Creamery on Gravelly Lake Dr. The small store had wall-to-wall glass, making it easy for sweet-seeking customers to check out the variety of ice cream. Listed on the wall were signs naming all the flavors; larger signs indicating the familiar chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry with the more exotic Hawaiian Delight, caramel fudge and pistachio were pasted on the storefront windows. It is believed that the name of the ice cream store is new as a 24 Flavors Ice Cream store had been at the same location, 8922 Gravelly Lake Dr., prior to its move to the Villa Plaza Shopping Center next to Thrifty Drugs. 24 Flavors, owned by Mrs. Ellice Westrope, celebrated its grand opening May 17-18, 1958. Photograph ordered by Medosweet Dairies. (TNT Ad 5-16-58, p. 6; article -text only about 24 Flavors Ice Cream)

28 Flavors Ice Creamery (Lakewood); Dairy stores--Lakewood; Ice cream & ices; Signs (Notices);

Swimming pool at the Babcock residence. Swimmers seem to be enjoying the backyard inground pool at the James Babcock residence in the Rhododendron Lanes neighborhood. The square swimming pool, surrounded by a cement patio, is divided into two portions by the use of small floaters. James Babcock was the president of Babcock-White Insurance, Inc., and Western Pools, Inc. He was also part owner of the Babcock-Olson Co., distributors of swimming equipment. The public was invited to inspect the new swimming pool at the Babcock's on June 22, 1958. This "Western" pool, 16' x 32', was advertised as the ideal family size. Babcock headed the newly established Western Pools, Inc. He indicated that this particular pool would cost $3750 installed, complete with filtering and heating systems. It would be heated with natural gas and would never need to have the water changed. It could be installed in 10 days. Photograph ordered by Babcock-White Insurance. (TNT 6-22-58, B-9, Ad B-11)

Swimming pools--Lakewood; Babcock, James--Homes & haunts;

This was how the 1100 Block of Broadway looked in June of 1941. The Henry Mohr Hardware Co. building (1141-43 Broadway,) built in 1910, can be seen on the right foreground with the ground floor occupied by the Karnes Shopping Mart. To the left was the Hotel Lansing at 1137-39 Broadway. The bottom floor was occupied by Overland Furniture. The building was built in 1907 and has since been demolished. Between the Lansing and the Blue Mouse was the Phillips Cafeteria at 1135 Broadway. The Blue Mouse was located at 1131-33 Broadway. It was demolished to make way for one of Tacoma's escalades connecting Pacific to Broadway.

Mohr Hardware Co. building (Tacoma); Karnes Shopping Mart (Tacoma); Hotel Lansing (Tacoma); Overland Furniture (Tacoma); Blue Mouse Movie Theatre (Tacoma); Phillips Cafeteria (Tacoma); Business districts--Tacoma--1940-1950;

The grand opening of Primo Gasparetti's newly remodeled Wagon Wheel restaurant at 8602 South Tacoma Way was held June 18-21, 1958. The redecorated and expanded building now had room for 350 people, up from 50, and two well-lighted and well-patrolled parking lots. "Corky" Corcoran and his four-piece band supplied dancing music six nights a week. Primo Gasparetti owned several businesses on or near the same lot near the city limits of Tacoma on the 8600 block of South Tacoma Way. One year later in July of 1959 the Play Boy Cabaret, operated by Jimmy Carbone, opened at this location. (Photograph ordered by Primo's Wagon Wheel.) (TNT 6-18-58, B-2, B-3)

Primo's Wagon Wheel (Lakewood); Bars--Lakewood; Signs (Notices); Facades--Lakewood--1950-1960;

Interior - Primo's Wagon Wheel. The interior of Primo's Wagon Wheel appears to have been heavily decorated with wood panels, matching the rustic exterior of the tavern. A mounted deer's head would have been staring at the customers lined up on the bar stools before the polished bar. The Wagon Wheel had been at its 8602 South Tacoma Way location since 1938; the space had formerly been occupied by Babe's Inn. It had celebrated a grand reopening in 1940 after extensive remodeling, and another grand opening in June, 1958. Known as the "Home of the Singing Gondolier", the business was owned by Primo Gasperetti. It now had room for 350 people and offered dance music six nights a week. Photograph ordered by Primo's Wagon Wheel. (TNT 6-18-58, B-2, B-3)

Primo's Wagon Wheel (Lakewood); Bars--Lakewood; Bars (Furniture)--Lakewood; Hunting trophies;

ca. 1926. Grocery Store interior. Canned, bottled and packaged foods on shelves, bulk food case, coffee grinder, scale, cash register. (filed with Argentum)

Grocery stores--1920-1930;

Exterior - Max Frolic's cafe. Well-known entertainer Max Frolic opened his restaurant in 1938 at the (then) South Tacoma Way location. It was designed and built by Mr. Frolic and William Thornburg because of the rerouting of U.S. Highway 99 from Lakeview Drive to the newly extended South Tacoma Way. On June 20-22, 1958, Max Frolic's celebrated its grand opening to highlight its new exterior and new dining room. Neon signs advertised sea foods and fried chicken as part of the menu. Colorful awnings help to shade the windows of this brick and wood building. Max Frolic was a former vaudevillian, violinist and band leader. He directed the Elks Club Extravaganzas for many years. He also was the music director, arranger and conductor of the Pantages Theatre orchestra from 1920-1932. Mr. Frolic died at the age of 89 on December 14, 1974. Photograph ordered by Max Frolic's Restaurant. TPL-5799. (TNT 6-20-58, p. 4, History of Pierce County, Vol. 1, p. 421)

Max Frolic's Restaurant (Lakewood); Restaurants--Lakewood; Electric signs--Lakewood;

Interior - Max Frolic's cafe. Well-known entertainer Max Frolic opened his restaurant in 1938 at the (then) South Tacoma Way location. It was designed and built by Mr. Frolic and William Thornburg because of the rerouting of U.S. Highway 99 from Lakeview Drive to the newly extended South Tacoma Way. On June 20-22, 1958, Max Frolic's celebrated its grand opening to highlight its new exterior and new dining room. Neon signs advertised sea foods and fried chicken as part of the menu. Colorful awnings help to shade the windows of this brick and wood building. Max Frolic was a former vaudevillian, violinist and band leader. He directed the Elks Club Extravaganzas for many years. He also was the music director, arranger and conductor of the Pantages Theatre orchestra from 1920-1932. Mr. Frolic died at the age of 89 on December 14, 1974. Photograph ordered by Max Frolic's Restaurant. TPL-5799. (TNT 6-20-58, p. 4, History of Pierce County, Vol. 1, p. 421)

Max Frolic's Restaurant (Lakewood); Restaurants--Lakewood; Interiors--Lakewood;

Progress photographs of the construction of the new County-City Building were taken on June 19, 1958, for Fentron Industries, Seattle. Structurally, the building was 99% completed by early March, 1958. The old Courthouse to the right of the photograph would be demolished for parking; it was expected to be the last job in this project. The two houses adjacent to the site and next to the Courthouse were being used by county employees; they, too, would be leveled for parking. The mild winter, despite rain, kept the construction on schedule. (TNT 3-9-58, A-1) TPL-6680

Progress photographs; County-City Building (Tacoma); Pierce County Courthouse (Tacoma);

Cab and trailer built by Highway Truck Equipment for Mr. Honeycup from Nalley's. Photograph taken on June 2, 1941.

Highway Truck Co. (Tacoma); Nalleys, Inc. (Tacoma); Trucks--1940-1950;

This aerial photographs of downtown Tacoma looking toward Point Defiance was taken on June 16, 1958. Prominent are the three bridges crossing the City (now Thea Foss) Waterway--the 11th St. Bridge, the Railroad Bridge and the 15th St. Bridge. Among a number of identifiable buildings are the massive Schoenfeld's furniture store with its enormous store lettering, the new County-City Building under construction toward the left corner of the photograph, the old County Courthouse behind it, the Washington Building and Puget Sound National Bank, for about two years the tallest building west of the Mississippi (until the Smith Tower was built in Seattle). Wright Park is the heavily wooded area to the right and above of the new County-City Building. Urban renewal had not yet replaced any of the buildings on Pacific Ave. with parking garages. TPL-8676

Aerial photographs; Bridges--Tacoma--1950-1960; County-City Building (Tacoma);

Aerial photographs of Tacoma's northend were taken on June 16, 1958. Looking toward Mount Rainier are the industrial Tideflats area. Smoke from many pulp and paper mills drifts over the landscape. The first wooded area nearest downtown would be Wright Park. The second large forested region in the middle is Garfield Park, near Annie Wright Seminary and the Tacoma Lawn Tennis Club, and the distinctive half-moon street. The largest green area, shaped somewhat like a boot, is Puget Park as it was in 1958. It may not be as large now.

Aerial photographs; Parks--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Aerial photographs of the downtown Tacoma area, including the business and financial district, were taken by the Richards Studio on June 16, 1958. This photograph was noted as being "cropped." It shows the 11th St. Bridge as it prepares to cross the City (now Thea Foss) Waterway. Pacific Avenue and A Streets, Saint Helens and Market, Broadway and Commerce are all visible. An observer can identify the Crane Co., the National Bank of Washington, Puget Sound National Bank, the Washington Building with the Mobilgas sign, the Rust Building, Old City Hall with its memorable clock tower, and the skyscraper, the Medical Arts Building. Shuster Parkway will later be built in the thin strip of wooded area adjacent to and under the bridge. TPL-8186

Aerial photographs; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1950-1960; 11th Street Bridge (Tacoma);

The neatly laid out streets of downtown Tacoma and a portion of the industrial Tideflats area were photographed by airplane on June 16, 1958. Tacoma had concentrated its main financial and business districts in the downtown area. The 11th St. Bridge, visible crossing the City (now Thea Foss) Waterway, extends into the Tideflats. Smoke billows from the various pulp and paper mills in this more sparsely inhabited area. The Tideflats was home to railroad, lumber, and shipbuilding interests.

Aerial photographs; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1950-1960; 11th Street Bridge (Tacoma);

Mount Rainier can be seen in the distance through the mist in this aerial photograph of Fox Island taken on June 16, 1958. Heavily wooded Fox Island is located between the Carr Inlet and Hales Passage, two miles northeast of McNeil Island in northwestern Pierce County. It was named in 1841 after Dr. J.L. Fox, an assistant surgeon of the Wilkes Expedition. The Fox Island Bridge can be spotted toward the center of the photograph. It spans 1,981 feet over Hales Passage and was completed in 1954. The bridge was opened by Governor Arthur Langlie and Anne Nelson, the first white girl born on Fox Island. Fox Islanders had to pay tolls on the new bridge; added to the expenses incurred with cars and gasoline, the cost of getting to Tacoma more than doubled. By 1956, the population on the island had declined to 115 families. Nearly a half-century later, according to the 2000 census, there were approximately 2800 people living on Fox Island. (History of Pierce County, Vol. 1, p. 59) TPL-9232

Aerial photographs; Bridges--Fox Island;

The finished interior of the new Henry F.Hunt Junior High cafetorium at 6501 South 10th Street was photographed on June 23, 1958. The school opened in September of 1958, and the dedication was held on October 29th. The innovative dome-shaped building combined the cafeteria and the school auditorium. The curved stage blends with the building's curved glue-lam beams. The cafetorium had 20 bays with the dome covering a 144 foot span. The dome was formed by the use of 7" by 26" glue-lam beams; the purlins between the beams were covered with a half-inch fir plywood sheathing. There were many skylights to help with the natural lighting. The feeling of spaciousness was further accentuated by the lack of supporting columns within the building. Because of the extensive use of wood, the school district was able to save quite a bit of money in construction; costs ran 15 cents per square foot. (TNT 2-9-58, A-19, 20)

Henry F. Hunt Junior High School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1950-1960; Building construction--Tacoma--1950-1960;

A covered walkway would offer protection to students on their way to the cafeteria/auditorium on the campus of the new Henry F. Hunt Junior High School at 6501 South 10th street when it opened in September of 1958. The saucer-shaped building was designed by architect Robert Billsbrough Price and was made primarily of wood. The glass walls, along with the many skylights, provided plenty of natural light. The innovative building had no supporting columns within to distract from the feeling of spaciousness. This photograph was taken in June of 1958 while it was still empty. It was built to serve the burgeoning student population of Tacoma's West End and Fircrest neighborhoods.

Henry F. Hunt Junior High School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1950-1960;

The Villa Plaza Shopping Center in Lakewood was able to provide its customers plenty of what downtown Tacoma could not: parking. Free parking. The vast parking lot was able to hold 4,000 cars. Visitors to the 30+ stores in the shopping center did not have to worry about feeding the meter or circling the block in pursuit of a parking spot. Customers could shop at many name-brand stores such as Penney's, Rhodes and W.T.Grant, buy groceries at Thriftway, and conduct financial business at the National Bank of Washington and Household Finance. Villa Plaza was a one-stop shopping center that would serve customers throughout Pierce County. Photograph ordered by Household Finance, Los Angeles. TPL-8318

Villa Plaza Shopping Center (Lakewood); Shopping centers--Lakewood--1950-1960; Parking lots--Lakewood;

College of Puget Sound summer band camp group posed on the campus. For the first time, the music department of CPS would be offering a program combining music study with vacation and recreation. The camp would be open to high school students receiving a superior rating in solo and ensemble playing, who exhibit scholarship and good character. The students would live at the college and be given a private lesson each week as well as instruction in harmony and arranging. In addition, the group would perform several concerts throughout the summer. Sixty five students participated in the first month long camp. (T. Times 6/6/41, pg. 8; 6/13/41, pg. 7; 6/27/1941, pg. 7- picture with names in caption)

Students--Tacoma; Bands--Tacoma--1940-1950; Brass instruments; Musicians--Tacoma; Universities & colleges--Tacoma; College of Puget Sound (Tacoma)--1940-1950;

Steel Container Corporation of Tacoma was situated in the Tideflats at 1424 Thorne Rd. near Allied Chemicals and Dye Corporation and Woodlam, Inc. Headed by Arne K. Strom, the company were barrel manufacturers. Steel Container's drums were shipped to major oil, chemical, food and paint industries in the Pacific Northwest. The company managed to keep their prices unchanged despite several steel price increases. They shipped orders the same day they were received. Thomas Tinsley, Jr., was the plant manager. View of Steel Container's exteriors taken from the northeast side shows a rectangular concrete building with overhanging roof and barrels lined up on display. Richard Studio's photographs were to be used on a television program called "Success Story" to be broadcast on July 1, 1958. Sepia photograph ordered by Steel Container Corporation of Tacoma. (TNT 9-1-58, C-11)

Steel Container Corporation of Tacoma (Tacoma); Barrels--Tacoma;

Absher Construction Co. of Puyallup were the general contractors for the new Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Switching Center in Lakewood. In a July 2, 1958, photograph taken from the southeast corner, three men are examining the reinforced steel in the footings prior to the cement pouring. The new telephone center would be close to Gravelly Lake Drive and would serve an additional 2000 telephone numbers in the Lakewood area immediately with the capacity of 15,000 numbers in the future. The $700,000 project would consist of a complete new dial switching center made of reinforced steel and brick veneer measuring 69 x 99 feet. Photograph ordered by Absher Construction Co. (TNT 6-3-58, p. 10)

Building construction--Lakewood--1950-1960; Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Co. (Lakewood);

The Oakland Building was constructed in 1926 by J. M. Janssen in the Oakland district.The Oakland section was roughly defined as being along Center St. between Cedar & Fircrest. The area was very populous but had no business core. This building would become the nucleus of the new business section. The Oakland building cost $55,000 to construct and consisted of seven merchant shops on the first floor and 10 apartments on the second floor. The apartments would be ready for occupancy on May 10, 1926. The merchant spaces were leased to Oakland Drugs, Oakland Meat Market, Oakland Barber Shop, Oakland Cash Grocery and Olympic Ice Cream, among others. The address originally used was 3202-04 So. Durango St. (TNT 3/17/1926, pg. 28- early picture, TDL 5/2/1926, pg. E-10) (filed with Argentum)

Oakland Building (Tacoma); Oakland Drugs (Tacoma); Oakland Meat Market (Tacoma);

These men in Woodlam, Inc.'s glue room seem to be applying varnish or sealant to the large sections of curved plywood. The man in the foreground is using his roller to smooth liquid onto the wood. These long curved pieces may have been used in roofs as trusses. Woodlam was a laminated wood products company situated in the Tideflats at 1476 Thorne Rd. This was one of a series of photographs taken for later use in brochures. Photograph ordered by Woodlam, Inc.

Woodlam, Inc. (Tacoma); Laminated wood; Building materials;