Western circus acts. Three people demonstrate individual Western circus skills in an August 30, 1954, studio photograph. A trick rope artist seems to suspend her rope in the air around her body while a man in cowboy hat and boots lashes his whip across the neck of a startled clown.

Clowns; Entertainers--Tacoma; Ropes; Costumes--Western;

Stadium High School majorettes demonstrate a routine in a studio portrait taken on September 10, 1954. All three girls have batons and plumed hats; they are dressed in short-sleeved sequined outfits with bare midriffs. From left to right are Gretchen Tegen, Jan Hauge (head majorette) and Janet Bonawits. They, along with Lincoln High School majorettes, would be performing as pre-game and intermission entertainment at the 12th annual Grid-Go-Round at Lincoln Bowl . Photograph ordered by Jan Hauge. (TNT 9-16-54, B-5)

Drum majorettes--Tacoma; Teenagers--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tegen, Gretchen; Hauge, Jan; Bonawits, Janet;

Display window merchandise. The display window of Washington Hardware's Sports Shop is full of samples of school hats and pins just prior to school beginning in late summer, 1954. Students had the option of placing their school's name on hats and beanies or on pennants. Pins could be purchased in school colors and initials and sports letters and emblems for lettermen's jackets could be bought as well.

Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1950-1960; Hats--1950-1960; Signs (Notices); Washington Hardware Co. (Tacoma);

By the mid-1950's more and more people were becoming accustomed to "do-it-yourselfing" and the Douglas Fir Plywood Association encouraged them to use plywood for their building projects. Stores were devoting space to handyman supplies; pictured in July, 1954, is an unidentified model with displays of new Douglas Fir Plywood Handy Panels. These panels, at 2 ft. by 4 ft., were smaller then full size plywood sheets. They were easy to handle, select and use. They were clearly marked for size, grade and price. Plans were available to build your own storage units or versatile chests and often the work could be completed within a weekend. Stores were eager to help the customer who wanted to save money by doing the work himself. Photograph ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association. (Handy Panels ad, Popular Science, December 1952, p. 248)

Plywood; Merchandise displays--1950-1960; Signs (Notices); Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma); Do-it-yourself work--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Over forty members of Stadium High School's Class of '46 enjoyed a reunion luncheon at the Top of the Ocean on September 2, 1954. This was the third gathering of former classmates since graduation. Plans for a family picnic and a dinner dance were discussed for future reunions. (TNT 9-1-54, A-9)

Reunions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Public schools--Tacoma--1950-1960; Stadium High School (Tacoma);

Officers dance. Army officers at Fort Lewis and their wives enjoy square dancing in a July 28, 1954, photograph. Dressed in western garb, Lt. and Mrs. Bud Shell pass first under a human "bridge" made by LTC and Mrs. Walter Kinney. Lt. Dale Hoagland and his wife await their turn. Sixty military officers and their wives meet every Wednesday to square dance; time is also allotted to teach newcomers the steps. Square dancing was very popular in the 1950's and many dances were held with it as a theme. (TNT 8-1-54, p. D-7)

Square dancing--Fort Lewis; Dance--Fort Lewis; Dancers--Fort Lewis; Shell, Bud; Kinney, Walter; Hoagland, Dale; Military spouses--Fort Lewis; Military personnel--Fort Lewis;

A lit cigarette casually in hand, Earl Watkins posed for this sepia studio portrait on August 3, 1954. Dressed in military apparel, the young serviceman looked off to the side with a slight smile. He was well-groomed with a short haircut and well-trimmed mustache.

Watkins, Earl; Military personnel--Tacoma--1950-1960;

A young couple work together in constructing what appear to be wood cabinets in a July 16, 1954, photograph. The woman continues to apply wood tape to the edges of the cabinet while the man holds additional strips ready to be cut. This may be an example of easy-to-do woodworking where it was not necessary to be a professional in order to build useful household items. Photograph ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association.

Woodworking; Scissors & shears; Equipment; Saws; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma);

Exterior brewery. The Heidelberg Brewing Co. occupied most of the 2100 block of South C Street in the 1950's, with only the J.E. Bunker Co., dealers in bicycles, between its buildings. A sign on the receiving department's exterior indicates that a three-story cellar building was under construction; Heidelberg continued to grow along with Tacoma, expanding and rebuilding, tripling in size in seven years. It would also install in the summer of 1954 a second brewing line which doubled brewhouse capacity. The company, which had purchased Columbia Breweries in 1949, finally changed its name to Heidelberg in 1953. It was later purchased by Carling Brewery in 1959 and closed its doors twenty years later. The above photograph was taken on August 26, 1954. (TNT 9-16-54, C-16)

Brewing industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Heidelberg Brewing Co. (Tacoma); Signs (Notices);

Hidden spotlights give the wooden Nativity scene a warm glow as this night exposure taken on September 19, 1954, shows. Lights also illuminate the church behind the creche; it is believed to be the Little Church on the Prairie in Lakewood. The Nativity figures are painted in muted tones as they all acknowledge the birth of baby Jesus. Hay is spread on the church lawn to give the scene an additional authenticity. Photograph ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association.

Creches (Nativity scenes)--Lakewood; Churches--Lakewood--1950-1960; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma);

On August 22, 1954, the Dravis Engineering & Marine Works company was located in two buildings on Dock Street, 1107 Dock St., almost underneath the 11th Street (now the Murray Morgan) Bridge over the City Waterway. Owned and operated by Frederick Dravis, they handled marine and general machine design, construction and repair. Established in 1912, they were formerly known as Hicks-Bull Machine Co., Inc. The State of Washington had licensed them as mechanical engineers but they were also machinists and surveyors.

Dravis Engineering & Machine Works (Tacoma); Machinery industry--Tacoma;

Interior Dravis Engineering. A man stands alone before a large piece of machinery in the Dravis Engineering & Machine Works shop on August 22, 1954. This could possibly be the owner of the business, Frederick Dravis. The large shop is crammed full of machinery; Dravis Engineering was a licensed mechanical engineering concern who dealt in marine and general machine design, construction and repair. They were a long-time Tacoma business, formerly known as the Hicks-Bull Machine Co., Inc., and had been located on Dock Street since 1912. They may have moved into their present address in 1920.

Dravis Engineering & Machine Works (Tacoma); Machinery industry--Tacoma; Equipment;

Drapery department- Schoenfeld's. Schoenfeld's carried a wide variety of draperies for the discerning homeowner. It was customary for homes to have window coverings, especially drapes, and Schoenfeld's made sure they had plenty to offer inquiring customers. They believed that "Windows are living pictures and deserve frames of beauty" as indicated by the wall motto. Schoenfeld's added a free instruction and workroom for the convenience of their customers in their new four-story addition adjacent to the original twelve story building. Schoenfeld's skyscraper was a landmark in downtown Tacoma for many years until the store's closing in 1996. (TNT 9-12-54, B-9)

L. Schoenfeld & Sons (Tacoma); Home furnishings stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Draperies;

Exterior-Schoenfeld's. The massive lettering on the Schoenfeld's exterior was visible from miles away. It drew customers from all over the region to shop at the store's spacious facilities. Schoenfeld's was located in the Sandberg Building at 1423 Pacific Avenue; designed by Western Engineering Co. and built by Peter Sandberg in 1907, the building was listed on the City Registry. Later in September, 1954, Schoenfeld's was to announce the grand opening of their Evergreen Auditorium on the fifth floor. It was to prove to be very popular as it was free to civic organizations. The auditorium would seat 200 people and had a complete kitchenette, tables, and powder room. (TNT 9-12-54, B-2)

L. Schoenfeld & Sons (Tacoma); Home furnishings stores--Tacoma; Furniture stores--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Furniture department- Schoenfeld's. Schoenfeld's was a downtown fixture for ninety four years. L. Schoenfeld & Sons first opened up a store on S. 11th St. in 1902 before moving to the Sandberg Bldg. at 1423 Pacific Avenue in 1924. It occupied a 12-story skyscraper, the oldest reinforced concrete skyscraper on the West Coast. It seemed as if a customer could find anything in the home furnishings field at Schoenfeld's--sofas, chairs, appliances, draperies and televisions. View of sofas, dinettes, chairs and coffee tables; sofa in the foreground has a label stating that "the famous Kroehler" was ready for customers to sample and order. Kroehler four-piece ensembles were on sale for $177 during Schoenfeld's grand opening sale September 13-18, 1954, to celebrate the four story addition adjacent to the original twelve story building. Nearly all of the departments had been remodeled. Schoenfeld's finally closed its doors on November 25, 1996, and its enormous store lettering was eventually erased. (TNT 9-12-54, B-6)

L. Schoenfeld & Sons (Tacoma); Home furnishings stores--Tacoma; Furniture stores--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Saturday August 21, 1954 marked the grand opening of the Narrows Drive-In at 6602 Sixth Avenue. Under the co-ownership and management of Norris Telling and James Slopak, it employed the latest in modern fixtures and equipment to provide speedy service with less effort. The menu included complete dinners, short orders and fountain service. Open from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m Sunday through Thursday, and 11 to 3 on Friday and Saturday, they offered curb service at all hours to those who wanted to stay in their car.

Narrows Drive-In (Tacoma); Drive-in restaurants--Tacoma; Electric signs--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Workers are pictured in this July 28, 1954, photograph installing a new radiant heat system at the Buckley Custodial School (Rainier School). The state school had been rapidly expanding with high enrollments; new construction had to keep pace. Photograph ordered by A.M. Byers Co. TPL-8259

Radiators; Equipment; Western State Custodial School (Buckley);

An employee of the West Tacoma Newsprint carefully monitors rows of gauges in August, 1954. West Tacoma Newsprint, paper manufacturers, was located in Steilacoom. There had been several paper mills at that location in Steilacoom, starting with Cascade Paper Co. in 1918. Stockholders approved a merger with Boise Cascade Corporation in late 1969.

Weights & measures--Steilacoom; Scientific equipment; West Tacoma Newsprint (Steilacoom);

ca. 1890. Copy of customer print. A woman, elegantly dressed in a long sleeved black blouse and long black skirt, has one hand on an ornate wooden chair. She wears a watch tucked in the waistband of her skirt; it is attached to a long gold chain. Her lighter colored hair is rolled and probably fastened in the back. This undated sepia photograph was copied for Lindstrom's Home Furnishings on August 11, 1954; the original was possibly taken in the 1890's.

Portraits; Women--Clothing & dress; Chairs; Lindstrom's Home Furnishings (Tacoma);

Copy of customer's print. The Port of Tacoma Industrial area is seen in an aerial view in a photograph copied for Howard R. Smith. Mr. Smith, a well-known Tacoma businessman, had been president of the Tacoma Athletic Commission and involved in advertising for many years. The photograph was copied on August 27, 1954; actual date of print is unknown. Log dumps for various lumber concerns are clearly visible to the picture's right.

Aerial photographs; Port of Tacoma (Tacoma);

Exterior Browns Point Elementary School. Browns Point School was opened in a portable in 1918 with one teacher, Martha Floberg, teaching grades one through eight. Visitors were advised to take the steamer Veronica at the Municipal Dock in order to get to the school. After much controversy, the school was closed in 1938, with Browns Point residents holding a solemn funeral service in its honor. A brand new school was built in 1952 at 1502 51st St. N.E. with Sylvan Kramer as the principal for both Browns Point and Meeker Junior High. There were now seven teachers, including kindergarten. View of brick Browns Point School was taken on October 24, 1954 as requested by Ostruske-Murphy, Inc., who were contractors for the new school. (Olsen: For the Record, p. 113)

Browns Point School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1950-1960; Ostruske-Murphy, Inc. (Tacoma);

Workers are in the process of pouring concrete forms in a series of progress photographs taken on October 1, 1954. Men with shovels are busy spreading the concrete over the plywood while others carefully supervise the pouring. Photograph ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association.

Building construction; Concrete; Plywood; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma);

Lumberman Ben Cheney (right) poses with Joe Budnick, manager of the Seattle Cheney Studs team on October 10, 1954. There is an impressive array of trophies on display won by the Cheney Studs. Mr. Cheney was a philantrophist who loved sports. His generosity enabled thousands of local residents, most of all children, to participate in a variety of sporting activities, including baseball. The Seattle Cheney Studs team was composed primarily of current and recent high school baseball stars from the Puget Sound region. Photograph ordered by Cheney Lumber Co. (additional identification by a reader)

Cheney, Ben B., 1905-1971; Budnick, Joe; Baseball--Tacoma--1950-1960; Baseball players--Tacoma--1950-1960; Awards;

This October 11, 1954, picture continues a series of progress photographs regarding construction of a giant Santa Claus decorative cutout. The man has gotten to the point where he has started to cut out the figure's various sections and is now gazing at the supporting plank which will be holding Santa upright. A pamplet with the kit's instructions remains on the plywood near the hammer. Photograph ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association.

Christmas decorations; Plywood; Handicraft; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma);

A very jolly giant Santa is being firmly planted in the front lawn of his creator's home. This man has successfully followed the do-it-yourself instructions on the wooden Santa kit, painted the various pieces, and nailed them together to create a lasting Christmas decoration. Do-it-yourself projects were becoming more and more popular as people began to realize that they were capable of fine handicraft. Photograph ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association. (See A85729-24 for night exposure of this same Santa)

Christmas decorations; Plywood; Handicraft; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma);

Dravis Engineering Co. employees position themselves in a company-built lifeboat at the Hooker Electrochemical dock on September 23, 1954. The lifeboat on the SS Olympic Pioneer appears to still need completion before being readied for entry into the water. Evidentially, the boat, named "Seattle", was equipped to hold 35 persons in case of emergency. Dravis Engineering was a long-time Dock Street occupant; they were mechanical engineers who handled marine and general machine design, construction and repair.

Dravis Engineering & Machine Works (Tacoma); Lifeboats--Tacoma;

A group of nine well-dressed men look intently into the camera on October 15, 1954. They apparently are working on and will be discussing items listed on the various sheets of typed paper scattered around the desk. Attorney Neil Hoff is believed to be seated to the extreme right hand side of the photograph with Ben Hanson believed to be seated next to him. Photograph ordered by Ben Hanson.

Group portraits; Men--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Loxide Structures furnished the building materials for John Lonergan's home in October, 1954. The home appears to be a one-story contemporary ranch style building with one-car garage and doorway leading to the backyard. Loxide Structures specialized in cedar homes and gathered its building materials from the local area. The front yard appears to be nicely landscaped with small shrubs and flowers planted along side the house. Photograph ordered by Loxide Structures.

Loxide Structures, Inc. (Tacoma); Houses--1950-1960; Lonergan, John--Homes & haunts;

Pencil behind his ear, a worker ponders the placement of a sheet of plywood on forms already in place. One large sheet is already been nailed on. The man needs to stand on a wooden plank to reach the forms as the building's foundation is already set and the ground excavated. Each plywood sheet is labeled "Plyscord" and stamped in numerous places informing buyers that this genuine fir plywood has undergone stringent testing for quality. Photograph ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association.

Plywood; Building construction; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma);

A young model enjoys an appetizing snack as she lounges on an extended sofa in a September 13, 1954, photograph. The plates of food are placed on a four legged TV table whose ends are tilted upward. The TV table, made out of wood, was built at the right height for someone sitting in front of it or for use as a miniature coffee table. Photograph ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association.

Plywood; Tables; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma);