Engine Build Up building at Fairchild Air Force Base, Spokane, Wa. Ordered by Smith & Murray, consulting engineers. A worker checks what appears to be electrical controls in the empty building. Steel rafters reach to the ceiling and the lighting is suspended and exposed.

Fairchild Air Force Base (Spokane); Air bases--Washington; Building construction--Spokane--1950-1960;

Kaiser Aluminum Chemical Plant at Trentwood, near Spokane. Photographed is what was, in 1953, the world's largest aluminum plate stretcher. The giant stretcher allowed the company to produce enormous sizes of stretched plate for the aircraft, and other, industries. The Trentwood plant, at 53 acres, was the largest facility of its kind in the west.

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

Group of 7 under A.F. of L. banner. Hodcarriers & building laborers.

Labor unions--Tacoma--1950-1960; American Federation of Labor (Tacoma); Group portraits--1950-1960; Building Laborers & Hod Carriers Union Local No. 252 (Tacoma);

Moose Lodge, 3 musicians. Ordered by Bill Miller

Loyal Order of Moose, Tacoma Lodge 435 (Tacoma); Musicians--Tacoma--1950-1960; Stringed instruments; Pianos;

Walter L. King (left), the owner of South Tacoma Radio and South Tacoma Record Bar, 5401-03 So. Puget Sound Ave., is preparing to load a new blonde Columbia console television into his delivery van in this photograph from July, 1953. The man at the right with papers in his hand is Mr. Ewing. The South Tacoma Radio store opened during the 1940s on So. Tacoma Way, but moved over to Puget Sound Ave. around 1951 where they stayed in business through the 1950s. Ordered by Fairchild Publications, New York, N.Y. TPL-8465

South Tacoma Radio & Record Bar (Tacoma); Appliance stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Sound recording stores--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Plywood barricade and superintendent's office at construction site for new United Pacific Insurance Co. addition, between Trovani's Junior Bootery and the Medical Arts Building (also owned by United Pacific Insurance.) The five story addition was scheduled to be built for $500,000. It would have a 90 foot frontage on St. Helens and be built of reinforced concrete and stone to match the existing Medical Arts building. Ordered by the DFPA. (TNT 7/5/1953, pg. C-12)

United Pacific Insurance Co. (Tacoma); Building construction--Tacoma--1950-1960; Progress photographs--1950-1960;

In 1953, Mrs. Claudia Alsup, of 321 E. 28th St., was crowned Queen of the Valeda Club's 3rd annual Queen Dance. Queen Claudia was voted from a field of ten contestants. Her husband, George Alsup, was manager of Your Friendly Pool Hall at 1552 Broadway. The Valeda Club name meant "wise woman" and the club, at 755 So. Tacoma Ave., was a women's social and insurance lodge. Mrs. Ora Sims was president, Mrs. Josie Robinson vice president, Mrs. Mildred Randle secretary, Mrs. Margaret Howard recording secretary and Mrs. Alvata Stephens treasurer. Members included Mrs. Dorothy Thomas, Mrs. Albert Comb, Louise Turner, Bernice Atkins and Eddie Bennett. (TNT 7/15/1953, Pg. C-12 & TNT 7/21/1953, Pg. 8)) TPL-8583

Valeda Club (Tacoma); Clubwomen--Tacoma--1950-1960; African American women--Tacoma--1950-1960; Evening gowns--Tacoma--1950-1960; Alsup, Claudia;

Competitors in the 24th annual Northwest Left Handers Golf Association Tournament at the Fircrest Golf Club. Jack J. Walters, 1953 national Champion left handed golfer, is at the center of the back row with the large smile. He regained his Northwest title in 1953 by finishing three strokes ahead of Art Scarpello of Seattle, seated 2nd from left. Scarpello was the 1952 winner. (TNT 8/1/1953, pg. 9 - see newspaper for all names)

Walters, Jack J.; Golfers--Tacoma--1950-1960; Scarpello, Art;

St. Paul and Tacoma Lumber Company milled lumber used by 20th Century Construction Company in building DeLong School. Worker placing lumber on top of wood beams. Early construction phase.

Drying sheds, Port Piers. Ordered by Smith & Murray, consulting engineers. William D. Smith and Clyde E. Murray were construction engineers and maintained an office at the Perkins Bldg. Ste 238.

Smith & Murray (Tacoma); Building construction--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Exterior of South Tacoma Radio & Record Bar, with their new delivery truck. Walter L. King, owner. Business changed forever for radio stores with the explosion of television in the fifties. Every home needed one and many radio stores, such as this one, converted to TV sales and repairs.

South Tacoma Radio & Record Bar (Tacoma); Sound recording stores--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Twenty logging trucks, photograph ordered by International Harvester. The trucks are fueled by propane and owned by Cotten Brothers in Spanaway, Washington. International Harvester sold and serviced large trucks. Here the trucks are posed in front of a large propane tank.

Trucks--Spanaway--1950-1960; Cotten Bros. (Spanaway); Lumber industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Ordered by International Harvester, a single logging truck. The truck is fueled by propane and owned by Cotten Brothers in Spanaway, Washington. The truck is posed in front of a large propane tank labelled "Propane, the modern motor fuel." The back portion of the truck where the logs are usually loaded has been unhooked and now sits on the bed of the truck. International Harvester sold and serviced large commercial trucks.

Trucks--Spanaway--1950-1960; Cotten Bros. (Spanaway); Lumber industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Exteriors of United Mutual Savings Bank, 125 So. 11th, and Household Finance Corp., 117 So. 11th. United Mutual Savings advertised itself as Tacoma's only insured savings bank and HFC, as the name indicates, made loans. The building is classical in design, with its symmetrical facade and carved columns.

United Mutual Savings Bank (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Household Finance Corp. (Tacoma);

ca. 1953. Caricature of Jack J. Walters, 1953 National Champion left handed golfer. Jack proved the adage "try, try again" and succeeded in winning the title on his seventh try. He had competed as a southpaw since the age of 16. His first try at the national title was in 1937, and he lost in the finals in 1950. During the 1940s, he took time out to serve his country as an infantry sergeant in the Philippines campaign. He was known for his long and powerful drives, but had trouble sometimes with his putt. (TNT 7/17/1953)

Walters, Jack J.; Golfers--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Aerial of downtown Tacoma looking west from the intersection of Eleventh and A streets.

Aerial photographs--1950-1960; Business districts--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Hooker Electrochemical Company. Railroad barge and tug. Barge owned by Griffco loaded with Hooker chemical tanks. Tug "Mogul" out of Vancouver, B.C. in foreground. Railroad yard, shacks, waterway, roads, and bridges appear in background.

Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Hooker Electrochemical Co. (Tacoma); Barges; Shipping--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Concrete Forms Inc.: progress on the "Sand Bunker," the exterior retaining wall at Glacier Sand & Gravel Co.'s Steilacoom plant. Ordered by Symons Clamp and Mfg. Co. of Chicago, Illinois. The 40 foot high "S" shaped retaining walls were designed to hold raw materials. One wall was 190 feet long, the other 400 feet long with the wall's curves shaped to a radius of 15 1/2 feet. Regular forms would not work for this unusual design, so Concrete Forms Inc. designed these two foot wide prefabricated plywood panels to be used as forms.Two hundred, twenty five tons of steel from Bethlehem's Seattle plant were then used for reinforcing before the poring of the concrete. The steel had to be bent to fit the unique curvature of the forms. (TNT 10/25/1953, pg. C-13)

Construction--1950-1960; Glacier Sand & Gravel Co. (Steilacoom); Progress photographs;

Progress photographs of DeLong School, for the DFPA. The school was one story of wooden frame construction with a brick veneer facing. It was built to accomodate 280 students and was needed to relieve overcrowding. The school would serve the area north and east of Fircrest. The school was projected to open in February of 1954. The transfer of students to DeLong was protested by parents in two key areas bordered by 6th Ave., So. 9th, So. Proctor and So. Monroe, and 6th Ave., So 8th, So. Monroe and So. Mason. These children would be walking almost twice as far to get to DeLong as to their current school through rough terrain. No school busses were scheduled on this route. (TNT 8/9/1953, pg. C-12)

DeLong Elementary School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1950-1960; Building construction--Tacoma--1950-1960; Progress photographs--1950-1960;

Members of Tacoma Lodge 435, Loyal Order of Moose ride on a float entered in Tacoma's parade to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Washington Territory. The Tacoma Moose lodge was chartered in 1911 with the initiation of 800 members. In 1917, the group moved to new quarters at 737 Commerce Street to accommodate their growing membership. With a focus on youth, the organization, in 1953, supports Mooseheart, Illinois, the world-famous child city of the Loyal Order of Moose whose principal citizens are children ranging from babies through high school age.

Fraternal organizations; Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Anniversaries--Washington Territory; Loyal Order of Moose, Tacoma Lodge 435 (Tacoma); Centennial celebrations--Tacoma;

Entrance to the new housing addition "Fairway at Lakewood" and exteriors of new ranch style homes as pictured on September 22, 1953. This is the east entrance to Fairway, taken from the grounds of the new Custer School on Steilacoom Blvd., west of the north end of Steilacoom Lake. Children sit atop the brick markers to the entrance of the addition. This was a favorite waiting spot to cross Steilacoom Blvd. The new homes were being sold by H.A. Briggs Co. They were built on the site of the old airport. The planned community had curved asphalt streets with curbs, wide lawns and different rambler designs of brick, concrete block or frame. The 3 bedroom and 1-2 bath homes sold for $10,500 to $13,800. (TNT 9/27/1953, pg. E-4 & E-5) TPL-10462

Houses--Lakewood--1950-1960; Housing developments--Lakewood--1950-1960; Residential streets--Lakewood--1950-1960;

Last minute preparations are being made by contractors for the imminent 1953 Parade of Homes. Sixteen new homes, designed by 15 different design firms, would be open for viewing on Skyline Dr. between No. 13th & 17th. The Parade of Homes would run from 9/24 - 10/4, with homes open Sat. & Sun. from 1-10pm and 6-10pm Mon. - Fri. The Parade was sponsored by the Tacoma Master Builders Association in conjunction with National Home Week. Altogether 60 homes would be available for viewing in the Pierce County area. (TNT 9/27/1953, pg. E-2)

Houses--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma Master Builders Association (Tacoma);

In September of 1953, Tacoma's board of business representatives for AFL unions was photographed in front of the doors of the Labor Temple, 1355 Market Street. The labor group, which met every Wednesday for a luncheon gathering, was one of the only organizations of its kind for exchanging information and the promotion of common interests of union workers. The man seated in the front row, third from the left, is Harry S. McIlvaigh, the long time secretary-treasurer of the Tacoma Labor Council for whom McIlvaigh Middle School is named. (T.N.T. 9/4/1953, p. C5- see picture for names & C-3)

Labor unions--Tacoma; Group portraits; Labor Temple (Tacoma);

Northwest Territory Centennial Parade. Float with covered wagon carrying State Centennial Queen Jackie. The float reads "They had faith and stout hearts" and represents the pioneering spirit of 1853. This was the most elaborate float in the parade. The covered wagon is being "driven" by State Centennial Queen Jackie Atkins of Port Orchard.

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Centennial celebrations--Tacoma; Atkins, Jackie;

Some very creative parents built the rocket ship "Space Raider" out of plywood in September of 1953 so that their imaginative youngsters could travel to our planet and demand that Earthlings "Take them to their leader." With the dawning of the 1950's, Americans began spotting UFOs in the night sky by the hundreds and Tacoma was no exception. Alien invaders became a favorite childhood game, spurred on by the release of films from Hollywood and science fiction magazines. By 1957, America's obsession with space travel would be further fueled by the intense competition with the Soviets for supremacy in the space race. Photograph ordered by the DFPA. (photographs also numbered D77001)

Plywood; Boys--Tacoma--1950-1960; Children's playhouses--Tacoma--1950-1960; Children playing--Tacoma--1950-1960; Toy guns; Helmets;

Tacoma Police Department graveyard shift on the Spanish Steps at the Elks lodge. Police officers display beards and mustaches in keeping with the request for Tacoma men not to shave during the month of August. The city sponsored a beard contest as a part of the ceremonies celebrating the Northwest Territory Centennial. TPL-8748

Police--Tacoma--1950-1960;

View of Sylvan Park neighborhood. A paved roadway wanders through the new Sylvan Park housing subdivision, near Lakewood, in March, 1953. Homes appear to be one-story contemporary ramblers, many of them brick, with attached garages. Home Construction Co., owned by C. E. Hinton and J. M. Hoskins, built many of the homes in the area. Photograph ordered by Mark Hoskins.

Houses--Lakewood--1950-1960; Home Construction Co. (Lakewood);

ca. 1953. Built in 1907 by contractor Joseph Wells, and designed by architects Bullard and Hill, the Hunt & Mottet Co. building was located on the 2000th block of Pacific Avenue. The building was eight stories high; the company's name was in enormous letters along both the side and front of the building. Hunt & Mottet were wholesale hardware and sporting goods dealers. According to the 1953 City Directory, A.H. Heath was listed as president/treasurer with J.C. Richards as vice president and W.F. Rieflin, secretary. TPL-8790

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

Customer's copy of architectural drawing was made in March, 1953. United Pacific Insurance Company's new home office was constructed in 1954 and opened in January, 1955. Architectural drawing shown here was made by John Graham and Company, a Seattle firm. The five-story addition was estimated to cost $500,000. The insurance company would use the first three floors and basement and rent out the top two floors. Special glass would be utilized to reduce the sun's rays. The old Allyn Hotel and a building at 722 St. Helens would be demolished to make room for the new building. (TNT 4-5-53, C-14)

Architectural drawings; United Pacific Insurance Co. (Tacoma); John Graham & Co. (Seattle);

A copy of a customer's print was made in March, 1953, showing two budget cards from Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan Association. Pacific First Federal, headquartered in Tacoma and with four other locations in the Pacific Northwest, apparently had these family budget guides available for customers to better plan their living expenses and practice good money management. Because there was a movable scale on the budget card, it could be used by numerous individuals. Photograph ordered by Condon Co.

Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan Association (Tacoma); Business & finance--Tacoma; Paying bills;