ca. 1959. Aerial of Tacoma, circa 1959. The lower portion of the picture shows the landscape covered with a residential blanket of single family homes. The high rise buildings of downtown can be seen left center of the picture with the Tideflats lying beyond. The snow capped peak of Mt. Rainier can be seen looming over the city, rising from a haze.

Aerial photographs; Rainier, Mount (Wash.); Neighborhoods--Tacoma--1950-1960;

ca. 1959. Aerial of Tacoma, circa 1959. The gothic spires of Stadium High School can be seen about mid picture next to the City (Foss) Waterway. The Eleventh Street Bridge can be seen crossing the waterway next to downtown. To the lower left hand portion of the picture is the area where Schuster Parkway and Tacoma's waterfront will be constructed, it is during the fifties an area of graineries and mills. TPL-8689

Aerial photographs--1950-1960; City Waterway (Tacoma); Rainier, Mount (Wash.);

ca. 1959. Aerial of Tacoma, circa 1959. Tacoma's downtown can be seen clearly in the center of the picture. The heavily forested area is Wright Park. The Eleventh Street Bridge crosses over the City (Foss) Waterway leading to the industrial development of the Tideflats. High above the city is the visage of Tacoma's most famous landmark, the white capped peaks of Mt. Rainier. A heavy haze lies over the city, either a weather condition or a visible reminder of the "aroma of Tacoma" air pollution. TPL-9299

Aerial photographs--1950-1960; Cityscapes--1950-1960; Wright Park (Tacoma); Rainier, Mount (Wash.);

ca. 1959. Aerial of Tacoma, looking across downtown to the Tideflats, circa 1959. The City Waterway (now Foss) bisects the picture, crossed by its three bridges. A haze rises from the heavily industrial Tideflats.

Aerial photographs--1950-1960; Cityscapes--1950-1960; City Waterway (Tacoma);

ca. 1959. Circa 1959 aerial of downtown Tacoma. In the upper left center of the picture is the recently completed County-City building at 930 Tacoma Avenue South. To its left is the new (1952) Tacoma Public Library and the adjacent Carnegie library. To the rear of the County-City building, the old Pierce County Courthouse is partially demolished. Behind the County Courthouse is the Armory, which still stands today. To its left is the Tacoma Vocational School (now Bates.)

Aerial photographs--1950-1960; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1950-1960; County-City Building (Tacoma); Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma); State Armory (Tacoma); Pierce County Courthouse (Tacoma);

ca. 1959. The St. Regis Paper Co. kraft pulp and paper mill and multiwall bag plant at Tacoma, Washington. The plant was a major producing unit serving the western states. Late in 1959, construction was started to expand the pulp mill and install a second machine which would produce kraft paper and board, more than doubling the output of the mill. The new kraft paper and paper board machine was 130 feet wide and 630 feet long. It would require 150 additional employees at a payroll of 3/4 million dollars. Additions were being made to the steam and recovery plants, pulp mill (left) and to the paper mill (right.) (St. Regis Paper Co. Annual Report- 1959; TNT 11/5/1959, pg. 1)

Paper industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Mills--Tacoma; Logs; St. Regis Paper Co. (Tacoma)--1950-1960;

ca. 1959. Aerial of Hunt Junior High School, opened in 1958 to serve the growing communities of Fircrest and West Tacoma. When completed, the school designed by architect Robert Billsbrough Price was hailed as one of the most imaginative new schools in the country, and one of the least expensive per square foot. The reduced cost was due to the use of wood in construction, as opposed to concrete. The school's most distinctive feature was its mushroom shaped cafeteria/auditorium, growing from the landscape like something from P.T. Barnum. Hunt opened in 1958 with 27 teachers and 700 students under the guidance of Principal Trygve Blix. It was named after Henry F. Hunt, a Tacoma educator for 34 years who died in 1937. The school was expanded in 1964, 1974 and 1980. ("For the Record" by Winnifred L. Olsen) TPL-10159

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

Portrait of Tacoma Narrows Bridge, Richards Studio 1959 stock file. This bridge was dedicated in 1950 and replaced the infamous "Galloping Gertie" which fell apart in November of 1940 due to high winds and poor design. A beautifully designed suspension bridge, it has become a symbol for the area surrounding Tacoma. TPL-8222

Tacoma Narrows Bridge (Tacoma); Bridges--Tacoma--1950-1960; Suspension bridges--Tacoma;

ca. 1959. Imposing entrance of the new County-City building, an soaring glass and aluminum structure designed by A. Gordon Lumm. Lumm was the controversial selection of the County Commissioners as architect. His selection raised the ire of the local architects as he was the only one who did not participate in the free preliminary work performed by the architects' society. Bids for the construction of the original design came in 3 1/2 million higher than available funds. Voters approved an additional $3,700,00 in a bond issue to make up the difference. The building was finally constructed according to the original design and dedicated on April 10, 1959. (TNT 4/7/1959, pg. B1+)

County-City Building (Tacoma);

ca. 1959. The gothic spires of the old Pierce County Courthouse overlook the new glass and aluminum County-City building in this photograph from April or May of 1959. The old Courthouse was scheduled to be demolished as soon as all offices were relocated to the the new building. Of special interest was the movement of thousands of paper records, required by law for the county to store. Four trucking firms were hired to move 5,000 beer cartons of public records to the new building. Approximately 9 additional truck loads of records that were over 10 years old were ordered destroyed. Demolition of the Old Courthouse began in June, 1959. It was replaced with a parking lot.

County-City Building (Tacoma); Pierce County Courthouse (Tacoma); Courthouses--Tacoma;

ca. 1959. The new County-City building from the intersection of 9th and Tacoma Ave. So. In April of 1959, Macdonald Building Co. had finally finished construction on the building that almost did not get built. In November of 1952, after a previous bond issue defeat, voters approved 6 million dollars to finance a joint county and city building. Over 20 sites were proposed, each with its own adamant supporters. The County Commissioners overrode all, including their own advisory committee that recommended the area bounded by So. 13th, 15th, Market and Tacoma Ave, to choose its present site. A Gordon Lumm was the controversial selection as architect. In midstream, 1953, Tacoma changed its form of government and the new council wanted the city to have its own wing, a demand that Lumm could not accomodate. In 1956, things went from bad to worse, as construction bids came in at 3 1/2 million over available funds. Voters voted in another bond issue to cover the shortfall. The council agreed on a lease agreement, after stormy negotiations, whereby the city would pay the county $80,000 a year for 20 years. The building was finally completed and dedicated on April 10, 1959, after much political blood letting. (TNT 4/7/1959, pg B1+) TPL-8169

County-City Building (Tacoma); Courthouses--Tacoma;

Interior and exterior shots of the new County-City building; jail cells in the new law enforcement wing. The combined facility for the county sheriff and the Tacoma police departments was jokingly referred to as the "joint joint." The jail was designed for maximum security and to be a more comfortable and spacious environment for the city, county and federal prisoners. It had air conditioning, a chapel, infirmary, delousing room and even a fenced rooftop exercise area called the "patio." The city jail was located on the third floor and the county jail on the fourth floor of the north wing. Jointly there were 8-9 tanks capable of holding 10-50 prisoners each. The city and county jails each had space for 140 prisoners. The day cells were equipped with showers, but the shower booths had no controls. A jailer yards away controlled both the temperature and the volume of the spray. (TNT 4/7/1959, pg. B-10)

County-City Building (Tacoma); Courthouses--Tacoma; Jails--Tacoma;

In October of 1941, the Puget Sound Plywood Inc. plant on the Tideflats was in the early stages of construction. This photograph shows the huge "Bowstring ring connected wood trusses" that will support the roof. The trusses were manufactured by Timber Structures Inc. of Portland. They were supplied to the plant by Northwest Bolt & Nut Co. of Seattle. The new plywood plant was a cooperative, the first in Tacoma. (TNT 7/1/1942, pg. 15)

Progress photographs; Building construction--Tacoma--1940-1950; Puget Sound Plywood, Inc. (Tacoma); Plywood; Cooperatives--Tacoma;

In 1956, the Greyhound Co. purchased the Federal Block between South 13th and So. 14th on Pacific Avenue, for their new terminal. The new building was dedicated on April 5th of 1959 and hailed as the largest and most modern terminal in the west. Designed by Decker, Christenson & Kitchin of Seattle, it was built of cast granite and masonry with ceramic veneer facing and took over a year to build. The two story building was 200 ft long and 60 ft wide and built for one million dollars. It had a reinforced concrete basement parking lot with parking for 140 cars and a street level parking lot for 30. The separate "package express" entrance was on 14th St. The "ultra-modern" building was declared an eyesore and demolished in December of 2000. (TNT 4/3/1959, pg. 7+) TPL-6390

Greyhound Lines (Tacoma); Bus terminals--Tacoma; Greyhound Bus Terminal (Tacoma);

The rear of the new Greyhound Bus Terminal. Buses pull out from the loading area. The terminal had nine loading stalls under a canopy, protecting travelers from the Northwest inclement weather. The terminal had 82 buses departing daily. In addition to Greyhound, they handled the Nisqually Valley Line, Bremerton-Tacoma Stages and Harbor Lines. The buses would enter from 13th St. and depart by 14th St. TPL-9355

Greyhound Lines (Tacoma); Bus terminals--Tacoma; Greyhound Bus Terminal (Tacoma); Buses--Tacoma--1940-1950;

The empty waiting room of the new Greyhound Bus Terminal. It would have its Grand Opening in April of 1959. The air conditioned room measured 40 ft x 80 ft. Rows of oak benches await the travelers, with individually divided seating spaces for comfort. The ticket and baggage counter, plus phone booths, are located on the right of the building. The hallway at the back right leads the restaurant. At the back of the picture on the left hand side is a "photo booth" where travelers could deposit their money and take tearful farewell pictures behind the curtain. The building had terrazzo flooring and tile throughout and fluorescent lighting. 116 public storage lockers are located out of picture range. One corner was taken up by the fully stocked gift shop. The terminal would be open around the clock on all days and take a staff of 17 to operate and maintain. It replaced the old depot at 14th & Pacific, in use since 1929. (TNT 4/3/1959, pg 7+)

Greyhound Lines (Tacoma); Bus terminals--Tacoma; Greyhound Bus Terminal (Tacoma);

The departure area of the new Greyhound Bus Terminal. The signs indicate which buses will be departing for Olympia, Portland, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Seattle. The terminal had nine loading stalls under a canopy, designed to protect the traveler from inclement weather. 82 buses departed each day from the terminal. (TNT 4/3/1959, pg. 7+)

Greyhound Lines (Tacoma); Bus terminals--Tacoma; Greyhound Bus Terminal (Tacoma); Buses--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Post House Restaurant. Passengers at the new Greyhound Bus Terminal, 1319 Pacific Ave., could enjoy hearty meals and snacks served quickly and efficiently in the Post House Restaurant (later called the Coach House). With 82 available seats, there would be little or no waiting. Bright lighting, cheerful orange seating, and the crispy gray tones of walls and counters made dining a pleasant experience. Business people and other downtown workers had already discovered the Post House Restaurant served fine meals with little fuss. (TNT 4-4-59, p. 9)

Greyhound Lines (Tacoma); Bus terminals (Tacoma); Greyhound Bus Terminal (Tacoma);

The gift and paper stand for the new Greyhound Bus Terminal. Travelers could purchase men's and movie magazines from the back shelves. Spinner racks have comic and paperback books, as well as cards and postcards. Jewelry is displayed under glass around the cashier's stand. The stand was located in an attractive corner of the large waiting room, as a convenience to travellers. (TNT 4/3/1959, pg. 7+)

Greyhound Lines (Tacoma); Bus terminals--Tacoma; Greyhound Bus Terminal (Tacoma);

The kitchen of the new Greyhound Bus Terminal. The kitchen served the Terminal's Post House Restaurant, later named the Coach House. The restaurant served the hungry travelers passing through or waiting for departures. The Greyhound Restaurants were named after the coach Post Houses, where coach's horses would be changed and passengers would dine or rest before continuing on their journey. This restaurant could serve 82 people at a time, either meal or snack service, quickly at an affordable price. The dining room had 3 horseshoe counters and also tables and chairs. The kitchen was tiled and all stainless steel. (TNT 4/3/1959, pg. 7+)

Greyhound Lines (Tacoma); Bus terminals--Tacoma; Greyhound Bus Terminal (Tacoma); Kitchens--Tacoma--1950-1960;

The personnel at National Blower and Sheet Metal Co., 1129 St. Paul Ave. The company was founded in 1890. President and vice president of the company were Dayton and Maurice Finnigan. The company designed and built ventilation, dust collecting and blower systems. They also did general sheet metal work and metal roofing. The company did much of the metal work on the new County-City Building. They installed roofing, sheet metal, ornamental steel and stainless steel. They fabricated and installed over 200 miles of duct work. The employees pose in the yard of the plant. (TNT 4/7/1959, pg. C-11)

National Blower & Sheet Metal Co. (Tacoma)--Employees;

The chiropractic office of Dr. Alan A. Adams at 5220 Pacific Ave. This is most probably the examination room with padded tables for patients to lie on while being adjusted. Xrays of spines adorn the back wall, while the side wall has charts of the human body. Dr. Adams and his wife Mildred listed their home address in 1959 as 215 No. Tacoma Ave. #A.

Adams, Alan A.--Homes and haunts; Medical offices--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Studio set up of fireworks for Zebra Fireworks Co. The display includes sparklers, Black Cat firecrackers and aerial display models. Pat Moriarty, then 14 years old, began his fireworks business near the end of WWII by reselling fireworks confiscated from relocated Japanese Americans. In 1946, Pat along with his mother Elizabeth and brother Jim assembled fireworks in their home for sale. In 1947, their company, Zebra Fireworks, was formed. From these humble beginnings, the company grew to a multimillion dollar fireworks enterprise, renamed in 1973 Pyrodine Corporation. TPL-9384

Fireworks--1950-1960; Zebra Fireworks Co. (Tacoma); Firecrackers--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Railroad tank car being loaded at Hooker Chemicals. The sign cautions "Danger, Caustic." Hooker Electrochemical was a large producer of chlorine and caustic soda, supplying the Pacific Northwest's pulp and paper industry. According to the tank's markings, it hold 8031 gallons of caustic soda.

Hooker Electrochemical Co. (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Industrial facilities--Tacoma--1950-1960; Railroad tank cars--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Railroad tank car being loaded with caustic soda at Hooker Chemicals. Hooker Electrochemical was a large producer of chlorine and caustic soda, supplying the Pacific Northwest's pulp and paper industry.

Hooker Electrochemical Co. (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Industrial facilities--Tacoma--1950-1960; Railroad tank cars--Tacoma--1950-1960;

ca. 1926. View of a covered brick walkway at the First Presbyterian Church, ca. 1926. The Romanesque church was built from a design submitted by Ralph Adams Cram, founder of the architectural firm of Cram & Ferguson in Boston. The firm was the most famous designer of churches in the country. The church was designed around a courtyard with a pillared colonnade separating the portions of the church. The brick courtyard with its stone benches can be seen to the left of the walkway. (WSHS)

Presbyterian churches--Tacoma; First Presbyterian Church (Tacoma);

Carsten- Hygrade employees pose in the yard at the meat packing facility at 1623 East "J" St. According to Richards Studio notes, the picture is of 300-400 people. The locally owned Carstens Meat Packing got its start in Tacoma in 1903. In 1954, it was sold to the Hygrade Food Products Corporation. In 1990, the company made the decision to close its Tacoma plant.

Carstens Packing Co. (Tacoma); Meat industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Carstens-Hygrade (Tacoma)--Employees;

Publicity photo for Tacoma based rock band "The Wailers", showing the original lineup. L to R: Richard Dangel, Mike Burk, Mark Marush, Kent Morrill, John Greek. This photograph was taken right before the band hit the big time and went gold with their first single "Tall Cool One." At the time of this photograph, John Greek, 18, was the leader of the Wailers and a senior at Clover Park High School. Morrill, 18, was a Bellarmine senior and Marusch, 18, was a senior at Stadium HS. Dangel, 16, was a junior at Clover Park HS and Burk, 16, had recently attended Stadium and was now a student at the Tacoma Vocational School. The boys were finishing out high school and looking forward to college when fame overtook them. They met at a jam session and made their first public appearance October of 1958 at a Bellarmine High School dance following a basketball game. They were soon the hottest ticket in town, playing at the All City Halloween dance at the Armory for 1800 wriggling fans. Their first recording came about when they were introduced to Golden Crest Records executive Clark Galehouse by Tacoman Al Mineo, the dance band leader. On the Golden Crest label, they cut "Tall Cool One" and "Road Runner" written by Greek and Dangel. This photo shows the young musicians poised on the brink of fame, just prior to the national release of their hit record. (T.N.T. 5/3/1959, pg. 1)

Rock groups--Tacoma--1950-1960; Music ensembles--Tacoma--1950-1960; Musicians--Tacoma--1950-1960; Singers--Tacoma--1950-1960; Marush, Mark; Burk, Mike; Dangel, Richard; Morrill, Kent; Greek, John;

This publicity photograph for the Tacoma based rock band The Wailers was taken by the Richards Studio April 16, 1959. The Wailers formed in Tacoma in 1958 and performed together for ten years. They were instrumental in defining and creating the original Northwest rock sound. They hit the national top 10 with their first release, the instrumental "Tall Cool One". The band created a unique sound with saxophone, keyboard, guitar, drums and vocals, first supplied by Kent Morrill. The original members of the group were (l to r) Richard Dangel, Mike Burk, Mark Marush, Kent Morrill, and John Greek. (www.thefabulouswailers.com) TPL-5907

Rock groups--Tacoma--1950-1960; Music ensembles--Tacoma--1950-1960; Musicians--Tacoma--1950-1960; Singers--Tacoma--1950-1960; Marush, Mark; Burk, Mike; Dangel, Richard; Morrill, Kent; Greek, John;

ca. 1926. First Presbyterian Church. The Church was constructed in the early -mid 1920's from a design by senior architect Ralph Adams Cram of the firm of Cram and Ferguson of Boston. Its tower stands above the church, adorned with statues of four apostles, John, Matthew, Mark & Luke, as well as religious symbols. Its stained glass windows were designed by Mr. Cram and manufactured by Colonial Stained Glass Window Works of Boston. It is one of the best examples of Romanesque architecture and is on the City Registry. (WSHS)

Presbyterian churches--Tacoma; First Presbyterian Church (Tacoma);