ca. 1925. View from the sidewalk of unidentified home. (WSHS)

Houses--Tacoma--1920-1930

Reichhold Chemicals; the interior of a resin repectivator tank. Reichhold manufactured chemicals used in the plywood industry.

Reichhold Chemicals, Inc. (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;

In October of 1926, three Junior League women show a passage in a book to an older gentleman in a wheelchair while a nurse looks on. The man is covered with a blanket stamped "Tacoma General Hospital." The book has been removed from a rolling cart used to transport the books from room to room for selection. One of projects of the Junior League was a traveling library maintained at Tacoma General Hospital. Two times a week, members of the library committee, chaired by Mrs. Frank Buckley (believed to be pictured center of the back row), visited the hospital and took the specially constructed set of shelves on wheels loaded with books from room to room. (WSHS) (TDL 10/22/1926, pg. 1- story, diff. picture)

Hospitals--Tacoma--1920-1930; Tacoma General Hospital (Tacoma); Books; Wheelchairs; Junior League (Tacoma);

ca. 1959. Central Refuse Equipment Repair Yard, photograph ordered by Rilco Laminated Products. This site was probably owned by the City of Tacoma and was the location for repairing trash trucks.

ca. 1959. Davids & Royston Bulb Co., ordered by Rilco Laminated Products Co.

Davids & Royston Bulb Co.;

Two workmen monitor testing on a piece of plywood at the Douglas Fir Plywood Association's test lab at 1214 A St in Tacoma. The DFPA had two labs, one in Tacoma and one in Eugene, to test and improve the plywood product. The machinery doing the testing is 8 feet wide and 15 feet high and is being operated by two men. It appears to be measuring the pressure on the plywood.

Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma); Plywood; Testing--Tacoma--1950-1960; Product inspection--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Highland Hills Shopping Center. A female shopper gazes into the window at Coonan's Country Store in late September of 1959. Coonan's was a variety store owned by Frank R. Coonan. The building utilized large windows to permit customers to view goods offered for sale, both from within and outside the facility.

Highland Hills Shopping Center (Tacoma); Shopping centers--Tacoma--1950-1960; Coonan's Country Store (Tacoma);

Highland Hills Shopping Center. Only a few cars occupy the huge lot at the west end shopping center. The Center opened in 1956 to serve the growing westend community. Shown are the Big Bear Market, Coonan's Country Store, Jewel's Styling Salon and Stebner's Furniture.

Highland Hills Shopping Center (Tacoma); Shopping centers--Tacoma; Big Bear Stores (Tacoma); Supermarkets--Tacoma--1950-1960; Grocery stores--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Highland Hills Shopping Center. A sloping roofline frames the storefront of Stebner Furniture. The unique zigzag roof of the shopping center was one of its trademarks. The Center opened in 1956 to serve the growing westend community. The furniture store was part of Stebner's Inc.; August Stebner was president and Adolph Stebner was vice president. They also owned a floor covering store at 5510 6th Ave.

Highland Hills Shopping Center (Tacoma); Shopping centers--Tacoma; Stebner's Furniture (Tacoma);

Puget Sound National Bank, interior work area.

Business Enterprises - Financial Institutions - Banks - Tacoma - Puget Sound National Bank

ca. 1941. Teller windows and Christmas tree in lobby of Puget Sound National Bank for the Christmas season circa 1941. Square columns, open beam ceiling, and what appears to be either granite or marble embellishments.

Banks--Tacoma; Puget Sound National Bank (Tacoma);

Puget Sound National Bank, vault with open door.

Business Enterprises - Financial Institutions - Banks - Tacoma - Puget Sound National Bank

Interior of Puget Sound National Bank, view of lobby, defense poster on column.

Business Enterprises - Financial Institutions - Banks - Tacoma - Puget Sound National Bank

ca. 1941. Row of teller windows and safe deposit boxes inside lobby of Puget Sound National Bank, 1117-19 Pacific Ave., circa 1941.

Puget Sound National Bank (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma;

ca. 1925. In 1925, the East Wing of the Tacoma General Hospital was under construction. The building is shown in this photograph from So. 4th St. The addition was designed by the firm of Sutton, Whitney & Dugan. It was completed in 1926. (WSHS)

Hospitals--Tacoma--1920-1930; Tacoma General Hospital (Tacoma);

Grant School Orchestra on stage. The elementary school children shared the stage just prior to Christmas, 1941 with a towering decorated Christmas tree. Instruments held by the musicians included violins, horns and a harp.

Public schools--Tacoma--1940-1950; Grant School (Tacoma); School children--Tacoma--1940-1950; Youth orchestras--Tacoma--1940-1950; Stages (Platforms); Music--Tacoma; Stringed instruments; Christmas trees--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Grant School orchestra and chorus on stage in December of 1941. Large decorated Christmas tree in background.

Public schools--Tacoma--1940-1950; Grant School (Tacoma); School children--Tacoma--1940-1950; Stages (Platforms); Music--Tacoma; Christmas trees;

Tests being run on a 70 foot concrete beam constructed by Concrete Technology Corp., photograph ordered by the Lone Star Cement Co. in Seattle. Concrete Technology (or Engineering Co.) was located at 1123 Port of Tacoma Rd. and specialized in prestressed concrete beams and forms. Prestressed concrete girders exceeding 100 feet were shipped to construction sites in Alaska, Idaho and parts of Washington. (TNT 9/7/1959, pg. C-2)

Concrete Engineering Co. (Tacoma); Concrete; Building materials industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;

16 members of the graduating class of nurses from Tacoma General Hospital posed for a group portrait on the grounds of the hospital in June of 1925. They would bid farewell to the hospital training school on June 18th in ceremonies held at the Scottish Rite Cathedral. Pictured in the upper row, left to right, are Sophia Anderson, Elizabeth Appelman, Mary L. Putnam, Eva V. Athow, Minnie E. Sternagle, Helen Needham, Marie W. Hack and Johanna L. Jansen. Seated are, left to right, Helen MacChapin, Nina A. Walker, class salutatorian Alice Carrick, Gladys H. Bright, Edythe Hansen, Gladys E.Strickland, Dora B. Winslow, and Nellie G.R. Frostad. Not pictured were class valedictorian Dorothy Kyne and Grace K. Smith. The Tacoma General Hospital School of Nursing was one of the oldest in the nation and was in existence from 1895 to 1980. During that extended period of time, the school graduated over 2,200 registered nurses. (TNT 6/10/1925, pg. 3; multicare.org) (WSHS)

Hospitals--Tacoma--1920-1930; Tacoma General Hospital (Tacoma); Nurses--Tacoma--1920-1930; Tacoma General Hospital School of Nursing (Tacoma);

Busch's Drive In restaurant on South Tacoma Way. Busch's had long been a Tacoma landmark famous for its car hops, waitresses that came directly to your car to take and deliver orders. They also featured dine in service. Built in 1936 as the Triple XXX Barrel and purchased by Bill & Thelma Busch in 1943, the building remains today.

Buschs Drive In (Tacoma); Drive-in restaurants--Tacoma;

The Nell Hoyt Primary School. The school was built as an addition to the Washington School at 3701 No. 26th St. It was designed by award winning architect Robert Billsbrough Price. The school was dedicated on February 20, 1959, the 80th birthday of Nell Hoyt, the namesake of the school. Mrs. Hoyt was an early pioneer of the national preschool program. She spoke at the dedication of the school about the program she founded in 1914.

Nell Hoyt School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1950-1960;

The Nell Hoyt Primary School., as pictured in September of 1959. The school was built as an addition to the Washington School at 3701 No. 26th St. It was designed by award winning architect Robert Billsbrough Price. The dome roofs on this portion of the school were pre-fabricated. TPL-10160

Nell Hoyt School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1950-1960;

A South Seas theme has been used to decorate this room in the Lake City home of Gordon and Peggy Rupe. The bar is a "Hoola Hut" designed by Speedy Rest Furniture Co. Two stools stand before the bar. The room is filled with tropical foliage, palm trees and jungle island inspired decorations. Beaded curtains frame the picture. Speedy Rest Lawn & Patio Furniture Co. was located at 9835 North Lake Dr. They specialized in portable snack or beverage bars with old Hawaiian styles or beachcomber effects. The bars cost $60 & up. They also sold realistic palms 3-9 feet tall. (TNT 7/1/1959, pg. B-16)

Rupe, Gordon--Homes & haunts; Speedy Rest Lawn & Patio Furniture Co.;

Puget Sound National Bank, Lakewood branch. As the fifties dawned, so did urban flight. All of the necessities of life began to be available outside of the city core, and the banks followed suit. Puget Sound first build a temporary branch adjacent to the Lakewood Center that took in 2 million in deposits by the end of its first year. On October 5, 1953, this permanent facility opened in an elegant building that included two fireplaces and piped in music. ("Banking on Independence" by Provorse)

Puget Sound National Bank (Lakewood); Banks--Lakewood; Banking--Lakewood;

Interiors at Barks House of Music. Accordions of all makes and sizes sit on the counter. Stringed instruments hang from the peg board behind. There are ukeleles, banjos, mandolins and violins, to name a few. Cases rest above and below the instruments. Barks held an Open House at this new spacious location October 15-17, 1959. This was the store's third location, each expansion due to growth. The Barks had over 50 years experience in the music business. (TNT 10/15/1959, pg. A-6-7)

Barks House of Music (Tacoma); Music stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Musical instruments; Accordions; Ukeleles; Stringed instruments; Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1950-1960;

In October of 1959 Barks House of Music moved to a new location at 1114 Pacific Avenue, taking over a former Publix Market building. The new neon sign in the front of the store proudly displays their barking dog emblem and the slogan "Everything in Music." Owned by Earl and T.R. "Dick" Barks, the store sold wind, string and band instruments and accessories, as well as sheet music, records, tape recorders, televisions, radios and high fidelity phonographs. Earl and Dick Barks already had over 50 years of experience in the music business. They only stayed at this location until 1965 when they moved to 955 Commerce. T. R. "Dick" Barks died in January of 1968; Earl E. Barks died November 6, 2000. (TNT 10/15/1959, pg. A-7)

Barks House of Music (Tacoma); Musical instruments; Music stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1950-1960; Electric signs--Tacoma--1950-1960;

The Puget Sound National Bank Christmas Club trophy, ordered by the company magazine. The winner in 1959 was the K Street branch; the winner in 1958 was the Midway bank. Christmas Club accounts were used to save money all year long for Christmas gifts and travel. In an economy that still depended heavily on cash, saving for the holidays was essential.

Puget Sound National Bank (Tacoma); Banking--Tacoma--1950-1960;

The Wonderland Store. The Wonderland Store sold toys, games and juvenile furniture. It was full of everything a little heart could desire. The store would be having its Grand Opening October 23, 24 & 26, 1959. William J. (Bill) Robertson was president, with Mrs. Hazel Gord as vice president and Mrs. Ruth Robertson as Secretary-Treasurer. Bill Robertson was a native Tacoman and a graduate of Sherman School, Mason Jr. High, Stadium High and the College of Puget Sound. He was married to the former Ruth Wolland and had two sons, Gary (5) and Dave (3). Robertson was formerly a toy buyer for a Tacoma Department store. Gord was also a native Tacoman and had formerly managed a toy store for 11 years. Cribs, bassinets and strollers line the walls. Large dolls sit or stand at a table while an upright carton holds stick horses. A three piece matching set of luggage sits on a table to the left while board games line the standing storage units. (TNT 10/22/1959, pg. A-8)

Wonderland store (Tacoma); Toys; Toy stores (Tacoma);

ca. 1925. This modified Spanish Colonial home at 705 No. 5th St. was built in 1924 for James & Elizabeth McCormack. James McCormack was the president of McCormack Brothers Co. The house was designed by Ambrose J. Russell and constructed of tile and stucco. The address was formerly 502 No. G St and 703 No. 5th St. The site for the home was a half block. The ground floor contained a large living room, solarium, dining room, smoking room, library and a deck over the garage. The second floor had three bedrooms with bath and dressing facilities that had access to a deck and a sleeping porch on the southwest corner. Maids' quarters were on the 3rd floor and the 19x 34 basement was a social and billiard room and contained a fireplace. The hardwood floors were of oak, trim of mahogany and the original color scheme for the walls was a soft orchid gray and cream. It is now the Villa Bed and Breakfast. (TNT 6/5/1925, pg. 14) (WSHS)

McCormack, James--Homes & haunts; Houses--Tacoma--1920-1930; Estates--Tacoma;

Progress photograph featuring the structural steel framework of the new Nestles Co. building in Salinas California, ordered by Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel Corporation of San Francisco, Ca.

Progress photographs--1950-1960; Building construction--Salinas; Structural frames--Salinas; Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel Corp. (San Francisco);