Siphorus L. Gates opened Si's Super Service gas station at 524 South Stadium Way in 1959. The short-lived station was built into a notch in the high bluff on the west side of Stadium Way. To the left of Si's in this photograph from August of 1959 is the back of the University Union Club, 529 Broadway. The Union Club was built in 1888 with a Greco Colonial design by Whidden & Lewis. TPL-10142
Si's Super Service Gas Station (Tacoma); Automobile service stations--Tacoma--1950-1960; University Union Club of Tacoma (Tacoma);
Five "metro mite" walk in delivery trucks built by International Harvester and their drivers were lined up in front of the Peerless Laundry at 2912 South 12th Street for a group portrait in August of 1959. Peerless, which was founded by Edward V. Hudson in the 1930s, performed dry cleaning, as well as personal and commercial laundry service. With their fleet of trucks, they did both pick up and deliveries to businesses and residences. This building was destroyed by fire in December, 1974. A new building was built in 1975; it also was destroyed by fire in 1988. Rebuilt yet again, Peerless Laundry is still on South 12th. TPL-9818
Peerless Laundry (Tacoma); Cleaning establishments--Tacoma; Trucks--1950-1960; International Harvester Co. (Tacoma);
Architect's pencil rendering of the new National Bank of Washington's Westgate branch at 2624 No. Pearl. As the area surrounding the Westgate mall was developed and the communities of University Place and the north end grew and expanded, businesses rushed in to serve this suburban community. The Westgate branch of the National Bank of Washington opened in 1960. It was designed by Lea, Pearson & Richards and built of concrete finished with zolotone. It featured a flat roofed one story design with lots of glass floor to ceiling windows and was 5,400 square feet in size. The bank had parking for 75 cars and a driveup window at the rear of the building. (TNT 8/23/1959, pg. B-8)
National Bank of Washington (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Banking--Tacoma--1950-1960;
Puget Sound National Bank bookkeeping department on the 3rd floor of its home office. Although Puget Sound installed the first computer in 1959, much of the bookkeeping was still done by hand. A department staffed mostly by women is shown with a variety of manual equipment and customer records.
Puget Sound National Bank (Tacoma)--People; Banks--Tacoma; Banking--Tacoma--1950-1960;
Six "metro mite" walk in delivery unit trucks, ordered by International Harvester. The photograph is labelled "Supreme Cleaners." Supreme Cleaners was located at 1012 Center St. and was owned by Jack G. Hersey. The first truck is imprinted with "Tacoma's Linen Supply," commercial division. Their slogan is "the cleanest linen on the face of the Earth." Originally called Supreme Cleaners & Dyers, the company was now known as Supreme Cleaners & Launderers. The building at 1012 Center St. was first occupied by Regal Cleaners in 1917; Supreme occupied this location in 1934.
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 grand opening of the National Bank of Washington Ft. Lewis Branch. Keys are being exchanged to the new bank. The bank was located on the base at the corner of Pendleton Ave. and No. 12th St. W.E. Roberts was the Manager of the new bank. The ultramodern structure was built for $130,000. It was 8,000 square feet, two times as large as the previous facility, which was built in 1932 and had been enlarged 4 times. (TNT 7/19/1959, PG. B-4)
National Bank of Washington (Fort Lewis); Banks--Fort Lewis; Banking--Fort Lewis; Fort Lewis (Wash.);
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, 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;
Steven Motor Co. in their new location at 2705 South Tacoma Way. Steven Motors was the Plymouth and Valiant dealer and had formerly been located in downtown Tacoma on Broadway. Everett T. Steven was the president of the sales and service company. Steven had 50 years experience in the automotive business. He started out with Harold Gilliam as Gilliam & Steven at 733 St. Helens in 1916. Prior to that partnership, Steven had worked at Pacific Car Company as a youngster, polishing the brass on new cars. New Plymouth automobiles can be seen in the showroom window and on the lot. The dealership was 2 1/2 acres with a 350 foot frontage on South Tacoma Way and 600 feet deep. The showroom had 3,000 square feet of floor space with 16 foot high glass windows on 2 1/3 sides. Above the showroom was a conference room and coffee bar, behind the showroom sales offices were the parts department and shop area. (TNT 11/4/1959, section A)
Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1950-1960; Plymouth automobile; Steven Motor Co. (Tacoma);
Steven Motor Company, Chrysler and Plymouth dealers, general view of the showroom at their new South Tacoma location. New Plymouth Fury hardtop at left in photo, station wagon at right. To the left of the photo are cubicles, probably holding the desks of the sales agents. To the right of the photo is a stand up cardboard cut out of Steve Allen advertising "The Steve Allen Plymouth Show." Behind and to the left of the cut out is the parts department; the shop area can be seen through the open space at the back of the office. Located above the offices, that were behind the doors in the back wall, were a conference room and a coffee bar. The approximately 3000 square foot showroom had 16 foot high glass windows on 2 1/3 sides. It was one of the finest Chrysler Corporation dealerships on the West Coast. The dealership was also one of two local dealers of the Valiant, the 101 horsepower, 6 cylinder family sized economy car. (TNT 11/4/1959, section A)
Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1950-1960; Plymouth automobile; Steven Motor Co. (Tacoma);
Open kitchen area at the new Harbor Lights restaurant. The restaurant was opened in February of 1959 by noted Tacoma restaurateur Anton Barcott. Barcott had formerly operated the renowned California Oyster House, opened in 1919 by his father John Barcott Sr. Due to a lack of parking and limited seating space, Barcott had closed the Oyster House after 40 years of operation and chosen this waterfront location. Located 3 blocks north of the Old Tacoma Dock, the main portion of the restaurant was built over the waters of Commencement Bay with unobstructed views of Mount Rainier and the Cascade range. It could seat over 100 and had ample free parking. A 60 foot dock was planned for construction before the summer with moorage for boats. All food preparation was performed in the pictured all electric kitchen in eye view of all patrons. The kitchen also contained a charcoal broiler pit, enabling the restaurant to offer BBQ meats, fish and chicken in addition to seafood. Anton and his daughter LaMoyne (Mrs. John) Hreha represented the third and fourth generation of food catering. Anton was the son of the Oyster House founder John Barcott Sr. and the grandson of famed Yugoslavian inn keepers. Anton started in the business at 12 years of age as a dishwasher and apprenticed to his father for 12 years before taking over the reins of the business in 1946. Photograph ordered by Vermiculite Manufacturing Co. (TNT 2/17/1959, pg. 4-5)
The shelves of the warehouse at the Manning Seed Co., located at 3831 Wallingford Way in Seattle, are carefully stacked with burlap bags of seed. A worker stands on a cart topped with more bags to fill the shelves. Photograph ordered by the Georgia Pacific Corp. Georgia-Pacific Corp. is listed in the 1960 City Directory as being located at 824 E. 25th in Tacoma and as selling wholesale lumber.
The women are working with large barrels filled with seed from the Manning Seed Co., located at 3831 Wallingford Way in Seattle. The woman on the right is pouring the seed from a sack into a container for weighing. She stands before a large scale. The women are possibly packing the seed for storage or shipment. These photographs were most likely taken at Manning Seed Co. Photograph ordered by the Georgia Pacific Corp. Georgia-Pacific Corp. is listed in the 1960 City Directory as being located at 824 E. 25th in Tacoma and as selling wholesale lumber.
Seed is carefully being inspected by a woman with a machine containing a magnifying glass and a scale at the Manning Seed Co., located at 3831 Wallingford Way in Seattle. Photograph ordered by the Georgia Pacific Corp. Georgia-Pacific Corp. is listed in the 1960 City Directory as being located at 824 E. 25th in Tacoma and as selling wholesale lumber.
Steven Motor Company, Plymouth and Valiant dealers, general view of their new location. New Plymouths can be seen in the showroom window and on the lot. Owner Everett Steven had over 50 years in the automotive business, beginning in 1916 as a partner to Harold Gilliam of Gilliam & Steven.
Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1950-1960; Plymouth automobile; Steven Motor Co. (Tacoma);
Viafore's, a new restaurant located at 2409 Pacific Ave. The restaurant was owned by Edward Viafore and Matt Allegro. This is either the cocktail lounge or a quick service food area.
ca. 1960. Zebra Fireworks stand at night. The Zebra Fireworks stand in 1960 is ablaze in the darkness as eager customers approach to look over the wide variety of products for sale. Wise shoppers could pick up a "Racket Box" assortment on sale for $5.95. There are numerous signs banning smoking near the fireworks.
The "Bankwarming" for the new Westgate branch of the National Bank of Washington, was held on Saturday, January 23, 1960 from 1-5 p.m. The "L" shaped building was designed by Lea, Pearson & Richards. It had a total square footage of 5,400 sq ft. and was built of concrete finished in off-white zolotone. Laminated beams in driftwood gray extended to provide an overhang, giving covered protection for customers. Prizes, refreshments and a chance to go "behind the scenes" lured a huge crowd on this gray day. (TNT 1/21/1960, pg. 8-9)
National Bank of Washington, Westgate Branch (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Banking--Tacoma--1950-1960;
No, it's not a run on the bank; these people are waiting in line at the "Bank warming" Saturday January 23, 1960 for the Westgate branch of the National Bank of Washington. They are lined up all the way down the side of the building to view the branch bank designed to serve the growing suburban communities of University Place and the North End. The Open House offered potential customers an opportunity to go "behind the scenes" to see modern banking equipment in action. Souvenirs, prizes and refreshments were also offered. (TNT 1/21/1960, pg. 8-9)
National Bank of Washington, Westgate Branch (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Banking--Tacoma--1950-1960;
Frank Kimmerly, an employee of Sam's Tire Service, operates a Bean Visualiner on January 24, 1960, to align the front end of one of a fleet of trucks belonging to the Cammarano Brothers bottlers. The devise shows, by means of an optical light ray system, a graphic picture of the exact wheel alignment of a car or truck. Sam's Tire Service had a huge covered work area for truck tire service. Several of the largest trucks and trailers could be worked on at the same time. Sam's Tire Service had been at its 120 Puyallup Avenue address for many years. They celebated the grand opening of a new brake and front end service building and the modernization of the entire plant in early 1960. Owned by Sam Pupo and managed by his son, Frank, Sam's was well known for its tire and recapping service. (TNT 2-25-60, B-5-article, B-6-photograph)
Topper Supermarket. By the 1960's, supermarkets were offering not only groceries but also department store shopping as ladies blouses, men's shirts, underwear and socks could readily be purchased while also searching for tonight's dinner. View of Topper Supermarket, an I.G.A. store, shows a "soft goods" selection next to the ice cream section. Although the supermarket in this January 27, 1960, photograph is listed with a Tacoma location, it is believed that the Topper IGA was located in Fife at 1406 54th Ave. E. and owned by Daniel & LeRoy Herron. It was built on the site of the old Century Ballroom and destroyed by fire on January 4, 1964. Ordered by The James Co.
Interior of Cliff House Restaurant. A busy floral patterned carpet greets customers of the remodeled Cliff House Restaurant in this February, 1960, photograph. Near the entrance is the kitchen/serving area where an enormous black fan catches the eye. It would provide excellent ventilation of cooking odors. The kitchen area appears well equipped with shiny metal appliances.
Cliff House Restaurant (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1960-1970;
Dining room of Cliff House Restaurant. Empty tables with starched tablecloths and napkins await diners of the remodeled Cliff House Restaurant on February 15, 1960. Picture windows facing the Tideflats have their shades removed to the side so that patrons can enjoy the beautiful views. A display of large ferns complements the leafy pattern of the dining room carpet.
Cliff House Restaurant (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1960-1970;
