Exterior view of the National Bank of Washington, 54th & Pacific branch. Lea, Pearson and Richards served as the architects on this branch bank built in 1955. Construction was of brick, tile and aluminum. In the fifties, the banks followed the flow of population out of the cities and into the suburbs. While leaving their grand financial institutions open downtown for the largely business trade, small friendly neighborhood branches were built to attract individual customers. The branches offered lots of parking and efficient, convenient services.

National Bank of Washington (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Banking--Tacoma--1950-1960;

A man points at the bottles inside the serve-yourself refrigerator at the Park Way Delicatessen & Tavern. The Park Way operated at this location from 1951-1957 and was owned by Al Moody. A counter and stools and a neon sign for Columbia Ale can be seen behind the man. The refrigerator is in the novelty shape of a bottle and holds 7-Up, Bubble up, Nesbit, Pepsi-Cola, Old Colony, Coca-Cola, Can-a-Pop Grape, Heidelberg beer and Squirt. TPL-7954

Park Way Delicatessen & Tavern (Tacoma); Refrigerators; Carbonated beverages; Beer

A beaming unidentified man helped himself to a six-pack of Heidelberg from the serve-yourself refrigerator at the Park Way Delicatessen & Tavern at 313 North I Street on June 7, 1955. The Park Way operated at this location from 1951-1957 and was owned by Al Moody. A counter and stools and a neon sign for Columbia Ale can be seen behind the man. The refrigerator is in the novelty shape of a floor-to-ceiling bottle and holds ice-cold 7up, Bubble Up, Nesbit, Pepsi-cola, Old Colony, Coca-Cola, Can-a-Pop Grape, Heidelberg beer and Squirt. This is currently the location of the Parkway Tavern. TPL-6630

Park Way Delicatessen & Tavern (Tacoma); Refrigerators; Carbonated beverages; Beer;

The exterior of Craig Furniture Co. The building exterior is painted with "ranges, furniture, rugs and radios." Craig offered name brand furniture as well as some appliances, oil heaters and floor coverings for sale. Sharing the storefront at ground level are G.D. Phillips Co. shoes and Leroy Jewelers.

Craig Furniture, Inc. (Tacoma); Furniture stores--Tacoma--1950-1960;

American Wholesale Grocers. Interiors of new IGA Foodtown store located at Park Ave. and Airport Way. The end cap is a display of ABC fig bars. The cookies sell for $.49. The sign shows the "world's largest fig bar" and proclaims when better fig bars are made, ABC will make them. The Grand Opening of the store would begin August 17 and continue for 4 days. During that time, free coffee and cake would be served, every lady shopper would receive a free gift and an orchid and a Shetland pony with saddle and bridle would be one prize of many given away. (TNT 8/16/1955, pg. 7-10)

IGA Foodtown (Parkland); Grocery stores--1950-1960; Supermarkets;

Munson-Smith Motors dedicated its 100,000 square foot motor center August 19-20, 1955. Its vast used car and truck lots can be seen on the left, with the new car show rooms, service garage and administrative offices on the right. Munson-Smith was a Dodge and Plymouth dealer located between downtown Tacoma and South Tacoma on Highway 99. They offered both sales and service. Company officers were Ed Munson, president; Don Munson, vice-pres. and Alberta Smith, secretary-treasurer. The company had 65 employees and an annual payroll of over $300,000. Gross sales were approximately 2 1/2 million per year. (TNT 8/18/1955, pg. 11)

Munson-Smith Motors (Tacoma); Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Exterior of National Bank of Washington's Industrial branch on the Tideflats. National Bank of Washington was the first to offer complete banking facilities to the more than 200 businesses on the Tideflats and their numerous employees. It was also handy to the growing communities of Federal Way, Browns Point, Fife and Milton. The building was built of "pre-stressed concrete" with the northwest side of floor to ceiling glass for natural lighting.

National Bank of Washington (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Banking--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Exterior view of Puget Sound National Bank's temporary Lakewood branch. As the 1950's began, so did urban flight. Population in the suburbs was booming and the bank followed its customers. In 1952, Puget Sound opened its Lakewood branch adjacent to the Lakewood Center and took in nearly $2 million in deposits by the end of its first year. Lakewood opened in temporary headquarters- a 35 x 75 foot plywood building- 10 working days after obtaining the Comptroller's approval. The permanent branch opened on 10-5-1953. ("Banking on Independence" by Barry L. Provorse)

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

Exposure of 50,000 parking tickets being given away at Puget Sound National Bank's new downtown parking lot. As more people moved to the suburbs and relied more on their automobiles, the downtown branch of Puget Sound added an "auto teller" for drive through banking and a new customer parking lot to entice customers to come downtown.

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

Booth #65, sponsored by Acme Construction Co., at the 1952 Tacoma Home Show, April 3-6, 1952 at the College of Puget Sound fieldhouse. The sign to the left tells the showgoer that the displayed roof is the same one installed on the model home the "Tacoman" built adjoining the CPS fieldhouse. The small triangular sign on the right lets passerbys know that they also install the popular asbestos siding. The company's specialty was remodeling, re-roofing and re-siding residential properties. The company was owned by Leonard E. Hunt and Howard W. Underwood and was located at 604 So. 13th.

Acme Construction Co. (Tacoma); Greater Tacoma Home Show (Tacoma); Exhibitions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Exhibit booths--Tacoma; Construction industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Cunningham's Electric House, store window display. Frigidaire refrigerators,stoves and other appliances, advertising placard, free-standing letters spelling out "Appliances" above window.

Business Enterprises - Stores and Shops - Appliance Stores - Tacoma - Cunningham's Electric House

ca. 1952. Nighttime view of Seldens display window with Armstrong linoleum featured. Sidney C. Selden Sr. was president and general manager. The store sold linoleum, shades, carpets, rugs, venetian blinds, household appliances, televisions, draperies and tile. They had an interior decorator service and specialized in floor coverings.

Furniture stores--Tacoma; Home furnishings stores--Tacoma; Selden's, Inc. (Tacoma);

The Sears, and Roebuck Company took over the Owen Woods building at the corner of So. 13th and Broadway in 1935. This photograph from 1952 shows the completely remodeled building. The new facade was based on the Sears building at the Chicago Century of Progress Exposition. In 1981, after over 45 years at this address, Sears moved to the Tacoma Mall, leaving the Peoples Store at So. 11th and Pacific as the last major department store in downtown Tacoma. The Peoples Store closed three years later, in 1984. After Sears moved to the Mall, the building at 1148 Broadway was remodeled yet again, restoring much of the look of the original Owen Woods Building.

Sears, Roebuck & Co. (Tacoma); Department stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Parking garages--Tacoma; Silas E. Nelsen Architects (Tacoma);

Exterior exposure of Bill Tietz' new home in Narrowmoor, for Tietz Construction, believed to be 1274 So. Fernside Dr. The Narrowmoor addition consisted of an 11 x 6 block neighborhood of quality custom built single family homes. It was located west of Jackson between 6th and 19th. The lots were view lots, having excellent views of the Narrows. Rock retaining walls have been installed to support the terraced landscaping. The home has floor to ceiling view windows at one corner and a covered area running the length of the front of the home.

Tietz Construction Inc. (Lakewood); Tietz, Bill--Homes & haunts; Houses--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Interior exposure of mannequin and refrigerator for Sears and Roebuck. A mannequin in an apron and fold out penguins advertise the newest Coldspot refrigerator at Sears. The refrigerator has a serve shelf- bonus space in the door to store small foods, a chiller- extra cold storage for meats and a crisper and "vegedrator"- to keep fruits and vegetables firm and flavorful. All three innovations are still used on modern refrigerators.

Sears, Roebuck & Co. (Tacoma); Department stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Refrigerators--1950-1960; Mannequins;

Exposure of new office at K Street Medical Center, Columbian Optical Co. Lloyd J. Sass was manager for Columbian. The store filled prescriptions for glasses and contact lenses and also advertised as selling "artificial eyes." They had two locations- ground floor at the Medical Arts Building 724 Saint Helens Ave. and this new location at 1224 So. 11th St.

Columbian Optical Co. (Tacoma); Opticians' shops--Tacoma--1950-1960; Optical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Grand opening of the newest location of Columbian Optical Co. An employee helps a young lady choose a new pair of eyeglasses at a fitting table with mirrors on either side so that the glasses can be seen from all angles. Several pairs of glasses are laid out on the counter for the young lady to peruse. A floral display on the floor gives the store a festive look.

Columbian Optical Co. (Tacoma); Opticians' shops--Tacoma--1950-1960; Optical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Lang and Dennison Hardware. Interior of store with one man by paint chip case, another by a paint sample book and brush display, shelves of paint cans behind them. Ordered by National Lead Company.

Lang & Dennison Hardware (Tacoma); Hardware stores--Tacoma--1950-1960;Paints & varnishes;

Four unidentified men stand in front of the door of the Lang and Dennison Hardware store, 2618 No. Proctor, in this photograph from August of 1952. Fredrick A. Lang and Lewis S. Dennison opened their store in the Proctor District in 1951. The business was sold some years later and renamed Proctor Paint and Hardware. This building is now home to Fire and Clay, Inc. Ordered by National Lead Company. TPL-1565

Lang & Dennison Hardware (Tacoma); Hardware stores--Tacoma--1950-1960;Paints & varnishes;

Interior exposure of the "Sample Room" with tables of glassware and crystal on display. Photo ordered by Frederick C. Wolf & Son, Manufacturers agent. The sparkly glass and giftware was displayed in this stark warehouse setting for wholesale buyers to view before purchasing in bulk for their stores.

Stores & shops--Tacoma--1950-1960; Merchandise displays--Tacoma; Showrooms--Tacoma; Gifts; Mercantile facilities--Tacoma; Frederick C. Wolf & Sons, Inc. (Tacoma); Warehouses--Tacoma; Glassware;

Mallon Motors announced the opening of their used car outlet in September of 1952. Three men stand in front of the used car lot and building. A variety of automobiles and a pick-up truck are shown facing South Tacoma Way. (TNT, 9/4/1952, p.26)

Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1950-1960; Mallon Motors, Inc. (Tacoma);

The Hart Range No. 5, an oil burner range, weighs 1,400 pounds at Patrick Company. An electric motor and blower have been attached on the right front of the stove. A switch is seen under the blower. Patrick Company, located at 1521 Pacific Avenue, handled restaurant supplies. Ordered by Demick Electric Supply Company, located at 2919 South Alaska Street, who were wholesale dealers in electrical equipment and supplies.

Demick Electric Supply (Tacoma); Patrick Co. (Tacoma); Stoves--Tacoma;

W.L. Stoddard designed the Winthrop Hotel and it was built in 1924 and dedicated May 15, 1925. It was named for explorer and writer Theodore Winthrop, author of "The Canoe and the Saddle" which helped popularize the Northwest. The hotel was to be a civic center.

Hotels--Tacoma--1950-1960; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

Banquet tables have been prepared in the Cystal Ballroom at the Winthrop Hotel. Tables that would seat ten have been covered with white table cloths and set with table ware, cups and saucers and napkins. The room is lit with daylight coming in through the tall windows, chandeliers and sconces. The head table has been set on a dais along the right side with flags behind it. An American flag hangs at the far end of the room.

Hotels--Tacoma; Ballrooms--Tacoma--1950-1960; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

The wide lobby and lounge at the Winthrop Hotel has been decorated in a grand style. The windows have been draped with light-colored fabric, pulled back with braid and tassels to allow plenty of daylight into the room. Several large sofas have been placed below each window and in the center of the room. Desks have been placed near columns on the left and a few side chairs have been spaced around the edges of the room to allow plenty of open space for people to congregate. Chandeliers hang from the ceiling and a figured carpet covers the floor.

Lobbies--Tacoma; Hotels--Tacoma; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

Sears Roebuck and Company's Credit Department has a display on the back wall which includes rifles, pans, an Allstate tire, an automobile visor, a garden hose and silverware, all items carried by Sears. The credit counter is on the left and nine desks, chairs and other equipment are seen lined up throughout the room. A large bouquet of flowers stands near hanging files on the right.

Sears, Roebuck & Co. (Tacoma); Department stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Offices--Tacoma--1950-1960; Office furniture;