Rust Building. One of the main occupants of downtown's Rust Building was American Federal Savings & Loan Assn. Their red and blue sign stood prominently on the rooftop of the 12-story structure. American Federal Savings & Loan was located on the Pacific Ave. level of the Rust Building which was constructed in 1920. The savings & loan would purchase the building from the Rust estate in October of 1972 for $840,000. The firm planned to change the name of the building to American Federal Building on December 1, 1972. Color photograph ordered by American Federal Savings & Loan Assn. (TNT 10-26-72, B-12)
American Federal Savings & Loan Association (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Rust Building (Tacoma);
Rust Building. Located at 950 Pacific Avenue, the Rust Building's 12 stories were occupied by a variety of businesses including the American Federal Savings & Loan Association. A large red and blue sign erected on top of the rooftop draws attention to the savings & loan located below. This photograph was taken on August 18, 1972, shortly before noon. Traffic was brisk in this prime downtown location. Next door to the Rust Building was the new Park Plaza North parking garage, built during urban renewal to help provide much needed parking. Across the street from the building at 9th & Broadway was the F.W. Woolworth department store. Photograph ordered by American Federal Savings & Loan Assn. who would purchase the Rust Building in October of 1972 for $840,000. The Rust Building was built in 1920 at a cost of $1,100,000. (TNT 10-26-72, B-12)
American Federal Savings & Loan Association (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Rust Building (Tacoma); Electric signs--Tacoma--1970-1980;
Employees of the Commonwealth Title Co. gather around a modern metal desk set containing new IBM equipment on January 17, 1958. The men appear to be waiting for the young woman who is holding a pile of papers, perhaps prior to passing them out. There is at least one IBM typewriter on the extended desk, and possibly two. The metal swivel chair would enable the secretary to have more than one document ready to type. Photograph ordered by IBM.
Office equipment & supplies; Typewriters; Offices--Tacoma--1950-1960; International Business Machines (Tacoma); Commonwealth Title Co. (Tacoma);
Victor Kaufman of The Condon Co. examines advertising for the plywood industry while at his desk in the Rust Building. Another man gestures with his pencil on a booklet indicating "National Fir Plywood Promotion Puts the Runners on Base...ready to score sales for you!" There is also a folder on Mr. Kaufman's desk labeled "14 TV Spots for use by Retail Lumber Dealers." Photograph taken on April 2, 1954; copy ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association.
Advertising--Tacoma--1950-1960; Advertising agencies--Tacoma; Kaufman, Victor; Condon Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Lumber industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma);
This photograph of the Rust Building, at the corner of South 11th and Pacific, was taken in October of 1950, thirty years after it was built. Lundquist-Lily men's clothiers, Thom McAn shoes, Regal Shoe Company and C.P. Fawcett jewelers were located in the storefronts along Pacific Avenue. The neon sign advertising the name of the building can be seen on top of the 12- story building. The new F.W. Woolworth building can be seen behind the Rust Building on the far left side of the photograph. In 2003 it was renamed The Commerce Center. TPL-9495
Office buildings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Rust Building (Tacoma); Business districts--Tacoma;
Howard P. Braman, an agent for the Northern Life Insurance Company of Seattle, is at work in the company's new offices at 950 Pacific Avenue. Various awards and certificates of membership decorate the wall behind his desk. The business occupied offices in the twelve story W.R. Rust Building, and handled life, accident, and health insurance. Roy S. McKinnon was listed as district manager in the 1951 city directory.
Northern Life Insurance Co. of Seattle (Tacoma); Insurance companies--Tacoma; Braham, Howard P.;
In 1948, George A. Sample, Jr. took over management of the restaurant in the Rust Building. He changed the name to The Rathskeller, and over the next year, working with the Andrew's Fixture Company, completely remodeled the service area. This photograph from September 1949 shows five unidentified employees standing behind the newly installed counter. The Rathskeller was only in business until 1954, when it was replaced by Lindy's operated by G. Howard Lindholm.
Cafeterias--Tacoma; Restaurant workers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Counters--Tacoma; Building materials; Rathskeller (Tacoma); Rust Building (Tacoma); Andrew's Fixture Co. (Tacoma);
The Rathskeller, located at 950 Pacific Ave. in the ground floor of the Rust Building, was the newly opened restaurant in Tacoma, the Annex was previously located at this site. The facilities have been completely remodeled, George A. Sample Jr. is the manager of The Rathskeller restaurant. Interior view of The Rathskeller's food and booze bar, alcohol bottles are displayed above the cash register, beer taps behind the bar, stools are lined up around the bar (T. Times, 11/18/48, p. 7).
Studio set-up of No-Wax Package; 1. open, 2. closed. Ordered by Miss Nelson of the Condon Company. The open box shows three bottles: prime coat, finish and thinner. The interior box on the left contains application pads and on the right are steel wool and sandpaper. This kit has been put together for convenience shopping with everything needed in one container.
Douglas Fir Plywood Information Bureau provided information about Douglas Fir Plywood products to interested individuals, businesses and industries. View of plywood information display with two panels explaining the difference between exterior and interior types of plywood panels; in addition, a Plywood Listening Post is set up to listen to comments in a confidential atmosphere. Photograph was taken on January 2, 1948.
Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Advertisements--Tacoma; Research facilities--Tacoma; Plywood; Douglas Fir Plywood Information Bureau (Tacoma); Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma);
Frances Garfton was a freelance interior decorator in Tacoma. Frances shared office space with her husband, Arthur E. Grafton Jr., in the W. R. Rust Building. Frances Grafton had done work in the Arthur Murray Dance Studios. Picture of chair, photo ordered by Frances Grafton, Interior Decorator.
Frances Garfton was a freelance interior decorator in Tacoma. Frances shared office space with her husband, Arthur E. Grafton Jr., in the W. R. Rust Building. Frances Grafton had done work in the Arthur Murray Dance Studios. Picture of table, photo ordered by Frances Grafton, Interior Decorator.
This is believed to be a portrait of William Wallace Mount, former assistant U.S. attorney and Tacoma corporation counsel. By 1947, Mr. Mount was a partner with Wayne W. Keyes in the Keyes & Mount Law Office with offices in the Rust Building. Mr. Mount was born in Sprague, Washington, the son of State Supreme Court Justice Wallace Mount. He obtained his law degree from the University of Washington in 1916, served during WWI, and then became a King County deputy prosecutor. Mr. Mount was an assistant U.S. attorney in charge of the local office from 1921-1925. He was appointed by the Tacoma City Council to be the corporation counsel in 1930. Mr. Mount held membership in many civic and fraternal organizations including the board of governors of the Washington State Bar Assn., member of the American Bar Assn.'s House of Delegates, Tacoma Club, Tacoma Country & Golf Club, Rhodes American Legion Post. He passed away in Olympia on July 27, 1971, at the age of 80. (TNT 7-29-71, A-14-obituary)
Mount, William Wallace; Lawyers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Eyeglasses;
The W. R. Rust Building was built in 1920 by William R. Rust, the contractor was J. E. Bonnell and Sutton, Whitney and Dugan were the architects; it is twelve stories high. Between 1929 and 1931 the building was known as the Townsend Building. It is now the Seafirst Center in downtown Tacoma. Exterior view of building, Franwell fountain lunch, Virges Drug Company and Lundquist Lilly shops on ground level.
Business districts--Tacoma; Office buildings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Rust Building (Tacoma);
Safeway Stores bought out Totem Food Stores, a Washington owned and operated grocery stores, in 1942. In 1947 Safeway had over sixteen stores throughout the Tacoma area. Harry P. Brown was the district manager of Safeway Stores in Tacoma. Interior view of Safeway Stores Inc. offices in the Rust building.
Commercial facilities--Tacoma; Offices--Tacoma--1940-1950; Rust Building (Tacoma); Safeway Stores, Inc. (Tacoma);
The brand "Douglas Fir" plywood is known as the "wood of 1,000 uses". This plywood undergoes a series of laboratory and field tests. The Douglas Fir Plywood Association has helped establish and maintain Tacoma as the plywood center of the world, by setting up a industry maintained quality control laboratory here. View of plywood panel display located at the Douglas Fir Plywood Information Bureau was ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association.
Merchandise displays--Tacoma; Paneling--Tacoma; Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Plywood; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma);
The Condon Co. was one of the first advertising agencies in Tacoma. It was founded in 1916 by John Condon, Roscoe A. Smith is now the President. In 1943 they went through a complete expansion, preparing for an increase in business once the war was over. View of "Little Chef" electric stove, top burner and oven dials, electric cord is plugged in, and it appears the stove has storage compartments, photo ordered by Condon Co.
Stoves--Tacoma; Ovens; Appliances; Advertising agencies--Tacoma--1940-1950; Advertisements--Tacoma; Condon Co., Inc. (Tacoma);
Washington State Dairy Commission/Council. One woman sits behind a desk and four others sit around the desk. Posters related to dairy and food products hang on the wall behind them.
Women--Tacoma--1940-1950; Washington State Dairy Council (Tacoma);
Five pictures of Navy recruiting station. Women were doing their part with the armed forces in Tacoma. View of unidentified woman who is enlisted in the Navy WAVES, Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service, at the Naval Recruiting Station in Tacoma (T. Times, 9/2/44, p. 1).
Women--Military service; World War, 1939-1945--Recruiting & enlistment--Tacoma; United States Naval Recruiting Station (Tacoma);
Edna Donahue (center) and Eva Mahoney (right) were the winners in the Tacoma WAVE contest in September of 1944. Sponsored by local friends of the navy the unique contest was conducted to acquaint eligible women with the urgent need for their service in the navy. The two winners each received a war bond from WAVE recruiter Eleanor Frank at the Tacoma recruiting station. Mrs. Donahue, the first prize winner, had a son in the Navy V-12 program at the University of Washington. Miss Mahoney, the second place winner, had two sisters serving in the WAVES. (T. Times, 9/6/44, p. 10).
Women--Military service; War bonds & funds; United States Naval Recruiting Station (Tacoma); Donahue, Edna; Mahoney, Eva; Frank, Eleanor;
On Saturday September 2, 1944 Virginia Greening officially became a WAVE, Women Accepted for Volunteer Emegency Service. In this photograph taken for the Tacoma Times she is shown holding four photographs of her brother Lt. Col. Charles Ross Greening, who was a prisoner of the Germans. He had been shot down on a mission over Italy. Both Virginia and her brother survived the war.(T. Times, 9/2/44, p. 1).
World War, 1939-1945--Prisoners of war; Military personnel; Greening, Virginia; Greening, C. Ross;
On August 22, 1944, these six young women went to the Navy recruiting station in the Rust Building, at 950 Pacific Ave., and joined the WAVES, Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service. Taking the oath of allegiance from Ensign Betsy Abbott are: (l to r) Shirley Rasmussen, Audrey Purchase, Peggy Olson, Betty Day, Florence Olson and Shirlee Beardempl. They will leave in October for the U.S. naval training school at New York City. Two of the enlistees each had two brother already serving in the armed forces. (T. Times, 8/23/44, p. 8). TPL-983
Women--Military personnel--Tacoma; World War, 1939-1945--Recruiting & enlistment--Tacoma; Oaths--Tacoma;
The Washington State Dairy Council elected a "Dairy Queen" who would help educate the community on the dairy industry. View of children enjoying cookies and milk after learning about the dairy business.
Dairy products industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Dairying--Tacoma; Washington State Dairy Council (Tacoma); Eating & drinking--Tacoma--1940-1950;
The Washington State Dairy Council allowed community members to come in and receive information on the dairy industry and also brought the dairy industry together. June was dairy month so throughout June and July the Dairy Council was very busy. View of children visiting the dairy council and enjoying cookies and milk.
Dairy products industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Dairying--Tacoma; Washington State Dairy Council (Tacoma);
The Washington State Dairy Council was well staffed with nutritionalists that provide health education information to children, schools, parents and community members. View of children and their teachers enjoying cookies and milk after learning about the dairy industry.
Dairy products industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Dairying--Tacoma; Washington State Dairy Council (Tacoma);
The three Tacoma women being saluted were on their way to boot camp in this photograph from June 1944.(l to r) Pvt. Edna Patricia Fisher, Pvt. Pauline May Hall, Pvt. Betty Jean Miller are shown in the Marine Corp recruiting office on the 7th floor of the Rust Building at 950 Pacific Ave. The recruiting officer was Sgt. Barbara Baker. The inductees will be leaving shortly for Camp Lejeune, New River, North Carolina. (T. Times, 6/10/44, p. 4).
Marines (Military personnel); World War, 1939-1945--Recruiting & enlistment--Tacoma; War posters; Women--Military service;
Taking the WAVES oath. Alice Mary Scheitlin, on left standing next to a floral anchor, takes the Navy Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service oath. Lt. Samuel Fleming, center, swore in Ms. Scheitlin at a "Kick-off" dinner for a wartime recruitment drive. Eleanor Frank, Specialist Recruiter, Second Class was also present, right. Eight unidentified individuals at head table stand for administering of oath. (T. Times, 6/6/44, p. 9).
Women--Military service--Tacoma; World War, 1939-1945--Recruiting & enlistment--Tacoma; Scheitlin, Alice Mary; Fleming, Samuel; Frank, Eleanor; Naval parades & ceremonies--Tacoma--1940-1950;
In July of 1942, U.S.O. Junior Hostess registration was located at the United Services Organization office in Room 106 of the Rust Building, 950 Pacific Avenue. Five women posed for this publicity picture at a desk under a large U.S.O. banner.The women were, left to right, Eleanor Hoyt, unidentified woman in hat, Marie Caldwell, Grace Blangy and Phyllis Graves. The junior hostesses were responsible for building morale by providing female companionship for soldiers in town, serving as dance and sports partners. Publicity for Community Chest. (TNT 8/2/1942, pg. A-7)
World War, 1939-1945--Social aspects--Tacoma; United Service Organizations (Tacoma); Hoyt, Eleanor; Caldwell, Marie; Blangy, Grace; Graves, Phyllis;
In July of 1942, U.S.O. Junior Hostess registration was located at the United Services Organization office, Room 106, Rust Building. Five women pose for this publicity picture at a desk under a large U.S.O. banner.The women are, left to right, Eleanor Hoyt, unidentified woman in hat, Marie Caldwell, Grace Blangy and Phyllis Graves. Publicity for Community Chest. (TNT 8/2/1942, pg. A-7)
World War, 1939-1945--Social aspects--Tacoma; United Service Organizations (Tacoma); Hoyt, Eleanor; Caldwell, Marie; Blangy, Grace; Graves, Phyllis;
On June 20, 1942, smiling volunteers take soldiers' reservations for available beds. This was a typical scene at the USO center in the Rust Building on Saturdays during the war years. Temporary weekend dormitories were set up at area churches, homes and the Mission. For 35 cents a soldier could get a bed; a hot breakfast would cost 20 cents more. TPL-1974 (TNT 7/5/1942, pg. 1)
World War, 1939-1945--Military life--Tacoma; USO clubs (Tacoma)--1940-1950;
