Herman Walker of the Hilltop Multi-Service Center watched in December of 1968 as Sherwin Williams prepared to insert a letter holding a donation to the Opportunity & Development, Inc. Christmas party for the underprivileged into the special mailbox at the Tacoma Sears store. Young Audrey Kinlow, in suit and tie, looked on. Tacomans in 1968 were asked to make Christmas happier for thousands of youngsters by contributing to the anti-poverty unit's annual Christmas party to be held on December 21st at McCarver Elementary School. Twelve special handmade mailboxes were placed in Sears, Puget Sound National Bank and Bank of Washington's main offices, and other locations . No postage was needed for these special letters; Herman Walker of the Hilltop Multi-Service Center (above) acted as Santa's special postmaster. (Photograph ordered by Tacoma-Pierce County Opportunity & Development, Inc.) (TNT 12-11-68, A-12)

Walker, Herman; Williams, Sherwin; Kinlow, Audrey; Sears, Roebuck & Co. (Tacoma); Mailboxes--Tacoma; Correspondence; Fund raising--Tacoma--1960-1970;

On December 4, 1968, Mrs. Ann Walker and Harry Birmingham, the Tacoma Sears Department Store manager, alerted Santa to all the upcoming festivities planned for the second annual Tacoma-Pierce County Opportunity & Development Christmas party for underprivileged children. Mrs. Walker and Mr. Birmingham were committee members for the event. They showed Santa a sample of the 6,000 pledge cards being prepared to seek donations for the party. Funds from the pledge cards would provide gifts, toys, clothing, and a scrumptious turkey dinner for 3,000 youngsters on December 21st. The cards were targeted toward citizens, church groups, schools, service clubs, granges and civic organizations. Mr. Birmingham also prepared 20 special Santa mailboxes for supermarkets and other locations in Pierce County where pledge cards could be returned. (Photograph ordered by Tacoma-Pierce County Opportunity & Development, Inc.) (TNT 12-8-68, A-20)

Walker, Ann; Birmingham, Harry; Sears, Roebuck & Co. (Tacoma); Santa Claus--Tacoma; Fund raising--Tacoma--1960-1970;

Sears, Roebuck held a summer appliance sale on the rooftop parking area of their parking center at 1140-50 Court C in August of 1954. During the summer clearance sale customers could save up to $72 on a Kenmore washer and $81 on a Kenmore dryer. Wringers, refrigerators and chest freezers were also on sale. Beyond the parking garage further up the South 13th Street hill can be seen: the Dewey Hotel, 1308 Market Street; the Coliseum Bowling Alley, 407 South 13th; and (top right, just beyond the bowling sign) the Crescent Ballroom, 1308-10 Fawcett Avenue. The brick building at top center is the Eagles Hall, 1305-07 Fawcett Ave.; it was demolished in April of 2007 several days after its roof collapsed.

Sears, Roebuck & Co. (Tacoma); Washing machines; Appliances;

The Sears store, ordered by Fairchild Publications. The entrance to the service station can be seen at the rear of the building. Elevated parking center at 1140-50 Court C.

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

June was Dairy Month in the State of Washington and local businesses helped to advertise the virtues of drinking milk. A window display in the Sears, Roebuck store on June 8, 1953, was filled with photographs of cows, perhaps prize-winners, along with cut-outs of nature's "food factory" and a scale model of a dairy. Posters reminded passersby that dairy foods, including milk, cheese and ice cream, were "nature's goodness..at its best!" TPL-9371

Dairy products; Sears, Roebuck & Co. (Tacoma); Window displays--Tacoma--1950-1960; Signs (Notices); Advertisements--Tacoma;

Sears, Roebuck and Company style show on main floor. Eight children, two boys and six girls, dressed in spring outfits. Group portrait taken with children atop a cabinet and in front of spring decorated column.

Six Sears, Roebuck employees appear to be happily gazing at a check or benefit statement from their employer in this March, 1953, photograph. D.A. Anderson, manager of Sears Tacoma, presents Connie Vaughn, newest member to the profit sharing plan, her annual statement. Sears offered profit sharing as one of their many employer-paid benefits to all regular employees after a year's employment. A poster on the wall behind the employees shows some of the benefits covered by the company; besides profit sharing, these included paid vacation and holidays, group life insurance, group hospitalization and employee discounts. A second poster displays a map locating Sears retail and factory stores nationwide and indicates the possibility for unlimited advancement. (TNT 3-7-53, p. 7)

Sears, Roebuck & Co. (Tacoma)--Employees--1950-1960; Employee fringe benefits; Posters; Anderson, D.A.; Vaughn, Connie;

Sears, Roebuck and Co. Hand hooked rugs window display, sizes ranging from 2' X 5' to 10' X 14', including oval shaped carpets as photographed on November 3, 1952. Customers were urged to use Sears' easy payment plan.

Sears, Roebuck & Co. (Tacoma); Department stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1950-1960; Rugs;

Sears Roebuck displayed fourteen Remington Rand portable typewriters, some with cases, in their window. E. Remington & Sons introduced the first commercially viable typewriter in 1873. Remington Typewriter and Rand Kardex merged in 1927 to form Remington Rand. Remington Rand produced the world's first business computer in 1949. Ordered by Remington Rand Company.

Sears, Roebuck & Co. (Tacoma); Department stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Typewriters; Remington Rand Co. (Rowayton, Ct.); Window displays--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Sears Roebuck and Company's shoe department includes a display of oxfords for $5.99 and moccasins for $2.49 on the right with childrens' and waterproof shoes on the left. The rest of the large department continues in the rear.

Sears, Roebuck & Co. (Tacoma); Merchandise displays--Tacoma; Shoes;

Sears Roebuck and Company Department Store.Tables display sandals for $2.79 and various other shoes. Chairs and other shoe tables are seen in the rear.

Sears, Roebuck & Co. (Tacoma); Merchandise displays--Tacoma; Shoes;

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;

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;

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);

Mrs. N. Earl Davison at Sears with daughter Joanne, 13, and son Steve, 11, are looking at a table saw for a possible Christmas gift. Joanne smiles at her brother as she sticks her finger through a small hole in the rough board. Sears, like now, carried a wide variety of items for sale including home tools.

Saws; Davison, N. Earl--Family; Sears, Roebuck & Co. (Tacoma); Shopping--Tacoma--1950-1960; Children shopping--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Sears Roebuck and Company Department Store, Sporting Goods Department. Luggage on left, bicycles on right, table of hats, balls and bats. Back wall has rifles, tennis racquets, and fishing poles.

Business Enterprises - Department Stores - Tacoma - Sears Roebuck and Company Equipment - Sporting Goods

Sears Roebuck and Company Department Store, Housewares Department. Dishes and glassware in front with pots and pans next to them. Paint Department beyond.

Business Enterprises - Department Stores - Tacoma - Sears Roebuck and Company Equipment - Cooking Utensils, Tableware

Sears, Roebuck and Company Department Store, Powertool Department, as photographed on September 5, 1951. Tablesaws, jointer on left with drill presses. Next row has smaller power drills and accessories.

Sears, Roebuck & Co. (Tacoma); Department stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Equipment; Saws; Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Sears Roebuck and Company Department Store, Appliance Department. Three rows of electric ranges are photographed on September 5, 1951. This was the Tacoma location of Sears, 1148 Broadway.

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

Sears, Roebuck and Co. Department Store, Second Floor. Hardware, hoses in stack, cabinet hardware, tools on back wall. Sears promoted their "easy payment plan."

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

Sears Roebuck and Co. Department Store, Kitchen Display. Refrigerator on left with cabinets in L- shape. Sink with window above, stove on right, small counter with rounded shelves on end. Photograph taken on September 5, 1951.

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

Sears Roebuck and Company Department Store, Automotive Department. This elevated view of the automotive department, taken on September 5, 1951, shows tires on right, four tables with oil, seat covers, auto accessories, batteries and mufflers on right back wall. The automotive section seemed to be set next to appliances, including stoves.

Sears, Roebuck & Co. (Tacoma); Department stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Automobile equipment & supplies; Stoves--Tacoma--1950-1960;

The pillars in the new parking garage at 13th and Market create a forest of concrete trees in this photograph from August of 1951. In 1951 Sears, Roebuck & Co. built a parking garage to help provide inexpensive, plentiful parking for their downtown customers. Sears offered one hour of free parking. Thirty years later, in 1981, Sears moved their store to the Tacoma Mall. This garage, which stands across from the downtown YMCA, became the Cornerstone Building.

Sears, Roebuck & Co. (Tacoma); Parking garages--Tacoma; Parking lots--Tacoma--1950-1960; Signs (Notices);

View of alley entrance to Sears, Roebuck's multi-tiered parking lot. As the large sign above the parking lot's entrance indicted, Sears offered their customers one hour of free parking from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. This was a new concept to attract more customers to Sears; even in the summer of 1951, downtown parking was at a premium and parking congestion becoming prevalent. New keys could also be made at the garage's entrance with only a minute's delay.

Sears, Roebuck & Co. (Tacoma); Parking garages--Tacoma; Parking lots--Tacoma--1950-1960; Signs (Notices);

A well dressed family marches into Sears in the summer of 1951. In a photograph shot for advertising purposes, a sign denoting "New lower down payments" on household appliances is prominently displayed to attract such customers to enter the building. What appears to be a mangler with lid is selling for $124.95 and other appliances can be glimpsed close to entrances and windows. TPL-2530

Sears, Roebuck & Co. (Tacoma); Signs (Notices); Business enterprises--Tacoma--1950-1960;

A Sears, Roebuck employee demonstrates a new television console to a young Tacoma family in August, 1951. A similar television with rectangular screen is on sale for $259. Sears was having a sale on household appliances and furnishings with low down payments advertised. A sign on the wall indicates that a 15% down payments would be accepted. Several refrigerators are lined up just a few short steps away. TPL-5046

Sears, Roebuck & Co. (Tacoma); Televisions--1950-1960; Children watching television; Refrigerators; Selling--Tacoma; Sales personnel--Tacoma;

Elevated view of the Sears, Roebuck & Co.'s parking lot taken on July 23, 1951. Photograph was apparently taken from across the street and shows that the lot is full; apparently many Tacomans were taking advantage of the free parking that Sears provided. The multi-tiered parking lot would help to alleviate the problems of insufficient parking that downtown Tacoma was already starting to experience.

Sears, Roebuck & Co. (Tacoma); Parking garages--Tacoma; Parking lots--Tacoma--1950-1960;