Tacoma Mayor Harry P. Cain, seated in rear at the head table, was one of the principal speakers at the annual induction meeting of the Tacoma Active Club, held at the (New) Tacoma Hotel on December 12, 1940. 46 initiates were accepted into the group's membership. In addition, Active International president Ted Little of Olympia and the mayor-elect of Olympia, Truman Trullinger, were guest speakers. ALBUM 12. (T.Times 12-13-40, p. 12)
Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979; Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Meetings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Active Club (Tacoma);
The singing group, the Clef Dwellers, pose for a group portrait at the Y.M.C.A. on March 26, 1957. Sponsored by the Tacoma Arts & Science Club, they would be performing in concert on April 3 in the Weyerhaeuser Hall. The Clef Dwellers are a popular 24-voice mixed chorus specializing in songs from Broadway hits. Formed two years ago, they are directed by Patricia Hellenkamp. Donna Welbes provides the accompaniment. Photograph ordered by the Clef Dwellers. (TNT 3-31-57, D-14)
ca. 1957. Interior- Thriftway supermarket. A customer would not need to linger in lines for any length of time as the new Villa Thriftway came equipped with at least eleven check-out stands. At least one stand was expressly for quick check-out with six items or less. Customers were asked to place items on the movable belt with the prices up for faster service. Scales were provided at each stand so that produce could be weighed. Boxes of cigarettes were readily available on top of each cash register. The new 22,000 square foot supermarket was located in the Villa Plaza shopping center in Lakewood at the site of the former Visitation Villa. Photograph ordered by Associated Grocers, Inc. (TNT 4-2-57, B-7)
Villa Thriftway Food Stores (Lakewood); Supermarkets; Cash registers;
ca. 1957. Exterior- Thriftway. The Villa Thriftway supermarket would open for business in April, 1957. The store's name is in large neon letters on the building's porch roof. The overhanging porch would also protect customers from the elements as they entered or exited the store. Following an architectural trend, enormous windows are positioned at the supermarket's front. Located in Lakewood's new Villa Plaza Shopping Center, the 22,000 square foot store was built to order for a Thriftway market. It cost approximately $200,000. The shopping center boasted of plenty of parking; there was room for 4000 cars. Photograph ordered by Associated Grocers, Inc. (TNT 4-2-57, B-7)
Villa Thriftway Food Stores (Lakewood); Supermarkets; Electric signs--Lakewood;
Sivertson (or Sivertsen) Family Reunion. Family members gathered on December 8, 1940, for a group portrait. Seated on the couch are two of the most senior members.
In December of 1940 Northwest Airlines was advertising the cost savings and convenience of air travel in the Tacoma newspapers. Northwest Airlines could carry travelers from the Seattle-Tacoma area to Chicago in just 13 hours, meals aloft were free and tips were taboo. Tickets could be purchased in Tacoma at the Central Travel Bureau, 903 Pacific Avenue. Managed by Frank G. Ploof, Central Travel offered a complete line of travel and tourist services including steamship and airline tickets, reservations, travel insurance and American Express travelers checks. (T.Times 12/13/1940 p.3)
Northwest Airlines (Tacoma); Central Travel Bureau (Tacoma); Ticket offices--Tacoma; Tourism;
Exterior of new Leed's Shoes at the Villa Plaza Shopping Center. This is believed to be the back entrance to the shoe store; most of the stores in the new Villa Plaza had both back and front entrances. Leed's was located on the Rhodes and Grant department stores side of the promenade. In the Villa Plaza's first few months of existence, Leed's and Fashion Shoes were the only major shoe stores there. It celebrated its grand opening on Thursday, April 4, 1957.
Leed's Shoes (Lakewood); Shoe stores--Lakewood--1950-1960; Villa Plaza Shopping Center (Lakewood); Shopping centers--Lakewood--1950-1960;
Interior of new Leed's Shoes at Villa Plaza Shopping Center. Leed's advertised QualiCraft shoes. In addition, purses, handbags and hosiery could be purchased there. The new suburban store opened on April 4, 1957, as the 197th QualiCraft store in the United States, the 59th on the Pacific Coast and second in Tacoma. The first Tacoma Leed's opened at 932 Broadway in 1937. The Villa Plaza Leed's was about 30 feet wide and 150 feet deep. Its ceilings and main wall were painted pale turquoise and beige and oyster-white textured tweed carpet was laid on the floor. Ellery Wybrow was named as the Villa Plaza Leed's first manager. (TNT 4-3-57, A-7-article)
Leed's Shoes (Lakewood); Shoe stores--Lakewood--1950-1960; Merchandise displays--Lakewood--1950-1960; Villa Plaza Shopping Center (Lakewood); Shopping centers--Lakewood--1950-1960;
Expansive view of interior of new Leed's Shoes taken back to front. Leed's opened at the Villa Plaza Shopping Center on April 4, 1957. Located next to Rhodes, the new suburban store featured ladies shoes (primarily QualiCraft), hosiery and purses. This was the second Leed's in Tacoma with the first opening in downtown Tacoma in 1937. The 150-foot deep store used a blend of brick, glass, wood and stone in its construction. The stone was especially noticeable as the base for the hosiery, wrapping and cash counters. (TNT 4-3-57, A-7-article)
Leed's Shoes (Lakewood); Shoe stores--Lakewood--1950-1960; Villa Plaza Shopping Center (Lakewood); Shopping centers--Lakewood--1950-1960;
Leed's Shoes exterior at Villa Plaza Shopping Center. Above the 12-foot canopy was cement stucco trimmed in redwood. There were two Leed's locations in the Tacoma area in 1957; one was at 938 Broadway in downtown Tacoma and the newest Leed's was situated at the Villa Plaza Shopping Center in Lakewood, next to the Rhodes Department Store. This view is believed to be of the front entrance to the shoe store. Most stores in the Villa Plaza had two entrances. The Villa Plaza Leed's, which handled exclusively women's shoes, hosiery and handbags, opened for business on April 4, 1957. Ellery Wybrow was promoted to store manager. (TNT 4-3-57, A-7-article)
Leed's Shoes (Lakewood); Shoe stores--Lakewood--1950-1960; Villa Plaza Shopping Center (Lakewood); Shopping centers--Lakewood--1950-1960;
Construction continues on the new Tacoma Savings & Loan Association building located at 101 So. 9th St. in April, 1957. A massive concrete circular staircase is in the process of being completed. The building was designed by local architects Lea, Pearson & Richards with Ketner Brothers as the contractors. It would feature extruded aluminum and insulating glass with black granite trim and blue Spandrelite glass panels. The savings & loan would open in later that summer. Photograph ordered by Tacoma Savings & Loan Association.
Building construction--Tacoma--1950-1960; Stairways--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma Savings & Loan Association (Tacoma);
Mountain View Memorial Park was one of the largest funeral facilities in the area. They were able to offer complete services in one convenient location--combining the cemetery, funeral home, chapel, mausoleum, and crematorium on large acreage in Lakewood. View of office building located on the grounds of Mountain View Memorial Park; it resembles a luxurious brick home rather than a mortuary. Photograph ordered by Clark Richardson Advertising Agency.
Mountain View Memorial Park (Lakewood); Cemeteries--Lakewood;
Exterior Gaffney Funeral Home. The Gaffney Funeral Home, owned by Theodore B. Gaffney, had been in business since 1905. The mortuary had been located at 1002 Yakima Avenue South since 1932. The brick and concrete building with cast stone trim had been designed by architects Heath, Gove & Bell and constructed by West End Exchange, with ample parking facilities available. According to the 1957 City Directory, the mortuary endorsed and recommended the Purple Cross Plan for prepaid funeral expenses. Photograph ordered by Gaffney Funeral Home.
Gaffney Funeral Home (Tacoma); Morgues & mortuaries--Tacoma--1950-1960;
Exterior -Packard Bell Co. Delivery trucks and vans stand ready at the Packard Bell Co., 2515 Tacoma Avenue South, on April 17, 1957. They provided in-home factory service and repairs of Packard Bell televisions. According to the 1957 City Directory, Hjalmer E. Olson was manager of the store. Packard Bell shared space in the building with the T.W. Heckel Co., also dealers in television equipment. Packard Bell had previously been located nearby at 2329 Tacoma Avenue South. Photograph ordered by Bozell & Jacobs.
Packard Bell Co. (Tacoma); Trucks--Tacoma--1950-1960; Televisions--1950-1960;
C & G Radio Supply were wholesalers of electronic equipment, televisions, and radio parts. Located in the 2500 block of Jefferson Avenue in the former Motor Truck Service Co. building since 1949, the large company was owned by Lloyd R. Norberg. The business had been operating in Tacoma since the 1930's. 33 employees lined up for a company picture on April 16, 1957. Photograph ordered by C & G Radio Supply Co.
C & G Radio Supply Co. (Tacoma); Stores & shops--Tacoma;
Christmas display of the Nativity located on the front lawn of St. Joseph's Hospital, at So. 19th & "I" St. The figures appear to be wooden cutouts painted in a highly romanticized style. In the scene, the shepherds bow before the baby Jesus, who is lying in Mary's arms. The nativity was constructed, painted and arranged by Harold Johnson, of the hospital utility crew, on his own time. Characters in the scene are the Virgin Mary, Baby Jesus, Joseph, three shepherds, the innkeeper's wife and her small son. (T. Times 12/25/1940, pg. 1)
St. Joseph's Hospital & School of Nursing (Tacoma); Hospitals--Tacoma--1940-1950; Creches (Nativity scenes); Christmas decorations;
It is possible that the upper units of the building housing Robinson's Mens Wear and the Cameo Theater were damaged by fire. The General Adjustment Bureau, insurance adjusters, were involved in the claims process. Robinson's and the Cameo Theater seem to be operating as usual on May 16, 1957, with doors open at the clothing store and "Night Runner" and "Five Guns West" playing at the movies. Other businesses, The Club and Randy's Jewelry, do not seem affected. This section of Pacific Avenue was known as the Kentucky Block Annex. Photograph ordered by General Adjustment Bureau.
General Adjustment Bureau (Tacoma); Fires--Tacoma--1950-1960; Cameo Theater (Tacoma); Robinsons Mens Wear (Tacoma);
Work progresses on the new County City Building in April, 1957. View of steel works; the steel was supplied by Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel Corporation's Seattle plant. It would be two more years until the building was completed; dedication of the new County City Building was in April, 1959. Photograph ordered by Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel Corporation.
Building construction--Tacoma--1950-1960; Steel; Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel Corp. (Seattle); County-City Building (Tacoma);
Construction continues at McChord Air Force Base in April, 1957, at the diesel engine foundations power building. View of interior of the incomplete building shows that the roof has been laid and walls partially up. Western Electric Company was involved in the new construction; it was project #1557. See D105320-6 for earlier view of the power building. Photograph ordered by Western Electric Co., Inc.
Building construction--McChord AFB; Western Electric Co., Inc.;
Loch Riehl reads a Yuletide story to his children in front of the fireplace at their home, 2415 No. Yakima Ave. The mantle is decorated with candles and evergreen boughs. Mr. Riehl was an employee of Puget Sound Bank.
Smooth sheets of plywood are carefully marked so that the craftsman knows exactly where to cut and nail in a May 3, 1957, photograph. These pieces will be used to construct a foosball toy by Panther Woodworking. See D106490-4 for a view of the finished product. Photograph ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association.
Plywood; Toys; Woodworking--Tacoma--1950-1960; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma);
Work progresses on the new County-City Building in April, 1957. Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel Corporation provided the steel needed for the framing. View of steelworks including plywood sheets on top. Construction would not be fully completed until 1959. Central Schools building can be seen in the far left with City Dye Works at the right rear. Photograph ordered by Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel Corporation.
Progress photographs; Building construction--Tacoma--1950-1960; County-City Building (Tacoma); Steel; Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel Corp. (Seattle);
On December 31, 1940, Rufus Davis, his wife Madeline and their son posed by their Christmas tree at the family's home at 3822 No. 7th St. Mr. Davis was co-owner of the Central Truck Terminal. He was also president of the Tacoma Civil Service Commission.
Rufus Davis home as viewed on New Year's Eve, 1940. Dining room with large glass window and French doors. The Davis family resided at 3822 North 7th St.
ca. 1957. G.W. Paulson Co. store at the Villa Plaza Shopping Center, circa 1957. Just three years after the opening of their store at 12th & Martin Luther King Jr. Way (then "K" St.), the Paulson Co. opened another store in Lakewood's Villa Plaza Shopping Center with a three-day celebration starting on May 16, 1957. As viewed through the expansive windows, the firm sold name brand linoleum, carpet, floor and wall tile, blinds and formica. Paulson's were specialists in all types of floor coverings. Their Villa Plaza branch was set up to better serve the Lakewood area. Robert Paulson was the company's co-owner and manager with C.K. Heath as the first manager of the Villa Plaza store. (TNT 5-15-57, A-13-article; TNT 8-7-57, B-17 - alt. photograph; B-18-article)
G.W. Paulson Co. (Lakewood); Floor coverings; Merchandise displays--Lakewood--1950-1960; Villa Plaza Shopping Center (Lakewood); Shopping centers--Lakewood--1950-1960;
ca. 1925. The Washington Building under construction. Construction on the modern American skyscraper in downtown Tacoma began in 1919 for the Scandinavian American bank, but halted a couple of years later when the bank closed. The steel structure sat deserted until it was completed in 1925 for the Washington-California Co. and dedicated on June 29, 1925. At 17 stories, it was the second tallest building in the Northwest. (WSHS)
Washington Building (Tacoma); Office buildings--Tacoma--1920-1930; Business districts--Tacoma--1920-1930;
Exterior- bank building. North Pacific Bank had been at the same location on South Tacoma Way since 1914. Designed by architects Lundberg & Mahon, the brick building also housed the South Tacoma Post Office for a while. Clarence W. Wallerich was listed as president of the one-branch bank according to the 1957 City Directory. General banking and safe deposit vaults were offered by North Pacific which had capital, surplus, reserves and undivided profits over $900,000,000. North Pacific Bank was purchased in November, 1998, by Heritage Bank. Photograph ordered by North Pacific Bank.
North Pacific Bank (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Banking--Tacoma--1950-1960;
ca. 1957. This unidentified plant was being constructed by Paul Hardeman, Inc.'s Gill Division, Los Angeles, in 1957. Smokestacks are already up as well as assorted pipes. Photograph ordered by Paul Hardeman, Inc.
