The gently arched roof of Parkland's Redi-Gas plant cast giant shadows over the paved parking lot. The architectural firm of Swedberg & Anderson designed the facility and it was built by Purvis Construction in 1958. Local products were used in the construction; Douglas fir plywood panels were installed in the arched roof. Walnut-faced plywood was used in the interior walls while glass and brick formed the exterior. Besides the showrooms, general and administrative offices, warehouse and shop, two huge storage tanks holding 43,000 pounds of liquid petroleum gas were on the property. Redi-Gas was a propane gas distributing company with ten retail outlets in the Pacific Northwest. Photograph ordered by Woodlam, Inc.
Redi-Gas Service (Parkland); Fuel trade--Parkland;
The elegant living room in the Harold W. Meyer residence featured an enormous stone/brick fireplace which occupied an entire wall. A large rug with geometric patterns lies in the center of the tiled floor surrounded by several couches. The wooden beams in the ceiling were probably glue-laminated and provided by Woodlam, Inc. Harold W. Meyer owned Harold Meyer Drugs as well as the Crystalike Photo Service & Color Laboratory and Meyer Camera Shop. He and his wife Louise resided on Gravelly Lake Drive in Lakewood. Photograph ordered by Woodlam, Inc.
Meyer, Harold W.--Homes & haunts; Houses--Lakewood--1950-1960; Fireplaces--Lakewood; Rugs;
Villa Plaza Shopping Center as seen overhead by plane. Aerial photographs of the Villa Plaza Shopping Center in Lakewood were taken on August 5, 1958. Noticeable is the large parking lot with room for 4000 cars. At this time the Villa Plaza had approximately 30 stores including Rhodes, Grants, Penney's, Foreman & Clark and Thriftway supermarket. There appears to still have been room for further expansion to the right of the photograph. The heavily wooded section to the photograph's left may not be there nearly 50 years later; it is probably all housing. Photograph ordered by Dolph Jones.
Aerial photographs; Villa Plaza Shopping Center (Lakewood); Neighborhoods--Lakewood;
Additional aerial photographs of the Lakewood area surrounding the Villa Plaza Shopping Center were taken by the Richards Studio for a sample book on August 5, 1958. Lakewood was a fast growing community in the 1950's and the developers of the Villa Plaza filled a niche for a large one-stop shopping center. There was plenty of parking available, enough for 4000 cars, and apparently room for further expansion of the center. Aerial photographs of that time showed that there were neatly laid out streets with many trees. Lots were probably larger and less expensive than those within Tacoma city limits. The remodeled Lakewood Center, a smaller shopping center that was Lakewood's first, is almost directly in the center of the picture above the Villa Plaza. TPL-8319
Aerial photographs; Villa Plaza Shopping Center (Lakewood); Shopping centers--Lakewood--1950-1960; Neighborhoods--Lakewood--1950-1960;
Aerial photographs of the Lakewood neighborhoods including Bridgeport and Gravelly Lake Drive were taken on August 2, 1958, by the Richards Studio for inclusion in a sample book. McChord Air Force Base are the white group of buildings near the top of the photograph. The new Villa Plaza Shopping Center is surrounded by a massive paved parking lot. The Lakewood Center, Lakewood's first shopping center constructed in 1937 and remodeled and expanded the early 1950's, is toward the center of the photograph. The Little Church on the Prairie is on Motor Drive, to the right of the Lakewood Center.
Aerial photographs; Villa Plaza Shopping Center (Lakewood); Lakewood Community Center (Lakewood); Shopping centers--Lakewood--1950-1960; Neighborhoods--Lakewood--1950-1960;
Aerial photographs of the Lakewood area were taken on August 5, 1958. Lake Steilacoom is the large body of water to the foreground. The Villa Plaza Shopping Center is easily spotted as it is surrounded by acres of paved parking lots. McChord Air Force Base, as the group of white buildings, can barely be seen near the right of the photograph. Only the tip of Mount Rainier is clearly visible as mist covers the lower portions. Photograph ordered by Richards Studio for a sample book.
Aerial photographs; Villa Plaza Shopping Center (Lakewood); Lake Steilacoom (Wash.);
Views of suburban Lakewood were taken by plane on August 2, 1958, by Richards Studio for use in a sample book. The new Villa Plaza Shopping Center is toward the center of the picture on Gravelly Lake Drive. It is easy to pick out because of the large cluster of buildings surrounded by the huge parking lot. TPL-8320
Aerial photographs; Villa Plaza Shopping Center (Lakewood); Shopping centers--Lakewood--1950-1960; Neighborhoods--Lakewood--1950-1960;
Displays of Texaco and Valvoline Motor Oil (for outboard motors and cars) greet customers entering the new Top Auto Stores location at 56th & South Tacoma Way. The store had relocated next door to its old building, which would now be used as Top Auto Storage. Top Auto sold automobile accessories including oil, car radios, paint, tools, car cleaning equipment and other car parts. The U-shaped counter in the center had two cash registers, one on each side to help customers. Signs dangling overhead advised drivers to "prepare now for miles of driving fun." Mayor Ben Hansen cut the ribbon at the new store's grand opening on July 31, 1958. As pictured above, the store contained a spacious showroom in addition to a shop in the rear that handled the installation of seat covers, mufflers, tires, batteries and brake lining. Gordon Moseson was manager of this South Tacoma Top Auto. Photograph ordered by Llewellyn Advertising. (TNT 7-31-58, A-4)
Top Auto Stores (Tacoma); Automobile equipment & supplies stores--Tacoma; Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1950-1960; Cash registers; Signs (Notices);
An employee of Ace Furnace & Steel Co. leans one arm against a massive steel jet propulsion fuel storage tank on company property on August 5, 1958. He appears diminutive when contrasted with the 10.6 foot diameter tank. The gas tank measures 77.5 feet in length. Ace Furnace produced steel storage tanks for oil, gasoline and water, stacks, marquees, canopies, steel heating and ventilation systems, boilers, furnaces, and marine sheet metal. The company's major output now are tanks of all sizes, approximately 400-800 tanks per month. The huge tanks pictured above were just built for McChord Air Force Base. It is estimated that these were the largest shop fabricated steel tanks ever built in Tacoma. The Northern Pacific cars in the background would make transportation of these heavy steel products easier and more efficient. Photograph ordered by Ace Furnace & Steel Co. (TNT 9-1-58, C-7)
A three-alarm blaze caused $47,000 in damages to the Imported Motors facility on August 6, 1958. A leaking gasoline tank that fell caused the fast-spreading fire. Twenty cars were saved but nine expensive foreign cars were badly damaged. Imported Motors was owned by Tom Carstens who flew in via a small plane immediately from Seattle to inspect the damage. This photograph taken 30 hours after the fire shows the heavy damage to the overhead roof area; parts of the laminated beams are still intact while others have been burned, leaving the building exposed to the elements. Photograph ordered by Woodlam, Inc. (TNT 8-6-58, A-1)
Imported Motor Cars, Inc. (Tacoma); Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1950-1960; Fires--Tacoma--1950-1960;
Mount Rainier was shrouded in clouds on August 8, 1958, when aerial photographs of the future Tacoma Mall area were taken for Allied Owners, Inc. A series of photographs were taken between South 38th & South 56th Streets from Sprague to Pine. The baseball field toward the center of the picture is probably Cheney Field which was on 38th & Lawrence. It is possible that the Tacoma Mall would be in or near the wooded area toward the top of the photograph. This south end area would be further changed with the coming of the freeway in a few years.
This aerial photograph, taken for Allied Owners, Inc. in August of 1958, shows the area of South Tacoma that would become home to the Tacoma Mall Shopping Center. The winding, twisting roads toward the lower center are the Lincoln Heights neighborhood. The road on the far right is South Pine. South 38th Street cuts through the middle of the photo from left to right. The tree covered area at right center is now the site of the Tacoma Mall. I-5 is yet to be built. At the top is Wapato Park and Wapato Lake.
The South Tacoma area would be experiencing many changes in the late 1950's with the coming of the Tacoma Mall and the freeways. Aerial photographs taken for Allied Owners, Inc., on August 8, 1958, show the carefully laid out streets of the South Tacoma. It shows South 56th Street running from left to right across the center of the picture to the wooded area at the right, Wapato Hills. The church with the tall steeple in the left corner is the Church of Visitation on South 58th St. The area where the Tacoma Mall would eventually be built may have been in or close to the woods in the upper center of the photograph, next to the flat L shaped area.
The S.H. Kress store had been located on Broadway since October, 1925. Extensive remodeling was done by Tacoma craftsmen in 1957 and the store celebrated its grand reopening on August 14, 1958. The new Kress was completely air conditioned and had expanded to 20,000 square feet on two floors. Total cost was approximately $700,000. View of alley entrance to Kress shows a new-looking sign with the store name; the shipping department with hours of 8-12 also had its entrance in the rear. Bars are on the lower windows for security measures. Photograph ordered by S.H. Kress store. (TNT 8-13-58, A-8-11) TPL-9208
The S.H. Kress & Co. store celebrated its grand opening and invited everyone to visit their newly remodeled store on August 14, 1958. Kress had been a downtown fixture since 1925. George Kirkebo & Son began remodeling the store in 1957 using the designs of architect Karl Swedberg. View of store's interior featuring wide aisles of costume jewelry, hosiery and makeup. Balloons provided a cheerful atmosphere while signs advising the availability of layaway plans and quick self-service were posted throughout the store. The store was completely air conditioned and its two floors expanded to 20,000 square feet. Fluorescent lighting illuminated the soft white upper walls and ceilings while the dark mahogany panelings on the lower walls provided a rich contrast. Kress offered specials during their grand opening: brass hostess carts for $9.99, Ronson electric shavers for $8.88, and provided free delivery within the city for purchases over $5. A unique drawing gave away a free live alligator each day; winner need not be present. (TNT 8-13-58, A-8-11) TPL-9911
Three large hoists manufactured by Star Iron & Steel Co. are loaded on flat cars ready to be shipped to waiting customers on August 8, 1958. Star Iron had been in the business of manufacturing hoisting equipment and logging machinery since 1931. During WWII, they made some of the heaviest and largest cranes used by the U.S. Navy and industry. Star Iron was operated by Edward N. Allen, president. Photograph ordered by Star Iron & Steel Co.
Hoisting machinery; Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Steel industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;
Light snow barely covers the tip of Mount Rainier in August, 1958. The landscape is exposed where the forests have been clear-cut by St. Paul & Tacoma loggers. Loggers were careful to cut only selected areas. St. Paul & Tacoma was one of the first companies to follow a systematic reforestation program on the millions of acres of land it owned. Photograph ordered by Malcolm McGhie, industrial consultant.
Lumber industry--1950-1960; St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. (Tacoma);
A technician working at the Rayonier plant in Shelton carefully measures liquid to be poured from one flask to another in an August 14, 1958, photograph. There are a number of tubes extending into various jugs and containers. This man may have been located in the Radio and Chemical Laboratory at Rayonier. Photograph ordered by Malcolm McGhie, industrial consultant.
Rayonier, Inc. (Shelton); Laboratories--Shelton; Research facilities--Shelton;
As the large letters indicated, only authorized persons were allowed in the radio chemical laboratory at the Rayonier plant in Shelton. Peering through a double paned window, a technician can be seen working on equipment. The door to the lab may have been made of steel to muffle any noise. The Shelton plant was established in 1927; it produced chemical cellulose. Photograph ordered by Malcolm McGhie.
Rayonier, Inc. (Shelton); Laboratories--Shelton; Signs (Notices);
Downtown Pacific Avenue was home to large retail and financial institutions. Side-by-side in the 1100 block of Pacific was Peoples department store, Puget Sound National Bank, and National Bank of Washington with the installment credit loan department of N.B.W. in the 1200 block next door. Schoenfeld's enormous sign can be spotted further down the street. The National Bank of Washington had an elevated, possibly rotating clock, on the top of the credit loan building. Passerbys could also tell time by the Puget Sound National Bank Time & Temperature sign; it indicates that it was 74 degrees at the time of this August 19, 1958, photograph. Photograph ordered by Electrical Products Consolidated. TPL-9294
Electric signs--Tacoma--1950-1960; Clocks & watches; Puget Sound National Bank (Tacoma); National Bank of Washington (Tacoma);
Both Puget Sound National Bank and the National Bank of Washington had large vertical signage on the exteriors of their buildings. Attached to the PSNB sign was a Time & Temperature electric sign; the bank was the first in this area to erect a device giving both the time and current temperature. View of Pacific Avenue, looking toward Old City Hall with bank signage prominently displayed. The National Bank of Washington building was smaller than Puget Sound National Bank; it was built in 1921 in the Italian Renaissance style and used Wilkeson sandstone. Photograph ordered by Electrical Products Consolidated.
Electric signs--Tacoma--1950-1960; Clocks & watches; Signs (Notices); Puget Sound National Bank (Tacoma); National Bank of Washington (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma;
Brilliant sunshine greets Lillian F. Johnston as she poses outside her contemporary brick home on Pacific Avenue on August 19, 1958. She is holding several dahlias as she stands next to an extended brick planter. Her large yard is nicely landscaped with shrubs and trees. Mrs. Johnston was the widow of Guy R. Johnston.
Johnston, Lillian F. --Homes & haunts; Johnston, Lillian F.;
Joseph M. (Jody) & Dorothy Pederson opened their new Pederson's Fryer Farms plant in June, 1958, at 2901 72nd Street East in Parkland. In this view of the fryer plant, rows of plucked and unplucked chickens are dangling by their legs from the conveyer that runs from the loading dock into the plant. Two men are examining wooden crates containing more chickens. The newly enlarged Pederson's had the latest in automatic poultry processing equipment with the capacity to dress and package 2,500 chickens per hour. From loading dock to packaging, it only took 13 minutes to decapitate, eviscerate, pluck, singe, and cool the birds for cutting and packaging. Pederson's employed 88 people, including 15 delivery drivers. The Pedersons started their chicken business in 1946; fifty years later, Pederson Farms was sold to the Foster Farms company. Photograph ordered by Pederson's Fryer Farms. (TNT 6-19-58, A-4, TNT 6-22-58, B-13)
This is the Joseph M. (Jody) Pederson home at 2901 E. 72nd St. Buffered by trees, the home appears to be of the typical 1920's bungalow style. Mr. Pederson and his wife Dorothy were owners of the Pederson Fryer Farms apparently located on the same property. They had started their chicken business in 1946; fifty years later, Pederson Farms would be sold to the Foster Farms company. The Senior Pedersons would eventually move their personal residence to Lake Bay, according to the 1959 City Directory, with the J.M. (Jack) Pederson Jr. family occupying the old family home. Photograph ordered by Pederson Fryer Farms.
A large Dodge truck carrying a load of wooden crates covered with chicken wire is parked in front of a line of Pederson's Fryer Farms delivery vans. The driver's door is held open by Jack F. Kidd Sr. (left) while he has a discussion with Joseph (Jack) M. Pederson Jr. They may be talking about the chickens on board. Pederson's employed 88 people, including fifteen delivery drivers. The company, owned by J.M. (Jody) and Dorothy Pederson, had opened a newly enlarged fryer plant in June, 1958. It was a thriving business for many years; later the firm was sold to the Foster Farms Company in 1996. Photograph ordered by Pederson's Fryer Farms. (TNT 6-19-58, A-4, TNT 6-22-58, B-13)
Pederson's Fryer Farms (Tacoma); Chicken industry--Tacoma; Dodge trucks; Crates--Tacoma; Kidd, Jack F.; Pederson, Joseph M.;
Aerials of the Tacoma Tideflats industrial area were taken on August 20, 1958, on behalf of the Richards Studio. The Tideflats, already home to railroads, chemical plants and pulp mills, had plenty of room for future expansion. The long narrow street running horizontally is 11th Street with the Milwaukee Way intersecting it. Rows of railroad cars are lined up near the Sitcum and Milwaukee Waterways which are full of log dumps and platforms.
Educators Manufacturing Co., makers of school furniture, opened a new plant in the Tideflats area in 1958. Located at 3401 Lincoln Avenue, close to Taylor Way, the company shared the same address with Buffelen Woodworking & Buffelen Sales Co. The million dollar plant was located on a sprawling ten acre industrial site in the Tideflats. 133,000 square feet of plant space handled mass production of quality controlled classroom equipment. All production processes were located on one floor which reduced material handling cost. Hart Construction Co. were the general contractors. View of large plant, apparently divided into three sections, all with gently curved roofs. There is a large parking lot bordered by stacks of plywood. Washington Cooperative Farmers Feed Mill looms in the background. Photograph ordered by Educators Manufacturing Co. (TNT suppl. 11-9-58, p. 4) TPL-9831
Aerial photographs of the Tideflats area showing the new Educators Manufacturing Co.'s plant on Lincoln Avenue were taken on August 26, 1958. Educators Mfg. made school furniture. The company built a one million dollar facility on ten acres in the Tideflats for mass production of quality controlled classroom equipment. They apparently shared the same address with Buffelen Woodworking & Buffelen Sales Co. View of large plant with three connected buildings. Industrial area to the right of the photograph was the Reichhold Chemicals plant. Photograph ordered by Educators Manufacturing Co. (TNT suppl. 11-9-58, p. 4)
Lundberg Concrete Pipe Co., Inc., occupied a large stretch of land on Center Street near Pine. Aerial photographs taken on August 14, 1958, show a modern industrial plant surrounded by sections of pipe. Lundberg Concrete also apparently used nearby hillside site for storing large pipes. The company was a family-owned business, headed by Oscar N. Lundberg as president. Allenmore Golf Course appears to be located on the photo's left side. Photograph ordered by Lundberg Concrete Pipe Co., Inc.
