Exterior of Woolworth store. Long a downtown Tacoma fixture, the F.W. Woolworth Co. store was built on the Fidelity Building site at 9th and Broadway and celebrated its grand opening in November, 1950. The four story building had entrances both on Broadway and on Commerce Street. Thousands of shoppers flocked to Woolworth's during its tenure as Tacoma's premier five-and-dime store until its closure in 1993. View of Woolworth Building on Broadway with Rust Building in background. TPL-9909

F.W. Woolworth Co. (Tacoma); Variety stores--Tacoma;

Exterior of Bank of California Building. Constructed in 1928 from Wilkeson sandstone and granite, the Bank of California building on Pacific Avenue was designed by architect John Graham and built by contractors J.E. Bonnell & Son. Enormous Ionic columns dwarf passersby; these four columns cost $3,500 apiece. The bank's name is engraved in large letters above the columns.

Bank of California National Association (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Columns--Tacoma;

Exterior of Blake, Moffitt & Towne building. By June, 1954, the Blake, Moffitt & Towne Co. had moved to its new location of 1157 Thorne Rd. in the Tideflats area. The business was now close to E. 11th and the Port of Tacoma Road; railroad tracks shown in the above picture indicated that their products could be conveniently shipped either by rail as well as by truck. The building would encompass 40,000 square feet for warehouse and office space. It was built on a 3 1/2 acre tract to allow for plenty of customer parking as well as possible future expansion. Blake, Moffitt & Towne were wholesale distributors of printing and wrapping paper and stationery and were formerly located on Jefferson Avenue. Arthur W. Towne was listed in the 1954 City Directory as president with Lyman V. Hall as Vice-president/Manager and Richard A. Meyer as Secretary Treasurer/Office Manager. (TNT 7-18-54, C-15)

Blake, Moffitt & Towne, Inc. (Tacoma); Paper industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Railroad tracks--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Aquinas Academy Graduation Banquet. Thirty-five girls in formals seated around formal set dining table. (filed with Argentum)

Aquinas Academy (Tacoma); Graduation ceremonies--Tacoma--1930-1940; Students--Tacoma--1930-1940; Church schools--Tacoma; Private schools--Tacoma;

May, 1939, visit of Norwegian Crown Prince Olav and Crown Princess Martha. Interior of Armory showing large crowd, band and choir in front. Stage decorated with Norwegian and U.S. Flags, bunting on balcony and hanging from rafters.

Olav V, 1903-1991; Martha, Crown Princess of Norway; Rulers--Norway; Visits of state--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Crowd at banquet honoring Norwegian Crown Prince Olav and Princess Martha at the Winthrop Hotel on May 23, 1939. Waitresses in traditional black and white uniforms serve guests at round banquet tables. (Filed with Argentum)

Olav V, 1903-1991; Rulers--Norway; Visits of state--Tacoma; Banquets--Tacoma--1930-1940;

St. Joseph's graduating class of 30 new nurses. Photograph ordered by Sister Melchoir. Large group of nurses with large frilly handkerchiefs in pockets and three nuns. The nurses graduated the evening of June 1, 1939. (T.Times 6/2/1939, pg. 5- see caption for names)

Nurses--Tacoma; Nursing--Tacoma; Medical students--Tacoma; Medical education--Tacoma; St. Joseph's Hospital & School of Nursing (Tacoma);

Steve's Cafe, more commonly known as Steve's Gay '90's, was a very popular eating establishment for several decades. Located on South Tacoma Way, it was owned by Stephen O. Pease and John J. Stanley and offered, according to the 1954 City Directory, a "Smorgasbord of American Dishes Served in an Atmosphere of the Gay 90's." The restaurant was remodeled more than once; in the summer of 1954, new "cable-car" seating was added with the names of various streets and cable car numbers attached to the ends of the benches. Powell & Market #505, Angel Flight #62 and Lake Washington/Yesler/Pioneer Square #412 were just a few signs pictured in a July 4, 1954, photograph. A Cable Car Menu posted indicated that French fried prawns in a basket could be purchased for $1.00, half a fried chicken for $1.25 and Steve's Dutch Lunch, only 75 cents. Tasty, inexpensive meals could be found at Steve's along with cocktails and entertainment. The pictured "Cable Car Room" was designed by Bill Knabel Sign & Display Service.

Steve's Gay '90s (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1950-1960; Signs (Notices);

Stanley Elementary School, 6A graduating class in June of 1939. A large class poses in front of the entrance to the school, named after local educator George A. Stanley, who helped develop the district's junior high program. The principal at this time was E.T. Thune. (filed with Argentum) photograph damaged in places.

School children--Tacoma--1930-1940; Group portraits; Stanley Elementary School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1930-1940; Education--Tacoma;

Windows of Tacoma Savings and Loan in Bowes Building being cleaned by Universal Window Contractors. Three men standing in front of steam cleaning vehicles, scaffold lowered from roof. Renaissance style building by Heath and Twichell, Architects, 1909. There were seven banks in Tacoma in 1899 but no savings and loan association until Tacoma Savings and Loan opened on June 28, 1899 in an office in the Vanderbilt building on the southwest corner of 13th and Pacific Avenue. George R. Whitty became the organization's first president. Tacoma's population at that time was 40,000. In 1939 Alfred Lister was president of the association and had served in that capacity for 35 years. (TNT, 4/30/1940)

Window cleaning--Tacoma--1930-1940; Universal Window Contractors (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Tacoma Savings & Loan Association (Tacoma);

Exterior view of Public Utilities buildings. This elevated view of the Tacoma Department of Public Utilities headquarters was taken from the adjoining hillside on July 1, 1954. The main building, still in use today, housed the Light and Water divisions. Designed by noted local architect Silas Nelsen, the buildings were constructed of reinforced concrete. Roy T. Earley Co. and Concrete Construction Co. were the contractors involved in this project. The main building is in the center of the photograph which was a four story fireproof structure. The electric shop building and three-story garage also also shown. This photograph was commissioned by Condon Co. (TNT 9-3-54, C-15)

Tacoma Dept. of Public Utilities, Light Division (Tacoma); Public utility companies--Tacoma;

Exterior view of City Light building. Completed in 1953, the Tacoma Public Utilities Center was located at 3628 South 35th St. and housed City Light and Water divisions. It was designed by architect Silas E. Nelsen, who also designed the Tacoma Public Library's main branch, and built by the Roy T. Earley Co. and Concrete Construction Co. The multi-storied, multi-windowed building was constructed with reinforced concrete. Photograph taken on July 1, 1954; it was commissioned by the Condon Co.

Tacoma Dept. of Public Utilities, Light Division (Tacoma); Public utility companies--Tacoma;

Exterior view of Public Utility buildings. Taken on July 1, 1954, this extended view of the Tacoma Public Utilities buildings on South 35th St. appears to show additional work being done on the newly built structures. The enormous parking lot appears to be empty with the exception of a few trucks. Pipes or poles lie horizontally on stands within a fenced-off area. There is a Northern Pacific railroad cart full of steel wheels on tracks nearby. Photograph ordered by the Condon Co.

Tacoma Dept. of Public Utilities, Light Division (Tacoma); Public utility companies--Tacoma; Parking lots--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Home of "Wonder Bread"; the Wonder Bakery at 703 S. Sprague. Continental opened its Wonder Bread Bakery here in 1934.

Continental Baking Co. (Tacoma); Bakeries--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Continental Bakery Co., 703 So. Sprague, home of Wonder Bread, in June of 1939. Exterior shot of front and north side of Sprague Street. The structure was built in 1913 for Matthaei Bread Co. It was occupied by Continental Baking Co. and their Wonder Bread Bakery beginning in 1934. (filed with Argentum)

Continental Baking Co. (Tacoma); Bakeries--Tacoma--1930-1940;

ca. 1925. The graduating class of nurses, circa 1925, posed on the lawn in front of the entrance to the Tacoma General Hospital. They are wearing starched white aprons over their short sleeved uniforms and nurse's caps. Miss Minnie V. Hill, the Superintendent of Nurses, is seated in the center of the front row. Pictured sitting are, left to right, Eva Athow, Nina Walker, Edyth Hansen, Gladys Wright, Miss Hill, Johanna Johnson, Minnie Sternagle, Gladys Strickland and Sophia Anderson. Standing, left to right, are Alice Carrick, Helen Chapin, Marie Hack, Dora Winslow, Helen Needham and Nellie Frostad. (TNT 5/12/1925, pg. 15) (WSHS- negative A840-0)

Nursing--Tacoma; Group portraits--1920-1930; Nurses--Tacoma--1920-1930; Hospitals--Tacoma--1920-1930; Tacoma General Hospital (Tacoma); Hill, Minnie;

The living room of Joe L. Long, Jr.'s residence takes full advantage of the beautiful lakeview through the expansive glass picture windows. The contemporary styled home appears to be two-storied as it has an elevated view of the waterfront. The large living room comes equipped with enormous brick fireplace; exposed beams bring in a touch of the northwest into the home. Photograph ordered by Timber Structures, Inc., Portland, Oregon.

Living rooms--Lakewood--1950-1960; Fireplaces; Lamps; Long, Joe L.--Homes & haunts; Timber Structures, Inc. (Portland, Or.);

Grocery display for George Sconcett. Kellogg's cereals, Heinz canned food, Sperry Flour, Fontana's Macaroni, and other grocery items. Photograph ordered by the Tacoma Times. (filed with Argentum)

Merchandise displays; Canned foods;

An employee of the West Tacoma Newsprint carefully monitors rows of gauges in August, 1954. West Tacoma Newsprint, paper manufacturers, was located in Steilacoom. There had been several paper mills at that location in Steilacoom, starting with Cascade Paper Co. in 1918. Stockholders approved a merger with Boise Cascade Corporation in late 1969.

Weights & measures--Steilacoom; Scientific equipment; West Tacoma Newsprint (Steilacoom);

View of gauges. Selection of gauges at the West Tacoma Newsprint carefully monitor activity of various paper machines in a photograph taken on August 4, 1954. Rows of knobs below the gauges are labeled for the Jordan pump, Jordan chest agitator, White water pump and cycles and shakes of Bird Screen. West Tacoma Newsprint, despite its name, was actually located in Steilacoom; they were paper manufacturers.

Weights & measures--Steilacoom; Scientific equipment; West Tacoma Newsprint (Steilacoom);

ca. 1925. Miss Minnie V. Hill, Superintendent of Nurses at Tacoma General, poses at the hospital with C.J. Cummings, Superintendent of T.G. This photograph ran in the News Tribune with an article on the observation of National Hospital Day. All city and county hospitals were observing Hospital Day on May 12th, the 105th anniversary of the birth of Florence Nightingale. Cummings was the national chairman of the event, supervising celebrations in the U.S., Canada and the British Isles. Miss Hill was the chairman for Tacoma and Pierce County. Local hospitals would be holding open houses and tours, explaining hospital appliances and methods. (TNT 5/12/1925, pg. 15) (WSHS- negative A841-0)

Nurses--Tacoma--1920-1930; Hospitals--Tacoma--1920-1930; Tacoma General Hospital (Tacoma); Hill, Minnie; Cummings, C.J.;

Stadium High School's 56th annual graduation exercises, held June 8th at the Armory for the Class of 1939. Students at the back of the photograph, audience in foreground. The graduating class totalled 653 students and the ceremony was estimated to be attended by over 2500 persons. The sign "Education for What?" states the theme of the four student commencement speakers. Betty Binns, Helen Phill, and Robert Elliott tied for valedictory honors, each completing 3 years of study with straight A's. Class president Maynard Miller joined them as a speaker. (T.Times 6/7/1939, pg. 5; 6/9/39, pg. 1; 6/10/39, pg. 1)

Stadium High School (Tacoma)--1930-1940; State Armory (Tacoma); Graduation ceremonies--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Lincoln High School Class of 1939 graduation at the Armory, held June 9th, 1939. Girl and boy at microphone, students seated, audience in foreground. Lincoln graduated 707 seniors, who listened to a total of 26 speakers at the ceremony. For Leonard Langlow, Tacoma Times. (T. Times 6/10/1939, pg. 11)

Students--Tacoma--1930-1940; Graduation ceremonies--Tacoma--1930-1940; Lincoln High School (Tacoma); State Armory (Tacoma);

Lincoln High School Class of 1939 graduation at the Armory, held June 9, 1939. The 707 graduating seniors are seated at the rear of the photograph, audience in the foreground. (T. Times 6/10/1939, pg. 11) (filed with Argentum)

Students--Tacoma--1930-1940; Graduation ceremonies--Tacoma--1930-1940; Lincoln High School (Tacoma); State Armory (Tacoma);

Interior of warehouse. Blake, Moffitt & Towne was a local distributor of printing paper, wrapping paper and stationery. The company's headquarters were in San Francisco; the Tacoma office was established in 1910. In 1954, Blake, Moffitt & Towne moved to new and more spacious facilities on Thorne Rd. in the Tideflats area. Warehouse operations were mechanized and palletized. View of interior of company warehouse showing employees at work on various machinery, shelves and open cabinets full of paper products; photograph taken on July 19, 1954. (TNT 7-18-54, C-15)

Blake, Moffitt & Towne, Inc. (Tacoma); Paper industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Warehouses--Tacoma--1950-1960;

In July of 1954 two Blake, Moffitt & Towne delivery trucks were photographed while being loaded with paper products in the company's new warehouse at 1157 Thorne Road. The new building had wooden ramps that made it possible for the trucks to back into the loading area, under cover and out of the wind and weather. Blake, Moffitt & Towne, one of the oldest paper and stationary companies on the west coast, opened in Tacoma in 1943 when they took over the Tacoma Paper Company. The Tacoma division was one of sixteen units the company maintained in six western states. They closed their warehouse in Tacoma around 1971. (TNT 7-18-54, C-15)

Blake, Moffitt & Towne, Inc. (Tacoma); Paper industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Warehouses--Tacoma--1950-1960;

ca. 1925. In May of 1925, the Tacoma Hotel at 913 A Street was nearing the completion of a $150,000 remodel and renovation. One of the additions to the venerable hotel was what the News Tribune at the time described as a nine hole golf course on the east lawn overlooking the bay. There was not room enough for a true nine hole course; the hotel's course appears to be a large putting green. In the background, the glass enclosed dining room can be seen. The Tudor style hotel, originally built in 1884, was destroyed by fire on October 17, 1935. (TNT 5/13/1925, pg. 4; TDL 4/12/1927, supplement pg. 6) (WSHS- negative A842-0)

Hotels--Tacoma; Tacoma Hotel (Tacoma); Putting (Golf); Golf--Tacoma--1920-1930; Golfers;

Exterior beauty salon. The Grandchamp Beauty Salon in Seattle was a modern, well-equipped beauty shop. Not only was hair cut, curled and permed on the premises but like the beauty salon of today, various beautifying products were also sold to the salon's customers. Hazel Bishop's collection and Dermetics skin care were just a few of the items offered. Comfortable, modernistic chairs were provided for those waiting, with wide picture windows for viewing the busy Pine Street activities. Photograph ordered by Tacoma Beauty Supply Co.

Grandchamp Beauty Salon (Seattle); Beauty shops--Seattle; Show windows--Seattle; Facades--Seattle; Tacoma Beauty Supply Co. (Tacoma);

Interior beauty salon. The Grandchamp Beauty Salon in Seattle offered the latest in modern equipment to its discerning customers in July, 1954. Comfortable padded wide-bodied chairs were provided so the customer could relax while having her hair dried and possibly permed. Current fashion magazines like Vogue and Harper's Bazaar were within reach; an ashtray was positioned on a tri-legged table for smokers' benefit. Photograph ordered by Tacoma Beauty Supply Co.

Grandchamp Beauty Salon (Seattle); Beauty shops--Seattle; Hair dryers; Tacoma Beauty Supply Co. (Tacoma);

Interior beauty salon. Eva's Styling Room was owned by Mrs. Eva E. Andersen and was located at 757 Saint Helens Avenue, close to the Brant Hotel and Jacob Blechmann's tailor shop. The beauty salon provided its customers with comfortable padded chairs while seated under Rilling hair dryers, with magazines and ash trays close at hand. Potted plants added a homey atmosphere. Photograph ordered by Tacoma Beauty Supply Co.

Eva's Styling Room (Tacoma); Beauty shops--Tacoma--1950-1960; Hair dryers; Tacoma Beauty Supply Co. (Tacoma);