A Buffelen employee concentrates as he applies pressure to a louvered door on December 7, 1954. The door is made to allow air to circulate; it may be designed for a closet or a pantry. There appears to be three doors stacked one on top of another as the worker completes his tasks. Photograph ordered by Condon Co., an advertising agency.

Buffelen Lumber & Manufacturing Co. (Tacoma); Doors & doorways--Tacoma--1950-1960; Condon Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

Interior of National Auto Parts store. National Auto Parts was the headquarters for General Motors parts which would include original components for Chevrolets, Pontiacs, Oldsmobiles, Buicks, GMCs and Cadillacs. According to the 1954 City Directory, they claimed to have the largest stock of original parts in Tacoma. They were also a dealer in Delco batteries, advertised as the nation's #1 battery. View of interior of National Auto Parts showing an array of batteries and various automotive parts and tools. There were three store locations in Pierce County, including one on Pacific Avenue, one on South Tacoma Way, and the third in Fife. William C. Johnston was listed as president/manager with Merle C. Johnston as secretary/treasurer.

National Auto Parts, Inc. (Tacoma); Automobile equipment & supplies stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Signs (Notices);

The splendid chandeliers and sconces of the Winthrop Hotel provided an elegant setting for the Capital District, Washington Federation of Garden Clubs' show on December 6, 1954. A Christmas motif was evident; the majority of arrangements on display were small tabletop decorations. A few tall firs were added to complete the tableau. This may have been an annual event sponsored by the federation.

Washington State Federation of Garden Clubs (Tacoma); Flower shows--Tacoma--1950-1960; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

A member of the Afifi Temple leads the color guard into the College of Puget Sound Fieldhouse on December 4, 1954, in the impressive grand entry ceremony. Behind the color guard march the Afifi Band led by a baton wielding drum major. The band is flanked by two sections of Shriners dressed in full regalia. 5000 Shriners wearing traditional red fezzes attended initiation and ceremonial meetings, including a special ceremony to honor Floyd C. Kinnear's 25 year span as recorder for the Afifi Temple. Eleven ceremonial units, such as the Afifi Temple Band, Afifi Temple Oriental Band, Gizeh Temple Patrol and Grays Harbor Shrine Club Patrol, participated in the weekend's events. (TNT 12-3-54, p. 1)

Fraternal organizations--Tacoma; Afifi Temple (Tacoma); Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (Tacoma); Rites & ceremonies--Tacoma; Flags; Memorial Field House (Tacoma);

A packed house is on hand to view the Shriners from Afifi Temple in the College of Puget Sound Fieldhouse on December 4, 1954. Potentate John H. Galbraith, Jr., and his staff are to the foreground; long rows of Shriners wearing Masonic regalia extend to the fieldhouse doors. This was the Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine of Tacoma's grand entry ceremony. 5000 Shriners from around the Northwest converged upon Tacoma to attend the semi-annual ceremonial and initiation of new members. In addition, Floyd C. Kinnear, recorder for Afifi Temple for the past twenty five years, was honored in special ceremonies. (TNT 12-3-54, p. 1)

Fraternal organizations--Tacoma; Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (Tacoma); Afifi Temple (Tacoma); Uniforms; Rites & ceremonies--Tacoma; Memorial Field House (Tacoma);

Newly elected officers for 1955 of the Tacoma Master Builders Association pose at the Tacoma Athletic Commission's headquarters on December 3, 1954. Art Manley, president, is shown pounding his beribboned gavel, the Master Builders hammer. Smiling broadly with Manley are Bob Good and Walter Witte. Also enjoying the camaraderie are (standing) Ralph Peltier, Howard Wilson, Gordon Korsmo, and Del Belfoy. Sepia photograph ordered by Tacoma Master Builders Association. (TNT 12-8-54, C-5)

Tacoma Master Builders Association (Tacoma);

A view of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge from homes in the Narrowmoor housing addition. Narrowmoor was an upscale addition west of Jackson, with view lots of the Narrows and the Olympic Mountains. TPL-9640

Houses--Tacoma--1950-1960; Housing developments--Tacoma--1950-1960; Real estate development--Tacoma; Tacoma Narrows Bridge (Tacoma);

Olympic Mountain scenes from the 6th Ave. area. Ordered by Richards studio, photographed by Bill H. As the area around the Tacoma side of the Narrows bridge settled, contractors scrambled to build on view lots. The lots offered beautiful views of the Narrows, mountains and bridge.

Puget Sound (Wash.); Olympic Mountains (Wash.);

A portion of the Narrowmoor addition, an upscale housing addition west of Jackson Ave. with views of the Narrows and the Olympic Mountains.

Houses--Tacoma--1950-1960; Olympic Mountains (Wash.); Housing developments--Tacoma--1950-1960; Real estate development--Tacoma;

Ranch style home at the intersection of Fairview Dr. and Hegra Rd. in Narrowmoor, 7525 Hegra Rd., backed by the Narrows portion of the Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains. One half of the home and the garage are faced in brick, the other half of the house is rough hewn wood. Mailboxes stand sentinel near the street.This was the home of Thomas & Katherine Anderson. Mr. Anderson owned Concrete Engineering Co. and Tacoma Construction and Engineering Co. Undoubtedly, the rear of the home has a fabulous view of the Sound and the mountains.

Houses--Tacoma--1950-1960; Olympic Mountains (Wash.); Anderson, Thomas--Homes & haunts;

In December of 1954, fifty-one years ago, the approach to the Tacoma Narrows Bridge on the Tacoma side was Olympic Boulevard which connected the bridge to 6th Avenue, which at that time was highway 16. Real estate development had barely begun on either side of the bridge. The Olympic mountains stand out in the distance beyond an unbroken line of trees. (Richards Studio Stock File. ) TPL-8406

Tacoma Narrows Bridge (Tacoma); Suspension bridges--Tacoma; Olympic Mountains (Wash.);

Exterior of mill and bulk feed station. The Washington Co-op Farmers Association built a modern, efficient feed mill in the late 1940's at a cost of $1,000,000+. Located on the Tideflats at the Hylebos waterway, the Co-op had immediate access to transcontinental railroads and sound or ocean going vessels which made transport of their feeds and grain extremely efficient. Bulk feed could be poured into the Co-op's Diamond-T trucks for delivery to waiting customers from the Bulk Feed Service area. Photograph ordered by Washington Cooperative Farmers Association. TPL-10077

Washington Cooperative Farmers Association (Tacoma); Grain elevators--Tacoma; Mills--Tacoma; Food storage buildings--Tacoma; Shipping--Tacoma--1950-1960; Railroad freight cars--Tacoma--1950-1960; Trucks--Tacoma--1950-1960;

This is how Fire Station No. 16 appeared in December of 1954. Built in 1951 and located at 7215 Sixth Avenue, it had commanding views of the Narrows Bridge and the Olympic Mountains. A sign on the building stated that it was a collection point for "Toys for Tots," a campaign that supplied Christmas toys for needy children which was sponsored by the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve. This station provided fire protection for the Highlands District, from Stevens St. to the Narrows Bridge, and University Place. It was demolished in 1999. Ordered by the Richards Studio, photographed by Bill H.

Tacoma Narrows Bridge (Tacoma); Olympic Mountains (Wash.); Fire stations--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma Fire Department, Fire Station No. 16 (Tacoma);

Corol Strickland, an exubertant teenager, shows off her balancing skills in this November, 1954, photograph. She is elegantly dressed in a polka dotted strapless gown, three-tier necklace and a bracelet but is not wearing shoes. She has her toes hooked over the edge of a balance board.

Teenagers--1950-1960; Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Laughing guests of the Archie McLeans attend the McLeans costume party held at the University-Union Club on November 28, 1954. The man on the left is dressed in a Heidelberg beer barrel with a Lucky Lager brand horseshoe attached. One of the women is costumed like Wee Willie Winkie in her striped nightgown and candlestick while the second woman's garb has a faintly Chinese connection. The person most nattily dressed is the man dressed in Spanish attire with cummerbund and black hat. Photograph ordered by the News Tribune for a section on the McLeans party; however, this particular photograph was not included in the December 4, 1954, issue. (other party photos TNT 12-4-54, p. 5)

Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1950-1960; University Union Club of Tacoma (Tacoma);

Hyde, Beulah L. (Mrs. Robert), artist. Mrs. Hyde was a well-known, award winning Tacoma area painter who exhibited her work at many shows primarily in the late 1940s to the mid-1950s. Her husband, Robert, was the founder of West Coast Grocery. She is photographed here at the preview of the December Tacoma Art League show on November 28, 1954. Mrs. Hyde, whose paintings were signed B.L. Hyde, was the guest that evening of the Delta Phi Delta, College of Puget Sound art honorary. A special exhibit of her paintings, one of which is pictured above, was shown along with other Tacoma-owned work. Mrs. Hyde, a native of Kansas, came to the Tacoma area when she was 10. She was a graduate of Annie Wright School (then Seminary) and attended Abbott Academy in Andover, Mass. Mrs. Hyde died at age 96 in January of 1983. She was a longtime patron of the Tacoma Art Museum and a member of the Tacoma Country & Golf Club. (TNT 11-28-1954; TNT 1-21-1983, obit.)

Boedecker Chimney Construction Co. not only built chimneys but also repaired them. Their work could be seen in many industrial businesses locally, including St. Regis and Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel. In late 1954, Boedeckers was asked to do repairs on the smokestack belonging to West Tacoma Newsprint Co., paper manufacturers, located in Steilacoom. View of chimney's exterior after repairs were completed.

Chimneys; Boedecker Chimney Construction Co. (Tacoma); West Tacoma Newsprint (Steilacoom);

The winter cold does not seem to bother "Miss Pacific" as she smiles widely during her parade route. She is perched on the cab's roof just in front of a giant peeler log. Georgia-Pacific Plywood Co. had sponsored several entries in the November 27, 1954, Bellingham parade with a fleet of trucks hauling an impressive display of giant Douglas fir logs. "Miss Pacific", along with "Miss Georgia" and "Miss Peeler Log", participated wearing hobnailed boots, hard hats, short-shorts and sleeveless blouses. Photograph ordered by Georgia-Pacific Plywood Co. TPL-9509

Logs; Parades & processions--Bellingham--1950-1960;

An M.A. Couch truck is slowly making a turn past the Bellingham Bedding Co. and is careful not to dislodge neither the young model perched on the truck's cab or the giant peeler log on its bed. Georgia-Pacific Plywood Co. supplied several of the large Douglas fir logs for a parade down the main streets of Bellingham on November 27, 1954. Signs on the massive logs indicated that each peeler log would be sufficient to supply enough plywood to build 40 average homes. These logs were obtained locally from timber forests in Washington State. Photograph ordered by Georgia-Pacific Plywood Co.

Logs; Parades & processions--Bellingham--1950-1960; Trucks--Bellingham--1950-1960; Signs (Notices);

Miss Peeler Log needs a ladder to get half-way up the giant Douglas fir peeler log and it still will not be enough to get to to the top of the log. She and the other two girls pictured represented Georgia-Pacific Plywood Co. in a November 27, 1954, parade in Bellingham. A fleet of log-laden trucks proceeded down the main streets of Bellingham and the girls may have ridden on top of the vehicles. Photograph ordered by Georgia-Pacific Plywood Co.

Logs; Women--Clothing & dress--Bellingham;

This group of loggers appears dwarfed by the size of the freshly cut peeler log which has already been loaded onto a truck. This giant Douglas fir, and others, would be displayed in a procession through Bellingham's streets on November 27, 1954. Georgia-Pacific Plywood Co. had sponsored a fleet hauling many giant logs; each log would contain enough plywood to be used in forty average homes. The plywood industry was still very much an economic force during the 1950's as the construction boom continued both here and nationwide. Photograph ordered by Georgia-Pacific Plywood Co.

Group portraits; Logs; Lumber industry--Bellingham--1950-1960;

A Native American chief in headdress and buckskins gazes at the remainder of downed trees on November 27, 1954. He is standing on a trailer hitch of the large truck that will haul the giant peeler log through the streets of Bellingham as part of a parade. Georgia-Pacific Plywood Co. had arranged for several giant Douglas firs to be cut and transported for this special parade. Photograph ordered by Georgia-Pacific Plywood Co. TPL-8281

Indians of North America--Bellingham; Logs;

The enormous splash generated as a giant peeler log is dumped into the log dump nearly obscures sight of the log. This Douglas fir log, along with several others, was used in a Bellingham parade on November 27, 1954, as entries sponsored by Georgia-Pacific Plywood Co. Harvested locally from timbered forests, the logs were marched down the city's main streets, providing an impressive display for local spectators. Georgia-Pacific wanted to stress that each log contained enough material to be used in making forty average houses. Photograph ordered by Georgia-Pacific Plywood Co.

Logs; Basins (Bodies of water)--Bellingham;

Two young ladies, who look very much alike, proudly sport banners identifying themselves as "Miss Georgia" and "Miss Pacific" as the Georgia-Pacific Plywood's entries in the November 27, 1954, Bellingham parade take a momentary pause. The plywood company had sponsored several giant peeler logs mounted on heavy duty trucks for the parade. The large banners on the logs' sides make it clear that these trees were harvested locally from timber forests in our state. Photograph ordered by Georgia-Pacific Plywood.

Logs; Parades & processions--Bellingham--1950-1960; Signs (Notices);

A scantily clad young woman cheerfully waves her hat at parade spectators while perched on top of a R.E. Gray Trucking System cab on November 27, 1954. The truck is hauling a giant peeler log courtesy of the Georgia-Pacific Plywood Co. which was cut from timber forests in Washington State. Bellingham apparently had a parade in late November in which several giant logs were on display to parade viewers. Photograph ordered by Georgia-Pacific Plywood Co.

Logs; Parades & processions--Bellingham--1950-1960; Trucks--Bellingham--1950-1960;

Logging trucks travel down a winding road carrying giant peeler logs that will be used in the November 27, 1954, Bellingham parade. Georgia-Pacific Plywood would be sponsoring several entries in this parade which would provide an impressive display of massive logs. The company would make a point to emphasize that the logs came from timbered forests in the local area. Photograph ordered by Georgia-Pacific Plywood Co.

Logs; Trucks--Bellingham--1950-1960;

Giant fir tree cut down by Georgia Plywood Company. Workman walking past freshly cut tree in forest in late November of 1954. The giant log was later paraded through the streets of Bellingham, Washington.

Lumber industry--1950-1960; Logs;

Three attractive girls apparently represented Georgia-Pacific Plywood in the November 27, 1954, Bellingham parade and may have ridden on top of the trucks' cabs that hauled the giant peeler logs. "Miss Georgia", "Miss Peeler Log", and "Miss Pacific" kneel together in front of the large trucks. Although it is November, and presumably cold, the girls are dressed only in hard hats, Daisy Mae ruffled tops, shorts and sturdy boots. Photograph ordered by Georgia-Pacific Plywood.

Women--Clothing & dress--Bellingham; Logs;

The giant log on the truck bed appears to be twice as tall as the two men standing in front of it. It seems that the Native American chief is sharing a pipe with his white friend. Georgia-Pacific Plywood entered several giant peeler logs in a parade down the main streets of Bellingham on November 27, 1954. These men may have been taking a break from parade activity. Photograph ordered by Georgia-Pacific Plywood.

Logs; Parades & processions--Bellingham--1950-1960; Indians of North America--Bellingham;

A large fleet of trucks haul giant logs just past the Whatcom Feed & Seed on their way to join the parade down Bellingham's main streets on November 27, 1954. Georgia-Pacific Plywood had arranged for several entries in the parade, with trucks proceeding two by two, of giant peeler logs of Douglas fir. Each log contained enough plywood to make forty average homes. Photograph ordered by Georgia-Pacific Plywood Co. TPL-8195

Logs; Parades & processions--Bellingham--1950-1960; Trucks--Bellingham--1950-1960;