Eight people were killed as a result of the April 13, 1949 earthquake, one little boy from Lowell School in Tacoma was among the eight victims. A Tacoma road near East 11th Street and Alexander Avenue was severely cracked; for the most part people considered themselves fairly lucky. View of unidentified man examining damage caused to his basement. Photo ordered by Life magazine in New York (Life, 4/25/49, p. 34-35 & T.N.T., 4/13/49, P. 1, 12 & 4/14/49, p. 1-2).
Basements--Tacoma; Rescue work--Tacoma; Earthquakes--Tacoma; Disasters--Tacoma; Life (New York, N.Y.);
Kaiser aluminum was being produced in six plants: Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Tacoma, Washington; two plants in Spokane, Washington; Permanente, California; and Newark, Ohio. Kaiser was a major producer of aluminum in a growing industry. View of Permanente Metals crust breaker machine, this machine would work with molten aluminum or alumina during the time it is being reduced in huge furnaces or "pots" to obtain high purity aluminum.
Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Company was completing a company wide expansion and building program in 1949. The expansion would allow the company to serve their customers better. Exterior view of Mobilgas service station in Milton where a sign indicates a public telephone booth is available next to the gas station. Photograph ordered by Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Company.
Permanente Metals had just celebrated a one year anniversary, the company had been operating in Tacoma since late 1947. Permanente was producing Kaiser aluminum, which was being used throughout the United States. View of unidentified Permanente Metals workers using a crust breaker machine, molten aluminum or alumina is the white powdery substance in the machinery. Alumina powder is reduced in huge furnaces or "pots" to obtain high purity aluminum.
Tacoma Athletic Commission celebrated Saint Patrick's Day with a "Wearing of the Green" party at their club. The club distributed clay pipes, shamrocks and green hats to the guests. Left to right, Ed Weymouth, Don Heerema, Laurilee Coon, Pat Heerema and Edna Weymouth at the Saint Patrick's Day celebration at the Tacoma Athletic Commission facilities (T. Times, 3/20/49, p. 22).
Athletic clubs--Tacoma; Celebrations--Tacoma; Holidays--Tacoma; Saint Patrick's Day--Tacoma; Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma); Top of the Ocean (Tacoma);
In March of 1949, Jean Aleeckson practiced her dance for two stoic sultans, Ralph Ratlif (left) and Ken Westfall, and a bevy of lovely harem beauties. Lincoln High School was presenting a student written show, "Coney Island Carousel" at the school's auditorium at 8 p.m. on March 17 & 18. The three act musical extravaganza was written by the Lincoln students and directed by Margaret Goheen, Robert Dezele and Morry Summers. (T. Times, 3/13/49, p. 29).
Auditoriums--Tacoma; Musical revues & comedies--Tacoma; Costumes; Actors--Tacoma; Aleeckson, Jean; Ratlif, Ralph; Westfall, Ken; Students--Tacoma--1940-1950; Lincoln High School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1940-1950;
Following an action making the rhododendron Washington's official state flower, Verna V. Weiler, Director of the Capitol District of Garden Clubs, and Alice S. Franklin, President of the Garden Club of Tacoma, immediately planned Tacoma's first Rhododendron Show; the flowers will be displayed in the lobby of the Bank of California. View of Alice S. Franklin (left) and Verna V. Weiler admiring azaleas on March 2, 1949 (T. Times, 3/3/49, p. 3).
Banks--Tacoma; Women--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1940-1950; Azaleas--Tacoma; Rhododendrons; Flower shows--Tacoma; Bank of California National Association (Tacoma); Franklin, Alice S.; Weiler, Verna V.;
College of Puget Sound's basketball team is leaving to Kansas to play in the NAIB tournament; the team will be traveling aboard Milwaukee railroad's streamlined Hiawatha train. View of team in the Hiawatha's observation car; seated left to right, Don Ellis, Bob Angeline, Bill Richey, Herb Klippert, Rod Gibbs and Coach John Heinrick; standing left to right, Bob Sater, Don Rinker, Bill Stivers, Bob Fincham and Dick Brown (T. Times, 3/6/49, p. 14).
Basketball players--Tacoma; Students--Tacoma; Railroad observation cars--Tacoma; Passengers--Tacoma; Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad Co. (Tacoma); College of Puget Sound (Tacoma)--1940-1950;
ca. 1949. Copy of Brown's Flower Shop, Bill Brown. This photograph is Brown's Conservatory of Flowers two-story building before remodeling which was completed in February 1949. See A37889-3 for a view of the building after remodeling. The company had been founded by Herbert Brown. Brown's had been located at 9102 South Steilacoom Boulevard until 1937 when it was moved to 4734 South Tacoma Way. Herbert Brown's son, Wilfred (Bill) was now co-owner and manager of the shop. The company's panel truck delivery vans are parked beside the building. (T.Times, 12/16/1948, p.14)
Brown's Conservatory of Flowers (Tacoma); Florist shops--Tacoma; Trucks--Tacoma--1940-1950;
Copies of Dr. Sanders' certificates, Dr. K. Loren Sanders. A copy of Dr. K.L. Sanders Certification as a member of the Alaska Drugless Physicians Association. Dr. Sanders, also known as Dr. K. Loren Sanders and Dr. Kenneth L. Sanders, was a naturopath working at Pacific Health Clinic at 915 1/2 Pacific Avenue during 1949.
Certificates; Alaska Drugless Physicians Association (Alaska); Sanders, Kenneth Loren;
Copy of customer's pencil drawing, Chas & Clarence Rueger, Mr. Young. Architects C.V. and C.R. Rueger had offices at 1119 Pacific Avenue at this time. This is a copy of their architectural drawing for the new Gig Harbor/Peninsula High School.
Architectural drawings; Chas. V. & Clarence R. Rueger Architects (Tacoma); Peninsula High School (Gig Harbor);
Lea, Pearson & Richards, copy of customer's drawing. A copy of the architects' drawing for Lister Elementary School, Salishan. Lea, Pearson and Richards Architects had offices in the Tacoma Building at 1019 A Street. Plans were drawn several times to expand the elementary school built in Salishan in 1943. Red tape, however, kept the building from being expanded. In 1948, building occupancy was at 200 percent. Students were split into morning and afternoon shifts. In March 1949 the School Board voted to seek state aid to construct a 24-room school building. Plans were drawn and Lister was chosen as the school's name. The building was within two weeks of being opened when a fire raced through the structure the morning of January 19, 1950. In October 1950 the building was dedicated to two brothers: Alfred Lister who served many years as a city and school official and Ernest Lister who served on the city council. (For the Record, Winnifred L. Olsen) Format 8 1/2 " x 11"
Lister Elementary School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma; Architectural drawings; Lea, Pearson & Richards (Tacoma);
Old Timers nite at Elks Club, Harry Lynch. All members of the Elks with 25 years or more service were honored with dinner at the Elks Club on January 26, 1949. After dinner the Old Timers marched to the lodge room and, after a short business session, they were treated to a two-hour professional vaudeville show and surprises. More than 400 members and their guests were expected. A band sits at the edge of the floor for the performance. A stuffed elk stands by one of the exits and a mounted elk head is over one of the doors at the rear on the room. Murals decorate the walls. (T.Times, 1/24/1949, p.2)
Elks Temple (Tacoma); Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Tacoma Lodge No. 174 (Tacoma); Musicians--Tacoma--1940-1950;
Exterior of Ingleside Apartments, Tom Lowry Company. The apartment building was built in 1909 and was the "first large apartment built here" according to the Tacoma Daily Ledger in 1931. The Ingleside Apartments had 56 units. The alternate address was 515-17 No. 2nd St. The exterior of the building is nearly covered with vines whose leaves are off during the winter weather. The Tom Lowry Company handled real estate. TPL-4581.
Another view of the exterior of Ingleside Apartments on a snowy day. The apartment building was built in 1909 and had 56 units. The alternate address was 515-17 No. 2nd St. TPL-4563.
Machinery at Northwest Door Company, American Marietta Co., Henry Presessor. Large bags of dry, powdered adhesives are placed near a mixer at Northwest Door Company. The bag in the foreground is being moved by an overhead carrier. The glues used in the manufacture of plywood gave it strength and, as non-soluble glues were developed, plywood became weatherproof.
Northwest Door Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Machinery; Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Plywood; Glue;
Completed room at Port of Tacoma Storage plant, Owens-Corning Fiberglas Corp., Mrs. Still. A workman is placing chicken wire around the concrete supports that have been covered with pieces of wood. A carton stands against the wall with the name Owens-Corning Fiberglas on it.
Port of Tacoma (Tacoma)--1940-1950; Storage facilities--Tacoma--1940-1950; Moving & storage trade--Tacoma--1940-1950;
Crowd at Selden's Rug Show, Selden's, Mrs. Selden. A crowd of people stand outside at night looking in through Selden's showroom windows at the rug show. The company's neon sign spells the name of Selden's.
Selden's, Inc. (Tacoma); Rugs; Electric signs--Tacoma--1940-1950;
Tacoma Drug Company, interior and exterior of new offices, Tacoma Drug Co., Fred Osmers. The wholesale drug company had completed a new warehouse and offices on the Tacoma tideflats and were now stocking the 60,000 square feet of warehousing. The modern facilities were well lit. On the right can be seen their system for moving goods from the back of the warehouse in large tubs on a counter made of continuous rollers. Empty tubs could be returned to the back of the warehouse using an overhead conveyor.
Tacoma Drug Co. (Tacoma); Medicines; Warehouses--Tacoma--1940-1950; Business enterprises--Tacoma--1940-1950;
Lou Plante was president of the Tacoma Gun Club when it sponsored the Washington Birthday Classic held on Saturday and Sunday, February 19 & 20, 1949 at the club on Highway 99 in Lakewood. Shooters came to Tacoma for the annual shoot from all parts of the Northwest and parts of California. A keen trap man, Mr. Plante was a life member of the Tacoma Gun Club. He moved to Tacoma in 1911, and was a member of the Plaster Contractors Association. (T.Times, 2/19/1949, p.5)
Tacoma Gun Club (Tacoma); Smoking--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tobacco pipes; Rifles; Clubs--Tacoma--1940-1950; Plante, Louis H.
Old Timers nite at Elks Club, Times, Buzz. All members of the Elks with 25 years or more of service were honored at a reunion at the Elks Temple January 26, 1949. The Tacoma Lodge received its charter from the grand lodge in 1890. Thirty-two of the men who were honored at the event have posed in front of the stage. Names are listed in the newspaper. (T.Times, 1/30/1949, p.7)
Elks Temple (Tacoma); Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Tacoma Lodge No. 174 (Tacoma);
Paulson's Appliance, before and after picture of kitchen, Al or Mr. Paulson. An electric stove has been added to the wall opposite the kitchen sink in an alcove next to the breakfast nook. A tudor arch opens into the breakfast nook. A shallow closet next to the stove is being changed as part of the renovation.
Mrs. Emma Love, Masonic Temple, at request of Mrs. Love. Mrs. Herbert F. Love was one of the past Queens of Zora Temple No. 5. She and the other past queens assisted during the ceremonial dinner where the Zora Temple honored Supreme Queen Mattie E. Watson from Phoenix, Arizona, at the Masonic Temple. Mrs. Love stands in front of chairs draped with oriental rugs with sparkling fabric hung decoratively behind. She is wearing a crown and a long white robe with a sparkling, stand-up collar and she holds a bouquet of flowers. (TNT, 2/6/1949, p.D-6)
Masonic Temple (Tacoma); Love, Emma; Daughters of the Nile Zora Temple No. 5 (Tacoma);
Left end of bridge and trolley, Harry S. Pearson and R.E. Morgan. Large rolls of paper are lying on the floor of a storage room while a man moves one of the rolls using a hoist maneuvered from a control booth near the ceiling.
Paper--Tacoma--1940-1950; Paper industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Hoisting machinery;
Completed room at Port of Tacoma Storage plant, Owens-Corning Fiberglas Corp., Mrs. Still. Insulating material has been added to the cement columns and walls of the storage facility.
Port of Tacoma (Tacoma)--1940-1950; Storage facilities--Tacoma--1940-1950; Moving & storage trade--Tacoma--1940-1950;
The S.H. Kress & Co. store in Tacoma, 934 Broadway, advertised fresh, home-made, butter cream fudge for 30 cents per one-half pound for Valentines Day 1949. In their front window, heart shapes and stripes were made of suckers on a continuous tape. Several large pieces of fudge spelled out the name "Kress," and other candies were made into bouquets at the top and near the edges of the display. S. H. Kress closed their store on Broadway in 1972. (Photo for Martin Candy Inc., Edmonds, Washington)
Tacoma Drug Company, interior and exterior of new offices, Tacoma Drug Co., Fred Osmers. The interior of the offices of the wholesale drug company. A view from the back of the common office area shows the entry to the building on one of the exterior corners. The entry way has been walled with glass-block to let available light into the offices. Conduits in the floor made it possible to install power, telephone, or inter-communication outlets at 30 inch intervals. (TNT, 2/15/1949, p.A-14)
Tacoma Drug Co. (Tacoma); Business enterprises--Tacoma--1940-1950; Offices--Tacoma--1940-1950; Office furniture; Office equipment & supplies;
