South Tacoma Motor Company. A general view of the dealership at night. 1950 Chevrolets are on display in the showroom. A neon sign advertises the dealership at the corner while searchlights on the back of a truck pierce the night sky. South Tacoma Motor Company originated in the late 1800s as Union Street Livery. With the growing popularity of automobiles in the early 1900s, the owners combined the livery business with a service store and garage. Peter Wallerich acquired South Tacoma Motor in 1919. As of 1984 John Wallerich, Peter's grandson, headed the dealership. (South on the Sound, Murray and Rosa Morgan) TPL-6545

Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1950-1960; South Tacoma Motor Co. (Tacoma); Electric signs--Tacoma--1950-1960; Chevrolet automobile; Searchlights--Tacoma--1950-1960;

1950 Chevrolet Sedan Delivery truck, "Nalley's Inc. Advertising Car LA-63" on display in South Tacoma Motor Company's showroom. Slogan "If It's Nalley's It's Good" and product names "Treasure Pickles" and "Beef Stew" are painted on this side.

Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1950-1960; South Tacoma Motor Co. (Tacoma);Food industry--Tacoma; Nalley's, Inc. (Tacoma); Chevrolet trucks;

The Big Bear Stores were celebrating the second anniversary of their Tacoma store with a 1,200 pound anniversary cake. TPL-6594

Big Bear Stores (Tacoma); Grocery stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Cakes--Tacoma--1950-1960; Anniversaries--Tacoma--1950-1960; Merchandise displays--Tacoma;

1,200 pound anniversary cake, Big Bear Store, Mr. Taylor. The Big Bear Stores were celebrating the second anniversary of their Tacoma store. The store at this location was opened January 1948. This enormous five-layer cake is shown in front of a display of Biskit Mix and Fisher's enriched flour. A banner hanging over the flour display says the cake was made with Fisher's Blend Flour, Medosweet milk, and C & H Pure Cane Sugar.

Big Bear Stores (Tacoma); Grocery stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Cakes--Tacoma--1950-1960; Anniversaries--Tacoma--1950-1960; Merchandise displays--Tacoma;

On the 40th Anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America, South Tacoma Troop 6 presented its charter to the South Tacoma Eagles, Aerie 2933, at the Eagle Lodge Hall. By assuming sponsorship of the Troop, the Eagles agreed to provide leadership, meeting places, help in finances and support for activities. Troop 6, started in 1919, was one of the oldest BSA troops in Tacoma. The charter was presented to R.O. Parnell, President of the South Tacoma Eagles, by H.M. Oldham, field scout executive from the Mount Rainier Council. Clustered around them left to right are Charlie McCoy, Joe Seaburg, E.M. Riggs, W. E. Conner and Jim Barnes. (TNT 2-9-1950 A-11)

Boy Scouts (Tacoma)--1950-1960; Fraternal organizations--Tacoma; Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie No. 2933 (Tacoma);

In February of 1950, six volunteers were busy packing materials for the American Red Cross fund-raising campaign at the organization's offices at 306 So. 7th St. They were, L-R, Myra (Mrs. R.G.) Glanville, Eleanor Dickinson, Marie Schmide, Mrs. Eric Aleryd, Betty Lambeth and Blanche Stempczynski. Posters for the campaign were tacked up behind the women. Words on the base of the flag holder on the corner of the desk read, "The world looks to these two flags." Ordered by Mrs. Thomson. (TNT, 2/17/1950, p.4)

Charitable organizations--Tacoma; Community service--Tacoma--1950-1960; Posters; Women--Tacoma--1940-1950; American National Red Cross Pierce County Chapter (Tacoma);

Private showing of a new film product, possibly flexachrome process film. A sceptical audience looks on as the demonstration proceeds.

Cinematography--Tacoma--1950-1960; Photography industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;

The Comus Club held a ball, "Winter Fantasia" at the Crystal Ballroom, Hotel Winthrop, January 21, 1950. Two couples are helping themselves to punch from the punchbowl set in a large square of ice. Ordered by the Tribune by Barbara Dana, Society editor. (TNT, 1/16/1950, p.5; 1/29/1950, p.B-3))

Dance parties--Tacoma--1950-1960; Comus Club (Tacoma); Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

1950 Model shots of Rosemarie Bowe. A young woman is standing on a rocky shore of a rushing stream wearing white shorts with the cuffs rolled up and a striped shirt with the upper three buttons undone. She has shoulder-length, dark hair. She smiles as she looks off into the distance.

Fashion models--Tacoma--1950-1960; Women--Tacoma--1950-1960; Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1950-1960; Sport clothes; Streams; Bowe, Rosemarie;

Emmett Anderson Class, Elks Club, Erling Johnson. Nine members and officers of the Elks proudly pose with a trophy won by the Tacoma Lodge No. 174 from the Washington State Elks Association for the Ritualistic Championship Team 1949-1950. John H. Anderson, Exalted Ruler of the Tacoma Elks and future mayor of Tacoma, is seated on the far left. Also seated in the front row next to Mr. Anderson are: Lloyd Wynans, Harold Duncan and John S. ("Jack") Roberts. Longtime club secretary Erling O. Johnson is standing at extreme right. Also identified was Burr Anderson, standing at center.

Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Tacoma Lodge No. 174 (Tacoma); Anderson, John H.; Wynans, Lloyd L.; Duncan, Harold, Roberts, John S.; Johnson, Erling O.; Anderson, Burritt B.;

Ted Knightlinger, center, tells a group of young misses about the plans for the annual Elks Father and Daughter party to be held on February 17, 1950 at the Elks Temple, 565 Broadway. Mr. Knightlinger was chairman for the event where members of the Tacoma lodge hosted their daughters to a gala party and show, and presented them with corsages as favors. The Father - Daughter party was traditionally held in February, with a Valentine's Day theme.The girls listed left to right are Janet Walters, Kathryn Roberts, Karin Anderson, Julie Ann Wynans, Joan Knightlinger, Deanne Duncan and Gretchen Roberts. (Tacoma News Tribune, 02-12-1950, D-5)

Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1950-1960; Fraternal lodges--Tacoma; Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Tacoma Lodge No. 174 (Tacoma); Parties; Children's parties; Valentines; Girls--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Before shot of exterior of house at 2104 So. 8th St. Photo ordered by Economy Roofing and Siding Co. whose office and warehouse were located at 406 Stadium Way.

Houses--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Union Oil Station at Lakewood Center, ordered by Ace Furnace, Buster. Several automobiles are seen parked at the service station. Two service areas for pumping gas are shown on either side of the many sided sales building. It appears there is another arm straight back that has garage doors for providing service and repairs. A Union 76 sign is seen on the right side. TPL-8698

Lakewood Center Service Co. (Lakewood); Gasoline pumps--Lakewood; Automobile service stations--Lakewood;

Mr. Sam Bergesen wore a turn-of-the-century policeman's uniform and false mustache, and his wife wore a Victorian dress with wide ruffles when they attended the Half-Century Ball on January 21, 1950. Sponsored by the Lakewood Dance Club, the dinner-dance was held at the Lakewood Center Recreation Hall at 6100 Motor Avenue S.W. As members and guests entered the hall, they stepped into a living room authentically decorated with antiques such as the stereopticon held by Mrs. Bergesen. (Ordered by the Tribune, Barbara Dana.) (TNT, 1/17/1950, p.8 & 1/29/1950, p.B-1)

Lakewood Community Center (Lakewood); Balls (Parties)--Lakewood--1950-1960; Costumes--Lakewood--1950-1960; Lakewood Dance Club (Lakewood); Bergesen, Samuel--Family;

Lakewood Dance Club, Half-Century Ball at Lakewood Center. Ordered by the Tribune, Barbara Dana. William J. and Alice Francis and Mr. and Mrs. John T. Steward look through a family album during a break from dancing. The men both hold checked bowler hats in their hands and wear waistcoats with tails. The two women are equally well-dressed in their Victorian dresses with puff sleeves, high neck-lines and embellishments. (TNT, 1/29/1950, p.B-1)

Lakewood Community Center (Lakewood); Balls (Parties)--Lakewood--1950-1960; Costumes--Lakewood--1950-1960; Lakewood Dance Club (Lakewood); Francis, William J.; Francis, Alice; Steward, John T.--Family;

Lakewood Dance Club, Half-Century Ball at Lakewood Center. Mr. and Mrs. Russ Sutherland strike a tintype pose during the Half-Century Ball. They both wear Victorian costumes. Russ Sutherland has an extremely large mustache and holds a bowler hat. Mrs. Sutherland is wearing a floor-length velvet skirt with a plaid, taffeta blouse and matching ribbons in her hat. A grandfather clock stands behind them. Ordered by the Tribune, Barbara Dana. (TNT, 1/29/1950, p.B-1)

Lakewood Community Center (Lakewood); Balls (Parties)--Lakewood--1950-1960; Costumes--Lakewood--1950-1960; Lakewood Dance Club (Lakewood); Sutherland, Russ--Family;

Family portraiture. Dr. Hugh A. Larkin and wife Charlotte M. with their six children in their home at 705 No. 5th St.

Larkin, Hugh A.--Family; Families--Tacoma--1950-1960;

The exterior of the St. Paul Restaurant was located in one corner of the St. Paul Lumber Company building. A public pay telephone stands at the corner under a sign for the restaurant that slants away from the building. This photograph was taken on a cold day when snow still lay on the ground and covered the limbs of the trees and the top of the telephone booth. The restaurant was owned by S.R. and Mrs. E.J. Hull.

Lumber industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. (Tacoma); St. Paul Restaurant (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma; Telephone booths--Tacoma--1950-1960; Snow--Tacoma--1950-1960;

A major snow storm hit Tacoma January 13,1950. Tacoma received almost nine inches of snow, and the wind which reached over 25 miles per hour created drifts up to five feet high. It was the worst storm in years and caused major damage throughout the area. 20 foot waves washed away part of Ruston Way, and ten boats were sunk in the yacht club basin. This view of the front of the Olympus Hotel, 815 -17 Pacific Avenue, from January 14th, shows the snow heaped along the sidewalks where it was left by the plows trying to clear Pacific Avenue. TPL-5466;

Olympus Hotel (Tacoma); Hotels--Tacoma--1940-1950;Snow--Tacoma--1950-1960; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1950-1960;

A one-story storage building with a truss roof and large, sliding doors. Photograph ordered by Pacific Storage & Distributing Company. Tacoma was emerging as a central distribution point for Southwest Washington at this time. Goods from abroad as well as United States and locally-made goods were distributed through focal points in Tacoma. Pacific Storage and Distribution company handled all types of merchandise. They kept eight trucks in operation and maintained warehouses at 1721 Jefferson Ave., 1725-1729 Commerce St., 805 Puyallup Ave., and 2312 East E St. (TNT, 2/14/1950, p.C-5)

Pacific Storage & Distributing Co. (Tacoma); Moving & storage trade--Tacoma--1950-1960; Warehouses--Tacoma;

Building a sample and testing flooring at the Douglas Fir Plywood Association Plywood Lab. Two workmen are moving a piece of thick plywood onto a sample of subflooring built with measuring equipment in place for testing the strength of plywood for this use. Ordered by Villa Daily.

Product inspection--Tacoma; Testing--Tacoma; Lumber industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Research facilities--Tacoma; Plywood; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma);

This Valentine's photograph of Ruth and Paul Sceva Jr.'s two daughters, Judith, age 6, and Diane, age 4 was taken in February 1950. They are dressed alike in navy coats and hats, with matching white eyelet lace on their collars and the brims of their roller hats. The sweetheart outfits were gifts of their grandparents, Mrs. and Mrs. David M. Morgan of Seattle. Note the photographers trick of having the two girls stand on pedestals of different heights. (TNT, 2/14/1950, p.12)

Sceva, Paul--Family; Girls--Tacoma--1950-1960; Families--Tacoma--1950-1960; Valentines; Sceva, Judith; Sceva, Diane;

Several members of Sigma Chi join in singing while one member plays the organ at the installation banquet for the new Delta Phi Chapter of Sigma Chi at the College of Puget Sound. Ordered by the Magazine of Sigma Chi, Merrill E. Pritchard.

Sigma Chi (Tacoma); Fraternities & sororities--Tacoma--1950-1960; College of Puget Sound (Tacoma)--1950-1960; Organs; Singing--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Storm damage along the waterfront road Ruston Way from the January 13th, 1950 blizzard that slammed into Tacoma bringing five foot snow drifts and 45 mile per hour winds. Damage to Tacoma was estimated at close to a million dollars. Emergency disaster relief was requested for Ruston Way where the storm tore out bulkheads allowing succesive tides to erode the roadway and threaten light, water and sewer facilities. Original estimate of damage to Ruston Way was $500,000. Another of the hardest hit areas was the Narrows Marina near Day Island where 55 boats were either destroyed or badly wrecked.

Storms--Tacoma--1950-1960; Blizzards--Tacoma--1950-1960; Disasters--Tacoma--1950-1960; Waterfronts;

Tacomans woke up on January 14, 1950, to a bone-chilling 12 degrees and extensive damages caused by the record blizzard that hit Tacoma the day before. The 41-mile per hour winds, with gusts up to 60 miles per hour, drove a log boom into the pilings the supported the Bayview Apartments at 3825 Ruston Way, forcing evacuation of the building. This picture, taken about a month after the blizzard, shows the heavily damaged building listing into the Bay. The storm, with its gale force winds and 9 inches of snow, caused close to a million dollars worth of damage in Tacoma. (TNT 1-14-50, p. 1-articles on blizzard, various photographs)

Storms--Tacoma--1950-1960; Blizzards--Tacoma--1950-1960; Disasters--Tacoma--1950-1960; Waterfronts; Bayview Apartments (Tacoma); Apartment houses--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Bellarmine Minstrel Show, Bellarmine Boosters, Inc., c/o Mr. Jom Condon, MKO.The production took place on February 19-21 in St. Leos Auditorium. The show featured thirty five production and specialty numbers based on classic minstrel shows and featuring "end men," soloists, soft shoe artists, harmony quartets and a 30 male voice chorus. Proceeds went to Bellarmine High School. (TNT 2-15-1950 pg. 27)

Students--Tacoma--1950-1960; Bellarmine High School (Tacoma); Minstrel shows--Tacoma--1950-1960; Cosmetics & soap; Bellarmine Boosters (Tacoma);

The second Golden Gloves Boxing Tournament was sponsored by the Tacoma Athletic Commission and was held at the College of Puget Sound Fieldhouse. Winners of the various titles received sports jackets with the T.A.C. Golden Gloves emblem and the runners-up were awarded gold miniature boxing gloves. The "Golden Boy" was awarded a wrist watch. Ordered by Mr. Metcalf. (TNT, 1/27, 1950, p.1)

Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma); Boxers (Sports)--Tacoma--1950-1960;

The Second Golden Gloves Amateur Boxing Tournament, sponsored by the Tacoma Athletic Commission, was held January 26th and 27th, 1950 at the College of Puget Sound fieldhouse. Several thousand boxing fans were treated to an action-laden program of bouts. The winner in each division received a sports jacket emblazoned with the T.A.C. Golden Gloves emblem. The names of the division champions were listed in the News Tribune. (TNT, 1/29/1950, p.B-6)

Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma); Boxers (Sports)--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Fire damage at Tacoma Transit. A fire destroyed four Tacomna Transit Company buses, several private automobiles and gutted the firm's repair shops and maintenance depot February 15, 1950. Losses were estimated at $267,000. The buses, in the process of repair, were probably totally ruined by the gasoline-fed flames. Ordered by United Pacific Insurance Company, Mr. Littlemore. (TNT, 2/16/1950, p.1)

Tacoma Transit Co. (Tacoma); Fires--Tacoma--1950-1960; Buses--Tacoma--1950-1960; Bus terminals--Tacoma;

Twelve people celebrate the marriage of their friends with a toast. The couple standing together in the corner were married earlier that day. The bride is wearing a street-length, white dress with an orchid corsage. Photograph ordered by Mrs. Faye Lewis.

Toasting--Tacoma--1940-1950; Celebrations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Couples--Tacoma--1940-1950; Weddings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Brides--1940-1950; Grooms (Weddings)--1940-1950;