Mary Bridge Children's Hospital's main lobby. The benches and chairs and the child size table and chairs at center are made of blonde wood with parchment colored upholstery. Colorful fiberglass draperies with a modernistic pattern hang at the rear of the room. The floor is of terrazzo. The admitting desk is to the right, out of picture range. When the hospital opens in the middle of the week, the television will be on helping to keep families' minds off of their problems. Original drawings on the wall by Tacoma artist Ruth Byers help keep the mood cheerful. (TNT 3/27/1955, pg. A13- A17)

Mary Bridge Children's Hospital (Tacoma); Hospitals--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Mary Bridge Children's Hospital's main surgery. The surgery contained all the most technologically advanced equipment, sized for children. The large lamp over the table is a shadow proof lamp for more clarity of vision for the surgeon. A xray illuminator board was also available. The floor in and near the surgery was nonconductive; eliminating the hazards from chance sparks near anesthesia. All air in the surgery was first washed, heated and humidified. (TNT 3/27/1955, pg. A13-A17)

Mary Bridge Children's Hospital (Tacoma); Hospitals--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Remington Rand, daytime exposure of exterior of building, taken in April of 1955. The house on a rise next to the building that can be seen over the flat roof of Remington Rand is possibly 410 Saint Helens Ave., built in 1905 and now demolished. Remington Rand manufactured office equipment and furniture and had a complete repair department.

Remington Rand Inc. (Tacoma);

Sacred Heart Church, photograph ordered by Catholic Northwest Progress. The church also had an attached convent for the Sisters of Providence and a school run by the Sisters. The parish started in 1913 with 35 families. The school was built in 1924 and opened with 103 pupils. By 1955, the parish encompassed 600 families and the school enrollment was 376 pupils. The new church and rectory replaced the old church at 46th & McKinley built in 1914. The new church was built of reinforced concrete with brick facing at a total cost, excluding furnishings, of $316, 000. Architects were McGuire and Muri. (TNT 3/18/1955, pg. A-5)

Sacred Heart Church (Tacoma); Catholic churches--Tacoma;

Weyerhaeuser Timber Co.; Board of Directors 1955. The board poses at a long table underneath the portrait of founder Frederick Weyerhaeuser. Seated clockwise from the left bottom: O.D. Fisher, C. Davis Weyerhaeuser, Norton Clapp, John Musser, F.K. Weyerhaeuser, Laird Bell, George S. Long, Jr., J.P. Weyerhaeuser, Jr., Edmond Cook, Edmund Hayes, Carleton Blunt, Charles H. Ingram, Henry T. McKnight and F.W. Reimers.

Weyerhaeuser Timber Co. (Tacoma); Weyerhaeuser, John Philip; Clapp, Norton, 1906-1995;

Publicity for the Altrusa Club. Marietta (Mrs. Hunter) Kennard, left, and Mrs. Marsh Davis, right, read "The American Songbag" and "American Ballads & Folk Songs." The pair will present the program at the Altrusa Club's biennial guest tea May 5, 1955 at the Madrona Way home of Mrs. Frank R. Maddison. Mrs. Kennard will present a narration of typical folk ballads, giving their origins and tracing their development. She will finish by reading from her own composition "Ballad of Old John Porter." Mrs. Davis, who accompanies herself on the piano, will sing American folk songs and traditional American ballads. (TNT 5/1/1955, pg. D-4)

Altrusa Club (Tacoma); Clubs--Tacoma--1950-1960; Women--Tacoma--1950-1960; Kennard, Marietta C.;

A model, possibly Sue Pederson, relaxes in a rocking chair in front of the built in shelves holding magazines & the lattice work concealing speakers on the reverse side of the high fidelity phonograph and TV cabinet. For the front side of the same unit, see D 90868 image #4. The racks hold Newsweek, The New Yorker, American Home & Collier's among other magazines. The room beyond has exposed beams, a piano and bookshelves flanking the fireplace.

Cabinets (Case furniture)--Tacoma; High-fidelity sound systems--Tacoma--1950-1960; Televisions;

Eight Delta Delta Delta sorority sisters, some in sorority sweatshirts, worked together in May of 1955 to create nosegays for the College of Puget Sound Pansy Ring Tea ceremony. The tea was an annual fete sponsored by the Phi Zeta chapter of the Tri Deltas. The young women, now dressed casually in slacks and hair kerchiefs, would be attired formally in dresses, hats and gloves for the third annual tea. In the tradition of nearly all Tri Delta chapters across the U.S. and Canada, the tea would honor senior women of the college. Special attention would be given to engaged or recently married seniors, who would step through a seven-foot tall ring of pansies. Puget Sound president R. Franklin Thompson would award two $100 scholarships offered every year by the sorority. (TNT 5/8/1955, pg. D-6-article)

Delta Delta Delta (Tacoma); Fraternities & sororities--Tacoma--1950-1960; Students--Tacoma--1950-1960; Flowers--Tacoma; Women--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1950-1960; College of Puget Sound (Tacoma)--1950-1960;

ca. 1955. A woman poses in front of an entertainment center that houses her phonograph and books. The woman is wearing a satin look skirt, a dark tucked in sweater and heavy earrings, choker necklace and a charm bracelet. She is looking at a phonograph record that she is about to place on the phonograph. The record player appears to swing up and into the center, some large controls can be seen to its right and speakers to the right of that. Books line the shelves.

High-fidelity sound systems--Tacoma--1950-1960; Phonographs; Bookcases --Tacoma--1950-1960;

ca. 1955. A model poses in front of a custom entertainment center. This unit has been designed specifically to fit this corner; it has three faces rather than a straight line in order to use the space more efficiently. The closed cabinet above the model hides the black and white T.V. set. A radio lies to the right of the speakers and a phonograph turntable which pulls down when needed is to the left of the speakers.

High-fidelity sound systems--Tacoma--1950-1960; Phonographs; Bookcases --Tacoma--1950-1960; Televisions--1950-1960;

The M.S.A. #491, a 171 foot minesweeper, was scheduled to be launched from the Bayview Shipyard, at the north end of East F St., on April 24, 1955 by the J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Co. It is the eighth of nine contracted 171 foot minesweepers to be launched. It will be named the U.S.S. Persistent. The keel was laid for the ship in June of 1954. (TNT 4/127/1955, pg. B-7)

Launchings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma);

Dorothy (Mrs. M. Stanley) Erdahl serves as sponsor for the launching of the U.S.S. Persistent (A.M. #491) minesweeper, constructed by the J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp. M. Stanley Erdahl was the current Port Commissioner and an ex-Navy officer who took the first YMS type minesweeper out of the Martinac yard in WWII. She would be assisted at the launching of the 171 ft. minesweeper by Sharon McCoy, daughter of Ed McCoy- Sumner High School's Director of Athletics, who would serve as flower girl. (TNT 4/17/1955, pg. B-7)

Launchings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma); Erdahl, Dorothy;

Although it appears that we are looking through someone's Japanese style backyard patio or garden at the Narrows Bridge, this is actually a small scale model of a garden structure enhanced in size by trick photography and perspective. The small model has bonsai shrubbery, Japanese style futons, a water feature with tiny sculpture and curved seating around an outdoor stove to take away that Northwest chill. The bridge is shown at actual size. Photo series ordered by the Douglas Fir Plywood Association.

Models; Architectural models; Patios--Tacoma; Garden structures--Tacoma;

The "Golden Future" is placed securely in the stars with the Independent Order of Foresters' entry, a daffodil bedecked flying saucer. This float won second place in the fraternal organization catagory of the 1955 Daffodil Parade. The driver wears a trench coat and safari hat to protect him from the rain and umbrellas have sprung up all over the crowd.

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1955 : Tacoma); Festivals--Tacoma; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1950-1960; Independent Order of Foresters 327 (Tacoma);

In keeping with th 1955 Daffodil Parade theme of "Golden Future," The Tacoma Retail Trade Bureau's float "Dream of the Future" had an engaged couple riding on it circled by a huge diamond engagement ring and standing in front of a miniature home. The float was designed and built by Roy Stier, designer of many previous prize winning floats. The College of Puget Sound and Pacific Lutheran College submitted the names of six couples that had wedding dates set before June 30th and one lucky couple was selected to ride on the float and receive prizes from various retailers. The front of the float is adorned with a cupid and floral dragonflies.

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1955 : Tacoma); Festivals--Tacoma; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma Retail Trade Bureau (Tacoma);

Members of the Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (Shriners) march in formation both before and after their band in the 1955 Daffodil Parade. They are wearing the traditional Moorish costumes topped with the fez hat. The parade was unified with the theme "Golden Future." It featured 56 floats, decorated with 1,250,000 blooms, 25 bands and drill teams, 12 decorated cars, 3 drum and bugle corps, 5 mounted units and 3 comic entries. The parade started north on Broadway at 10a.m., east on 9th and then south on Pacific Ave. They reformed to march in Puyallup at 1p.m. and Sumner at 2:30p.m.

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1955 : Tacoma); Festivals--Tacoma; Fraternal organizations--Tacoma; Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (Tacoma);

The Girl Scouts of America are well represented as they march down Pacific Ave. past the Bank of California building and the United Mutual Savings Bank in the 1955 Daffodil Parade.The girls wear the traditional uniform of skirt, shirt, kerchief and beret type hat. Bands worn diagonally across their chests are for displaying merit badges. There are lots of ankle socks and saddle shoes in the group. The leaders march along with their girls.

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1955 : Tacoma); Festivals--Tacoma; Girl Scouts (Tacoma);

An unidentified mounted posse, one of five in the 1955 Daffodil Parade, rides past the intersection of Pacific Ave. and 11th Street. The horses' rumps are adorned with a blanket of daffodils. The riders wear western cowboy hats and jackets with ties. Some in the crowd hold up umbrellas to shield them from the rain. The rains and cool weather did not deter over 200,000 spectators from turning out to view the tribute to the Puyallup Valley's money crop, the King Alfred daffodil.

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1955 : Tacoma); Festivals--Tacoma; Horseback riding--Tacoma; Horses--Tacoma;

A marching band rounds the turn from 9th onto Pacific Ave., preceding the Pacific Lutheran College float in the 1955 Daffodil Parade. The College's floral tribute to the year's theme "Golden Future'' depicts a globe issuing a rainbow and won the first place in the education and youth division. Rain and cool temperatures did not dissuade over 200,000 hardy souls from lining the streets to view the 22nd annual parade.

Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1955 : Tacoma); Festivals--Tacoma; Universities & colleges--Parkland; Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--1950-1960; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960;

The new Puget Sound National Bank at Midway. Puget Sound National Bank opened in Midway, part of unincorporated King County, in 1955 but because of state banking regulations it was run as a separate bank until Midway was incorporated by the city of Kent in 1959. To finance the new bank, Reno Odlin personally borrowed $160,000 from Wells Fargo Bank and became its president and sole stockholder. On 5/1/1955, Midway signed an agreement with Puget Sound National Bank of Tacoma that provided the fledgling bank with equipment, credit overlines, personnel hiring and the use of the newly completed building, provided rent-free. The following day, the bank opened its doors as Puget Sound National Bank of Midway. The bank was located on Pacific Highway 99 at the intersection of the Kent Des Moines Highway. The rambling ranch style building of green stone and "Texture One-Eleven," introduced by the DFPA, would serve the growing communities of Kent, Des Moines, Federal Way, Burien and Auburn. It had interior walnut paneling, terrazzo floors and exposed Douglas Fir beams. Puget Sound Bank did not venture out of Pierce County again until 1970. ("Banking on Independence" Provorse & TNT 5/1/1955, pg. C-23)

Puget Sound National Bank (Midway); Banks--Midway; Banking--Midway;

The Tacoma Fire Department provided ladders and the Safeway stores supplied scaffolding when members of the Painters Union, local # 64 and members of the Tacoma Junior Chamber of Commerce took on the project of painting Tacoma's totem pole at South 9th & A Street in 1955. By official proclamation, Mayor Harold M. Tollefson had declared May 8-14, 1955 "Clean up, fix up, paint up" week in Tacoma. This annual event encouraged citizens to clean out their basements, attics and yards and dispose of excess items. The re-painting of the totem pole was the project chosen to kick off the campaign. Local # 64 had already painted the totem pole once before in April of 1948.

Totem poles--Tacoma; Painting--Tacoma; Community service--Tacoma--1950-1960; Laborers--Tacoma; Painters Union Local No. 64 (Tacoma); Labor unions--Tacoma; Urban beautification--Tacoma--1950-1960; Scaffolding--Tacoma; Fire engines & equipment;

ca. 1955. Framed here in a darkened arch, the combination chapel/music/speech building was the religious and cultural center of the Pacific Lutheran College in Parkland. The groundbreaking for the $750,000 structure was in 1949 and the building was dedicated in May of 1952. Dr. S.C. Eastvold was President of the College. The three story building was built of concrete faced with brick, designed by Lea, Pearson and Richards to harmonize with the new library, science and Student Union buildings. It lay to the west of Old Main, forming a quadrangle with the Science Hall, library and Old Main. It held a large chapel/auditorium that seated 1200 with a oversize stage of 36 x 72 ft., a smaller devotional chapel directly under the 150 ft. spire that held 75, radio and speech studios, 17 piano and 2 organ practice rooms, several music studios, a music library and a small stage. In 1967, it was renamed Eastvold Chapel in honor of the retiring President who oversaw much of the growth of PLC. TPL-8607

Universities & colleges--Parkland; Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--Buildings; Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--1950-1960;

ca. 1955. Pacific Lutheran College's "Old Main," renamed Harstad Hall in honor of school founder Rev. Bjug Harstad in 1960. PLC was founded in 1890 by Rev. Harstad. Construction on Old Main began in 1891 and the building was opened for use in 1894. At that time, tuition was $1.00 a week and the six story building on the Parkland prairie 40 minutes from Tacoma (by street car or railroad) was the whole school. It housed dormitories, classrooms, library, chapel, offices and the dining hall and kitchen. Over the years, the building has undergone changes. Its famous ivy was removed in 1950 because it was damaging the building. The cafeteria was moved in 1955 to the Student Union and the offices and classrooms moved in 1960 to the new administration building. The entire building was converted to men's dormitory rooms.

Universities & colleges--Parkland; Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--Buildings; Pacific Lutheran College (Parkland)--1950-1960;

ca. 1955. View in 1955 of the tall doors to the garage bay where the fire engines are stored at Tacoma Fire Department's Engine Company #17. A reader notes that although signage over the doors indicated that Truck Co. #5 also operated from this station, the Tacoma Fire Department never established a staffed Truck 5 out of this station or anywhere else and still operates to this day with only four ladder companies city-wide. In addition to room for a thousand gallon pump truck and 75 ft aerial ladder truck, the building contained accommodations for 18 firemen and six officers. Lighting in the apparatus room came from large clerestory windows. Radiant heating panels were installed in the floors over which the trucks stood, to keep them warm and ready in all types of weather. The station had an enclosed outside garden court adjacent to the living quarters. It was closed when Engine Co. #17 moved to Fircrest. (TNT 1/9/1955) (Additional information provided by a reader)

Fire stations--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma Fire Department, Engine Company #17 (Tacoma);

Private pool built by Cascade Pool Co. for Dr. Ernest Banfield. The kidney shaped pool has a diving board at one end. A door from what is probably a basement recreation room of Dr. Banfield's residence opens onto a covered patio with an outdoor fireplace and built in brick barbecue and cooking area. Floor to ceiling windows in the living room overlook the pool. Dr. Banfield was a noted plastic surgeon who practiced in Tacoma. His wife Helen (Becky) served on Tacoma's city council. The house next door to the Banfields at 1212 Ventura belonged to George Jacobson. (Additional identification provided by a reader)

Swimming pools--Tacoma--1950-1960; Patios; Fireplaces; Houses--Tacoma--1950-1960; Banfield, Ernest--Homes & haunts; Jacobson, George--Homes & haunts;

Swimming and wading pools at Tacoma Lawn Tennis Club. This exclusive club, established in 1905, is located in Tacoma's north end, near the Annie Wright Academy. The pool & surrounding area was designed by Lea, Pearson & Richards, architects, and opened in September of 1954. The pool deck area is located down an incline, far below the surrounding homes. This photograph was ordered by the Cascade Pool Co.

Tacoma Lawn Tennis Club (Tacoma); Swimming pools--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Swimming and wading pools at Tacoma Lawn Tennis Club. This exclusive club was established in 1905. The pool area was designed by Lea, Pearson & Richards, architects, and opened in Sept. 1954. The pools are not very crowded, since April is still early for outdoor swimming in the Northwest. A high fence surrounds the pool area.

Tacoma Lawn Tennis Club (Tacoma); Swimming pools--Tacoma--1950-1960;

ca. 1900. Frederick Weyerhaeuser, founder of the Weyerhaeuser Timber Co. Frederick Weyerhaeuser came to the U.S. from Germany as a penniless teenager. He ended up in Rock Island, Illinois, in 1856 working in a lumberyard. In the wake of the panic of 1857, he became the owner of a little sawmill. He expanded first northward and later westward, founding his family empire. He went into the lumber business with his brother-in-law Frederick Carl August Denkmann. In 1900, after long negotiations, the Weyerhaeuser syndicate purchased 900,000 acres of Washington timberlands from the Northern Pacific Railroad. Although a daring and adventurous businessman with boundless energy, Weyerhaeuser was also a painfully private and simple man. The patriarch of the Weyerhaeusers was devoted to hard work and the founding of a dynasty. At his death on April 4, 1914 of pneumonia, he left $30,000,000 and a empire of timberlands. ("Phil Weyerhaeuser Lumberman" by Charles E. Twining)

Weyerhaeuser, Frederick; Lumber industry--Tacoma--1900-1910; Weyerhaeuser Timber Co. (Tacoma);

In June of 1955 Steve Pease's San Francisco "cable car", with a banner on its side advertising the Tacoma Rose Show, was photographed on Pacific Avenue. Pease, who owned Steve's Cafe on South Tacoma Way, better known as Steve's Gay 90s, bought an old San Francisco street car and had it retrofitted for street use. The "cable car" was the inspiration for the his restaurant's cable car room and was often seen in parades. The conductor at the front of the car is believed to be Steve Pease and the costumed woman at the far right is his daughter Dorothy Jean Pease. The Rose Show was one of the highlights of the 6th annual Pacific Northwest Convention of The American Rose Society and the Tacoma Rose Society's 45th annual exhibit. The Weeks Building, behind the front of the car, housed the Richards Commercial Photography Service and Nancy's Childrens Portrait Studio. (TNT 6/23/1955, pg. 1) TPL-9497

Cable cars; Steve's Gay '90s (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1950-1960; Pease, Stephen O.; Pease, Dorothy Jean;

On Monday May 30, 1955, Mrs. Gundrun Paetz, president of the Gold Star Mothers, placed a wreath at the base of a memorial to servicemen at the Mountain View Memorial Park as part of a special Memorial Day service. Observing the wreath laying ceremony are Superior Court Judge Frank Hale (left), serving as master of ceremonies, and State Senator Albert D. Rosellini, speaker for the event. Several veterans organizations participated in the Memorial Day rites held at 2 p.m. on Memorial Day at Mountain View. The 534th Air Force Band provided accompaniment. (TNT 5/31/1955, pg. 1 & 5/29/1955, pg. 1)

Cemeteries--Lakewood; Mountain View Memorial Park (Lakewood); Monuments & memorials--Lakewood; Memorial Day; Commemoration--Lakewood; Memorial rites & ceremonies--Lakewood; Paetz, Gundrun; Hale, Frank; Rosellini, Albert D.;