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);

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);

Mrs. John Hreha (formerly LaMoyne Barcott) poses with a dummy in this studio portrait from November of 1954. Both Mr. and Mrs. Hreha were avid magicians and this smiling manikin may have been used in performances. Mrs. Hreha was the daughter of restaurateur Anton Barcott and granddaughter of John Barcott, founder of the California Oyster House. LaMoyne Hreha would later take over management of her family's Harbor Lights restaurant on Ruston Way.

Hreha, John--Family; Hreha, LaMoyne Barcott; Barcott, LaMoyne; Puppets; Maninkins

Robert A. and Agnes Kieszling posed with their sixteen year old son for a studio portrait on November 11, 1954. The Kieszlings owned and operated the Associated Arts Music Studio. Both father and son are shown playing the accordion. According to the 1954 City Directory, Mr. and Mrs. Kieszling resided at 3710 No. 25th; their music studio is also listed at the same address. Mr. Kieszling had recently co-directed the Youth Accordion Concert held at the Moose Auditorium. (TNT 10-10-54, D-11)

Kieszling, Robert A.; Kieszling, Agnes; Families--Tacoma--1950-1960; Accordions; Musicians--Tacoma--1950-1960;

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;

Many Tacoma Master Builders Association members enjoyed the Spike Banquet at the Top of the Ocean on November 16, 1954. Seated are Ed Miller, Gordon Korsmo, and Walter Witte. Standing are Robert Cowden, Leo Nelson, two unidentified women, Don Murphy and Art Manley. Del Belfoy was absent in this sepia photograph. Of interest to the membership is a large banner behind the group promoting the N.A.M.B. convention and exposition in Chicago the following January

Tacoma Master Builders Association (Tacoma); Group portraits;

A Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel Corporation crane is in the process of lifting another piece of steel roof truss as work continues on the construction of new hangars on McChord Field in September, 1954. Hangars were used to house and repair aircraft. It appears that instead of being constructed of wood, they were built using steel components. Photograph ordered by Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel Corporation.

Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel Corp. (Seattle); Steel; Hoisting machinery; Hangars; Building construction; Progress photographs;

Six unidentified employees of Coffee House Roasters, Inc., demonstrate the roasting and packaging equipment in the company's new plant at 3700 Center Street. The grand opening of Coffee House Roasters was held on December 3, 1954. Visitors were encouraged to tour the facilities. Coffee House Roasters sold coffee that was ground fresh from the oven and quickly packaged for distribution. Their coffee was "made in Tacoma by Tacoma people." The company provided complete service to restaurants, hotels, and institutions, including providing and maintaining coffee making equipment. After becoming established, they hoped to expand their production to include local grocery stores. The company was in business for 20 years, closing in 1975. (TNT 12-2-54, A-11)

Coffee House Roasters, Inc. (Tacoma); Coffee industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;

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);

Interior- James Sales Elementary School. Just outside the school's auditorium doors is a large bulletin board with the silhouettes of two dark hands and the warning: "Clean Hands Are Important." The bulletin board is neatly placed on the brick wall next to the recessed auditorium doors. The James Sales Elementary School is in the Franklin Pierce School District and located in Parkland. It was designed by local architects Lea, Pearson & Richards. Photograph ordered by Lea, Pearson & Richards.

James Sales Elementary School (Parkland); Public schools--Parkland--1950-1960; Bulletin boards; Lea, Pearson & Richards (Tacoma);

Exterior of James Sales Elementary School. James Sales Elementary was named after the first white child born in the Tacoma area on October 23, 1853. His parents were William and Eliza Sales, mill-hand at Nicholas Delin's mill and cook, respectively. The Sales later took a claim in the Puyallup Valley. The James Sales Elementary School was designed by local architects Lea, Pearson & Richards. The school was a very contemporary brick building with a multitude of windows that allowed plenty of natural light. Photograph ordered by Lea, Pearson & Richards. (Morgan: South on the Sound, p. 34)

James Sales Elementary School (Parkland); Public schools--Parkland--1950-1960; Lea, Pearson & Richards (Tacoma);

Exterior of Puget Sound Plywood. A vertical sign juts out from the Puget Sound Plywood, Inc.'s company offices indicating it was "Soundbilt" in a November 23, 1954, photograph. The company plant is apparently next door across the parking lot. Puget Sound Plywood was situated on 3 1/2 acres in the Tideflats between the City and Middle Waterways. Railroad tracks shown here indicate that there was direct rail access for easy shipment of the company's plywood products. Photograph ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association.

Puget Sound Plywood, Inc. (Tacoma); Lumber industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma); Cooperatives--Tacoma;

An executive of Puget Sound Plywood, Inc., studies documents on November 23, 1954. The walls of his office are made of plywood; the wall closest to the door may be of knotted pine. His oversized desk is also made of wood; a copy of American Lumberman is visible on the top shelf of his inbox. Puget Sound Plywood was Tacoma's first cooperative plywood plant; it was founded in 1942 and had its facilities at 230 East F Street in the Tideflats. Photograph ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association.

Puget Sound Plywood, Inc. (Tacoma); Lumber industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Office workers--Tacoma--1950-1960; Plywood; Desks; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma); Cooperatives--Tacoma;

Executives of Puget Sound Plywood, Inc., manufacturers of plywood, confer in the board room on November 23, 1954. The five executives all have documents in front of them and may be discussing an ad campaign as there is a copy of a cartoon introducing new usage for plywood. Harold Wenman (at right, in light coat) is apparently addressing his fellow workers. Mr. Wenman was an original shareholder of Puget Sound Plywood. The firm, the first cooperative plywood plant in Tacoma, opened on June 1, 1942. It had 298 members who each contributed $1000 and received the same hourly pay and percentage of the company's profits. Mr. Wenman had purchased his share before WWII and worked as the Office Manager for many years before becoming the General Manager from 1964-1970. A graduate of Knapps School of Business, he worked as an accountant for St. Regis, and then served as a staff sgt.in England during the war. Puget Sound Plywood continued to operate through the early 1980s but finally closed due to economic conditions. Photograph ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Assn. (Additional information provided by a reader)

Puget Sound Plywood, Inc. (Tacoma); Wenman, Harold; Lumber industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Plywood; Cooperatives--Tacoma; Office workers--Tacoma--1950-1960; Desks; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma);

Members of the Tacoma Post #1, Amvets, present a flag to accompany their donated flagpole to Mountain View Sanatorium officials on December 7, 1954. Shown holding the folded flag are county commissioner Fritz Geiger and Howard Lincoln, chairman of the board of trustees for the sanatorium. Also present were H.R. Kester, state service director for Amvets, Harry Sprinker (in glasses), county commissioner, and John Bennett, Commander Tacoma Post #1 Amvets. (TNT 12-10-54, B-5)

Amvets Club (Tacoma); Patriotic societies--Tacoma--1950-1960; Flags--United States; Geiger, Fritz; Lincoln, Howard A.; Kester, H. R.; Sprinker, Harry H., 1896-1991; Bennett, John;

Workers at the Buffelen company appear to be in the process of stacking doors in a December 7, 1954, photograph. There are already two tall towers of doors against the wall. Two men are lifting a door while the third waits to toss it on top of the pile. Photograph ordered by the Condon Co., an advertising agency.

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

Christmas decorations at Bob Tribensen's house for the DFPA. A solitary angel stands guard outside the window, flanked by two stars. A shadow is thrown by one of the stars onto the siding of the house, which is decorated by strings of holiday lights.

Christmas decorations;

The birth of the baby Jesus takes center stage in this roof top holiday decoration, as Santa stands to one side, at 6421 Vickery Ave. The one story rambler has a unique angled roof line. The fence to the viewer's left has shelves with potted plants, while built in planter boxes line the front of the home. A woodsy undeveloped area can be seen to the rear of the house.

Houses--Puyallup--1950-1960; Creches (Nativity scenes)--Puyallup--1950-1960; Christmas decorations;

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);

Two unidentified women sit behind a desk that is covered with chocolate bells in this photograph from January 1955. The bells were created for the Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Company to be given out to their employees as rewards for maintaining a good attendance record. It is not known whether the women in this photograph worked for Pacific Bell or for the company that made the bells.

Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Co. (Tacoma)--Employees--1950-1960;

On January 12, 1955, a photographer, believed to be Bob Richards, balanced gingerly on the top step of a ladder placed between railroad tracks as he prepared to photograph a set of traffic signs made from various materials for the Douglas Fir Plywood Association. The "Slow" signs are individually labeled as to the materials used in their manufacture- steel, alum(inum), fiber glass, no overlay, no overlay painted, no overlay unpainted, and plywood. The plywood industry sought to convince municipalities that sturdy, durable, plywood was the best material for traffic signs. Photograph ordered by the Douglas Fir Plywood Association.

Photographers--Tacoma--1950-1960; Traffic signs & signals--Tacoma--1950-1960; Ladders;

Nativity scene at Redeemer Evangelical Lutheran Church. The marker on the side of the church is dated 1953 as the church was dedicated on October 11, 1953. The Wise men and shepherds approach across the lawn to the Baby lying in the manger. The church is of a simple Roman brick design with a vestibule and a steeple. It was designed by architects Mock & Morrison.

Redeemer Evangelical Lutheran Church (Fircrest); Creches (Nativity scenes)--Fircrest;

Night exposure of Christmas decorations at Sprague Hardware Co. The three Kings approach the baby Jesus cradled in the stable against a painted mural of Bethlehem. Sprague Hardware was owned by Guy B. and Gordon L. Sprague. A sign in the window promotes "do it yourself tools" for home handymen. The building is of concrete construction, circa 1908, and originally housed Owen N. Johns Grocery.

Sprague Hardware Co. (Tacoma); Christmas decorations; Creches (Nativity scenes)--Tacoma; Hardware stores--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Exterior of Livermore Co. The Livermore Co., located at 2407 Sixth Avenue, were electrical contractors who specialized in Berko Heating units. The Berko Electric units provided glass panel radiant heat year round. The streamlined modern heating maintained even, constant heat. Livermore's also sold Coolerator electric appliances, which included refrigerators, freezers and ranges. Thomas Livermore owned and operated the business bearing his name. View of exterior of Livermore Co. building with neon signage; Palmer Radio & TV Service is brick building to its right.

Livermore Co. (Tacoma); Heating & ventilation industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Electric signs--Tacoma--1950-1960;

The Bob Kieszling Accordion Studio accordion band. And "It's a one ana two" as accordion players line the stage from wall to wall, as well as a few strings, brass and percussion players, flanked by Bob (R.A.) and Agnes Kieszling, directors of the music school. The Accordion Studio was located at 3710 No. 25th, which was also the Kieszling's home.

Music education--Tacoma--1950-1960; Children playing musical instruments--Tacoma--1950-1960; Musicians--Tacoma--1950-1960; Accordions; Music ensembles--Tacoma--1950-1960; Kieszling, Robert A.; Kieszling, Agnes;

Road signs, for the DFPA. These "Slow" road signs made of different materials will undergo rigorous testing over the next couple of months. The signs are constructed of plywood, overlaid plywood, steel, aluminum and fiberglass. They will be rigorously tested for their ability to stand up to direct hits, gunshots and wear and tear. They will be tested for legibility in the daylight as well as at nighttime. The testing was ordered and recorded by the Douglas Fir Plywood Association.

Plywood; Traffic signs & signals--Tacoma--1950-1960; Signs (Notices); Testing; Product inspection;

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.);

ca. 1954. Copy of customer print. View of unusually shaped, unidentified building, possibly an exhibition hall. A large portion of the exterior of this saddlebacked structure is made of multi-paned windows. The building may not yet be completed as there appears to be several stacks of plywood visible against the glass walls. There is a small entrance to the far left of the photograph. Date of original print is unknown; copy was made probably in late 1954.

Buildings; Buildings distinguished by material;