The Wright Building at the corner of 9th and Pacific was one of the first buildings in Tacoma to be spruced up during the Tacoma "clean-up campaign" started in April of 1947. City officials felt that two major benefits would be gained by business owners who participated in the campaign: greater safety by removing fire hazards, and greater business volume through improving the appearance of Tacoma's stores. Built in 1884, the Wright Building was demolished in October of 1969. (T. Times, 4/3/47, p. 1). TPL-8830
Window cleaning--Tacoma; Windows--Tacoma; Cleaning personnel; Scaffolding--Tacoma; Hoisting machinery; Tacoma Sportmen's Club (Tacoma)--Buildings; Business districts--Tacoma;
Helen M. Borcher, wife of Arthur Borcher, president of the Tacoma Rudder Club, would be hosting a "Stag and Doe" party. Rudder Club members and their wives will be invited to join in the fun, which includes a floor show, dinner until midnight and dancing until 1:00 A.M. Mrs. Borcher is wearing a tailored suit and feathered hat in this March 27, 1947 photograph (T. Times, 3/29/47, p. 12).
Women--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1940-1950; Hats--1940-1950; Rudder Club, Inc. (Tacoma); Borcher, Helen M.;
Group photograph of the Delta Alpha Gamma Sorority. Forty-one young women and their housemother. On Monday Elizabeth W. (Mrs. Kenneth W.) Johnson held a reception for Delta Alpha Gamma members and their guests at her home. The ten senior girls were welcomed to the alumnae group at this reception. Names are listed in the newspaper article. (T.Times, 5/3/1947, p.11)
Tacoma was hosting the Pacific Northwest Plastics Association conference. William Cruse, Vice-President of the Society of Plastics Industries in the Northwest, stated he anticipated a bright future for the plastics industry in Tacoma. View of Modern Plastic Applicators architectural model of a house, photo ordered by Modern Plastic Applicators (T. Times, 4/2/47, p. 9).
Architectural models; Building models; Plastics industry--Tacoma; Modern Plastic Applicators (Tacoma);
Gallon size jug and smaller bottle of "Olympic Trainer", created by Dr. Wilbur Bohm and manufactured by the G. E. Hill Company in Tacoma. "Olympic Trainer" was a wintergreen athletic liniment, advertised to have been used by the American Olympic Trainer, Washington Redskins and Washington Senators Team Trainer. Photo ordered by Gordon E. Hill, possibly for an advertisement.
Bottles; Medicines; Physical therapy--Tacoma; Health care--Tacoma; G.E. Hill Co. (Tacoma);
Interior view of living room in a house designed by Mock and Morrison Architects. Multi paned windows in background are covered with floral curtains, Victorian and modern style furniture, fireplace with marble inset mantle on right side. This room provides a lot of seating areas and maintains an open spacious feeling. Photo ordered by Mock & Morrison, architecture firm.
Interior view of home designed by Mock and Morrison Architects. The left side of living room has a niche with built in book shelves and a fireplace with traditional mantle piece, The walls and ceiling are joined together by cornice molding, two decorative windows are visible in background. The room is decorated with different furniture styles, including an English Queen Anne highboy cabinet and Victorian chairs. Photo ordered by Mock & Morrison, architecture firm.
Interior view of home designed by Mock and Morrison Architects. This room is possibly a living room or sitting room. Two doorways lead into a dining room and the entrance hall, a desk is between the doorways. Right side shows niche with built in book shelves and walls and ceiling are joined together by cornice molding. Different style furniture beautifully fits into this contemporary home, photo ordered by Mock and Morrison architecture firm.
Pantorium Cleaners & Dyers at 3306 Tacoma Avenue South was one of five dry cleaning and laundry services operated by the Home Service Laundry Company. Pantorium had domestic and commercial accounts throughout Tacoma. Besides apparel , the laundry specialized in cleaning drapes, curtains, carpets, rugs and upholstery. Door-to-door service was available. People are unidentified.
Interior view of entrance hall in house designed by Mock and Morrison Architects. A winder staircase with wooden handrail leads up to the bedrooms. The entrance hall is the focal point of the house, it is wallpapered, with throw rugs over wood floors, and allows easy access to all areas of the house. Photo ordered by Mock & Morrison, architecture firm.
Exterior view of Anna D. Miller's home, the grass is neatly mowed, trees and flower beds under the windows give this home a beautiful look. Anna D. Miller was an Assistant to the Superintendent of Schools. The Building Index indicates this home was built in 1908.
Miller, Anna D.--Homes & haunts; Houses--Tacoma--1940-1950; Neighborhoods--Tacoma;
Exterior view of Anna D. Miller's home, the grass is neatly mowed, trees and flower beds under the windows give this home a beautiful look. The house is located on the corner of A Street and East George Street. Anna D. Miller was an Assistant to the Superintendent of Schools. The Building Index indicates this home was built in 1908.
Miller, Anna D.--Homes & haunts; Houses--Tacoma--1940-1950; Neighborhoods--Tacoma; Trees--Tacoma;
ca. 1947. Reading tables in library at the Tacoma School of Nursing, circa 1947. The school opened new facilities in 1947, called Jackson Hall. Six girls were photographed at tables, bookshelves on left.
Nurses--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma General Hospital School of Nursing (Tacoma); Universities & colleges--Tacoma--1940-1950; Students--Tacoma--1940-1950; Studying--Tacoma--1940-1950;
ca. 1947. Shows multiple kitchenettes on both sides and tables and stools. Desk and refrigerator on left. In 1947, Tacoma General Hospital opened its new building housing its nursing training program. This was one of the classrooms in the Jackson building.
Tacoma General Hospital School of Nursing (Tacoma);
ca. 1947. Interior of a large auditorium at Tacoma General Hospital School of Nursing, circa 1947, with 4 doors at back wall, one on left wall. Room is filled with folding chairs-set up. Tacoma General conducted its own nursing school from 1895 till 1980. This room was probably used as a lecture area for that school. In 1947, the school erected a new building, Jackson Hall.
Tacoma General Hospital School of Nursing (Tacoma);
Mode O' Day was a ladies clothing store that was established in 1930 in Southern California. By the 1960's there were more than 800 Mode O' Day stores throughout the United States. Tacoma always had one of the largest shops and later became the largest Mode O' Day in 1965. Mode O' Day offered a wide selection of fashion apparel and accessories for women of all ages. Exterior view of shop and window displays featuring frocks and hosiery is how Mode O' Day appeared in March of 1947 while still on Broadway. TPL-9093
Window displays--Tacoma--1940-1950; Storefronts--Tacoma; Women--Clothing & dress--Tacoma; Clothing stores--Tacoma--1940-1950; Mannequins; Mode O' Day (Tacoma);
Loxide Structures, Inc. This is a copy of photograph A27734-2. The lawn and left side of the house have been touched up, however, to show a lawn and foundation plantings with a fence and tree on the left. Loxide walls were designed in 1939 by A.A. Lahti of the Sunset Beach area. The system was produced to meet the need for low cost homes and had the advantages of being fast and simple to construct. Robert Thompson was president of the company, Albert J. Weberg, vice president, and Bee and Robert Campbell were secretary. (TNT/Ledger, 2/9/1947)
Dwellings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Prefabricated houses; Loxide Structures, Inc. (Tacoma);
Ace Furnace, Mrs. Conrad Adler. A copy of "Bull of Woods Gives Pep Talk". This cartoon by Fred Zinn reminds us that how the crew hears it and how management describes bad news seems to have been the same throughout the years. Conrad Adler was plant superintendent of Ace Furnace at this time. TPL-1610
Benbow Lakes, Red Cross Aquatic School for the Northwest, 75 men, 56 women. Some of the trainees take time for trying out the swings, see saw and ping pong table during the 10-day aquatic safety school.
American Red Cross Pierce County Chapter (Tacoma); Safety; Lifesaving; Bathing suits; Benbow Lakes Resort (Kapowsin); Lakes & ponds--Kapowsin;
Children who have learned swimming under the Red Cross, American Red Cross, Mrs. Thomsen. A group of girls stand in the pool while one of the swimming instructors helps one of the girls learn to float in the water. More girls sit around the edges of the pool watching. Free swimming lessons were offered to Tacoma Youth through a program sponsored by the Tacoma recreation commission. (T. Times, 7/30/1947, p.5)
American Red Cross Pierce County Chapter (Tacoma); Children swimming--Tacoma--1940-1950; Swimming pools--Tacoma--1940-1950; Bathing suits; Teenagers--Tacoma--1940-1950;
Children who have learned swimming under the Red Cross, American Red Cross, Mrs. Thomsen. A large group of boys stand in the pool at Lincoln High School watching while the instructor helps one of the boys learn how to float. Over 5,000 free lessons were given so far that summer. All instructors were trained at an American Red Cross safety institute. The free lessons were open to children from 8 to 17 years of age.
American Red Cross Pierce County Chapter (Tacoma); Children swimming--Tacoma--1940-1950; Swimming pools--Tacoma--1940-1950; Bathing suits; Teenagers--Tacoma--1940-1950;
Tacoma Auto Sales. Exterior of South Side Used Car facilities. Used cars were "Bot and Sold" at this location. You could also obtain insurance and car loans. Two men wearing business suits stand outside the shop by a mid-1940's automobile with wide-wall white walls. TPL-8100
Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; South Side Used Cars (Tacoma); Automobiles--Tacoma--1940-1950;
B.F. Goodrich Company, interior. This view shows displays of home goods, light bulbs, pressure cookers and outdoor athletic equipment. A sign at the back advertises convenient terms.
Group portrait of Miller & Donovan Tigers Baseball Team at Tiger Ball Park, also known as Tacoma Baseball Park. The Tacoma Tigers (Tacoma Club of the Western International Baseball League) was sold to the San Diego Club of the Pacific Coast League for $109,000 in October 1947. The sale included the Tacoma Tigers park property in Tacoma, the players, team franchise in the Western International League and all other franchises and privileges of the club. (TNT, 10/2/1947) TPL-6690
Installation and erection of trestle for new East 34th Street bridge, Mr. Elon Ellis, Timber Structures, Inc. A view from the bottom of the Tacoma Eastern gulch looking up into the wooden construction. The Tacoma Eastern Railroad ran through the gulch. Extremely long poles jut vertically towards the road level of the new bridge. The earlier bridge at this location was condemned in 1943.
Bridges--Tacoma--1940-1950; Bridge construction--Tacoma--1940-1950; Trestles--Tacoma--1940-1950; East 34th Street Bridge (Tacoma); Progress photographs;
Progress photographs: Installation and erection of trusses on East 34th Street Bridge, ordered by Timber Structures, Inc. Man rides on section being hoisted into position. Skyline cables and tackle swing into place one of the 6 1/2 ton arch sections of laminated structural timbers becoming part of the arch form. Timber Structures, Inc., Seattle, fabricated the complicated trusswork. (T.Times, 7/15/1947, p.1)
Bridges--Tacoma--1940-1950; East 34th Street Bridge (Tacoma); Bridge construction--Tacoma--1940-1950; Trestles--Tacoma--1940-1950; Progress photographs;
Progress photographs: Installation and erection of trusses on East 34th St. bridge, Timber Structures, Inc. A man rides the skyline cables and tackle down with a section of the arch that will support the wet concrete that will form the finished bridge when the concrete is set. (T.Times, 7/15/1947, p.1)
Bridges--Tacoma--1940-1950; East 34th Street Bridge (Tacoma); Bridge construction--Tacoma--1940-1950; Trestles--Tacoma--1940-1950; Progress photographs;
Interiors at the Buffelen Lumber plant on the Tideflats. The immense plant was located on Lincoln Ave at Taylor Way. It was one of the earliest producers of fir plywood; beginning plywood production in 1916. In this photograph, two employees, one of them a woman wearing slacks, stack sheets of plywood. Plywood was an important World War II material, used in boats as well as buildings. During and after WWII, it was used for pre-fab housing. ("The Plywood Age" Robert M. Cour)
