ca. 1946. Retirement photograph of Wallace E. (W.E.) Difford, managing director and moving force of the Douglas Fir Plywood Association. In 1938, when Difford became managing director of the DFPA, he was already known as the "Doctor." He obtained this nickname by leading various businesses out of failure and into the profit side of the ledger. He was a dynamic and energetic leader, with a reputation for innovations in marketing, sales promotion and merchandising. He took on the ailing plywood industry and created a giant. He sent trained salesmen into the field to sell plywood as a product. He grouped all the mills under a joint inspection and grading system, with its own registered trademark. He established two labs, one in Tacoma and one in Eugene, to test and improve the product. Business boomed. In the summer of 1946, Difford resigned from the DFPA to enter private business. His resignation was accepted by the management committee "with great regret." In 1952, two directors later, the industry was once again leveling off and the committee sent for the "Doctor." In the fall of 1952, Difford returned to head up the DFPA once again. ("The Plywood Age" Robert M. Cour)

Retirements--Tacoma; Commemoration--Tacoma; Difford, Wallace E.; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma);

This photograph, taken June 11, 1946, shows workers installing the 160 foot trusses that supported the roof over the Tacoma Ice Arena at 3801 So. Union. At that time, only the Boeing plant in Seattle had a roof with longer trusses. The arena, with its barrel arched roof, had a capacity of 4,000 seats for hockey matches. After it was abandoned as an ice arena, numberous boxing matches were staged there. On March 20, 1986, just short of 40 years after it was installed, part of the roof collapsed when several of the beams failed. TPL-8834

Roof trusses--Tacoma; Building construction--Tacoma; Ice skating rinks--Tacoma; Laborers--Tacoma; Tacoma Ice Palace (Tacoma);

West Coast Grocery was in the process of building their new home offices. This building would house their entire operations, including West Coast Fur Sales. The building is estimated at $400,000 and will be 640 feet long, 240 feet wide and have 135,000 square feet all on one floor. View of building progress.

Structural frames--Tacoma; Trusses--Tacoma; Building construction--Tacoma--1940-1950; West Coast Grocery Co. (Tacoma); Business enterprises--Tacoma--1940-1950; Storehouses--Tacoma;

Signe Sutherland, President of the Tacoma Retail Credit Association, was the general Chairman for the four day Pacific Northwest Credit Conference, at the Hotel Winthrop. They were celebrating their 25th anniversary in April of 1946. View of conference participants.

Sutherland, Signe; Business people--Tacoma--1940-1950; Women--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1940-1950; Hats--1940-1950; Conference rooms--Tacoma; Meetings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Retail Credit Association (Tacoma); Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

Richards Studio stock photo of Tacoma skyline with Mt. Rainier in distance. Large buildings, from left, are Medical Arts (now Municipal), Washington (note Socony-Vacuum "Mobiloil" pegasus neon sign on roof), Rust, Puget Sound (now Key) Bank and Fidelity.

Tacoma - Cityscapes - Downtown - Office Buildings Geological Features - Washington State - Mountains - Mt. Rainier Advertising - Neon signs - Roof signs Trademarks - Mobil Pegasus

President-elect of the Philippines, Manuel Acuna Roxas, watches as his host, Col. A.S.Strickland, tops off his cup of coffee. Mr. Roxas and his party of eleven, including U.S. High Commissioner, Paul V. McNutt, were on their way to Washington D.C. for a conference with President Truman. They had made a brief stop at McChord Field for refueling on May 8, 1946. Even though the Air Force base was given warning of the visit only hours before the big transport actually arrived, press and cameras were on hand immediately to photograph the arrival and subsequent meal. In his prepared speech at the conclusion of the breakfast, Mr. Roxas praised General Douglas MacArthur for the outstanding job in restoring the Philippines to the Filipinos. Although Mr. Roxas did not answer individual questions, he did state his purpose in journeying to Washington D.C. was to offer both military support and the placement of military bases on Filipino soil. He called America the "motherland of world democracy" and indicated his country's appreciation for its help in the fight against aggression. (TNT 5-9-46, p. 1) ALBUM 3.

Visits of state--Tacoma; Roxas, Manuel Acuna, 1892-1948; McNutt, Paul V.; Strickland, A.S.; Eating & drinking--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Miscellaneous scenic studio shots. View of cascading Multnomah Falls, beautiful trees surround the waterfall. Cars belonging to spectators are parked in lookout area. Multnomah Falls is located on the Oregon side of the Columbia River Gorge. (Identification provided by a reader)

Waterfalls; Multnomah Falls (Oregon); Trees; Scenic overlooks; Marine photographs; Automobiles--Oregon--1940-1950;

A tea was hosted for the Pacific Telephone and Telegraph phone operators. Over fifty employees, mostly women attended the tea. Pacific Telephone was getting ready to expand their services, operators would receive training in the new and upcoming phone services. View of Pacific Telephone & Telegraph phone operators.

Women--Clothing & dress--Tacoma; Banquet halls--Tacoma; Telephone operators--Tacoma; Tea--Tacoma; Tea parties--Tacoma--1940-1950; Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Co. (Tacoma);

A tea was hosted for the Pacific Telephone and Telegraph phone operators. Over fifty employees, mostly women attended the tea. Pacific Telephone was getting ready to expand their services, operators would receive training in the new and upcoming phone services. View of Pacific Telephone & Telegraph phone operators.

Women--Clothing & dress--Tacoma; Banquet halls--Tacoma; Telephone operators--Tacoma; Tea--Tacoma; Tea parties--Tacoma--1940-1950; Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Co. (Tacoma);

Central Motors bought, sold and serviced cars. They were about to move into this building, where they would offer their customers a wide selection of used cars and more extended services. Interior view of Central Motors.

Automobile dealerships--Tacoma; Vehicle maintenance & repair--Tacoma; Showrooms--Tacoma; Central Motors (Tacoma);

Rhodes Department Store fabric section.

Business Enterprises - Department Stores - Tacoma - Rhodes Brothers - Fabric Department

Selden's moved into new facilities in 1942, these new quarters offered customers larger, attractive and efficient space. Selden's, owned and operated by Sidney Selden, is one of Tacoma's leading drapery and floor covering stores. With five full floors for customers to browse through, including a repair department, everyone is sure to find what they need. Interior view of fabric department.

Merchandise displays--Tacoma; Showrooms--Tacoma; Textiles; Home furnishings stores--Tacoma; Selden's, Inc. (Tacoma);

Rhodes Millinery Mirror Room along with other departments had recently been remodeled and modernized. The room featured modern fixtures in a renovated spacious room. Rhodes offered fashionable and chic hats for the modern woman. View of Mirror Room with hat displays and comfortable areas for women to try on their favorite hat styles (T. Times, 5/16/46, p. 10).

Millinery; Hats--1940-1950; Merchandise displays--Tacoma; Department stores--Tacoma; Rhodes Brothers Department Store (Tacoma);

This committee from the Washington State Music Teacher's Association will be looking over and choosing music selections for the State Music Auditions. Members of the association will present students in programs during the auditions. Left to right view of: Frank J. Nurding, Florence Russell, Eunice Prosser Crain and Madge Hurd (T. Times, 6/1/46, p. 5).

Teachers--Tacoma; Pianos; Meetings--Tacoma; Washington State Music Teacher's Association (Tacoma);

Harkness Rug Co. is a family owned business that opened in 1921. They have a large selection of rugs, carpets, baby furniture, furniture, linoleum, carpets, tile and appliances. They can still be found at this address today. Interior view of new store, Bendix automatic washing machines and RCA Victor automatic Victrola radio phonographs in showroom.

Washing machines; Phonographs; Radios; Showrooms--Tacoma; Appliance stores--Tacoma; Harkness Rug & Furniture Co. (Tacoma);

Lennard Anderson was a Tacoma concert pianist. He was working on his Masters Degree in Music at New York University. Lennard started studying music at the age of six and in his early twenties he was the staff pianist at KVI radio. Copy of retouched picture of Lennard Anderson.

Musicians--Tacoma; Pianists--Tacoma; Pianos; Anderson, Lennard;

This photograph, taken around July 19, 1894, was copied by the Richards Studio in July of 1946 under the direction of Ernest Heinrich, owner of Heinrich Locker and Ice. The photograph was taken during a barn raising at the F. Heinrich farm on the banks of the St. Croix River, near Rush City, Minnesota. View of assisting neighbors standing on the roof trusses of building. Carl John Frederick Heinrich was born in Prussia and emigrated to the US in 1871. He settled in Minnesota as a farmer in 1874 on 425 acres bordering the St. Croix River. He married Welhelmina Oelrichs in 1880. They had five children. Ernest Heinrich was their son. Copy of photograph ordered by Heinrich Locker & Ice Co. (Also see image C21659-2).

Roof trusses--Minn.; Progress photographs; Building construction--Minn.; Heinrich Locker & Ice Co. (Tacoma);

Tom Breneman's "Breakfast in Hollywood " film at Tacoma's Roxy (Pantages) Theater in August, 1946. Masters of Ceremonies Bill Gunning and Al Priddy of Radio Station KJR advertising Kellogg's "All Bran" and "Pep" cereals. They hold up industrial-sized boxes of breakfast cereal. A cardboard cutout, perhaps of star Tom Breneman, is propped up between the men. KJR would rebroadcast Mr. Breneman's program the day of the movie opening, August 20, 1946. (T.Times, Ad, 8-18-46, p. 6) TPL-1396 ALBUM 7.

Advertisements--Tacoma; Advertising--Tacoma; Signs (Notices); Prepared cereals--Tacoma; Priddy, Al; Gunning, Bill;

Atlas Foundry, crane for Broderick & Bascomb, wire rope. Atlas Foundry and Machine Company supplied castings for firms building new machines which kept the company in touch with the general building up of all industries in the area after the war. (T.Times, 8/28/1946, p.5)

Atlas Foundry & Machine Co. (Tacoma); Foundries--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Atlas Foundry, crane for Broderick & Bascomb, wire rope. A crane is being used to set a pole alongside a railroad track. Atlas Foundry and Machine Company was engaged at this time in work for plywood, pulp and paper, railroad and other industries. The company reports work was coming in from all over the west coast. This photograph was used in a newspaper article, Tacoma News Tribune, February 14, 1950, about the poles manufactured by Cascade Pole Company, located on Port of Tacoma Road, that were used for telephone and telegraph poles throughout the world. (T.Times, 8/28/1946, p.5)

Atlas Foundry & Machine Co. (Tacoma); Hoisting machinery; Railroad cars--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Rehn Motor Company. Several men enjoy each others company in the service area of the Chevrolet dealership.

Automobile dealerships--Gig Harbor--1940-1950; Rehn Motor Co. (Gig Harbor);

Ray Ridge Motors for Robert Sconce Advertising. Crowd admires the 1946 Mercurys at Ray Ridge Motors. Night view from outside showroom through plate glass windows. Convertible, sedan and "woody" wagon are visible.

Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Ray Ridge Motors, Inc. (Tacoma); Automobiles--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Lowell T. Murray. The back door of this automobile is open inviting us to view the elegant interior, upholstered in leather with armrests and interior lights. A lap robe hangs from the back of the front seat. Passengers could step down to the running board before stepping to the street level. The back doors open from the middle. These were later called "suicide doors". A crank handle raises and lowers the window.

Automobiles--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Morris Jaffe-Edith Brodsky held their wedding and wedding reception at the Crystal Ballroom of the Hotel Winthrop on November 3, 1946. Eleven waitresses, a chef and kitchen manager stand behind the heavily laden banquet serving table. The bride was the daughter of Phillip and Anne Brodsky. The groom was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Jaffe of Seattle. The bride's cake, not shown, was surrounded by 100 gardenias and a sprinkling of silver sequins. (T.Times, 11/6/1946, p.8)

Banquets--Tacoma--1940-1950; Weddings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Women--Tacoma--1940-1950; Waitresses--Tacoma--1940-1950; Restaurant workers--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Flavel ("Bizz") Beattie-Henrietta Foss wedding. Mr. and Mrs. Beattie cut the wedding cake at their wedding reception. The table is decorated with candles and desert plates and napkins are ready. A bouquet of mums and more candles decorate the mantle of the fireplace behind the bride and groom. The reception took place at the Tacoma Country Club. (T.Times, 9/28/1946, p.7)

Beattie, Flavel--Marriage; Foss, Henrietta--Marriage; Weddings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Brides--1940-1950; Grooms (Weddings)--1940-1950; Wedding costume--1940-1950; Foss, Henry O.--Family;

Bellarmine High School, celebrating the ceremony of the Holy Ghost. Women seated in the pews are wearing scarves, shawls and hats to cover their heads during the service.

Bellarmine High School (Tacoma); Religious services--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Bellarmine football player, Joe Retallick.This photograph was taken Joe's freshman year. He was a member of the 1947 champion team, and is a member of Bellarmine's Hall of Fame. Other students stand in the background while player number 56 poses, ready to defend his teammates. TPL-7190

Bellarmine High School (Tacoma); Students--Tacoma--1940-1950; Football players--Tacoma--1940-1950;

International Harvester Company. A view of the company's Tacoma facilities from the corner. A garage door is open along the side.

Commercial facilities--Tacoma--1940-1950; International Harvester Co. (Tacoma);

Tom Breneman's "Breakfast in Hollywood Show" at Tacoma's Roxy (Pantages) Theater on August 20, 1946. KJR Radio Masters of Ceremonies giving a prize to a fan. Al Priddy (L) and Bill Gunning present Mrs. May Matson a beautiful orchid for being the oldest mother, age 81, present at the opening of "Breakfast in Hollywood." Mrs. Matson indicated that it was only the second orchid she had ever received; the first was when she got married. The "oldest mother" was just one of the many contests held during the course of the movie's run to celebrate the transfer of the popular radio program onto the big screen; others included goofiest hat, youngest bride and oldest lady. (T.Times, 8-21-46, p. 1) ALBUM 7.

Contests--Tacoma--1940-1950; Orchids--Tacoma; Priddy, Al; Gunning, Bill; Matson, May;

Mrs. George J. Vogel, studio portrait of a young girl wearing her dance costume.

Dancers; Children--Tacoma--1940-1950; Girls--Tacoma--1940-1950;