White truck with special equipment in front of White Trucks offices. The White Company of Cleveland, Ohio began manufacturing heavy duty trucks in 1900.

Trucks--Tacoma--1950-1960; White trucks; Tacoma White Trucks, Inc. (Tacoma); Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Bank of California- customer parking and drive up banking window. The Bank of California heavily advertised its convenience features- a free parking lot, drive up teller windows and a rear bank entrance just steps from the parking lot. The drive up windows now had two tellers, making banking quicker and easier. The banking institutions tried to make banking in the downtown area more attractive, as business deserted the downtown area for the suburbs. The fifties saw the beginning of the desertion of downtown Tacoma as a retail area. (TNT 10/11/1953, pg. A-4)

Bank of California National Association (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Banking--Tacoma--1950-1960; Parking lots--Tacoma;

Aerial view of the residence of Reno Odlin, President of Puget Sound National Bank. Home designed by Lea, Pearson & Richards. Reno Odlin was a ninth generation American, whose family had a background in the ministry and banking. Reno was well educated, thanks to his strong willed ex -school teacher mother Jessie Odlin, and was preparing for a career in law when he joined the army in WW I. After the army, he learned banking from the bottom up as a cashier in the Citizens Bank in Anacortes that his father was reorganizing. In 1928, he took a banking job in Seattle and later in Olympia. He was running the Seattle-First National Bank in Olympia when he was contacted by Puget Sound Bank. Against all advice, he took the job running the small unprofitable bank. By skill and personality, he rescued Puget Sound Bank from the Depression and guided it through wartime & peacetime prosperity. ("Banking on Independence" Provorse)

Odlin, Reno, 1897-1979--Homes & haunts; Puget Sound National Bank (Tacoma)

ca. 1953. Puget Sound National Bank, Lakewood branch. The main lobby had walnut panelling and included the teller, note and statement units as well as the officers' sections. The lobby was arranged for customer service and convenience. The full basement was an employee only area with a conference room, book vault, employee's lounge with fireplace and a kitchenette. Some of the most modern features in the new bank were the recessed fluorescent illumination and the many outlets for electronic banking machinery. (TNT 10/20/1953, pg. C-9)

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

The ladies' lounge in Puget Sound National Bank, Lakewood branch. The ladies' lounge, which opened off the lobby, was fully furnished in an early American motif and accented with its own fireplace. It added a truly elegant touch to the bank. The employees had their own lounge in the basement, also with a fireplace. (TNT 10/20/1953, pg. C-6)

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

ca. 1953. Safe deposit vault at Puget Sound National Bank, Lakewood branch. Opening off the main lobby was the safe deposit vault and coupon booths. The bank featured a 950 box safe deposit vault. Other conveniences offered included a drive up teller on the south side of the building. (TNT 10/20/1953, C-6 - C-9)

Puget Sound National Bank (Lakewood); Banks--Lakewood; Banking--Lakewood; Vaults (Strong rooms)--Lakewood; Safe-deposit boxes--Lakewood;

Attendance at the New Bible Prophecy Auditorium, the Central Seventh Day Adventist Church at 6th and Sprague, for the Spillman-Lyman Evangelistic Team. The best known West Coast Evangelistic team began their revival meetings September 27, 1953, sponsored by the Washington Conference of the Seventh Day Adventists. Don Hiatt Spillman was the director and speaker. Lewis Lyman was the singing evangelist and musical director. The pair, with their wives, sang as a mixed quartet. The first sermon was "Now that Stalin is dead and the Communists have the hydrogen bomb, what is the answer to the Russian Riddle?" Appearing in Tacoma after 66 weeks in Seattle, 38 in Spokane and 24 in Salem Oregon, the revival would meet every night except Monday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. in the new 1/4 million dollar building designed by Silas Nelsen. (TNT 9/25/1953, pg. 7)

Religious meetings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Churches--Tacoma; Central Seventh Day Adventist Church (Tacoma); Revivals--Tacoma--1950-1960;

ca. 1900. Portrait of a young boy and his sister, a copy of a customer's print, for Floyd Oles. Floyd Oles lived at 1018 So. 60th and was president of an import-export company called Floyd Oles Inc. Floyd Oles Inc. was located at 1953 So. C.

Children--1890-1900; Clothing & dress--1890-1900;

US Air Force jet airplane. The pilot can be seen clearly in the cockpit. The jet was stationed at McChord Air Force Base. Ordered by the Tacoma News Tribune.

Airplanes; Fighter planes--U.S. Air Force--1950-1960;

This photograph of a North American F-86D fighter on the runway at McChord Air Force Base was taken in December of 1953 for an article on the history of aviation that appeared in the Tacoma News Tribune. In 1953 the F-86D Sabre was the fastest regulation military aircraft in the world. In July of that year it had set a new world speed record of 715.697 m.p.h. over a 3 km course. The only thing faster was the experimental Douglas D-558-2 Skyrocket which by December of 1953 had been clocked at speeds up to 1,327 m.p.h. (Ordered by the Tacoma News Tribune.) (TNT 12/12/1953 p.16)

Airplanes; Fighter planes--U.S. Air Force--1950-1960;

Annie Wright Seminary. Students and teacher in chemistry lab. Upper level students prepare to cook up an experiment with the assistance of their teacher Miss McKay. Miss McKay was the Annie Wright instructor of science and mathematics. (The Shield, 1954 issue)

Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1950-1960; Private schools--Tacoma;

The Auto Clinic unveiled its new "pigeon hole parking garage" at South 12th & A Streets in December of 1953. Tacoma's first example of this unique parking plan, developed in Spokane, opened on December 7, 1953. This photograph taken from the corridor of the structure shows a car on the hoist as it is being taken to its pigeon hole. The hydraulic electric hoist operated on a track. Cars could be taken from the lower level on one side to the upper level on the far side in less than two minutes. The pigeon hole section could accomodate 120 cars in the five-story steel and concrete structure. This method of parking had already been installed in Los Angeles, Phoenix and Reno to help alleviate the problem of parking in congested downtown areas. The Auto Clinic was owned by Mrs. Lily Schweizer and John Long and offered complete automotive service including a repair shop, Associated Flying "A" gasoline, Tydol motor oils and Federal tires. (TNT 12/6/1953, pg. B-11)

Auto Clinic (Tacoma); Elevators; Parking garages--Tacoma--1950-1960; Automobiles--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Commercial fishermen at the Port of Tacoma's new Fishing Boat Haven. The Haven was completed the previous summer and by January of 1954 was rapidly filling with fishing boats. The manager J.R. Woodruff stated that 52 various sized craft had been using the expanded haven. The big net shed at the site was 70% full with renters expected to fill the building shortly. The background shipbuilding company is believed to be Western Boat Building Co. (TNT 1/17/1954, pg. B-2)

Fishing boats--Tacoma--1950-1960; Fishing industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Port of Tacoma (Tacoma);

December, 1953, graveside exposure of Japanese-American funeral for Mr. Yonezo Mizoguchi, 83 years of age. Mr. Mizoguchi lived at 1710 Tacoma Ave. So. He was born in Japan and came to the United States in 1908. He had lived in Tacoma for 6 years, after retiring in 1941 from 46 years of farming. He was a member of the Buddhist Church. He was survived by his wife Taka and three sons, Hiroto, Kanae and Charles M.- all of Tacoma, and one daughter Mrs. Masaye Shigeno and nine grandchildren. (TNT 12-15-1953, pg. 30) TPL-10139

Japanese Americans--Tacoma; Cemeteries--Tacoma; Funeral rites & ceremonies--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Cole & Weber, Hemlock Home interiors. This picture is taken from the dining portion of the combined kitchen/dining room, looking into the kitchen. The 1/2 wall of drawers is a clever room divider, providing storage space as well as working as a divider. Wood is used in the exposed beams, cabinets and drawers. A tiled floor and tiny patterned wallpaper complete the country atmosphere.

Kitchens--Tacoma--1950-1960;

New marquee being put in place at the Winthrop Hotel. Six men hold the new marquee in place. The sign advertises the hotel as the home of Daffodil Room and the Sabre Room. A panel van parked in front has a sign on it reading "Man of the Year."

Marquees--Tacoma; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

Crippled Childrens School, ordered by the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis. Diane Cashion plays on a piece of physical therapy equipment in front of a board covered with chalked names. Diane, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Cashion of 4302 So. Asotin St., is a March of Dimes success story. She was stricken with polio five years ago. Her illness was so severe that she was in Pierce County Hospital for nearly a year. Since her release, treatment and physical therapy at the Crippled Childrens School have enabled her to shed her leg brace. Her treatment was funded by the March of Dimes. The Crippled Childrens School was located at East 50th in Salishan from 1953 till approximately 1963 when they were moved to specially constructed classrooms in the new Birney, Seward and Truman Schools. (TNT 1/12/1954, pg. 2)

National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis (Tacoma); March of Dimes (Tacoma); Cashion, Diane; Crippled Childrens School (Tacoma);

Pennsalt; 8 people at a desk. The man in the lab coat holds a glass bottle with a grainy substance inside.

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma)--Employees; Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Factories--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Plywood used for diecutting base at Ridgeway Lithographing Co., ordered by the DFPA (Douglas Fir Plywood Association.) Lithography is a process of printing from a plane surface, such as a smooth stone or metal plate, where the image to be printed is ink-receptive and the blank areas are ink-repellant.

Plywood; Lithography;

On December 26, 1953, Frost and Margaret Snyder posed in their home for their annual Christmas portrait with their two daughters, son-in-law, three grandchildren and family dogs. Their daughter Margaret sits on the sofa at right while their other daughter Catharine poses with her husband Robert Kendall and their three children, Taylor (on mom's lap), Suzanne and Margaret. Frost Snyder had succeeded to president of Clear Fir Lumber Company from his father, John Snyder. He was also president of Vancouver Plywood and Veneer Company and a member of the Board of Directors of Puget Sound National Bank. Frost Snyder was born in 1892 and died in 1971. (Additional identification provided by a reader)

Snyder, Frost, 1892-1971--Family; Families--Tacoma--1950-1960; Dogs--Tacoma--1950-1960; Christmas--Tacoma; Snyder, Frost--Homes & haunts; Kendall, Robert Alden--Family; Snyder, Margaret C.; Snyder, Margaret; Kendall, Catharine Snyder;

Standard Brands Inc. The "25 Year Club" annual banquet. Two area residents were inducted into the quarter century club of Standard Brands Inc. at their annual dinner held at the Winthrop Hotel. The two inductees are in the center of the front row holding their certificates of long service. To the left is Emil C. Werner and to his right is Elmer E. Krueger. Both were employed at Fleischmann's Yeast in Sumner. For their 25 years of continuous service, they were presented with gold watches and certificates. Werner resided at 413 8th Ave NW, Puyallup. Werner came to the US in 1906 and worked as a farmer. In 1928, he joined the work force at Fleischmann's. His hobbies were fruit growing and farming. He had 3 daughters, a son and 7 grandchildren. Krueger lived in Sumner Heights. He was a native of Clear Lake, S.D., a WWI veteran and a member of the American Legion. He had two sons, Jerry and LaVon, who were employed at Rainier Plywood in Tacoma. Company executives attending the dinner were Albert R. Fleischmann, vice president and general sales manager, and L. G. Reichhard, vice president of manufacturing. (TNT 11/16/1953, pg. 13)

Standard Brands, Inc. (Tacoma); Group portraits; Banquets--Tacoma--1950-1960; Fleischmann's Yeast (Sumner)--Employees;

Patrica Ann Woods, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles E. Woods, and David Keith Curry wedding at Assembly of God Church, Puyallup. Reception at Immanuel Lutheran Church. Large family portrait, with bride and groom in center, taken at reception on November 14, 1953.

Weddings--Puyallup--1950-1960; Woods, Patricia Ann--Marriage; Curry, David Keith; Brides--1950-1960; Grooms (Weddings)--1950-1960; Wedding clothing & dress--1950-1960;

Sherman Elementary School construction for Robert B. Price, architect. Sherman was originally built in 1891 at N. 38th & M St. and named for William Tecumseh Sherman, a Civil War Union Army general. It was overcrowded as soon as it opened. In January of 1953, plans were revealed for a new $500,000 one story structure. The old school was demolished to make room for playgrounds. The new Sherman had 20 classrooms, a lunchroom, auditorium, library and two outside play courts. Skylights, plastic sky domes and natural brick lightened the halls and classrooms. The school was dedicated in November of 1954. This school was demolished in 1998 to make way for Sherman #3. ("For the Record" by Winnifred Olsen)

Public schools--Tacoma--1950-1960; Sherman School (Tacoma);

Room-Temp Lockers, Inc., refrigeration equipment. Interiors of new office. Front desk, business office with built-in planter. For Paul M. Smith, secretary-treasurer. (WSHS)

Room-Temp Lockers, Inc. (Tacoma); Office furniture; Offices;

ca. 1953. Copy of a customer's print. Original photograph taken by the Bureau of Reclamation, Ephrata, Wa. of the Grand Coulee Dam, date of photo unknown. Grand Coulee Dam is a large hydroelectric dam located on the Columbia River in central Washington. It is the largest concrete structure in the US and the 3rd largest hydroelectric plant in the world. It began with the Columbia Basin Irrigation Project, headed by the Bureau of Reclamation, in the 1930s. Its intention was to provide irrigation water to the fertile but arid farmlands of the Columbia River basin in Central Washington. By 1941, the main dam was completed, with construction of the powerhouses and the pumping station underway. With the start of WWII & the importance of the Northwest's aluminum industry to the war effort, production of electricity became the priority of the dam and irrigation was delayed until later. After the war, the emphasis again shifted to irrigation and construction on the pumping plants resumed. By 1951, the dam was providing irrigation water to the area. The dam now serves three purposes: electric power production, irrigation and flood control. (web site: Grand Coulee Dam, Columbia River Project) TPL-8138

Dams--Grand Coulee; Hydroelectric power--Grand Coulee;

An unidentified young woman glances over her extensive train ticket at Union Station on January 23, 1954. She is dressed in a suit from Andrews Women's Apparel and stands between her two suitcases. Her outfit is complemented by a small hat and gloves. The distinctive window of Union Station can be seen behind her.

Andrews Women's Apparel (Tacoma); Clothing stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Women--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1950-1960; Union Station (Tacoma); Railroad travel--Tacoma--1950-1960; Luggage;

National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis. Barbara (Mrs. Jerry M.) Sage is holding an empty jar to be used for collecting donations during the annual Mothers March for the March of Dimes Jan. 28, 1954. Her daughter Barbara Ellen Sage watches from the doorway. The Mothers March, under the direction of Mrs. Kenneth Finfrock, will wind up the March's month long campaign. The nationwide goal for the March of Dimes campaign was $75 million dollars. The funds from the campaign supported patient care, research, education and polio prevention. One third of all 1954 contributions in the drive were designated for prevention and the mass field trials of the new polio vaccine. The Mothers March was held Jan. 28th from 7p.m.- 8p.m. During this hour volunteers went door to door in every rural area, city & town in the county. Those who wished to contribute left their porchlight on or a lamp or candle in a front window. Apartment dwellers could also tie something to their doorknob. "Operation Porchlight" was an extremely successful fundraiser for the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis. (TNT 1/22/1954, pg. 5 & 1/24/1954, pg. D-1)

Charitable organizations--Tacoma; Fund raising--Tacoma--1950-1960; Poliomyelitis--Prevention; National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis (Tacoma); March of Dimes (Tacoma); Sage, Barbara; Sage, Barbara Ellen;

The home of Hollis and Uwarda Day framed with snow on a winter day. The English Cotswold cottage was built in 1922 of Wilkeson sandstone. It was designed by architect Kirtland Cutter. Hollis Day was the president of Day's Tailor-D Clothing Incorporated which manufactured clothing for men. The company was located at 2901-03 A St. in Tacoma. The company had one of the largest payrolls in Tacoma, over 1 million dollars.

Day, Hollis--Homes & haunts; Houses--Lakewood--1950-1960;

Interlaaken Dance Club's dance committee. The committee is covering hearts with fabric. The Club is preparing for their third dance of the season, to be held the following Saturday at the Sportsmen's Chateau. The theme for the dance is "Sweethearts on Parade," in keeping with the upcoming Valentine's day holiday. The hearts will be used as decorations for the dance.

Interlaaken Dance Club; Decorations;

Photograph ordered by the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis. Hal D. Murtland, the man on left, carries a bank bag labelled Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco. It contains the money collected from March of Dimes wishing wells. Pete Rettura, the postman on right, carries a mailbag, as well as bundled mail. His load is much heavier this week as the March of Dimes coin cards are being returned in the mail. The first three days of the campaign, which opened January 4th, brought over $2,000 in Pierce County contributions. The pair stand in front of the office door for the Pierce County Chapter of the Foundation, 427-28 in the Security Building. (TNT 1/7/1954, pg. A-7)

National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis (Tacoma); Postal service employees--Tacoma; Letter carriers--Tacoma; Murtland, Hal; Rettura, Pete;