September Song model home. The "September Song" was one of a new line of lower priced homes built by Evergreen State Builders in the new Lacey-area Travera community in 1969. It, along with "April Love" and "Junebug," would be open for inspection the last weekend in September with the official opening of Travera. "September Song" appeared to be a one-and-one half story wood framed building with stone accents; it was designed by architect W.A. Wollander to contain a two-car attached garage and a mansard roof. Prices for the new Evergreen State Builders homes in Travera started at $16,950. Photograph ordered by Evergreen State Builders. (TNT 9-28-69, B-5)

Houses--Lacey; Model houses--Lacey;

Building dedication. With a snip of the giant silvered scissors, Tacoma Mayor-elect Gordon Johnston officially dedicated the Tacoma Mall Office Building on December 12, 1969. The 2.7 million dollar structure was designed by Olympia architects Bennett & Johnson to be soundproof and built of reinforced concrete. Although December 12th was the official building dedication, it had actually already been open for several months. Also present for the dedication were two of the four owners of the building : Joseph A. Price and Mr. and Mrs. John S. Leavitt; Brig. Gen. (Ret) R.L. Scott, J. Henry Helser and Lloyd Beauleaurier, manager of the Tacoma Mall Shopping Center. After speeches and champagne, the group toured the building's offices. Photograph ordered by Center Offices, Inc. (TNT 12-13-69, p. 28 - article)

Johnston, Gordon N.; Mayors--Tacoma--1960-1970; Building dedications--Tacoma--1960-1970; Tacoma Mall Office Building (Tacoma); Scissors & shears;

Official city portrait of Tacoma Mayor Gordon N. Johnston during his first term of office. Mr. Johnston would serve as mayor from 1970-1978. He had defeated incumbent A.L. Rasmussen on November 4, 1969, by 440 votes. ALBUM 14.

Johnston, Gordon N.; Mayors--Tacoma--1970-1980;

Studio portrait of Tacoma Mayor Gordon N. Johnston. Mr. Johnston, an architect, member of the City Planning Commission, and former master sergeant during WWII, defeated incumbent A.L. Rasmussen in the very close November, 1969, general elections. This was Mr. Johnston's first bid in politics. Gordon Johnston took the oath of office on January 12, 1970, becoming Tacoma's 28th mayor. He would subsequently win re-election. Mr. Johnston passed away on March 6, 2006. Photograph ordered by the City of Tacoma.

Johnston, Gordon N.; Mayors--Tacoma--1970-1980;

Pierce County Democratic Party banquet. State Senator Martin Durkan of Issaquah at podium; Tacoma Mayor Gordon Johnston is third from right in photo; State Insurance Commissioner Karl Hermann, fifth from right. Large photos on wall of US Senator Warren G. Magnuson (L) and Congressman Floyd V. Hicks (R). Nearly 700 people attended the $12.50 plate fundraiser for the annual Jefferson-Jackson Day at the Fellowship Hall on April 10, 1970. Commissioner Hermann, featured speaker, indicated that price controls and rationing were better methods to control inflation than the Nixon course of unemployment. (TNT 4-10-70, A-2-article; TNT 4-11-70, p.3-article) ALBUM 14.

Johnston, Gordon N.; Mayors--Tacoma--1970-1980; Durkan, Martin; Hermann, Karl; Banquets--Tacoma--1970-1980;

Tacoma hosted the state lodge and temple convention of the Knights of Pythias fraternal organization which opened on Sunday, October 5, 1969, at the Winthrop Hotel. Eight unidentified lodge members posed on October 6th on the rooftop of the Winthrop. Three of the men are wearing special ornate medallions. The Tacoma Knights of Pythias, Commencement Lodge #7, joined members of the Washington Temple and Tacoma Temple, Pythian Sisters at the convention. National Chancellor Commander Otto R. Shuman was the honored guest of the Commencement Lodge. Photograph ordered by the Knights of Pythias, Commencement Lodge #7. (TNT 10-3-69, A-14- article)

Knights of Pythias, Commencement Lodge #7 (Tacoma); Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1960-1970; Meetings--Tacoma--1960-1970;

Chief Henry Sicade Orthopedic Guild. Four members of the guild display handmade toys at the home of Mrs. Jim Koch, 2508 Berry Lane E., Fife, on November 13, 1969. The Chief Henry Sicade Orthopedic Guild, a member of the Tacoma Orthopedic Association, would be presenting the 14th annual guild fashion show, this year entitled "Winter Wonderland," where handcrafted holiday fashions would be on display. Christmas bazaar items would also be on sale. The event would take place at the Fife High School auditorium with all proceeds earmarked for the Mary Bridge Children's Hospital. From L-R are bazaar chairman Mrs. William Merrill; guild president Mrs. David Hall; show co-chairmen Mrs. William Shilling and Mrs. L.M. Koch. (TNT 11-30-69, E-5)

Koch, Jim--Homes & haunts; Tacoma Orthopedic Association, Chief Henry Sicade Orthopedic Guild (Fife); Women--Clubs--Tacoma; Clubwomen--Fife; Toys;

Boat launching. An interested crowd watches as the 165-foot tuna seiner, the "John F. Kennedy," slides down the ways into City (now Thea Foss) Waterway on December 20, 1969. Built by the J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp., the ship had a 650-ton frozen fish capacity and would be delivered to Star-Kis Foods on Terminal Island, California. She was a sister ship to the "Mary Antoinette" which had already been delivered to her owners. December 20th also saw the launching of the USS Benicia gunboat by Tacoma Boatbuilding. (TNT 12-21-69, A-4) TPL-9451

Launchings--Tacoma--1960-1970; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Fishing boats--Tacoma--1960-1970; J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma);

Post-launching. The "Polaris" was successfully launched into Commencement Bay on March 7, 1970, by Mrs. Joseph A. Gann, wife of the ship's co-owner. The Gann family watched as the 165-foot "Polaris" slid down the ways from Martinac Shipbuilding facilities. The "Polaris" had a 650-ton frozen fish capacity and was owned by Joseph and Edmund Gann of San Diego. This would be one of three fishing boats built by Martinac Shipbuilding for the Gann brothers and was expected to be delivered in May. The "Polaris" was destined for fishing operations in South America and Africa. Photograph ordered by J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp. (TNT 3-8-70, C-23- article) TPL-9453

Launchings--Tacoma--1970-1980; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1970-1980; Fishing boats--Tacoma--1970-1980; J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma);

The 20th annual missionary conference of the First Presbyterian Church would be held October 5-12, 1969. In keeping with the current space age theme, church members hold signs "lift-off for Missions" asking for prayers and donations. A giant cut-out of the earth with a wooden cross serves as a reminder of Christianity's influence on the world. The public would be invited to a tea honoring participating missionaries on October 9, 1969. Making plans for the tea were: (l-r) music chairman Mrs. James Klouse, Weyer Guild president Mrs. Cecil Meyers, Mrs. Albert J. Lindsey, wife of First Presbyterian's pastor, and president of the Women's Assn., Mrs. Harold Pratt. Photograph ordered by First Presbyterian Church. (TNT 10-5-69, E-3)

Lindsey, Bernice; Klouse, James--Family; Meyers, Cecil--Family; Pratt, Harold--Family; First Presbyterian Church (Tacoma); Christianity--Tacoma;

The Tacoma-Pierce County Opportunity & Development, Inc. each year sponsored a Christmas party for underprivileged children. Donations were requested from the general public to help make Christmas a happier time for low-income children. Two little children from the day care center at St. John Baptist Church demonstrate how to deposit donations into specially crafted mailboxes while a young lady displays an unfilled pledge card. Photograph ordered by the Tacoma-Pierce County Opportunity & Development, Inc.

Mailboxes--Tacoma; Correspondence; Fund raising--Tacoma--1960-1970;

Studio set-up watch band calendars. For $1.50, your wristwatch could also have a "Dater" inserted in the watch band providing a 12-month calendar display. The watch band calendar was reversible - gold on one side and silver on the other and Sundays and holidays were clearly marked in bright red. The watch band calendar set was packaged in small clear boxes. Photograph ordered by Coast Calendar Co.

Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1960-1970; Calendars;

Southcenter Theatre. Workers are busy doing finishing touches to the new Southcenter Theatre in Tukwila prior to the theater's opening night of April 1, 1970. With two weeks to spare, they are working in the spacious lobby. The theater was the last 70-mm Cinerama model built in North America. It would eventually close and be demolished in 2002. (www.cinematour.com--article)

Motion picture theaters--Tukwila; Southcenter Theatre (Tukwila);

Southcenter Theatre under construction. This is believed to be the auditorium of the Southcenter Theatre in Tukwila a few weeks before its grand opening on April 1, 1970. The theater would only have one screen but it would be an immense one - 88 feet wide and 32 feet high. The extremely curved screen would insure that all customers would have a good view when seated. Publicity photograph ordered by Southcenter Theatre.

Motion picture theaters--Tukwila; Southcenter Theatre (Tukwila);

ca. 1970. Southcenter Theatre--lobby. The circular snack bar stands empty of customers in this 1970 color photograph of the new Southcenter Theatre in Tukwila. Its burnished wood tones and colored display screen of fiery gold and muted blues complement the gold-and-brown mixed pattern carpet. There was an abundance of soft recessed lighting. The theater celebrated its opening night on April 1, 1970, with Alfred Hitchcock's "Topaz" as the feature presentation. Color photograph ordered by Southcenter Theatre.

Motion picture theaters--Tukwila; Southcenter Theatre (Tukwila); Lobbies--Tukwila; Snack bars--Tukwila;

ca. 1970. Southcenter Theatre. "Ben Hur" was the feature presentation at the Southcenter Theatre in Tukwila during part of the summer of 1970. The theater had just opened in April of that year with a special guest appearance by actor John Forsythe promoting his film, "Topaz." Patrons enjoyed the free parking supplied by the theater as well as the building's modern facilities. Southcenter Theatre was a single-screen movie house and run by United Theaters.

Motion picture theaters--Tukwila; Southcenter Theatre (Tukwila); Marquees;

Southcenter Theatre. Performing at Southcenter Theatre's V.I.P night were the Taylor Sheppard band. Pictured in the spacious lobby of the new theater was the five-piece band. The Southcenter Theatre would celebrate its grand opening on April 1st; the evening before was set aside for a special V.I.P. night by invitation only. Photograph ordered by Southcenter Theatre.

Motion picture theaters--Tukwila; Southcenter Theatre (Tukwila); Musicians--Tukwila;

Hands poised on the keyboard, twenty-one year old Barbara Braggs prepared to operate a card punch machine in January of 1970. She was employed at McKesson & Robbins Drug Company in Lakewood. Ms. Braggs had successfully completed a Tacoma-Pierce County Opportunity & Development, Inc., computer class through its Manpower Resource Center in November of 1969 and was subsequently hired by McKesson & Robbins. Ms. Braggs had only been on the job at McKesson & Robbins Drug Co. for three months but already was one of the company's top keypunch operators, according to McKesson manager Ken Morrison. Photograph ordered by Tacoma-Pierce County Opportunity & Development, Inc. (TNT 1-25-70, A-15)

Office workers--Lakewood--1970-1980; African American women--Lakewood--1970-1980; Braggs, Barbara; McKesson & Robbins Drug Co. (Lakewood);

February, 1970, studio portrait of entertainers Joe Oliver and Ken Upton. Ordered as publicity pictures by Torrence Booking Agency.

Oliver, Joe; Upton, Ken;

Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan Assn. building at night. The ultra-modern Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan Assn. building shines brightly into the night in January in 1970. Sheer glass walls and modern fixtures have replaced the massive ornate original structure. The venerable Bernice Building next door was also demolished to create a much larger Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan Assn. building in 1964. Photograph ordered by Jewel Electric Products. TPL-5668

Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan Association (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Facades--Tacoma--1960-1970;

Petition. An extended petition is on display at KTVW, Channel 13, on February 19, 1970, registering a protest to the president of the United States. The signers of the petition were against the shipping of nerve gas from Okinawa to Hermiston, Oregon and "elsewhere." Signatures visible were obtained from residents of Edmonds down to Shelton. Senator Warren G. Magnuson was photographed with this, or a very similar petition, of 63,000 signatures and indicated that he was requesting an appointment with President Nixon to deliver the long scroll of names. The nerve gas, although destined for Oregon, would have to pass through Washington State. (TNT 3-1-70, C-23 - photograph of Magnuson with petition)

Petitions--Washington; KTVW (Tacoma); Television studios--Tacoma;

Potlatch Forests plant operations. One Potlatch Forests employee handles the controls while another checks the progress of the rolls of kraft pulp in mid-October, 1969. This plant in Lewiston, Idaho, produced high quality softwood bleached kraft market pulp and bleached paperboard. Photograph ordered by Malcolm McGhie, industrial consultant, New York.

Potlatch Forests, Inc. (Lewiston, ID); Industrial facilities--Idaho; Paper industry--Idaho--1960-1970; Lumber industry--Idaho--1960-1970;

Scenes from Lewiston, Idaho, Potlatch operations. A young worker stands before mounted rolls of kraft pulp at the big Lewiston plant in mid-October of 1969. The rolls extend far into the distance. He appears to be putting in a metal rod through the hole of the roll. Photograph ordered by Malcolm McGhie, industrial consultant, New York.

Potlatch Forests, Inc. (Lewiston, ID); Lumber industry--Idaho--1960-1970; Paper industry--Idaho--1960-1970; Industrial facilities--Idaho;

Pulp & paper operations - Potlatch Forests, Inc. Potlatch Forests used a full range of species found in the northern Idaho timberlands to produce a variety of lumber products. Its Lewiston, Idaho, sawmill manufactured products used in construction framing to board sidings and paneling. Inland red cedar, pine, and fir mixtures were commonly utilized. An employee of Potlatch Forests is shown above on March 20, 1969, examining a piece of lumber. All of Potlatch Forests' products conformed to specific grading rules. Photograph ordered by Malcolm McGhie, industrial consultant, New York. (www.potlatchcorp.com)

Potlatch Forests, Inc. (Lewiston, ID); Paper industry--Idaho--1960-1970; Lumber industry--Idaho--1960-1970; Industrial facilities--Idaho;

Progress photographs. By mid-June, 1970, the (National) Bank of Washington Plaza tower had shot up to at least 21 stories, bypassing Puget Sound National Bank as the tallest building in town. Designed by architects Skidmore, Owings & Merill and utilizing 5 million pounds of reinforcing steel and 23,000 cubic yards of concrete, the tower would even have its own 350 kw emergency power generator. The law firm of Gordon, Honeywell, Malanca, Johnson & Peterson had already requested the top floor of the building for their offices. Bank administrative offices would occupy the first 12 floors with the Tacoma Main Banking Center on the mezzanine level. Photograph ordered by Donald M. Drake Co., Portland. (TNT 12-14-69, D-10 - article)

Progress photographs; National Bank of Washington (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Building construction--Tacoma--1970-1980;

Progress photographs. The high-rise (National) Bank of Washington Plaza is on the road to completion by the end of September, 1970. Employees of Dunkin & Bush Painting are busy on scaffolds doing some exterior work. The building has been "topped" and work still continues on the massive water fountain. Photograph ordered by Donald M. Drake Co., Portland, the project's general contractors.

Progress photographs; National Bank of Washington (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Building construction--Tacoma--1970-1980;

Progress photographs. Rear and side view of the upcoming and nearly finished (National) Bank of Washington Plaza in November of 1970. Built utilizing the modern corporate form, materials heavily used were steel, concrete and glass. With 22+ floors, the emphasis is on the vertical as this skyscraper bypassed Puget Sound National Bank as the tallest building in town. By the time bank staff moved into the tower in mid-December, 1970, the bank had merged with Pacific National Bank of Washington. Later the name of the plaza would change to First Interstate Plaza and finally, after First Interstate was acquired by Wells Fargo in 1996, the plaza's new owners, Unico Properties, Inc., would re-name the tower the Wells Fargo Plaza. Photograph ordered by Donald M. Drake Co., Portland. (seattle.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/1998/03/02/focus7.html)

Progress photographs; National Bank of Washington (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Building construction--Tacoma--1970-1980;

Progress photographs. An elevated view of the (National) Bank of Washington Plaza site at 1201-23 Pacific Ave. on June 22, 1970. Its neighbor, Puget Sound National Bank, is on the left corner. Large round pit will become the plaza's water fountain. The high-rise building is set back from busy Pacific Ave. by some 80 feet. The building had just been "topped" on June 12th with the hoisting of a living 15-foot Douglas fir onto the roof. This traditional ceremony signified structural completion of the now 24-story bank building. The tree would later be given to the Tacoma School District for planting on the site of the new Henry Foss High School. Photograph ordered by Donald M. Drake Co., Portland. (TNT 6-14-70, p. 1, B-9)

Progress photographs; National Bank of Washington (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Building construction--Tacoma--1970-1980; Puget Sound National Bank (Tacoma);

Empty classroom- Purdy Elementary School. Purdy Elementary was constructed in 1970 and opened in 1971. This appears to be a 4th grade classroom with the teacher's desk angled to face the student tables. There are no traditional student desks in this room as rectangular tables instead are spaced widely apart. Information on primitive man and a globe are located on a table next to the teacher's desk. According to the school's website, four portables, located near Peninsula High School, were used for a year before the school actually opened. It is unclear whether the picture above was taken in one of the portables; it does have paneled walls, bright lighting, and no windows visible. Photograph ordered by Northwest Homes of Chehalis, Chehalis, WA. (www.peninsula.wednet.edu/school/purdy)

Purdy Elementary School (Gig Harbor); Public schools--Gig Harbor; Classrooms--Gig Harbor;

Sea trials. The tuna seiner, "Anne M," proceeded with sea trials in mid-September, 1969. She had a frozen fish capacity of 650-ton and was skippered by Captain Frank Souza. Built by Martinac Shipbuilding, the 1.5 million dollar vessel ran on a 20 cylinder 2800 h.p. diesel engine. She was completely carpeted in the living quarters of the skipper and 14-man crew and was equipped with air conditioning. The "Anne M" was named after the wife of the president of Bumble Bee Seafoods. Photograph ordered by J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp. (TNT 8-3-69, D-11) TPL-9410

Ship trials--Tacoma--1960-1970; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Fishing boats--Tacoma--1960-1970; J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma);