Two workmen monitor testing on a piece of plywood at the Douglas Fir Plywood Association's test lab at 1214 A St in Tacoma. The DFPA had two labs, one in Tacoma and one in Eugene, to test and improve the plywood product. The machinery doing the testing is 8 feet wide and 15 feet high and is being operated by two men. It appears to be measuring the pressure on the plywood.

Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma); Plywood; Testing--Tacoma--1950-1960; Product inspection--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Progress photograph featuring the structural steel framework of the new Nestles Co. building in Salinas California, ordered by Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel Corporation of San Francisco, Ca. A hardhatted worker stands on one of the beams, silhouetted against a sky filled with cloud formations.

Progress photographs--1950-1960; Building construction--Salinas; Structural frames--Salinas; Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel Corp. (San Francisco);

Puget Sound National Bank, Lakewood branch. As the fifties dawned, so did urban flight. All of the necessities of life began to be available outside of the city core, and the banks followed suit. Puget Sound first build a temporary branch adjacent to the Lakewood Center that took in 2 million in deposits by the end of its first year. On October 5, 1953, this permanent facility opened in an elegant building that included two fireplaces and piped in music. ("Banking on Independence" by Provorse)

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

ca. 1959. Interiors of Steve's Gay Nineties Restaurant. Whenever the old famous structures of Tacoma were in danger of the wrecking ball, owner Steve Pease was first in line, with cash in hand, to purchase as much of the past as possible; and most of it ended up in his Gay Nineties Restaurant. This staircase came from the Hewitt mansion at 501 No. 4th St., once considered to be the most beautiful home in Tacoma. When it was razed in 1957 to make way for a parking lot, Pease purchased this staircase and panelling, among other things. To see a photograph of the staircase in the Hewitt home, see D97664 image 7.

Steve's Gay '90s (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1950-1960;

A group of four women pose at the new Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Co. Northwest sub-station at 4818 So. "J" St. This picture was taken for the company magazine. The seated woman with the headset appears to be a receptionist with the phone switchboard equipment around her on two sides.

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

Competing letters leave Tacoma bound for Fairbanks Alaska. Photograph ordered by the Daily News-Miner, Fairbanks, Alaska. A.F. Caillouette, left, Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce Alaska-Hawaii Trade Promotion Committee, is pictured mailing one of two letters bound for Fairbanks. Jack Ryan, center, City Editor of the News-Miner, holds a second letter as the driver of the truck looks on. The second letter will be taken to the same destination on a truck which travels on the Alcan Highway. Also in the background is a large truck from Lynden Transfer Inc. of Lynden, WA. The Lynden company shipped freight to Alaska twice weekly. The mailbox is located in front of the Industrial branch of the National Bank of Washington. The letter mailed at 2:26 p.m. on January 6th was received Jan. 18th. The letter taken by truck arrived in 3 days and 18 hours, almost a full week earlier! This exercise was planned to show the ability of trucks to deliver mail faster than the steamships currently in use. The difference in speed was reputedly well known by the Post Office, but changes in service were being blocked by political interests in Washington, D.C. (TNT 1/20/1960, pg 1 & A-7)

Ryan, Jack; Mailboxes--Tacoma; Caillouett, A.F.;

Studio portrait of Tom Ryan and his drums. Studio records give Tom Ryan's address as 2905 No. 19th Street. This address is listed in the City Directory as belonging to Allan W. Ryan, most probably Tom's father. Tom is dressed in a white sport coat and his bass drum reads "Solitude" in script. Solitude was the name of a band performing locally in the Pierce County area. Tacoma was the center of an active music scene at this time, with sponsored teen dances at the Armory featuring rock 'n roll and small clubs and dance halls catering to teens.

Ryan, Tom; Drums; Musicians--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Ordered by the Lincolnian for the 1960 Lincoln High School yearbook. A quartet of students stands engaged in conversation in front of Lincoln HS. The students are, left to right, Bill (William Edwin) Zak, Joyce Reichel, Rhoda Tallman and an unidentified male student. Bill Zak was a letterman in golf and swimming, on the student council and in the honor society. Joyce Reichel was a yell queen, student council member, honor society member and PTA Queen. Rhoda Tallman was also a yell queen, as well as a member of the Aqua Maids synchronized swimming team and Turkey Day Queen. (The Lincolnian, 1960)

Tallman, Rhoda Lee; Reichel, Joyce Alice; Zak, William Edwin; Lincoln High School (Tacoma);

Two Bluebirds stand inside a cutout heart, advertising the February finish for the sale of their traditional chocolate covered mint candies, being offered by another Bluebird member in the photograph. The Bluebirds are a junior branch of the Camp Fire Girls. Their insignia shows on their caps and on their vests. Camp Fire Girls would be selling candy from the end of January through February 13th. 1960 was the Golden Jubilee of the Camp Fire Organization; the first group formed in March of 1910. Proceeds from the sale were used to help defray costs incurred in maintaining their residential camp Camp Wakoma and their day camp sessions. Money was also retained at the local level to help benefit local groups, providing revenue for field trips, supplies and functions. (TNT 1/24/1960, pg. D-5)

Camp Fire Girls (Tacoma); Fund raising--Tacoma--1960-1970; Candy--Tacoma--1960-1970;

Layout of a "do it yourself" evergreen decoration kit from Sherwood Forest Farms, Inc., in Chehalis, Wa. The kit contains cuttings from nobel firs, cedar, long needle pine, pinecones, a red ribbon and twist ties, plus instructions on how to make a door decoration, centerpiece or mantle decoration. The picture was ordered by the North Pacific Bank Note Company on 117 So. 8th. The company had been doing quality printing since 1902. Warren Hull was president, with Kirk Hull serving as manager.

Christmas decorations; Pines--Tacoma; Pine cones;

Viafore's, a new restaurant located at 2409 Pacific Ave. The restaurant was owned by Edward Viafore and Matt Allegro. This is either the cocktail lounge or a quick service food area.

Viafore's (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Two elderly men at the New Yorker Cafe on March 30, 1960, with large Schwinn bicycle. The bicycle is an old-fashioned tandem model with hand and drum brakes. Rev. W.A. Moore (L), first president of the Tuberculosis Association of Pierce County, shares reminiscences with Dr. W.B. Penney who began practicing medicine in Wilkeson in 1907. Both men were attending the 50th anniversary banquet of the association held at the New Yorker. Rev. Moore was president in 1910 and Dr. Penney president from 1923-1930. The tandem bicycle in the picture was later used that evening in a dramatic skit. Ordered by T.B. Association. (TNT 3-31-60, p. A-4)

Bicycles & tricycles--Tacoma--1960-1970; Moore, W.A.; Penney, W.B.; Tuberculosis Association of Pierce County (Tacoma);

Browns Point Salmon Bake. A long line of people waiting to be served delicious salmon at the annual Browns Point Salmon Bake in late July, 1960. Other amusements that day included Bingo and Bouncing for the young. In addition, there would be Blackfoot Indian dancing, more carnival activities, and a skin diving exhibition. Sally Smith would be elected as queen to preside over the salmon bake. Note that ladies in 1960 still wore dresses and carried handbags to beach/picnic outings. (TNT 7-24-60, D-1, D-7, 7-29-60, p. 1, 8-1-60, p. 18)

Browns Point Salmon Bake (Tacoma); Queues;

On July 30, 1960, the air over Browns Point was laden with the irresistible scent of cooking salmon. Three unidentified men work at cooking a small portion of the nearly three tons of salmon that were smoked over alder fires and served in one-pound portions, along with corn on the cob, potatoes, rolls and butter, to the waiting crowd. The man in the white shirt and cap turning two skewers of salmon may be Edwin (Ed) Swanson, the chef in charge of the salmon bake; he was the cooking protege of the late Jerry Meeker. The two-day salmon feast, the eighth put on by the Browns Point Community Club in 16 years, drew nearly 10,000 people. (TNT 7-24-60, D-1, D-7, 7-29-60, p. 1, 8-1-60, p. 18)

Browns Point Salmon Bake (Tacoma); Salmon; Outdoor cookery;

Ben Cheney. Lumberman and philanthropist Ben Cheney, in overcoat, surveys what will eventually be named Cheney Stadium. He is standing on the first six tiers of grandstand pre-stressed concrete seating along with an unidentified man in early February, 1960. The grandstand was expected to be completed in 30 days. The site on South Tyler was cleared by Fort Lewis soldiers with flamethrowers. Construction was a "100 day wonder" as it was completed in three months, fourteen days.

Cheney, Ben B., 1905-1971; Cheney Stadium (Tacoma); Concrete--Tacoma; Grandstands--Tacoma--1960-1970;

Scenes from 1960 Home Show. Judy Keplar, Miss Home Show, delicately lifts a young man's forearm over the head of a small boy as they watch one of the many demonstrations at the 1960 Home Show. Two other men and another boy in the group sport large grins. The 12th annual Home Show was sponsored by the Tacoma Home Builders Association and held, as usual, at the University of Puget Sound Fieldhouse, broke a record in attendance with 53, 784 visitors to the five-day event. The chosen queen, Miss Keplar of 4015 Pacific Avenue, was a long distance operator for Pacific Telephone. (TNT 3-13-60, B-8)

Greater Tacoma Home Show (Tacoma); Keplar, Judy;

Mayor Ben Hanson, in catcher's crouch, posed with Tacoma Giants general manager W.D. "Rosy" Ryan (wearing mitt) and officials of the Harmony Chapter #18, Disabled American Veterans, on February 4, 1960. Ernie Roberts, Western Washington chief of staff for the DAV, was clutching a Mickey Mantle Louisville slugger. Baseball memorabilia, including a Giants uniform, was on display in cases behind the men. Mayor Hanson and Mr. Ryan pledged their support for the Disabled American Veterans convention coming to Tacoma in July of 1960, while Robert Stelzer and Loyd E. Ireland looked on. Mr. Ryan also indicated that veterans would receive every consideration for jobs at the new Ben Cheney Stadium and concessions. Photograph ordered by Ernie Roberts. (TNT 2-8-60, p. 3)

Mayors--Tacoma--1960-1970; Hanson, Ben; Ryan, W.D.; Roberts, Ernie; Stelzer, Robert; Ireland, Loyd E.; Baseball--Tacoma--1960-1970; Disabled veterans; Veterans;

ca. 1960. Serene view of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, taken close-up at sunset, 1960 Richards Studio stock footage. Spanning a mile, the graceful suspension bridge has provided a link between Tacoma and the Olympic Peninsula since October, 1950. It replaced the first Narrows Bridge, affectionately known as "Galloping Gertie," which tumbled into the water on November 7, 1940, only four months after its grand opening. TPL-9487

Tacoma Narrows Bridge (Tacoma); Bridges--Tacoma--1950-1960; Suspension bridges--Tacoma;

Interior of Cliff House Restaurant. A busy floral patterned carpet greets customers of the remodeled Cliff House Restaurant in this February, 1960, photograph. Near the entrance is the kitchen/serving area where an enormous black fan catches the eye. It would provide excellent ventilation of cooking odors. The kitchen area appears well equipped with shiny metal appliances.

Cliff House Restaurant (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1960-1970;

Dining room of Cliff House Restaurant. Empty tables with starched tablecloths and napkins await diners of the remodeled Cliff House Restaurant on February 15, 1960. Picture windows facing the Tideflats have their shades removed to the side so that patrons can enjoy the beautiful views. A display of large ferns complements the leafy pattern of the dining room carpet.

Cliff House Restaurant (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1960-1970;

ca. 1960. Aerials of downtown Tacoma business district. 1960 Richards stock footage shows the neatly laid out downtown streets of "A" and Pacific Avenue with many towering office buildings. Adjacent to the 11th St. Bridge is the Tacoma Building, housing the Weyerhaeuser Company, and the Perkins Building, early home of the Tacoma Daily Ledger. The Federal Building, containing the Main Post Office, is on "A" St. as well. On Pacific Avenue are the Bank of California, easily recognizable by its Ionic columns, Washington Building, and Puget Sound National Bank. The Rust Building is at 9th & Pacific.

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1960-1970; Aerial photographs;

ca. 1960. Downtown city streets with buildings laid out like Lego blocks in this 1960 aerial photograph taken by the Richards Studio. Primarily focuses on "A" and Pacific Avenue which contained many of the city's banks and corporation headquarters. Visible in the center of the photograph are Peoples department store and the Puget Sound National Bank headquarters. The edge of the Washington Building and the Rust Building can be seen on the left side of the picture. The Federal Building is on 11th & A Street.

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1960-1970; Aerial photographs;

ca. 1960. 1960 Richards stock footage- the County-City Building, taken from Tacoma Avenue South. This twelve story central structure towers 167 feet above the street level. The court wing sits to the left and the law enforcement wing to the right. The glass and aluminum building was dedicated in April of 1959 and built from a design by architect A. Gordon Lumm. The building is still in use and the central structure looks much the same, however the side wings have been remodeled and greatly expanded.

County-City Building (Tacoma); Courthouses--Tacoma;

February, 1960, studio display of fireworks. It is not too early to get ready for the excitement of the 4th of July as this tempting display of sparklers, 2" firecrackers, "Black Cat" and "Super Atomic" flashlight crackers would proclaim. In addition, there were aerial display models including "whistling wheels" and "sky tracks." Photograph ordered by the Zebra Fireworks Co.

Fireworks--Tacoma--1960-1970; Firecrackers--Tacoma--1960-1970; Zebra Fireworks Co. (Tacoma);

ca. 1960. Aerial photograph of Hooker Electrochemical plant on Alexander Avenue in the Tideflats ca. 1960 Richards stock footage. Built on the site of the old Foundation shipyard, the Hooker plant opened in February, 1929. It played a leading part in Tacoma's industrial history for over sixty years. Company name was changed without comment to Occidental Chemical Corp. in 1982.

Hooker Electrochemical Co. (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Aerial photographs;

Exterior of Liftco, Inc. Three trucks are lined up outside the S. 19th & Jefferson Ave. location of Liftco, Inc., truck manufacturers, on March 20, 1960. Clark forklifts are also featured. The company had offices in Seattle, Spokane and Tacoma and were authorized dealers of Clark Ross materials and handling equipment. Liftco was managed by John E. Austermuhl.

Liftco, Inc. (Tacoma); Trucks--Tacoma--1960-1970; Signs (Notices);

ca. 1960. Richards stock footage, ca. 1960. Aerial photographs of the bustling Tideflats area show businesses west of the Middle Waterway: Tidewater Oil Co., Puget Sound Plywood, Inc., and the Foss Launch & Tug Co. with several Foss tugboats docked nearby.

Puget Sound Plywood, Inc. (Tacoma); Tidewater Oil Co. (Tacoma); Foss Launch & Tug Co. (Tacoma); Aerial photographs;

Topper Supermarket. By the 1960's, supermarkets were offering not only groceries but also department store shopping as ladies blouses, men's shirts, underwear and socks could readily be purchased while also searching for tonight's dinner. View of Topper Supermarket, an I.G.A. store, shows a "soft goods" selection next to the ice cream section. Although the supermarket in this January 27, 1960, photograph is listed with a Tacoma location, it is believed that the Topper IGA was located in Fife at 1406 54th Ave. E. and owned by Daniel & LeRoy Herron. It was built on the site of the old Century Ballroom and destroyed by fire on January 4, 1964. Ordered by The James Co.

Supermarkets--Fife; Topper Supermarket (Fife);

Line-up of Tacoma Giants baseball team on opening day, April 16, 1960, in the brand new Cheney Stadium. The Giants, managed by John "Red" Davis, were being introduced to the thousands attending the first game held in the new facility. The Tacoma team would be playing the Portland Beavers in day-night matches. Lights installed on six giant towers would provide clear viewing for night games with each tower having a bank of 62 - 1,500 watt bulbs.

Baseball--Tacoma--1960-1970; Baseball players--Tacoma--1960-1970; Cheney Stadium (Tacoma);

Managed by Tommy Heath, the Portland Beavers of the Pacific Coast League are being introduced to the thousands of spectators at Cheney Stadium on April 16, 1960, opening day of baseball. They would be the hometown Tacoma Giants' first opponent in the new stadium which was completed in three months, 14 days. The stadium was finished in time for the Giants' first game; however, the fickle spring weather did not cooperate and a massive windstorm forced postponement until Saturday, April 16th, of the doubleheader between the two Pacific Coast League clubs. They would split the games, with Portland on top in the first game, 7-2 and Tacoma coming back strong in the nightcap, 11-0.

Baseball--Tacoma--1960-1970; Baseball players--Tacoma--1960-1970; Cheney Stadium (Tacoma);