Studio portrait of Diane Lofgren. Miss Lofgren resided at 1106 S 96th St. Her occupation is given in the 1956 City Directory as assistant to Joe F. Nelson. Mr. Nelson's occupation is given as watch repair. In 1957, she is listed as a clerk at Pacific Telegraph and Telephone. Miss Lofgren is attired in western wear, with a large belt buckle, cowboy hat and a scarf at the neck.

Lofgren, Diane; Cowboy hats;

Before Starbucks there was Manning's. In 1920 Edward Manning and his brother W.W. Manning opened Manning's Market at the corner of So. 11th & Commerce in a building, designed by Frederick Heath, that was built in 1905. Specializing in fresh roasted coffee, the market was one of the first locations for a chain of Manning's stores that grew to 65 locations from Bellingham, WA to San Diego, CA. Over the years the Tacoma Manning's grew until it contained a coffee shop, a cafe, a bakery, a meat market, and a beauty salon. The Tacoma Manning's Market closed in 1972, and the building was demolished. TPL-8569

Manning's Market (Tacoma);

Exterior of the Manning's Market, taken from the intersection of 11th & Commerce, for Stan Warburton. The alternate address for this location is 1101-03 Broadway. The building was built in 1905 and demolished in 1972. It was designed by Frederick Heath, Architect. It was the first concrete building in Tacoma. Other businesses occupying the 11th street side are, left to right, Brown & Haley, Greens, Hayden-Watson; Manning's Coffee Cafe and the Owl Drug Store. The market was part of Manning's Inc., a multi million dollar food chain begun in Seattle in 1908. The market contained a coffee shop, cafe, bakery, meat market and beauty salon.

Manning's Market (Tacoma);

Exterior of home at 2220 No. Mason Ave. ordered by John Raetz. The bungalow style home is two story with a possible attic room, a latticed front porch and a rear first floor laundry or utility room. The home is listed as vacant in the 1956 City Directory. It is not listed at all in the 1957 directory and is replaced by a 2214 No. Mason Ave. occupied by Mr. Raetz. An ad in the Tacoma News Tribune used this picture to advertise the house for sale and removal from its present location. The price was $1500.00 "as is" and stated that the home was well built and should easily moved without the shifting of timbers or plaster. (TNT 3/18/1956, pg B-15) TPL-9201

Houses--Tacoma--1950-1960; Then & now comparisons;

Rowland Pontiac and Cadillac Used Car Center. In 1956, Rowland had two locations, new cars were sold at 1625 South Tacoma Way and used ones at 2626 South Tacoma Way, at the intersection with Pine. Several older model cars line the outside of the showroom windows. TPL-8154

Rowland Pontiac-Cadillac Co. (Tacoma); Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Interiors of the Hunt & Mottet building. Hunt & Mottet were wholesalers of hardware. A man inventories what looks like life jackets in the foreground. Boxes of items line the walls and the other employees appear to be filling orders.

Hunt & Mottet Co. (Tacoma); Hardware stores--Tacoma;

Ordered by the Douglas Fir Plywood Association, this is a progress photograph of cedar siding being applied over sheathing at the Jim Fowler residence. James Fowler was the Director of the DFPA and this is possibly his home at 37 Beverly Drive SW in Rhododendron Lanes in Lakewood. Fowler was adding a new extension to his Lakewood home. The extension was designed by Architect Donald F. Burr.

Houses--Lakewood--1950-1960; Remodeling--Lakewood; Fowler, James--Homes & haunts;

Interiors of the Hunt & Mottet building. Hunt & Mottet were wholesalers of hardware. This appears to be the accounting office. The women on the right work at desks with thick upright books, possibly price lists. The women on the left work on adding machines with sheets of papers, possibly orders.

Hunt & Mottet Co. (Tacoma); Hardware stores--Tacoma;

One of the skits for the 1956 Elks Extravaganza, March 14 & 15, involved a crooning duo, backed up by the All Girl Elks Band. Some of these "girls" look quite muscular handling those instruments because they are really Elks brothers. Once a year, Elk members could doll themselves up for the amusement of fellow members, friends and families. The Wednesday show, the more risque of the two, was viewed by members only. The Thursday show was open to members, ladies and friends. In 1956, the show was once again directed by old time vaudeville star Max Frolic, who had been prevented from participating in 1955 by ill health. (TNT 3-11-1956, pg. A-3)

Theatrical productions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Entertainers--Tacoma--1950-1960; Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Tacoma Lodge No. 174 (Tacoma);

Ordered by the Condon Co. Advertising Agency, an outdoor patio table with models. This fifties family has not succumbed to the call of TV during the dinner hour and is sitting down to a family meal. The main dish and coffee are being kept hot on a unique wire arrangement with a candle below to keep the food hot. The pigtailed miss will have milk with her dinner, to be enjoyed in a leisurely fashion with conversation.

Families--Tacoma--1950-1960; Domestic life--Tacoma--1950-1960; Dining tables;

The entire cast of the 1956 Elks Extravaganza. Once a year, the Elks donned costumes, many masquerading as women, and cavorted for the amazement and amusement of their fellow lodge members, friends and families. This year, the cast includes some real women, as well as the Elks. The show in 1956 was once again under the direction of vaudeville and music star Max Frolic, who was unable to direct the previous year due to ill health. The show featured 20 outstanding acts. The backdrop depicts the "Damfino Saloon" and the Union Hotel, with the drawn window shades saluting Elk member businesses. (TNT 3/11/1956, pg. A-3)

Theatrical productions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Entertainers--Tacoma--1950-1960; Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Tacoma Lodge No. 174 (Tacoma);

Interiors of the Hunt & Mottet building. Hunt & Mottet were wholesalers of hardware. The warehouse appears to be filled from floor to ceiling with shiny buckets, cans and troughs.

Hunt & Mottet Co. (Tacoma); Hardware stores--Tacoma;

Snow plows have cleared one of the roads at Mount Rainier National Park, banking it higher than the roof of the Richards paneled station wagon at the side of the road. The surrounding trees appear to be dead, possibly from the Kautz Creek flood.

Mount Rainier National Park (Wash.); Snow; Roads;

Designed by Silas A. Nelson, the modernistic Central Seventh Day Adventist Church at 615 North Sprague Avenue was built in 1952. It is triangular in shape, measuring 154 feet on the Sprague Avenue side, 142 feet on the Sixth Avenue approach and 89 feet on the side facing Grant Avenue. Much of the plywood framing work for the poured concrete walls was done by church members who donated their labor. The first service was held in the church in August of 1953, but it was not officially dedicated until February 1963, when the building was free of debt. In the background is the more traditional spanish gothic design First United Presbyterian Church at 1619 Sixth Ave, by 1958 known as Trinity United and shortened to Trinity in the 1990's.

Churches--Tacoma; Central Seventh Day Adventist Church (Tacoma);

1956 Stock footage, Richards Studio, scenic views. Majestic Mount Rainier towers over the fertile valleys surrounding it. The valley is patchworked with fences separating the livestock and dotted with barns. Tall evergreens line the hills on both sides of the valley.

Rainier, Mount (Wash.); Valleys--Washington; Livestock; Agriculture;

Dupont School, picture is labelled baseball team, but team members are wearing basketball uniforms with team jackets. By the fifties, Dupont district drew about 95% of its students from Fort Lewis. The students attended school in Dupont K-9 and attended Clover Park High School for their last three years of study. The boy sitting on the floor second from left has been identified as Ron Ratliff and the one in the second row in the dress shirt as Richard Ludeman. (information provided by a classmate)

School children--Dupont; Dupont School (Dupont); Basketball players--Dupont; Basketball--Dupont;

Photo series of Eric O. Brown, district manager for the Pacific Telegraph and Telephone Co. Eric Brown, on the left, and an unidentified man perched on the tractor look toward the area being pointed out by the farmer.

Brown, Eric O.; Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Co. (Tacoma)--Employees--1950-1960; Tractors--Tacoma; Agricultural machinery & implements;

Photo series of Eric O. Brown, district manager for the Pacific Telegraph and Telephone Co. Eric Brown stands at the entrance of the Western Washington Fairgrounds in Puyallup, flanked by two unidentified men. The 1956 Fair is scheduled for September 15-23, 1956. The trio are possibly discussing the installation of temporary phone lines.

Brown, Eric O.; Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Co. (Tacoma)--Employees--1950-1960; Western Washington Fair (Puyallup); Fairs--Puyallup--1950-1960;

Photo series of Eric O. Brown, district manager for the Pacific Telegraph and Telephone Co. Mr. Brown and an unidentified man discuss a well worn phone book from an bank of telephone booths. Brown, a manager in Tacoma since 1955, was made manager of the PT&T commercial department in Seattle June 1, 1959. He had previously been manager in Puyallup and Olympia and had worked in Spokane. (TNT 5/20/1959, pg. C-6)

Brown, Eric O.; Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Co. (Tacoma)--Employees--1950-1960; Telephone booths--Tacoma; Telephone directories;

Photo series of Eric O. Brown, district manager for the Pacific Telegraph and Telephone Co. Eric and Dorothy Brown pose with their two children in front of a stained glass memorial window in Immanuel Presbyterian Church. The man showing the window to them is possibly the Rev. Harold B. Long. The mission style church was built in 1908 and designed by Russell and Babcock, architects.

Brown, Eric O.; Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Co. (Tacoma)--Employees--1950-1960; Brown, Dorothy; Brown, Eric O.--Family; Immanuel Presbyterian Church (Tacoma);

Link Belt equipment at St. Regis. The large rolls of paper are moved by a conveyer belt arrangement made up of lots of little rollers. It appears that the rolls of paper are rolled onto the belt when flat. The belt then uprights the paper and transports it. One man operates the machinery, while another stands to the rear with 2 more rolls of paper for loading.

St. Regis Paper Co. (Tacoma)--1950-1960; Mills--Tacoma--1950-1960; Paper industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Photo series of Eric O. Brown, district manager for the Pacific Telegraph and Telephone Co. Eric and Dorothy Brown pose with their two children in front of the Immanuel Presbyterian Church. The man greeting them is possibly the Rev. Harold B. Long. The mission style church was built in 1908 and designed by Russell and Babcock, architects.

Brown, Eric O.; Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Co. (Tacoma)--Employees--1950-1960; Brown, Dorothy; Brown, Eric O.--Family; Immanuel Presbyterian Church (Tacoma);

Photo series of Eric O. Brown, district manager for the Pacific Telegraph and Telephone Co. Mr. Brown and three unidentified men watch a locksmith as he copies some ornate keys, possibly to the bank of mailboxes behind them.

Brown, Eric O.; Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Co. (Tacoma)--Employees--1950-1960; Keys (Hardware); Locksmiths;

Mallon Motor Company, staff banquet held at the Tacoma Club celebrating the dealership's receipt of Ford Motor Company's "4 Letter Award" for the 1955 model year. The award was presented each year to the dealer that qualified in the following classifications: sound finances, management efficiency and completely modern facilities. The dinner was hosted by Robert Mallon who served as Master of Ceremonies. Tommy Mallon, the President of Mallon Motors, is seated to the far right of the picture; to his left is Abel Rigney, Mallon Sales Manger; to his left is J.C. Hogue, Ford's Field Manager; standing directly behind Mallon is C.J. Powell, Ford's District Sales Manager. The man standing third from the right in the back row has been identified as Harold Nutley. (TNT 3/11/1956, pg. A-6)

Automobile dealerships--Tacoma; Mallon Motors, Inc. (Tacoma); Mallon, Thomas; Rigney, Abel;

Photo series of Eric O. Brown, district manager for the Pacific Telegraph and Telephone Co. The Brown family prepares to depart on a fishing trip. Mr. Brown loads the Evinrude outboard into the family station wagon, while his wife Dorothy and son and daughter prepare to stow the net, rod and tackle box. The Brown's modern English home was constructed in 1927 and designed by Heath, Gove and Bell, Architects.

Brown, Eric O.--Homes & haunts; Brown, Eric O.--Family; Brown, Eric O.; Brown, Dorothy; Fishing--Tacoma; Fishing & hunting gear; Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Co. (Tacoma)--Employees--1950-1960;

Photo series of Eric O. Brown, district manager for the Pacific Telegraph and Telephone Co. Eric Brown and an unidentified man stand in front of a telephone arrangement with two large bells. Above the phone is a framed picture of McNeil Island in 1948. McNeil was the site of the federal penitentiary, located in the south end of Carr Inlet. This picture was possibly taken on the island.

Brown, Eric O.; Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Co. (Tacoma)--Employees--1950-1960;

Photo series of Eric O. Brown, district manager for the Pacific Telegraph and Telephone Co. Mr. Brown (right) and Warden David M. Heritage stroll in front of the prison facilities at McNeil Island in March of 1956. Warden Heritage was appointed in February of 1955 to replace Fred Wilkinson. He took over McNeil when it had a peak population of 1,350 inmates and tightened up application of rules and regimen. He also supported a number of improvements in prisoner living conditions and educational and therapeutic programs. In 1960, Warden Heritage left for a similar position in Atlanta. (Keve: the McNeil Century, p. 204-07) (Additional identification provided by a reader)

Brown, Eric O.; Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Co. (Tacoma)--Employees--1950-1960; Heritage, David M.; Prisons --McNeil Island; McNeil Island Corrections Center (McNeil Island);

Eric O. Brown, district manager for the Pacific Telegraph and Telephone Co., waits on Steilacoom dock for a ride to McNeil Island aboard the "Captain Conner," one of McNeil Island penitentiary's private vessels, in March of 1956. At that time McNeil Island was a federal prison. Then, as now, it could only be reached by a 20-minute boat ride. It is the last prison in North America located on an island accessible only by boat. Small vessels like the "Captain Conner," which could carry 57 passengers, were used to transport visitors and inmates to the island. (Additional information provided by a reader)

Brown, Eric O.; Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Co. (Tacoma)--Employees--1950-1960; Prisons --McNeil Island; McNeil Island Corrections Center (McNeil Island); Boats--Tacoma;

1956 photo series of Eric O. Brown, district manager for the Pacific Telegraph and Telephone Co. Mr. Brown (at left) and Warden David M. Heritage inspect the wrought iron front gate at McNeil Island federal penitentiary. The gate was located near the entrance to the administration building. Portions of the prison fence are visible along with the concertina wire on the right. (Keve: The McNeil Century, p. 207-alternate photograph)

Brown, Eric O.; Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Co. (Tacoma)--Employees--1950-1960; Prisons --McNeil Island; McNeil Island Corrections Center (McNeil Island); Heritage, David M.;

Photo series of Eric O. Brown, district manager for the Pacific Telegraph and Telephone Co. Eric and Dorothy share a snack with their two children in front of a roaring fire in the fireplace.

Brown, Eric O.--Homes & haunts; Brown, Eric O.--Family; Brown, Eric O.; Brown, Dorothy; Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Co. (Tacoma)--Employees--1950-1960;