ca. 1908. Northern Pacific shops in South Tacoma.

ca. 1908. Bicycle shop and Storage business. The bicycle shop is probably the Amzie D. Browning Bicycle & General Repairing business. The bicycle shop has an advertisment painted on it for the Tacoma Baking Co. Print is somewhat out of focus.

ca. 1913. A view of the west side of the 5200 block of South Union (now South Tacoma Way) looking north. The Bobbi Burns Wine House was at 5238 South Union. A boy stands by a water fountain.

ca. 1925. The Washington Building under construction. Construction on the modern American skyscraper in downtown Tacoma began in 1919 for the Scandinavian American bank, but halted a couple of years later when the bank closed. The steel structure sat deserted until it was completed in 1925 for the Washington-California Co. and dedicated on June 29, 1925. At 17 stories, it was the second tallest building in the Northwest. (WSHS)

Washington Building (Tacoma); Office buildings--Tacoma--1920-1930; Business districts--Tacoma--1920-1930;

ca. 1925. Washington Building at 1019 Pacific Ave. and on the left, the Rust building at 950 Pacific Ave.The Washington Building was finished in 1925. At 17 stories, it was the second tallest building in the Northwest. The Rust building measures in at 12 stories. It is named after its builder William R. Rust. (WSHS-negative A695-0)

Washington Building (Tacoma); Rust Building (Tacoma);

ca. 1937. Exterior elevation of the Rust Building, a multi-story office building, at So. 11th Street and Pacific Avenue. The Rust Building is named for its builder William R. Rust. It was designed by the architectural firm of Sutton, Whitney and Dugan. The twelve story building opened in 1920. Since 1986, it has been known as the Seafirst Center. For Johnson-Cox, printers, for school annuals. (Image also numbered 8A3 image 2 in Argentum)

Business districts--Tacoma; Office buildings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Rust Building (Tacoma);

ca. 1937. Full view of the Rust Building on 11th Street between Commerce and Pacific Avenue. Sandstone clad steel frame 12-story business block for William R. Rust by Sutton, Whitney and Dugan, Architects, 1920. It was known as the Townsend building from 1929- 1931. It was remodeled by Seafirst bank in 1986 and renamed the Seafirst Center.

Business districts--Tacoma; Office buildings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Rust Building (Tacoma);

ca. 1937. Corner view of Rust Building showing Bone-Dry Shoe Store. Banners in windows for Removal Sale, "Forced to vacate, all prices reduced."

Business districts--Tacoma; Office buildings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Rust Building (Tacoma); Bone Dry Shoe Store (Tacoma); Shoe stores--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Street scene in Buckley, Washington. Good view of business district with White Front Grocery and other businesses on left, Warren Dry Goods, Rexall Drugs, Puget Sound Power and Light Company on right. Automobiles parked along street. (T. Times).

Commercial streets--Buckley; White Front Grocery (Buckley);

Street scene in Buckley, Washington, showing White Front Grocery, an angled-corner building, with Stanley's Tavern, Buckley Cafe, and other businesses. A Queen Anne style building with turret, on left, carries Guy Wilson Associated sign. The townsite of Buckley was platted in 1888 and named after J.M. Buckley, division superintendent of Northern Pacific and a coal mine promoter. TPL-538 (T. Times Special Edition for Mr. Short).

Commercial streets--Buckley; White Front Grocery (Buckley); Stanley's Tavern (Buckley); Buckley Cafe (Buckley);

Business district in Gig Harbor, Washington. View of Uddenberg Grocery on right, Peninsula Hotel, Pastime Pool Hall, Elinor's Fountain and other businesses. Automobiles parked along street. (T. Times, Special Edition 2/27/1940, pg. 17). TPL-512

Commercial streets--Gig Harbor; Uddenberg Grocery (Gig Harbor); Peninsula Hotel (Gig Harbor); Pastime Pool Hall (Gig Harbor); Elinor's Fountain (Gig Harbor);

ca. 1940. The city of Bremerton. Photograph is taken looking east down 4th street. Photographed businesses include Leary Hotel at 540 4th, Tower Theatre at 522 4th, Apex Baking Co. at 603 4th, Daily News Searchlight 545-547 4th and the "Poudre Puff" Beauty Salon 611 4th.

Commercial streets--Bremerton; Business districts--Bremerton; Leary Hotel (Bremerton); Tower Theatre (Bremerton); Apex Baking Co. (Bremerton); Daily News Searchlight (Bremerton); Poudre Puff Beauty Salon (Bremerton);

Buildings on left on Pacific Ave. looking south include Shaub Ellison Company, American Plumbing Supply and Harmon Manufacturing Company. For United Pacific Insurance Company. Photograph was taken in January of 1941. See D10723, image 9 for additional view of this portion of Pacific Ave.

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1940-1950; Shaub-Ellison Co. (Tacoma); American Plumbing & Steam Supply Co. (Tacoma); F.S. Harmon Manufacturing Co. (Tacoma)--Buildings;

This is a view of Pacific Avenue looking south in January of 1941. Buildings on right in the 1900 block include Shaub-Ellison Co. featuring Goodyear tires, the American Plumbing & Steam Supply Co., Wiegel Candy Co. and Harmon Manufacturing Co. Photograph taken for the United Pacific Insurance Co.

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1940-1950; Shaub-Ellison Co. (Tacoma); American Plumbing & Steam Supply Co. (Tacoma); Wiegel Candy Co. (Tacoma); F.S. Harmon Manufacturing Co. (Tacoma)--Buildings;

Stairwell of Provident Building, for Hansen and Rowland, Inc.

Office buildings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Stairways; Provident Building (Tacoma);

In October of 1941, the city had nearly completed the long awaited "face lift" of 6th Avenue. The work included widening and repaving Sixth Avenue at Pine Street (pictured) and near Sprague (in front of Jason Lee) to eliminate "jogs." The street was straightened by razing a building once occupied by Applings store. On the left are the new Safeway store (608 N. Pine) and gas station. The Safeway was located on property vacated in the straightening. The overall plan called for 6th to be widened as far south as 7th St. and for new road surfacing Sprague to Proctor St. (TT 10/3/1941, pg. 7)

Business districts--Tacoma--1940-1950; Safeway Stores, Inc. (Tacoma); Grocery stores--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Exterior of Anderson Building showing Federal Insurance offices and sign. 10th and Pacific. Knapp Business College was located on the second floor.

Anderson Building (Tacoma); Knapp College (Tacoma); Storefronts--Tacoma--1940-1950; Federal Insurance Group (Tacoma);

Exterior of Anderson Building showing Federal Insurance offices and sign. 10th and Pacific. Knapp Business College was located on the second floor.

Anderson Building (Tacoma); Knapp College (Tacoma); Storefronts--Tacoma--1940-1950; Federal Insurance Group (Tacoma);

This photograph of the modern, Art-deco style Mottau Building was taken for Safeway Stores one year after the building opened. At its opening, the Tacoma News Tribune wrote: "The K street district may well be proud of this new addition to the several modern buildings erected there in the past two or three years." Russell & Lance, architects, designed the aluminum- and Virolite-clad (polished green and black glass) building for Pauline Mottau. It replaced an early 1880s structure, a two-story, Queen Anne-style wooden building with five stores on the first floor and apartments above. Mottau's husband, Robert, built two of Tacoma's first hotels in the early 1880s--the St. Charles and the Villard--and later built several apartment buildings in Tacoma. In 2000, the Mottau Building was razed for construction of another new building in the district where other older structures are being replaced with new additions. (T.N.T., 10/6/1933, p. 13).

Commercial buildings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Business districts--Tacoma; Grocery stores--Tacoma--1940-1950; Appliance stores--Tacoma; Paulson's Radios & Appliances (Tacoma); Mottau Building (Tacoma); Safeway Stores, Inc. (Tacoma);

Interior of Broadway Branch, Puget Sound National Bank General View. Wooden counter with glass partitions, fancy wall covering and light fixtures, terrazzo flooring and countertops. Fueled by the wartime economy and the able leadership of bank president Reno Odlin, Puget Sound Bank began to grow dramatically. With the increased business, the bank needed additional help as well as replacements for those men serving in the war. The bank could not find enough employees to cover both the Broadway and the Lincoln branches, as well as the main branch. The Broadway branch was closed and the main branch remodeled in 1942.

Commercial facilities--Tacoma--1940-1950; Puget Sound National Bank (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma;

Interior of Broadway Branch, Puget Sound National Bank. Wooden counter from customer's side. Glass partitions, fancy wall covering and light fixtures, terrazzo flooring and countertops. Fueled by the wartime economy and the able leadership of bank president Reno Odlin, Puget Sound Bank began to grow dramatically. With the increased business, the bank needed additional help as well as replacements for those men serving in the war. The bank could not find enough employees to cover both the Broadway and the Lincoln branches, as well as the main branch. The Broadway branch was closed and the main branch remodeled in 1942.

Commercial facilities--Tacoma--1940-1950; Puget Sound National Bank (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma;

The Provident Building was built in 1903, and has housed many Tacoma businesses. Photo ordered by Mr. George D. Grant, Real Estate agent specializing in business properties and industrial sites. Exterior view of Ghilarducci's California Florists, Brown's Beauty Shop, Laughlen's Cafe,Tacoma Office Supply Co., businesses located within the Provident Building. Billboards promoting war bond sales can be seen on left side of photo.

Commercial facilities--Tacoma; Storefronts--Tacoma; Billboards--Tacoma; Provident Building (Tacoma);

Arctic Bottling Company for H.J. Geissler. This two-story building runs across the block from Saint Helens Avenue to Tacoma Avenue. Decorative stone carvings outline the windows on the second floor and the arched windows and entry way on the lower floor. Next door is the Hambone Eatery and the Winthrop Motor Company. Many automobiles are parked at the service station and on the street. See also D20091-1. TPL-1781.

Commercial buildings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Arctic Bottling Co. (Tacoma); Winthrop Motor Co. (Tacoma); Automobiles--Tacoma--1940-1950;

ca. 1943. Sears window, Mr. Moor. Servistan Inlaid Linoleum is advertised at "$9.88 Covers average kitchen". Rolls of samples stand in the window. A sign indicates the store is open until 9 p.m. Monday nights to accomodate shoppers working in the war industry.

Commercial facilities--Tacoma; Sears, Roebuck & Co. (Tacoma); Window displays--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Hotel Croft and Pacific Avenue for Electrical Products Consolidated. A view north along Pacific Avenue from the hill south of the business district. Billboards on the right advertise Meadosweet Milk and Pioneer Beer. Commencement Bay is seen above the tideflats. Union Station is the domed building on the right hand side of Pacific Avenue. TPL-5471.

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1940-1950; Union Station (Tacoma); Railroad stations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Automobiles--Tacoma--1940-1950; Trucks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Cityscapes; Billboards--Tacoma--1940-1950;

General Electric Supply Corp, exterior of the building. This was a new wholesale district office for General Electric. Tacoma was considered a good central location for their regional distribution. Six salesmen covered southwestern Washington and the Olympic peninsula from this location.

Commercial facilities--Tacoma--1940-1950; General Electric Supply Corp. (Tacoma);

Fisher's was located on 11th Street and Broadway. It was established 52 years ago by A. H. Stanford. Tacoma's home owned department store has been at this location since 1906. In 1946 the department store was completely remodeled and modernized. View of busy downtown Tacoma's 11th Street, towards bridge and tideflats, Fisher's Department Store on right side.

Business districts--Tacoma; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fisher's Department Store (Tacoma); 11th Street Bridge (Tacoma);

Montgomery Ward Company. This is a brick, three-storied building. A fire engine/ladder truck, an automobile and a delivery truck are on the street. The milk delivery man is seen arranging items in the truck. The store front had been the location of the Porter-Cummings Company. Murphy's Cafe-Tavern is on one side and Sharman Books is on the other. Modern Display Service is advertised on the third floor windows. TPL-2534

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1940-1950; Stores & shops--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fire engines & equipment--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Hansen & Rowland was an insurance company operated by H. Thorwald Hansen and Irvin C. Rowland. View of Linrothe Garage, Labor Temple, Columbus Hotel, Union Hotel and Food Sales Co. looking southward between 13th and 15th streets on Market Street. Photo ordered by Hansen-Rowland for accident location.

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1940-1950; Business districts--Tacoma; Automobiles--Tacoma--1940-1950; Street lights--Tacoma; Hansen & Rowland, Inc. (Tacoma);

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);