Layout for newpaper showing families with lake fronts. Tranquill scene of couple in rowboat paddling beside lilypads. Girl sitting on diving board attached to boat dock where Irish Setter dog rests peacefully. (TNT).

Bodies of Water - LakesVessels - Boats - RowboatsAnimals - Domestic Animals - Dogs - Irish Setters

A large wooden cabinet with peg-board doors and open shelving makes a convenient location for a home's magazines. A young woman is pictured in this June 29, 1954, photograph casually reading a copy of House Beautiful. Although the opposite side of the cabinet is not shown, the fact that peg-board was used its construction may indicate that audio equipment and speakers might be placed within. A piano is visible in the left portion of the photograph; evidence of a library of books and reading lamps make it possible that this is a reading/music room. Photograph ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association.

Cabinets (Case furniture); Periodicals; Pianos; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma);

The George Collins family is pictured in this sepia photograph taken on July 3, 1954, at the home of Catherine and Arthur N. Gunderson. The Gundersons are the owners of Gunderson, jewelry stores on Broadway and in Seattle. From left to right are Georgia Kay, George Collins, Christie Frances, Anthony on Mrs. George Collins' lap, and Peter. Mrs. Collins, the former Mary Mettler, is reported to be the niece of the Gundersons. The Collins family is visiting from Detroit. (TNT 7-11-54, D-4)

Collins, George--Family; Families--Tacoma--1950-1960; Gunderson, Arthur N.--Homes & haunts;

A homeowner who is interested in gardening would greatly appreciate this well-conceived potting and storage area. Multiple shelves could hold insecticides like Go West Bait and Ortho-Klor out of the reach of small children. Large cabinets would hold a variety of pot sizes with little crowding. Cabinets on wheels would be convenient in transporting soil or heavy tools and equipment. A gardener would be able to put many plants or baskets on the long countertop. Photograph ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association.

Cupboards; Shelving; Flowers; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma);

Studio portrait of Robert Evans. Robert Evans posed for a series of character studies in late June, 1954. He is shown here with arms crossed, wearing a dark suit and large bowtie. Mr. Evans taught at Stadium High School for many years in the English department. He also was the school's drama coach and advisor to theatrical clubs. According to Tahoma, the school yearbook, he received his B.A. from the (then) College of Puget Sound and his M.A. from the University of Southern California.

Evans, Robert; Teachers--Tacoma--1950-1960; Men--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1950-1960;

The Ralph C. Schaeffer, Jr., family, dressed in swimsuits, pose against a small sand dune on Steilacoom Lake in a July 3, 1954, sepia photograph commissioned by the News Tribune. Mr. and Mrs. Schaeffer and son Gregg smile brightly for the camera while little Sara's attention appears to have been captured by something out of view. Basking in the sun and swimming in lakes were just a few of the summer activities enjoyed by local residents. Two little boys are glimpsed in the lake floating with tubes; the prow of a small boat juts out nearby.

Families; Lakes & ponds; Children swimming; Schaeffer, Ralph C.--Family;

John W. Jankanish farm, Rt. 2, Box 660, Tacoma. Entrance to property showing graveled road and driveway, rail fence, trees and house.

Farms--Tacoma; Farmhouses--Tacoma; Jankanish, John W.--Homes & haunts;

John W. Jankanish farm, Rt. 2, Box 660, Tacoma. Distant view of farm beyond open pasture.

Farms--Tacoma; Farmhouses--Tacoma; Jankanish, John W.--Homes & haunts;

John W. Jankanish farm, Rt. 2, Box 660, Tacoma. View of pastures and fences with houses and barns in background.

Farms--Tacoma; Farmhouses--Tacoma; Jankanish, John W.--Homes & haunts;

John W. Jankanish farm, Rt. 2, Box 660, Tacoma. Distant view of farm buildings and property, beyond roadside fence.

Farms--Tacoma; Farmhouses--Tacoma; Jankanish, John W.--Homes & haunts; Fences;

John W. Jankanish farm, Rt. 2, Box 660, Tacoma. View of garage, outbuildings, and barn framed by fir tree and calla lillies.

Farms--Tacoma; Jankanish, John W.--Homes & haunts; Barns--Tacoma;

After pictures of homes. Safeway Builders apparently put the new siding on this apartment complex, perhaps known as the Claus Apartments, in spring, 1954. The two-story unit on North Fife St. had a long, wide porch, and heavy columns with possibly rock or brick column supports. Striped awnings shaded four upstairs windows. Unlike most bungalows, the apartments had a flat, not wide pitched roof. A long flight of steps led up from the street and then connected to the porch steps. The lawn appears to have been nicely manicured with neatly trimmed plants and shrubs surrounding the structure.

Houses--Tacoma--1950-1960; Remodeling--Tacoma--1950-1960; Safeway Builders Co. (Tacoma);

Houses appear to be packed in tightly in this section of North "M" Street in May, 1954. The Victorian style homes at 508 and 510 North "M" have tall, vertical proportions with steeply pitched gabled roofs. Both have porches and 510 North "M" has a balcony running the width of the home. They both have decorative shingles and may have been painted in multiple colors. Safeway Builders, according to a sign posted on one of the homes, appears to have been involved in the remodeling; Pioneer materials were used in at least one home. According to the Pierce County Building Index, both homes were constructed in the 1890's.

Houses--Tacoma--1950-1960; Signs (Notices);

Studio portrait of John Hreha. John Hreha, in tuxedo, posed for a studio portrait on June 29, 1954, with a toy skunk in his hands. Mr. Hreha married the former LaMoyne Barcott, whose family were long-time prominent restaurateurs. Both he and LaMoyne were also avid magicians who had won the best comedy act award at the 1953 Convention of Pacific Coast Association of Magicians. He performed under the professional name of "John Jay"; comedy, magic and ventriloquism were offered in his act. The "Vanishing Skunk" starred in many of his performances. (TNT ad 11-20-54, p. 3)

Hreha, John; Toys; Magicians; Tuxedoes;

After years of striving, the Tacoma Orthopedic Guild's dream of a children's hospital in Tacoma was finally being realized. The cornerstone of a $900,000 hospital was laid on June 9, 1954. Representing the many workers of the project were: (l-r) Mrs. Michael Yuscko, Mrs. Roscoe Smith, Mrs. Roy Elstrom and Mrs. C.H. Kane. Funding for the hospital came from the Orthopedic Guild, the estate of Dr. A.W. Bridge, and interest on the Rust trust.

Mary Bridge Children's Hospital (Tacoma); Hospitals--Tacoma--1950-1960; Cornerstone laying--Tacoma--1950-1960; Yuscko, Michael--Family; Smith, Roscoe A.--Family; Elstrom, Roy--Family; Kane, C.H.--Family;

Members of the American Society of Civil Engineers enjoy a banquet on May 26, 1954, concluding their two day conference. Daniel V. Terrell, Dean of Engineering at the University of Kentucky and national president of the A.S.C.E., gave the featured speech. Terrell is third from the left at the head table; he is flanked by Harland H. Edwards, president of the Seattle section and Horace J. Whitacre, president of the Tacoma section. Glenn W. Holcomb, Oregon State College, is second to the right. (TNT 5-27-54, A-4)

Meetings--Tacoma--1950-1960; American Society of Civil Engineers (Tacoma); Terrell, Daniel V.; Edwards, Harland H.; Whitacre, Horace; Holcomb, Glenn W.;

Four Rucker Bros. trucks are loaded with sheets of plywood and plywood boards in a July 3, 1954, photograph. An unidentified man, possibly one of the Rucker twins, leans an arm against the hood of the center truck. Murrell and Burrell Rucker owned and operated the Rucker Bros. Twin Service Trucking Co. which had its office at 733 E. 11th St. They hauled lumber for St. Paul & Tacoma Lumberyard as well as having contracts with many other lumber companies.

Rucker Brothers (Tacoma); Trucks--Tacoma--1950-1960; Lumber--Tacoma; Shipping--Tacoma;

Television host and columnist Ed Sullivan met with Tacoma heavyweight boxer Pat McMurtry and his brother, Mike (far right), outside Ray Ridge Lincoln-Mercury at 124 Tacoma Avenue on June 9, 1954. Mr. Sullivan was in town to help lay the cornerstone for the new Mary Bridge Children's Hospital at 311 South L Street. He was guest speaker at the ceremony and later attended a large celebratory luncheon at the Masonic Temple. ALBUM 7.

Sullivan, Ed, 1902-1974; Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1950-1960; Ray Ridge Motors, Inc. (Tacoma); McMurtry, Pat; McMurtry, Mike;

Group portrait of banker association retired presidents. Reno Odlin, president of Puget Sound National Bank, hosted a reunion of Washington State Bankers Association's past presidents on June 20, 1954. Prior to the dinner in the Wedgewood Room, Winthrop Hotel, the group met at Mr. Odlin's home overlooking Commencement Bay. Reno Odlin is standing to the extreme right in the group portrait. He was the convention president in 1942. The Bankers Association was holding their 58th annual conference with 375 delegates in attendance; this was the first time since 1940 that the convention had been held in Tacoma. (TNT 6-21-54, A-1)

Washington State Bankers Association (Tacoma); Odlin, Reno, 1897-1979; Bankers--Tacoma--1950-1960; Group portraits;

Home portrait of the Weyerhaeusers. The couple pictured in this sepia photograph is John Philip ("Phil") and Helen Weyerhaeuser. They were enjoying a family gathering at their Thorne Lane residence on July 6, 1954. Phil Weyerhaeuser led the Weyerhaeuser Timber Company from 1933 to 1956, a span of time which included the changes brought about by the Great Depression and World War ll. He believed that the best way a forest products company could operate would be to own its own timberlands. Phil Weyerhaeuser passed away on December 8, 1956. The 1956 Weyerhaeuser Timber Company annual report was dedicated to him; he was lauded as "a man of exceptional vision, kindliness and executive talents. It was he who activated the philosophy of managing forest lands for perpetual growth and harvest. His influence in the industry and the American community will be felt for generations to come." (Twining, Charles E., Phil Weyerhaeuser, Lumberman)

Weyerhaeuser, John Philip; Weyerhaeuser, Helen;

Exterior of Bank of California Building. Constructed in 1928 from Wilkeson sandstone and granite, the Bank of California building on Pacific Avenue was designed by architect John Graham and built by contractors J.E. Bonnell & Son. Enormous Ionic columns dwarf passersby; these four columns cost $3,500 apiece. The bank's name is engraved in large letters above the columns.

Bank of California National Association (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Columns--Tacoma;

The interior of Ben-Dew's Patio Cafe on Sixth Avenue provided a cozy, rustic atmosphere for dining on the restaurant's well-advertised fried chicken in May, 1954. Up to 60 customers could sit on bar stools resembling logs, paneled booth seating, or regular tables. Lanterns hung from long horizontal poles in the ceiling. The building had formerly housed the landmark Patio Shop before it was extensively remodeled and reopened in late May, 1954. Ben-Dew's was owned and operated by Dewey Tei and had been located formerly on Commerce Street. Nearly fifty years after this photograph was taken, Ben-Dew's Clubhouse Grill is still in its same location on Sixth Avenue. (TNT 5-28-54, p. 11)

Ben-Dew's Patio Cafe (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1950-1960; Cafes--Tacoma--1950-1960; Lanterns;

By 1954 Lyon's Apparel had two stores on Broadway. According to the 1954 City Directory, these were located at 1126b and 1151 Broadway. Both were owned by Herman Lehrer. Lyon's specialized in women's clothing. Peering through the window in June, 1954, are two mannequins dressed in light summer dresses. Shirts, skirts, jackets and pants can be glimpsed on display. Wood paneling on one side of the interior wall appears to extend to the recessed entry with the glass display window and door as a separation point. Large neon letters spell out the store's name. Photograph ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association.

Lyon's Apparel (Tacoma); Clothing stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Mannequins; Electric signs--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Exterior view of City Light building. Completed in 1953, the Tacoma Public Utilities Center was located at 3628 South 35th St. and housed City Light and Water divisions. It was designed by architect Silas E. Nelsen, who also designed the Tacoma Public Library's main branch, and built by the Roy T. Earley Co. and Concrete Construction Co. The multi-storied, multi-windowed building was constructed with reinforced concrete. Photograph taken on July 1, 1954; it was commissioned by the Condon Co.

Tacoma Dept. of Public Utilities, Light Division (Tacoma); Public utility companies--Tacoma;

Copy of customer's print; view of Martinac Shipbuilding employees at work. Construction of a 171-foot mindsweeper for the Navy took many months. J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding had been awarded a contract to build several mindsweepers; this particular boat was the USS Endurance, the first. It was the largest wooden-hulled vessel to be built in Tacoma since World War 1. The Endurance would be launched in August, 1952, and commissioned on March 20, 1954.

J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma); Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Industrial facilities--Tacoma--1950-1960; Government vessels--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Cement pouring at C.P.S. The student population at the College of Puget Sound was growing at a rapid rate in the 1950's and new construction was needed to keep pace. McPhail Engineering Co. won a large contract from the college to build an addition to Anderson Hall, the woman's dormitory, in January, 1954. The new wing, designed by noted architect Silas Nelsen, was completed in November, 1954. View of cement pouring by Holroyd Co. at construction site of new wing on C.P.S. campus on July 14, 1954. .

Building construction--Tacoma--1950-1960; Concrete mixers--Tacoma; Holroyd Co. (Tacoma); College of Puget Sound (Tacoma)--Buildings;

A young blonde leans against a finely crafted wooden desk as she reads some mail in a July 16, 1954, photograph. There is a dark cabinet mounted on the wall behind her; it has an open section to display books and curios next to closed panel doors with dark handles. Preceding photographs demonstrated how wood tape could be applied to the edges of cabinets and the cabinets themselves be constructed by homeowners with woodworking skills Photograph ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association.

Cabinets (Case furniture); Desks; Lamps; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma);

View on Lafayette Street. A young boy crosses the street heading perhaps toward the tennis courts on Lafayette Street in Steilacoom on a sunny day in August, 1954. Three youngsters linger outside the Bair Store nearby. The Bair Store is now a combination restaurant/museum. A glimpse of water can be seen by passersby. Photographs ordered by the Lakewood Log, a weekly community newspaper with offices in the Lakewood Center, who had apparently requested views of daily life in Steilacoom.

City & town life--Steilacoom; Neighborhoods--Steilacoom; Tennis courts--Steilacoom; Bair Store (Steilacoom); Lakewood Log (Lakewood);

A shirtless tennis player prepares to serve as he raises his racket overhead on a sunny day in August, 1954. These courts are very close to the Steilacoom Town Hall on Lafayette Street. There are at least two courts on a fenced lot. Photograph ordered by the Lakewood Log, a weekly community newspaper which operated out of the Lakewood Center. The newspaper had requested panoramic views of the Town of Steilacoom, apparently showing daily activities.

City & town life--Steilacoom; Neighborhoods--Steilacoom; Tennis--Steilacoom; Tennis courts--Steilacoom; Lakewood Log (Lakewood);

Mr. and Mrs. Jack Ekstrand prepare to cut a small wedding cake at their 50th wedding anniversary party on September 5, 1954. Friends and family gathered at the residence of Herbert Medlow on Flanegan Road to celebrate the joyous occasion. Sepia photograph ordered by C.A. Green.

Ekstrand, Jack; Ekstrand, Jack--Family; Anniversaries;