The congregation of Sixth Avenue Baptist Church listens attentively to its minister, Rev. Victor A. McKee, in late January, 1953. Members of the children's and adult's choirs are seated up front. The church is nearly full, with people also sitting in the balcony. The covered table in front of the minister may be for Communion. Photograph ordered by Victor A. McKee. TPL-9619

Religious services--Tacoma--1950-1960; Baptist churches--Tacoma; Choirs (Music); Sixth Avenue Baptist Church (Tacoma); McKee, Victor A.;

ca. 1953. Built in 1947, the Tacoma Medical Center was composed of several brick buildings on South 11th Street; each unit contained one or more medical personnel. View of modern, flat roofed square building; sign painted on sidewalk indicates this section of the Tacoma Medical Center complex housed buildings 1 though 7. According to the 1953 City Directory, Drs. Robert Bond, Douglas Buttorff, Robert Florence, and William Rademaker were just a few of the physicians occupying the Tacoma Medical Center. The Medical Center also had its own pharmacy and laboratory.

Tacoma Medical Center (Tacoma); Health care facilities--Tacoma; Signs (Notices);

The new South 56th and Pacific Tradewell supermarket carried a wide variety of coffees in 1953. A coffee aficionado could either grind his own coffee beans, with a machine provided by the store, or buy a pre-packaged, already ground can. View of long row of coffees includes Folgers, Chase and Sanborn, Postum and Tradewell's own brands. Photograph ordered by Tradewell, Inc., Seattle.

Tradewell Stores, Inc. (Tacoma); Supermarkets; Coffee--Tacoma; Grinding machines;

Van de Kamp's had a bakery section in the new Tradewell Store on 56th and Pacific Avenue in 1953. The Dutch windmill motif is present throughout the bakery with miniature windmills on shelves and in the showcases. A variety of Van de Kamp's products are available for purchase: cakes, sour dough French bread, brown & serve rolls, and dressing. Photograph ordered by Tradewell, Inc., Seattle.

Van de Kamp's Holland Dutch Bakeries (Tacoma); Bakeries--Tacoma--1950-1960; Signs (Notices); Tradewell Stores, Inc. (Tacoma);

Copy of customer's print made on January 12, 1953. Architectural drawing of the female ward building extension for Western State Hospital in Fort Steilacoom was made by George Gove and Lea, Pearson & Richards, Architects. The building extension would provide additional housing for institutionized female patients; buildings are multi-stored with barred windows. According to the NWR's Clippings file, the addition would cost two million dollars and be ready for occupancy in 1954. It would be five stories high and have receiving and treatment wards. Dr. F.E. Shovlain was superintendent of Western State Hospital at that time. In May, 1954, a construction progress photograph and article stated that the new hospital wing would accommodate 420 patients. It would replace a present smaller building which was damaged in the April, 1949, earthquake; the present building was built in 1896. The new structure would be made of reinforced concrete and contain approximately 100,000 square feet of floor space. (TNT 5-23-54, C-17)

Architectural drawings; Western State Hospital (Lakewood); Mental institutions--Lakewood; Gove, George; Lea, Pearson & Richards (Tacoma);

Mayor John H. Anderson meets with Elder Osgood of the Seventh Day Adventists and several others for a publicity picture on March 26, 1953. There are several large white cans marked "SDA Disaster Kit", holding emergency supplies for household use in case of disaster, while Mayor Anderson displays an American Red Cross medical kit. DeWitt Osgood is the pastor of the Central Seventh Day Adventist Church. His and other Seventh Day Adventist churches worked together to assemble these emergency kits; bandages, antiseptics, splints, dressings, and water purification tablets were some of the supplies contained in each kit. (TNT 3-22-53, A-15)

Anderson, John H.; Osgood, DeWitt; Disaster relief--Tacoma;

The Tacoma Elks Club held their annual Extravaganza in the spring of 1953. Elks members owned many businesses in Tacoma; view of billboard with signs listing individual member-owned businesses, many signs have caricatures. The largest sign is that of Jack Roberts, co-owner of Narrows Marina.

Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Tacoma Lodge No. 174 (Tacoma); Signs (Notices); Caricatures;

Construction continues on the new Tacoma City Light administrative building and garage in February, 1953. Work was being conducted under the supervision of Elmer Visser, estimator, from the Roy Earley Company, general contractors. Men are shown here putting plywood forms into place. When completed, the 2.5 million dollar building would become the headquarters for City Light and the Water division. Photograph ordered by Tom Sias, Douglas Fir Plywood Association. (TNT 2-8-53, C-13)

Building construction--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma Dept. of Public Utilities, Light Division (Tacoma); Plywood; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma); Public utility companies--Tacoma;

Ben Cheney, president of Cheney Lumber Company, at Elks Club with daughter Sandra. The young girl is wearing a crisp, striped dress with matching organdy pinafore. Her father is gently holding her gloved hand.

Cheney, Ben B., 1905-1971; Cheney, Sandra; Cheney, Ben B., 1905-1971--Family; Fathers & children--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Loye A. McGee (left), dressed as a circus ring master, stands next to his wife in this photograph taken March 14, 1953 at the Lakewood Recreation Hall. Mr. McGee managed the arrangements for the special Lakewood Dance Club party, based on a circus theme, held at the hall. Invitations to "The Greatest Show on Earth" were designed to look like old-fashioned circus bills. Refreshments at the dance included hot dogs and pink lemonade. Besides dancing, the evening included clowns, animals, trapeze artists and a side show. From left to right are: Mr. and Mrs. L. A. McGee, ringmaster, George Boldt, Jr., and Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Miller. Photograph ordered by TNT. (TNT 3-18-53, p. 23)

Dance parties--Lakewood--1950-1960; Dancers--Lakewood; Signs (Notices);

A group of six men, two women and a little girl pose in front of the recently constructed USS Energy in preparation for its official launching on February 13, 1953. Four of the men are wearing naval uniforms; one woman is holding a large bouquet of roses. She may be the sponsor, Mrs. Alice McDonald Baughman of Seattle. Captain Clyde Jensen of the Bremerton Navy Yard was to give the principal address. The ship was built by the J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corporation, and was to be launched from the Bayview Shipyard. (TNT 2-1-53, B-2, TNT 2-14-53, p. 1)

Launchings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma);

Columbia Breweries was constantly expanding and upgrading their facilities in the late 1940's and early 1950's. It appears that in March, 1953, the Heidelberg Shipping Depot was in the process of having a second story added. The building is shown elevated on plywood platforms next to concrete forms. Under the direction of George Wellington Stoddard, Seattle architect, and the Woodworth Co., contractors, it was decided to jack up the old steel frame warehouse twenty feet and build a second story underneath it. The old walls would not support a traditional second story. Rainbow Contractors, specialists in housing moving and concrete foundations, had been hired for the job. (TNT 3-4-53, C-1) TPL-6500

Moving of structures--Tacoma; Building construction--Tacoma--1950-1960; Plywood; Columbia Breweries, Inc. (Tacoma)--1950-1960; Railroad tracks--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Two majestic elk, festooned with blossoms, "pull" an old fashioned streetcar in the 1953 Daffodil parade. The float was entered by the Tacoma Elks Club; the surface of the float, including its sides and also the streetcar, are covered with daffodils. There is a policeman, dressed in an old-time uniform, and conductor on board along with several passengers. Photograph ordered by Jay Downs.

Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1953 : Tacoma); Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Festivals--Tacoma; Celebrations--Tacoma; Elk; Street railroads--Tacoma; Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Tacoma Lodge No. 174 (Tacoma);

Herb Erickson leads his students in a melody during the 1953 Daffodil parade. He was a teacher of the Honolulu Conservatory of Music; the school taught accordion and guitar to aspiring musicians. View of Erickson conducting his ensemble of accordionists, guitarists and bass player. Hundreds of daffodils cover the float, including a shell and two musical symbols, as well as a multitude of wooden notes. Photograph orderd by Floyd Piper.

Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1953 : Tacoma); Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Honolulu Conservatory of Music (Tacoma); Erickson, Herb; Accordions; Guitars; Daffodils--Tacoma;

ca. 1953. Logs are in the process of being loaded onto a Ludtke Company truck during a logging operation on Mount Rainier. Branches have already been removed from the trees and logs previously cut into manageable sections. One man stands on the truck's bed to maneuver the massive logs into place in this 1953 photograph.

Rainier, Mount (Wash.); Lumber industry; Logs;

Twelve students from Bryant Elementary School, dressed in colonial costumes, pose in front of the old Washington State Historical Society building, 315 No. Stadium Way, in February, 1953. Looking very much like little George and Martha Washingtons, the boys have white pigtailed "wigs" while the girls are adorned with white decorated caps. The students were first graders whose teacher, Mrs. Donald Fries, taught them to dance the stately and graceful minuet. Students pictured are: Calvin Bertram, Paul Dessen, Craig Luoma, David Peschek, Mark Redal, Fred Wahlgren, Patricia Dillinger, Linda Fote, Geri Rickard, Diane Thomson, Mary Lee Merz and Mary Louise Dotter. (TNT 2-22-53, D-1, D-2) TPL-10188

School children--Tacoma--1950-1960; Costumes; Dancers--Tacoma--1950-1960; Washington State Historical Building (Tacoma);

Annie Wright Seminary for yearbook "The Shield." Four young boys seated at table with small bottles of milk. Three older girl students stand behind group in this photograph dated January 25, 1953.

School children--Tacoma--1950-1960; Students--Tacoma--1950-1960; Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1950-1960; Private schools--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Father Anthony Baffaro, pastor of St. Rita's Catholic Church, stands on the church steps with his confirmation class on April 12, 1953. The boys in the group, some in uniform, have been placed in front of the veiled girls in white. St. Rita's was founded by Italian immigrants; built in 1924 in the Mediterranean style, it was placed on the National Registry. Its parish priest, Fr. Anthony Baffaro, was the youngest Jesuit priest in history. He was very involved in encouraging youth activities in the church and organized a church baseball team. Fr. Baffaro died on February 17, 1979, after serving his parish since September, 1948. Photograph ordered by Fr. Baffaro. (History of Pierce County, Vol. 3, p. 87)

St. Rita's Catholic Church (Tacoma); Confirmations--Tacoma--1950-1960; Baffaro, Anthony;

The unidentified dancers in this chorus line from the Elks Club Extravaganza of 1953 were not afraid to show a little leg. The Extravaganza was produced and directed by Max Frolic (far right), well known former vaudevillian and band leader. Each of the heavily made up dancers has a distinct mole painted on his face, ala Marilyn Monroe. (TNT 3-24-53, p. 14)

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

Several vessels, including aircraft carriers, are docked at the Fisherman's Boat Haven, located in the Tideflats area, in the spring of 1953. There are also logs floating in a log pond close by. Photograph ordered by Elliott Metcalf.

Waterfronts; Logs; Aircraft carriers--Tacoma--1950-1960;

In the early 1950s, Arden Farms took over the building at 824 Martin Luther King Jr. Way that had been the home of the Olympic Dairy Products Co. The large milk bottle on the roof made the building immediately identifiable. This photograph from February of 1953 shows four Arden Milk drivers standing proudly by their new Ford delivery trucks. The men are all dressed neatly in striped overalls, ties, and caps with the company's logo on them. Arden Farms was well known for their milk, "flavor fresh" ice cream, butter and cottage cheese. TPL-8203

Arden Farms Co. (Tacoma)--People; Ford trucks;

In March of 1953, the familiar outline of a graceful couple dancing was prominently displayed on the Arthur Murray Dance Studio neon sign attached to the Ted Brown Music Store building, 1121-23 Broadway. There were three Arthur Murray Dance Studios in the Puget Sound region in 1953, including one in Seattle and one in Bremerton. They were part of the 210 chain of studios throughout the United States and Canada. The Arthur Murray concept of dancing had been in existence for 33 years; it was promoted as an easy method of learning how to dance using one master step. This night exposure of the entrance to the Arthur Murray Studio in the Ted Brown Music building also shows the National Dollar Stores and the Murray Hotel, both at 1125-27 Broadway. Photograph ordered by H. J. McGrath & Associates.

Arthur Murray's Dance Studios (Tacoma); Electric signs--Tacoma--1950-1960; Storefronts--Tacoma--1950-1960;

View of Sylvan Park neighborhood. A paved roadway wanders through the new Sylvan Park housing subdivision, near Lakewood, in March, 1953. Homes appear to be one-story contemporary ramblers, many of them brick, with attached garages. Home Construction Co., owned by C. E. Hinton and J. M. Hoskins, built many of the homes in the area. Photograph ordered by Mark Hoskins.

Houses--Lakewood--1950-1960; Home Construction Co. (Lakewood);

ca. 1953. Built in 1907 by contractor Joseph Wells, and designed by architects Bullard and Hill, the Hunt & Mottet Co. building was located on the 2000th block of Pacific Avenue. The building was eight stories high; the company's name was in enormous letters along both the side and front of the building. Hunt & Mottet were wholesale hardware and sporting goods dealers. According to the 1953 City Directory, A.H. Heath was listed as president/treasurer with J.C. Richards as vice president and W.F. Rieflin, secretary. TPL-8790

Hunt & Mottet Co. (Tacoma); Sporting goods industry--Tacoma; Sporting goods stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Hardware stores--Tacoma; Signs (Notices);

Customer's copy of architectural drawing was made in March, 1953. United Pacific Insurance Company's new home office was constructed in 1954 and opened in January, 1955. Architectural drawing shown here was made by John Graham and Company, a Seattle firm. The five-story addition was estimated to cost $500,000. The insurance company would use the first three floors and basement and rent out the top two floors. Special glass would be utilized to reduce the sun's rays. The old Allyn Hotel and a building at 722 St. Helens would be demolished to make room for the new building. (TNT 4-5-53, C-14)

Architectural drawings; United Pacific Insurance Co. (Tacoma); John Graham & Co. (Seattle);

A copy of a customer's print was made in March, 1953, showing two budget cards from Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan Association. Pacific First Federal, headquartered in Tacoma and with four other locations in the Pacific Northwest, apparently had these family budget guides available for customers to better plan their living expenses and practice good money management. Because there was a movable scale on the budget card, it could be used by numerous individuals. Photograph ordered by Condon Co.

Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan Association (Tacoma); Business & finance--Tacoma; Paying bills;

Customer's print, copied in sepia tones, of a group portrait of several young teenagers. This may have been taken at a church confirmation class, or school graduation, perhaps in the 1920's. The girls are all dressed in light pastel colors while the boys have suits and ties. All are wearing long ribbons. Customer's print was copied in April, 1953. Ordered by William A. Stancer.

Group portraits; Teenagers;

Breezes cause the ribbons and train of Erin Lombard, Annie Wright Seminary's 1953 Queen of May, to ripple gently as she poses with Headmistress Ruth Jenkins on May 9, 1953. Each year a senior is honored by the Seminary at the May Day festivities. Miss Lombard hails from the Yakima area and is the daughter of the Harry Lombards, Jr. A special guest at the event was the presence of her grandmother, the former Aimee Porter, who graduated from Annie Wright sixty years before. (TNT 5-17-53, D-1)

Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1950-1960; Private schools--Tacoma; Festivals--Tacoma--1950-1960; Lombard, Erin; Jenkins, Ruth;

Built in 1928 by the Broadway Building Co., this elegant Gothic apartment house had at least five floors. Located at 31 Broadway, the brick Broadway Apartments had trimmings of Wilkeson sandstone. Three small spires extend past the roofline. The Broadway Apartments were designed by architect Stanley Shaw who also was the architect on the addition to the Park Lodge School in Lakewood. Sepia photograph ordered by Fanny Berkheimer, who resided in Apt. 301 of the Broadway Apartments.

Broadway Apartments (Tacoma); Apartment houses--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Seventh-day Adventist Disaster Emergency Unit. In this photograph from March of 1953, nurse Roberta Sharley gently wraps the arm of her young "patient," Joyce Shubert, as she lies on a cot located at the Tacoma Seventh-day Adventist Junior Academy, designated as a civil defense emergency hospital. They took part in a mock atomic air raid practice to simulate injuries that might occur and how to provide appropriate care. Members of the Tacoma Central and South Side Seventh-day Adventist churches had joined in a project of demonstrating first aid and also filling and distributing emergency disaster kits. They may have been the first church group in the country to provide a disaster kit for every member family. (TNT 3-22-1953, A-15)

Nurses; Sick persons; Seventh-day Adventist Church (Tacoma); Sharley, Roberta; Shubert, Joyce; Civil defense--Tacoma--1950-1960;