The only thing better then a pretty girl to sell potato chips is two pretty girls. Two unidentified models in swimsuits snack on delicious Nalley's potato chips in September, 1958. They are reaching into a metal chute at the Nalley's plant and sampling a chip or two. Nalley's was well-known for their potato chips as well as a variety of other products--pickles, mayonnaise, salad dressings and syrup. In fact, Marcus Nalley began his company by preparing potato chips in his own small kitchen which were fried in cooking oil and packed in paper bags. Photograph ordered by Lonie & Associates.

Potato chips; Food--Tacoma--1950-1960; Nalley's, Inc. (Tacoma);

The Teel Bros. exhibited a rockery with small waterfall at the B&I Circus Store just outside Tacoma city limits. Ferns and hardy plants peek out from the rocks. The exhibit was designed by Siegfried Semrau, landscape architect from Bremerton. Photograph ordered by B&I Sales.

Rock gardens--Lakewood; Merchandise displays--Lakewood--1950-1960; Signs (Notices); B&I Circus Store;

The local Kiwanis clubs provided courtesy cars for dignitaries during the Kiwanis convention held in August, 1958. It appears that a Tacoma police officer was designated as chauffeur for the courtesy car of District Governor Jack H. Murton during the Owen Beach festivities. Seated in the convertible are believed to be Gov. and Mrs. Murton. Photograph ordered by Kiwanis International.

Signs (Notices); Kiwanis International; Convertible automobiles--Tacoma--1950-1960;

These six ladies would be manning the Mary Bridge Children's Hospital booth at the Puyallup Fair in September, 1958. They represented three Valley District guilds belonging to the Tacoma Orthopedic Association. The women are posed with a large bulletin board. On the board are calendars, one for each month of the year, and each calendar has various tray favors pinned on it. The favors were made by junior volunteers, presumably belonging to the junior guilds sponsored by the Orthopedic Assocation. Seated from left to right are: Mrs. Everett Dickinson and Mrs. James Peterson, association president. Standing from left to right are: Mrs. George Eade, Mrs. R.A. Cross, Mrs. Howard Thomas and Mrs. Everett Peake. Photograph ordered by Tacoma Orthopedic Association. (TNT 9-5-58, A-6)

Tacoma Orthopedic Association (Tacoma); Charitable organizations--Tacoma; Calendars;

Mount Rainier was shrouded in clouds on August 8, 1958, when aerial photographs of the future Tacoma Mall area were taken for Allied Owners, Inc. A series of photographs were taken between South 38th & South 56th Streets from Sprague to Pine. The baseball field toward the center of the picture is probably Cheney Field which was on 38th & Lawrence. It is possible that the Tacoma Mall would be in or near the wooded area toward the top of the photograph. This south end area would be further changed with the coming of the freeway in a few years.

Aerial photographs; Aerial views; Neighborhoods--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Aerial photographs taken on an overcast August 14, 1958, show the bustling downtown area and beginnings of the Tideflats. The 11th and 15th St. bridges cross the City (now Thea Foss) Waterway leading to the city's industrial area. The new County-City Building and soon-to-be demolished Courthouse are clearly evident toward the center of the picture. Wright Park is the wooded area nearby. Schoenfelds enormous lettering always captures the camera's eye as it wanders along Pacific Avenue, with Puget Sound National Bank and the Washington Building further up the road. Shuster Parkway is not yet built but its pathway can be imagined near the wooded area close to the 11th St. bridge. The area around 24th & Pacific, including Jefferson, and other portions of downtown Tacoma, were scheduled for an urban renewal project in the late '50's. That area is near the lower left corner by the Union Station. This downtown area would be the home of the future University of Washington-Tacoma campus. TPL-8158

Aerial photographs; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Lundberg Concrete Pipe Co., Inc., occupied a large stretch of land on Center Street near Pine. Aerial photographs taken on August 14, 1958, show a modern industrial plant surrounded by sections of pipe. Lundberg Concrete also apparently used nearby hillside site for storing large pipes. The company was a family-owned business, headed by Oscar N. Lundberg as president. Allenmore Golf Course appears to be located on the photo's left side. Photograph ordered by Lundberg Concrete Pipe Co., Inc.

Aerial photographs; Lundberg Concrete Pipe Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Pipes (Conduits)--Tacoma; Industrial facilities--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Aerial photographs taken on August 14, 1958, of the Center & Pine area paint an almost surrealistic view of the surroundings. The Lundberg Concrete Pipe Co. is the cluster of buildings located near the center of the picture. As their name indicates, they were pipe manufacturers. Located on top of a neighboring hillside is the storage area for the pipes. Beyond Lundberg Concrete appears to be the Allenmore Golf Course. Photograph ordered by Lundberg Concrete Pipe Co., Inc.

Aerial photographs; Lundberg Concrete Pipe Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Pipes (Conduits)--Tacoma; Industrial facilities--Tacoma;

The enormous Grandstand at the Western Washington Fair had been expanded since its construction circa 1908. W.H. Paulhamus served as president of the fair from 1906 to 1925; he acted as announcer and master of ceremonies for the grandstand acts. Hawaiian musicians, Arabian tumbling acts, and parades of livestock entertained viewers in the fair's early days. Later, horse racing became one of the most popular of all attractions on the fairgrounds. View of 1958 Western Washington Fair: Grandstand, exhibition halls, restaurants, and packed parking lots. Emmett Kelly, the world-famous, sad-faced clown, would be making his first West Coast appearance in eight years in twice-daily grandstand shows. For a $1.50, ticketholders could see Kelly, watch the three Zacchinis shot from cannons, admire the Dancing Dalmations, and cheer on three horse races and the cattle parades. Photograph ordered by Puyallup Fair Association. (Souvenir Booklet 50th Western Washington Fair, 1953, TNT 8-20-58, ad) TPL-9295

Aerial photographs; Western Washington Fair (Puyallup); Grandstands--Puyallup;

Continental scenes. Since 1928 Continental Baking Co., bakers of Wonder Bread and Hostess Cakes, have been baking Wonder Bread products at their bakery at 701 S. Sprague Ave. Continental has been producing Tacoma products for Tacoma residents in one of the most modern bakeries in the Northwest. There is an oven with a capacity of over 3,500 loaves per hour, a new proof box and other equipment to give the plant a capacity of 90,000 loaves a day. Employees number 95, with an annual payroll of nearly a million dollars. The bakery operates 45 vehicles, distributing as far south as Olympia, Centralia and Chehalis. (TNT 09-01-1961 B5)

Continental Baking Co. (Tacoma); Bakeries--Tacoma--1950-1960; Baking--Tacoma; Bread--Tacoma;

The days when fresh bread had to be wrapped by hand were apparently gone by the 1950's. Continental Baking Co. used modern equipment to efficiently wrap the multitude of baked goods it produced daily. Loaves of bread enter a wrapping machine and emerge on a roller completely wrapped in the familiar polka dotted Wonder Bread design. View of wrapping machines taken on August 27, 1958; one man is placing wrapped loaves of bread onto racks. There are several racks completely filled with Wonder Bread while others wait on a table to be shelved. Photograph ordered by Continental Baking Co.

Continental Baking Co. (Tacoma); Bakeries--Tacoma--1950-1960; Baking--Tacoma; Bread; Machinery;

The Continental Baking Company, makers of Wonder Bread, would be celebrating its 30th anniversary with a series of photographs taken by the Richards Studio showing a typical day at Continental. Here an employee, wearing a Hostess Cake cap, is measuring bread dough prior to baking. He is using a Toledo Speedweigh scale for precise weight. Once weighed, the bread dough would be placed in separate trays in preparation for baking. The bakery would be holding an open house in early September, 1958, to allow the public to see the new addition built to their Sprague Ave. property. Photograph ordered by Continental Baking Co.

Continental Baking Co. (Tacoma); Bread--Tacoma; Baking--Tacoma; Scales;

The kitchen in this newly built home on Sylvia Blvd. presents a homey, rustic feeling with its knotty pine cupboards and wood-crossed windows in addition to the "brick" counter tile. The wood is decorated with bronze hardware. The floor is covered with a small checkered linoleum. Ceramic figurines decorate countertops and shelves. Designers in the 1950's continued to use a round motif in kitchens with curved counters and exposed shelving. Appliances, including the Hotpoint built-in stove and oven, may have used natural gas. For a look at the Sylvan Park's home exterior, see A116379-4. This home was one of the 33 on display at the 1958 Tour of Homes sponsored by the Tacoma Master Builders Association. Photograph ordered by Home Construction Co. (TNT 9-5-58, C-2)

Kitchens--Lakewood--1950-1960;

Light snow barely covers the tip of Mount Rainier in August, 1958. The landscape is exposed where the forests have been clear-cut by St. Paul & Tacoma loggers. Loggers were careful to cut only selected areas. St. Paul & Tacoma was one of the first companies to follow a systematic reforestation program on the millions of acres of land it owned. Photograph ordered by Malcolm McGhie, industrial consultant.

Lumber industry--1950-1960; St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. (Tacoma);

The National Factory Distributors building at 323 Puyallup Avenue was for sale in late 1958. It was located next door to the Paramount Electric Co. and a short distance from the Salvation Army. View of National Factory shows arched doorways, dormers, and large picture windows. A man is shown leaning against the street light close to the mail box in front of the store. The building was still vacant according to the 1959 City Directory; however, it did list an occupant in the 1960 directory, the Durobilt Furniture & Upholstery Co. Photograph ordered by Salvation Army.

National Factory Distributors (Tacoma);

When erected in 1910, Puget Sound National Bank's main branch was the tallest building west of the Missouri River. Later buildings were constructed to rival the bank's height but it remained a focal point on Pacific Avenue. It dwarfed its neighbors, Peoples store and the National Bank of Washington. A large plaque on the side of the building indicates that the bank was established in 1890. Puget Sound Bank was the first to use a T & T sign, clearly visible, which gave the time and temperature to passersby. A "hometown bank," Puget Sound National Bank was absorbed by Key Bank in the early 1990's. Photograph ordered by the Condon Co. TPL-6569

Puget Sound National Bank (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma;

The S.H. Kress & Co. store celebrated its grand opening and invited everyone to visit their newly remodeled store on August 14, 1958. Kress had been a downtown fixture since 1925. George Kirkebo & Son began remodeling the store in 1957 using the designs of architect Karl Swedberg. View of store's interior featuring wide aisles of costume jewelry, hosiery and makeup. Balloons provided a cheerful atmosphere while signs advising the availability of layaway plans and quick self-service were posted throughout the store. The store was completely air conditioned and its two floors expanded to 20,000 square feet. Fluorescent lighting illuminated the soft white upper walls and ceilings while the dark mahogany panelings on the lower walls provided a rich contrast. Kress offered specials during their grand opening: brass hostess carts for $9.99, Ronson electric shavers for $8.88, and provided free delivery within the city for purchases over $5. A unique drawing gave away a free live alligator each day; winner need not be present. (TNT 8-13-58, A-8-11) TPL-9911

S.H. Kress & Co. (Tacoma); Variety stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1950-1960; Signs (Notices);

Interior and exterior exposures of St. Charles Borromeo Church and buildings were taken on September 8, 1958. This view has been identified by a reader as the front hall/entryway of St. Charles Borromeo School. There is a large statue of St. Joseph holding a small child on the left. Trophy and display cases now flank the statue today. Over 200 children, up to the sixth grade, were enrolled in the new school taught by Franciscan sisters.The church sanctuary, school, parish hall, gym, convent and rectory may have been completed in 1958. The church building was finished in 1969. Photograph ordered by St. Charles Borromeo Church. (TNT 9-20-58, p. 4) (Additional information provided by a reader)

St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church (Tacoma); Catholic churches--Tacoma; Sculpture--Tacoma;

ca. 1920. Sepia copy of customer print ordered by Bud Merrell of Seattle. This is possibly the Kildall Mercantile Co. department store or the Lynden Dept. Store. One man is standing behind the partially filled meat counter while seven others are grouped around the bakery section. Cookies and donuts line the glass shelves. There is a large display of canned goods along the back wall and a selection of fresh fruits and vegetables in boxes and on the table to the right. The rounded blotches on the print came from the original. Date of the original print is unknown, possibly in the early 1920's, copy made on September 12, 1958.

Grocery stores;

ca. 1940. Sepia copy of customer print ordered by Bud Merrell of Seattle. A number of prints were made on September 12, 1958, consisting of various grocery and department stores in the last few decades. This dark and crowded store may have been the Garrish Bros., Lynden Dept. Store or the Kildall Mercantile Co. Two men, one in tuxedo and bow tie and the other in dark suit with light tie, stand behind the counter. Canned goods are stacked behind the men and bottles and boxes are on the shelves facing them. The long counter may have been a lunch/coffee counter as well since bar stools are nearby. Pastries and cookies are in the enclosed curved glass case. Date of the original stained print is unknown, possibly in the 1940's.

Grocery stores;

In July of 1936, members of the West Fork Logging Co. boom crew posed on a rail car with a huge log cut near Mineral, Washington. The men were Fred Kopaske (sitting on top); Lawrence Aus (center, in tie); and standing on the car, left to right, D. Mackay, Eyler Plumb, Pete Peterson and Al McCoy. The mammoth log was 11 1/2 feet in diameter, 36 feet long and solid to the core with no rot. The cut log was ready to be hauled away; to prevent it from sliding off, two narrow logs, firmly secured by brackets, flanked the larger one. (Copy of customer photograph, ordered by Oscar Aus; photograph in the same series as D3009, images 3 & 4. Copy of customer's print was made on September 22, 1958.) (T. Times 7/9/1936, pg. 3)

Lumber industry--Tacoma--1930-1940; West Fork Logging Co. (Tacoma); Logs; Kopaske, Fred; Aus, Lawrence; Plumb, Eyler; Peterson, Pete; McCoy, Al; Loggers;

Two unidentified men engage in a bit of horseplay as they hoist large moose or caribou antlers. Their saddles, ropes and one gun rest on the ground with no horses in sight. They are still wearing sturdy leather chaps over their pants and boots. It is possible that they have just completed a successful hunt. Photograph ordered by Okla Homer Smith Furniture, Fort Smith, Oklahoma.

Antlers; Saddles; Chaps;

In November of 1958, in honor of National Book Week; William Garrison, Kathleen O'Larey and Ed Constantine (left to right) shared samples of their hobbies. The theme of the week was "Explore with Books." Mr. Garrison held up one of his watercolor paintings, Miss O'Larey her arrow head collection and young Mr. Constantine, his insect collection. Library books regarding these hobbies were stacked on the table before them, inviting further exploration of the topics. The Tacoma Public Library sponsored special displays, story telling, quizzes and contests in honor of the week long celebration. Photograph ordered by the Tacoma Public Library for promotional purposes; location of photograph unknown. (TNT 11-2-58, A-16)

Hobbyists--Tacoma; Collectors--Tacoma; Children--Tacoma--1950-1960; Garrison, William; O'Larey, Kathleen; Constantine, Ed;

The Presidential Suite at the Winthrop Hotel was used for a sales meeting for Marchant Calculators employees on November 13, 1958. Each table has at least one calculator on it. Employees are shown busily reconciling figures and assorted paperwork. Marchant Calculators was located at 2330 E. 11th St. and managed by Seymour L. Johnson, Jr. Photograph requested by Marchant Calculators.

Marchant Calculators (Tacoma); Calculators;

ca. 1950. Copy of customer print. This traffic sign off the side of a two-lane highway may have been used as target practice. Drawn-in arrows point to three different holes produced by three different bullets. The hole produced by the .38 caliber revolver appears to be the largest, followed closely by the .30 caliber rifle and the .22 caliber rifle. Other holes in the "Slow" sign are not identified. Date of original print is not known; copy was made on October 2, 1958. Photograph ordered by Condon Co.

Traffic signs & signals; Signs (Notices); Target practice;

ca. 1903. The contract to build the first steel bridge to span the Foss waterway at the foot of South 11th Street was let in 1894 and construction was completed in 1895 at a cost of $90,000. An article from the Tacoma Daily Ledger dated Feb. 1, 1895 stated: 'In its relation to the future greatness of Tacoma, the erection of the bridge is perhaps the most important public work since the first train came through the Stampede tunnel." In this view, dating from around 1903, long lines of employees from the many businesses on the tideflats stream across the bridge toward downtown Tacoma. The Pacific Starch Co. (far left) opened in 1903; it was the "largest starch factory in the United States." The first 11th Street Bridge was closed in 1911; it was replaced by the more modern, "vertical lift" Murray Morgan Bridge. ( Copy of glass plate made on October 3, 1958.) TPL-8743

11th Street Bridge (Tacoma); Bridges--Tacoma;

ca. 1890. This copy of an old lantern slide shows the original Annie Wright Seminary at 611 Division Avenue as it appeared around 1890. The large building, with its tall vertical proportions, steeply pitched roofs, towers and decorative shingles, appears to be in the Queen Anne style of architecture. The school, named in honor of the daughter of its benefactor, Charles Barstow Wright, opened on September 3, 1884, with a student body of 93 girls from Washington, Oregon, British Columbia, and one from Alaska. In 1924, a new school was built on a ten-acre campus a few miles west on Tacoma Avenue, and this building was dismantled. The site where it stood is home to Stadium Thriftway and the Chevrolet dealership recently purchased by Bruce Titus. ( Date of original glass plate may have been about 1890; copy made on October 3, 1958.)

Annie Wright Seminary (Tacoma)--1880-1890; Private schools--Tacoma;

ca. 1905. Copy from glass plate, Richards Studio. View of South 11th and Pacific Ave., circa 1905. Streetcars once ran up 11th Street, an additional source of transportation besides the horse & cart and the occasional automobile. A few pedestrians are spotted crossing carefully as there are no visible "stop" signs for oncoming traffic. United Cigars, Tacoma Oyster and the Union Dental Co. are some of the visible businesses in a building on the corner of 11th & Pacific. That building was later demolished and the Rust Building constructed in its place. The building at the left foreground is the Equitable Building, 1102-04 Pacific. The Fidelity Building is on Broadway at the northeast corner of 11th. Additional stories would be added later. The tower on the County Courthouse is dimly seen to the rear of the photograph. Copy from glass plate made on October 3, 1958. TPL-9912

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1900-1910; Street railroads--Tacoma--1900-1910; Equitable Building (Tacoma); Fidelity Building (Tacoma);

ca. 1928. Broadway in the late 1920's was already known as the "heart of the shopping and theatrical district." Businesses were crammed cheek by jowl up and down the street. The New York Building at 1117-19 Broadway still listed the Horgan-Parker Department Store's advertisement of "The new daylight department store" even though the store was no longer in existence; Hotels Ritz and Warburton were doors apart; Feltman & Curme sold wonderful $6.50 and $5.50 shoes, and the Blue Mouse theater sold tickets at a mere 25 cents. Kimball's sold guns and sporting goods. The Winthrop Hotel on the right in the distance had opened in 1925. The 12-story Fidelity Building at 949-55 Broadway was also open; it was near the much smaller Hotel Warburton. More people had cars and were using them, as well as public transportation, to visit downtown. (Copy of glass plate negative made on October 3, 1958.) TPL-8477

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1920-1930; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Fidelity Building (Tacoma); Blue Mouse Movie Theatre (Tacoma);

ca. 1900. Built in 1889, the First Presbyterian Church at 1001 So. G Street was designed by the architectural firm Farrell & Darmer in the "Eastlake" style. It was dedicated in June, 1890. When the First Presbyterian Church congregation moved to 20 Tacoma Ave.So. in 1925, the building at 1001 So. G St. became the Central Lutheran Church. Thirty years later, in September of 1955, it was torn down to make room for the "new" County-City Building that was to occupy the whole block between So. 9th and So. 11th from Tacoma Ave. So. to G Street.

First Presbyterian Church (Tacoma); Presbyterian churches--Tacoma;