Work progresses on the new County City Building in April, 1957. View of steel works; the steel was supplied by Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel Corporation's Seattle plant. It would be two more years until the building was completed; dedication of the new County City Building was in April, 1959. Photograph ordered by Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel Corporation.

Building construction--Tacoma--1950-1960; Steel; Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel Corp. (Seattle); County-City Building (Tacoma);

Work proceeds steadily on the new County-City Building being constructed on Tacoma Avenue South, next door to the Tacoma Public Library. The massive, multi-storied central structure will be one of the very few in the country with exterior aluminum paneling. The two-story court building shown above is made of reinforced concrete. Although the interior court rooms are soundproof and windowless, there appear to be windows on the exterior walls. A. Gordon Lumm, A.I.A., is the architect of the project; Macdonald Building Co. is the contractor. There is a large sign at the site listing the names of the County Commissioners, Tacoma City Council, Architect, Engineers and Contractor. The County-City Building would be formally dedicated on April 10, 1959. Photograph ordered by Fentron Industries, Seattle.

Progress photographs; County-City Building (Tacoma); Building construction--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Progress photographs of the construction of the new County-City Building were taken on June 19, 1958, for Fentron Industries, Seattle. Structurally, the building was 99% completed by early March, 1958. The old Courthouse to the right of the photograph would be demolished for parking; it was expected to be the last job in this project. The two houses adjacent to the site and next to the Courthouse were being used by county employees; they, too, would be leveled for parking. The mild winter, despite rain, kept the construction on schedule. (TNT 3-9-58, A-1) TPL-6680

Progress photographs; County-City Building (Tacoma); Pierce County Courthouse (Tacoma);

Seven years after its initial approval by voters, the new County-City Building was dedicated April 10, 1959. The interim years had been filled with political wrangling and budget and design problems. The aluminum and glass building was designed by A. Gordon Lumm and build by Macdonald construction for a price tag of 9 1/2 million dollars. Tacoma Mayor Ben Hanson stands on the platform speaking at the dedication. After the keys for the building were presented to Mayor Hanson (someone had forgotten to bring the actual keys and a set of house keys were substituted); he turned and presented them to ex-Mayor John Anderson, who was instrumental in the construction of the building. (TNT 4/9/1959, pg. 1 4/10/1959, pg. 1)

County-City Building (Tacoma); Dedications--Tacoma--1950-1960; Hanson, Ben;

ca. 1959. The new County-City building from the intersection of 9th and Tacoma Ave. So. In April of 1959, Macdonald Building Co. had finally finished construction on the building that almost did not get built. In November of 1952, after a previous bond issue defeat, voters approved 6 million dollars to finance a joint county and city building. Over 20 sites were proposed, each with its own adamant supporters. The County Commissioners overrode all, including their own advisory committee that recommended the area bounded by So. 13th, 15th, Market and Tacoma Ave, to choose its present site. A Gordon Lumm was the controversial selection as architect. In midstream, 1953, Tacoma changed its form of government and the new council wanted the city to have its own wing, a demand that Lumm could not accomodate. In 1956, things went from bad to worse, as construction bids came in at 3 1/2 million over available funds. Voters voted in another bond issue to cover the shortfall. The council agreed on a lease agreement, after stormy negotiations, whereby the city would pay the county $80,000 a year for 20 years. The building was finally completed and dedicated on April 10, 1959, after much political blood letting. (TNT 4/7/1959, pg B1+) TPL-8169

County-City Building (Tacoma); Courthouses--Tacoma;

ca. 1959. The gothic spires of the old Pierce County Courthouse overlook the new glass and aluminum County-City building in this photograph from April or May of 1959. The old Courthouse was scheduled to be demolished as soon as all offices were relocated to the the new building. Of special interest was the movement of thousands of paper records, required by law for the county to store. Four trucking firms were hired to move 5,000 beer cartons of public records to the new building. Approximately 9 additional truck loads of records that were over 10 years old were ordered destroyed. Demolition of the Old Courthouse began in June, 1959. It was replaced with a parking lot.

County-City Building (Tacoma); Pierce County Courthouse (Tacoma); Courthouses--Tacoma;

ca. 1960. 1960 Richards stock footage- the County-City Building from the intersection of 11th and Tacoma Avenue South. In the background to the left can be seen the Armory. This view shows the two story court wing next to the twelve story central structure. The very controversial joint building took over 7 years from voter approval to finished structure, with skirmishes over location, architect, cost (it finished 3 1/2 million over original budget) and division between city and county. The building, however, has served Tacoma and Pierce County well and still meets the needs of the community. The wings have been extensively remodeled and added on to and now stretch almost to Tacoma Ave. So.

County-City Building (Tacoma); Courthouses--Tacoma;

Mayor A.L." Slim" Rasmussen, wearing a Tacoma Centennial string tie, with four women and four children in his office at the County-City Building. Photo ordered by Tacoma O.P.I. ALBUM 14.

Rasmussen, Albert Lawrence; Mayors--Tacoma--1960-1970;

October 4, 1969, aerial view of County-City Building, location of city, county, police and court systems. This view captures the rear portion of the County-City Building and shows the large parking lot available. Somewhat resembling an airplane with extended wings, the County-City Building was formally dedicated in April of 1959. It occupied land between So. 9th & So. 11th Street on Tacoma Ave. So. The old Gothic-styled Pierce County Courthouse had been demolished and services transferred to the new building; parking for the County-City Building would take its place. Although the County-City Building was only ten years old in 1969, it was already bursting at its seams. Supporters had proposed to the City Council in late September, 1969, that an $8 million dollar bond issue for a new 5-story wing be considered. The courts needed more space so that trials could proceed without delays. Horace J. Whitacre of Whitacre Engineers gave a detailed projection of the County-City Building's future space needs. Photograph ordered by Whitacre Engineers. (TNT 9-23-69 , p. 10- article)

Aerial views; County-City Building (Tacoma); Parking lots--Tacoma--1960-1970;

Tacoma Mayor A.L. "Slim" Rasmussen (center) signed an official proclamation declaring October 11-18, 1969 "Scandinavian Days" in Tacoma. Photographed with the mayor were: (l to r) Mrs. Arvilla Dabroe, publicity chairman for the event; Hartley Kantor, promotion chairman for the Downtown Tacoma Association; Dennis Rowley, co-chairman of the event and Mrs. A. Victor Johnson, chairman of the Leif Erikson Memorial Committee. (Photograph ordered by the Downtown Tacoma Association.) (TNT 10-5-69, A-19) ALBUM 14.

Rasmussen, Albert Lawrence; Mayors--Tacoma--1960-1970; Dabroe, Arvilla; Johnson, A. Victor--Family; Kantor, Hartley; Rowley, Dennis; Proclamations;

Ruth M. Paul, cashier in the County Treasurer's office, smiles at two men, one of whom is holding a Master Charge card on September 25, 1968. That man is Howard O. Scott, manager of the Bank of California. The other man is believed to be Maurice Raymond, county treasurer. A large mockup of the Master Charge card is on display near the teller's window. The County Treasurer's office will now honor Bank of California's Master Charge card in payment of taxes. Property owners can now pay last year's taxes with their credit card. Photograph ordered by the Bank of California. (TNT 3-9-69, p. C-26)

Paul, Ruth M.; Scott, Howard O.; Credit cards;

On July 26, 1972, an unidentified employee of the Pierce County Data Center was pictured surveying a monitor with keyboard at the data processing office located in the County-City Building. A row of RCA 70/442 Magnetic Tape units are lined up on the wall next to the man. Photograph ordered by Moore Business Forms.

Office workers--Tacoma--1970-1980; Pierce County Data Center (Tacoma); Computers;

1971 Richards color stock footage. August of 1971 view of the County-City Building, 930 Tacoma Ave. So. A snippet of Central School is on the right center edge. The aluminum and glass 12-story County-City Building was dedicated on April 10, 1959. Most of the luscious green lawn has since been eliminated as the additions were made to the complex.

County-City Building (Tacoma);

• Although mailed in 1993, this postcard was published in 1959. Both the old Pierce County Courthouse and the new County-City Building are shown here, with the Armory visible to the far left. circa 1959.
• Printed on front: Tacoma, Washington

Kokura, Japan, one of Tacoma's sister cities, sent a miniature Shinto shrine to the City of Tacoma in 1961 as a token of their friendship. Toyosuke Nogami, a resident of Kokura, was commissioned to hand-carve the shrine; he journeyed to the Japan Alps to select the best Japanese cypress for the job. When it arrived, the shrine was put on display in the "solarium" adjacent to the second floor lobby of the County-City Building. The elaborately carved shrine also included a gate and two lantern posts which were damaged slightly during shipping. A terrace behind the Washington State Historical Society museum on Stadium Way was chosen as the permanent site of the shrine. It was dedicated there in May, 1962. Pictured above with the Shinto shrine are Sylvia Sass (kneeling, center left) and Thomas Takemura (kneeling, center right) of the Sister City Committee.

Shrines--Tacoma; Wood carvings; Sass, Sylvia; Takemura, Thomas;

Mayor Harold Tollefson bows his head while shaking the hand of Mrs. Motohiko Kanai on April 22, 1964, outside the County-City Building. Her husband, the Japanese governor of Washington's sister prefecture, Hyogo, and Washington governor Albert Rosellini both smile. She is wearing an exquisite silk kimono while also carrying a modern handbag. Governor Kanai was presented with a key to the city by Mayor Tollefson. (TNT 4-22-64, C-16)

Tollefson, Harold M., 1908-1985; Mayors--Tacoma--1960-1970; Rosellini, Albert D.; Governors; Kanai, Motohiko; Kanai, Motohiko--Family;

Arrival of Japanese governor and wife at County-City Building. Motohiko Kanai and his wife in conversation with Washington State Governor Albert D. Rosellini and a state trooper in front of the County-City Building on April 22, 1964. They had just arrived via Lincoln Continental. Kanai, governor of Washington's sister prefecture, Hyogo, met with city, county and port officials at a brief reception in Mayor Harold Tollefson's office. Prior to their departure for Olympia, the Kanais were presented the key to the City of Tacoma and a framed picture of Tacoma's port. (TNT 4-22-64, C-16)

Kanai, Motohiko; Kanai, Motohiko--Family; Governors; Rosellini, Albert D.; Guests--Tacoma; Lincoln automobile;

Mayor Harold Tollefson posed with about 50 beauty queens and various police units on May 15, 1962, in front of what is believed the County-City Building, 930 Tacoma Avenue South. Although this particular photograph apparently did not appear in the local newspaper, it may have been taken in conjunction with the Century 21 Exposition, better known as the Seattle World's Fair, which was already in progress. TRUEBLOOD 682

Mayors--Tacoma--1960-1970; Tollefson, Harold M., 1908-1985; Beauty contestants--Tacoma--1960-1970;

Albert Lawrence Rasmussen was elected mayor of Tacoma in 1967. This photograph was taken in the Mayor's office on Naturalization Day, September 9, 1969. Trueblood #1870 ALBUM 16.

Rasmussen, Albert Lawrence; Mayors--Tacoma--1960-1970

The "Jackie" Kennedy look was in vogue when these Miss Tacoma contestants posed at the County-City Building on April 23, 1963. Gale Yuckert (second from right) went on to become Miss Tacoma of 1963. The contest has been held sporadically since the 1920s. Trueblood #862.

Beauty contestants--Tacoma--1960-1970; Beauty contests--Tacoma--1960-1970; Yuckert, Gale; County-City Building (Tacoma); Women--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1960-1970;

Harold Moss (center) raised his hand as he, along with Gerald Maule and Philip Schroeder, took the oath of office on October 13, 1970. Mr. Moss was appointed to the Tacoma City Council in the wake of political upheaval when five councilmen were ousted by recall. He was the first black to serve on the city council and would run successfully in 1971 to serve until 1973. Mr. Moss would be appointed again to the council in 1987 and was re-elected in 1988 and 1992. He became to city's first black mayor in 1994 after the sudden death of newly-elected mayor Jack Hyde. In 1996 he became the first black to sit on the Pierce County Council. The News Tribune notes that Mr. Moss was "perhaps best known for his even handedness and accessibility" while on the city council. ALBUM 16. (TNT 3-18-96, B-2)

Moss, Harold; City council members--Tacoma--1970-1980; Oaths--Tacoma; Maule, Gerald; Schroeder, Philip;

Mayor Ben Hanson welcomes Brazilian labor leaders to Tacoma on July 31, 1961, with a firm handshake and the key to the city. Ten labor leaders were visiting Tacoma for one week to learn about collective bargaining and union contracts. While in Tacoma, the visitors talked to labor, city and school officials and toured industrial plants and civic installations. Mayor Hanson had been elected mayor by the city council in 1958 and then elected by the people of Tacoma in a charter change. ALBUM 16. (TNT 7-31-61, p. 1-article)

Hanson, Ben; Mayors--Tacoma--1960-1970; Shaking hands--Tacoma; Foreign visitors--Brazil;

Mayor Harold Tollefson exchanged smiles with Julie Reihm in March of 1965, as she was made an honorary citizen of Tacoma. Ms. Reihm, 20, had just presented the mayor with a proclamation making him an honorary citizen of Disneyland. She was a special Disneyland Ambassador who was touring the country to publicize the amusement park's 10th anniversary. Ms. Reihm also made Mayor Tollefson an honorary member of the Anaheim City Council and bestowed upon him a free one-year pass to Disneyland and an official Disneyland color book. In return, the mayor made Ms. Reihm an honorary Tacoma citizen. G67.1-154 (TNT 3-24-65, A-10-article & alternate photograph)

Mayors--Tacoma--1960-1970; Tollefson, Harold M., 1908-1985; Reihm, Julie; Guests--Tacoma--1960-1970;

ca. 1954. Copy of customer print. A. Gordon Lumm was named the architect for the new County-City Building in May, 1953, after much discussion. His basic plan for the new offices was officially approved a year later. His architectural drawing shows the County-City Building facing Tacoma Avenue South; it is across the street from the Tacoma Public Library. The building would be a modern twelve story structure of aluminum and glass. It took quite a while for it to be completed; the new County-City Building was formally dedicated on April 10, 1959. The building debt was retired in July, 1977. Photograph ordered by Fentron Industries.

Architectural drawings; County-City Building (Tacoma);

Building construction continues slowly on the new County-City Building at 930 Tacoma Avenue South in April, 1957. After many years of argument and delay, construction finally began in July, 1956. It would not be completed until 1959, and dedicated in April of that year. View of concrete slip at the building site; forms are in place. The building would eventually be 12 stories high. A glimpse of the old County Court House can be seen; the Romanesque building of grey freestone would be used until the new building was complete and then torn down for a parking lot. Photograph ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association.

County-City Building (Tacoma); Building construction--Tacoma--1950-1960; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma);