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A115929-1

An employee of Ace Furnace & Steel Co. leans one arm against a massive steel jet propulsion fuel storage tank on company property on August 5, 1958. He appears diminutive when contrasted with the 10.6 foot diameter tank. The gas tank measures 77.5 feet in length. Ace Furnace produced steel storage tanks for oil, gasoline and water, stacks, marquees, canopies, steel heating and ventilation systems, boilers, furnaces, and marine sheet metal. The company's major output now are tanks of all sizes, approximately 400-800 tanks per month. The huge tanks pictured above were just built for McChord Air Force Base. It is estimated that these were the largest shop fabricated steel tanks ever built in Tacoma. The Northern Pacific cars in the background would make transportation of these heavy steel products easier and more efficient. Photograph ordered by Ace Furnace & Steel Co. (TNT 9-1-58, C-7)


Ace Furnace & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Steel industry--Tacoma; Storage tanks--Tacoma; Railroad freight cars--Tacoma--1950-1960;

A115946-5

A three-alarm blaze caused $47,000 in damages to the Imported Motors facility on August 6, 1958. A leaking gasoline tank that fell caused the fast-spreading fire. Twenty cars were saved but nine expensive foreign cars were badly damaged. Imported Motors was owned by Tom Carstens who flew in via a small plane immediately from Seattle to inspect the damage. This photograph taken 30 hours after the fire shows the heavy damage to the overhead roof area; parts of the laminated beams are still intact while others have been burned, leaving the building exposed to the elements. Photograph ordered by Woodlam, Inc. (TNT 8-6-58, A-1)


Imported Motor Cars, Inc. (Tacoma); Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1950-1960; Fires--Tacoma--1950-1960;

A116017-2

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;

A116017-4

This aerial photograph, taken for Allied Owners, Inc. in August of 1958, shows the area of South Tacoma that would become home to the Tacoma Mall Shopping Center. The winding, twisting roads toward the lower center are the Lincoln Heights neighborhood. The road on the far right is South Pine. South 38th Street cuts through the middle of the photo from left to right. The tree covered area at right center is now the site of the Tacoma Mall. I-5 is yet to be built. At the top is Wapato Park and Wapato Lake.


Aerial photographs; Neighborhoods--Tacoma;

A116017-5

The South Tacoma area would be experiencing many changes in the late 1950's with the coming of the Tacoma Mall and the freeways. Aerial photographs taken for Allied Owners, Inc., on August 8, 1958, show the carefully laid out streets of the South Tacoma. It shows South 56th Street running from left to right across the center of the picture to the wooded area at the right, Wapato Hills. The church with the tall steeple in the left corner is the Church of Visitation on South 58th St. The area where the Tacoma Mall would eventually be built may have been in or close to the woods in the upper center of the photograph, next to the flat L shaped area.


Aerial photographs; Neighborhoods--Tacoma;

A116041-1

The S.H. Kress store had been located on Broadway since October, 1925. Extensive remodeling was done by Tacoma craftsmen in 1957 and the store celebrated its grand reopening on August 14, 1958. The new Kress was completely air conditioned and had expanded to 20,000 square feet on two floors. Total cost was approximately $700,000. View of alley entrance to Kress shows a new-looking sign with the store name; the shipping department with hours of 8-12 also had its entrance in the rear. Bars are on the lower windows for security measures. Photograph ordered by S.H. Kress store. (TNT 8-13-58, A-8-11) TPL-9208


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

A116041-7

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);

A116059-4

Three large hoists manufactured by Star Iron & Steel Co. are loaded on flat cars ready to be shipped to waiting customers on August 8, 1958. Star Iron had been in the business of manufacturing hoisting equipment and logging machinery since 1931. During WWII, they made some of the heaviest and largest cranes used by the U.S. Navy and industry. Star Iron was operated by Edward N. Allen, president. Photograph ordered by Star Iron & Steel Co.


Hoisting machinery; Star Iron & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Steel industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;

A116060-24

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);

A116061-13

A technician working at the Rayonier plant in Shelton carefully measures liquid to be poured from one flask to another in an August 14, 1958, photograph. There are a number of tubes extending into various jugs and containers. This man may have been located in the Radio and Chemical Laboratory at Rayonier. Photograph ordered by Malcolm McGhie, industrial consultant.


Rayonier, Inc. (Shelton); Laboratories--Shelton; Research facilities--Shelton;

A116061-5

As the large letters indicated, only authorized persons were allowed in the radio chemical laboratory at the Rayonier plant in Shelton. Peering through a double paned window, a technician can be seen working on equipment. The door to the lab may have been made of steel to muffle any noise. The Shelton plant was established in 1927; it produced chemical cellulose. Photograph ordered by Malcolm McGhie.


Rayonier, Inc. (Shelton); Laboratories--Shelton; Signs (Notices);

A116097-1

Downtown Pacific Avenue was home to large retail and financial institutions. Side-by-side in the 1100 block of Pacific was Peoples department store, Puget Sound National Bank, and National Bank of Washington with the installment credit loan department of N.B.W. in the 1200 block next door. Schoenfeld's enormous sign can be spotted further down the street. The National Bank of Washington had an elevated, possibly rotating clock, on the top of the credit loan building. Passerbys could also tell time by the Puget Sound National Bank Time & Temperature sign; it indicates that it was 74 degrees at the time of this August 19, 1958, photograph. Photograph ordered by Electrical Products Consolidated. TPL-9294


Electric signs--Tacoma--1950-1960; Clocks & watches; Puget Sound National Bank (Tacoma); National Bank of Washington (Tacoma);

A116097-3

Both Puget Sound National Bank and the National Bank of Washington had large vertical signage on the exteriors of their buildings. Attached to the PSNB sign was a Time & Temperature electric sign; the bank was the first in this area to erect a device giving both the time and current temperature. View of Pacific Avenue, looking toward Old City Hall with bank signage prominently displayed. The National Bank of Washington building was smaller than Puget Sound National Bank; it was built in 1921 in the Italian Renaissance style and used Wilkeson sandstone. Photograph ordered by Electrical Products Consolidated.


Electric signs--Tacoma--1950-1960; Clocks & watches; Signs (Notices); Puget Sound National Bank (Tacoma); National Bank of Washington (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma;

A116099-1

Brilliant sunshine greets Lillian F. Johnston as she poses outside her contemporary brick home on Pacific Avenue on August 19, 1958. She is holding several dahlias as she stands next to an extended brick planter. Her large yard is nicely landscaped with shrubs and trees. Mrs. Johnston was the widow of Guy R. Johnston.


Johnston, Lillian F. --Homes & haunts; Johnston, Lillian F.;

A116100-1

Joseph M. (Jody) & Dorothy Pederson opened their new Pederson's Fryer Farms plant in June, 1958, at 2901 72nd Street East in Parkland. In this view of the fryer plant, rows of plucked and unplucked chickens are dangling by their legs from the conveyer that runs from the loading dock into the plant. Two men are examining wooden crates containing more chickens. The newly enlarged Pederson's had the latest in automatic poultry processing equipment with the capacity to dress and package 2,500 chickens per hour. From loading dock to packaging, it only took 13 minutes to decapitate, eviscerate, pluck, singe, and cool the birds for cutting and packaging. Pederson's employed 88 people, including 15 delivery drivers. The Pedersons started their chicken business in 1946; fifty years later, Pederson Farms was sold to the Foster Farms company. Photograph ordered by Pederson's Fryer Farms. (TNT 6-19-58, A-4, TNT 6-22-58, B-13)


Pederson's Fryer Farms (Tacoma); Chickens--Tacoma; Chicken industry--Tacoma;

A116100-4

This is the Joseph M. (Jody) Pederson home at 2901 E. 72nd St. Buffered by trees, the home appears to be of the typical 1920's bungalow style. Mr. Pederson and his wife Dorothy were owners of the Pederson Fryer Farms apparently located on the same property. They had started their chicken business in 1946; fifty years later, Pederson Farms would be sold to the Foster Farms company. The Senior Pedersons would eventually move their personal residence to Lake Bay, according to the 1959 City Directory, with the J.M. (Jack) Pederson Jr. family occupying the old family home. Photograph ordered by Pederson Fryer Farms.


Pederson, J.M. --Homes & haunts; Pederson's Fryer Farms (Tacoma); Chicken industry--Tacoma;

A116100-7

A large Dodge truck carrying a load of wooden crates covered with chicken wire is parked in front of a line of Pederson's Fryer Farms delivery vans. The driver's door is held open by Jack F. Kidd Sr. (left) while he has a discussion with Joseph (Jack) M. Pederson Jr. They may be talking about the chickens on board. Pederson's employed 88 people, including fifteen delivery drivers. The company, owned by J.M. (Jody) and Dorothy Pederson, had opened a newly enlarged fryer plant in June, 1958. It was a thriving business for many years; later the firm was sold to the Foster Farms Company in 1996. Photograph ordered by Pederson's Fryer Farms. (TNT 6-19-58, A-4, TNT 6-22-58, B-13)


Pederson's Fryer Farms (Tacoma); Chicken industry--Tacoma; Dodge trucks; Crates--Tacoma; Kidd, Jack F.; Pederson, Joseph M.;

A116205-1

Aerials of the Tacoma Tideflats industrial area were taken on August 20, 1958, on behalf of the Richards Studio. The Tideflats, already home to railroads, chemical plants and pulp mills, had plenty of room for future expansion. The long narrow street running horizontally is 11th Street with the Milwaukee Way intersecting it. Rows of railroad cars are lined up near the Sitcum and Milwaukee Waterways which are full of log dumps and platforms.


Aerial photographs; Industrial facilities--Tacoma--1950-1960;

A116227-2

Educators Manufacturing Co., makers of school furniture, opened a new plant in the Tideflats area in 1958. Located at 3401 Lincoln Avenue, close to Taylor Way, the company shared the same address with Buffelen Woodworking & Buffelen Sales Co. The million dollar plant was located on a sprawling ten acre industrial site in the Tideflats. 133,000 square feet of plant space handled mass production of quality controlled classroom equipment. All production processes were located on one floor which reduced material handling cost. Hart Construction Co. were the general contractors. View of large plant, apparently divided into three sections, all with gently curved roofs. There is a large parking lot bordered by stacks of plywood. Washington Cooperative Farmers Feed Mill looms in the background. Photograph ordered by Educators Manufacturing Co. (TNT suppl. 11-9-58, p. 4) TPL-9831


Aerial photographs; Educators Manufacturing Co. (Tacoma); Furniture industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Industrial facilities--Tacoma--1950-1960;

A116227-3

Aerial photographs of the Tideflats area showing the new Educators Manufacturing Co.'s plant on Lincoln Avenue were taken on August 26, 1958. Educators Mfg. made school furniture. The company built a one million dollar facility on ten acres in the Tideflats for mass production of quality controlled classroom equipment. They apparently shared the same address with Buffelen Woodworking & Buffelen Sales Co. View of large plant with three connected buildings. Industrial area to the right of the photograph was the Reichhold Chemicals plant. Photograph ordered by Educators Manufacturing Co. (TNT suppl. 11-9-58, p. 4)


Aerial photographs; Educators Manufacturing Co. (Tacoma); Furniture industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Industrial facilities--Tacoma--1950-1960;

A116229-1

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;

A116229-2

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;

A116230-1

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;

A116230-2

A closer view of downtown Tacoma streets taken by air on August 14, 1958, shows the carefully laid out, primarily business district. Heidelberg Brewery was in the 2100 block of South "C" Street, two blocks west of Pacific Avenue, as the street gently curves. The Union Station is in the upper part of the picture, toward the right side. The buildings across the street would become part of the University of Washington-Tacoma campus. The Museum of Glass would also be built on Dock Street, accessible by Chihuly's Bridge of Glass, which would cross busy Pacific Avenue and railroad tracks. The Harmon Mfg. Co. and the Hunt & Mottet Co. buildings on Pacific are easily identifiable in this 1958 photograph. Sections of the downtown area were scheduled for an urban renewal project in the late 1950's. It is believed that the city would have to match some funding from the federal government in order that repairs and remodels of the older section could occur. TPL-10508


Aerial photographs; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1950-1960; Heidelberg Brewing Co. (Tacoma)--1950-1960;

A116230-3

A series of aerial photographs taken by the Richards Studio shows what the downtown area looked like back in the summer of 1958. Several log dumps float in the City (now Thea Foss) Waterway to the right. Union Station, Harmon Mfg. and Hunt & Mottet are clustered toward one end of Pacific Avenue while the large banks and retail stores, including Schoenfelds, are further up the street. Heidelberg Brewing, on South "C", painted large lettering on their rooftop, easily visible from the air. There were still some green spots on the sprawling cityscape, including the massive Wright Park toward to the top.


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

A116234-1

Balfour, Guthrie & Co., Ltd.'s chemical division opened a new resin plant on Thorne Rd. in the Tideflats in the summer of 1958. According to the 1959 City Directory, the company produced adhesives and wood flour and had ocean terminal services. Their main quarters were at the Milwaukee Dock #2. View of new plant shows concrete and aluminum exterior with covered loading dock and several large metal storage tanks. Photograph ordered by Balfour, Guthrie & Co., Ltd.


Balfour, Guthrie & Co., Ltd. (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Industrial facilities--Tacoma--1950-1960; Storage tanks--Tacoma;

A116243-6-CL3A-7

Still under construction in late summer, 1958, was a contemporary ranch-style home on Carolyn Drive in University Place. Equipped with a two-car attached garage, the new home had wood siding and possibly a composite roof. The extended roof of a small porch would help to shade the large picture window. The driveway to the garage had yet to be poured and landscaping was not in place. Photograph ordered by the Condon Co.


Houses--University Place--1950-1960; Building construction--University Place--1950-1960;

A116287-12

Ford Wonder Bread trucks are parked in a vaguely circular shape in the Continental Baking Co.'s vast parking lot on Sprague Ave. They would make deliveries of freshly baked Wonder Bread and other Continental products to local stores. The large number of trucks ensured that there would be no delay in delivering the baked goods in time for the stores' earliest customers. Sepia photograph ordered by Continental Baking Co.


Continental Baking Co. (Tacoma); Ford trucks;

A116287-14

Dark clouds drift over the Continental Baking Co.'s plant on August 27, 1958. The Romanesque brick buildings had arched doorways and windows. Built in 1913, it had undergone several remodelings since then, including a new addition built in 1958. Continental Baking was the home of Wonder Bread and a large banner with the brand name and familiar polka dotted wrapping was wrapped around a rooftop tower. The newly remodeled bakery now had 40,000 square feet and the capacity of 90,000 loaves of bread a day. Approximately 100 people were employed at the Wonder Bread bakery which was the oldest major bakery in Tacoma to be operated continuously by one concern. It was celebrating its 30th anniversary in Tacoma under the Continental Bakery ownership. Photograph ordered by Continental Baking Co. (TNT 9-7-58, B-2)


Continental Baking Co. (Tacoma); Bakeries--Tacoma--1950-1960; Facades--Tacoma--1950-1960; Signs (Notices);

A116287-3

Continental Baking Co. had been in Tacoma for decades and used the most up-to-date methods and equipment for their baked goods. Known widely for their Wonder Bread, the bakery turned out thousands of loaves on a daily basis. Bakery employees are pictured here on August 27, 1958, placing loaves in the massive new 40 foot long oven for baking and then putting the finished products on large racks. The bread emerges from the ovens and then is cooled. Other new equipment purchased were a new proof box, divider, slicing and wrapping machines. The men all wear caps to keep stray hairs from contaminating the bread. Approximately 100 local residents worked at the bakery. It would be celebrating its 30th anniversary here in Tacoma as part of Continental Baking Co. Sepia photograph ordered by Continental Baking Co. (TNT 9-7-58, B-2)


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

Results 2701 to 2730 of 76157