Union Oil Station at Lakewood Center, ordered by Ace Furnace, Buster. Several automobiles are seen parked at the service station. Two service areas for pumping gas are shown on either side of the many sided sales building. It appears there is another arm straight back that has garage doors for providing service and repairs. A Union 76 sign is seen on the right side. TPL-8698
Lakewood Center Service Co. (Lakewood); Gasoline pumps--Lakewood; Automobile service stations--Lakewood;
Mr. Sam Bergesen wore a turn-of-the-century policeman's uniform and false mustache, and his wife wore a Victorian dress with wide ruffles when they attended the Half-Century Ball on January 21, 1950. Sponsored by the Lakewood Dance Club, the dinner-dance was held at the Lakewood Center Recreation Hall at 6100 Motor Avenue S.W. As members and guests entered the hall, they stepped into a living room authentically decorated with antiques such as the stereopticon held by Mrs. Bergesen. (Ordered by the Tribune, Barbara Dana.) (TNT, 1/17/1950, p.8 & 1/29/1950, p.B-1)
Lakewood Community Center (Lakewood); Balls (Parties)--Lakewood--1950-1960; Costumes--Lakewood--1950-1960; Lakewood Dance Club (Lakewood); Bergesen, Samuel--Family;
Lakewood Dance Club, Half-Century Ball at Lakewood Center. Ordered by the Tribune, Barbara Dana. William J. and Alice Francis and Mr. and Mrs. John T. Steward look through a family album during a break from dancing. The men both hold checked bowler hats in their hands and wear waistcoats with tails. The two women are equally well-dressed in their Victorian dresses with puff sleeves, high neck-lines and embellishments. (TNT, 1/29/1950, p.B-1)
Lakewood Community Center (Lakewood); Balls (Parties)--Lakewood--1950-1960; Costumes--Lakewood--1950-1960; Lakewood Dance Club (Lakewood); Francis, William J.; Francis, Alice; Steward, John T.--Family;
Lakewood Dance Club, Half-Century Ball at Lakewood Center. Mr. and Mrs. Russ Sutherland strike a tintype pose during the Half-Century Ball. They both wear Victorian costumes. Russ Sutherland has an extremely large mustache and holds a bowler hat. Mrs. Sutherland is wearing a floor-length velvet skirt with a plaid, taffeta blouse and matching ribbons in her hat. A grandfather clock stands behind them. Ordered by the Tribune, Barbara Dana. (TNT, 1/29/1950, p.B-1)
Lakewood Community Center (Lakewood); Balls (Parties)--Lakewood--1950-1960; Costumes--Lakewood--1950-1960; Lakewood Dance Club (Lakewood); Sutherland, Russ--Family;
The exterior of the St. Paul Restaurant was located in one corner of the St. Paul Lumber Company building. A public pay telephone stands at the corner under a sign for the restaurant that slants away from the building. This photograph was taken on a cold day when snow still lay on the ground and covered the limbs of the trees and the top of the telephone booth. The restaurant was owned by S.R. and Mrs. E.J. Hull.
Lumber industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. (Tacoma); St. Paul Restaurant (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma; Telephone booths--Tacoma--1950-1960; Snow--Tacoma--1950-1960;
A major snow storm hit Tacoma January 13,1950. Tacoma received almost nine inches of snow, and the wind which reached over 25 miles per hour created drifts up to five feet high. It was the worst storm in years and caused major damage throughout the area. 20 foot waves washed away part of Ruston Way, and ten boats were sunk in the yacht club basin. This view of the front of the Olympus Hotel, 815 -17 Pacific Avenue, from January 14th, shows the snow heaped along the sidewalks where it was left by the plows trying to clear Pacific Avenue. TPL-5466;
Olympus Hotel (Tacoma); Hotels--Tacoma--1940-1950;Snow--Tacoma--1950-1960; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1950-1960;
A one-story storage building with a truss roof and large, sliding doors. Photograph ordered by Pacific Storage & Distributing Company. Tacoma was emerging as a central distribution point for Southwest Washington at this time. Goods from abroad as well as United States and locally-made goods were distributed through focal points in Tacoma. Pacific Storage and Distribution company handled all types of merchandise. They kept eight trucks in operation and maintained warehouses at 1721 Jefferson Ave., 1725-1729 Commerce St., 805 Puyallup Ave., and 2312 East E St. (TNT, 2/14/1950, p.C-5)
Building a sample and testing flooring at the Douglas Fir Plywood Association Plywood Lab. Two workmen are moving a piece of thick plywood onto a sample of subflooring built with measuring equipment in place for testing the strength of plywood for this use. Ordered by Villa Daily.
Product inspection--Tacoma; Testing--Tacoma; Lumber industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Research facilities--Tacoma; Plywood; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma);
This Valentine's photograph of Ruth and Paul Sceva Jr.'s two daughters, Judith, age 6, and Diane, age 4 was taken in February 1950. They are dressed alike in navy coats and hats, with matching white eyelet lace on their collars and the brims of their roller hats. The sweetheart outfits were gifts of their grandparents, Mrs. and Mrs. David M. Morgan of Seattle. Note the photographers trick of having the two girls stand on pedestals of different heights. (TNT, 2/14/1950, p.12)
Several members of Sigma Chi join in singing while one member plays the organ at the installation banquet for the new Delta Phi Chapter of Sigma Chi at the College of Puget Sound. Ordered by the Magazine of Sigma Chi, Merrill E. Pritchard.
Sigma Chi (Tacoma); Fraternities & sororities--Tacoma--1950-1960; College of Puget Sound (Tacoma)--1950-1960; Organs; Singing--Tacoma--1950-1960;
Storm damage along the waterfront road Ruston Way from the January 13th, 1950 blizzard that slammed into Tacoma bringing five foot snow drifts and 45 mile per hour winds. Damage to Tacoma was estimated at close to a million dollars. Emergency disaster relief was requested for Ruston Way where the storm tore out bulkheads allowing succesive tides to erode the roadway and threaten light, water and sewer facilities. Original estimate of damage to Ruston Way was $500,000. Another of the hardest hit areas was the Narrows Marina near Day Island where 55 boats were either destroyed or badly wrecked.
Tacomans woke up on January 14, 1950, to a bone-chilling 12 degrees and extensive damages caused by the record blizzard that hit Tacoma the day before. The 41-mile per hour winds, with gusts up to 60 miles per hour, drove a log boom into the pilings the supported the Bayview Apartments at 3825 Ruston Way, forcing evacuation of the building. This picture, taken about a month after the blizzard, shows the heavily damaged building listing into the Bay. The storm, with its gale force winds and 9 inches of snow, caused close to a million dollars worth of damage in Tacoma. (TNT 1-14-50, p. 1-articles on blizzard, various photographs)
Bellarmine Minstrel Show, Bellarmine Boosters, Inc., c/o Mr. Jom Condon, MKO.The production took place on February 19-21 in St. Leos Auditorium. The show featured thirty five production and specialty numbers based on classic minstrel shows and featuring "end men," soloists, soft shoe artists, harmony quartets and a 30 male voice chorus. Proceeds went to Bellarmine High School. (TNT 2-15-1950 pg. 27)
Students--Tacoma--1950-1960; Bellarmine High School (Tacoma); Minstrel shows--Tacoma--1950-1960; Cosmetics & soap; Bellarmine Boosters (Tacoma);
The second Golden Gloves Boxing Tournament was sponsored by the Tacoma Athletic Commission and was held at the College of Puget Sound Fieldhouse. Winners of the various titles received sports jackets with the T.A.C. Golden Gloves emblem and the runners-up were awarded gold miniature boxing gloves. The "Golden Boy" was awarded a wrist watch. Ordered by Mr. Metcalf. (TNT, 1/27, 1950, p.1)
The Second Golden Gloves Amateur Boxing Tournament, sponsored by the Tacoma Athletic Commission, was held January 26th and 27th, 1950 at the College of Puget Sound fieldhouse. Several thousand boxing fans were treated to an action-laden program of bouts. The winner in each division received a sports jacket emblazoned with the T.A.C. Golden Gloves emblem. The names of the division champions were listed in the News Tribune. (TNT, 1/29/1950, p.B-6)
Fire damage at Tacoma Transit. A fire destroyed four Tacomna Transit Company buses, several private automobiles and gutted the firm's repair shops and maintenance depot February 15, 1950. Losses were estimated at $267,000. The buses, in the process of repair, were probably totally ruined by the gasoline-fed flames. Ordered by United Pacific Insurance Company, Mr. Littlemore. (TNT, 2/16/1950, p.1)
Tacoma Transit Co. (Tacoma); Fires--Tacoma--1950-1960; Buses--Tacoma--1950-1960; Bus terminals--Tacoma;
Twelve people celebrate the marriage of their friends with a toast. The couple standing together in the corner were married earlier that day. The bride is wearing a street-length, white dress with an orchid corsage. Photograph ordered by Mrs. Faye Lewis.
On Friday the 13th of January, 1950, the worst blizzard in years hit Tacoma. The gale brought five foot snow drifts, twenty degree chills, several hours of 40-60 mph winds and an estimated million dollars worth of storm damage in Tacoma. As pictured, the bulkhead near the "bow" of the Top of the Ocean, the Tacoma Athletic Commission's Ruston Way nightclub shaped like a ship, collapsed. However, the club itself did not suffer extensive damage. Waves 20 feet high broke over Ruston Way during the storm. The freezing temperatures brought in by the storm stayed until the middle of the following week. In the background is the Henry Mill. Ordered by the Tacoma Athletic Commission. TPL-8836
Top of the Ocean (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1940-1950; Waterfronts; Storms--Tacoma--1950-1960;
On February 6, 1950, Pacific Lutheran College students gaily tossed their shoes off at the door to enjoy the Stocking Shuffle Dance in the gymnasium. Rhoda Young (right), head of the women's physical education department, was on hand to judge most holey, colorful and biggest pairs of socks. Among the finalists in the competition were Walter Masters, Raymond Green and Florence Brandstetter. The prize for the winners was, appropriately, three new pairs of socks. Ordered by the Tribune, Barbara Dana. (TNT, 2/9/1950, p.C-6)
Interior of C & G Radio Shop. This view shows the business offices for C & G Radio Shop, a wholesaler of radio, television and electronic parts. A wall with large windows separates the offices from the showroom area. Two wooden desks are set close to the windows. Each desk has a rotary dial telephone, a lamp, and organizers for incoming and outgoing items. Another office with windows into the larger office area and a door is seen in the back.
C & G Radio Supply Co. (Tacoma); Radios; Stores & shops--Tacoma; Offices--Tacoma--1950-1960; Office furniture; Office equipment & supplies;
Interior of C & G Radio Shop. A view of the display shelves, sales counters and parts storage areas at the wholesale distributor's showroom for radio, television and electronics parts. TPL-9680
C & G Radio Supply Co. (Tacoma); Radios; Stores & shops--Tacoma; Showrooms--Tacoma--1950-1960; Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1950-1960;
The exterior of Post Theater at Fort Lewis recently completed by Construction Engineers & Contractors. Fort Lewis was established in 1917 as Camp Lewis at the start of World War I and it covered about 62,000 acres. It has since been increased to about 94,000 acres. It is the military center of the Northwest and has sub-posts at several locations throughout the state. TPL-10351
Construction Engineers & Contractors (Tacoma); Post Theater (Fort Lewis); Motion picture theaters--Fort Lewis;
Four new Dodge trucks from the Irwin Jones Motor Company are parked in front of the Diamond F Meat Company. The DeLuxe "Route Van" bodies were designed, developed and built in Tacoma by the Irwin-Jones Motor company in their truck center. Ordered by Walt Dunlop, truck division. This photograph was used in an advertisement in the Tacoma News Tribune, 2/14/1950, p.A-14.
Diamond F Meat Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Irwin-Jones Motor Co. (Tacoma); Trucks--Tacoma--1950-1960; Dodge trucks; Advertising--Tacoma--1950-1960;
A large crowd is in attendance at the Elks Temple. Members of the orchestra are seated at the front of the auditorium near the stage. Murals decorate the walls above large panels. A statue of an elk is seen on the far side of the room. Several people are seen standing in the balcony at the back of the room. TPL-8448
Elks Temple (Tacoma); Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Tacoma Lodge No. 174 (Tacoma); Orchestras--Tacoma--1950-1960; Audiences--Tacoma--1950-1960;
Before photograph of kitchen at 3716 North 37th Street, owned by Harold Stamey, Stamey Insurance Service, Inc. This view from the kitchen into the breakfast nook includes the archway to the eating area with a small table and chairs and another door, possibly leading to the basement. A heating vent is seen at floor level. Another door, that appears to be a swinging door, leads into the house at the back of the breakfast nook.
Before photograph of kitchen at 3716 North 37th Street, owned by Harold Stamey, Stamey Insurance Service, Inc. This view from the breakfast nook into the kitchen the includes the archway and two built-in cabinets in the breakfast room, a corner cabinet on the left and an overhead cabinet on the right. A child's high chair stands near the corner where a pencil sharpener and note paper dispenser are attached to the wall. Looking into the kitchen, a refrigerator sits in a space left between the back door and the stove with built-in cupboards above it.
Before photograph of kitchen at 3716 North 37th Street, owned by Harold Stamey, Stamey Insurance Service, Inc. This view provides a look into the kitchen from one of the living areas of the two story home. A bathroom is seen through the open door on the right. The front room has an ivy leaf patterned wallpaper and the bathroom has a floral wallpaper above a painted wainscotting. The kitchen has a patchwork patterned linoleum on the floor. A large, oval mirror hangs on the wall between the doors to the bathroom and kitchen. A coat stand is in front of the mirror.
Interiors of homes ordered by Wm. W. Tietz. A view of an early 1950's kitchen. The working areas of the kitchen are lined against opposing walls with light-colored, shiny surfaced cabinets above and below the working surfaces. The walls are also light colored and the floor covering is a muted, light shade. Venetian blinds cover the windows, one over the sink and one in the breakfast nook. A rotary dial telephone sits on the counter with only a cookie jar to join it. A door at the back of the kitchen is closed.
Living rooms--Tacoma--1950-1960; Kitchens--Tacoma--1950-1960; Breakfast rooms--Tacoma--1950-1960;
This photograph from February, 1950, shows part of the engine rebuilding shop at TAM Engineering Corp, 3033 So. Lawrence St. Four workmen are assembling and bench testing rebuilt Ford "flathead" V8 engines. The TAM plant was the most modern Ford Authorized engine rebuilding plant in the Pacific Northwest. By 1950, they had already rebuilt over 50,000 engines and small parts for dealers in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska. TAM Engineering Corp. was acquired by the Oklahoma City-based firm, Autocraft Industries, in 1995. (TNT 2-14-1950, A-4) TPL-8482
Machine shops--Tacoma; TAM Engineering Corp. (Tacoma);
