Tacoma Savings and Loan, new building. The steel framework is going up for the new savings and loan headquarters, built across the street from their historic original office in the Bowes building. The new building would be a modern edifice of glass and aluminum. The first floor would house customer service, insurance department, offices for departments, safe deposit vault and safe deposit boxes. The mezzanine reached by the spiral staircase houses offices, conference room and record vault. A community room for meetings was located in the Basement, which also included the microfilm room, supply storage and employees' lounge.

Tacoma Savings & Loan Association (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Construction--Tacoma--1950-1960;

The steel framework rises for the new Tacoma Savings and Loan Association building. When completed, the building would consist of a basement, main floor and mezzanine, with a structure that could support two additional floors when needed. It would have luminous ceilings acoustically treated for sound absorption, indirect lighting and electrically operated fiberglass drapes, 22 feet long from floor to ceiling. (TNT 6/27/1957)

Tacoma Savings & Loan Association (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Construction--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Harbor Terrace Apartments, ordered by McGuire and Muri, Architects. This apartment building was built in 1951 by Elmer L. Burnham and Henry O. Wheeler. It was built on a hill overlooking the water. The upper structure, shown in this picture, is three stories. Each floor has a balcony offering views of the Sound.

Apartment houses--Tacoma--1950-1960; Harbor Terrace Apartments (Tacoma);

Barcott's Sea Food restaurant. Tables are set in a narrow room with rough hewn walls and exposed beams. Barcott's signature life preservers with the restaurant's name decorate the walls. Barcott's was owned by John E. Barcott Jr., a member of one of Tacoma's best known families of restauranteurs. It opened in 1953.

Barcott's Sea Food (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1950-1960;

The Chart Room at Barcott's Sea Food restaurant. The bar is backed by a rustic brick, while overhead is a rough finished dropped ceiling. Dark upholstered curved booths and cocktail tables await patrons.

Barcott's Sea Food (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Aerial view of Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. Storage tanks dot the area around the plant and one of the Pennwalt barges can be seen being maneuvered to the dock by two tugs. The large corporation, now known as Pennwalt, had its beginnings in 1850 when five Philadelphia Quakers organized the Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. and constructed a plant to produce lye and alkaline salts of soda from natural salt. Today Pennwalt, with its headquarters in Philadelphia, is a worldwide manufacturer of chemicals, health products and precision equipment. The chlorine produced by the company is used in paper and pulp manufacturing, but also in water purification, bleach and the manufacture of adhesives. Caustic soda is also used in pulp production. ("South on the Sound" by Murray Morgan)

Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma);

Grand opening of Deans Tavern at 759 So. 38th St., owned and operated by Charles Zigmont. The back of the bar is covered with floral tributes from well wishers on the Tavern's inaugural 4th of July. A curved counter with stools fronts the bar. Booths line the other wall of the tavern. A game table can be seen in the lower left hand of the photo. A lowered curved ceiling over the bar and wood panelling lend atmosphere, while new, unopened bottles of liquor stand at attention like soldiers behind the bar. Zigmont had operated the tavern for several years; it was formerly located at 3807 So. Yakima. (TNT 8/1/1956, pg. A-6 & A-11)

Deans Tavern (Tacoma); Bars--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Some Skyline Terrace residents enjoyed beautiful views of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. Miller Construction Co. was a prime developer of the housing development; they had three bedroom homes built on view lots where the bridge, Puget Sound, mountains or city lights could be savored. This house, located at 1102 North Skyline Dr., was a contemporary split-level rambler with extensive Arizona sandstone exterior and large chimney. It was dubbed the "Skyliner" model home and was designed and built by Edward Miller. Photograph ordered by Miller Construction Co.; it was taken on April 20, 1954. (Additional identification provided by a reader)

Houses--Tacoma--1950-1960; Housing developments--Tacoma--1950-1960; Miller Construction Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Chimneys--Tacoma;

The exterior of the Lincoln Ward, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, was photographed on April 22, 1954. The chapel was located at 5016 A Street; it was built primarily with the labor of its congregation. The building was constructed out of concrete block; the exterior appeared to be resurfaced with Perma-Stone. Perma-Stone was a tough, long lasting material which was cast by molds on walls of brick, block, wood, stucco or tile. Photograph ordered by Karl Kaman, contractor.

Mormon churches--Tacoma; Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Tacoma); Building materials;

The newest and largest supermarket in the Puyallup Valley celebrated its grand opening on May 19, 1954. The Piggly-Wiggly, located at 10th & East Main in Puyallup, was the first Piggly-Wiggly built in the past 22 years in the Pacific Northwest. Owned and operated by veteran groceryman, C.A. ("Chic") Hogan, the 10,600 square foot store was made of Roman brick with huge glass front windows. It was built by Strom Construction. Hundreds of gifts ranging from TV sets, bikes, corn poppers to three lively cocker spaniel puppies would be awarded. The new Piggly-Wiggly was one of 800 stores in the chain operating in 38 states, Alaska and Hawaii. It was noted that food cost savings would be achieved due to the supermarket's vast purchasing power. (TNT 5-18-54, B-1) TPL-9808

Piggy-Wiggly (Puyallup); Supermarkets; Grocery stores--Puyallup--1950-1960;

A variety of plumbing fixtures, including Dresslyn lavatories by American Standard, dishwashers, Hotpoint stoves and refrigerators are readily available for perusal by interested customers in this unidentified appliance store in 1954. The Crane Co. were dealers in plumbing supplies; one of the toilets in the foreground has the company name pasted on it. Photograph ordered by the Crane Co.

Plumbing fixtures; Appliances; Appliance stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Crane Co. (Tacoma);

This City Light office is apparently deserted in an evening photograph taken in August, 1954. Plans cover the long desks of city engineers Emil Shabtura and Fred McNeill. The room has plenty of bright light and is apparently air conditioned. City Light's new administrative building and garage were completed in 1953; the administrative building would house both the Light and Water divisions. Photograph ordered by Armstrong Cork Co.

Tacoma Dept. of Public Utilities, Light Division (Tacoma); Desks; Drawings; Offices--Tacoma--1950-1960; Office equipment & supplies; Public utility companies--Tacoma;

Richards Studio copy exposure. This copy of a photograph from the early 1900s shows Pacific Avenue, looking north from the corner of South 13th Street. Electric streetcars run down the middle of the wide street while horse drawn buggies and carts stay close to the curb. Businesses along this section of Pacific included the California Wine House at 1150 Pacific, H.V. Roberts - Dentist, the Central News Co., and the Warwick Liquor Company at 1205 Pacific Ave. A laundry wagon can be seen in the lower right corner.

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1900-1910; Street railroads--Tacoma

This is car No. 40 of the Tacoma Railway & Power Co. In 1890, it ran on a set of tracks that went down Pacific Ave. to Jefferson; up Jefferson to Center; and then followed Center to Hosmer, the end of the line. This photograph was probably taken near So. 17th and Jefferson. In the 1890s and early 1900s, Tacoma had one of the best and most extensive electric railway systems on the west coast.

Street railroads--Tacoma--1890-1900; Street railroad employees--Tacoma; Railroad tracks--Tacoma; Tacoma Railway & Power Co. (Tacoma);

ca. 1954. The Chicago, Milwaukee, St.Paul & Pacific Railroad Co., commonly called The Milwaukee Road, opened a new passenger depot at East 11th and Milwaukee Way, on the tideflats, in April of 1954. Made of Roman brick, the $150,000 structure was a comfortable place to wait for incoming or outgoing trains. Large plate glass windows provided a clear view of the trains while keeping passengers safe and dry. The railroad company had used a simple wooden building at 25th and A Street since just after the turn of the century. The Milwaukee Road railroad went bankrupt in the late 1970s; all its land and buildings on the tideflats were purchased by Sea-Land in the early 1980s. TPL-3729

Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad Co. (Tacoma); Railroad stations--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Well-known newspaper, radio and television personality Ed Sullivan arrived in Tacoma in June, 1954, to participate in the cornerstone laying ceremony for Mary Bridge Children's Hospital. Mr. Sullivan was the host of the hour-long variety show, "Toast of the Town". He had been the first to introduce Jack Benny to radio audiences in 1932 and lyric soprano Margaret Truman made her debut on his television show in 1952. Mr. Sullivan was expected to comment on the growing need for children's hospitals in America. Mary Bridge Children's Hospital had an estimated cost of $900,000; it would be a two-story structure built on South "L" Street between 3rd and 4th Streets. Initially, it would have forty beds for children ranging from babies to 14 year olds. Photograph ordered by Tacoma Orthopedic Association. (TNT 5-20-54, C-2)

Cornerstone laying--Tacoma; Mary Bridge Children's Hospital (Tacoma); Sullivan, Ed, 1902-1974;

Phillip Cammarano sat at the wheel of the Cammarano Brothers' new Diamond T delivery truck in July of 1954 while it was parked in front of their building at 2307 A Street. The company's name was proudly displayed in a circular crest on the driver's side door. The Cammarano Brothers were distributors for Hamms, Pabst Blue Ribbon, and Rainier Beers as well as carbonated beverages. Their warehouse on A Street was built in 1937 by MacDonald Building Co., contractors, and had been designed by local architectural firm, Lance & Muri. The Cammarano Brothers company closed at the end of May in 2001 after 80 years in the beverage distribution business. TPL-9473

Diamond T trucks; Cammarano Bros. (Tacoma);

John W. Jankanish farm, Rt. 2, Box 660, Tacoma. View of two-story, wood frame house and surrounding property.

Farms--Tacoma; Farmhouses--Tacoma; Jankanish, John W.--Homes & haunts;

John W. Jankanish farm, Rt. 2, Box 660, Tacoma. Distant view of house hidden by row of fruit trees.

Farms--Tacoma; Farmhouses--Tacoma; Jankanish, John W.--Homes & haunts;

John W. Jankanish farm, Rt. 2, Box 660, Tacoma. View of farm showing house and garage on left, pasture, fences and trees.

Farms--Tacoma; Farmhouses--Tacoma; Jankanish, John W.--Homes & haunts; Fences;

John W. Jankanish farm, Rt. 2, Box 660, Tacoma. View of house, landscape and gravel road. Rose arbor, border plants and trees in garden.

Farms--Tacoma; Farmhouses--Tacoma; Jankanish, John W.--Homes & haunts; Trellises;

John W. Jankanish farm, Rt. 2, Box 660, Tacoma. Distant view of dairy barn and outbuildings. Cattle in pasture.

Farms--Tacoma; Jankanish, John W.--Homes & haunts; Barns--Tacoma; Cattle;

Two well-dressed young ladies, Mrs. Joan Loechner (formerly Clark) and Mrs. John Schutzman (the former Shiela Widener), in a late-model convertible may be getting ready to park their vehicle in the large carport in the early evening of June 29, 1954. The carport is attached to the American Lake rambler style home of Loechner's parents Harrison and Myrtle Clark. The carport, however, has a flat roof in comparison to the slightly shallow-pitched roof on the rambler. Built of wood on a concrete foundation, the carport is partially enclosed with paneled walls on two sides. The panels are of grooved fir plywood siding called "Texture One-Eleven." The carport features exposed posts with 1x2 exposed stops which serve as the railing base for the textured panels. Small lights are affixed to the eaves, providing illumination at night. Photograph ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association. (TNT 9/19/1956, pg. E-17)

Garages; Convertible automobiles; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma); Loechner, Joan; Widener, Shiela;

Safeway Builders after pictures. Safeway Builders apparently remodeled numerous homes in the Tacoma area in the 1950's. This contemporary home was a one-story wood model with long, horizontal lines and shallow-pitched roof. A small awning shades the front doorway. A split fence separates the property from the land next door.

Houses--Tacoma--1950-1960; Remodeling--Tacoma--1950-1960; Safeway Builders Co. (Tacoma); Fences;

A crowd of spectators await the launching of the minesweeper #489, the U.S.S. Gallant, built by J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding on the evening of June 4, 1954. Martinac Shipbuilding had received a contract to built nine 171-foot minesweepers for the Navy during the early 1950's. Those observing the launching heard Rear Adm. W.F. James, 13th Naval District medical officer, give the principal address. Mrs. Walter Meserole, daughter of J.M. Martinac, was the ship's sponsor. Music for the ceremony was provided by the McChord Air Force Band. (TNT 5-30-54, C-12)

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

Television host and columnist Ed Sullivan is welcomed to Ray Ridge Lincoln-Mercury on Tacoma Avenue South after his arrival on June 9, 1954, for the laying of the cornerstone on the new Mary Bridge Children's Hospital. Mr. Sullivan received a TPD motorcycle escort and a ride in a new convertible courtesy of Mr. Ridge's dealership. Ray Ridge is on the right in the light suit; man shaking hands with Mr. Sullivan is tentatively identified as Judge George Boldt. Mr. Ridge, Mr. Sullivan and Judge Boldt would be among the honored guests at a 1500 person celebration of the new hospital held at the Masonic Temple's Fellowship Hall. ALBUM 7.

Sullivan, Ed, 1902-1974; Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1950-1960; Ray Ridge Motors, Inc. (Tacoma); Ridge, Ray; Shaking hands--Tacoma;

In 1954 Tacoma had its own toy factory, the Tacoma Metal Products Company, located at 414-16 Puyallup Avenue. Workers at the manufacturing plant are pictured using a primitive looking assembly line. During the assembly line process, toy tea kettles are painted, parts assembled, polished and then placed in small boxes. A thin conveyor belt moves the tiny tea kettles from one worker to another.

Tacoma Metal Products Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Assembly-line methods--Tacoma; Toys; Toy industry--Tacoma;

Dressed to play tennis, Joan (Clark) Loechner poses in front of her parents', Harrison and Myrtle Clark's, American Lake home on June 29, 1954. She is smiling and looking off-camera while clutching her wooden tennis racket. Photograph ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association.

Tennis players; Tennis rackets; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma); Loechner, Joan;

Exterior of Blake, Moffitt & Towne building. By June, 1954, the Blake, Moffitt & Towne Co. had moved to its new location of 1157 Thorne Rd. in the Tideflats area. The business was now close to E. 11th and the Port of Tacoma Road; railroad tracks shown in the above picture indicated that their products could be conveniently shipped either by rail as well as by truck. The building would encompass 40,000 square feet for warehouse and office space. It was built on a 3 1/2 acre tract to allow for plenty of customer parking as well as possible future expansion. Blake, Moffitt & Towne were wholesale distributors of printing and wrapping paper and stationery and were formerly located on Jefferson Avenue. Arthur W. Towne was listed in the 1954 City Directory as president with Lyman V. Hall as Vice-president/Manager and Richard A. Meyer as Secretary Treasurer/Office Manager. (TNT 7-18-54, C-15)

Blake, Moffitt & Towne, Inc. (Tacoma); Paper industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Railroad tracks--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Customer copy of house. A print was made of a customer's copy of a rambler style home, perhaps for advertising purposes, in June, 1954. The photograph was ordered by the Condon Co., one of Tacoma's first advertising agencies. The unidentified house, #1437, is built with long, horizontal lines and an attached one-car garage. It appears to have wood siding. The picture window is unusual in that it is not a single sheet of glass but rather separated into nine sections. Flowers bloom in pots fastened to railings adjacent to the front door.

Houses--1950-1960; Condon Co., Inc. (Tacoma);