Birchfield Boiler Inc.; interior shots of the largest boilers built on the coast. Worker seems diminutive beside the massive boilers. These two are the largest of their type ever built on the west coast. They are modern school house boilers designed and built for Yakima Junior and Senior High School. Each is 18 feet high, rated at 400 horse power and weighs 15 tons. (TNT 9/3/1956)

Boiler industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Machinery; Birchfield Boiler, Inc. (Tacoma);

ca. 1956. Combination kitchen and dining room of the 1956 Greater Tacoma Home Show Model Home "The Klahanie," from a Chinook Indian word meaning "out of doors." The dining room sits on a slate floor. The model home was built with an open floor plan, where living room, dining room and kitchen merged together and then flowed out onto a wooden deck. (TNT 5/10/1956, Section C- Home Show feature)

Greater Tacoma Home Show (Tacoma); Exhibitions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Model houses--Tacoma; Tacoma Master Builders Association (Tacoma); Kitchens--University Place--1950-1960; Dining rooms--University Place--1950-1960;

A floor to ceiling cabinet with pull out drawers occupies the hall outside the bedroom door at James Fowler's addition to his house. The drawers provide plenty of storage space for extra linens. The cabinet is built of plywood, the building material of choice for the Douglas Fir Plywood Association's promotion director Fowler.

Houses--Lakewood--1950-1960; Remodeling--Lakewood; Fowler, James--Homes & haunts;

ca. 1956. Kaiser Aluminum plant. The new 420 foot potline at the Tacoma reduction plant; the result of a $2,000,000 expansion. The line contains 18 new "super size" reduction cells that will increase aluminum production by 15%. The Bonneville Power Administration will provide the power to reduce the ore to pure metal by electrolysis. Dissolved in solution in long lines of reduction cells ("pots",) alumina ore is subjected to electrical current. The chemicals recombine, the aluminum separates from the oxygen and settles as pure metal, aluminum. (Kaiser Aluminum News, August 1956)

Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corp. (Tacoma); Aluminum industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Pulp manufacturing machinery at R.W. Paper Co. in Longview, Wa. Photograph ordered by Malcolm McGhie. Two building engineers work on a piece of machinery. Modern paper machines can produce hundreds of tons of paper each day. Approximately 15 % of our national supply of pulp is manufactured in Oregon and Washington.

R. W. Paper Co. (Longview); Paper industry--Longview--1950-1960;

Pulp manufacturing machinery at R.W. Paper Co. in Longview, Wa. Photograph ordered by Malcolm McGhie. Vats of pulp dwarf the worker at the bottom center of the picture. The pulp fiber, after being extracted from the wood by a chemical process, is about 99 per cent water. The water is removed by pressure and suction being applied to the mixture. The resulting sheet then moves on to the drying machine.

R. W. Paper Co. (Longview); Paper industry--Longview--1950-1960;

Pulp manufacturing machinery at R.W. Paper Co. in Longview, Wa. Photograph ordered by Malcolm McGhie. This picture shows a paper machine. When the pulp mixture arrives at the paper machine headbox, its water content is over 99%. The mixture is sent under pressure onto an immense moving canvas. The action of the canvas and a suction system extract most of the water in the pulp and form a sheet. The sheet then moves onto the drying section where it comes in contact with steam heated cylinders that dry it to the desired degree.

R. W. Paper Co. (Longview); Paper industry--Longview--1950-1960;

Interiors of a model home at Tyee Park housing addition. Photograph ordered by Riconosciuto Advertising Agency. The two twin beds fit comfortably in the large bedroom. Tyee Park was a new $1,500,000 suburban residential community being built in the Lakewood area. Tyee Park was located on Bridgeport Way; 2 miles south of the Lakewood Center and 4 blocks north of the Highway 99 intersection. It was conveniently located near Ft. Lewis and the McChord airbase. At this time, only a dozen of the 99 planned residences were completed. There were five different home designs to choose from. The new homes were created by builder Herman Sarkowsky and based on specifications made by home makers to the leading national magazines House & Home, House Beautiful and Better Home & Gardens. Over 15,000 people showed up for the Open House of the new addition. (TNT 6/20/1956, pg B-2 & 6/24/1956, pg. B1-B9, 6/25/1956, pg. 3)

Bedrooms--Lakewood--1950-1960; Houses--Lakewood--1950-1960; Housing developments--Lakewood--1950-1960; Real estate development--Lakewood--1950-1960;

The new medical office of Burton H. Goodman, D.D.S. The medical building consists of two buildings, with Dr. Goodman's office in the smaller one story building.

Dental offices--Tacoma--1950-1960; Goodman, Burton--Homes & haunts;

ca. 1956. Hairdresser styling woman's hair at #9 St. Helens, ordered by Howard R. Smith Co. The stylist is creating one of the very controlled fifties hairstyles, a pinned and sprayed curl coif.

Hairstyles--Tacoma--1950-1960; Hairdressing--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Exteriors of the Lakewood Ice Arena. Perched on the shores of Steilacoom Lake, the facility had once been the ballroom for the Oakes Pavilion, which also offered a water stadium for competitive swimming where the tryouts for the American Olympic team were held in the mid twenties. After a brief stint as the Towers, a nightclub, the frame building was purchased by developer Norton Clapp in 1936. In 1938, at the urging of his wife who was a fan of ice skating, the building was remodeled into the Lakewood Ice Arena. The lake area around the club was still available for summer swimming and the Figure Skating Club even kept a dock and float available for members. The Arena was demolished in 1982 and replaced by lakeshore condominiums. ("History of Figure Skating in Pierce County, Lakewood Arena") TPL-5672

Ice skating--Tacoma--1950-1960; Lakewood Ice Arena (Lakewood); Lakewood Figure Skating Club (Lakewood); Ice skating rinks--Tacoma--1950-1960; Lake Steilacoom (Wash.);

This baseball team, representing the American Legion Tacoma Post 138 and under the direction of Coach Russ Franzen (at far right), had recently won the 1956 state American Legion Championship by defeating Selah-Naches. It was the first time that Tacoma had won the state junior baseball championship. The team, shown above at Jefferson Park, would next compete in the Northwest Regional. Noted for their right hand pitching, catching, and defensive play, they had held opponents to only 23 runs in 15 games. At the NW regionals, the team was defeated by favored Billings, Montana in a six-hitter, losing 5-1 in the first game. The Tacoma team then regrouped and eliminated Sitka, Alaska from the tournament with a 8-5 win. Tacoma Post 138 was eliminated in the next round by Twin Falls, Idaho, 2-1. Tacoma members of the regional All Star Team were catcher Arley Kangas, pitcher Gene Bronk and outfielder Gary Johnson. (TNT 8/12/1956, pg. C-18-alt. photograph- see article for team names). Photograph ordered by Ford Motor Co.

Jefferson Park (Tacoma); Baseball players--Tacoma--1950-1960; Franzen, Russ; American Legion Tacoma Post No. 138 (Tacoma)--Baseball players;

Interiors of doctors office, believed to be 1002 So. 10th St. Constructed in 1955, the offices were occupied by Drs. Ernest E. Banfield, Lloyd S. Durkin and dentist Burton H. Goodman. The offices are very modern, with a large interior atrium with what appears to be a water feature. The waiting area sits to the right of the atrium, with numerous sofas and chairs.

Medical offices--Tacoma--1950-1960; Atriums--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Family portrait taken at the Bar Mitzvah of Louis Nemetz at the Sinai Temple. Louis was the son of Edith and Hymie Nemetz. The family resided at 702 No. Sheridan Ave. They were the owners of Admiral Furniture Co. located at 8225 South Tacoma Way. The Bar Mitzvah recognizes when a boy obtains his 13 birthday and takes on religious duties.

Nemetz, Louis; Rites & ceremonies--Tacoma--1950-1960; Synagogues--Tacoma; Sinai Temple (Tacoma); Religious services--Tacoma; Judaism--Tacoma;

A portrait of Louis Nemetz at his Bar Mitzvah at the Sinai Temple. "Bar Mitzvah" literally means "son of the commandment." A Bar Mitzvah notes the coming of age for a Jewish boy as he obtains his 13 birthday and becomes obligated to observe the commandments. He obtains the right to take a part in religious services, to count in a minyan, to form binding contracts, to testify before religious courts and to marry. Louis wears the symbolic prayer shawl around his neck that is given to him on his Bar Mitzvah and will accompany him throughout his life and a yarmulke, the skullcap worn on his head. Photograph ordered by Edith (Mrs. Henry, listed in the 1957 City Directory as Hymie) Nemetz of 702 So. Sheridan Ave. Hymie Nemetz owned Admiral Furniture Co. at 8225 South Tacoma Way. (Bar Mitzvah information obtained from the online Jewish Virtual Library)

Nemetz, Louis; Rites & ceremonies--Tacoma--1950-1960; Synagogues--Tacoma; Sinai Temple (Tacoma); Religious services--Tacoma; Judaism--Tacoma;

Members of the Board of Curators of the Washington State Historical Society. Photograph is taken at the home of Reno Odlin, president of Puget Sound National Bank, on a bluff overlooking Commencement Bay. Odlin himself is in the white coat, second from right, in the standing row. Odlin was also president of the Society. (TNT 8/12/1956, pg. C-20--see article for board members' names.)

Odlin, Reno, 1897-1979--Homes & haunts; Odlin, Reno, 1897-1979; Washington State Historical Society (Tacoma);

1956 Richards Studio stock footage. A man in a cowboy hat leans against a split rail fence dwarfed by the awesome bulk of Mt. Rainier in the background. The snow covered mountain looms over the pastureland, forming the perfect backdrop for this picture.

Rainier, Mount (Wash.); Fences;

A worker stands dwarfed by the enormous steel scaffolding being erected for a new structure. Photograph ordered by Bethlehem Coast Steel. The Richards appointment book lists the structure as the Sterling Theatre building, 158th SeaTac Highway. Sterling was a national chain that owned and operated a number of movie theatres in the Seattle area.

Scaffolding; Construction;

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;

On the evening of July 2, 1959, the merchants of the Villa Plaza Shopping Center in Lakewood sponsored a fireworks extravaganza. Warm mid summer temperatures brought out a crowd to the enormous parking lot of Villa Plaza to view the show. The shopping center had available parking for 4,000 cars. People stood next to their cars, lay on car hoods, and watched through car windows as the star shells and sky rockets burst overhead. The event opened with thousands of gift certificate laden ping pong balls being dropped from a helicopter to the waiting crowd. The gift certificates represented $6,000 in merchandise being given away by mall stores. The stores stayed open until 9:30p.m. and the fireworks started at 9:45. (TNT 7/1/1959, pg. A-11; 7/2/1959, pg. 12) TPL-6596

Fireworks--1950-1960; Holidays--1950-1960; Fourth of July celebrations; Villa Plaza Shopping Center (Lakewood); Shopping centers--Lakewood--1950-1960;

Two children play outside on the swingset behind this view home designed by Miller Construction and located in Panorama Park. Large windows cover the rear of the home to take in the inspiring view of the Narrows Bridge. The home appears to be a split level, the address is unknown.

Houses--Tacoma--1950-1960;

A quartet of bathing beauties posed with a Uniflite boat and a trophy in the parking lot of the Villa Plaza shopping center in this photograph from May 1959. The sign on the step platform, that the young women are standing on, advertises the Villa Marina, a department of the Villa Bowl Sports Shop. Two of the women are: second from left, Sherry Lee Holmes, the 20 year old Miss Tacoma; and, to the right of Miss Holmes, possibly Marilyn Ganes, 18 year old Franklin Pierce student and Miss Washington candidate. The Foreman & Clark clothing store at 10315 Gravelly Lake Dr. SW can be seen in the background.

Motorboats--1950-1960; Bathing suits--1950-1960; Bathing beauties; Holmes, Sherry Lee;

Wall to wall windows are the focal point of this house in the Panorama Park addition, designed and built by Miller Construction. The soaring view of the Narrows Bridge almost fills the window space in this June of 1959 photograph.

Windows--Tacoma; Houses--Tacoma--1950-1960; Miller Construction Co. (Tacoma); Tacoma Narrows Bridge (Tacoma);

Mary Bridge Hospital, possibly a radiology lab. The technician is adjusting an X-ray machine. This was formerly the hydrotherapy room at Mary Bridge. All of the equipment in the hospital was specially designed for its pint sized patients, ranging from birth to age 14. Since its opening in 1955, the hospital had become overcrowded and rooms, such as the playroom, were taken over as wards due to the need for more beds. Here the hydrotherapy room has been converted to a much needed x-ray lab. A massive fund raising drive was underway to support enlargement of Mary Bridge and improvements at Tacoma General.

Mary Bridge Children's Hospital (Tacoma); Hospitals--Tacoma--1950-1960; Radiography;