Annual Christmas party at Sanford Nash Company, Everyone had a wonderful time at Sanford Nash Company's annual Christmas party. It was a time to celebrate the holiday season with family and co-workers. Santa, pictured above on December 22, 1947, handed out large turkeys to Sanford Nash employees. Staff members proudly hold their turkeys and think about enjoying them at their family Christmas dinners.

Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Automobile equipment & supplies stores--Tacoma; Parties--Tacoma; Santa Claus--Tacoma; Turkeys; Families--Tacoma--1940-1950; Sanford-Nash, Inc. (Tacoma)--Employees;

Sanford Nash Company celebrated the holiday season with their annual Christmas party. Sanford Nash sold new and used Ramblers and Nash automobiles, they had a service department for maintenance and repairs, and sold parts and accessories. Nash vehicles were said to be the "World's Most Economical Full-Sized Car". View of two unidentified Sanford Nash employees, they have just opened their Christmas gifts.

Automobile dealerships--Tacoma; Automobile equipment & supplies stores--Tacoma; Parties--Tacoma; Christmas presents; Sanford-Nash, Inc. (Tacoma)--Employees;

Sanford Nash Company's annual Christmas party was a wonderful success, well attended by the company staff and their families. View of adults and children looking on, Santa was distributing Christmas gifts to the children and company employees. Advertising materials on walls, Nash accessories on display, Christmas decorations and neon signs in windows.

Automobile dealerships--Tacoma; Automobile equipment & supplies stores--Tacoma; Christmas trees--Tacoma; Parties--Tacoma; Families--Tacoma; Sanford-Nash, Inc. (Tacoma)--Employees;

Sanford-Nash Company was having their annual Christmas party for their employees and their families. Sanford Nash was an authorized Nash dealership in Tacoma. View of Santa Claus distributing presents to young girl, man gets next gift from under Christmas tree. Many adults and children in chairs, advertising materials on walls, Christmas decorations and neon signs in windows.

Automobile dealerships--Tacoma; Automobile equipment & supplies stores--Tacoma; Christmas trees--Tacoma; Santa Claus--Tacoma; Parties--Tacoma; Families--Tacoma; Sanford-Nash, Inc. (Tacoma);

W. C. Patterson, Leon E. Titus (right) and an unidentified man are looking at the 20,000 officially rebuilt Ford Motor. Titus was an official dealership for Ford autos and they had a large fully equipped service center. Leon Titus had just been selected as the representative for the Western Region at the Ford National meeting. W. C. Patterson was the district manager for the Ford Motor Company.

Automobile equipment & supplies; Engines; Ford automobile; Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Titus Motor Co. (Tacoma); Patterson, W.C.; Titus, Leon E.;

Grand opening celebration for the new Hemminger and Ahola Chevron service station. The corner service station sits in a residential neighborhood and features two islands, each with three gasoline pumps, auto maintenance, RPM lubrication, Atlas Tires and Batteries are all available at this site. View of balloons that were released for the grand opening and flower arrangement that were sent to the new business.

Automobile service stations--Tacoma; Vehicle maintenance & repair--Tacoma; Gasoline--Tacoma; Atlas Tires & Batteries (Tacoma); Hemminger & Ahola Chevron Gas Station (Tacoma); Standard Oil Co. of California (Tacoma);

The grand opening celebration for the new Hemminger and Ahola Chevron service station was held in early December of 1947. The corner service station sits in a residential neighborhood and features two islands, each with three gasoline pumps. Auto maintenance, RPM lubrication, Atlas Tires and Batteries are all available at this site. View of balloons that were released for the grand opening.

Automobile service stations--Tacoma; Vehicle maintenance & repair--Tacoma; Gasoline--Tacoma; Atlas Tires & Batteries (Tacoma); Hemminger & Ahola Chevron Gas Station (Tacoma); Standard Oil Co. of California (Tacoma);

North Pacific Bank is one of the oldest banks in Tacoma, beginning operations in 1906. They offered general banking services, safe deposit vaults and had capital, surplus, reserves and undivided profits totaling over $500,000. North Pacific Bank was a member of the Federal Deposit Finance Corporation. In 1947 Peter Wallerich was the bank president and B. M. Wallerich, George O. Weller and Bert R. Magnuson were vice presidents. Exterior view of bank building, customers are standing outside the bank located at the corner of South 54th and South Tacoma Way.

Banks--Tacoma; Banking--Tacoma--1940-1950; North Pacific Bank (Tacoma);

This building at South 12th & Proctor was originally the Steilacoom Line Power House built for the Tacoma & Steilacoom streetcar line back in 1890. In 1947 the old car barn was remodeled into a new grocery store and drugstore using Douglas Fir plywood. Tacoma Food Mart, selling "Shurfine" products, was managed by A J. Ivory. A short time later, the grocery became an A-G store. The Highland Drugstore pictured above was one of many businesses to occupy the building over the years. Photo ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association. TPL-8061

Grocery stores--Tacoma--1940-1950; Drugstores--Tacoma--1940-1950; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1940-1950; Trucks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Plywood; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma); Tacoma Food Mart (Tacoma); Highland Drug (Tacoma);

Western Hotels Inc. had allocated money to modernize and improve the Winthrop facilities. They were planning to redecorate and refurbish many of the public facilities, including the lobby, dining room, Crystal and Junior ballrooms, private dining rooms and the presidential suite. View of hotel laundry room, laundry and housekeeping workers are ready to make everyone's stay more enjoyable, photo ordered by Botsford, Constantine and Gardner, an advertising agency based out of Seattle.

Hotel employees--Tacoma; Hotels--Tacoma; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

An unidentified bellman receives a room key from one of the employees working behind the front desk of the Hotel Winthrop in fall of 1947. In October of that year the hotel entered into a long term lease with Western Hotels Inc. The president of the Winthrop Hotel Company, E. J. Calloway, announced that Edward E. Carlson, Vice-President of Western Hotels and a native Tacoma, was to become the new general manager of the hotel, effective immediately. The Hotel Winthrop opened in May of 1925; it was converted into apartments for senior housing in 1973. (Photo ordered by Botsford, Constantine and Gardner, an advertising agency based out of Seattle.) TPL-9493

Hotel employees--Tacoma; Hotels--Tacoma; Lobbies--Tacoma; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

Winthrop Hotel would have new and improved facilities to offer to their clients. Western also planned to remodel the guests rooms after the public facilities were completed. Western Hotels Inc. President S. W. Thurston stated "A good hotel is more than just a business in the city, it is the center of civic activity." View of the dining room, the hostess and restaurant staff are ready to serve, photo ordered by Botsford, Constantine and Gardner, an advertising agency based out of Seattle.

Hotel employees--Tacoma; Hotels--Tacoma; Uniforms; Waitresses--Tacoma; Cash registers; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

Top of the Ocean was one of the most popular restaurants in Tacoma. They opened for business on December 15, 1946, and quickly became a top choice for many clubs, associations and organizations to hold their activities. The Tacoma Athletic Commission had private facilities within the restaurant. Located on the waterfront near the foot of McCarver St. on Ruston Way, the Top of the Ocean was destroyed by an arson fire on April 3, 1977. David Willard Levage was convicted for starting the fire. This photo appeared in a Tacoma Times advertisement. (T. Times, 11/28/47, p. 5). TPL-2130

Restaurants--Tacoma; Nightclubs--Tacoma; Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma); Top of the Ocean (Tacoma);

Top of the Ocean was one of the most luxurious and beautiful dine and dance liners in the Pacific Northwest. The restaurant was open to the public throughout the week, they had a regular orchestra that played on Fridays and Saturdays. Bill Slater, was the head chef at the restaurant, Slater was known as a "World Famous Chef". Top of the Ocean offered their clients the very best. This image appeared in an advertisement in the Tacoma Times (T. Times, 11/28/47, p. 5). TPL-2523

Restaurants--Tacoma; Nightclubs--Tacoma; Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma); Top of the Ocean (Tacoma);

Five Point Inn Restaurant was owned and operated by Eugene Comer. The Five Point Inn appears in the Tacoma 1945 and 1947 City Directories, in the 1949 City Directory this location is listed as Supreme Fur Storage, prior to the Five Point Inn, this location was Kress Drive Inn and Kress Malted Milk. This building was built in 1938 by Lee Kress, Russell, Lance and Muri were the architects and Warter and Johnson were the contractors. Exterior view of the restaurant, photo ordered by Llewellyn Advertising Agency.

Restaurants--Tacoma; Taverns (Inns)--Tacoma; Chimneys--Tacoma; Five Point Inn (Tacoma); Llewellyn Advertising Agency (Tacoma);

Thorsen's Service Station was an official distributor of Standard Oil Company gasoline. View of garage interior, tires on top shelf (left side), advertisements featuring "RPM" lubrication and oil products and "Filko" automotive replacement parts, and grease rack in center.

Automobile service stations--Tacoma; Vehicle maintenance & repair--Tacoma; Automobile equipment & supplies stores--Tacoma; Thorsen's Service Station (Tacoma);

Captain's Quarters at the Tacoma Athletic Commission's Club located on the upper level of the Top of the Ocean. Top of the Ocean housed Tacoma Athletic Commission, but its main dining room was also open to the public. They advertised smorgasbord dinners for $1.00 and dinners from their menu for $1.75 to $3.50. Interior view of a smaller dining room with dance floor, a fully stocked bar with mirrors in background, photo ordered by Condon Advertising (T. Times, 11/28/47, p. 5).

Dance floors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Bars (Furniture)--Tacoma; Restaurants--Tacoma--1940-1950; Interior decoration; Top of the Ocean (Tacoma); Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma); Condon Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

Captain's Quarters at the Tacoma Athletic Commission's Club located at the Top of the Ocean restaurant. Tacoma's Top of the Ocean was likely the most popular place in town. It was conveniently located in Tacoma's Old Town waterfront. Interior view of a smaller dining room with dance floor and jukebox, bar in foreground, photo ordered by Condon Advertising (T. Times, 11/28/47, p. 5).

Dance floors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Jukeboxes; Restaurants--Tacoma--1940-1950; Interior decoration; Top of the Ocean (Tacoma); Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma); Condon Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

Photograph taken in November of 1947 of the Captain's Quarters at the Tacoma Athletic Commission's Club, located on the upper level of the Top of the Ocean, 2217 Ruston Way. Top of the Ocean housed Tacoma Athletic Commission, which retained its own private Club on the top level. The lower portions of the facility were open to the public. Organizations could also rent the facilities for parties. A cocktail area in the TAC Club is pictured; with a small dance floor, cocktail tables and comfortable chairs, a full bar and slot machines against the back wall. Photo ordered by Condon Advertising. (T. Times, 11/28/47, p. 5).

Dance floors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Restaurants--Tacoma--1940-1950; Top of the Ocean (Tacoma); Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma);

In November of 1947, Tacoma's Top of the Ocean was in such high demand, that the restaurant had to reduce the general operating hours for the public. Clubs and organizations now had more time options in reserving private dining rooms. Interior view of the main dining room and dance floor. Orchestra area in background, where Hal Gullett's Orchestra appeared on the weekends, photo ordered by Condon Advertising. The Top of the Ocean was also home to the Tacoma Athletic Commission. They maintained their own private club on the upper level with its own private entrance. (T. Times, 11/28/47, p. 5). TPL-8248

Dance floors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Table settings & decorations; Restaurants--Tacoma--1940-1950; Interior decoration; Top of the Ocean (Tacoma); Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma); Condon Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

Weisfield and Goldberg were well known for their beautiful jewelry selection, but they also had an extensive home furnishings department. The window display features a complete dining room set with table, chairs, buffet, tableware and silverware. The background has other showrooms filled with mirrors and other furnishings. The sign on the right side advertises tableware which includes the silver, four famous patterns to choose from.

Department stores--Tacoma--1940-1950; Window displays--Tacoma--1940-1950; Dining tables; Furniture stores--Tacoma--1940-1950; Silverware; Weisfield & Goldberg, Inc. (Tacoma);

Graybar had an increase of orders for their products, which came with the post-war building boom. John Reine was Graybar's current Tacoma manager. In the past Graybar had specialized on certain industries, such as the telegraph business, but they were now dealing with all home electronics. Interior view of Graybar Electric kitchen appliances, "Hotpoint" refrigerators, stoves, kitchen cabinets, water heater and kitchen sink.

Graybar Electric Co. (Tacoma); Appliance stores--Tacoma; Appliances;

In 1929 Graybar Electric Company employees purchased all the common stock and became the first business of its size to be completely owned and operated by its employees. Graybar manufactures, buys and sells many different types of electrical appliances and apparatus. Interior view of the showroom, vacuums, electric fans, doorbells, lamps, irons, mixers, clocks, and an advertisement for GE lamps and lightbulbs.

Graybar Electric Co. (Tacoma); Light fixtures; Appliance stores--Tacoma; Vacuum cleaners; Fans; Irons (Pressing); Clocks & watches;

Graybar Electric Company started doing business in Tacoma in 1918, they are an electronic wholesale distributing company. Graybar was founded in Cleveland, Ohio in 1869, when high demands increased their production, the company relocated to Chicago, Illinois that same year. In 1926 they changed the company's name to Graybar, combining the two founders names, Gray and Barton. Interior view of Tacoma's Graybar showroom, featuring desk lamps, toasters, radios and many other new electronic devices for 1948.

Graybar Electric Co. (Tacoma); Radios; Light fixtures; Toasters; Appliance stores--Tacoma;

Weisfield & Goldberg were having an emergency warehouse furniture sale at Weisfield's Furniture Warehouse, located on East 26th Street and Bay Street. Everything in stock would be marked down 15% to 60% off the regular low warehouse prices. Weisfield & Goldberg had a full two page ad in the Tacoma Times, advertising their one day sale (T. Times, 11/7/47, p. 6-7).

Storehouses--Tacoma; Industrial facilities--Tacoma; Warehouses--Tacoma; Advertisements--Tacoma; Weisfield & Goldberg, Inc. (Tacoma); Weisfield & Goldberg Furniture Warehouse (Tacoma);

In October of 1947 Weisfield and Goldberg's moved all the furniture out of their store at 923-25 Broadway and into the Tacoma Exhibition Hall at 1616-32 East 26th Street. Beginning on November 7th they held an "Emergency Warehouse Furniture Sale" out of this building. They were offering low prices, easy credit, free deliveries throughout the State of Washington, free parking and brand name furniture. They had to move the furniture out of their regular store because they were remodeling all four of the upper floors in their downtown building. In February of 1948 they re-opened their newly remodeled store. (T. Times, 11/7/47, p. 6-7).

Storehouses--Tacoma; Industrial facilities--Tacoma; Warehouses--Tacoma; Advertisements--Tacoma; Weisfield & Goldberg, Inc. (Tacoma); Weisfield & Goldberg Furniture Warehouse (Tacoma);

Exterior view of warehouse on 26th and Bay Street as viewed on October 25, 1947.

Weisfield & Goldberg, Inc. (Tacoma); Warehouses--Tacoma;

Inside of warehouse w/boxes, furniture as photographed on October 25, 1947.

Weisfield & Goldberg, Inc. (Tacoma); Warehouses--Tacoma.

Titus Motor Company offered Tacoma customers the largest selection of Ford cars and trucks. Titus also had a full service department and parts available on site. Here Titus Motor Company parts delivery man, Phil Martin, proudly wears his Ford uniform. Mr. Martin stands at the door of his Vanette delivery truck which reads "Phil Martin at your service."

Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Automobile equipment & supplies; Trucks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Automobile equipment & supplies stores--Tacoma; Titus Motor Co. (Tacoma); Martin, Phillip J.;

Titus Motor Company was an authorized Ford cars and trucks dealership, in Tacoma for many years. Titus Motor Company, parts delivery man Phil Martin stands by his Vanette delivery truck in front of the Titus showroom. His name is written prominently near the wheel well. Exterior view of Ford neon and painted signs on building, and information painted on truck in this photograph dated January 2, 1948.

Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Automobile equipment & supplies; Electric signs--Tacoma--1940-1950; Trucks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Automobile equipment & supplies stores--Tacoma; Titus Motor Co. (Tacoma); Martin, Phillip J.;