Remodeled departments at the Bank of California. This is the women's lounge. Two women share a conversation as they smoke in the seating area, while two women converse as one checks her makeup in the mirror in the vanity area. Several ashtrays are available in the seating area, as public smoking was not only tolerated but expected in the fifties.

Banks--Tacoma; Bank of California National Association (Tacoma); Banking--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Steve's (Gay 90's) Cafe, photographed for the Douglas Fir Plywood Association. Steve's was owned and operated by Steve Pease and John Stanley. The fantasticly popular restaurant and nightclub included many internal rooms like this one. All were decorated with an old time flair. This room features tall wooden booths and round tables. Above the wainscoting is wallpaper picturing nineties gents stepping up to the bar and ladies at round tables, just like the ones in this room. On the walls are museum framed and lighted photographs of the original Red Front Saloon where Steve's back bar came from. Through the open doorway to the right, you can see a counter with seats or stools. These two rooms may have been the original 20 seat coffee shop and tavern run by Stanley and Pease.

Steve's Gay '90s (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Future home office of the United Pacific Insurance Company. Plywood fencing surrounds the construction site in this February 15, 1954 photograph. Steven Motor Company and the Old City Hall can be seen in the background. Steel framework has been erected for what would become the five story office building of United Pacific. The building was designed with a foundation capable of supporting 10 stories if needed for future expansion. The concrete, steel and glass structure would be completed in January of 1955.

United Pacific Insurance Co. (Tacoma); Building construction--Tacoma--1950-1960; Progress photographs--1950-1960; Old City Hall (Tacoma);

Remodeled departments at the Bank of California. This is a customer accessible area. It appears to be occupied by bank or loan officers. The officers occupy large wooden desks with comfortable leather chairs beside the desks for customers.

Banks--Tacoma; Bank of California National Association (Tacoma); Banking--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Interior of the trust department at the Bank of California, ordered by Botsford, Constantine and Gardner. Seated at desks on the right are Frank C. Carmody, Assistant Trust Officer- front, and Edward S. Walker, Trust Officer, at rear. On the left are Mr. McLeod, front, and Mr. Williams, at rear. To the left is a counter arrangement with three people behind it labelled Trust Department. At the right rear, the door is open to an interior office, perhaps belonging to one of the Vice Presidents of the bank.

Banks--Tacoma; Bank of California National Association (Tacoma); Carmody, Frank; Walker, Edward;

Winthrop Hotel, new sample furniture on display in rooms 505, 522 & 525. The room has been decorated for the discriminating traveler with a patterned embossed carpet, floral drapes, full bed with chenille bedspread, dresser, a desk/vanity and a variety of tables and chairs with numerous lamps. A bench has been placed at the end of the bed to hold an open suitcase or for sitting. A long coffee table, however, has been placed blocking a door.

Hotels--Tacoma--1950-1960; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Furniture;

Remodeled departments at the Bank of California. This appears to be the accounting department. Some young women run long strips of figures on what appear to be large adding machines. Other women check receipts at a high counter.The women are dressed in working attire, dresses, suits or skirts and blouses.

Banks--Tacoma; Bank of California National Association (Tacoma); Banking--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Co. at 9th & Fawcett. Several women and a few men sit performing clerical work at desks. On the right hand side, several young men sit at a switchboard. This location was used for local dial equipment and long distance switchboards. The accounting department was located at 501 Broadway and the business offices were located on the 3rd floor of the Medical Arts building.

Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Co. (Tacoma); Telephone switchboards--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Co. at 9th & Fawcett. The young women with the headsets and the large filing unit in front of them are possibly information operators. The young men on the right are possibly working at instruments that monitor service lines for disruption of service. This location was used for local dial equipment and long distance switchboards. The accounting department was located at 501 Broadway and the business offices were located on the 3rd floor of the Medical Arts building.

Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Co. (Tacoma); Telephone switchboards--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Remodeled departments at the Bank of California. This is possibly the employees' cafeteria where a single person is on duty in the clean and sparkling kitchen. A large commercial mixer can be seen to the right, while a woman fills plates with today's special in front of a commercial range. The counter in front has coffee pots on the warming plates as well as coffee cups and prepared food on the self serve shelves.

Banks--Tacoma; Bank of California National Association (Tacoma); Banking--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Remodeled departments at the Bank of California. This appears to be the employees lounge with chairs and sofa provided for comfortable seating. A tall commercial ashtray stands beside a coffee table covered with magazines. Books available for reading occupy shelves along the back wall. Dining tables and chairs are provided for employees to have lunch.

Banks--Tacoma; Bank of California National Association (Tacoma); Banking--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Remodeled departments at the Bank of California. This appears to be a non public accessible accounting area. Pairs of women confer over sheets of figures. Large adding machines sit to the right of the desks. Windows high in the walls and florescents supply lighting.

Banks--Tacoma; Bank of California National Association (Tacoma); Banking--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Employees of Briggs Manufacturing Co. are blurred as they put up wall segments for a prefabricated home. A series of progress photographs was taken in one day, March 29, 1954, showing the speed that a prefabricated house could be built by experienced workers. A clock was drawn in the corner of each picture showing the exact time of day the photo was taken. At 8:05 a.m., the floor has already been laid and plumbing marked. Plywood forms and house sections are scattered near the site.

Briggs Manufacturing Co. (Tacoma); Building construction; Prefabricated houses; Plywood; Progress photographs;

Prefabricated homes were becoming more common in the late 1940's and early 1950's to satisfy demand for more housing as our area's population grew. New homes were being built outside established city neighborhoods where lot sizes could be larger and land less expensive. The Briggs Manufacturing Co., located in the city's south end, specialized in prefabricated housing. In a series of photographs taken in one day, the Briggs company showed how prefabricated homes could be built quickly and with a small crew. Each photograph had a hand-drawn clock in the left corner showing the time of day it was taken; the progress of the construction could be then noted. At 9:30 a.m., several walls are already in place, with window and door openings. Because the location of the construction was not identified, it is possible that more than one home was being built on the same day.

Briggs Manufacturing Co. (Tacoma); Building construction; Prefabricated houses; Progress photographs;

Briggs Manufacturing Co. were specialists in prefabricated houses. Due to the expanding population in our area after World War II, housing demands increased. Prefabricated housing was one solution. A series of photographs were taken in one day, March 29, 1954, showing the speed a prefabricated home could be built. Each photograph had a hand-drawn clock in the corner showing the time of day the picture was taken. The work day seems to have begun by 8:00 a.m. as Briggs employees commence to lay the flooring. The location of the home is unknown, other than it appears to be in a heavily wooded area. This possibly could have been outside city limits as population growth was beginning to expand past the city's established neighborhoods.

Briggs Manufacturing Co. (Tacoma); Building construction; Prefabricated houses; Progress photographs;

Briggs Manufacturing Co. found a niche in the competitive building industry by specializing in prefabricated homes. As the population in the Puget Sound region grew steadily in the years following World War II, prefabricated housing answered the call for affordable, easily constructed housing. During the course of one day, March 29, 1954, a series of photographs was taken showing the progression in erecting a prefabricated house. The time of day the picture was taken was carefully noted by way of a clock drawn in the left corner of the photograph. Thus, the construction could be tracked with ease. View at 8:45 a.m.; the flooring is in place and some walls are up. Two men in top coats and suits examine the site while a Briggs employee finishes attaching two wall sections.

Briggs Manufacturing Co. (Tacoma); Building construction; Prefabricated houses; Progress photographs;

Workers on top of a prefabricated home are busy laying plywood sheets on the gently sloping roof in a photograph taken at 3:00 p.m. on March 29, 1954. The house apparently is a one-story rambler without a basement. The walls on at least one side of the house are up with window and door openings. A sign is nailed to a beam indicates this is a Cliff May home, manufactured and distributed by Briggs Manufacturing Co. This photograph is just one of a series of pictures taken during the course of one day, March 29, 1954, with clocks placed in the left hand corner so that construction progress could be tracked.

Briggs Manufacturing Co. (Tacoma); Building construction; Prefabricated houses; Signs (Notices); Progress photographs;

At 8:30 a.m., three employees of Briggs Manufacturing Co. are focused on erecting the walls of a prefabricated home. A series of progress photographs was taken in one day, March 29, 1954, showing Briggs' techniques in quickly constructing a prefabricated house. Tool boxes lie near pipes while plywood forms rest on the ground near the house floor.

Briggs Manufacturing Co. (Tacoma); Building construction; Prefabricated houses; Plywood; Progress photographs;

Briggs Manufacturing Co. specialized in prefabricated homes. According to the 1954 City Directory, Ralph C. Bekken was listed as superintendent; the business was located at 3755 South 60th St. A series of progress photographs was taken in late March, 1954, showing how prefabricated homes could be constructed rapidly and by a smallish crew. Hand-drawn clocks were placed in the left corners of these photographs to show the time when each photograph was taken. View of crew with pre-fab home; some walls are up with window and door openings in place. Workers may be getting ready for roof trusses in this 11:00 am photograph. Location of this home was not given; the lot was apparently a heavily wooded one.

Briggs Manufacturing Co. (Tacoma); Building construction; Prefabricated houses; Progress photographs;

Construction is rapidly progressing on a Briggs Manufacturing Co. prefabricated home. Trusses are in place on the roof and most of the walls appear to be up. Window and door openings are present but without glass. It now appears that the home will be a rambler style, one-story house without basement. A series of photographs was taken in one day, March 29, 1954, to demonstrate the speed that a prefabricated house could be constructed using experienced workers. Each picture had a drawn clock in the corner showing the exact time a photo was taken. Work probably began before 8:00 a.m.; it is now 1:00 p.m.

Briggs Manufacturing Co. (Tacoma); Building construction; Prefabricated houses; Progress photographs;

Evening is drawing near at 4:30 p.m. as shadows extend over the partially completed roof of a Briggs Manufacturing Co. prefabricated home. Workers are placing plywood over the roof in preparation for nailing shingles. A series of photographs was taken over the course of one day, March 29, 1954, showing the progression of a prefabricated house being constructed. A drawn clock in the corner of each picture enabled the viewer to track the speed in which the house was built.

Briggs Manufacturing Co. (Tacoma); Building construction; Prefabricated houses; Progress photographs;

A large glass window is carefully being put into its opening by two employees of Briggs Manufacturing Co. at 3:30 p.m. on March 29, 1954. Briggs Manufacturing specialized in prefabricated buildings; a series of photographs were commissioned to be taken during the course of one day, March 29, to show the speed in which a prefabricated home could be built. The time the picture was taken was then noted by way of a drawn clock in the left corner of each photo.

Briggs Manufacturing Co. (Tacoma); Building construction; Prefabricated houses; Windows; Progress photographs;

Briggs Manufacturing Co., 3755 South 60th St., specialized in prefabricated housing. The housing market was in full force in the years following World War II when our area's population increased dramatically. Prefabricated houses were one means of insuring inexpensive, quick construction to meet these needs. A series of photographs were taken over the course of one day, March 29, 1954, showing Briggs Manufacturing's techniques in building homes. A clock was placed in the left corner of each picture showing at what time the photo was taken so construction progress could be tracked. Two Briggs employees are in the process of putting up plywood forms at 8:15 a.m. Floor has been laid and basic plumbing installed.

Briggs Manufacturing Co. (Tacoma); Building construction; Prefabricated houses; Progress photographs;

Prefabricated housing was one solution to the burgeoning demand for homes in the Puget Sound area after World War II. The cost of erecting a prefabricated home was probably much less than a custom made house and it could be built quickly as well. Briggs Manufacturing Co. specialized in prefabricated buildings. They commissioned a series of photographs tracking the progress of erecting a structure, with the time of day noted in the left corner of each picture. These photographs were taken during the course of a single day, March 29, 1954. An employee of Briggs is shown kneeling on the roof top; there are plywood sections laid out in preparation of roofing. The house is taking shape at 2:00 p.m.; it now shows a one-story rambler style structure with possibly an attached garage.

Briggs Manufacturing Co. (Tacoma); Building construction; Prefabricated houses; Progress photographs;

Triangular flags flap in the wind at the site of a Shell Service Station in a March, 1954, photograph. Two mechanics are inspecting an elevated car inside the garage. There are at least four gas pumps at this station. Tires and other auto accessories can be purchased here as well as gasoline.

Automobile service stations; Gasoline pumps;

The Pierce County area's population was booming in the 1950's; more and more houses were being built to satisfy demand. Consumers found that prefabricated homes could be built quickly and less expensively than custom-made houses. Briggs Manufacturing Co., 3755 South 60th St., specialized in prefabricated housing. A series of photographs was taken in one day, March 29, 1954, to show the speed in which houses could be constructed. Clocks were placed in the corners of these photographs to show the exact time when the photo was taken. Because the location was not identified, it is possible that more than one house was built by Briggs' crews at the same time. In this noon progress photograph, walls are up on apparently two sides of the house, and wooden roof trusses in place.

Briggs Manufacturing Co. (Tacoma); Building construction; Prefabricated houses; Progress photographs;

No workers are in sight in a photograph taken at noontime, on March 29, 1954. The Briggs Manufacturing Co., located at 3755 South 60th St., were builders of prefabricated homes. A series of photographs were taken in one day to show the speed in which a prefabricated home could be put up; clocks were placed in the left corners of each photo to show the time when it was taken. Since this home was built without a basement, there was no need to spend time excavating and laying concrete. It appears that some walls are already in place, with door and window openings. Since the location of the construction is not known, it is possible that more than one home was being built at the same time.

Briggs Manufacturing Co. (Tacoma); Building construction; Prefabricated houses; Progress photographs;

The Briggs Manufacturing Co. specialized in prefabricated homes. These houses could be built more quickly and less expensively than a custom made home. The area's population had been steadily increasing after World War II and prefabricated homes eased the hunger for more housing. To show the speed that prefabricated homes could be constructed, a series of photographs was taken in one day on March 29, 1954. There was a clock placed in the left corner of each picture to show the time of day when it was taken; thus, the progress of the construction could be tracked. View of construction at 9:00 a.m.; some walls are already up while plywood forms are in place on the other sides. Since there was no basement, the time needed to excavate could be eliminated. Because the site of the home was not identified, except to note that it was a heavily wooded lot, it is possible that more than one home was being built on the same day.

Briggs Manufacturing Co. (Tacoma); Building construction; Prefabricated houses; Progress photographs;

The "Auto Clinic" and its "pigeon hole" parking, for Bethlehem Steel Co. This unique parking plan, developed in Spokane, opened in Tacoma 12/7/1953. An hydraulic hoist operating on a track could move cars from level to level and side to side in the multi story parking garage in minutes. The company owned by John T. Long and Mr. Lily Schweizer also offered a full service repair shop, pump station, washing & polishing and auto accessories.

Auto Clinic (Tacoma); Automobile repair--Tacoma--1950-1960; Automobile service stations--Tacoma--1950-1960; Parking garages--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Selden's Inc. had a carpet show in their main store on Broadway in March, 1954. Store employees pictured here on stage hold up samples of drapes and rugs for interested shoppers. Selden's was owned and operated by Sydney C. Selden, Sr., as president and general manager. It specialized in floor coverings but also sold household appliances including televisions, and offered an interior decorating service.

Selden's, Inc. (Tacoma); Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1950-1960; Rugs; Home furnishings stores--Tacoma;