Craig Furniture, Inc., was one of the many Tacoma furniture stores holding open houses in September, 1950, to celebrate the national Home Fashion Time week. Located at 1136 Broadway, Craig Furniture ran a nearly full page ad in the News Tribune on September 24, inviting the public to attend an evening open house. The event helped to attract many browsers who sampled the comforts of national brand furniture and took the time to inspect new freezers and rugs as well. Photograph commissioned by Art Jensen, president of Craig Furniture. (TNT 9-24-50, p. B-7)

Craig Furniture, Inc. (Tacoma); Furniture stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Chairs; Couches; Freezers;

Emerging from the Tacoma White Trucks dealership is a Griffin Fuel Company truck in a photograph taken on August 28, 1950. The White Company of Cleveland, Ohio began building heavy duty trucks and buses in 1900. The Tacoma White Trucks dealership was located at 2719 South Tacoma Way. Frank Buchanan was the president and manager from 1949 until 1954 according to the Tacoma city directory.

Tacoma White Trucks, Inc. (Tacoma); Griffin Fuel Co. (Tacoma); Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1950-1960;

ca. 1950. This photograph of the offices of W. H. Opie Realtors was taken around 1950. The office was located at the intersection of 10th and Pacific Ave., 1001-05 Pacific. The clock in the window upstairs gives the "Knapp College Time" of 2:40. The modernistic structure was built in 1941 and was named the "Anderson Building" after builder Mrs. R.E. Anderson. It is constructed of concrete and crystal glass. Knapp College had occupied the 2nd floor since 1941.

W.H. Opie & Co. (Tacoma); Real estate business--Tacoma; Knapp College (Tacoma);

Exterior view of Washington Hardware Company. Washington Hardware added a 50,000 square foot Wholesale Division at 1247 Puyallup Avenue in 1950. It carried hardware, building materials, tools, shop supplies and sporting goods for sale.

Washington Hardware Co. (Tacoma); Hardware stores--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Shoppers at the self-serve meat department of Park-N-Shop pause to examine the wide variety of meats, fish, and fowl available in August, 1950. Instead of giving an order to a butcher and waiting in line for the order to be filled, the customer could save time by simply selecting from pre-packaged meats. Park-N-Shop was a grocery store located at 9662 Pacific Avenue in Parkland.

Park-N-Shop, Inc. (Parkland); Meat; Grocery stores--Parkland--1950-1960;

Two identical appearing young ladies stand by the Kingan meats display at the Park-N-Shop grocery store in August, 1950. Joy and Joyce both wear ribbons identifying themselves as Kingan queens. Kingan's, out of Seattle, was a meat packing company with an extensive line of hams, wieners, bacon and sausage. Park-N-Shop, located in Parkland, had a self-service meat department where fresh and smoked meats were pre-packaged for shoppers' convenience.

Kingan & Co. (Seattle); Park-N-Shop, Inc. (Parkland); Meat; Showcases; Grocery stores--Parkland--1950-1960;

Mueller-Harkins Motor Company, general view from southwest. Wilsonian Apartments in background at far left of photo. Mueller-Harkins was a Buick dealership owned and operated by Rudolph, John, and Elsie Mueller. As their large sign advertised, new cars could be purchased for $2097 and above and delivered in the Tacoma area. Taxes and license were the buyer's responsibility. Mueller-Harkins also sold quality used cars as well as new models.

Mueller-Harkins Motor Co. (Tacoma); Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Two unidentified employees of Sam's Tire Service are hard at work in the tire recapping department in August, 1950. The man on the left appears to be examining a retreaded tire. Sam's was owned and operated by Samuel Pupo and located at 120 Puyallup Avenue. According to an ad that ran in the News Tribune on September 10, 1950, Mr. Pupo had 31 years of experience in the tire business in Tacoma. His company had added new molds for recapping the new low pressure tires. Sam's Tire Service also offered custom recapping for truckers. (TNT 9-10-50, p. C-14)

Sam's Tire Service (Tacoma); Tires; Tire industry--Tacoma;

Tacoma Auto Parts celebrated the Grand Opening of their new store at the corner of South 25th Street and Pacific Avenue with drawings for door prizes which included a television set, car radio and an automobile sun shield. (TNT, 7/1/1949, p.B-4) TPL-6383

Automobile equipment & supplies stores--Tacoma; Tacoma Auto Parts (Tacoma);

Several shots of visit by Miss Washington to Tacoma, Tacoma Auto Parts, Sam LeBid. Grand Opening of Tacoma Auto Parts. Mayor Val Fawcett with Miss Washington 1949, Libby Aldrich of Kelso, during drawing for door prizes. Boxes of "Hot Water Auto Heaters" stacked under tarp. A crowd looks on from the background. (TNT, 7/1/1949, p.B-4)

Automobile equipment & supplies stores--Tacoma;Tacoma Auto Parts (Tacoma);Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fawcett, Clarence Valdo, 1900-1965; Beauty contestants--Washington; Aldrich, Libby;

Several shots of visit by Miss Washington to Tacoma, Tacoma Auto Parts, Sam LeBid. Grand Opening of Tacoma Auto Parts. Mayor Val Fawcett with Miss Washington 1949, Libby Aldrich of Kelso, wearing a floor-length gown and crown during drawing for door prizes which included a television set, car radio and an automobile sun shield. Boxes of "Hot Water Auto Heaters" stacked under tarp. Crowd in background, banners in windows. (TNT, 7/1/1949, p.B-4)

Automobile equipment & supplies stores--Tacoma;Tacoma Auto Parts (Tacoma);Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fawcett, Clarence Valdo, 1900-1965; Aldrich, Libby;

Several shots of visit by Miss Washington to Tacoma, Tacoma Auto Parts, Sam LeBid. Grand Opening of Tacoma Auto Parts. Mayor Val Fawcett, left in photo, with Miss Washington 1949, Libby Aldrich of Kelso, and an unidentified man. Miss Washington wears a floor-length gown, a crown and a corsage. A crowd stands in the background and banners have been hung in the windows. (TNT, 7/1/1949, p.B-4)

Automobile equipment & supplies stores--Tacoma;Tacoma Auto Parts (Tacoma);Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fawcett, Clarence Valdo, 1900-1965; Beauty contestants--Washington; Aldrich, Libby;

Several homes under construction, Briggs Construction Co., Mr. Spillman. H.A. Briggs was president of Briggs Construction Company, Jack N. Briggs was vice president and Mrs. Ruth D. Briggs was secretary-treasurer. Their offices were at 1107 A Street. This view shows a new neighborhood of one-story, single family homes built to meet the expanding housing market. Briggs Construction Company was considered on the the Northwest's most progressive firms. They held open an open house for prospective buyers on August 7, 1949, at recently completed units in the Parkland and Fairmount Additions in Tacoma. (TNT, 8/7/1949, p.A-12)

Briggs Construction Co. (Tacoma); Houses--Tacoma--1940-1950; Building construction--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Several homes under construction, Briggs Construction Co., Mr. Spillman. A residential street with a row of newly constructed one-story, single family homes is shown. The front yards have new lawns started but few other plants. Two girls are having fun skating on the smooth sidewalk. The Briggs Construction Company had completed 64 homes in the Fairmount Park Addition and 38 in the Parkland Addition. These homes provided every convenience and were conventionally built with concrete foundations, 2'x8" Douglas Fir flooring joists, oak flooring, pitched roofs with 210 pound thick butt asphalt shingles. (TNT, 8/7/1949, p.A-13)

Briggs Construction Co. (Tacoma); Houses--Tacoma--1940-1950; Building construction--Tacoma--1940-1950; Roller skating--Tacoma--1940-1950; Children playing outdoors--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Several homes under construction, Briggs Construction Co., Mr. Spillman. A man works spreading top soil for a yard at the newly completed one-story, single family home. A baby stroller is sitting on the front step. The walkway curves from the sidewalk. An older house is seen on the right. Briggs-built homes were available in several price brackets as low as $6,300 for a complete two-bedroom home with $300 down and $35.78 per month to $7,250 for a three-bedroom home. (TNT, 8/7/1949, p.A-12)

Briggs Construction Co. (Tacoma); Houses--Tacoma--1940-1950; Building construction--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Blocks used for sidewalks on Consumer's Central Heating System at Pierce County Court House, Holroyd Company, Jim Holroyd. A workman is laying concrete blocks on either side of the pipe that provided steam throughout much of downtown Tacoma using an underground distribution system. The central generating plant used hogged fuel (mill refuse) from local sawmills. (TDL, 5/26/1931)

Holroyd Co. (Tacoma); Consumer's Central Heating Co. (Tacoma); Building materials--Tacoma; Concrete products industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Heating & ventilation industry--Tacoma--1940-1950;

New telephone booths in lobby of Hotel Winthrop, Pacific Telephone & Telegraph, Sales Dept., Morris Hickey. Three telephone booths are seen on the right side and three more are on the left. An open telephone book is provided at the opening at the back. The lower portion of the stand is decorated with nail studs through a leather-like material.

Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Co. (Tacoma); Telephone booths--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Blocks used for sidewalks on Consumer's Central Heating System at Pierce County Court House, Holroyd Company, Jim Holroyd. A workman is backfilling the trench for the Consumer's Central Heating Company pipe that had been lined with concrete blocks to provide easy access to the pipe. The area where the pipe ran is covered with a sturdy material.

Holroyd Co. (Tacoma); Consumer's Central Heating Co. (Tacoma); Building materials--Tacoma; Concrete products industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Heating & ventilation industry--Tacoma--1940-1950;

New home at North 14th and Washington Streets, Holroyd Company, Jim Holroyd. A one-story, single family residence is near completion. It has a cedar shake roof, large picture windows and a two-car garage. A brick planter has been built near the front door under one of the windows.

Holroyd Co. (Tacoma); Houses--Tacoma--1940-1950; Concrete products industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Building construction--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Concrete blocks for protection around new water meter at 7th & Commerce, Holroyd Company, Jim Holroyd. A barricade has been build around an underground water meter with concrete blocks at the corner of one of the sidewalks in downtown Tacoma. The sidewalk has been torn out to expose the water line.

Holroyd Co. (Tacoma); Water supply--Tacoma; Water use--Tacoma; Concrete products industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Building materials;

A team of technicians, contractors and factory representatives were on hand in July of 1949 when the new 16 ton vault door was installed at the Pacific First Federal Savings and Loan Association, 1102-08 Pacific Ave. Transporting and installing the huge 32,000 pound steel door for the new safe deposit vault was a ticklish operation. The massive, complicated mechanism contained hundreds of gears, tumblers, wheels and other assorted gadgets. The door was 27 inches thick and approximately 8 feet square. In spite of its bulk and weight, it swung with ease. Shown installing the door, starting with the second man on the left, are Joseph Iko (kneeling), foreman in charge of transporting the door; M.L. Larson, contractor; J.T. Downs (on ladder), the manufacturer's representative, and James Opalecky, factory technician in charge of installing the door. The gentleman on the far left was not identified. (TNT, 7/30/1949, p.32) Condon Co., Kay Shinn

Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan Association (Tacoma); Vaults (Strong rooms)--Tacoma; Banks--Tacoma; Iko, Joseph; Larson, M.L.; Downs, J.T.; Opalecky, James;

Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan, DPFA. Pacific 1st Federal Savings adds a new safe deposit vault during modernization of their facilities. Unprecedented growth of savings and loan associations during the 1950s provided funding for construction and new homes. Many of the new homes were financed through government FHA and VA loans created for veterans of World War II and the Korean War.

Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan Association (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma;

Exterior of new building at Center and Lawrence, Titus Manufacturing Company, Mr. Leon Titus. When demand for rebuilt engines increased in July 1946, Titus Motor Company restructured their engine rebuilding department which became Titus Manufacturing Company. They had continued at 624 Broadway until 1949 but now have moved into their new facilities at Center and Lawrence Streets in Nalley Valley. A large Ford truck is parked in front of the loading dock.

Titus Manufacturing Co. (Tacoma); Vehicle maintenance & repair--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Progress shots of Washington Hardware Building under construction. Signs at the construction site announce Strom Construction Company as the general contractor, Lance McGuire & Mure as architects. Walls are going up as the reinforced concrete forms are in place, supported by sticks of lumber. A portion of the wall on the far side has been poured and forms taken away. A workman's shack is seen in the foreground. (TNT, 7/3/1949, p.A-11)

Washington Hardware Co. (Tacoma); Reinforced concrete construction--Tacoma--1940-1950; Progress photographs; Strom Construction Co. (Tacoma);

Tacoma Savings and Loan, 50th Anniversary, Mr. William Hopping, Sr.Group portrait of Tacoma Savings & Loan Association staff. Unprecedented growth of savings and loan associations during the 1950s provides funding for construction and new homes. In this industry, men predominated as officers and managers. Although some in the industry were progressive, it would be more than two decades before the Women's Rights Movement prompted the banking and finance industries to promote women to management. Standing on the far right is Howard R. Goold, one of the directors, and next to him is Raymond Winden, secretary-treasurer of the thrift.

Tacoma Savings & Loan Association (Tacoma)--People; Banks--Tacoma; Lobbies--Tacoma--1940-1950; Anniversaries--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Tacoma Savings and Loan, 50th Anniversary, Mr. William Hopping, Sr. The Tacoma Savings and Loan celebrated its 50th anniversary with a newly remodeled, modern and greatly enlarged facilities at South 9th and A Streets. The savings and loan had started with the tiny capital of fifteen $20 gold pieces which had grown over the 50 years to more than $10 million. The floor plan of the remodeled facilities left all offices open to the public in keeping with the savings and loan's standard of friendliness. (TNT,6/27/1949, p.5)

Tacoma Savings & Loan Association (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Lobbies--Tacoma--1940-1950; Anniversaries--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Removing plywood forms on new Washington Hardware Building, DFPA, McCallum. Workmen are loading the plywood forms onto a truck. Washington Hardware was expanding by adding a wholesale and industrial users' warehouse on Puyallup Avenue. The retail and sports' shop that had been in operation 65 years remained at 918-24 Pacific. The new warehouse would have 50,000 square feet one one floor. (TNT, 7/3/1949, p.A-11)

Washington Hardware Co. (Tacoma); Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma); Building construction--Tacoma--1940-1950; Reinforced concrete construction--Tacoma--1940-1950; Plywood; Trucks--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Several views of new floor furnace, Heatlox Furnaces, Inc. Harry V. Smith served as president of Heatlox Furnaces, D.H. Powers was vice-president and E.J. Watson was Chairman of the Board in 1949. A view inside the plant shows a row of the new design of furnace manufactured by the company. The company manufactured several types of heating systems and offered "Minneapolis-Honeywell" controls.

Heatlox Furnaces, Inc. (Tacoma); Furnaces--Tacoma--1940-1950; Heating & ventilation industry--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Exterior of store, Burrough's Adding Machine Company. Burrough's had two sales representatives at their Tacoma location, R.F. Spiegle and J.L. Gockel. This exterior view of their commercial outlet shows the facility at night with interior lighting highlighting the most modern in office machines. Pyramids of adding machine tap decorate the windows.

Burrough's Adding Machine Co. (Tacoma); Facades--Tacoma--1940-1950; Store fronts--1940-1950; Stores & shops--Tacoma--1940-1950; Calculators; Office equipment & supplies; Window displays--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Resaw, I.W. Johnson, Chuck Rowland. I.W. Johnson were considered specialists in designing and manufacturing machines needed in the sawmills and lumber industry of the Pacific Northwest. This resaw has large wheels at both the top and the bottom to operate a continuous blade to cut lumber similar to a band saw.

I.W. Johnson Engineering Co. (Tacoma); Machinery industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Engineering--Tacoma--1940-1950; Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950;