A display of Tacoma industries and their products is on view in the lobby at the National Bank of Washington for World Trade Week in May of 1950. Model ships built by N.C. Garrison line the upper molding above the teller's cages. Flags from many countries hang across the back of the lobby. The display featured the American Smelting and Refining Co., Carstens Packing Co., General Hardwood Co., General Mills, F.C. Wolf and Son and Wood Coffee Co. (TNT, 5/24/1950, p.26)

Banks--Tacoma; Banking--Tacoma--1940-1950; National Bank of Washington (Tacoma); Lobbies--Tacoma--1940-1950; Model ships; Commerce;

N.C. Garrison sat on a ladder as he helped prepare the display of 30 of his model ships in the lobby at the National Bank of Washington, 1123 Pacific Ave., for World Trade Week in May of 1950. Mr. Garrison had been building ship models since 1929 and this was the first complete display of his models. Among the models on display were "Old Ironsides," the "Pocahontas" and the "Beaver," which was the first steamship on the Pacific Ocean and was seen on Puget Sound for 50 years. (TNT, 5/24/1950, p.26) Ordered by Mrs. Lindquist. TPL-5044

Banks--Tacoma; Banking--Tacoma--1940-1950; National Bank of Washington (Tacoma); Lobbies--Tacoma--1940-1950; Model ships; Garrison, N.C.;

The new W.P Fuller truck for delivery of Fuller Paints is shown with a rear hoist that closes into a partial back door and a canvas flap to cover the upper part of the back. The truck has the name of the company on the cab door and advertises the paint, glass and wallpaper on the rear. Ordered by Irwin-Jones, Mr. W. Dunlop.

W.P. Fuller & Co. (Tacoma); Paint industry--Tacoma; Trucks--Tacoma--1950-1960; Irwin-Jones Motor Co. (Tacoma);

Employees and their families smile for the camera in this publicity picture for the Grand Opening of Western Builders at 1702 6th Ave. Western Builders was a roofing, siding and insulation company owned by Fred Wilvers and G.W. Thompson. Western was the exclusive franchised applicator for Johns-Manville blown rock wool insulation. This picture was captured at what the ad claims was an "informal party." The group appears to be posed in the company's warehouse. (TNT 4/23/1950, pg. C 15- ad)

Western Builders (Tacoma); Warehouses--Tacoma--1950-1960; Group portraits;

Puget Sound Furniture window featuring mattresses. The store joined in celebrating National Sleep Show Week April 19-26, 1950. Ordered by American Weekly, Hearst Building, San Francisco.

Puget Sound Furniture Co. (Tacoma); Furniture stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Window displays--Tacoma--1950-1960; Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1950-1960; Home furnishings stores--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Mueller-Harkins' new used car sales building on Saint Helens. The used automobiles are covered by a roof with the sides open to protect and show their inventory. Ordered by the Condon Company, Kay Shinn.

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

The Mueller-Harkins Buick dealership added a new used car sales building on Saint Helens next to their large display and service facilities in 1950. The used automobiles are nosed towards the street to show passers-by the current inventory. Condon Company, Kay Shinn.

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

An interior view of the showroom at B.F. Goodrich Company's Tacoma store looking towards the front of the store. They feature a wide variety of home appliances, bicycles, tricycles, wagons, and lawn mowers in addition to automobile tires, batteries and accessories.

B.F. Goodrich Co. (Tacoma); Automobile equipment & supplies stores--Tacoma; Appliance stores--Tacoma;

An interior view of the showroom at B.F. Goodrich Company's Tacoma store. They feature a wide variety of home appliances, bicycles, tricycles, wagons, and lawn mowers in addition to automobile tires, batteries and accessories. Banners span the ceiling and a sign in the back announces their "Grand Opening".

B.F. Goodrich Co. (Tacoma); Automobile equipment & supplies stores--Tacoma; Appliance stores--Tacoma;

The interior view of the drive-thru tire service area at B.F. Goodrich Company's Tacoma store. A large Buick is parked to the left. Tires fill bins and are stacked along both sides of the drive way. A vending machine on the left is stamped "Canteen" along the top.

B.F. Goodrich Co. (Tacoma); Automobile equipment & supplies stores--Tacoma; Tires; Automobiles--Tacoma--1950-1960; Buick automobile;

A luncheon meeting at the Top of the Ocean was one of the highlights of the annual convention of the Washington State Council of Administrative Women in Education held in Tacoma April 21 and 22, 1950. Visitors came from each of the five branch organizations within Washington. Ordered by Miss Mildred White, President of the Tacoma branch, a concultant in elementary education for Pierce County schools. Names are listed in the newspaper. (TNT, 4/21/1950, p.C-5; 4/26/1950, p.12)

Top of the Ocean (Tacoma); Hats--1950-1960; Women--Tacoma--1940-1950; Washington State Council of Administrative Women in Education (Tacoma); Meetings--Tacoma--1950-1960;

A group of thirteen people from the Federation of Garden Clubs met at the Top of the Ocean. Ordered by Mrs. Fred Gordon.

Top of the Ocean (Tacoma); Meetings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Washington State Federation of Garden Clubs (Tacoma);

The Dixie Ball was the Spinster Club's annual spring event, this year with a "Gone with the Wind" theme. The Ball was held at the New Yorker Cafe's Rainbow Room. A spotlight focused on life-sized mammy and pappy dolls and miniature mammy dolls decorated the tables. Patrons and patronesses were Mr. and Mrs. G.R. Waiss, Mrs. Anna Ryan and Michael Harris. Two couples smile from across one of the tables. A brown paper bag is seen on the table along with bowls of ice, glasses and ash trays. Ordered by Tribune, Barbara Dana. (TNT, 4/24/1950, p.5; 4/30/1950, p.D-6)

New Yorker Cafe (Tacoma); Parties--Tacoma; Single women; Women--Clubs--Tacoma--1940-1950; Spinster Club (Tacoma);

In May of 1950, Mrs. Gordon Giles was the winner of the Musical Bingo contest broadcast on radio station KTBI. Mrs. Giles recieved her prizes from Arthur K. Jordan (center), owner of Jordan Baking Company , sponsor of the program, and Ed Lovelace, manager of KTBI. Her prizes included a Wittnauer watch, a pearl necklace, a fountain pen and pencil set, a pipe, Arpege perfume, and the board game "Challenge". The program was heard daily over KTBI and the Liberty Broadcasting System. In 1950, KTBI broadcast from their studio at 2715 Center Street. (TNT, 6/8/1950, p.B-3) TPL-8270

Jordan Baking Co. (Tacoma); Awards; Bakeries--Tacoma; Jordan, Arthur K.; Radio broadcasting--Tacoma; KTBI Radio Broadcasting Station (Tacoma);

This is the proud contest winner at the Music Box Theater happily posing with a new Westinghouse Rancho range. The electric stove has four burners, all on one side, an oven with a storage drawer underneath and an open area under the burners that has been labeld as "Tuck-Away" room. Ordered by Ross Schmidt.

Motion picture theaters--Tacoma; Music Box Theatre (Tacoma); Stoves--Tacoma--1950-1960; Contests--Tacoma--1950-1960;

In April of 1950 Nezzer J. "Nez" DuCharme (far right) took over the service station at 1548 Pacific Avenue and opened a new Mobiloil Station. His new station was 10 blocks north of the station that he opened just after WWII at 2601 Pacific. Helping to man the pumps were: (l to r) Bud DuCharme, Bob Morgan and Bob Bender, advertised as the "Busy B's." The station sold a full line of Mobil products including gas, tires, tubes, batteries, accessories. The "Busy Bs" also did tire repairs, battery charging, and car washing and polishing with pick up and delivery service. (Ad TNT 4/14/1950, pg. 27)

Automobile service stations--Tacoma--1950-1960; Gasoline pumps--Tacoma--1950-1960; Nez DuCharme & Sons Depot Service Station (Tacoma); Uniforms; DuCharme, Nezzer J.; DuCharme, Bud; Morgan, Bob; Bender, Bob;

J.F. Shank's Shell station at South 38th and Thompson Avenue is shown with a separate building for automobile repairs. Gasoline pumps stand in front of the sales booth where tires have been hung in the windows. A very small, square-backed vehicle is parked by the sales booth. Ordered by Shell Oil Company, Mr. Holms.

Automobile service stations--Tacoma--1940-1950; J.F. Shank's Shell Station (Tacoma); Automobiles--Tacoma--1950-1960; Gasoline pumps--Tacoma--1940-1950; Vehicle maintenance & repair--Tacoma--1940-1950;

A view of the lobby of the National Bank of Washington with a tulip display from the mezzanine. More bouquets of tulips stand along the shelf at the top of the tellers' cages. Pilasters along two walls lead to arches at the ceiling that cover the wide lobby. Customers are seen at the teller windows and the two counters at the middle of the room. Ordered by Mrs. Lindquist.

Banks--Tacoma; Banking--Tacoma--1940-1950; National Bank of Washington (Tacoma); Lobbies--Tacoma--1940-1950;

The newest in automotive beauty and power was posed with the old in this photograph taken in front of the Mueller-Harkins Buick dealership at 455 Saint Helens Avenue on May 4, 1950. The car on the left is a 1950 Buick Eight sporting a "bumper guard grill"; the car to the right is a Model 31 Buick that was manufactured in 1912. The vintage Buick had been driven to Tacoma from Olympia during Olympia Centennial Week by its owner Cecil Barker, a Buick dealer in Olympia. The modern Mueller-Harkins dealership on St. Helens had opened at the end of 1948; today it is home to the U.S.A. of Yesterday Motor Car Company. (Ordered by the Condon Company, K. Shinn.)

Automobile Dealerships--Tacoma; Mueller-Harkins Motor Co. (Tacoma); Centennial celebrations--Olympia; Buick automobile; Automobile radiator ornaments;

An antique 1913 Buick touring car representing the City of Olympia's Centennial was driven to Mueller-Harkins Buick dealership in Tacoma. The people are L-R, Charles Barker, Mrs. Cecil Barker, Cecil Barker, R.A. Mueller and Mrs. Charles Barker. The 1913 Buick has spoked wheels, a windshield that was split horizontally and could be folded into either an up or down position, and a fabric top that may be removable. It took one and three-quarters hours to travel the 30 miles from Olympia to Tacoma in the old automobile. (TNT, 5/8/1950, p.2) TPL-6589

Automobile Dealerships--Tacoma; Mueller-Harkins Motor Co. (Tacoma); Centennial celebrations--Olympia; Buick automobile; Barker, Cecil--Family; Barker, Charles--Family; Mueller, Rudolph A.;

Smith's Shell Station is shown with a separate building for automobile repairs. Gasoline pumps stand in front of the sales booth. A gasoline service station had been at this location since 1929. A billboard advertising Shell products stands along the property line on the right. Ordered by Shell Oil Company, Mr. Holms.

Automobile service stations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Smith's Shell Station (Tacoma); Gasoline pumps--Tacoma--1940-1950; Billboards--Tacoma; Vehicle maintenance & repair--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Nez DuCharme & Sons Depot Service Station at its new location 1548 Pacific Avenue. A gas station attendant services a car in the driveway; filling the car with gas, checking under the hood, and cleaning the windows. The station was large and had a repair shop and oil change location to the right. A weathervane checks the direction of the wind from atop the gable of this unique building. (Ad TNT 4/14/1950, pg. 27)

Automobile service stations--Tacoma--1950-1960; Gasoline pumps--Tacoma--1950-1960; Nez DuCharme & Sons Depot Service Station (Tacoma); Automobiles--Tacoma--1950-1960;

The "noon rush" filled the booths, tables and counter space at Peters' Golden Gate Oyster House, 1122 Pacific Avenue, in February of 1950. The restaurant, in the heart of Tacoma's financial and office building district, was owned and operated by Gus and Mike Peters. The brothers came to Tacoma from the Island of Crete in Greece in 1912 and entered the restaurant and seafood catering business while still teenagers. Gus Peters' original Greek name was believed to be Paneoto Constantine Rodakalikis. They had owned and operated restaurants in Tacoma for 26 years when they opened this new cafe in 1948. It was open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. (TNT 12/9/1948 p.B-9) (Additional information provided by a reader)

Restaurants--Tacoma--1950-1960; Eating & drinking--Tacoma--1950-1960; Counters--Tacoma--1950-1960; Restaurant workers--Tacoma--1950-1960; Waitresses--Tacoma--1950-1960; Peters Golden Gate Oyster House (Tacoma);

Tietz Construction Inc. display board from their exhibit at the second annual Greater Tacoma Home Show, March 21-26, 1950, at the College of Puget Sound fieldhouse. The sign displays pictures of some of the homes designed and built by the company. Richards Studio did the photography on most of these pictures. The construction industry was very busy in 1950, with many new housing additions being built. Most single family homes were 2-3 bedrooms and sold from $6500 - $8000.

Tietz Construction Inc. (Lakewood); Greater Tacoma Home Show (Tacoma); Construction Industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Exhibitions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Exhibit booths--Tacoma;

A night shot of the display windows and showroom floor at Hawk Motor Company, 204 Pioneer Ave. E. in Puyallup. The Oldsmobile Sales and Service center was owned by William S. Hawk. The new 1950 model Olds beckon from the showroom window. With a shortage of the new model cars, dealers scrambled to fill orders.

Hawk Motor Co. (Puyallup); Showrooms; Show windows--Tacoma; Window displays--Tacoma--1950-1960; Automobile dealerships--Puyallup--1950-1960;

Booth at the second annual Greater Tacoma Home Show for Holroyd Co., 5047 So. Washington, manufacturers of concrete masonry units. The shelves at the back of the exhibit hold Holroyd concrete blocks in many shapes and forms that are used for construction. At either side of the booth, tables are set up with photographs of homes and construction sites utilizing the masonry units and forms for goers to request further information. The focal point of the display is a masonry fireplace.

Holroyd Co. (Tacoma); Exhibitions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Exhibit booths--Tacoma; Building materials industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Construction industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Fireplaces--Tacoma--1950-1960; Greater Tacoma Home Show (Tacoma);

New neon sign lights up the night over the entrance to Rhodes, Tacoma's largest department store at 11th and Broadway. Rhodes was founded in 1892 by Henry A. Rhodes as a tea and coffee shop. The small shop operated in various downtown locations until it opened at its Broadway location in 1903 as a grand department store, on the model of Wanamaker's or Marshall Fields. The store continued to expand until 1925 when Henry Rhodes retired and the family business was sold. The store eventually became part of the Western Department store chain, until it closed in 1974.

Rhodes Brothers Department Store (Tacoma); Department stores--Tacoma; Electric signs--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Interior of Gambles Western Auto Supply Co. store at 8104 South Tacoma Way during their Grand Opening. In addition to auto supplies, the store also sold housewares and appliances, such as the wringer washer on the right hand side. Flexible flyer wagons line up under the windows. Prominent in the foreground of the picture are kitchen aids- mixers, irons, hot plate, pans and baking pans.

Gambles Western Auto Supply Co. (Tacoma); Automobile equipment & supplies stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Stores & shops--Tacoma--1950-1960;

The sales room at Mayberry Auto Parts, 1934 Market St., the "Tool House." Mayberry Auto Parts was both a wholesale and retail seller of auto parts, tools and equipment with a complete machine shop. A complete line of auto tools, including Bonney and Herbrand brands, are displayed behind and in front of the display cases.

Automobile equipment & supplies stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Automobile equipment & supplies; Mayberry Motor Parts, Inc. (Tacoma);

Ray W. Perkins and his son, John Bachmann, celebrated the Grand Opening of the new Gambles Western Auto Supply Co. store at 8104 South Tacoma Way in March of 1950. Mr. Perkins, a veteran of WWI and free-lance writer, had moved to Pierce County in the early 1940s. By the time of his death in 1981, Mr. Perkins and his wife had reared 23 foster children.

Gambles Western Auto Supply Co. (Tacoma); Automobile equipment & supplies stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Stores & shops--Tacoma--1950-1960;