Their feet resting on a snow bank, the employees of the Sepic Electric and Furniture Company store at 1301 South K Street (now Martin Luther King Jr. Way) posed for a group portrait in February of 1950. Sepic's advertised that they had qualified, experienced employees in each and every department. They had recently completed a modernization of their store and had 10,000 square feet of floor space with complete stocks of both furniture and appliances, and a new floor covering department. Fred Sepic is seated in the front row next to a young woman employee, second from the left; Stan Sepic is seated second from the right. Ordered by Stan Sepic. (TNT, 2/14/1950, p.D-14) TPL-8364

Sepic Electric Co. (Tacoma); Furniture stores--Tacoma--1940-1950; Appliance stores--Tacoma--1940-1950;

The Parkland Branch of the National Bank of Washington was located at the corner of Pacific Avenue and South 112th. The building was recently completed. Architectural studies, ordered by Lea, Pearson & Richards, Charles Pearson.

National Bank of Washington (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Banking--Tacoma--1940-1950; Architectural drawings; Architects; Lea, Pearson & Richards (Tacoma);

A group portrait of the 1950 Industrial Bureau of the Tacoma Chamber of Commerce taken at their luncheon at the New Yorker. Thirty seven men have attended the luncheon January 20, 1950. Howard D. Norris served as chairman for the year 1950. Names of those attending are printed along the bottom of the photograph. TPL-8767

Tacoma Chamber of Commerce (Tacoma); New Yorker Cafe (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1950-1960; Group portraits;

Tacoma Auto Sales, new 1949 Pontiacs, Mr. Bryson Gardner. Tacoma Auto Sales Company, Pontiac and Cadillac dealers, general view of showroom with customers admiring the 1949 Pontiacs. Tacoma Auto Sales advertised "Stream-Sweep fenders, automatic driving ease, and straight-eight or V-6 engines". (TNT, 2/13/1949, p.B-2)

Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Pontiac automobile; Tacoma Auto Sales Co. (Tacoma);

Industrial edition, Banks, Times, Buzz. A view of the exterior of the Bank of California built in 1928 of Wilkeson sandstone and granite. The four ionic columns, which cost $3,500 each to build, stretch three stories up the front of the building. There were numerous banks and savings and loans with their headquarters in Tacoma at this time and they played an important role in the development of industry and the construction of buildings and homes in the area. (T.Times, 2/25/1949, p.12)

Bank of California National Association (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Columns--Tacoma; Business districts--Tacoma;

Tacoma Auto Sales, new 1949 Pontiacs, Mr. Bryson Gardner. A general view of the showroom at Tacoma Auto Sales Company, Pontiac and Cadilac dealers, with customers admiring the 1949 Pontiacs. Tacoma Auto Sales reported that more than 7,500 persons had visited the showroom during the first four days of the initial showing of the new 1949 Pontiacs. (TNT, 2/3/1949, p.12)

Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Pontiac automobile; Tacoma Auto Sales Co. (Tacoma);

Tacoma Auto Sales, new 1949 Pontiacs, Mr. Bryson Gardner. A night view of the exterior of Tacoma Auto Sales Company, Pontiac and Cadillac dealers, with a four-door 1949 Pontiac Chieftain Sedan parked at an angle in front. Neon signs are placed on the facade and the showroom windows have been painted over with a scene of a fence and barn with characters "peeking" at the new 1949s. New models were to be kept secret until they were revealed at the same time all over the United States. (TNT, 2/3/1949, p.12)

Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Pontiac automobile; Tacoma Auto Sales Co. (Tacoma); Electric signs--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Cutting a 1,000 pound cake at Big Bear Store, Big Bear Store, Don Taylor. A five-tier cake stands next to a towering display of cake mix inside the Big Bear Store on February 17, 1949. A teddy bear sits on top of the enormous cake made with Swans Down Instant cake mix. The Big Bear grocery store was celebrating its first anniversary with many promotions including free Wood's coffee and slices of this enormous cake. The cake was 5-ft. by 8-ft. at its base and rose to a height of over 5 1/2 feet. Even more enticing to shoppers was the chance to win valuable prizes--inside the cake were encapsuled prize slips which entitled winners to a $400 television set, free coffee makers and free shopping bags full of groceries from Big Bear. The store was managed by Don Taylor. (TNT Ad - 2-17-1949, p. 5; TNT 2-17-1949, p. 25, article only)

Big Bear Stores (Tacoma); Grocery stores--Tacoma--1940-1950; Cakes--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Cutting a 1,000 pound cake at Big Bear Store, Big Bear Store, Don Taylor. Two young men stand with the enormous cake made with Swans Down Instant cake mix and Medosweet milk created especially for the first anniversary of the Big Bear grocery store on February 17, 1949. The cake was 5' x 8' at the base and stood over 5 1/2 feet high. It took over 120 pounds of icing to cover the cake. Inside the cake were prize slips in capsules which entitled the winner(s) to a $400 television, free coffee makers and shopping bags full of groceries. The woman shopper has already decided to try the cake mix as she holds a box in her hand and has another box in her cart. (TNT Ad - 2-17-1949, p. 5; TNT 2-17-1949, p. 25-article only)

Big Bear Stores (Tacoma); Grocery stores--Tacoma--1940-1950; Cakes--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Winthrop Motor Company, Plymouth and De Soto dealers. General view of the showroom with a crowd admiring a 1949 De Soto as a salesman shows off the engine. Neon signs hang in the windows, one announcing Diamond T Trucks, and advertising signs and banners in showroom.

Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; DeSoto automobile; Winthrop Motor Co. (Tacoma); Electric signs--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Tacoma Auto Sales, new 1949 Pontiacs, Mr. Bryson Gardner. A night view of the agency with a 1949 Pontiac parked at curb including the neon signs on the facade, showroom windows painted over with a scene of a fence and barn with characters taking a look at the new 1949 Pontiacs.

Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Pontiac automobile; Tacoma Auto Sales Co. (Tacoma); Electric signs--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Tacoma Auto Sales, new 1949 Pontiacs, Mr. Bryson Gardner. A close up of the showroom windows painted over with a scene of a fence and barn with characters "peeking" at the new 1949 Pontiacs. A medallion bearing the profile of Chief Pontiac is in window above painting.

Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Pontiac automobile; Tacoma Auto Sales Co. (Tacoma); Window displays--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Comus Club dance at Winthrop Hotel, circus theme, Tribune, Mrs. Hosmer. The Comus Club held their February dance, the "Comus Circus," at the Hotel Winthrop February 19, 1949. The welcoming committee is seen at the main entrance to the dance party, L-R, Ethelyn and Joseph Baker, Al and Florence Kemp, Mr. and Mrs. Roscoe Miller, Mr. and Mrs. Harold Peters, and James A. and Verona J. Melbostad. (TNT, 2/27/1949, p.D-1)

Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Comus Club (Tacoma); Clubs--Tacoma--1940-1950; Dance parties--Tacoma--1940-1950; Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1940-1950; Baker, Joseph; Baker, Ethelyn; Kemp, Al; Kemp, Florence; Miller, Roscoe; Peters, Harold;

Comus Club dance at Winthrop Hotel, circus theme, Tribune, Mrs. Hosmer. The Comus Club held their February dance, the "Comus Circus," at the Hotel Winthrop February 19, 1949. Choosing favors at the circus table are, L-R, Erma Otto, Elmer H. Otto, William Webber, and Ann B. Webber. (TNT, 2/27/1949, p.D-1)

Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Comus Club (Tacoma); Clubs--Tacoma--1940-1950; Dance parties--Tacoma--1940-1950; Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1940-1950; Otto, Erma; Otto, Elmer H.; Webber, William; Webber, Ann B.;

Pickup trucks delivering small drums, Griffin Fuel Company, Otto Salverson. Heavy trucks were banned on county oil mat or gravel roads because of poor road conditions after winter damage. To provide needed fuel oil Griffin Fuel Company brought out an emergency "thaw" service with a fleet of pickup trucks served by tanker trucks stationed at strategic points to deliver oil to rural homes cut off by the ban.Two Griffin employees are placing a large drum in the back of a panel truck. (T.Times, 2/20/1949, p.36) TPL-9844

Griffin Fuel Co. (Tacoma)--Employees; Trucks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Streets--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Pickup trucks delivering small drums, Griffin Fuel Company, Otto Salverson. Heavy trucks were banned on county oil mat or gravel roads because of poor road conditions after winter damage. To provide needed fuel oil Griffin Fuel Company brought out an emergency "thaw" service with a fleet of pickup trucks served by tanker trucks stationed at strategic points to deliver oil to rural homes cut off by the ban. Seen here is a 1912 model White truck with a large barrel in the back being filled by Griffin employees. (T.Times, 2/20/1949, p.36) TPL-9960

Griffin Fuel Co. (Tacoma)--Employees; Trucks--Tacoma--1940-1950; White trucks; Streets--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Comus Club dance at Winthrop Hotel, circus theme, Tribune, Mrs. Hosmer. The Comus Club held their February dance, the "Comus Circus," at the Hotel Winthrop February 19, 1949. A thoroughly amused group stands below a circus rider, L-R, Edgar J. and Mary E. Murnen, Mr. and Mrs. E.D. Thompson, and Arleyne I. and Russell W. Ross. (TNT, 2/27/1949, p.D-1)

Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Comus Club (Tacoma); Dance parties--Tacoma--1940-1950; Women--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1940-1950; Murnen, Edgar J.; Murnen, Mary E.; Thompson, E.D.--Family; Ross, Russell W.; Ross, Arleyne I.;

Ted Grunden, Tacoma's singing barber, locks the door of his barber shop in the Olympus Hotel with the tools of his trade held under his arm. After working 19 years at the same spot he relocated to the Riviera Barber Shop down the street at 908 Pacific Avenue. The Olympus Hotel was expanding their present tavern into a cocktail lounge. Ted Gunden had been the unofficial barber for the Tacoma Times employees for many of those 19 years. Taken for Prescott, Tacoma Times. (T.Times, 2/27/1949, p.36) TLP-6386

Olympus Hotel (Tacoma); Hotels--Tacoma--1940-1950; Gunden, Ted; Barbers--Tacoma; Barbershops--Tacoma;

Industrial edition, Banks, Times, Buzz. A view of the exterior of the National Bank of Washington. The building, designed by Sutton, Whitney and Dugan architects, was built of Wilkeson sandstone in 1921. The building became the home of the Tacoma Art Museum in May 1971 and contained the Dr. Lester S. Baskin Hall, Sara Little Center for Design Research, Helen B. Murray Gallery. TPL-9203

National Bank of Washington (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Tacoma Art Museum (Tacoma); Business districts--Tacoma;

Industrial edition, Banks, Times, Buzz. A view of the exterior of the Pacific 1st Federal. Merchants National Bank had stood at this location from 1890. The name of the building was changed to the Equitable Building in 1898. In 1922 it became the home of the Pacific Savings and Loan Association and the name was changed again in 1939 to become Pacific First Federal Savings and Loan Association. The appearance of the building changed significantly when the cornice, damaged in the 1949 earthquake, had to come down.

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

Crowd at Selden's Rug Show, Selden's, Mrs. Selden. Selden's took part in the nationwide rug fashion show held in early March 1949. The carpet fashion show coincided with Selden's 9th anniversary. Two members of the staff hold a rug sample board and drapery fabric on the right.

Selden's, Inc. (Tacoma); Rugs;

Crowd at Selden's Rug Show, Selden's, Mrs. Selden. An organist plays while a member of Selden's staff shows rug and drapery samples to a crowd at Selden's rug show. Large rolls of carpeting hang against the far wall.

Selden's, Inc. (Tacoma); Rugs;

Mrs. Longstreth Curtis and four children, (l to r) Carolyn Ketring, Nancy Long, Jay Smalling and Penny Long, gaze in wonder and admiration at the "Snow Maiden" created by Tacoma sculptor Andrew Bergaloff in February of 1949. Mr. Bergaloff, a student of Kenn Glenn at the College of Puget Sound, had been hired by the Tacoma Junior League to chisel an ice statue to be used for a children's theater production of the Grimm story "The Snow Maiden." He created the statue in a zero degree room at the Tacoma Ice Company building at 2602 Holgate. The ice maiden was kept in storage until March when she was transported to the Temple Theater for unveiling. (T.Times, 2/20/1949, p.25) TPL-9389

Tacoma Ice Co. (Tacoma); Bergaloff, Andrew; Ice sculpture--Tacoma--1940-1950; Junior League (Tacoma); Curtis, Longstreth--Family; Ketring, Carolyn; Long, Nancy; Smalling, Jay; Long, Penny;

Selden's interior of model kitchen, Selden's, Mr. Plat. Selden's displayed a model kitchen showing all that was modern in post-war America at the end of the 1940s. An electric range and refrigerator stand side-by-side. Cupboards with a shiny, bright, white surface line two wals.

Selden's, Inc. (Tacoma); Kitchens--Tacoma--1940-1950; Stoves--Tacoma--1940-1950; Appliances; Refrigerators;

Seldens Rug Display, Times Display Ads, Dick Tilton. Walter Kelly, the rug buyer at Selden's, is showing customers the newest carpet fashions. Selden's had been specializing in floor coverings for years and had made extensive plans for celebrating the first annual National Carpet Fashion Week opening Marcn 1, 1949. (T.Times, 2/27/1949, p.6)

Selden's, Inc. (Tacoma); Rugs; Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1940-1950; Showrooms--Tacoma--1940-1950; Furniture stores--Tacoma--1940-1950; Home furnishings stores--Tacoma--1940-1950; Kelly, Walter;

Rebuilding Ford engine at Titus Motor, Times, Buzz. A man is operating one of the machines at Titus Manufacturing Company. During the past summer at least four motors a day were reconditioned at the facility. (T.Times, 2/20/1949, p.3)

Titus Manufacturing Co. (Tacoma); Gasoline engines; Vehicle maintenance & repair--Tacoma--1940-1950; Mechanics (Persons)--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Mystery Farm Winner, Mrs. O.H. Stevenson, Times, Frank Herbert. Mrs. O.H. Stevenson was the happy winner of the Tacoma Sunday Times "farm identification" contest. She is seen here accepting a cyprus azureum plant from L.H. McGuire, superintendent of Puget Sound Nursery and Garden Shop at 9201 Pacific Avenue. Mrs. Stevenson chose the plant from 10 acres of stock maintained at the nursery, known as "where you see the little house". The Stevensons had a 20 acre farm on Route 9, Orchard Road, where they raised some young stock and had laying hens. (T.Times, 2/13/1949, p.18)

Tacoma Times Publishing Co. (Tacoma); Puget Sound Nursery & Garden Shop (Tacoma); Contests; McGuire, L.H.;

Tribune, Panhellinic Luncheon, Top of the Ocean, Mrs. Hosmer.The Panhellenic Conference held a luncheon at the Top of the Ocean followed by bridge. The conference was attended by 300 guests. Three women are seen leaving the Top of the Ocean. (T.Times, 2/16/1949, p.6)

Top of the Ocean (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Panhellenic Conference (Tacoma); Fraternities & sororities--Tacoma--1940-1950; Clubwomen--Tacoma--1940-1950;

S.L. Savidge Company, Dodge and Plymouth Dealers at 9th and Lenora in Seattle. A view of the service area showing automobile lift racks, several late 1940's Dodge automobiles being serviced, and a banner for a clearance sale on Philco Auto Radios and Seat Covers.

Automobile dealerships--Seattle; Dodge automobile; S.L. Savidge Co. (Seattle); Vehicle maintenance & repair--Seattle;

This photograph of journalism students from Stadium High School was taken in February of 1949 in front of the Tacoma Times building at 919 Market Street. The Stadium High students assisted in all the departments to help get out the five daily editions of the Times. Stadium, Lincoln, Clover Park and Ballarmine each had an opportunity to have their journalism students work at the newspaper office during the spring. The students names are listed in the newspaper. (T.Times, 2/2/1949, p.1) TPL-10470

Tacoma Times Publishing Co. (Tacoma); Stadium High School (Tacoma); Teenagers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Students--Tacoma--1940-1950; Publishing industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Journalism--Tacoma;