Lions Club annual dance at Rehn Motor Company, Mr. Harold Rehn, Gig Harbor. Couples are standing in front of the dance band while a few are dancing behind them during the 1949 Lions Club dance and bingo night at the Chevrolet dealership in Gig Harbor.

Automobile dealerships--Gig Harbor--1940-1950; Rehn Motor Co. (Gig Harbor); Clubs--Tacoma--1940-1950; Lions Club (Tacoma); Dance--Gig Harbor--1940-1950;

Washingtonians love the rhododendron so much that they made it the state flower. In honor of their favorite flower, Tacoma was holding its 1st annual rhododendron show on May 5, 1949, in the main lobby of the Bank of California building, 1011-13 Pacific Ave. The show was sponsored by the Tacoma Garden Club and the Capital District, Washington State Federation of Garden Clubs. Visitors were greeted with a wonderland of beautiful azaleas and rhododendrons; so many in fact that it was hard to believe that banking business could still be conducted. A whimsical and colorful feature included rhododendron hats worn by the flower show committee members (T.N.T., 5/1/49, p. D-6 & 5/8/49, p. A-2). TPL-8561

Banks--Tacoma; Lobbies--Tacoma; Azaleas--Tacoma--1940-1950; Rhododendrons--1940-1950; Flower shows--Tacoma--1940-1950; Bank of California National Association (Tacoma);

A.E. Mulligan Company, Studebaker Dealers, Truck Department. Three new pickups nose out of the showroom. Neon signs and decals show through the windows and a sign is painted on the building facade. Henry Zuchow was newly named as manager of the truck department at Mulligans. He had worked for several years in a local manufacturing firm as a mechanical engineer and Mulligan's was happy to announce, "Zachow's engineering and design experience should be of great help to our customers in assisting them in designing truck bodies." (TNT, 6/9/1949, p.A-6)

Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; A.E. Mulligan Co. (Tacoma); Studebaker trucks;

Lions' Club annual dance at Rehn Motor Company, Mr. Harold Rehn, Gig Harbor. Players at Lion's Club Bingo Night at the Chevrolet dealership in Gig Harbor.

Automobile dealerships--Gig Harbor--1940-1950; Rehn Motor Co. (Gig Harbor); Clubs--Tacoma--1940-1950; Lions Club (Tacoma); Bingo--Gig Harbor;

Lions' Club annual dance at Rehn Motor Company, Mr. Harold Rehn, Gig Harbor. People are standing outside Rehn Motor Company's showroom during the Lion's Club Bingo Night at the Chevrolet dealership in Gig Harbor.

Automobile dealerships--Gig Harbor--1940-1950; Rehn Motor Co. (Gig Harbor); Clubs--Tacoma--1940-1950; Lions Club (Tacoma); Bingo--Gig Harbor;

The Timberline Drive In was located at 25510 Mountain Highway in Graham, Washington. The restaurant later became known as the Timberline Coffee Shop. Seen here in April 1949, the building was destroyed in an early morning fire on August 28, 1987.

Restaurant workers--Graham; Electric signs--Graham; Cities & towns; Business enterprises--Graham; Diners (Restaurants)--Graham; Timberline Drive In (Graham);

Group of 12 men, Shell Oil Company, Miss Schumacher. Three men in the front row are holding radios, probably a sales or service award. Their names were not provided.

Shell Oil Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Radios; Business people--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Shell Oil Company, Miss Schumacher. Three men hold new radios, possibly an award from the Shell Oil Company, as they each cup an ear in this photograph dated May 9, 1949. The man on the far left attempts to adjust the volume on a black radio.

Shell Oil Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Radios; Business people--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Insurance photograph at 19th Street North, United Pacific Insurance. Mr. W.O. Seifert. A view of a residential street showing the curb and the mown area angling up towards a fence covered with a blooming vine. An alley leads off to the right and a garage and house sit on beyond. Other houses are shown across the road and a church with a bell tower is seen further on the left.

United Pacific Insurance Co. (Tacoma); Insurance companies--Tacoma; Residential streets--Tacoma; Sidewalks--Tacoma; Houses--Tacoma--1940-1950; Neighborhoods--Tacoma; Yards--Tacoma; Churches--Tacoma;

Tacoma's Rudder Club offered their members many social activities throughout the year; many of these functions were held at the club's facilities. Interior view of the Rudder Club's barroom; a bartender, wearing a uniform, is mixing a cocktail for one of the club members; a ship's steering wheel decorates the bar area.

Bartenders--Tacoma--1940-1950; Barrooms--Tacoma; Bars--Tacoma; Restaurant workers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Organizations' facilities--Tacoma; Clubs--Tacoma; Rudder Club, Inc. (Tacoma);

Interior and exterior view of new store, Ghilarducci's, Elbert Baker. A view of the interior of Ghilarducci's new florist shop showing the business office and cash register. A counter is located on the left where customers can make out cards to go with their flowers. The company advertised that they had three telephones to accept orders. The office has a file cabinet and safe against the far wall.

Ghilarducci's California Florists (Tacoma); Florist shops--Tacoma; Offices--Tacoma--1940-1950; Office furniture; Cash registers;

Interior and exterior view of new store, Ghilarducci's, Elbert Baker. A view into the walk-in refrigerated cut-flower cases. Ghilarducci's was owned and operated by Lorenzo Ghilarducci, better known as "Hobo Joe" and his son, Lawrence, "Gilly" to his friends. They had been serving Tacoma for 42 years. In addition to their retail store they had greenhouses in the Puyallup Valley. (TNT, 6/5/1949, p.B-12)

Ghilarducci's California Florists (Tacoma); Florist shops--Tacoma; Flowers--Tacoma;

A "Band Mill" built by I.W. Johnson Engineering Company. I.W. Johnson Engineering advertised they were complete sawmill designers and manufacturers of sawmill machinery. Ordered by Mr. Chuck Rowland. TPL-6629

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

Interior and exterior view of new store, Ghilarducci's, Elbert Baker. A view of the interior of Ghilarducci's new shop at 909 Pacific Avenue looking from the corsage bar toward the front of the store. Four set-out wings with their display mirrors are seen on the right and on the left are two refrigerated cases for cut flowers. ( TNT, 6/5/1949, p.B-12)

Ghilarducci's California Florists (Tacoma); Florist shops--Tacoma; Flowers--Tacoma;

Band Mill, I.W. Johnson Engineering Company, Mr. Chuck Rowland. I.W. Johnson Engineering advertised they were complete sawmill designers and manufacturers of sawmill machinery. The company was located at 601 East 11th Street.

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

In June of 1949, Ghilarducci's California Florists moved from 919 Pacific Avenue to a new shop at 909 Pacific ave. "Joe" Ghilarducci and his son "Gilly" had already been in the flower business in Tacoma for 42 years. Twenty years later, they moved again. This time to 809 Pacific where they stayed until they went out of business in 1988 - after more then 80 years on Pacific Avenue. Interior and exterior view of new store, Ghilarducci's, Elbert Baker. (TNT, 6/5/1949, p.B-12)

Ghilarducci's California Florists (Tacoma); Florist shops--Tacoma; Electric signs--Tacoma--1940-1950; Facades--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Selden's Inc. specialized in floor coverings, but also offered their customers a wide selection of home furnishings. View of window display at Selden's Incorporated featuring "Pabco" linoleum floor coverings in a variety of colors and patterns for the modern 1949 home; it is value priced at $2.95 per yard. On left side is a "Frigidaire" appliance sign and appliances, including ranges and refrigerators.

Home furnishings stores--Tacoma; Window displays--Tacoma--1940-1950; Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1940-1950; Appliance stores--Tacoma; Floor coverings; Selden's, Inc. (Tacoma);

Dinner for Mahncke staff at Hotel Winthrop, Wallace Silversmiths. Employees from Mahncke & Company are shown during a banquet presenting silver service from Wallace Silversmith. Mahncke & Company were a jewelry store at 919 Broadway.

Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Mahncke & Co. (Tacoma)--Employees; Silverware; Tableware; Dining rooms--Tacoma; Table settings & decorations; Banquets--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Repair shop machinery and equipment for factory representative, Sanford Nash. Specialized machinery for testing automobile performance has been placed up on a ramp where the rear wheels rest against a spinning column. Neon signs hang from the ceiling for "Engine" and "Motor Tune Up".

Sanford-Nash, Inc. (Tacoma); Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1940-1950; Vehicle maintenance & repair--Tacoma--1940-1950; Electric signs--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Tacoma's Rudder Club offered their members a number of social activities throughout the year. Hat and style shows, stag and doe parties, children's events, dinner and cocktails at the club's facilities, and many other functions for their members and guests. Interior view of private dining room at the club's facilities, located at 735 Commerce Street; a lovely table is set with five unidentified waitresses ready to serve at the private party.

Table settings & decorations; Dining tables; Waitresses--Tacoma--1940-1950; Dining rooms--Tacoma; Restaurant workers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Organizations' facilities--Tacoma; Clubs--Tacoma; Rudder Club, Inc. (Tacoma);

Interior and exterior of restaurant and tavern, Rainbow Tavern, Mr. Howe. The bar stands along the length of the Rainbow Tavern on the right hand side. Stools are lined up against the bar. Mirrors are hung on the wall at the back. A bartender stands ready to pull a beer from the siphon handles in front of him. A woman and a companion are seated in one of the booths along the other side of the room. A slot machine stands in the middle.

Rainbow Tavern (Tacoma); Bars--Tacoma--1940-1950; Bartenders--Tacoma--1940-1950; Bars (Furniture)--Tacoma; Stools;

Distant view of laborers on a shipyard. Spiked exterior wall can be seen on the left with mountains faintly in the distance.

Dockside shipyard materials with an ad for Drifted Snow "Home Perfected" Flour on the side of a building. There also appears to be some industrial architecture from the Port of Tacoma in the distance.

Laborers building a boat frame.

Bartender with shaker at unidentified restaurant. The walls are covered by bonds from various corporations.

On October 17, 1935, one of the most spectacular fires in Tacoma's history completely destroyed The Tacoma Hotel. The hotel, which covered a square block from So. 8th to So. 9th and A St. to what is now I-705, opened in August, 1884. Designed by the architectural firm headed by Stanford White, it was the show place of Tacoma, and, many said, the most beautiful hotel north of San Francisco. BU-12,609, TPL-6564

Hotels--Tacoma--1930-1940; Fires--Tacoma--1930-1940; Tacoma Hotel (Tacoma);

In September of 1920, work was begun on the Consumers Central Heating Co., a huge steam heating plant on Dock St. at the foot of 11th St. By the end of October, the last brick had been laid in the 200 foot stack, second only in size to the one located at the Tacoma Smelting Co. Boilers had been installed, and the tunnel excavated for the pipe from the plant that would connect to the piping system of the city. The new plant was needed to supply heat to the new construction in downtown Tacoma - the Rust Building, Scandinavian American Bank and the National Bank of Tacoma. In an innovative move, it would run on refuse wood from Tacoma's many mills. The plant was expected to be fully operational by mid-November. The city liked the location of the plant so much that in 1922 they erected their own plant at 1145 Dock St. (The site of Dutho Rubber Co. and Pacific Machine Shop in the picture.) In September of 1979, 59 years later, the Cental Heating plant shut down permanently. The stack was dismantled brick by brick in 1980. (TDL 10/31/1920, pg. 5- picture, TDL 9/5/1920, pg. B6, 10/17/20, pg. B7) Boland B3347, TPL-9503

Consumers Central Heating Co. (Tacoma); Steam;

ca. 1936. Mr. Cooney of Cooney Transfer Company. Upper torso of man in tweed suit with dotted tie, mustache. Likely President Edward C. Cooney, could be V.P. Frank D. (Argentum)

Cooney Transfer & Storage Co. (Tacoma);

This photograph from 1935 shows the triangle shaped block on the west side of Pacific Avenue that is bounded by South 17th and Jefferson. The General Petroleum Corporation had recently purchased the Depot Service Station that had occupied the block since 1919. They remodeled the building, and put in new pumps - but they kept the name. The Depot Station went through the hands of a number of owners over the years, but it remained standing from 1919 until 2002. This photograph also shows the Carlton and Massasoit Hotels on Jefferson.

Depot Service Station (Tacoma); Commercial streets--Tacoma--1930-1940; Automobile service stations--Tacoma--1930-1940; Gasoline pumps--Tacoma--1930-1940; Carlton Hotel (Tacoma);

West side of Pacific Avenue near South Seventeenth Street and Jefferson Avenue. General Petroleum Company's Depot Service Station on triangle lot, Carlton Hotel in and Commerce Street buildings in background. (Argentum)

Depot Service Station (Tacoma); Commercial streets--Tacoma--1930-1940; Automobile service stations--Tacoma--1930-1940; Gasoline pumps--Tacoma--1930-1940; Carlton Hotel (Tacoma);