Capital Coil & Equipment Company's refrigerator case, model 2DG - 50 U, 50 cubic feet capacity, 78" high, 83" wide, 31" deep; all stainless exterior, triple glass vented doors. Ordered by Capital Coil & Equipment.

Capital Coil & Equipment Co. (Tacoma); Refrigerator industry--Tacoma;

Interior of Lincoln Electric to show new lighting. Lincoln Electric carried the complete line of Hotpoint ranges, refrigerators, O.A. Smith water heaters, washers, dishwashers, disposalls and home freezers. They also carried kitchen cabinets and would install and service all appliances and wire your house for the new appliances. Lincoln Electric, owned by Tony Ricono, celebrated the opening of their new store at 38th and Yakima May 5, 1950. The company had two other locations. Ordered by Mitchell Manufacturing Company, Clarence Moon. Clarence Moon worked for Graybar Electric. (TNT, 5/5/1950, p.A-11)

Lincoln Electric (Tacoma); Appliance stores--Tacoma; Appliances; Refrigerators; Stoves--Tacoma; Lighting--Tacoma;

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;

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;

The family dog posed outside the exterior of a new ranch block home. The home, nestled in the northwest evergreens, displayed lots of windows to let in the light and a single car garage.Photo ordered by Holroyd Co., manufacturer of concrete blocks, at 5047 S. Washington, Tacoma. As construction boomed, and wood became scarcer, even in the Northwest, concrete became a common construction material. Holyroyd manufactured a product that was economical and versatile, coming in a variety of colors and textures.

Holroyd Co. (Tacoma); Houses--Tacoma--1950-1960; Pets; Dogs--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Exterior N. Earl Davison Co., Packard Bell's wholesale and factory service division with three trucks. Packard Bell was a leading manufacturer of televisions in the fifties.

Packard Bell Co. (Tacoma); Trucks--Tacoma--1950-1960; N. Earl Davison Co. (Tacoma); Televisions--1950-1960;

The interior of the reconditioned General Paint store. Cans of paint, buckets and other supplies are displayed on racks. A table with sample books of wallpapers is provided in the rear.

Stores & shops--Tacoma--1950-1960; Paints & varnishes; General Paint Corp. (Tacoma); Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1950-1960;

The exterior of the reconditioned General Paint store. This nighttime view shows the illuminated neon sign in the shape of a toy soldier.

Stores & shops--Tacoma--1950-1960; Paints & varnishes; General Paint Corp. (Tacoma); Window displays--Tacoma--1950-1960; Electric signs--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Interior shot of the Town and Country Beauty Salon, Inc., located at 815 Pacific Ave. To the right of the picture is the receptionist's counter backed by product displays. The customer waiting area was probably in front of the left hand product displays. The stylists' booths are on the left hand side behind the product display. Light fixtures hang from the exposed beams in the ceiling and the room is painted white or light pastel. The floor is a dark tile.

Beauty shops--Tacoma--1950-1960; Town & Country Beauty Salon, Inc. (Tacoma);

The receptionist counter at the Town and Country Beauty Salon, Inc., at 815 Pacific Ave. To the left of the padded counter is a display of honey oil shampoo. Other brand names include Copacabana, Contessa and Kurlash eyelash curlers.

Beauty shops--Tacoma--1950-1960; Town & Country Beauty Salon, Inc. (Tacoma);

Mohawk window display at Selden's Home Furnishings and Carpet store. A heavily brocaded sofa with a coffee table and end tables sits in front of a large patterned floral wallpaper in Selden's display window. S.C. Selden, a Parkland native and graduate of Lincoln High School, opened his own store in 1940 across from the Sears store on Broadway. He sold linoleum, window shades and carpeting. With the advent of World War II, carpet was not available but business was booming in blackout shades. Their shade assembly shop operated 16 hours a day, six days a week. After the war, the company scrambled to enter the post war housing era.

Furniture stores--Tacoma; Home furnishings stores--Tacoma; Selden's, Inc. (Tacoma);

Beautician's chair and standing hair dryer at Town and Country Beauty Salon, Inc. located at 815 Pacific Ave. The folding counter has a sink underneath so that the stylist can wash, cut & style hair all in one location. Mrs. E.L. Heaston was president, Mrs. A.M. Bod was vice-president & treasurer and H. G. Geer was secretary.

Beauty shops--Tacoma--1950-1960; Town & Country Beauty Salon, Inc. (Tacoma);

Two men repair a utility pole after a car-bus accident in front of Conley's Grocery Store at 6601 South Tacoma Way. Oil marks in the street and the downed pole are the only reminders of the wreck the night before when a station wagon ran the red light at 55- 80 mph and hit a Tacoma Transit Co. bus broadside sending it careening 10 feet into the power pole and shearing it off. The driver of the station wagon was killed and three other persons were injured in the accident. (TNT 3/21/1951, pg. 1)

Tacoma Transit Co. (Tacoma); Wrecks; Traffic accidents--Tacoma--1950-1960; Conley's Grocery (Tacoma); Utility poles--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Progress photograph of Puget Sound Bank's new parking lot, formerly the Tacoma Transit garages. A steam shovel and trucks are being used for excavation and hauling away of the debris.The bricks from the Transit building demolition were used to fill in the warrens left below ground from the street car days. The ground has now been leveled and the site looks more like the parking lot it will become. The parking lot will measure 320 ft by 144 ft and will have a capacity of 126 automobiles. Bank customers will be able to enjoy a half hour of free parking in which to attend to their banking needs. The lot will also employ an attendant during hours of operation, 8:30-5 weekdays. Schoenfelds Furniture, at 1423 Pacific Ave., can be seen in the background of the picture. (TNT 5/24/1951, pg. 23)

Tacoma Transit Co. (Tacoma); Tacoma Transit Co. Garage (Tacoma); Puget Sound National Bank (Tacoma); Progress photographs--1950-1960; Steam shovels; Banks--Tacoma;

Interior shot of Gerrick's Rexall Drug Store, 2415 So. 12th, for their Grand Opening Feb. 9-10th publicity. Owned and operated by Ray Gerrick, the store offered a full line of drug items, home remedies, a large fountain and a prescription department. Tacoma's newest and one of the Northwest's most modern drugstores was housed in a new concrete block building with large plate glass windows that extended the entire length of the store front. One of the many features of the new store was the prescription department with the most up to date equipment assuring accuracy in medicine compounding. For opening day, the store gave away door prizes and free coffee, flowers, balloons, candy and ice cream. (TNT 2/8/1951, pg. C-2)

Drugstores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Gerrick's Drug Store (Tacoma); Soda fountains--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Exterior of new transit building and shops. The new Tacoma Transit shop was located on So. Sprague Ave. from 12th- 15th Sts. The complex included four large and round topped shop and barn units with wide floor areas, a two story office and headquarters building of concrete construction and ample paved parking space for busses. (TNT 2/13/1951, pg. C-12)

Tacoma Transit Co. (Tacoma);

Interior exposure of Helen Davis Shop, smart apparel for women, at 917 Broadway. Helen Davis, President. This elegant boutique features antique light fixtures, a sweeping staircase and a divan for waiting as the lady decides on a special outfit in the dressing rooms at the back of the picture. Dresses hang on the right and on a free standing rack while accessories are displayed in the ornamental cart and the glass topped cases. The shelves behind the cases hold separates, such as blouses and sweaters. Everything for the discriminating woman.

Helen Davis Shop (Tacoma); Clothing stores--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Power shovel at City Bus Barns. The Tacoma Transit Co.'s garage, destroyed by fire the previous year, was being torn down to make room for a 118 car parking lot for use by Puget Sound Bank. The garage began life as a street car facility; the building housed the huge wheels that dragged the cables for the cable cars. The garage also had a lower level, possibly the area that the man is gazing into, that had a blacksmith shop, streetcar wheel storage area and machine shop, among other things. The bricks left from the destruction of the garage were used to fill the holes where once were foundries and mysterious caverns. (TNT 3/4/1951, pg. A-9)

Tacoma Transit Co. (Tacoma); Tacoma Transit Co. Garage (Tacoma); Mass transit--Tacoma; Bus terminals--Tacoma; Transportation facilities--Tacoma; Steam shovels--1950-1960; Digging--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puget Sound National Bank (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma;

Closed casket with floral displays for the Lynn Mortuary, C. O. Lynn Co. Funeral Directors, at 717-19 Tacoma Ave. So. Lots of molding accents the pillars and ceiling level of the room and heavy curtains give a somber feel and mask noise. There are built in chairs and a microphone to the left of the photo, for those who will speak at the funeral.

C.O. Lynn Co. Mortuary (Tacoma); Morgues & mortuaries--Tacoma--1950-1960; Coffins; Funeral rites & ceremonies--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Progress picture of Puget Sound Bank parking lot. A heavy crane has been brought in to assist in the demolition of the Tacoma Transit garages, partially destroyed by fire. A worker poses atop the structure and another on the crane itself. This was the original site of the old street car company cable building. The plaque presented in 1927 by the Tacoma Women's clubs commemorating the "Site of the First Tacoma Building in the Street Car Industry" had been removed until it can be placed on the parking lot attendant's structure. (TNT 5/24/1951, pg. 23)

Tacoma Transit Co. (Tacoma); Tacoma Transit Co. Garage (Tacoma); Puget Sound National Bank (Tacoma); Hoisting machinery; Progress photographs--1950-1960; Banks--Tacoma;

Progress picture of Puget Sound Bank parking lot, being constructed on the site of the burned and demolished Tacoma Transit garages. Most of the upper building has been removed, exposing the warren of rooms underneath used when the building housed the street car cables and shops. Puget Sound Bank, following the trend of offering free parking to entice customers, had been looking for a parking lot site for their downtown building and happily purchased the site.

Tacoma Transit Co. (Tacoma); Tacoma Transit Co. Garage (Tacoma); Puget Sound National Bank (Tacoma); Progress photographs--1950-1960; Banks--Tacoma;

Progress picture of Puget Sound Bank parking lot being built on the site of the demolished Tacoma Transit Co. Garages. The Eleventh Street Bridge can be seen in the background. The Richards photographer captured his own vehicle in the foreground. Earth moving equipment can be seen at the center of the picture. This site will soon become the 126 car courtesy parking lot for Puget Sound Bank. The bank for several years had seen the need for a parking area and was pleased to purchase the transit site. As more customers owned their own autos and mass transit was less utilized, free parking was essential to the survival of downtown businesses.

Tacoma Transit Co. (Tacoma); Tacoma Transit Co. Garage (Tacoma); Puget Sound National Bank (Tacoma); Progress photographs--1950-1960; Banks--Tacoma;

Originally built as a three story building in 1903, the Rhodes Brothers Department Store at 950 Broadway had two stories and a roof garden added in 1911; the building continued to undergo considerable remodeling through the years. To modernize the front of the store, a new facade was added at the end of the 1940s. The facade was removed in 1980 when the building was bought by the University of Puget Sound and became home to the Norton Clapp Law Center. In the early days, in an effort to bring more trade into Tacoma from the outside, the Rhodes brothers came up with the idea of highway signs, Washington's first. The signs claimed "All Roads lead to Rhodes" and gave the number of miles to Tacoma. These signs were erected as far south as the Columbia river and into southwest Washington and the Grays Harbor areas. In the days when there were few automobiles, these signs became landmarks.

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

An executive suite of furniture is displayed by the Harold E. Dahl Company. The suite includes a large wooden desk, credenza, desk chair and several side chairs and a book case. Even the waste basket sitting next to the desk is beautifully detailed wood. The boldly patterned draperies hang next to a wall covered with woven reeds. "Out" and "In" boxes stand at the ready for the lucky organization executive who will use this suite.

Harold E. Dahl Co. (Tacoma); Office furniture; Desks; Chairs;

Exterior remodeling on the Rhodes Brothers Department store budget annex, photo for Roy T. Earley Co., engineers. The annex was designed to fulfill the demand for lower priced quality merchandise for the budget shopper.

Rhodes Brothers Department Store Budget Annex (Tacoma); Construction--Tacoma--1950-1960; Scaffolding--Tacoma; Department stores--Tacoma--1950-1960;