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.;

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;

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;

Sepic Electric employees are gathered for a group portrait outside the remodeled facilities. The furniture and appliance store was owned by Stan and Fred Sepic. Several of the men wearing coveralls are standing by the company's three delivery trucks. Administrative staff are standing by the show windows. The company advertises Kelvinator and Maytag appliances. Ordered by Stan Sepic. (TNT, 2/14/1950, p.D-14) TPL-8167

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

Flatbed with tractor manufactured by South Tacoma Welding. Two men stand behind the newly completed flatbed trailer with three sets of wheels at the back. It is set onto a tractor with a fifth-wheel hitch. The company specialized in welding and steel fabrication and were manufacturers of Bos-car, low bed and semi trailers, hoists and dump bodies. Ordered by Nick Bosko, Jr. owner of South Tacoma Welding.

South Tacoma Welding & Equipment Co. (Tacoma); Business enterprises--Tacoma--1950-1960; Equipment industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Trailers--Tacoma--1950-1960; Welding--Tacoma--1950-1960; Trucks--Tacoma--1940-1950;

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);

On Friday the 13th of January, 1950, the worst blizzard in years hit Tacoma. The gale brought five foot snow drifts, twenty degree chills, several hours of 40-60 mph winds and an estimated million dollars worth of storm damage in Tacoma. As pictured, the bulkhead near the "bow" of the Top of the Ocean, the Tacoma Athletic Commission's Ruston Way nightclub shaped like a ship, collapsed. However, the club itself did not suffer extensive damage. Waves 20 feet high broke over Ruston Way during the storm. The freezing temperatures brought in by the storm stayed until the middle of the following week. In the background is the Henry Mill. Ordered by the Tacoma Athletic Commission. TPL-8836

Top of the Ocean (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1940-1950; Waterfronts; Storms--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Interior of C & G Radio Shop. This view shows the business offices for C & G Radio Shop, a wholesaler of radio, television and electronic parts. A wall with large windows separates the offices from the showroom area. Two wooden desks are set close to the windows. Each desk has a rotary dial telephone, a lamp, and organizers for incoming and outgoing items. Another office with windows into the larger office area and a door is seen in the back.

C & G Radio Supply Co. (Tacoma); Radios; Stores & shops--Tacoma; Offices--Tacoma--1950-1960; Office furniture; Office equipment & supplies;

Interior of C & G Radio Shop. A view of the display shelves, sales counters and parts storage areas at the wholesale distributor's showroom for radio, television and electronics parts. TPL-9680

C & G Radio Supply Co. (Tacoma); Radios; Stores & shops--Tacoma; Showrooms--Tacoma--1950-1960; Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Four new Dodge trucks from the Irwin Jones Motor Company are parked in front of the Diamond F Meat Company. The DeLuxe "Route Van" bodies were designed, developed and built in Tacoma by the Irwin-Jones Motor company in their truck center. Ordered by Walt Dunlop, truck division. This photograph was used in an advertisement in the Tacoma News Tribune, 2/14/1950, p.A-14.

Diamond F Meat Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Irwin-Jones Motor Co. (Tacoma); Trucks--Tacoma--1950-1960; Dodge trucks; Advertising--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Exterior of the new refrigerator case at Cole's Supermarket, modern technology for the preservation of fresh fruits and vegetables installed by Paul's Refrigeration in Tacoma. This photo served as advertising copy for the grand opening of Cole's which featured self service and Pictsweet frozen foods. Free coffee and ice cream for the kids was given at the opening. (TNT 3/3/1950 pg. C-12) TPL-9269

Grocery stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Refrigerators; Cole's Supermarket (Tacoma); Produce;

A view of the produce department and apple display at the Tacoma Big Bear Store. An unidentified shopper and Produce Manager Steve Turlis stand between the rows of displayed produce. Large amounts of fresh produce are mounded into the display bins. Bananas, rhubarb, lemons, are shown, but apples are the featured fruit. Posters hang on the walls and from banners. Large sacks and cases of apples stand open in the foreground. Ordered by the Washington State Apple Commission, Jack Sharp.

Big Bear Stores (Tacoma); Grocery stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Fruit; Vegetables--Tacoma; Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1940-1950; Apples--Tacoma; Advertising--Tacoma--1950-1960; Turlis, Steve;

A view of the sales room and inventory arranged carefully on rows of shelving at C & G Radio, ordered by Lloyd Norberg. The wholesale distributing company advertised industrial electronic supplies from General Electric, Everready Batteries, Scotch Recording Tapes, Stromberg-Carlson Sound, Weston Instruments and Sylvania Tubes. (TNT, 2/14/1950, p.A-14)

C & G Radio Supply Co. (Tacoma); Radios; Stores & shops--Tacoma;

In February of 1950 an unidentified stock clerk at C & G Radio Supply Company, 2502 Jefferson Ave., pulled an order for radio and television tubes from the neatly organized shelves of inventory. Before transistors and modern printed circuits, radios and televisions used glass vacuum tubes produced by manufactures such as Jensen, Philco, and Tung Sol. Still in business at the same address, C & G Electronics carries hard to find bulbs and electronic items. (Ordered by Lloyd Norberg)

C & G Radio Supply Co. (Tacoma); Radios; Stores & shops--Tacoma;

Banquet at Poodle Dog Restaurant for employees of Mannings Market. Ordered by Mac Manza. This view of the interior includes the photo mural with images of many Northwest industries. TPL-9689

Diners (Restaurants)--Fife; Poodle Dog (Fife); Banquets--Fife--1950-1960; Mannings Inc. (Tacoma);

Fire damage at Tacoma Transit. A fire destroyed four Tacomna Transit Company buses, several private automobiles and gutted the firm's repair shops and maintenance depot February 15, 1950. Losses were estimated at $267,000. The buses, in the process of repair, were probably totally ruined by the gasoline-fed flames. Ordered by United Pacific Insurance Company, Mr. Littlemore. (TNT, 2/16/1950, p.1)

Tacoma Transit Co. (Tacoma); Fires--Tacoma--1950-1960; Buses--Tacoma--1950-1960; Bus terminals--Tacoma;

Fire damage at Tacoma Transit. The fire at the Tacoma Transit Company terminals destroyed four buses, several private automobiles and gutted the firm's repair shops and maintenance depot. Bricks, placed more than 50 years earlier in the two-story building, withstood the heat and flames. The framed interior of the building was a total loss, however. During streetcar days, in the section of the building damaged, were housed the old power house and the giant 12 and 15-foot diameter wheels which furnished power for the fleet of Tacoma cable cars. Ordered by United Pacific Insurance Company, Mr. Littlemore. (TNT, 2/16/1950, p.1)

Tacoma Transit Co. (Tacoma); Fires--Tacoma--1950-1960; Buses--Tacoma--1950-1960; Bus terminals--Tacoma;

Four Tacoma Transit buses were totally destroyed on February 15, 1950 when a gasoline-fed fire swept through the Transit Company's repair shop at 1301 A Street. The repair shop was located in the historic Tacoma Railway & Motor Company Power House which was built in 1889; it was originally built as the main powerhouse for Tacoma's streetcars. Although the brick walls withstood the heat and flames, the frame interior of the building and the buses inside were a total loss. Today the site of the old Transit building is occupied by the Columbia Bank Center which was built in 2001. Pictured above removing a "school bus" sign from one of the destroyed buses is Herbert "Herb" Emerick. His primary bus route was "Old Tacoma," which was also the area he lived in with his wife, Ida Strubstad Emerick. "Herb" Emerick would retire from Tacoma Transit and pass away in 1955. (Ordered by United Pacific Insurance Company, Mr. Littlemore.) (TNT, 2/16/1950, p.1. Additional information provided by a reader.)

Tacoma Transit Co. (Tacoma); Fires--Tacoma--1950-1960; Buses--Tacoma--1950-1960; Bus terminals--Tacoma; Emerick, Herbert;

A major snow storm hit Tacoma January 13,1950. Tacoma received almost nine inches of snow, and the wind which reached over 25 miles per hour created drifts up to five feet high. It was the worst storm in years and caused major damage throughout the area. 20 foot waves washed away part of Ruston Way, and ten boats were sunk in the yacht club basin. This view of the front of the Olympus Hotel, 815 -17 Pacific Avenue, from January 14th, shows the snow heaped along the sidewalks where it was left by the plows trying to clear Pacific Avenue. TPL-5466;

Olympus Hotel (Tacoma); Hotels--Tacoma--1940-1950;Snow--Tacoma--1950-1960; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1950-1960;

An International truck equiped as a cement truck for Pioneer Sand and Gravel has backed into a construction site to pour a basement or foundation on a snowy day in January 1950. Pioneer Sand & Gravel advertised their "Blue Trucks" for cement delivery. The names "Pioneer Sand & Gravel" and "Tru-Mix" have been painted on the cover for the rotating drum and cab door. Ordered by Pioneer Sand & Gravel, Seattle, Vance Tjossem.

Pioneer Sand & Gravel Co. (Steilacoom); Concrete mixers--Tacoma; Concrete--Tacoma; Building construction--Tacoma--1950-1960; International trucks;