Baker U-Drive Company was an automobile and truck rental agency, they were owned and operated by Myron J. Gladstone. The company's facilities were located in downtown Tacoma at 754 Commerce Street. Exterior view of Baker U-Drive Company, unidentified man is standing by Ford trucks from Titus Motor Company, photo ordered by Titus Motor Company. TPL-10343

Lease & rental services--Tacoma; Trucks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Ford trucks; Garages--Tacoma; Signs (Notices); Baker You-Drive Co. (Tacoma); Titus Motor Co. (Tacoma);

New Shell Station at 6th and Mason, Shell Oil Co., Mr. Holm. A daytime view of the new service station was taken on April 29, 1948 from street level showing the two garage doors open, banners flying and the two gasoline pumps with "Shell" signs, shaped like shells, on top. At night the Shell signs were lit.

Marty's Shell Service (Tacoma); Automobile service stations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Gasoline pumps--Tacoma--1940-1950; Vehicle maintenance & repair--Tacoma--1940-1950;

New Shell Station at 6th and Mason, Shell Oil Co., Mr. Holm. Another day-time view of the new service station. It is on the corner of Sixth Avenue and Mason. Residences line the street across from the service station. Two tall light poles will provide plenty of illumination during the dark, wet northwest weather.

Marty's Shell Service (Tacoma); Automobile service stations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Gasoline pumps--Tacoma--1940-1950; Vehicle maintenance & repair--Tacoma--1940-1950;

New Shell Station at 6th and Mason, Shell Oil Co., Mr. Holm. A day-time view of the new service station from the corner highlighting the "Shell" sign hanging from the light pole. The gasoline station is on the corner of Sixth Avenue and Mason Street. Residential property is seen in the background while other commercial property is seen further along Sixth Avenue with billboards.

Marty's Shell Service (Tacoma); Automobile service stations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Gasoline pumps--Tacoma--1940-1950; Vehicle maintenance & repair--Tacoma--1940-1950;

New Shell Station at 6th and Mason, Shell Oil Co., Mr. Holm. A night-time view of the new Shell service station with three automobiles in line for service. There are two service attendants at the drivers' side windows asking how they can be of service. In these days a fill-up of gasoline included a free window washing, oil check and possibly a check of water in the cooling system.

Marty's Shell Service (Tacoma); Automobile service stations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Gasoline pumps--Tacoma--1940-1950; Vehicle maintenance & repair--Tacoma--1940-1950;

New Shell Station at 6th and Mason, Shell Oil Co., Mr. Holm. This customer of the new Shell service station is definitely King with at least nine service attendants servicing his car. They are polishing his windshield, cleaning the headlights, cleaning out the back seat and pumping the gas. The attendants wear matching uniforms with dark jackets, light pants and white caps. The most service you would usually receive would be up to two attendants: possibly one to wash the windshield while the other pumped the gasoline.

Marty's Shell Service (Tacoma); Automobile service stations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Gasoline pumps--Tacoma--1940-1950; Vehicle maintenance & repair--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Snowflake Cracker & jelly display at Franlkin Food Stores, National Biscuit Co. Customers were urged to try Snow Flake Crackers, first box 25 cents and Jelly, 12 oz. 21 cents. Behind this display of crackers and jelly are boxes of Softasilk cake flour, Bisquick and Occident Cake Bake. Canned goods are displayed in the background. Franklin Food Stores grocery and meats main location was 117-23 No. G St. and had branches at 1123 So. K St., 1101 Market St., 602 So. 38th St., and 5252 So. Washington St.

Franklin Food Stores (Tacoma); Grocery stores--Tacoma--1940-1950; Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1940-1950; Crackers; Preserves--Tacoma;

Equipment at plant, South 52nd and Washington, Mr. Holroyd. The Holroyd Company advertised that they handled mixed concrete and were manufacturers of concrete building units. They were known for manufacturing concrete blocks. They had gravel pits at Nisqually and Meadow Park. This view shows a dump truck being loaded by a crane and shovel. A ramp to a storage container runs between the pile of gravel and the storage tank. Several other trucks and the plant is in the background.

Holroyd Co. (Tacoma); Concrete products industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Building materials industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Factories--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Boat show at Hotel Winthrop, Hotel Winthrop, Mr. Boyd. A boat show, sponsored by the Tacoma Yacht Club, was held in the lobby of the Hotel Winthrop August 17 - 22, 1948. Mayor C. Val Fawcett is seen to the right of the helm with several other men at the boat show. (T.Times, 8/9/1948, p.2)

Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Boats--Tacoma--1940-1950; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fawcett, Clarence Valdo, 1900-1965; Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950;

National Bank of Washington; Branch & Senior management of bank. Twenty men and one woman gather around the boardroom table. Carl L. Phillips, president of the bank, sits at the head of the table with C.T. Chandler, vice-president, to the right. The man to the right of Chandler in the chair is unidentified. The bank was known from 1913-1938 as the National Bank of Tacoma and was housed in the Italian-Renaissance building at the northeast corner of 12th and Pacific, that since 1971 has housed the Tacoma Art Museum.

Banks--Tacoma; Banking--Tacoma--1950-1960; Bankers--Tacoma; National Bank of Washington (Tacoma)--People; Phillips, Carl L.; Chandler, C.T.;

Herb Satterlee Motor Company's repair shop. Several 1940s and 50s Packards in work area, signs promote services. Satterlee sold and serviced Packards and British Austins. The company was owned by Herb F. Satterlee, who served as president, with Herb Jr. as secretary-treasurer. The company did body and paint work, auto glass, mechanical servicing and tailored seat covers at this location.

Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1950-1960; Packard automobile; Herb Satterlee Motors (Tacoma);

Mueller-Harkins Buick Agency. Staff group photo on roof parking lot; building's pylon sign in background. Medical Arts, now Tacoma Municipal, building visible at far left in photo. In October of 1953, The Muellers retired and sold their company to E.H. (Gene) Brus from Seattle. The other founding owner Leo W. Harkins had retired in 1931. There was no change in personnel or policies, but the company now became Brus Buick Co. Brus would also take over the used car lot at 8th and Tacoma Ave. (TNT 10/4/1953, pg. B-6 - B-7)

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

New service station at 54th & Pacific, for General Petroleum. Doug & Cliff's Mobilgas Service Station. The station was owned by Douglas E. Garrett & Clifford J. Lawson. The pair ran large ads for their Grand Opening October 23 & 24, 1953. Opening give-aways included gifts for the ladies, balloons & candy for the kiddies and twelve turkeys. (TNT 10/22/1953, pg. C-13)

Doug & Cliff's Service (Tacoma); Automobile service stations--Tacoma--1950-1960; Gasoline pumps--Tacoma--1950-1960; Automobiles--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Bank of California- customer parking and drive up banking window. The Bank of California heavily advertised its convenience features- a free parking lot, drive up teller windows and a rear bank entrance just steps from the parking lot. The drive up windows now had two tellers, making banking quicker and easier. The banking institutions tried to make banking in the downtown area more attractive, as business deserted the downtown area for the suburbs. The fifties saw the beginning of the desertion of downtown Tacoma as a retail area. (TNT 10/11/1953, pg. A-4)

Bank of California National Association (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Banking--Tacoma--1950-1960; Parking lots--Tacoma;

Progress photograph of the new United Pacific Insurance Co. home office next to the Medical Arts Building, taken on October 4, 1953, ordered by James J. Barnes Construction Co. Steven Motor Co. can be seen across the street at 738 Broadway. The five story addition would complement the Medical Arts Building, also owned by United Pacific. The five story building would take almost 2 years to build and cost an estimated $500,000. It was built of reinforced concrete faced with glass.

United Pacific Insurance Co. (Tacoma); Building construction--Tacoma--1950-1960; Progress photographs--1950-1960;

Herb Satterlee Motor Company's repair shop. Satterlee dealt in the sales and service of Packards and British Austins. One 1940s and one 1950s Packards are in lubrication area. In the background are signs promoting service, tool cabinets, various tanks for oil and grease and a rack of tires. Herb F. Satterlee was president with Herb Satterlee Jr. serving as secretary-treasurer. Body and paint work, auto glass and tailored seat covers were done at this location. Used cars were also sold. Parking & storage was available at 924 Court C.

Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1950-1960; Packard automobile; Herb Satterlee Motors (Tacoma);

Dupont Works, E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co. - annual dinner and 25 year club at the New Yorker. Eight five pensioners and 25 year men were honored at the dinner at the New Yorker. C.H. Miller, service manager of the explosives department, paid tribute to the DuPont old timers. (TNT 10/30/1953, pg. 3-- see article for names)

New Yorker Cafe (Tacoma); Banquets--Tacoma--1950-1960; Business people--Tacoma--1950-1960; E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co. (Dupont)--People;

ca. 1953. Bank of teller stations at the permanent Puget Sound National Bank, Lakewood branch. The main lobby had walnut panelling and recessed fluorescent lighting. It was arranged for the comfort of the banking customer. A counter on the left side of the picture supplies forms and writing space for the customer. Designed by Lea, Pearson & Richards, the facility was both elegant and practical. (TNT 10/20/1953, pg. C-9)

Puget Sound National Bank (Lakewood); Banks--Lakewood; Banking--Lakewood;

New Puget Sound Bank at Lakewood, ordered by the Condon Co. The handsome permanent building was located in the Lakewood Center, facing Mt. Tacoma Dr. S.W. The elegant building had walnut panelling the the lobby, a customer's lounge with a fireplace off the main lobby, an employee's lounge that also had a fireplace and piped-in music. Lakewood's deposits by the end of 1953 were in excess of $3.1 million. (TNT 9/6/1953, pg A-10, "Banking on Independence," by Barry Provorse.)

Puget Sound National Bank (Lakewood); Banks--Lakewood; Banking--Lakewood;

Sib's Thriftway. The 52nd Thriftway store to open in Washington and Oregon was on No. 26th & Pearl in the Westgate addition. Sib Carstensen was the operator. The store was one of the largest supermarkets in the Northwest. The market sold food, magazines, comic books, housewares, greeting cards and some drugs. It featured a 1,000 car parking lot with 10 feet available between parked cars. The store was the crown jewel of the Westgate Suburban Shopping Center. When all of the stores in the center were complete, they would represent an investment of over one million dollars. The market opened with a three day Grand Opening, with free orchids, coffee & cookies and rides on the merry-go-round ponies for the kiddies. (TNT 9/2/1953, pg. C-1)

Sib's Thriftway (Tacoma); Grocery stores--Tacoma--1950-1960;

ca. 1953. Puget Sound National Bank, Lakewood branch. The main lobby had walnut panelling and included the teller, note and statement units as well as the officers' sections. The lobby was arranged for customer service and convenience. The full basement was an employee only area with a conference room, book vault, employee's lounge with fireplace and a kitchenette. Some of the most modern features in the new bank were the recessed fluorescent illumination and the many outlets for electronic banking machinery. (TNT 10/20/1953, pg. C-9)

Puget Sound National Bank (Lakewood); Banks--Lakewood; Banking--Lakewood;

The ladies' lounge in Puget Sound National Bank, Lakewood branch. The ladies' lounge, which opened off the lobby, was fully furnished in an early American motif and accented with its own fireplace. It added a truly elegant touch to the bank. The employees had their own lounge in the basement, also with a fireplace. (TNT 10/20/1953, pg. C-6)

Puget Sound National Bank (Lakewood); Banks--Lakewood; Banking--Lakewood;

ca. 1953. Safe deposit vault at Puget Sound National Bank, Lakewood branch. Opening off the main lobby was the safe deposit vault and coupon booths. The bank featured a 950 box safe deposit vault. Other conveniences offered included a drive up teller on the south side of the building. (TNT 10/20/1953, C-6 - C-9)

Puget Sound National Bank (Lakewood); Banks--Lakewood; Banking--Lakewood; Vaults (Strong rooms)--Lakewood; Safe-deposit boxes--Lakewood;

New Puget Sound Bank at Lakewood, ordered by the Condon Co. The permanent location of Puget Sound Bank was built in the Lakewood Center, facing Mt. Tacoma Dr. S.W. The red brick faced colonial with white trim was designed to match the existing architecture at the Center. The new building was three times the size of the temporary building. It measured 50 feet wide by 120 feet long, with 12,000 square foot of floor space, including a full basement. The building was designed by Lea, Pearson & Richards and Ketner Bros. Inc. served as contractors. (TNT 9/6/1953, pg. A-10)

Puget Sound National Bank (Lakewood); Banks--Lakewood; Banking--Lakewood;

Richfield oil men and Stadium High School students servicing cars on "Stadium Day," November 25, 1953, at a local Richfield gas station. "Let's Hit the 3000 Mark!" banner on service station with an accompanying tally board nearby. "Richfield Day" was a successful project of the Stadium Student Council, according to a brief mention in the 1954 Tahoma yearbook. (Tahoma yearbook, p. 132)

Automobile service stations--Tacoma--1950-1960; Students--Tacoma--1950-1960; Banners; Stadium High School (Tacoma); Automobiles--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Cliff Sign Co. hoists the new Tacoma Hotel sign to the top of the building. The ground floor is occupied by the National Cash Register Co., Budget Finance Plan, the Western Air Lines ticket office and at the far right, with the sign 1/4 visible, the Servicemen's Center at 115 So. 9th. This was the location of the bowling alley.

Hotels--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma Hotel (Tacoma);

No. Stevens, looking north at the intersection of No. 26th St. On the right is the Hilltop Market at 2517 No. Stevens. On the left is Pop's Service Station at 2601 No. Stevens. Safeway stores ordered these pictures. The City Council would be hearing their application to erect a store at 26th and Stevens on January 4, 1954. The application had been turned down by the City Planning Commission. The hearing was viewed by an overflowing crowd. The main argument against rezoning this area for the erection of a $525,000 Safeway store was the resulting increased traffic. Residents felt that increasing the already heavy flow of traffic would endanger neighborhood children. Safeway argued that traffic was already bad & their off street parking would make the situation better. The supermarket chain also felt that the Planning Commission was protecting the smaller businesses. (TNT 1/5/1954, pg.1) TPL-9908

Hilltop Market (Tacoma); Pop's Service Stations (Tacoma); Safeway Stores, Inc. (Tacoma); Grocery Stores--Tacoma--1950-1960;

No. 26th St., looking west to the intersection of No. Stevens St. A school bus is turning next to the Hilltop Market at 2517 No. Stevens. Safeway stores ordered these pictures. The City Council was hearing an application from Safeway to erect a $525,000 supermarket at 26th and Stevens. The City Planning Commission had already turned down the application citing the dangers of increased traffic and opposition of the area's residents. The hearing was jammed to overflowing with spectators. Both sides argued their point and the hearing was adjourned without a resolution. (TNT 12/8/1953)

Hilltop Market (Tacoma); Residential streets--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Progress photograph of the United Pacific Insurance Co. building, ordered by James J. Barnes Construction. The clock tower of the Old City Hall can be seen in the background of this February 3, 1954 photograph. James J. Barnes was the general contractor for the planned five story home office for United Pacific. The building would be built of reinforced concrete faced with glass and designed to complement the Art Deco Medical Arts building, also owned by United Pacific. The finished product would cost over $500,000 and open for occupancy January of 1955.

United Pacific Insurance Co. (Tacoma); Building construction--Tacoma--1950-1960; Progress photographs--1950-1960;

Future home office of the United Pacific Insurance Company. Plywood fencing proudly proclaims the presence of the company and surrounds the construction site. Central School building can be seen in the right background of the picture taken on February 15, 1954. The structure would provide three floors of offices for the only Tacoma based insurance company and two floors of rental space. United Pacific also owned the Medical Arts building next door.

United Pacific Insurance Co. (Tacoma); Building construction--Tacoma--1950-1960; Progress photographs--1950-1960;