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;

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);

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;

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;

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;

Puget Sound Furniture Company was celebrating the grand re-opening of their furniture store in March of 1949. Ben Slotnick, owner, had planned a $100,000 remodeling and expansion project; the business had been at this location for 25 years. Interior view of the newly remodeled Puget Sound Furniture Company; showroom is fully stocked with everything customers may need for their homes (T. Times, 3/31/49, p. 4, 5).

Furniture stores--Tacoma--1940-1950; Showrooms--Tacoma--1940-1950; Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1940-1950; Home furnishings stores--Tacoma--1940-1950; Remodeling--Tacoma--1940-1950; Furniture; Appliances; Puget Sound Furniture Co. (Tacoma);

MGM's "Command Decision" featuring Clark Gable, Walter Pidgeon, Van Johnson, Brian Donlevy, Charles Bickford, John Hodiak and Edward Arnold was playing at Tacoma's Music Box Theatre. A "Technicolor" cartoon, "The Cat Who Hated People" was the movie extra being featured. View of window display of jewelry and movie poster at The Diamond Shop on Broadway promoting the movie for the Music Box.

Jewelry stores--Tacoma; Motion picture posters; Motion pictures; Publicity; Advertisements--Tacoma; Merchandise displays--Tacoma; Diamond Shop (Tacoma); Music Box Theatre (Tacoma);

Exterior view of the American Building Maintenance Company; it was the largest janitorial contractors, janitor service, window cleaning, floor waxing and wall cleaning business. Scaffolding is set up on exterior of building, possibly for remodeling, the business is located next to Puget Sound Auto Electric Company; both businesses were located on South 7th Street and Pacific Avenue. Photo ordered by Universal Scaffold and Contractors Supply Company.

Scaffolding--Tacoma; Building construction--Tacoma; Signs (Notices); Street lights--Tacoma; Universal Scaffold & Contractors Supply (Tacoma); American Building Maintenance Co. (Tacoma);

Puget Sound Furniture has added a large store sign, invested more than $12,000 in plate glass and an elevator will be installed soon. The buildings additions were designed by architect Silas E. Nelson and built by the Ben Rome Company. The first 500 women to attend the grand re-opening celebration will receive gardenias. Exterior view of the newly remodeled Puget Sound Furniture Company, view of display windows (T. Times, 3/31/49, p. 4, 5).

Furniture stores--Tacoma; Electric signs--Tacoma--1940-1950; Remodeling--Tacoma; Window displays--Tacoma--1940-1950; Home furnishings stores--Tacoma; Furniture; Appliances; Puget Sound Furniture Co. (Tacoma); Silas E. Nelsen Architects (Tacoma);

Mueller-Harkins had been an authorized Buick dealership in tacoma since 1916; they had recently opened their one-stop automotive center at 455 Saint Helens Avenue in Tacoma's business district. View of progress on the "Buick" sign at Mueller-Harkins Motor Company, the dealership had their open house for their new and modern facilities in December 1948. Photo ordered by Comfort, Davis and Blangy, a real estate and insurance business in Tacoma.

Automobile dealerships--Tacoma; Signs (Notices); Progress photographs; Mueller-Harkins Motor Co. (Tacoma); Comfort, Davis & Blangy (Tacoma);

The students of Arlington Elementary School were invited to the Music Box Theatre to watch Walt Disney's "So Dear to My Heart" in technicolor on March 2, 1949. The movie poster reads "A Dilly-Dilly Delight;" Burl Ives, Beulah Bondi, Harry Carey, Bobby Driscoll and Luana Patten star in the movie. Exterior view of the Music Box Theatre, Arlington's 2nd and 3rd grade students are standing with their teacher, holding a sign that lists their names.

Motion picture theaters--Tacoma--1940-1950; Motion pictures; Motion picture posters; School children--Tacoma--1940-1950; Teachers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Motion picture audiences--Tacoma; Arlington School (Tacoma); Music Box Theatre (Tacoma);

Tacoma's Temple Theatre advertised they had the "widest proscenium arch of any theater or hall on Pacific Coast". Throughout the years the Temple Theatre had a number of movie stars making special appearances, including Tallulah Bankhead and Lucille Ball. The Temple Theatre was later renamed the Saint Helens Convention Center in 1992 and the Landmark Convention Center in 1995. View of two unidentified men working with equipment and machinery at the Temple Theatre; possibly movie projectors.

Motion picture theaters--Tacoma; People associated with entertainment & sports; Motion picture devices; Projectors; Temple Theatre (Tacoma);

An unidentified waitress offers a fireman something to eat, outside a badly damaged diner, in this photograph from April of 1949. On April 13, 1949, at 11:55 a.m. a 7.1 magnitude earthquake rocked the Puget Sound basin. The quake was felt over 150,000 square miles, and killed eight people. This unidentified restaurant is believed to be in Puyallup, one of the hardest hit towns in the south sound. Photo ordered by Life magazine in New York (Life, 4/25/49, p. 34-35 & T.N.T., 4/13/49, P. 1, 12 & 4/14/49, p. 1-2). TPL-5461

Restaurants--Puyallup; Waitresses--Puyallup; Fire fighters--Puyallup; Rescue work--Puyallup; Earthquakes--Puyallup; Disasters--Puyallup; Life (New York, N.Y.);

Park Hotel was built in 1908 and in 1949, it was owned by William L. and Nelle M. Edwards. The three-story, 50 room hotel was located in downtown Tacoma at South 8th Street and A Street, across from Fireman's Park. In 1977 it was bought by Tacoma Savings and Loan Association; they demolished the hotel and turned the site into additional parking. View of Park Hotel's front desk area, unidentified employees are working with the telephone switchboard.

Hotels--Tacoma; Hotel employees--Tacoma; Telephone operators--Tacoma; Telephone switchboards--Tacoma; Park Hotel (Tacoma);

Metropolitan Chain Stores were a department store located in Tacoma's downtown shopping district. Metropolitan offered their customers a wide variety of services, including key making and a luncheonette cafeteria with daily specials; Metropolitan's store manager was Walter M. Arnold. View of window display featuring "Advance" dress patterns and 15 cent underwear sale.

Department stores--Tacoma; Fabric shops--Tacoma; Merchandise displays--Tacoma; Window displays; Sewing equipment & supplies; Sewing--Tacoma; Patterns (Design elements); Metropolitan Chain Stores (Tacoma);

Big Six Service was owned by M. A. Martin, they were located at 3826 Sixth Avenue. Big Six offered their customers a full service gas station with a repair shop, fuel oil, battery and tire service, radios and electrical appliances. Exterior view of Big Six Service station, photo ordered by West Marquis Incorporated, an advertising agency based out of Seattle. The man in the hat is reported to be Malvin Andreas Martin. TPL-9267

Automobile service stations--Tacoma; Vehicle maintenance & repair--Tacoma; Gasoline--Tacoma--1940-1950; Signs (Notices); Big Six Service (Tacoma); West Marquis, Inc. (Seattle);

Harold's Service Station, 1202 So. 12th St., was owned by Harold W. Conger. Harold's offered their customers Mobilgas products, tires, batteries, recapping, vulcanizing and many automobile accessories. View of Harold Conger filling up an automobile with gas at his service station, photo ordered by West Marquis Incorporated, an advertising agency based out of Seattle.

Automobile service stations--Tacoma; Vehicle maintenance & repair--Tacoma; Gasoline--Tacoma--1940-1950; Signs (Notices); Harold's Service Station (Tacoma); West Marquis, Inc. (Seattle); Conger, Harold W.;

Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Company was completing a company wide expansion and building program in 1949. The expansion would allow the company to serve their customers better. Exterior view of Mobilgas service station in Milton where a sign indicates a public telephone booth is available next to the gas station. Photograph ordered by Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Company.

Automobile service stations--Milton; Telephone booths--Milton; Telephone companies--Tacoma; Telephone industry--Tacoma; Roads--Milton; Automobiles--Milton; Signs (Notices); Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Co. (Tacoma);

Following an action making the rhododendron Washington's official state flower, Verna V. Weiler, Director of the Capitol District of Garden Clubs, and Alice S. Franklin, President of the Garden Club of Tacoma, immediately planned Tacoma's first Rhododendron Show; the flowers will be displayed in the lobby of the Bank of California. View of Alice S. Franklin (left) and Verna V. Weiler admiring azaleas on March 2, 1949 (T. Times, 3/3/49, p. 3).

Banks--Tacoma; Women--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1940-1950; Azaleas--Tacoma; Rhododendrons; Flower shows--Tacoma; Bank of California National Association (Tacoma); Franklin, Alice S.; Weiler, Verna V.;

Machinery at Northwest Door Company, American Marietta Co., Henry Presessor. Large bags of dry, powdered adhesives are placed near a mixer at Northwest Door Company. The bag in the foreground is being moved by an overhead carrier. The glues used in the manufacture of plywood gave it strength and, as non-soluble glues were developed, plywood became weatherproof.

Northwest Door Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Machinery; Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Plywood; Glue;

Crowd at Selden's Rug Show, Selden's, Mrs. Selden. A crowd of people stand outside at night looking in through Selden's showroom windows at the rug show. The company's neon sign spells the name of Selden's.

Selden's, Inc. (Tacoma); Rugs; Electric signs--Tacoma--1940-1950;