Before we
were 253.

Local detail most people forget:

When the Class of 1996 graduated, Puyallup phone numbers still used area code 206. The 253 area code did not enter service until April 27, 1997.

Rogers classmates gathered for a reunion photograph — THE PEOPLE ARE THE ARCHIVE · ROGERS RAMS

THE SOUTH HILL WE KNEW

A mall directory,
a Fair scone,
and a plan made
on the landline.

South Hill Mall had opened in 1988 and was in the middle of its huge 1990s expansion. In our graduation year, Pierce College opened its Brouillet Library Science building. Downtown Puyallup's outdoor sculpture gallery was barely a year old.

FAIR NIGHT · 1996Santana played the grandstand.Western Washington State Fair · September 11

ONE WEEKEND LATERJewel, Goo Goo Dolls, and Todd Snider.Puyallup · September 22

SOUTH HILL ERRANDSMervyn’s. Lamonts. Target.Before the mall directory changed again.

REAL LOCAL PHOTOGRAPHS

Three doors
back to Puyallup.

These photo doors open the original archive records. They are intentionally linked, not copied, so the photographers and local collections stay attached to their work.

1995

LOCAL PHOTO PORTAL · 1995

The Fair carousel in the rain

A real October 1995 photograph of the Western Washington State Fair carousel building, preserved by the National Carousel Association.

Open the original photograph ↗

1990

LOCAL PHOTO PORTAL · 1990

The Fair, one roll of film at a time

Tacoma Library's Northwest Room holds a set of 1990 Western Washington Fair photographs from The News Tribune collection.

Browse the 1990 Fair photographs ↗

1988

LOCAL PHOTO PORTAL · 1988

South Hill Mall was still the new place

The Northwest Room catalog includes construction photographs from the mall at Meridian and Highway 512, just before it became part of everyday South Hill life.

Find the mall construction photograph ↗

CALL WAITINGSomeone is on the other line.

ONE-HOUR PHOTOYou find out tomorrow.

VHSBe kind. Rewind.

THE FAIRDo the Puyallup.

Before wewere 253.