A Linotype machine is in the background of this image from a 1944 Community War Chest campaign. View of two unidentified War Chest volunteers soliciting funds from an unidentified typesetter. Image courtesy Northwest Room at The Tacoma Public Library, image number: Richards Studio D18294-11

By Danielle Nease, Tacoma Daily Index

Allen Nemec has worked for The Tacoma Daily Index since 1973, marking fifty years of typing up courtwork, managing our paperbox locations, proofing and entering legal notices and all other manner of work. Those fifty years account for a little over a third of the years the Index has been publishing.

He’s seen a lot of coworkers come and go throughout his tenure here, had to pack up his desk and move to different office buildings several times. He’s had a handful of bosses, from owner Marshall Skidmore in the 70s, 80s and 90s, to publisher Ken Spurrell for the last 25-plus years. He’s seen the number of judges and the number of courtrooms more than double, and he says the amount of courtwork he handled for the Index then was perhaps 5% of what he handles now.

Nemec was both a spectator and participant at the court, observing and recording and interacting with the attorneys and clerks. In the 70s, he would acquire the information at the court and then return to the Index office and enter legals and Auditors work. All court related cases, orders and judgments were handwritten in large books that were designated Civil, Probates, Criminal, etc., which Nemec transcribed and then returned to the Index office to typeset.

The Index shared a building with R4 Printing, who handled the actual production to a final paper using a linotype. Allen remembers the smell of hot metal and the sound of the lead letters falling into place as the information was typed on the linotype machine. A page would be printed for proofing, and if an error was found, they would manually remove the word or sentence and retype it and reprint it. (For general information on how a linotype works, see the Wikipedia page.)

Around 1980, the Superior Court Clerk’s Office switched over to computers. It was so different in comparison to the earlier transcribing and typsetting that it is hard to fathom, and sometimes we take for granted the simplicity of using computers for putting the paper together now.

The County-City building of the 70s and 80s was quite different to nowadays. The building has had shifting occupants and seems to always be short on space, but it never seemed quite so short on space until one would see shackled prisoners being escorted through the lobby on their way to the courtroom. The lobby had a kiosk where cigars and cigarettes were sold and an elevator operator who would “present” the opening doors with a sweep of her arm welcoming your entry. Now there is a candy and beverage counter and nary an elevator operator to be found, and the prisoners are generally escorted behind the scenes.

The atmosphere was fun and relaxed, with office and holiday parties being a common activity. There would be a huge spread of food available all day, starting around 10 am, and bottles of whiskey given as Christmas gifts.

Smoking was allowed in those days, and when a customer walked up to the counter the office staff would greet them with a cigarette in one hand and an ashtray in the other – or during the parties with a mixed drink in one hand and a cigarette in the other. Of course times changed, and liability issues prompted a crack down on drinking at the parties, and the building became a no smoking zone as well. The environment became a bit more staid and the work load has increased to the point where hundreds of court actions are filed each and every day.

Nemec says, “Since the advent of computers being used first at the courthouse and then at the Index, things have changed dramatically. The information I gather for publication now is available online – hence no need to leave the newspaper office to gather the information at the courthouse. I miss some of the people I made friends with, but nothing stays the same. Now, friendships have grown with my co-workers in the office and the days at the courthouse seem a distant memory.”

Nemec has many interests outside of work, and is an expert photographer, dedicated gardener and a car enthusiast. He works every week to keep his yard both clean and inviting, even restoring interesting artifacts as focal pieces. He always seems to have an inside track on the weather predictions, squeaking in that yardwork before the rain would start. His photography is unique and beautiful, capturing the symmetry, color and simplicity of his subject. The image below includes examples of his work – the movement effect in the picture of dice (forefront/ middle of the picture) is particularly intriguing. He has owned several unique cars over the years, most recently a 2017 Corvette Stingray, which he has made one of a kind. You may see him driving it around Pierce County or being displayed at one of the local car shows.

An array of Al’s photographic work (Photo by Allen Nemec)

I started at the Index in 2012, and since day one I’ve been hearing that Al would be retiring “next year.” He has been not just a co-worker, but a friend, and his witty comebacks and one-liners could make the office snicker – or howl with laughter. Al says it’s been a good run, and after 50 years “next year” could be here soon and it may be time to move on.