The City of Tacoma’s Landmarks Preservation Commission has scheduled a public hearing July 23 to discuss whether Frisko Freeze, the 58-year-old iconic walk-up hamburger stand, should be included on the city’s register of historic places.

The decision was made during yesterday’s commission meeting, where local preservation activist Marshall McClintock made a presentation to support the business’ historic significance.

“It seems to be considered a landmark already,” said McClintock, who explained the nomination application’s merits and clicked through a slide presentation of photographs and newspaper clippings depicting the business over the past 50-plus years: one photograph showed former Governor Booth Gardner — in a tie and shirt sleeves — standing in Frisko Freeze’s parking lot with a bag of burgers; another photo showed Tacoma Mayor Bill Baarsma biting into a Frisko Freeze burger. “The building, both architecturally and culturally, represents the post-World War II building boom and the emergence of the mid-century American teenage culture in Tacoma.”

In April, the Index first reported McClintock and Frisko Freeze owner Penny Jensen were working on the nomination. The idea to nominate the building and its signature neon sign, located at 1201 N. Division Ave., traces back to a letter McClintock wrote to Jensen in March.

“Marshall asked if I ever considered [putting the building on the register], which I had, but I knew it was quite a process,” Jensen, who inherited the business when her father, Perry Smith, passed in 1990, told the Index. “Owning a little business, it seems like I’m always buried in paperwork. When he contacted me and offered to do the work, I jumped at it.”

According to newspaper archives and the nomination application, Frisko Freeze was opened July 27, 1950, by Smith. Smith told a reporter at the time that the name’s inspiration came from Seattle Rainiers broadcaster Leo Lassen, who was calling a game between Seattle and ‘Frisko.’ “So I decided to call my place Frisko Freeze,” said Smith, “but I changed the spelling.”

During yesterday’s meeting, McClintock noted the walk-up food stand’s iconic neon sign would also be included as part of the historic nomination. According to McClintock, the sign was created and designed by Cliff Sign, established in 1902 by Luther Cliff and specializing in neon signs. Cliff founded the Sign Association of Tacoma, and created many of the city’s neon signs through the mid-Twentieth Century.

In order for a property to be added to the city’s register, it must be 50 years or older at the time of nomination, and retain its original historic integrity. Though the 696-square-foot building is largely unchanged, in the early-1960s the roof was modified to add wider overhangs and rounded corners. Similarly, an addition was added to the rear of the building in 1962 for a freezer and extra storage space.

The Frisko Freeze site is part of an area recognized as Tacoma’s North Slope Historic District by the National Register of Historic Places. It sits outside the boundary of the city’s recognized North Slope Historic District.

During next month’s public hearing, the landmarks preservation commission will listen to comments from Tacomans for or against adding the building to the city’s register.
From there, the commission could elect to recommend Tacoma City Council add the building to the city’s register, which includes approximately 140 properties.

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

For earlier coverage of the Frisko Freeze historic register nomination, click here:

http://tacomadailyindex.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=88&cat=23&id=1196488&more=0