The City of Tacoma’s Landmarks Preservation Commission voted unanimously July 23 to recommend City Council add Frisko Freeze to the city’s register of historic places.

According to preservationist Marshall McClintock, who wrote the nomination application with support from Frisko Freeze co-owner Penny Jensen, the New Tacoma Neighborhood Council and the North Slope Historic District wrote letters supporting the nomination.

“[The vote of recommendation] was kind of expected,” said McClintock yesterday.

The commission’s recommendation could reach councilmembers in the form of a resolution as early as Aug. 19.

Frisko Freeze, an iconic walk-up hamburger stand located at 1201 N. Division Ave., near Wright Park, was opened in 1950 by the late Perry Smith, according to newspaper archives and the nomination application. 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.”

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For earlier coverage of the Frisko Freeze nomination, click on the following links:

— Historic landmark status for Frisko Freeze? (04/17/08) — http://tacomadailyindex.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=88&cat=23&id=1196488&more=0

— Public hearing planned for Frisko Freeze historic register nomination (06/26/08) —
http://tacomadailyindex.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=88&cat=23&id=1268586&more=0

— Landmarks Commission will decide Frisko Freeze nomination today (07/23/08) — http://tacomadailyindex.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=88&cat=23&id=1250797&more=0