In 1967 Southwest 320th Street was built from Pacific Highway to Hoyt Road in Federal Way, which opened the points to King County. Through the 70’s more and more people who worked in King County began moving to the points.

Schools in the 1970’s

In the early 70’s the number of school age children declined in both elementary schools and some parents were displeased with the teaching philosophies of some of the Dash Point and Browns Point teachers. As a result, some students went to private schools or to McCarver Elementary School in Tacoma where the program included individualized instruction, lower student-teacher ratios and it was open to all children in the district. Student enrollments at both schools declined requiring Dash Point School’s closure in 1973. The remaining Dash Point children attended Browns Point School. When Dash Point reopened in 1977 its enrollment included kindergarten through third grades. Fourth through sixth grade students attended Browns Point Elementary School.

Water Companies

Throughout the years all three water companies have had to cope with various problems in their systems: wells, pipes, tanks, water pressure, etc. For instance, in the 1950’s when an earthquake shook the points, the stand holding the Dash Point water tank, which held 200,000 gallons, buckled. Roy Allen, a resident who owned the Star Iron and Steel Company donated most of the materials and labor to repair it. However, donations like this were rare, and repairs and improvements through the years had proven costly.

In 1972 the Dash Point Cooperative Water Association was having trouble with water contamination which necessitated the purchase of water from Tacoma. They continued using and maintaining their own system, however. An agreement with Tacoma stated that when Dash Point sold their property (the original Olson Brothers property) Dash Point could be placed completely under the jurisdication of Tacoma. In 1979 Washington State purchased the 121 acres for $610,000 as an addition to the State Park which had been created in 1962. In 1980 the Dash Point Cooperative Water Association was dissolved after paying an agreed upon sum of money to Tacoma for taking over complete responsibility for the system. All debts wer paid and the shareholders received the remaining funds.

Caledonia Water Company needed to update their system. In 1985 they decided to make the changeover to Tacoma water. The city received $25,000 from Caledonia to be applied to the improvement and repair of the system. The Caledonia Water Company is also effectively disolved.

The Hyada Cooperative Mutual Service Company is still functioning apparently with no major problems.

Fire District No. 13

Today’s fire department has 24 volunteers, 21 are men and three are women. Beverly Estes, one of the three women, is an original “Hotfooter.” When Seattle Fire Dept. began medical aid in 1972, other fire deptarments in the state followed suit. As a result, District No. 13 today has two professional paramedics and one emergency medical technician, plus several thousand dollars worth of medical equipment. When a points resident dials 911, the call connects to the Tacoma Fire Dept. The message is immediately sent through to every points fireman via radio telling what and where the emergency is. The fire station whistle also blows automatically summoning the volunteers. The first volunteers to arrive at the station take the fire unit to the emergency location. If it is a fire during the day, Tacoma almost always sends their units to assist District No. 13.

Browns Point Shopping Center

Ron and Sue Ayer came to Browns Point in 1974 after Ron and Mike Rosati purchased the drugstore from the Neals in 1973. Ron became the sole owner in 1976. The following year Ron and Gary Hall purchased the shopping center property from Gordon Dowling. At that time the store fronts received a new rustic wooden facade and a new name was chosen. North Bay Village seemed appropriate for a center serving the three communities of Browns Point, Dash Point, and Northeast Tacoma which bordered the north shore of Commencement Bay.

Savon Drugs, meanwhile, maintained the characteristics of not just a drugstore, but also the old-time general store including a state liquor store as well as a U.S. Post Office which was added in 1976. The homey atmosphere in the store might have easily accepted an old potbelly stove surrounded by captain’s chairs with an old pickle barrel off to the side. The grocery store became Art’s Grocery in 1978 when Art Kaiser purchased the business.

In 1980 Dr. Ron Anderson became the new owner of the North Bay Village with Denny Smith and Gary McFadden as limited partners. 1986 saw the completion of their efforts to upgrade the shopping center when a new multi-shop complex housed Savon Drugs, Arts Grocery, North Bay Dry Cleaners, Marvelous Movies, a barber shop, an art gallery, an auto parts store, and a few years later, Archie’s Diner. With a new professional building built adjacent to the multi-shop complex, Dr. Louisa Beal began her veteranarian practice in April 1986.

The Lobster Shop

A list of past owners of the Lobster Shop, when it was a grocery/cafe, is incomplete, but includes Muehlenbruchs, Don Martin, Clella Steele, Marge Burt, Ken Slaughter, Harry Apostoledes, and in the 1960’s, Art & Verta Hanson. Through the years the store has in its appearance. It was originally built on stilts which kept it high above the high tide level. Of course as time passed the land was filled in. It also had a porch on two sides which was enclosed to become part of the main store. When Denny Driscoll purchased it he had dreams which changed the building’s outer and inner personality. It took on the aura of a very fine restaurant which he opened in June of 1977. Its reputation for fine seafood, especially lobster, is well known throughout the Tacoma/Seattle area.

The Cliff House

Since the 60’s the Cliff House has been a popular restaurant for Tacoma and the surrounding areas. In 1977 Guido Brendicke took over the buisiness. It has been remodeled and presents an array of epicurian delights and the always changing and interesting view of Commencement Bay, the Tacoma skyline, and the tideflats with the Puyallup River flowing into the bay. On occasion, Mt. Rainier dominates the distant scenery with its majestic presence, glowing pink from the setting sun during the late summer evenings.

Janet’s Table Supply

The 1980’s saw the closing and razing of Janet’s Table Supply, a traumatic event for both young and especially old residents who had fond memories of buying penny candy or running grocery errands for their mothers. Janet’s Table Supply on Dash Point, through the years, had different names and owners, among them were: Jock Sparling, the Giegers, and Sidney Johnson. When Gail and Kathryn Planck owned it from 1945-50 they remodeled the building to enclose the porch into the main building. Janet Flynn, who is granddaughter of John W. Hillis, one of Dash Point’s first residents, purchased the store from the Rickabaughs in 1953 when it became Janet’s Table Supply. In 1981, when the building fell into disrepair, the neighborhood joined in a paint and repair effort to keep Janet and the store a part of the community. It was especially loved by the children who frequented the store. Janet closed the store in 1983. The Presbyterian Church, by prior agreement, purchased the property and the store which was almost 65 years old and built a parking lot.