A ramshackle, vacant and boarded up residence across the street from the home of J.P. Weyerhaeuser, Jr. and his family, at 420 No. 4th. Officials suspect that this home may have been used as a vantage point to observe the family in the days preceding the May 24, 1935 kidnapping of George Weyerhaeuser. Those officials point to a fire of mysterious origin in the house at 3a.m. on May 11, 1935, indicating that the house was occupied. The theory of the home as a hideout was later abandoned and footprints through the home were attributed to a reporter trying to get a better view of the Weyerhaeuser home. (T.Times 5/28/1935, pg.1)

Kidnappings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Abandoned buildings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Weyerhaeuser, George H.--Kidnappings;

This vacant and boarded up home stood about 200 feet from the home of the J.P. (Phil) Weyerhaeuser, Jr. family at 420 No. 4th. The Weyerhaeuser home is the one behind the tree at the right rear of the picture. The police suspect that the abandoned home may have been used a a hideout where the kidnappers could observe the Weyerhaeuser family prior to the May 24, 1935 kidnapping of nine year old George Weyerhaeuser. This theory was later abandoned and footprints attributed to an overly ambitious photographer trying to get a different viewpoint of the Weyerhaeuser home. (T. Times 5/28/1935, pg. 1 plus succeeding months)

Kidnappings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Abandoned buildings--Tacoma--1930-1940; Weyerhaeuser, George H.--Kidnappings;