Contemporary home with beautiful view of the Narrows Bridge, ca. 1961. Apparently built on a hillside, this modern home appears to have large skylights and a two-car garage. Two vehicles are parked nearby. This is the home of George Franklin at 636 No. Fairview Dr., and was built for him by famed Tacoma architect, Robert Billsbrough Price about 1956. Mr. Price built schools, temples and even a fire station. The William Weaver family were the second owners of the home, living there from about 1972 to 2003. (Additional information provided by a reader)

Houses--Tacoma--1960-1970; Tacoma Narrows Bridge (Tacoma); Franklin, George--Homes & haunts; Weaver, William P.--Homes & haunts;

View of eight-story reinforced concrete apartment house, "Sky Terrace," on October 19, 1961. Located at 235 Broadway with views of Commencement Bay, it was designed by well-known architect Robert Billsbrough Price. O & M Builders Supply was listed as the builder with Ostruske -Murphy, Inc., as contractors. All one and two-bedroom units would have balconies at the rear of the building. Photograph ordered by O & M Builders.

Apartment houses--Tacoma--1960-1970; Sky Terrace Apartments (Tacoma);

New construction by Dean Lyster Construction Co. This home in the University Estates subdivision was included in the 12th annual Tour of Homes held in mid-August, 1961. It was one of eighteen new homes on display in the tour sponsored by the Home Builders Association of Greater Tacoma. The "modern colonial" featured a recreation and family room with sliding glass doors to the rear court, separate living room with colonial fireplace, tile entry, oak paneling, 1.5 baths, and a two-car attached garage wtih automatic electric door available. It was heated with natural gas. Photograph ordered by Dean Lyster Construction Co. (TNT 8-18-61, C-1, TNT 8-27-61, B-3)

Houses--University Place--1960-1970;

Full front of Bernice Building, Pacific Avenue side. Located on the ground floor of the Victorian era Bernice Building was Bender's, women and men's clothing store owned by Jack R. Bender. Customers seem to be flocking to the ready-to-wear store, drawn by the low prices in the quitting business sale. The Bernice Building, as well as the adjacent Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan Assn. building, would be demolished to make way for a modern, expanded Pacific First Federal structure. The new building would open in September, 1964.

Bernice Building (Tacoma); Bender's (Tacoma);

ca. 1961. Side-view from south Stadium Way of eight-story reinforced concrete apartment building under construction in early 1961, taken as scenic and stock footage for 1961. GMC truck with "Lantz" painted on it is on sidewalk area in front of building. These are the Sky Terrace Apartments located at 235 Broadway. The balconies are on the rear of the building. Robert Billsbrough Price was the architect, O & M Builders Supply the builder, and Ostruske-Murphy, Inc., the contractor of the project.

Building construction--Tacoma--1960-1970; Apartment houses--Tacoma--1960-1970; Sky Terrace Apartments (Tacoma);

This row of classic older homes was photographed on behalf of architects Liddle & Jones on June 29, 1961. They, and others, were located on South Yakima, between Sixth Avenue and 8th St. Home in the center of photograph appears to be of the Queen Anne style. The large home was constructed mostly of brick with steeply pitched gabled roof, dormers, and a turret. Built on a smoothly sloped lot, it is separated from neighboring homes by hedges.

Houses--Tacoma--1960-1970;

Exterior - Thunderbird Garden Apartments. The Thunderbird Garden Apartments used a Northwest Indian motif as a decoration on the building's cedar-sided exterior. The 51-unit complex was built in 1961 in close proximity to the Thunderbird Shopping Center on Steilacoom Blvd. Each section of the apartment complex was no more than two stories high. All apartments had all-electric kitchens and heating and had insulated and soundproof ceilings and walls. Wall to wall carpeting was provided in the spacious living rooms and bedrooms. In addition, all the one and two bedroom units were pre-wired for phone and television. Parking was convenient with spaces located in the back of each unit. A luxurious swimming pool and tennis courts provided the residents with a country club atmosphere. Rents ranged from $75-135, unfurnished, with additional cost for furnishings. Photograph ordered by Thunderbird Investment Corporation. (TNT 3-26-61, B-8, TNT full page ad 8-20-61, B-9, B-10)

Thunderbird Garden Apartments (Lakewood); Apartment houses--Lakewood;

Commerce St. side of Bernice Building. By 1960, there were many vacancies in the venerable Bernice Building located in the 1100 block of Pacific Avenue. The building would be demolished later to make room for the new Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan Assn.site. Pacific First Federal had requested photographs of the front and rear of the Bernice Building with adjoining buildings removed.

Bernice Building (Tacoma);

ca. 1961. 1961 scenic and stock footage. Sky Terrace Apartments, an eight-story reinforced concrete structure, under construction in early 1961. The 39-unit apartment building was designed by Robert Billsbrough Price with Ostruske-Murphy, Inc. as contractors. The $750,000 structure would consist of one and two bedroom apartments with views of Commencement Bay. This view is of the rear of the Sky Terrace. The building was expected to be completed in July, 1961. (TNT 1-25-61, B-4)

Building construction--Tacoma--1960-1970; Apartment houses--Tacoma--1960-1970; Sky Terrace Apartments (Tacoma);

On Sunday, April 16, 1961, a Richards Studio photographer journeyed to the third floor of the Washington Building to snap photos of the soon-to-be demolished Bernice Building and Pacific First Federal Savings. Bender's Ready to Wear fashions for men and women appears to already have vacated the premises; windows are either boarded up or empty. A modern Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan would emerge in 1964. The new building, designed by Tacoma architects Lea, Pearson & Richards, would cost $1,500,000, and more than double the present size of the savings and loan. (TNT 1-12-61, p. 1)

Bernice Building (Tacoma); Pacific First Federal Building (Tacoma); Bender's (Tacoma);

Pearson, Anderson & Pearson of the Rust Bldg. requested photographs of the intersection of Sixth Avenue and Stevens to be taken shortly before noon on June 24, 1961. These photographs were to be used in the case of William Heath vs. Yellow Cab. Bob's S&S Tire Service and the Narrows Bowling Alley can be seen on the left side of the street. A man and a woman are waiting, possibly for the bus, at the Sixth Ave. Drugstore on the right. TPL-9167

Neighborhoods--Tacoma--1960-1970; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1960-1970;

Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan building at intersection of S. 11th & Commerce Sts. Pedestrians wait to cross busy Commerce St. on February 1, 1961. The savings & loan association had announced two weeks before that they would be constructing a new building on the original site and including the Bernice Building location next door. Both buildings had been built in the late 1800's and heavily utilized the semi-circular Roman arch feature. Photograph ordered by Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan Assn.

Pacific First Federal Building (Tacoma); Bernice Building (Tacoma);

Originally built in 1891 as the Merchants National Bank, the building on the corner of 11th and Pacific Avenue became home to Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan in 1939. When the building was remodeled in 1949 many innovations were added to the venerable structure including Tacoma's first escalator. Both the Pacific First Federal building at 1102-04 Pacific and the Bernice Building next to it were torn down shortly after this photograph was taken in 1961; a new, larger Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan Association building was built on the site. The new savings and loan had its grand opening in September 1964. Today it is home to Washington Mutual Bank. (Photograph ordered by Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan Assn.)

Pacific First Federal Building (Tacoma); Bernice Building (Tacoma); Bender's (Tacoma);

Streets of downtown Tacoma appear quiet on a Sunday in April, 1961. A few people stand near Bender's Ready to Wear clothing store for women and men located in the Bernice Building in the 1100 block of Pacific Avenue. Both the Bernice and the adjoining Pacific First Federal Building would be but a memory shortly as they would be torn down to make way for a modern Pacific First Federal Savings location. Photograph taken from the third floor of the Washington Building on behalf of Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan.

Bernice Building (Tacoma); Pacific First Federal Building (Tacoma); Bender's (Tacoma);

Children eating breakfast with mom standing by. This is possibly an example of the "great room" concept whereby the living room and kitchen area blend in seamlessly. The little boy and girl, bowls of cereal before them, are seated before a long wooden curved counter that extends slightly into the living room; the other side of the counter has kitchen cabinets and drawers below it. Other eyecatching features include a recessed wall to fit a small sofa and to highlight family photos and a long beam providing a silent demarcation between the two living spaces. Photograph ordered by the Weyerhaeuser Co.

Houses--1960-1970; Living rooms; Kitchens; Eating & drinking;