Construction continues on the new Tacoma Savings & Loan Association building located at 101 So. 9th St. in April, 1957. A massive concrete circular staircase is in the process of being completed. The building was designed by local architects Lea, Pearson & Richards with Ketner Brothers as the contractors. It would feature extruded aluminum and insulating glass with black granite trim and blue Spandrelite glass panels. The savings & loan would open in later that summer. Photograph ordered by Tacoma Savings & Loan Association.
Building construction--Tacoma--1950-1960; Stairways--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma Savings & Loan Association (Tacoma);
ca. 1955. Interiors of Ben Cheney's home. The living room of Cheney's home in Browns Point has exposed beams, knotty wood panelling and a large fieldstone fireplace. In front of the fireplace is a sunken conversation pit with pillows. The furniture is simple and comfortable. Although Cheney was a millionaire, his home is very simply decorated and comfortable.
Cheney, Ben B., 1905-1971--Homes & haunts; Living rooms--Tacoma--1950-1960;
The many windows in this large two-story contemporary Skyline Terrace home take advantage of the beautiful view before it. All homes built in Tacoma's Skyline Terrace neighborhood were on designated view lots so the new homeowner could have the Narrows Bridge, Puget Sound, Olympic mountains or city lights as landscapes to be savored. Miller Construction Co., headed by Edward P. Miller, built many of the homes in this newer housing development. It is possible that this home, pictured in 1954, is the personal residence of Mr. Miller. (TNT 5-18-54, C-16)
Houses--Tacoma--1950-1960; Housing developments--Tacoma--1950-1960; Miller Construction Co., Inc. (Tacoma);
After pictures of homes. Safeway Builders apparently put the new siding on this apartment complex, perhaps known as the Claus Apartments, in spring, 1954. The two-story unit on North Fife St. had a long, wide porch, and heavy columns with possibly rock or brick column supports. Striped awnings shaded four upstairs windows. Unlike most bungalows, the apartments had a flat, not wide pitched roof. A long flight of steps led up from the street and then connected to the porch steps. The lawn appears to have been nicely manicured with neatly trimmed plants and shrubs surrounding the structure.
Houses appear to be packed in tightly in this section of North "M" Street in May, 1954. The Victorian style homes at 508 and 510 North "M" have tall, vertical proportions with steeply pitched gabled roofs. Both have porches and 510 North "M" has a balcony running the width of the home. They both have decorative shingles and may have been painted in multiple colors. Safeway Builders, according to a sign posted on one of the homes, appears to have been involved in the remodeling; Pioneer materials were used in at least one home. According to the Pierce County Building Index, both homes were constructed in the 1890's.
Cement pouring at C.P.S. The student population at the College of Puget Sound was growing at a rapid rate in the 1950's and new construction was needed to keep pace. McPhail Engineering Co. won a large contract from the college to build an addition to Anderson Hall, the woman's dormitory, in January, 1954. The new wing, designed by noted architect Silas Nelsen, was completed in November, 1954. View of cement pouring by Holroyd Co. at construction site of new wing on C.P.S. campus on July 14, 1954. .
Building construction--Tacoma--1950-1960; Concrete mixers--Tacoma; Holroyd Co. (Tacoma); College of Puget Sound (Tacoma)--Buildings;
The living room of Joe L. Long, Jr.'s residence takes full advantage of the beautiful lakeview through the expansive glass picture windows. The contemporary styled home appears to be two-storied as it has an elevated view of the waterfront. The large living room comes equipped with enormous brick fireplace; exposed beams bring in a touch of the northwest into the home. Photograph ordered by Timber Structures, Inc., Portland, Oregon.
Living rooms--Lakewood--1950-1960; Fireplaces; Lamps; Long, Joe L.--Homes & haunts; Timber Structures, Inc. (Portland, Or.);
The Miller Construction Co. built many homes in the Skyline Terrace housing development in the 1950's. Each lot had beautiful views of either the city lights, Narrows or Olympic Mountains. The contemporary home at 1101 Lenore Drive would not be an exception. It was labeled the "Idea Home of the Year" and probably contained many new innovations. Designed by Cleveland architects Robert A. Little & Associates, it merited a 19 page listing in the September, 1954, Better Homes & Gardens magazine. View of home's fenced back yard; patio has a small section set aside for a small tree surrounded by concrete block. The 1955 City Directory listed its owner as Fremont C. and Virginia Gault; Mr. Gault was an executive with Weyerhaeuser Timber. Photograph ordered by Miller Construction Co., Inc. (TNT 9-19-54, E-7)
Gault, Fremont C.--Homes & haunts; Miller Construction Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Houses--Tacoma--1950-1960;
The birth of the baby Jesus takes center stage in this roof top holiday decoration, as Santa stands to one side, at 6421 Vickery Ave. The one story rambler has a unique angled roof line. The fence to the viewer's left has shelves with potted plants, while built in planter boxes line the front of the home. A woodsy undeveloped area can be seen to the rear of the house.
A view of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge from homes in the Narrowmoor housing addition. Narrowmoor was an upscale addition west of Jackson, with view lots of the Narrows and the Olympic Mountains. TPL-9640
Houses--Tacoma--1950-1960; Housing developments--Tacoma--1950-1960; Real estate development--Tacoma; Tacoma Narrows Bridge (Tacoma);
View of County-City Building ordered by Fentron Industries, Seattle. The modern County-City Building stands nearly completed on September 19, 1958, a stark contrast to the Old City Hall that it will be replacing. The main tower would be twelve stories high: ten for office space, basement storage and a penthouse used for mechanical equipment and a lunchroom. This particular shot was taken by a Richards Studio photographer who apparently climbed to the third floor of the Old Courthouse located to the rear of the new facility.
Still under construction in late summer, 1958, was a contemporary ranch-style home on Carolyn Drive in University Place. Equipped with a two-car attached garage, the new home had wood siding and possibly a composite roof. The extended roof of a small porch would help to shade the large picture window. The driveway to the garage had yet to be poured and landscaping was not in place. Photograph ordered by the Condon Co.
Houses--University Place--1950-1960; Building construction--University Place--1950-1960;
ca. 1910. Copy made from glass plate, Richards Studio. South 11th Street looking east. The steepness of South 11th St. is evident in this view from possibly the early 1900's. Traffic seems very light, with only a streetcar, one automobile and one man keeping pace with his team of horses. Tacoma would not experience parking problems in the downtown area for quite a few years. A glimpse of Peoples Store on the corner of 11th & Pacific can be seen as well as a meat market believed to be owned by William T. Dickenson further up on 11th. The Perkins Bldg., on A St., has flags flying. The Stone-Fisher department store, later known as the Fisher Department Store then the Bon Marche, is to the foreground, far right at the corner of Broadway and 11th. Copy made from glass plate on October 3, 1958.
Commercial streets--Tacoma--1900-1910; Street railroads--Tacoma; Signs (Notices); Horses;
ca. 1915. Copy made from glass plate, Richards Studio. Looking east on South 11th St. toward bridge. Giant letters proclaiming "Municipal Light and Power, Cheapest in the U.S.," are painted on the 11th Street Bridge. Downtown Tacoma appears vibrant, with streetcars providing convenient transportation, and plenty of people on the sidewalks. Businesses located on or near 11th at that time included the Purity Lunch and the Warburton Apartments; signs for those can be hanging on buildings on the right side of the photograph. The Warburton was listed then on South "C" Street; this would become Broadway. The Perkins Bldg. is on A St. near the entrance to the bridge. Copy of glass plate made on October 3, 1958.
Commercial streets--Tacoma--1910-1920; Street railroads--Tacoma; Signs (Notices); 11th Street Bridge (Tacoma); Bridges--Tacoma;
This large tri-level was located in Skyline Terrace and built by Miller Construction. The 30 million, 1500 home subdivision was designed by Ed Miller. This large home features additional living space over the two car garage.
This one story rambler with its attached one car garage was built by Miller Construction in Skyline Terrace. The 1500 home project, designed by Ed Miller, featured homes of many designs and price ranges. This home was owned by Mr. and Mrs. Tom McGraw. A community recreation center was being planned by Miller for the addition. It would have 2 pools, tennis, basketball and volleyball courts, a picnic area and a large clubhouse. A family membership would be included with the home purchase.
Exterior shot of the 1959 Home Show model home, "The Calypso," taken at night with flaring gas torches for light. The 1959 home was designed by Robert Billsbrough Price and built by Stromberg Construction. It was located in Glenwood Acres in Lakewood. This shot is taken from the patio area, with its privacy fence, looking into the glass walled living room area. The home was a "whole site" development, where the entire site was incorporated into the home. The patio area is extensively landscaped. (TNT 3/16/1959, pg. 30)
Houses--Lakewood--1950-1960; Tacoma Master Builders Association (Tacoma); Greater Tacoma Home Show (Tacoma);
The exterior of the 1959 Home Show model home, "The Calypso." The 1959 Glenwood Acres home was designed by Robert Billsbrough Price and built by Stromberg Construction. The fenced patio lies to the left of the two car carport. Another fenced outdoor living space is in the back of the home. These areas are fenced with an opaque material for privacy. The use of the outdoors as additional living space for this small home won it national awards. (TNT 3/16/1959, pg. 30)
Houses--Lakewood--1950-1960; Tacoma Master Builders Association (Tacoma); Greater Tacoma Home Show (Tacoma);
Interior of the living room of the 1959 Home Show model home, "The Calypso." The 1959 Glenwood Acres home was designed by Robert Billsbrough Price and built by Stromberg Construction. The home was decorated for the Home Show by his wife and fellow architect Joan Price. The furniture is the square, spare, utilitarian style of the fifties. The glassed wall and door at the rear of the living room leads to the outdoor living space, screened for privacy. The house features an open floorplan where one room flows into another & then continues on to the outdoor living spaces. (TNT 3/16/1959, pg. 30)
Houses--Lakewood--1950-1960; Tacoma Master Builders Association (Tacoma); Greater Tacoma Home Show (Tacoma); Living rooms--Lakewood--1950-1960;
Interior shot of the 1959 Home Show model home, "The Calypso." The 1959 home was designed by Robert Billsbrough Price and built by Stromberg Construction. It was located in Glenwood Acres. The home was decorated by Price's wife and fellow architect Joan Price. The home was noted for its open floor plan and integration of the outdoors as a living space. In this picture, the centrally located kitchen flows into the dining area and out the glass doors to the outdoor patio. A white privacy plastic screen-fence protects the homeowners from curious eyes. The home later won national awards for its use of space and the outdoors. (TNT 3/16/1959, pg. 30)
Houses--Lakewood--1950-1960; Tacoma Master Builders Association (Tacoma); Greater Tacoma Home Show (Tacoma); Signs (Notices);
Tour of Homes. Each year the Homebuilders Assn. of Greater Tacoma put together a "Tour of Homes" featuring newly built houses constructed by association members. In the fall of 1969, homes in Meridian East, Oakbrook and Beckonridge were available for viewing by potential buyers. The event was heavily publicized with directions and photographs published in the News Tribune. 1969 would be the biggest Fall Tour of Homes in the Homebuilders Assn.'s 20-year history. Open houses for 29 new homes, with prices ranging from $17,000-40,000, would begin on September 28, 1969. The stone-and-wood home with recessed doorway pictured above is an Evergreen State Builders' model, located on the fairway in Oakbrook at 7601 Onyx Dr. S.W. "Tour of Homes" officials Gerry Naulbert, Pete Colbert and Duke Shaub are pictured in front of the home on September 10, 1969. Photograph ordered by the News Tribune. (TNT 9-28-69, B-3; TNT 9-21-69, D-8)
Houses--Lakewood--1960-1970; Model houses--Lakewood;
A worker in hard hat and thick gloves maneuvers a long section of rebar in this July 8, 1960, photograph. Rebar is a steel rod with ridges for use in reinforced concrete. Photograph ordered by Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel Corp.
Building construction--1960-1970; Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel Corp. (Seattle);
Exterior of Parkland home. Several homes on 138th St. E. in Parkland were photographed on September 1, 1960, for George Barclay. Barclay was the primary builder for the 90-acre Mayfair Estates. This bungalow-styled home was located at 1226 - 138th St. E. and featured an unusual balcony and one-car attached garage. Small bushes and shrubs surrounded the wood-framed building. This home was featured as part of the 1960 Fall Tour of Homes sponsored by the Home Builders Association of Greater Tacoma.
Built on the corner of North 5th and Yakima Avenue by owner Phil Baldasare, the Vista Palms Apartments were considered an ultra modern complex in August, 1960. Units on all four floors overlooked a charming courtyard which contained palm trees saved from the William F. Sheard mansion which had occupied this location. The Mission style Sheard home, designed by Russell and Babcock, was demolished in 1959 to make way for the apartments. A full page ad in the News Tribune indicated that an open house would be held on August 21, 1960, to view the 24-unit $500,000 apartment complex. (TNT 8-21-60, B-6, B-7)
Vista Palms Apartments (Tacoma); Apartment houses--Tacoma--1960-1970; Palms--Tacoma;
Side view of Vista Palms Apartments. The ultra modern Vista Palms Apartments were built in 1959 by Phil Baldasare. On the ends of the four-story units were concrete building blocks that would provide both insulation and noise control. The apartments were built at the corner of No. 5th and Yakima Ave. on the site of the former Wm. F. Sheard Spanish Mission mansion. The palm trees he had planted were saved when the mansion was demolished and were featured in the apartment's courtyard. Each of the one and two bedroom units had built-in kitchens and wall-to-wall carpeting. Built at a cost of $500,000, the 24-units had marine and mountain views. Photograph ordered by Graystone of Tacoma. (TNT 8-21-60, B-6. B-7)
Vista Palms Apartments (Tacoma); Apartment houses--Tacoma--1960-1970; Palms--Tacoma;
