Rhodes Brothers Department Store offered Tacoma one of the largest and most complete shopping selections available. Rhodes had remodeled and enlarged many of their departments over the past few years. View of building and remodeling progress at Rhodes Brothers Department Store during December of 1948 where laborers are applying glue and sealant to the plywood panels.
Building construction--Tacoma--1940-1950; Department stores--Tacoma--1940-1950; Remodeling--Tacoma--1940-1950; Plywood; Construction workers--Tacoma; Rhodes Brothers Department Store (Tacoma); Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma);
Rhodes Brothers Department stores had been remodeling and modernizing their facilities for many years, since World War II had ended. Rhodes was one of the nicest stores in Tacoma, located on Broadway in the downtown district. View of building and remodeling progress on Rhodes Brothers Department Store, laborers are applying plywood panels to ceiling of building; photo ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association.
Building construction--Tacoma; Department stores--Tacoma; Plywood; Construction workers--Tacoma; Rhodes Brothers Department Store (Tacoma); Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma);
The building had a modern heat pump that was used in heating and cooling the facilities. This heat pump could extract heat or cold from well water as deep as 500 feet below the building. View of unidentified man in work area, possibly located in the basement; in Portland's Equitable Building, now known as the Commonwealth Building.
Commercial facilities--Oregon--Portland; Office buildings--Oregon--Portland; Architecture--Oregon--Portland; Architects; Belluschi, Pietro; Equitable Building (Portland, Or.); Commonwealth Building (Portland, Or.);
The Equitable Building was an amazing combination of two-toned aluminum and glass, with not a square inch of masonry showing above the first floor. It had innovative big window panels filled with green tinted, heat absorbing glass. 1949 exterior view of the Equitable Building and neon sign above, now known as the Commonwealth Building in Portland, Oregon.
Commercial facilities--Oregon--Portland; Office buildings--Oregon--Portland; Architecture--Oregon--Portland; Architects; Belluschi, Pietro; Equitable Building (Portland, Or.); Commonwealth Building (Portland, Or.);
The windows in the building stretch from column to column, but not from floor to ceiling. This building made a striking advance in technological skyscraper planning. Architect Pietro Belluschi's design was able to achieve a perfect expression of the standard concrete cage. Exterior view of the Equitable Building, now known as the Commonwealth Building in Portland, Oregon.
Commercial facilities--Oregon--Portland; Office buildings--Oregon--Portland; Architecture--Oregon--Portland; Architects; Belluschi, Pietro; Equitable Building (Portland, Or.); Commonwealth Building (Portland, Or.);
The Equitable Building was the first skyscraper to be constructed in Portland in 25 years. Pietro Belluschi was highly praised for the design innovations and the buildings straight forward use of materials. Interior view of office space in Portland's Equitable Building, now known as the Commonwealth Building; unidentified man is working at his desk, downtown Portland view through his office window.
Commercial facilities--Oregon--Portland; Office buildings--Oregon--Portland; Architecture--Oregon--Portland; Architects; Belluschi, Pietro; Equitable Building (Portland, Or.); Commonwealth Building (Portland, Or.);
This new modern building, designed by Northwest architect Pietro Belluschi, was not well received in Portland at first, because of the "skeleton outline" structure. It later became the standard example in new and modern office facilities throughout the nation. Exterior view of the Equitable Building, now known as the Commonwealth Building in Portland, Oregon.
Commercial facilities--Oregon--Portland; Office buildings--Oregon--Portland; Architecture--Oregon--Portland; Architects; Belluschi, Pietro; Equitable Building (Portland, Or.); Commonwealth Building (Portland, Or.);
George G. Franklin's family home was the winner of the Tacoma Times House Beautiful contest in 1947, this house had also been nominated in 1920. The home, located in Tacoma's Stadium-Annie Wright Historical District, eventually became the Central Lutheran Church Parsonage in 1975. Interior view of one of the bedrooms; a fireplace helps keep the bedroom warm in the cold winter months.
Houses--Tacoma--1940-1950; Boudoirs--Tacoma; Fireplaces--Tacoma; Beds; Bedspreads; Bedrooms--Tacoma--1940-1950; Franklin, Alice S.--Associated objects; Franklin, George G.--Homes & haunts;
In 1889 James N. Buckley was planning to build an elaborate house on this lot and a local newspaper featured a story with describing the future home. For some unknown reason the house was never built. Charles H. Hyde had this house at 425 Tacoma Avenue North built in 1905; it was later owned by Harold A. Allen, Henry Rhodes and George G. Franklin. Interior view of the spacious and beautifully decorated living room with sofas, chairs, paintings, lamps and tables. This photograph was taken on January 5, 1949.
Houses--Tacoma--1940-1950; Living rooms--Tacoma; Lamps; Draperies; Seating furniture--Tacoma; Franklin, George G.--Homes & haunts;
Veterans of Foreign Wars was having their 28th annual affair with a four day convention, downtown parade and memorial services at Wright Park. View of marching unit on Broadway, The Owl Drug Company and Mannings Market in background, crowd is gathered on both sides of Broadway to watch the parade (T. Times, 6/24/48, p. 1). TPL-9771
Business districts--Tacoma; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1940-1950; Military art & science; Marching--Tacoma; Stores & shops--Tacoma; Parades & processions--Tacoma--1940-1950; Veterans of Foreign Wars (Tacoma);
Aerial view of Tacoma's downtown business district, City Waterway, Shaffer Terminals, railroad tracks, The Fisher Company, Rust building, Mobilgas sign, Home Electric Company, Schoenfeld's building, Lyon Storage building, "Coca-Cola" billboards, Puget Sound National Bank building, Perkins Building on A Street and many other prominent downtown buildings are featured in photo. TPL-1446
Business districts--Tacoma; Waterfronts; Cityscapes; Cities & towns--Tacoma; Aerial photographs;
Aerial view of downtown Tacoma, residential and business area can be seen throughout the image. Commencement Bay, City Waterway, Shaffer Terminals, Union Station, railroad tracks and bridges connecting downtown Tacoma to the Port of Tacoma on right side.
Aerial view of downtown Tacoma, on Pacific Avenue the Riviera Theatre, The Bank of California, Tones, Rust Building and the Washington Building with the Mobilgas sign can be identified. The Music Box and the Roxy Theatre on South 9th Street are in the center of photo; Hotel Lawrence and a parking lot located on A Street are on lower left side of image. TPL-1442
Commercial streets--Tacoma--1940-1950; Business districts--Tacoma; Cityscapes; Cities & towns--Tacoma; Aerial photographs;
Hundreds of people enjoyed the 2-hour bus tour of the entries in the 2nd Annual Tacoma Beautiful Contest, afterwards everyone gathered at Hotel Winthrop's Crystal Ballroom for a tea reception and awaited the announcement of the winners. Leon Titus announced the winners and awarded the prizes. View of John Kellson's home, garden is on opposite side, lamppost in foreground, the Kellson home was awarded 2nd place (T. Times, 7/12/48, p. 1).
In September 1948, 62,559 residents in Tacoma had telephones; this number would continue to increase as the phone company got closer to completing their expansion and improvement program. The telephone growth rate was three times as fast as before and during World War II. The Fawcett building was four stories with a basement of steel frame construction, fireproof and reinforced concrete with brick and terra cotta facing; the building addition was at the rear of the main building. View of building progress at the Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Company; scaffolding provided by the Safway Steel Scaffolding Company.
Pietro Belluschi amazed the world with his modern office building in Portland, Oregon. The Equitable Building, later known as the Commonwealth Building, was an ethereal tower of sea green glass and aluminum. This was the first skyscraper to be built in over twenty five years in Portland. Aerial view of Portland's downtown business district.
Commercial facilities--Oregon--Portland; Office buildings--Oregon--Portland; Architecture--Oregon--Portland; Architects; Belluschi, Pietro; Equitable Building (Portland, Or.); Commonwealth Building (Portland, Or.);
Interior view of Wollander Farwest Home; view of living room with matching shag trimmed sectional sofa, shag rug, curtains, fireplace and end tables. The kitchen has white cabinets, a three burner stove and oven, a single sided sink and a washing machine located on left side of sink; there was likely a utility room where refrigerator was kept.
Prefabricated houses; Housing--Tacoma; Kitchens--Tacoma--1940-1950; Living rooms--Tacoma; Seating furniture--Tacoma; Housing developments--Tacoma; Wollander Farwest Homes (Tacoma); Wollander Better Builder Plans (Tacoma);
Exterior of Marshall residence, furnace in basement, Harvey Wiggle, Elling E. Olson. The exterior of a two-story bungalow style home with white shingles, a deep covered porch with heavy columns, and rafter tails showing at both edges of the roof. Brickwork supports the porch and columns. Concrete steps lead up to the front lawn.
Douglas Fir plywood products were being used for housing and business construction. Douglas Fir Plywood Association research department was always working on determining new uses for plywood products; the association held annual meetings to discuss plywood issues, concerns and new product uses with plywood and lumber businesses. Progress photograph of building being constructed on Portland Avenue in Tacoma; photo ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association.
Building construction--Tacoma; Industrial facilities--Tacoma; Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Plywood; Structural frames--Tacoma; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma);
This house was built in 1908 for L. Jardeen; the current owner of this property is Nellie K. Otis. Exterior view of Nellie K. Otis' home, located at 3323 North 18th Street in Tacoma's North End neighborhood; Nellie is the widow of Grant O. Otis.
Interior view of home belonging to Charles E. and Violet Devlin, their home was located in Lakewood at 10513 Steilacoom Lake Drive Southwest. View of the spacious dining room, kitchen is visible through doorway on right side, window on left side allows for natural lighting in room. Photo ordered by Harold Dixon, Publicity Director for Douglas Fir Plywood Association.
Houses--Lakewood--1940-1950; Plywood; Dining rooms--Lakewood; Dining tables; Ceilings--Lakewood; Devlin, Charles E.--Homes & haunts; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma)--Products;
Exterior view of home belonging to Charles E. and Violet Devlin, their home was located in Lakewood at 10513 Steilacoom Lake Drive Southwest. View of their yard with a brick flower bed beneath the windows located to the right of a doorway, possibly the main entrance. Photo ordered by Harold Dixon, Publicity Director for Douglas Fir Plywood Association.
Houses--Lakewood--1940-1950; Plywood; Trees--Lakewood; Neighborhoods--Lakewood; Devlin, Charles E.--Homes & haunts; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma)--Products;
The new pathway lighting system for Jefferson Park's playfield took a giant step toward final installation in October of 1949 when the members of the Jefferson Park Playground Association turned out with picks and shovels to dig the conduit ditches for the new 22-foot standards. Along with their arms and backs, the association put $500 into the project. The Metropolitan Park District earmarked $900 for the six new lights, and City Light also helped with this project. The lights were placed around the fieldhouse and along the park pathways. Frank E. Powell, the association president, is one of the men working on the ditch. (T.N.T., 10/25/49, p. 1).
Neighborhoods--Tacoma--1940-1950; Urban beautification--Tacoma--1940-1950; City & town life--Tacoma; Community service--Tacoma--1940-1950; Children & adults--Tacoma; Jefferson Park (Tacoma); Jefferson Park Playground Association (Tacoma);
Back of home at 6021 Pacific Ave. An exterior view of the back yard and rear of the one-story house. Flower borders edge the yard. A patio extends from the back of the house with outdoor seating.
The curved asphalt street and rolling lawns of the suburban Lakewood community "Fairway at Lakewood," developed by H.A. Briggs. The planned community consisted of 3 bedroom 1 1/2 bath ramblers, built from several different designs and of varied materials, selling for $10,000- 14,000. The different designs gave the look of custom designed homes to the neighborhood. Two children stop their bicycles on a summer day to converse. The streets are empty of traffic. The above street has been identified as Oakridge Dr. S.W. Young children were used to walking to Custer Elementary School via streets like Oakridge. (Additional information provided by a reader) TPL-10463
Street scenes from the housing addition "Fairway at Lakewood," developed by H.A. Briggs. Fairway was a planned community of upscale ranch homes off Steilacoom Blvd. about 1 mile from the Lakewood Center. The rambler homes were distinctive in that they were originals; of different designs and varied materials. The curved streets and rolling green lawns invited play by neighborhood children and a suburban style of life.
J & F Parking lot on 13th between Pacific Ave. and Commerce. Parking is 50 cents a day, or 25 cents for the first hour and a dime every hour after that. Taxis line up on 13th fronting the taxi stand at the corner.
Business districts--Tacoma--1950-1960; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1950-1960;
The Better Homes & Gardens "Idea Home of the Year," at Skyline Terrace. This daylight basement recreation room, called the family room or TV room, has a clever back peg board to hang sports equipment such as rackets, flippers and gloves. The family room measured 18 x 25 feet. The ever present fifties television stands up on skinny legs. The basement also had a sandstone fireplace with a massive raised slate hearth, space for a workshop, storage, a Delco heating plant, laundry room and a roughed in 4th bedroom. Over 3,000 people viewed the new home on its first Open House during the 9th annual Home Week and Tour of Homes. (TNT 9/9/1956, pg. E-18)
Houses--Tacoma--1950-1960; Housing developments--Tacoma--1950-1960; Miller Construction Co., Inc. (Tacoma);
Exterior of home, possibly 4009 Ridge Rd. West, in University Place; ordered by the Douglas Fir Plywood Association. This interesting two story home has a patio with a deck above, plus what appears to be an open air breezeway from one part of the home to another. It appears to be built on a rise with the two story portion on the lower level and a breezeway leading to a one story portion at the top of the hill, possibly a garage. In addition to all of the outdoor living space, the home has lots of windows for natural lighting.
