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.
Exterior of home, possibly 4009 Ridge Rd. West, in University Place; ordered by the Douglas Fir Plywood Association. This August, 1956, photo shows the two story home built snug into the hillside, with a patio below covered by an open air deck above. At the top of the hill is a one story structure, possibly a garage. The home appears to be new; no landscaping has been installed at this time.
The Bernice and First Federal Buildings on Pacific Ave. On the left is the Victorian Bernice Building, 1106-1108 Pacific Ave., build in 1890 by John S. Baker and named in honor of his first child. Located on the ground floor of the building is Bender's, men's and women's ready to wear clothing, owned by Jack R. Bender and the Tacoma Magazine and Gift Shop in the lobby of 1108 Pacific Ave. On the right is the First Federal Building, built in 1891 for Merchants National Bank and designed by Proctor and Dennis. Pacific First Federal Savings and Loan occupied the building in 1939. At this time, the ground floor was occupied by Horluck's Fountain Lunch, a fountain and lunch counter owned by Arthur Riebli and George Hoertrich. Both historic buildings were demolished in 1963 to make way for the modern and expanded Pacific First Federal Building.
Bernice Building (Tacoma); Bender's (Tacoma); Tacoma Magazine and Gift Shop (Tacoma); Soda fountains--Tacoma; Restaurants--Tacoma; Horluck's Danish Ice Cream Shop (Tacoma); Pacific First Federal Building (Tacoma);
The Better Homes & Gardens "Idea Home of the Year," at Skyline Terrace. Skyline Terrace was a 30 million, 1500 home development being built by Miller Construction. This is the street entrance view of the house and attached carport. Two planter boxes flank the steps leading up to the front door. The home was 1430 square feet on the ground floor with another 1430 sq. feet available in the basement. (TNT 9/19/1956, pg. E-18)
Houses--Tacoma--1950-1960; Housing developments--Tacoma--1950-1960; Miller Construction Co., Inc. (Tacoma);
A bedroom in the Better Homes & Gardens "Idea Home of the Year," at Skyline Terrace. Skyline Terrace was a 30 million, 1500 home development being built by Miller Construction. The home had three bedrooms with a roughed in fourth bedroom located in the basement. (TNT 9/9/1956, pg. E-18)
Houses--Tacoma--1950-1960; Housing developments--Tacoma--1950-1960; Miller Construction Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Bedrooms--Tacoma--1950-1960;
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.
ca. 1956. Exterior of a one story rambler with what appears to be cedar siding and with an attached one car garage. The address of this home is believed to be 8809 36th St. W., formerly 8809 So. 36th St., in University Place. The owners are listed in the 1958 suburban City Directory as Mead and Janice McDonald. The home was one of those constructed for the September 1956 Tour of Homes. Photograph ordered by Fanning Starkey Real Estate.
ca. 1957. This "L" shaped contemporary Northwest home was built by the Tacoma Master Builders Association in 1957. Built basically of wood with some brick facing, the home has attractive shutters and an attached one-car garage. Tall trees would provide shade during hot summer months. See D105170-3 for another view of the home. This Sherman L. Rowland-built home was chosen as the 1957 Tacoma Home Show model home. Called "Oakhurst," it would be open to the public on the Home Show opening day, March 19, 1957. The house was located in the Southgate neighborhood at 10103 Montrose Avenue S.W. Photograph ordered by Tacoma Master Builders Association. (TNT 3-19-57, C-5)
Houses--Lakewood--1950-1960; Tacoma Master Builders Association (Tacoma); Greater Tacoma Home Show (Tacoma);
ca. 1957. This house was built under the guidance of the Tacoma Master Builders Association in 1957. The L-shaped contemporary home was primarily constructed of Northwest woods with brick facing. The one-car garage was attached to the longer side of the "L." The home, called "Oakhurst," was the 1957 Tacoma Home Show model home. It was built by Sherman L. Rowland; Rowland also received the honor of building the 1954 Home Show model home, TX 101. The model strolling from the house is Shirley Vanek. According to the 1957 City Directory, Mrs. Vanek was a cashier at the Commonwealth Title Insurance Company. Photograph ordered by the Tacoma Master Builders Association. (TNT 3-3-57, C-18, TNT 3-19-57, C-5)
Houses--Lakewood--1950-1960; Tacoma Master Builders Association (Tacoma); Vanek, Shirley;
Progress photograph Tacoma Savings & Loan Association building. Work continues steadily on the new Tacoma Savings & Loan Association headquarters at So. 9th & A Streets. The new building is being built across the street from the current savings & loan. Workers on ladders and scaffolding examine the new window panes. Signs on the contractor's fences indicate that the savings & loan was "building for the future" and reminded passersby that it, founded in 1899, was the oldest savings & loan in the city. Photograph ordered by Tacoma Savings & Loan Association.
Building construction--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma Savings & Loan Association (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Signs (Notices);
Another view of the Romanesque styled brick building at 1515 South State Street in Chicago was taken for the Geo. D. Poe & Co. on January 14, 1956. The multi-storied symmetrical structure had semi-circular Roman arches, rectangular columns, and may have been used as a warehouse. Two delivery trucks can be spotted in the basement level; a stern sign warns of "no parking" before its doors. Chicago depended heavily on its trains as a form of mass transit; a train is shown passing by on elevated tracks. A Gulf No Nox service station is located across the street from the commercial building. There are either soap suds or remnants of snow along its gas pumps. Sepia photograph ordered by Geo. D. Poe & Co.
Commercial streets--Illinois--Chicago; Automobile service stations--Illinois--Chicago; Geo. D. Poe & Co. (Tacoma);
Construction continues on a new building near South 11th Street in December, 1955. This was taken very early in the building process; concrete blocks have been placed around the unit's perimeters and a portion of the flooring laid. Sheets of plywood serving as a roof protect the work underneath. The neighborhood appears to be mixed-use as there seems to be a commercial garage across the street and the Bethel Pentecostal Assembly further away along with homes scattered in between. Photograph ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association.
Building construction--Tacoma--1950-1960; Plywood; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma);
Cranes lower steel sections as work continues on the new Reichhold Chemicals plant on the Tideflats in February, 1956. The frame of the building was made of steel from the Soule Steel Co. of Seattle. The Washington Co-op Farmers Association feed mill can be seen in the distance. Photograph ordered by the Soule Steel Co.
Building construction--Tacoma--1950-1960; Steel; Reichhold Chemicals, Inc. (Tacoma); Soule Steel Co. (Seattle);
Oscar Hokold Construction; open houses for new homes. Most of the homes appear to be modest split levels, with the back of the house 2 stories and the front one story with the front door opening on the higher level. Hokold was holding an open house for these homes, the first of 40 to be built in an area between 76th & 78th on So. Thompson. The average price was $11,800, with $1200 down and $75 a month. The homes were designed to expand as the family enlarges. They featured oak floors, mahogany doors, fireplaces, recreation rooms, plus room for two more bedrooms in the basement. Hokold was also developing additions on East 64th off of Portland and between Wapato and Alling Park. Hokold would later establish the Northwest hotel chain of King Oscar motels. (TNT 4/8/1956, pg. B-6)
