Harold and Dagmar Wick's brick home, with awning, is the last house on the left in this March 9, 1958, photograph. Brick homes predominate the row of houses. This 9th & Monroe northend neighborhood was extremely close to Jefferson Park. Photograph ordered by Reyier & Wick Construction Co.

Wick, Harold E.--Homes & haunts; Houses--Tacoma--1950-1960; Neighborhoods--Tacoma--1950-1960;

The Home Construction Co. designed and built this lovely lakefront home. It may have belonged to Martin Gosselin of Steilacoom Point. Expansive windows draw attention to the still waters outside the dock. Heavy drapes were available if the glare of the sun became too fierce or for privacy at night. An enormous stone fireplace would make evenings cozy for the home's residents. The fireplace would provide double-duty, separating the living room from the dining area. A glimpse of the kitchen can be seen in the background. Photograph ordered by Home Construction Co.

Gosselin, Martin D.--Homes & haunts; Houses--Lakewood--1950-1960; Fireplaces;

This lovely brick contemporary at 5714 79th St. W. was owned and built by Sherman L. Rowland. It had a well-manicured lawn with nice landscaping, and the two-car garage in addition to the multiple large windows made it an attractive addition to the neighborhood. It was located near Lochburn Middle School. Sherman Rowland was a developer and built the Southgate Housing development.

Houses--Tacoma--1950-1960; Rowland, Sherman L.--Homes & haunts;

Exterior Security Building. A "no parking loading zone" sign sternly advises against the possibility of blocking these loading doors during business hours in 1955. This was probably the rear of the Security Building which was located at 9th & Pacific. The beautiful brickwork has been defaced by scratches and possibly paint. Designed by noted architect George W. Bullard and built in 1903, the building had previously been known as the Provident Building. Photograph ordered by Comfort, Davis & Blangy.

Security Building (Tacoma); Provident Building (Tacoma); Signs (Notices); Comfort, Davis & Blangy (Tacoma);

Ground has been broken and dirt excavated for a new Reichhold Chemicals plant on January 16, 1956. Plywood forms are partially in place; they may later be reinforced with concrete. Large pools of water dot the landscape; there are also many power lines in the background as well. Photograph ordered by Reichhold Chemicals, Inc..

Building construction; Dirt; Reichhold Chemicals, Inc. (Tacoma);

Reichhold Chemicals. An almost completed structure, a 20,000 square foot warehouse in which "penta" and plywood glue are stored, at the Lincoln Ave. site of Reichhold Chemicals is captured in this progress photograph ordered by Soule Steel of Seattle. The plant was being constructed on 51 acres on the Tideflats between Tacoma Sash & Door and Pennsalt. The plant hoped to begin production of plywood glue by April with a staff of 25. By May, the plant would be able to begin production of pentachorophenol, a wood preservative. The company would employ 100- 125 workers over the next 2 years. The production of the chemicals was automatic; ingredients were combined using a system of pipes and vats in a "batch process." The raw materials were loaded into tanks and moved from chemical reaction to reaction untouched by human hands. The basic ingredient was soya flour. The completed facility would include a laboratory, control station, warehouse, plant, offices and railroad siding. (TNT 3/18/1956, pg. 1; 6/28/1956, pg. A-4)

Building construction--Tacoma--1950-1960; Steel; Reichhold Chemicals, Inc. (Tacoma); Soule Steel Co. (Seattle);

Exterior of home at 2220 No. Mason Ave. ordered by John Raetz. The bungalow style home is two story with a possible attic room, a latticed front porch and a rear first floor laundry or utility room. The home is listed as vacant in the 1956 City Directory. It is not listed at all in the 1957 directory and is replaced by a 2214 No. Mason Ave. occupied by Mr. Raetz. An ad in the Tacoma News Tribune used this picture to advertise the house for sale and removal from its present location. The price was $1500.00 "as is" and stated that the home was well built and should easily moved without the shifting of timbers or plaster. (TNT 3/18/1956, pg B-15) TPL-9201

Houses--Tacoma--1950-1960; Then & now comparisons;

ca. 1956. Exteriors of the Hunt & Mottet building. The eight story brick building was built in 1907 and designed by Bullard & Hill. Letters several feet tall emblazon the company name on the side of the building. A smaller new building lies to the left, with a parking lot to left of that. Hunt and Mottet were wholesalers of hardware.

Hunt & Mottet Co. (Tacoma); Hardware stores--Tacoma;

Interiors of the Hunt & Mottet building. Hunt & Mottet were wholesalers of hardware. A man inventories what looks like life jackets in the foreground. Boxes of items line the walls and the other employees appear to be filling orders.

Hunt & Mottet Co. (Tacoma); Hardware stores--Tacoma;

Ben Cheney observes the ongoing work on the porch or deck of his summer home. The home lies in a wooded area and smoke rises from its large chimney. The rustic cabin has many windows and glass doors that will open onto the deck. The building faces onto a water view.

Cheney, Ben B., 1905-1971--Homes & haunts; Cheney, Ben B., 1905-1971;

Plywood is the material of choice in the interior of this new addition to the Rhododendron Lanes home of James Fowler. Fowler is the promotion director for the Douglas Fir Plywood Association. The hallway has plenty of storage space, with built in closets and cabinets. All of the doors and cabinet facings are constructed of plywood. A set of swinging saloon doors opens the hall into another room, possibly a laundry room.

Houses--Lakewood--1950-1960; Remodeling--Lakewood; Fowler, James--Homes & haunts;

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.

Houses--Lakewood--1950-1960; Housing developments--Lakewood--1950-1960;

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);

Exteriors of the Rancho Vista or the Thunderbird model home for Briggs Construction. The home is a one story rambler built in an L form. There is no sidewalk to the front door and the landscaping is incomplete.

Houses--1950-1960; Real estate development--1950-1960; Housing developments--1950-1960;

The Better Homes & Gardens "Idea Home of the Year," at Skyline Terrace, built by Miller Construction. This is the living room of the home. The spacious living room had a cutstone fireplace with a stone mantle and slate hearth. It had a mahogany accent wall and large picture windows that embraced the view. (TNT 9/9/1956, pg. E-18)

Houses--Tacoma--1950-1960; Housing developments--Tacoma--1950-1960; Miller Construction Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Living rooms--Tacoma--1950-1960;

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.

Houses--University Place--1950-1960;

Exterior of new home. Large view windows are abundant in this newly constructed home, believed to belong to the Brockman family, in a February 23, 1957, photograph. It has a very modern feel with its flat roof, large use of wood, and wall-to-wall windows. The home appears to be situated in a suburban landscape and surrounded by tall trees. The foundation appears yet to be built as the home is still on jacks. Photograph ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association.

Building construction; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma);

This two-story contemporary Northwest home was being prepared for the 1957 Western Builders Home Show in March, 1957. Located on a slight slope, the house had a wraparound balcony. There are many view windows on the front of the home. As was becoming more common, the multi-level roof was flat. ALBUM 15.

Houses--Tacoma--1950-1960;

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);

John W. Jankanish farm, Rt. 2, Box 660, Tacoma. Entrance to property showing graveled road and driveway, rail fence, trees and house.

Farms--Tacoma; Farmhouses--Tacoma; Jankanish, John W.--Homes & haunts;

John W. Jankanish farm, Rt. 2, Box 660, Tacoma. Distant view of farm beyond open pasture.

Farms--Tacoma; Farmhouses--Tacoma; Jankanish, John W.--Homes & haunts;

John W. Jankanish farm, Rt. 2, Box 660, Tacoma. View of pastures and fences with houses and barns in background.

Farms--Tacoma; Farmhouses--Tacoma; Jankanish, John W.--Homes & haunts;

John W. Jankanish farm, Rt. 2, Box 660, Tacoma. Distant view of farm buildings and property, beyond roadside fence.

Farms--Tacoma; Farmhouses--Tacoma; Jankanish, John W.--Homes & haunts; Fences;

John W. Jankanish farm, Rt. 2, Box 660, Tacoma. View of garage, outbuildings, and barn framed by fir tree and calla lillies.

Farms--Tacoma; Jankanish, John W.--Homes & haunts; Barns--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--Tacoma--1950-1960; Remodeling--Tacoma--1950-1960; Safeway Builders Co. (Tacoma);

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.

Houses--Tacoma--1950-1960; Signs (Notices);

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.);