Use of plywood at Whitman School for Douglas Fir Plywood Association. Workmen rolling felt over plywood roof. Neighborhood houses in background.

Building construction--Tacoma--1950-1960; Whitman Elementary School (Tacoma); Public schools--Tacoma--1950-1960; Plywood;

There were very few homes on Tacoma's west side until after the Second World War. Westmoreland Terrace, near North 30th and Orchard Streets, was a small housing development. View of entrance show the presence of several similar styled homes with a model home for prospective homeowners to inspect. This photograph was taken just prior to the grand opening of the new subdivision in August, 1951. Roads were crushed rock ballast; they were to be graveled shortly. A sidewalk and nearby landscaped lawn end abruptly across the street from the finished homes. (TNT 8-10-51, p. 8)

Houses--Tacoma--1950-1960; Housing developments--Tacoma; Roads--Tacoma;

An example of plywood siding is found on a duplex located at 2512 North McCarver. Newly constructed in 1950, the duplex is a one-story, side-by-side structure with a chimney for each unit and situated on a nicely landscaped lot. There is a television antenna on at least one side of the duplex. Photograph commissioned by Tom Sias, Douglas Fir Plywood Association.

Houses--Tacoma--1950-1960; Television antennas; Plywood; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma);

Retired sergeant E. Gunderson hands a potted plant to his wife outside their home at the Monte Vista Trailer Park on October 25, 1951. A white picket fence surrounds the Gunderson home and the trailer rests on a cement pad. A patio is covered by a large awning which provides shade along the side of the trailer. There appears to be a small fuel tank in the backyard. The Monte Vista Trailer Park was located at 8328 South Tacoma Way just across the street from the Star-Lite Theater. Photograph ordered by Trailer Life, Los Angeles. TPL-7187

Trailers--Lakewood--1950-1960; Mobile home living--Lakewood; Gunderson, E.--Homes & haunts; Gunderson, E.--Family; Fences; Trailer Life (Los Angeles);

Mrs. H.E. Sears deftly handles cooking duties in her trailer home at the Monte Vista Court. Mrs. Sears is the wife of T. Sgt. H.E. Sears. The kitchen appears compact but is arranged to have space for a walled-in Frigidaire refrigerator, Dixie stove, and large sink. There is storage space next to the refrigerator and around the stove and sink. Photograph taken on October 25, 1951; ordered by Trailer Life, Los Angeles.

Trailers--Lakewood--1950-1960; Mobile home living--Lakewood; Kitchens--Lakewood--1950-1960; Cookery--Lakewood; Sears, H.E.--Family; Sears, H.E.--Homes & haunts; Trailer Life (Los Angeles);

Two-year-old Ricky Sears wears his father's hat in this photograph taken for Trailer Life magazine on October 25, 1951. T. Sgt. H.E. Sears and his family lived in a trailer at Monte Vista Court, 8328 South Tacoma Way, Lakewood. The Monte Vista Court trailer park was just across the street from the Star-Lite Theater.

Trailers--Lakewood--1950-1960; Mobile home living--Lakewood; Sears, H.E.--Family; Sears, H.E.--Homes & haunts; Military uniforms--United States--1950-1960; Trailer Life (Los Angeles);

Upper level of building under construction in September of 1951 shows L- shape and long length of side with a man standing by the fourth beam.

Building construction--1950-1960;

Vista Manor Apartments, Gaston Lance, Architect. General view of 17 story reinforced concrete apartment building with cloverleaf floor plan.

Buildings - Residencial Buildings - Apartment Buildings - Tacoma - Vista Manor Apartments

Exposure of completed Grosvenor House Apartments in Seattle. This daylight photograph was taken on September 16, 1951, and shows the newly completed Grosvenor House Apartment complex on Wall Street. The modern multi-story apartment house had amenities such as garage parking for tenants, a fancy grocery store, barbershop, and florist on the ground floor. Photograph ordered by Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel Corporation, San Francisco. TPL-9801

Grosvenor House Apartments (Seattle); Apartment houses--Seattle; Construction--Seattle;

One of several one story houses located on South 112th Street. Nicely landscaped yard and diagonal walkway. House in foreground has one-car garage. Photograph taken on September 20, 1951.

Houses--1950-1960;

House constructed of concrete blocks on bottom and siding on peak. Garage on left facing another street. Photograph taken on October 29, 1951.

Houses--1950-1960;

View of Mountbrook Manor rambler. A new subdivision, Mountbrook Manor, consisted of one-story ramblers on wooded lots. The homes came equipped with attached one-car garages, fireplaces, and in some cases, brick siding on portions of the houses. Angled view of new rambler with octagonal window. Photograph commissioned by Lakewood Realty.

Houses--1950-1960; Lakewood Realty (Lakewood);

A low rock wall, including rock steps, surrounds a rambler style home in an October, 1951, photograph. The house appears to be made of wood and block construction and has a one-car garage. The yard is landscaped using small plants and shrubs. Photograph ordered by Phares Advertising Agency, Seattle.

Houses--1950-1960; Stone walls; Phares Advertising Agency (Seattle);

Ostruske-Murphy Inc. were general contractors located at 2907 A Street. According to the 1953 City Directory, William H. Ostruske was listed as president of the firm and Donald B. Murphy as secretary-treasurer. In the early 1950's, they built several houses on South Melrose, including the Edwin G. Haines residence. 2306 South Melrose was a one-story bungalow with low pitched roof and attached one-car garage. It had a small porch at the front entrance.

Ostruske-Murphy, Inc. (Tacoma); Haines, Edwin G.--Homes & haunts; Houses--Tacoma--1950-1960;

One-story, block house, composition roof with one car garage attached. Home has two chimneys. Address was not listed.

Houses--1950-1960;

New rambler in the Mountbrook Manor housing addition in the rapidly growing suburban community of Lakewood, for Lakewood Realty. The rambler has brick facing and is nestled in the fully mature fir trees. The homes were built by Tietz Construction on 1/2 acre lots with trees. Each home was of individual design and exterior. The new homes sold for $12,000 to $14,900.

Houses--Lakewood--1950-1960;

New ranch style home, with one car garage, in Lakewood, designed & built by H.A. Briggs. Briggs Construction Co. was owned by H.A. Briggs, who lived at 523 Alta Vista Place in Fircrest. As veterans returned from Korea, as they did after WW II, they started families and bought their first home. Construction in the Tacoma area was at an all time high at the beginning of the fifties. The ranch home became the residential standard for this time period and its most common location was in the suburbs. Several communities, such as Lakewood, grew rapidly with this influx of population and urban flight. TPL-8312

Houses--Lakewood--1950-1960; Briggs Construction Co. (Tacoma);

New rambler in the Mountbrook Manor housing addition in the rapidly growing suburban community of Lakewood, for Lakewood Realty. Rose patterned wallpaper in dark colors covers two walls and built-in closets blend in with the wood panelling on another. A series of windows behind the bed reveal a woodsy view.

Houses--Lakewood--1950-1960; Wallpapers--1950-1960; Bedrooms--Lakewood--1950-1960;

New ranch style homes at the corner of So. 70th & A St., C. VanWagner, contractor. This addition of completed new homes was advertised in the 7/19/1953 News Tribune, pg. C-15. VanWagner was praised as the contractor and the location was given as So. 70th St. & Bell. The homes had GE automatic oil heat, Birch paneled Fireplace wall, birch cabinet doors, bath with vanity, over sized lined garage with 10 ft. driveway, kitchen exhaust system, built-in china closet, automatic hot water and brick planter boxes.

Houses--Tacoma--1950-1960; C. VanWagner, Building Contractors (Tacoma); Neighborhoods--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Living and Dining Room of Bill Tietz' home in Narrowmoor, believed to be 1274 So. Fernside Dr. Woman on hearth of sunken fireplace, man standing on step by fireplace. For Tietz Construction Company. Vaulted ceilings with exposed beams open up the living area where a fieldstone fireplace runs from floor to ceiling. The kitchen can be seen beyond the dining area and divided from it by folding doors. Built in planters to the left accomodate house plants. A bold bird of paradise wallpaper decorates the walls.

Living rooms--Tacoma--1950-1960; Dining rooms--Tacoma--1950-1960; Fireplaces--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tietz Construction Inc. (Lakewood); Tietz, Bill--Homes & haunts;

Mrs. Henry A. Rhodes exterior garden atop Ansonia Apartments. Lawn swing and chairs on roof with planter;trees, shrubs, and plants.

Ansonia Apartments (Tacoma); Roof gardens--Tacoma;

Street of Homes, Lakeview Village. Row of houses on one side of street, one story wood frame with garage, vacant lots across from houses with markers for building homes. Advertised as the nearest housing development to suburban Tacoma, the project was located near Lakeview School. A two bedroom home sold for approximately $7,000 and a three bedroom for $8,300. Ordered by March Construction Company.

Houses--Lakewood--1950-1960; Neighborhoods--Lakewood--1950-1960; Real estate development--Lakewood--1950-1960;

Exterior view in July of 1952 of the Shields summer home on Hood Canal, a small board and bat cottage nestled among the trees at the edge of the shore line. Large logs serve as a barrier against high tides. For Bonnie Gellatly.

Houses--1950-1960; Hood Canal (Wash.);

One story L-shaped building with angled parking lot in the front. This is thought to be part of the recently extended Lakewood Community Center just before its grand reopening in mid-November of 1951. See A62148, image 4 for nearly identical picture. Photograph was taken on November 13, 1951.

Buildings--1950-1960; Stores & shops--Lakewood--1950-1960;

Model homes at Mountlake Terrace, Seattle. Homes selling for $5,999. Model with blonde hair wearing sweater and slacks poses by ranch-style gate and brick column, entrance to Mountlake Terrace. For Phares Advertising Company.

Housing developments--Mountlake Terrace; Model houses--Mountlake Terrace--1950-1960; Phares Advertising Co. (Seattle); Model houses--Mountlake Terrace; Posing; Fashion models--Seattle; Neighborhoods--Mountlake Terrace;

A model sits on the gate at the entrance to the model Home at Mountlake Terrace, Seattle. The model home would sell for $5,999.00. Ordered by Phares Advertising Company. TPL-893

Housing developments--Mountlake Terrace; Model houses--Mountlake Terrace--1950-1960; Phares Advertising Co. (Seattle); Model houses--Mountlake Terrace; Posing; Fashion models--Seattle; Neighborhoods--Mountlake Terrace;

Model homes at Mountlake Terrace, Seattle. Homes selling for $5,999. Model greets two women riding horses at ranch-style gate at entrance to housing development. Smaller, one-story houses in background. For Phares Advertising Company.

Housing developments--Mountlake Terrace; Model houses--Mountlake Terrace--1950-1960; Phares Advertising Co. (Seattle); Model houses--Mountlake Terrace; Posing; Fashion models--Seattle; Neighborhoods--Mountlake Terrace;

Some relief from the monotony of the same floor plan has been provided by setting the one-story 1950's ramblers in the "Keywest Builders" project in Olympia on a slight angle from the street and from each other. Over the years home owners would add more individuality by their landscaping and plantings and the inevitable remodeling. Ordered by W.A. Wollander, well-known Tacoma architect.

Houses--Olympia--1950-1960; Housing development--Olympia--1950-1960; Wollander, W.A.;

This view of the "Keywest Builders" project in Olympia shows tract housing with the monotonous repetition of the same floor-plan. The demand for housing following World War II was tremendous and the American dream to own one own's home was made more realistic by such programs as the GI Bill and VA loans. Ordered by W.A. Wollander, well-known Tacoma architect.

Houses--Olympia--1950-1960; Housing development--Olympia--1950-1960; Wollander, W.A.;

A couple are reading in the living room of the model home at Mountlake Terrace. The walls have been painted a dark shade with minimal moldings used at the floor and around the doors. A dining area can be seen around the corner where linoleum was chosen as the floor covering. The living room has been decorated with floral patterned sofa and arm chair with solid colored side chairs against the wall. Blond wood tables were chosen and a landscape painting has been added above the sofa.

Housing developments--Mountlake Terrace; Living rooms--Mountlake Terrace--1950-1960; Phares Advertising Co. (Seattle); Model houses--Mountlake Terrace; Posing; Fashion models--Seattle; Neighborhoods--Mountlake Terrace;