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;
This contemporary rambler style home was built in the Skyline Terrace housing development by Miller Construction Co. It was used as a model home in 1960. The home appeared to have a daylight basement and either an adjoining or adjacent garage. Skyline Terrace was an eighty million dollar, 1500 home development with views of the city, Narrows, and mountains.
Model houses--Tacoma; Houses--Tacoma--1960-1970; Miller Construction Co., Inc. (Tacoma);
Residence of A.B. Gehri at Lake Steilacoom, Silas E. Nelsen, Architect, 1926. Large two-story brick and wood home with brick patio on right. Lake visible behind patio. The English cottage style home contained a 16x 26 foot living room with a huge fireplace. Also on the first floor were a dining alcove, kitchen, bedroom and bathroom. Upstairs were two bedrooms, one of which was 16 x 20 and had two large closets and a fireplace, and a sleeping porch. All floors were hardwood. The large brick terrace faced off the living room. (TDL 12/5/1926, pg. E-10)
Houses--Lakewood--1920-1930; Silas E. Nelsen Architects (Tacoma); Gehri, A.B.--Homes & haunts;
James A. and Florence B. Eves House, Frederic and Stanley Shaw, Architects, 1921. Two-story frame Colonial with attic, front porch has three columns on each side, small half circle window in front roof. Ordered by Silas E. Nelsen, Architect. (filed with Argentum)
Houses--Tacoma--1920-1930; Silas E. Nelsen Architects (Tacoma); Eves, James A.--Homes & haunts;
ca. 1926. Three homes under construction offered for sale by Central Realty. Large two-story house on left side. Central Realty was located at 1207 So. K St., in Tacoma's Hilltop area. (filed with Argentum)
ca. 1926. Two one-story houses for sale by Central Realty. Both are very similar except the house on right has larger porch with open frame work. (filed with Argentum)
ca. 1926. Unidentified one-story home for sale by Central Realty. Central Realty, owned by J. S. Taylor, was located at 1207 So. K St. They advertised: "We sell homes and ranches, exchange property, rentals and notary public work, we aim to meet your needs." (filed with Argentum)
ca. 1926. Three homes offered for sale by Central Realty. Three one-story houses, likely new, with fireplaces, no landscaping and a new unpaved road. (filed with Argentum)
Evelyn Apartments, 16th and I Streets. The Evelyn, 821 So. 16th St., was constructed in 1925. F.H. Madsen was the builder. The apartment building was designed by C. Fred W. Lundberg, of the architectural firm of Lundberg & Ekvall. An advertisement in the April 5, 1926 News Tribune stated that the building offered the "conveniences of a refined apartment" with the "comforts of home." The apartments had hardwood floors, Universal beds, built-in dressers, dressing rooms, spacious porches, their own individual laundry equipment, storeroom, garage and gas range. (WSHS) (TNT 4/5/1926, pg. 3- advertisement)
ca. 1926. Joseph L. Carman residence, Villa Carman (Madera). Spanish Colonial Revival house by Kirtland K. Cutter, Architect, 1919. Purchased by Lowell T. and Helen Murray in 1939 and by actress Linda Evans in 1987. (filed with Argentum)
Houses--Lakewood--1920-1930; Carman, Joseph L.--Homes & haunts; Villa Carman (Lakewood);
ca. 1925. In 1922, John E. McGuire, an architect with Sutton, Whitney & Dugan, had this English country cottage constructed for his family from his own design. The home is at 4109 No. 33rd and is built from whitewashed brick. (WSHS)
Houses--Tacoma--1920-1930; McGuire, John E.--Homes & haunts;
In November of 1959, Verla White was photographed selecting art prints for the imported grasscloth wall in her new apartment at the Finisterre Apartments. The modernistic Finisterre (meaning "lands end") was built in 1959 by Stromberg Building Enterprises, who served as builder, architect and contractor. It was completed on November 20, 1959. The building was located at the north corner of 6th and No. Jackson, overlooking Puget Sound and the Narrows Bridge. Each apartment had soundproofing, wall-to-wall carpeting, draperies, built-in colored appliances and ceramic tile baths. Five color schemes were available. There were a total of 20 one and two bedroom suites. The one bedrooms rented for $105- 127.50, the two bedrooms for $120-127.50. They could be rented furnished or unfurnished. The building was sold to C. William Brasier prior to opening. (TNT 9/20/1959, pg. B-6; 11/8/1959, pg. B-4-B-5-photograph & article on Finisterre)
The modernistic Finisterre was built in 1959 by Stromberg Building Enterprises, who served as builder, architect and contractor. It was completed on November 20, 1959. The court apartments were labeled "Century 21 Architecture." The building was a four story court type structure with 22 suites, including 2 penthouses. The penthouses were originally occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Bill Harbke and Dr. and Mrs. Frank Unmack. The building offered panoramic views of the Puget Sound and the Narrows. The exterior was viking brick accented with modern panels and 18 foot contemporary seahorses on the 6th Avenue side. The suspended, motel-like cantilever decks and stairs were built of structural steel and concrete with a paneled railing for safety. The court area included a contemporary pool and an original design fountain garden was the focal point of the courtyard. Finisterre means "lands end." The building was located at 6th and No. Jackson. TPL-7913 (TNT 11/8/1959, pg. B-4- B-5)
ca. 1927. This English cottage style home was built in 1922 for George C. Barlow who named it "Prospect Hill." In 1926, Mr. Barlow was the manager of C.S. Barlow & Sons Inc. The home was designed by Sutton, Whitney & Dugan and the Ketner Bros. Co. was the general contractor. (WSHS)
Houses--Tacoma--1920-1930; Barlow, George C.--Homes & haunts;
ca. 1925. This home at 2714 No. Junett St. was built in 1921 for Vernetta & Irvin C. Rowland. Mr. Rowland was a partner in Hansen & Rowland. The company handled insurance, loans and surety bonds. The architect of the home was A.J. Russell. The home was built of tapestry brick and Wilkeson sandstone with a terra cotta tile roof. The construction cost was around $10,000. (WSHS)
A trio of Broadway buildings, taken from the year entrances on Stadium Way. On the left is the Broadway Apartments at 21 Broadway. The Broadway apartments were built in 1928 based on a Gothic design by architect Stanley Shaw. They were trimmed in Wilkeson sandstone. According to the 1958 City Directory, it had 42 apartments. In the center is the former Yorktheimer home. The 16 room mansion was built in 1887 in the ornate style of the excessive eighties. It was purchased in 1918 by Mr. and Mrs. Frank Yorktheimer. In 1958, it was still occupied by one of the daughters, Miss Blanche Yorktheimer, who listed her profession as music teacher. This home was demolished to make room for the 108 unit Belmont Terrace apartment building. To the right is an unnamed 7 unit apartment building which was also demolished.
The former Yorktheimer residence, 27 Broadway, taken from Stadium Way; the rear entrance to the home. The ornate home was built in 1887 in the florid style of the eighties. The home was occupied by the Cardin and Chambers families. In 1910, it served as the home of the Gatlin Institute and its alcoholism cure. The home was purchased by Mr. and Mrs. Frank Yorktheimer in 1918. The family, consisting of the mother, father and four daughters, moved in on Armistice Day. The 16 room house had an elaborate interior with a massive staircase of hardwood, huge paneled wooden doors and intricately carved wooden lacework. One of the daughters, Miss Blanche Yorktheimer, still resided in the house until 1959. The home was bought by a trio of investors and demolished in 1959 to make way for the 12 story, 108 unit apartment building, Belmont Terrace. (TNT 8/30/1959, pg. 1) TPL-9850
Harbor Terrace Apartments, ordered by Ward Smith Inc. These modern apartments were built in 1951 with lots of floor to ceiling glass and balconies to take in the water view. The apartments are terraced so that no apartment blocks the view of the one behind it.
The Ansonia Apartments, ordered by Ward Smith Inc. TPL-4577. This beautiful example of German- English Renaissance architecture was built in 1914 at an original cost of $135,000. The apartments were designed by the architecture firm of Heath & Gove. Designed as city dwellings for the elite, the building even featured burglar-proof vaults for their jewels and treasures. In 1939, the building was purchased by the Rhodes Investment Company. It became famous for its lush roof top garden. The building has an arched canopy that reaches into Tacoma Ave. No. to shield residents from the elements as they alight from their carriages, and later vehicles. It has several balconies.
ca. 1959. One story rambler designed and built by Oscar Hokold. The home has an attached two car garage with living space above it. This home was being used as the display home for Hokold's new addition in the Wapato Lake area. These homes were priced from $23,500- $33,000 and featured built in appliances, a family room with fireplace and large lots. Hokold had sold over 100 new homes in the Wapato Lake area and had plans to built over 100 more at the north end of the lake and 300 at the south end of the lake, to be sold at a variety of prices. Hokold at this time actually resided in this house with his wife Olivann and children Harry (18), Jean (16) and Jack (14). At 44 years of age, Hokold had been in construction since 1939; he formed Hokold Construction in 1947. He was a Tacoma native, born in the southend and a graduate of Lincoln High School. He developed large sections of Tacoma in the fifties and even operated his own millwork and cabinet firm, Viking Millwork. He later developed the Northwest King Oscar chain of motels. (TNT 6/7/1959, pg. B-12)
ca. 1926. Craftsman/ Bungalow type house at 2902 So. 9th St., Tacoma. Sign in front reads "Painted by Hoover Painting Company, Tel. Main 2260". (filed under Argentum)
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;
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);
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. A firm believer in the theory that good fences make good neighbors, Price has carried this one step further with glassed walls that look out onto patios, fenced with transluscent multi-colored plastic screens as high as the roofline for privacy. The home has two fenced areas, one off the kitchen-dining area for outside dining and one off the living room area. The home later won national awards for its use of space and privacy. It also has numerous skylights allowing for the introduction of natural lighting. (TNT 3/16/1959, pg. 30)
Houses--Lakewood--1950-1960; Tacoma Master Builders Association (Tacoma); Greater Tacoma Home Show (Tacoma);
The kitchen 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 centrally located kitchen has an open floor plan and a free-standing island with a built in gas range top and rotisserie grill. The draft vent for the range has a clock on the outside. A double oven is to the left of the refrigerator. A wide expanse of glass looks out onto the privacy fenced patio. Pegboard makes up some of the walls, blending into the family room with its built-in television. The kitchen could conveniently serve the dining room, family room and outside dining court. (TNT 3/16/1959, pg. 30)
Houses--Lakewood--1950-1960; Tacoma Master Builders Association (Tacoma); Greater Tacoma Home Show (Tacoma); Kitchens--Lakewood--1950-1960;
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);
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);
