Tour of Homes. Each year the Homebuilders Assn. of Greater Tacoma put together a "Tour of Homes" featuring newly built houses constructed by association members. In the fall of 1969, homes in Meridian East, Oakbrook and Beckonridge were available for viewing by potential buyers. The event was heavily publicized with directions and photographs published in the News Tribune. 1969 would be the biggest Fall Tour of Homes in the Homebuilders Assn.'s 20-year history. Open houses for 29 new homes, with prices ranging from $17,000-40,000, would begin on September 28, 1969. The stone-and-wood home with recessed doorway pictured above is an Evergreen State Builders' model, located on the fairway in Oakbrook at 7601 Onyx Dr. S.W. "Tour of Homes" officials Gerry Naulbert, Pete Colbert and Duke Shaub are pictured in front of the home on September 10, 1969. Photograph ordered by the News Tribune. (TNT 9-28-69, B-3; TNT 9-21-69, D-8)
Houses--Lakewood--1960-1970; Model houses--Lakewood;
New homes on Eastside. Interior of home on the city's eastside is an elegant blending of old and new with gold and turquoise tones dominant. An extended stuffed sofa of turquoise faces a large color console; the ceiling-to-floor drapes artistically utilize a similar shade of blue topped with gold folds. An oil painting framed in gold tones and ornate framed mirrors decorate the smooth white walls. A small brick fireplace completes the living room. Photograph ordered by Wollander & Associates.
Houses--Tacoma--1960-1970; Living rooms--Tacoma--1960-1970; Couches; Draperies; Paintings; Fireplaces--Tacoma--1960-1970; Televisions;
New homes on Eastside. A dark-toned Pontiac Bonneville is parked in the driveway of a one-car attached garage on September 3, 1969. The new wood framed single story home is located in the city's eastside, in the E. "T" and Gregory area. Photograph ordered by Wollander & Associates.
New homes on Eastside. A family is hard at work on a sunny September day in 1969 preparing their yard for planting of grass seeds. Shovels, hoes and rakes are in use while a small girl on a tricycle watches. Wollander & Associates had requested photographs of homes on Tacoma's eastside about the E. "T" and Gregory area. This home was a one-story wood frame contemporary with attached one-car garage. A riderless tricycle and colorful ball are visible near a parked automobile in the driveway.
Close-up of vacant lot at the northwest corner of No. 4th & "D" with view of Commencement Bay on June 11, 1969. Robert Billsbrough Price, an award winning local architect, had requested aerial (see D156236, image 5) and closer views of this area of fine homes. Small plants, shrubs and trees cover the lot along with tuffs of grass. This lot is listed as 402-08 No. "D." 402 No. "D" had originally been the home of Ezra Poppleton in 1891; the home was subsequently demolished. The Washington State Historical Society building can be glimpsed behind trees.
Neighborhoods--Tacoma--1960-1970; Commencement Bay (Wash.); Washington State Historical Society (Tacoma); Washington State Historical Building (Tacoma);
Exterior view of the Beckonridge Country Apartments. Those contemplating residing in the Beckonridge could stop by the manager's unit in May of 1969. The homes were artfully designed of wood to blend in with the prevailing trees. Carports were provided for this University Place development. The Beckonridge Country Apartments were celebrating a grand opening in late May of 1969. Located at 52nd & Bristonwood in the Beckonridge community of University Place, the 1-2 bedroom apartments were constructed by Fister Construction of Fircrest. In keeping with the natural setting, all utilities were underground and the units were equipped with all-electric appliances. Photograph ordered by Fister Construction. (TNT- Ad 5-23-69, A-4; TNT- Ad 5-25-69, A-13)
Housing developments--University Place--1960-1970; Beckonridge Country Apartments (University Place);
Beckonridge Country Apartments. The modern two-story housing complex in the Beckonridge community of University Place celebrated its grand opening in late May of 1969. The Beckonridge units were placed in a natural setting of fir trees, which provided shade and acted as windbreaks. Each unit was provided a carport and a private entrance. One tenant's bicycle shown above in May of 1969 could have been used to travel the many wooded pathways throughout this University Place neighborhood. Beckonridge was designed as an open space community fully incorporating its natural beauties. Utilities were placed underground as not to mar the scenic atmosphere. The Beckonridge Country Apartments were located at 52nd & Bristonwood, north of Bridgeport and west of Cirque Dr. Photograph ordered by Fister Construction, general contractors of the complex. (TNT -Ad 5-25-69, A-13; TNT -Ad 5-23-69, A-4)
1969 Richards stock footage. This small apartment complex, believed to have been called the Vera Vista Apartments, was on the outskirts of the University Village Shopping Center at 40th & Bridgeport in University Place. Tall firs provided a buffer against the shopping center's parking lot. Covered walkways surrounded the building; this view on May 12, 1969, is believed to be of the rear and sides of the complex.
1969 Richards stock footage. Colorful aerial view of the new Rodeway Inn of America under construction in May of 1969. Located at 6802 So. Sprague, the motel catered to travelers desiring affordable accommodations. An added plus was the motel's closeness to the freeway. Amenities included a heated swimming pool, the "Village Inn" restaurant/lounge, meeting rooms, and convention and banquet facilities. The Rodeway Inn opened in early November, 1969. (TNT 11-2-69, D-14)
Building construction--Tacoma--1960-1970; Rodeway Inn of America (Tacoma); Motels--Tacoma--1960-1970; Aerial views;
1969 Richards stock footage. Aerial view of Orchard & Bantz area in May of 1969. Orchard heads north towards the water on the photograph's left; ASARCO smokestack is barely visible at the top of picture. Bantz Ave. intersects Orchard in upper center. City of Fircrest is on extreme left side of Orchard. A water tower is located in center of photograph.
Neighborhoods--Tacoma--1960-1970; Neighborhoods--Fircrest; Water towers; Aerial views;
1969 Richards stock footage. View by air of downtown Tacoma featuring new construction of (National) Bank of Washington building. This would be a 22-story, block-wide $12,000,000 development, located between So. 12th & So. 13th and Pacific & A Street. A plaza will surround the tower building, set back 80 feet from Pacific Avenue. The new bank structure is in the center of the May 5, 1969, photograph, across the street from the Puget Sound National bank building. The bare area across the new construction will be a parking garage. Near the left in photograph are railroad tracks; street on the extreme left is Dock Street. (TNT 11-20-68, p. 1)
Building construction--Tacoma--1960-1970; National Bank of Washington (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Puget Sound National Bank (Tacoma); Aerial views;
View of carports/patios at new model homes. Both homes have small "open" signs in their windows. The two homes are one-level and wood-framed. Square stones are embeded in the grass creating paths to both homes. The model homes are believed to be in the Westway neighborhood of Federal Way. Photograph ordered by McMullen Marketing Associates, Bellevue.
Model houses--Federal Way; Garages--Federal Way; Patios--Federal Way;
Model home "Catalina." The contemporary "Catalina" split-level model home was possibly located in either the Twin Lakes or Westway neighborhoods of Federal Way in 1969. The wood framed house had three separate shake roofs, including one on the attached garage. The lot was nicely landscaped with young trees and shrubs. A copy of this photograph was made for the Seattle P-I newspaper. Photograph ordered by McMullen Marketing Associates, Bellevue.
Houses--Federal Way--1960-1970; Model houses--Federal Way;
Model home. A small "open" sign attached to a window bids visitors welcome to the new Model 8000 Couplet in the spring of 1969. A large carport for two cars and additional patio space is located in front of the home. This may actually be a duplex with a wooden fence separating the units; the roofline of the carport blocks the view of the entire structure. The Couplet is believed to be located in the Westway neighborhood of Federal Way. Photograph ordered by McMullen Marketing Associates, Bellevue.
Model homes. April 23, 1969, view of three model homes, probably in the Westway neighborhood of Federal Way. These contemporary wood framed ramblers had simple, straight lines and were placed on small lots. Each had an attached carport. Small plants and shrubs were newly planted. It is possible that these were the manufactured homes shown in series D155806 that were trucked in and placed on their foundations in just a few short hours. Photograph ordered by the McMullen Marketing Associates, Bellevue.
View of contemporary rambler on large treed lot. This home was built by Canyon Construction and Realty and located in the rural 168th & 17th Ave. E. vicinity. The home's front entrance was framed with an A-shaped roof extension. It had a one-car attached garage. Photograph ordered by Canyon Construction and Realty.
This Midway-area residential community would soon be receiving the benefits of a new sewer project in February of 1969. An employee of Wilson Construction Co., based in University Place, kneels next to a child's blackboard with pertinent job information. Photograph ordered by Wilson Construction Co.
Houses--1960-1970; Sewers; Wilson Construction Co. (University Place); Blackboards; Signs (Notices);
Wilson Construction Co. of University Place was engaged in sewer work in a Midway-area residential community on February 25, 1969. An employee of the firm crouches next to a small portable blackboard that lists work-pertinent information. Wilson Construction was owned by Len Wilson, 8601-43rd W. Photograph ordered by Wilson Construction.
Houses--1960-1970; Sewers; Signs (Notices); Wilson Construction Co. (University Place); Blackboards;
ca. 1969. 1969 Richards stock footage. This is believed to be the site of the new (National) Bank of Washington plaza in downtown Tacoma. Groundbreaking occurred on February 13, 1969, for the 22-story blockwide development. Cooney Cranes are hard at work at the excavation site located between S. 12th & S. 13th and Pacific & A Street. Rebar rods have been laid. The Federal Building, housing the main branch of the U.S. Post Office at 1102 A St., overlooks the work site.
Building construction--Tacoma--1960-1970; Banks--Tacoma; Hoisting machinery;
ca. 1969. In December of 1969 construction had just begun on the Park Plaza South Parking Garage between South 12th & South 13th and Pacific Avenue & Commerce. Two garages were to be built as part of the downtown urban renewal project. The other site chosen was north of the Rust Building between 9th & 11th and Pacific & Commerce. Altogether there would be 794 parking stalls added to Tacoma's downtown. The project would cost 3.3 million dollars. With the buildings on Pacific removed for construction, the buildings on the south end of the 1100 block of Commerce are clearly visible. The six story building at the upper left corner is the Luzon Building, 1302-04 Pacific Ave. Designers were the Tacoma architectural firm of Lea, Pearson & Richards with N.G. Jacobson & Associates, engineers. (TNT 1-9-69, p. 1)
Building construction--Tacoma--1960-1970; Parking garages--Tacoma--1960-1970; Urban renewal;
Scenes from grand opening ceremonies at senior citizen housing. City and civic leaders joined potential occupants at the dedication ceremonies of a newly completed senior citizens 77-unit apartment building located at 12th & "M" Sts. on November 24, 1968. They are pictured gathered in the building's community room that had been just been dedicated in the memory of longtime Bethlehem Baptist Church pastor, Rev. E.B. Wilson. Standing on the far left is Tacoma mayor A.L. Rasmussen. Shiloh Baptist pastor E.S.Brazill is believed to be standing in foreground holding a pamphlet. Photograph ordered by Riconoscuito Advertising. (TNT 11-24-68, B-17, D-8)
Apartment houses--Tacoma--1960-1970; Building dedications--Tacoma--1960-1970; Dedications--Tacoma--1960-1970; Mayors--Tacoma--1960-1970; Rasmussen, Albert Lawrence;
Grand opening of senior housing building. The newly completed senior citizens apartment building at So. 12th and "M" was dedicated on November 24, 1968. It was built under the sponsorship of the Tacoma Housing Authority and Senior Centers, Inc. The building's community room was named in memory of the late Rev. E.B. Wilson. For 50 years Rev. Wilson had been a member of the Bethlehem Baptist Church and its pastor for 25 of those years. Gerrit VanderEnde, chairman of the board of Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan and chairman of the Tacoma Housing Authority, smiling held one end of the plaque honoring Rev. Wilson which will hang in the community room. The woman sharing the plaque with Mr VanderEnde is believed to be one of the two daughters of the late Rev. Wilson present at the dedication, Mrs. Sadie Armstead and Mrs. Rex Jones of Seattle. The other man in the foreground is believed to be Rev. E.S. Brazill, longtime pastor of Shiloh Baptist Church. City Manager David Rowlands is standing in background at the right. Photograph ordered by Riconoscuito Advertising. (TNT 11-24-68, D-8)
Apartment houses--Tacoma--1960-1970; Building dedications--Tacoma--1960-1970; Dedications--Tacoma--1960-1970; Plaques--Tacoma; VanderEnde, Gerrit; Rowlands, David;
Dedications. City Manager David Rowlands is flanked by Mrs. S. David Hunter and Mrs. Willie E. Crawford, members of the Civic & Progressive Club that sponsored the naming of the community room at the newly completed 77-unit senior citizens apartment building at So. 12th & "M," on November 24, 1968. Mr. Rowlands is holding the plaque honoring the late Rev. E.B. Wilson, longtime Bethlehem Baptist Church member and minister, after whom the community room will be named. Another member of the Civic & Progressive Club, Mrs. Franklin D. Burgess, is believed to be standing second to the right. Photograph ordered by Riconoscuito Advertising. (TNT 11-24-68, B-17, D-8)
Apartment houses--Tacoma--1960-1970; Building dedications--Tacoma--1960-1970; Dedications--Tacoma--1960-1970; Plaques--Tacoma; Rowlands, David;
Scenes from grand opening ceremonies at senior citizens apartment building. The community room of the soon-to-be occupied senior citizens apartment building at 12th & "M" was dedicated on November 24, 1968, in memory of Rev. E.B. Wilson, a 50-year member of Bethlehem Baptist Church and for 25 of those years, its pastor. Tacoma Mayor A.L. Rasmussen, holding plaque honoring Rev. Wilson, is pictured with several adults and children. They are believed to be the families of Rev. Wilson's two daughters: Mrs. Sadie Armstead and Mrs. Rex Jones. Photograph ordered by Riconoscuito Advertising. (TNT 11-24-68, B-17, D-8)
Apartment houses--Tacoma--1960-1970; Building dedications--Tacoma--1960-1970; Dedications--Tacoma--1960-1970; Plaques--Tacoma; Mayors--Tacoma--1960-1970; Rasmussen, Albert Lawrence;
View of newly completed multi-level wooden apartment house for the elderly. The 58-unit apartment house was located at 602 So. Wright Ave., at the corner of Wright Ave. & "G" St. The apartments were built for the Tacoma Housing Authority by United Homes Corp. at a cost of $620,000 in 1968. United Homes Corp. was also scheduled to build a smaller apartment house of 40-units on No. "G" St. for the THA at a cost of approximately $500,000. Photograph ordered by Riconoscuito Advertising. (TNT 10-7-68, p. 26)
A new apartment house for the elderly, built by United Homes Corporation under the Turnkey plan, was ready for occupancy in early October, 1968. The Tacoma Housing Authority would take ownership of the $620,000 apartment house in ceremonies attended by city officials on October 8, 1968. The 58-unit building was the first to be completed for the Tacoma Housing Authority under the Turnkey plan whereby the builder would turn over the structure to the owner upon completion. Photograph ordered by Riconoscuito Advertising. (TNT 10-7-68, p. 26)
Cedar home and outbuilding. Nestled among the trees in 1968 on San Juan Island's Friday Harbor and close to the water's edge are cedar buildings and a large deck. The buildings were constructed lacking basements and on piles. Trees were allowed to grow through the expansive deck. Large ceiling-to-floor windows would provide tremendous views of waterfront activities. Home was apparently built by the International Homes of Cedar, Seattle. Photograph ordered by the R.G. Williams Co.
A man sits peacefully on the deck of his Friday Harbor home trying his luck at fishing in the fall of 1968. If he were to turn his head, he could see the interior of his cedar-built home through extensive windows. Those sitting at the dining room table or on the rugged couch would have magnificent views of the water. This home may have been the one photographed in D154904, Image 1. Color photograph ordered by the R.G. Williams Co.
Winding staircase in cedar home. This home is believed to be in Friday Harbor on San Juan Island. A minimalist curving staircase extends to the second floor. A hanging globe provides additional light. Photograph ordered by R.G. Williams Co.
A new elementary school speedily rises in Federal Way. Nestled among the towering firs, the North Lake Elementary School would open in 1968. Workers are pictured on September 9, 1968, with giant Sunnen cranes lowering roof and side panel to one portion of the school. Photograph ordered by Malcolm McGhie, industrial consultant, New York.
Building construction--Federal Way; Public schools--Federal Way; Progress photographs; Hoisting machinery;
