Exterior view of a Wollander Farwest prefabricated house; view of driveway and stepping stones leading to the main entrance of house. This house was constructed with prefabricated plywood panels, and likely built in just a few days. In 1946 Farwest Homes stated they would be building approximately 25-100 homes daily; these homes were being purchased by new families.
Prefabricated houses; Housing--Tacoma; Driveways--Tacoma; Yards--Tacoma; Building construction--Tacoma; Housing developments--Tacoma; Wollander Farwest Homes (Tacoma); Wollander Better Builder Plans (Tacoma);
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);
Most of the Wollander Farwest Homes built were two bedroom family homes in Tacoma and the surrounding area. The January 1949 Tacoma Times advertised two and three bedroom houses, some furnished, in various areas of the city, for prices ranging from $3,600 to $7,500. Interior view of a Wollander Farwest home; view of fully furnished living room with shag trimmed sofa and chair and matching shag rug, two chairs and radio unit against the back wall, dining room area on right side.
Prefabricated houses; Housing--Tacoma; Living rooms--Tacoma; Seating furniture--Tacoma; Building construction--Tacoma; Housing developments--Tacoma; Wollander Farwest Homes (Tacoma);
Most of the houses built in Tacoma after the end of World War II were prefabricated houses. The need for housing was a serious issue in Tacoma for many years after the war; this also increased the need for telephones, which prompted Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Company to expand. Interior view of home designed by Wollander Better Builder Plans and built by Wollander Farwest Homes. The living room is decorated with a matching sofa and chair; the brick fireplace gives the room a warm and cozy feel.
Prefabricated houses; Housing--Tacoma; Living rooms--Tacoma; Seating furniture--Tacoma; Building construction--Tacoma; Housing developments--Tacoma; Wollander Farwest Homes (Tacoma); Wollander Better Builder Plans (Tacoma);
Willard A. Wollander owned Wollander Farwest Homes and Wollander Better Builder Plans, home designers and building companies. In 1946 Farwest was getting ready to build a massive amount, about 25-100 homes daily, of prefabricated homes in Tacoma. The consumer would have a choice of 725, 832 or 920 square feet, two bedroom houses; these houses would be available for under $6,000. Exterior view of a Wollander Farwest home, family dog in foreground.
Prefabricated houses; Housing--Tacoma; Neighborhoods--Tacoma; Building construction--Tacoma; Housing developments--Tacoma; Wollander Farwest Homes (Tacoma); Wollander Better Builder Plans (Tacoma);
The house designed and built by Wollander Far West Homes was likely a two or three bedroom house. Wollander homes were made with prefabricated materials and usually built in just a few days. Interior view of prefabricated house built by Wollander Farwest Homes. View of small kitchen, it is equipped with a sink, cabinets, stove and oven unit, and a "Kenmore" washing machine; view of living room on right side.
Prefabricated houses; Kitchens--Tacoma--1940-1950; Washing machines; Cupboards--Tacoma; Building construction--Tacoma; Housing developments--Tacoma; Wollander Farwest Homes (Tacoma); Wollander Better Builder Plans (Tacoma);
Tacoma and its surrounding communities were growing rapidly and housing construction was in great demand. After World War II ended, many small 2 and 3 bedroom homes were built to accommodate the new families. Interior view of home designed by Wollander Better Builder Plans and built by Wollander Farwest Homes. The living room is decorated with a matching sofa and chair; the brick fireplace gives the room a warm and cozy feel.
Prefabricated houses; Living rooms--Tacoma; Fireplaces--Tacoma; Building construction--Tacoma; Housing developments--Tacoma; Wollander Farwest Homes (Tacoma); Wollander Better Builder Plans (Tacoma);
In 1948 Fife's Schools, District # 88, occupied a large campus of buildings on 20th Street East just east of 55th Avenue East. The four major buildings in the complex had been built over a period of 22 years. From left to right are: Fife High School, built in 1930; the Fife Civic Auditorium built in 1924, which served as both a public gathering place and the school gymnasium; the old Fife school, which was built in 1914 and by 1948 was being used for vocational training; and (at the far right) the new Fife Elementary School, which was built in 1936. In 1949 the Fife School District built a new high school, dedicated in 1950.
Public schools--Fife; Educational facilities--Fife; Auditoriums--Fife; Fife High School (Fife); Fife Elementary School (Fife); Fife School District (Fife);
Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad was hosting a safety rally for their employees at the Odd Fellows Temple in Tacoma in January of 1949. Railroad officials from Tacoma, Seattle, Spokane, Chicago, Milwaukee and Butte would be attending the rally. Company officials stressed the importance of employee safety and would spend some time discussing accident prevention methods; H. J. McMahon is the Western District Safety Engineer, his headquarters are in Tacoma.
Railroad cars--Tacoma; Railroad locomotives--Tacoma; Railroad sidings--Tacoma; Railroad companies--Tacoma; Clouds; Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad Co. (Tacoma); Meetings--Tacoma--1940-1950;
Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Company's 757 Fawcett Avenue building was being used to expand their local dial equipment and long distance switchboards to provide customers with efficient service. The expansion project was expected to be completed in 1949. Exterior view of the Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Company's building, scaffolding from Safway Steel Scaffolds Company, "Foster & Kleiser Company" billboards advertising school support, are posted on safety walls.
The roof trusses for the College of Puget Sound's Memorial Field House were erected in December 1948. The roof supporting trusses were made of Douglas Fir, weighed 12 tons each, and were 168 feet long and 23 feet high. At the time the field house was built, its trusses were the longest single wood spans in one section ever to be erected, according to Weyerhaeuser Timber Company. The trusses were manufactured in Weyerhaeuser's Longview Mill. The trusses were 60 feet from the ground, and supported 90,000 feet of roof decking. (T. Times, 12/10/48, p. 1).
Roof trusses--Tacoma; Structural frames--Tacoma; Gymnasiums--Tacoma; Sports & recreation facilities--Tacoma; Universities & colleges--Tacoma; Memorial Field House (Tacoma); College of Puget Sound (Tacoma)--Buildings;
Western Gear at St. Regis plant. A view of two large pieces of machinery used in paper manufacturing at the new Kraft paper plant of St. Regis manufactured by Pusey-Jones Corporation, Wilmington, Delaware.
St. Regis Paper Co. (Tacoma)--1940-1950; Paper industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Machinery;
Exhibit showing transparancies and murals at Ferry Museum, Washington State Historical Society, Mr. Foster. Mr. Chapin D. Foster is putting the final touches on the display of materials depicting the development of Washington State from when the area was known as North Oregon, the Washington Territories and then became a state. (T.Times, 1/23/1949, p.2)
Washington State Historical Building (Tacoma); Washington State Historical Society (Tacoma)--Exhibitions & displays; Foster, Chapin D. ; Paintings; Transparencies;
Chapin Foster became the manager of the Washington State Historical Society after the death of William P. Bonney. Mr. Foster suggested a permanent display of photographs and large transparencies that would show how this part of the Northwest, developed as "North Oregon", became the Washington territory and the territory became Washington State. S.A. Perkins, president of the Society approved the idea and the show opened January 23, 1949. (T.Times, 1/23/1949, p.2)
Washington State Historical Building (Tacoma); Washington State Historical Society (Tacoma)--Exhibitions & displays; Foster, Chapin D.; Paintings; Transparencies;
Exhibit showing transparancies and murals at Ferry Museum, Washington State Historical Society, Mr. Foster. The S.A. Perkins project depicted how this part of the Northwest developed first as North Oregon, the Washington Territory and then Washington State. It represented the entire state from Cathlamet to Okanogan, from Grays Harbor to Steptoe Butte. The show opened at the Ferry Museum January 23, 1949, (T.Times, 1/23/1949, p.2)
Washington State Historical Building (Tacoma); Washington State Historical Society (Tacoma)--Exhibitions & displays; Paintings; Transparencies;
Interior view of a small grocery store, food and other items are displayed on the shelves. View of "Morton's" sugarcure priced at 75 cents, cans of peaches and honey, "Clapp's" pineapple and spinach, "Hershey's" cocoa, "Scotch" tape, "Dupont" combs, and "Space-Saver" frozen food locker kits. The two unidentified people are placing the "Space-Saver" frozen food locker kits in the freezer cabinets; photo ordered by George-Ann Company.
Merchandise displays--Tacoma; Business enterprises--Tacoma; Home food processing--Tacoma; Freezers; Grocery stores--Tacoma--1940-1950; George-Ann Co. (Tacoma);
View of award winning architectural drawing; Alan Liddle's architectural drawing was awarded 2nd Prize. The drawing indicates this was drawn for the School of Architecture Alumni Prize Problem 1947. The 1949 Tacoma City Directory has Alan Liddle listed as a draftsman for Lea, Pearson & Richards architectural firm; the firm was located in the Tacoma Building at 1019 A Street.
ca. 1980. The mayor's office is full of female visitors circa 1980 including Ms. Downtown Tacoma (to the mayor's right). Mike Parker had been elected mayor of Tacoma in November of 1977 and was the youngest mayor to serve under Tacoma's current charter form of government. ALBUM 14.
