Exterior of one of the homes in Bellevue built by W. A. Wollander showing the front of the house with a carport, driveway, and a shed on left. Two wagon wheels are attached on posts supporting the porch roof, a typical yard decoration in the 1950s.

Houses--Bellevue--1950-1960; Wollander Homes (Tacoma);

A one story home with brick and vertical siding is shown. The roof has a slight pitch with a brick chimney seen near the center of the home. Large floor-to-ceiling windows have been added near the front door. The back side of the house would have a view of the Tacoma Narrows. Ordered by George D. Barclay Company.

Houses--Tacoma--1950-1960; George D. Barclay Co. (Tacoma);

Joseph (Joe) and Margery Lovely residence. Two-story house with one level wing on left and balcony above, french doors leading to raised brick area outside. One-story garage on right, sand box and swing in yard.

Lovely, Joseph R.--Homes & haunts; Houses--Lakewood--1950-1960; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma);

Park Towers Beauty Salon announced the opening of their remodeled beauty shop and additional quarters in October 1952. A sign announces new equipment, the first of its kind in Tacoma, "Gyroducing for a lovely figure". Erna Harrison, the receptionist at the salon, is seated in a specialized chair, a Gyroducing chair, with her feet up on a massager. The counter below the mirror on the left is filled with trophies won by members of the staff at the salon. Ordered by the Tribune. (TNT, 10/12/1952, p.B-3)

Park Towers Apartments (Tacoma); Park Towers Beauty Salon (Tacoma); Beauty shops--Tacoma; Harrison, Erna;

A young housewife wipes a dish in her new home in the Sylvan Park neighborhood in November, 1952. The kitchen appears compact in design with limited storage space. There is a front loading, Westinghouse washing machine in the corner. Sylvan Park was located, according to an ad in a November, 1952 Tacoma News Tribune, in the Lakes District, not far from South Tacoma. Rambler style homes with three bedrooms and a two car garages were abundant. The average price of homes in Sylvan Park was $12,500. (TNT 11-7-52, D-7)

Neighborhoods--Tacoma; Kitchens--Tacoma--1950-1960; Washing machines;

Construction was booming regarding military facilities in the early 1950's; the Korean conflict brought thousands of new personnel to the Puget Sound area. Fort Lewis, along with Madigan, experienced new growing pains. This necessitated building new housing on base; view of plywood forms being set into place for Fort Lewis barracks. Photograph ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association.

Building construction--Fort Lewis; Plywood; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma);

Workers lay steel reinforcement over plywood in the construction of the new cerebral palsy center possibly at Rainier School in Buckley. Photograph ordered by Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel.

Building construction--Buckley; Western State Custodial School (Buckley); Institutional care--Buckley; Children--Health & welfare; Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel Corp. (Seattle);

No. 26th St. at No. Washington St., heading west to Adams. On the right is Washington School at 3701 No. 26th, lying beyond Adams is North Tacoma Richfield Gas at 3803, Bell's Bakery at 3811, Proctor Ice Creamery at 3813 and Dahlin's Grocery at 3815. On the left (before picture range) is the Anna E. McCormick branch of the Tacoma Public Library at 3722 and past Adams, Gene's Radio and Appliance at 3802, North End Alleys (bowling) at 3806, North End Lockers (frozen food) at 3808, and C & O Electric Co. at 3812. Christmas decorations are hung across No. 26th St. Photograph ordered by Safeway. TPL-9196

Business districts--Tacoma--1950-1960; Gene's Radio and Appliance (Tacoma); North End Alleys (Tacoma); North End Lockers (Tacoma); Washington School (Tacoma);

Interiors of the home of Perry F. Knight in Lakewood. Two four poster beds grace this bedroom in the Knight home. The beds are covered with matching chenille spreads. A silver brush set and manicure tools lay on the skirted ladies' dressing table accented with a needle point covered stool. A bank of shuttered windows provide light from the back and side walls. A floral wallpaper covers all the walls.

Knight, Perry--Homes & haunts; Houses--Lakewood--1950-1960; Bedrooms--Lakewood--1950-1960;

Interiors of the home of Perry F. Knight in Lakewood. The kitchen has an early American feel with the knotty wooden hutch, flooring, cabinets and trim. The stove and oven extend from a brick wall with a wooden plate rail above displaying figurines. A tiny patterned wallpaper and braided rugs complete the look.

Knight, Perry--Homes & haunts; Houses--Lakewood--1950-1960; Kitchens--Lakewood--1950-1960;

Interiors of the home of Perry F. Knight in Lakewood. From the angle of the ceiling, this appears to be a second floor hallway. An oriental rug lies on the polished wood floor. Open doors provide peeks of second floor bedrooms. A highly polished piece of furniture with a drawer sits to the right of the hall, providing both seating space and storage.

Knight, Perry--Homes & haunts; Houses--Lakewood--1950-1960; Passageways--Lakewood--1950-1960;

A "before" picture of the exterior of the house at 511 7th Ave. NW, Puyallup, ordered by K. H. Kamen, Contractors. It appears that the paint has been scraped or water blasted and an underlying coating material is being installed, possibly prior to siding. The driveway and sidewalk are wet and reflective with recent rains.

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

Construction of new homes was still proceeding rapidly in Tacoma and surrounding areas in the 1950's. W.R. Morben was a member of the Tacoma Master Builders Association, an organization of contractors that prided itself on quality construction. He built this home, photographed in May, 1954, which was apparently situated in the 8600 block of South 35th St. The contemporary styled home was a rambler with attached one-car garage. It had a long concrete driveway.

Building construction--Tacoma--1950-1960; Houses--Tacoma--1950-1960; W.R. Morben Co. (Tacoma);

Pitman Home Building Co. had several homes on display in the September, 1953, Parade of Homes presented by the Tacoma Master Builders Association, in conjuction with the National Home Week celebration. Marc Pitman, owner, built contemporary styled homes with open floor plans. View of one-story rambler with flat roof and two-car carport on Hipkins Road in Lakewood, one of several constructed by Pitman Home Building.

Houses--Lakewood--1950-1960; Pitman Home Building Co. (Lakewood);

A spacious brick rambler with attached two-car garage was built on a large lot by William H. Parrish in 1954. The home is believed to have been located in Sumner on Wood Avenue and belong to Ray Beck. Small trees and shrubs were planted surrounding the home. There is a long awning that shades the large picture window. The ubiquitous television antenna is prominently displayed.

Houses--Sumner--1950-1960;

Albert Nilsen was a general contractor whose home and business were located on North Jackson Avenue. He built several homes in his immediate neighborhood; view of row of new houses, at least two are two-story contemporary homes with many picture windows. These homes would offer superb views of the Narrows Bridge, Olympic Mountains, and daily sunsets. All are placed on large sloping lots, a good distance away from street level. Albert Nilsen was a member of the Tacoma Master Builders Association, a group of local contractors who prided themselves on quality construction. (TNT 5-18-54, C-13)

Houses--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Workers appear to be examining construction of a new church steeple in March, 1953. One man is perched on a scaffold with a hammer in his extended hand; he appears to be grasping the steeple. Another man in a checkered jacket stands on the ground with his right arm resting on a plywood plank. The church is believed to be the new First Church of Christ, Scientist, in the Lakewood Center. The top of the steeple, when put into place, would be over 55 feet above ground. Photograph ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association. (TNT 3-15-53, C-14)

Building construction--Lakewood--1950-1960; Steeples; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma);

Because our area's population was booming in the early 1950's, many new housing developments sprang up to accomodate new buyers. Sylvan Park was located near Lakewood; view of brick one-story home with attached garage and built -on planters. The house is so new that the front landscaping has yet to be completed. The home was designed and built by Home Construction Co. Photograph ordered by Mark Hoskins.

Houses--Lakewood--1950-1960; Home Construction Co. (Lakewood);

Exterior of home- Mountlake Terrace. Many of the new homes in Mountlake Terrace were built in a contemporary ranch style manner during the early 1950's. This particular home, photographed on June 8, 1953, has wood siding along with some brick facing. It has an unusual feature in that there appears to be a separate bonus room or other living quarters separated from the main quarters by a covered carport. The windows on the home also appear to be modern, no lead glass content. Photograph ordered by Phares Advertising, Seattle.

Houses--Mountlake Terrace--1950-1960; Neighborhoods--Mountlake Terrace; Phares Advertising Agency (Seattle);

This contemporary ranch style home blends perfectly with its wooded setting in a photograph taken on May 19, 1953. Tall trees would provide shade during the hot summer months and help to blunt winter's cold winds. The nicely landscaped yard could be easily viewed by the large picture windows. A long, wide curved driveway might indicate additional parking beyond the large garage. The home was apparently built by Wallace H. Potucek Construction Co.

Houses--1950-1960; Wallace H. Potucek Construction Co. (Tacoma);

The A.E. Berger Construction Co. built this lovely brick rambler in Lakewood. There was a long concrete driveway to the one-car attached garage. The home at 8403 Bridgeport Way was situated on a large wooded lot and landscaped nicely with planted shrubs and flowers. Massive trees would have provided much shade during summer months. By 1958, the Tacoma Suburban Directory would show Leonard R. and Myrtle Rigby as owners of this attractive home. Mr. Rigby was listed as a gardener at Western State Hospital. Photograph ordered by A.E. Berger. (TNT 3-19-57, C-6)

Houses--Lakewood--1950-1960; A.E. Berger Construction Co. (Tacoma);

A young couple enjoy the spacious living room of their new Mountlake Terrace home in June, 1953. Mountlake Terrace was close enough to Seattle for an easy commute and far enough away to enjoy large tree-lined lots and suburban amenities. A large rug covers most of the darker linoleum flooring and blends well with the living room's modernistic furniture. A fire is roaring in the brick fireplace; a crouching black ceramic panther and candelabra are positioned on the mantel while books and a radio lie on the attached bookcase. Photograph ordered by Phares Advertising.

Houses--Mountlake Terrace--1950-1960; Living rooms--Mountlake Terrace--1950-1960; Fireplaces--Mountlake Terrace--1950-1960;

Exterior of "Skyliner" new home. The Arizona sandstone and wood two-story home was designed and built by the Miller Construction Co. and opened its doors to the public for viewing on June 6-7, 1953. The residence, located just inside Skyline Terrace, was designed specifically to provide maximum view of the Narrows and the Narrows Bridge from all living areas. Edward Miller, owner of Miller Construction, indicated that he was combining all the best ideas of building construction in this area. Many amenities would be included such as automatic garage door opener, an intercom system, three bathrooms with ventilator fans, cedar-lined wardrobes and a multitude of built-ins--TV's, radios, electric range & grill, and even toothbrush holders. Photograph ordered by Llewellyn Advertising Agency. (TNT 6-5-53, p. 6)

Houses--Tacoma--1950-1960; Miller Construction Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

James J. Barnes Construction Company's United Pacific Insurance Building project. Early phase of construction showing basement area with concrete forms in place. Heavy construction equipment being used. United Pacific Insurance had moved to Tacoma in 1941 and had commenced construction of a new addition next to the Medical Arts Building which the company also owned. For a while United Pacific was the only insurance company with headquarters in Tacoma.

Building construction--Tacoma--1950-1960; Progress photographs--1950-1960; United Pacific Insurance Co. (Tacoma); James J. Barnes Construction Co.;

The photograph of this one-story single family home was ordered by Tacoma School District No. 10 together with the house at 4411 North 38th Street where Sherman Elementary School's new building would be built in 1953. The old school that had been at North 38th and M Streets was razed. This view of the rear of the house shows an attached porch and steps up to it.

Houses--Tacoma--1950-1960; Sherman School (Tacoma); Tacoma School District No. 10 (Tacoma);

The new Vista Manor Apartments provided laundry facilities for their tenants. Washing machines line the far wall while a long wooden table is available for folding clothes. An ironing table is seen in the foreground and a mandrel ironing machine stands by the work table. A drying rack and sinks are seen along the wall on the right. Ordered by the W.H. Opie & Company, property managers for the building.

Apartment houses--Tacoma--1950-1960; Vista Manor Apartments (Tacoma); W.H. Opie & Co. (Tacoma); Real estate business--Tacoma; Laundries (Rooms & spaces)--Tacoma;

This model home in Mountbrook Manor in Lakewood has been decorated with the most recent styles. A second fireplace has been added in the family room where a mixture of patterns was chosen for the upholstery, draperies and wallpaper. The lamp shades here are patterned and in a shape that narrows at the base. A modern television set stands in the corner. Prices for the homes in this housing development located adjacent to Nyanza Park Drive ranged from $12,000 to $14,900. (TNT, 2/17/1952, p.C-13)

Houses--Lakewood--1950-1960; Mountbrook Manor (Lakewood); Recreation rooms--Lakewood--1950-1960; Televisions--1950-1960; Lamps; Tietz Construction Inc. (Lakewood);

Wallace R. and Eleanor Stabbert built a new home in Fircrest in 1950 using the popular rambler design with a two-car, attached garage. Detailing with the smooth, rounded stucco exterior and the banding around the entire house that provides a covered entry way to the home provide a welcome change to the housing development approach to the design, however. Glass block was chosen for the middle window on the left and to provide side-lights at the front door. The picture window in this design even seems fresh rather than the standard.

Houses--Fircrest--1950-1960; Stabbert, Wallace R.--Homes & haunts; Fred Stabbert Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

Exposure of Seattle homes for Master Builders Display at the Seattle Home Show, for Phares Advertising Agency. One story rambler with two car garage in housing addition. Address and developer unknown.

Houses--Seattle--1950-1960; Seattle Home Show (Seattle);

Kitchen interior. House built by Wilson & Wilson Construction Company in 1950 located at 1528 South Karl Johan Ave. in the Narrowmoor subdivision. Homeowners were Melvin and Olga Matthies. U-shape kitchen with tile counters, free-standing stove under window, sink centered in cabinet dividing breakfast room. Note: Only survivor of 8 deteriorated diacetate film sheets.

Houses--Tacoma--1950-1960; Kitchens--Tacoma--1950-1960; Matthies, Melvin--Homes & haunts;