In the 1950's, Mountlake Terrace was a swiftly growing community springing up near Seattle. Phares Advertising of Seattle took many photographs over the years showing new home styles in this neighborhood. In this June 8, 1953, photograph, a carport appears to separate the two homes into a duplex. A large picture window provides an excellent view of the irregularly shaped concrete patio where families are pictured enjoying grilled hotdogs cooked over an outdoor gas BBQ. The young man sitting in a wheelbarrow appears to be gathering his strength with a cup of coffee before tackling mowing the lawn. Photograph ordered by Phares Advertising, Seattle.

Houses--Mountlake Terrace--1950-1960; Outdoor cookery--Mountlake Terrace; Barbecues--Mountlake Terrace; Phares Advertising Agency (Seattle);

In a depiction of the All-American family, a father waves goodbye to his wife, two little girls, and dog as he prepares to depart from his Mountlake Terrace home in June, 1953. Many young families were attracted to the fast growing community near Seattle due to the new homes and large wooded lots. This particular rambler appears to have a fenced backyard, attached single carport and be constructed of concrete block. Photograph ordered by Phares Advertising, Seattle.

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

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);

Families were being drawn to the rapidly growing Mountlake Terrace community in the early 1950's. New homes were being built quickly on apparently large tree-filled lots with lots of room for children to play in. View of ranch style contemporary home with partial brick facing and double carport was taken on June 8, 1953 for Phares Advertising.

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

This contemporary, one-story rambler was built by the Erspamer Construction Co. and photographed on May 17, 1953. It had a shallow-pitched roof, wood siding and attached garage. The well-kept lawn had a cheerful display of flowers behind a low brick border which matched the brick facing under the picture window. Photograph ordered by Tom Sias, Douglas Fir Plywood Association.

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

Exterior of a house

One-and-one-half story Craftsman-style home on beach. Open balcony in gable end, concrete bulkhead, garden and steps to the left. Rowboat and small girl on beach. "Tony Hull's children, Kirk and Nancy, Beach House".

Dwellings - Houses - Washington

A new church tower is in the final stages of being built during the spring of 1953. The plywood tower is awaiting the placement of a steeple. View of worker on wooden platform on rooftop measuring the tower; identity of new church in Lakewood is believed to be the First Church of Christ, Scientist, in the Lakewood Center. Photograph ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association. (TNT 3-15-53, C-14)

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

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);

The building boom continues at Fort Lewis in January, 1953, as more barracks are being constructed. The fort is expanding at a rapid rate and more housing is necessary. View of workers standing on uncompleted structure; they may be monitoring the pouring of concrete. The Army was spending ten million in housing on Fort Lewis; permanent barracks for two full regiments were being built. These were the first permanent barracks built here since 1939 and the first barracks of any kind built since 1942. By early February, the buildings were 30% completed. 35 barracks to hold 165 men each and two 225-men barracks were scheduled. Photograph ordered by Tom Sias, Douglas Fir Plywood Association. (TNT 2-8-53, C-14)

Building construction--Tacoma--1950-1960; Barracks--Fort Lewis; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma);

Tacoma City Light's new administrative building and garage were built in 1953. Designed by architect Silas Nelsen, it was constructed by the Roy Earley Co. The building was made of reinforced concrete. View of workers in hard hats raising plywood forms. The building would house both the City Light and Water divisions and would cost 2.5 million dollars. Photograph ordered by Tom Sias, Douglas Fir Plywood Association. (TNT 2-8-53, C-13)

Building construction--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma Dept. of Public Utilities, Light Division (Tacoma); Plywood; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma); Public utility companies--Tacoma;

Construction continues on the new Tacoma City Light administrative building and garage in February, 1953. Work was being conducted under the supervision of Elmer Visser, estimator, from the Roy Earley Company, general contractors. Men are shown here putting plywood forms into place. When completed, the 2.5 million dollar building would become the headquarters for City Light and the Water division. Photograph ordered by Tom Sias, Douglas Fir Plywood Association. (TNT 2-8-53, C-13)

Building construction--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma Dept. of Public Utilities, Light Division (Tacoma); Plywood; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma); Public utility companies--Tacoma;

This is a view of a South End neighborhood taken in May of 1938. Road in photograph is unpaved and runs along undeveloped land. There is a glimpse of houses in background. Ordered by Comfort & Davis.

Neighborhoods--Tacoma--1930-1940; Land;

This photograph of a family home, finished in slightly sepia tones, was taken in February, 1953. The small bungalow-style home, nestled under tall trees, appears to have a stucco exterior. The porch columns support an upper story balcony. Photograph ordered by Sears Marshall, c/o Lakeside Club. Patron reports this is #2 Lakeside Club.

Houses--Washington; Balconies--Washington; Lakeside Club (Lakewood);

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);

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;

A church is seen nearing the completion of construction in the Mountlake Terrace housing development. The roof and exterior coverings have been added and a cross has been placed on the peak of the roof. Piles of soil have not yet been smoothed around the base of the two-story building. Ordered by Phares Advertising Company.

Housing developments--Mountlake Terrace; Phares Advertising Co. (Seattle); Churches--Mountlake Terrace;

This well-dressed woman is proud of the new water line providing water in the Mountlake Terrace housing development. From the helmet-shaped pump a series of half-submerged valves and various other pipes lead off to the left. Ordered by Phares Advertising Company.

Housing developments--Mountlake Terrace; Phares Advertising Co. (Seattle); Water supply--Mountlake Terrace; Hydraulic facilities--Mountlake Terrace;

Bethesda Lutheran Church is building a new church in the Mountlake Terrace housing development. Workmen have laid several layers of concrete block as the first level of the building. Openings for windows can be seen behind the scaffolding on the left. A wooden sill has been laid on top of the concrete blocks in preparation to completing the building with lumber. Ordered by Phares Advertising Company.

Housing developments--Mountlake Terrace; Phares Advertising Co. (Seattle); Churches--Mountlake Terrace; Construction--Mountlake Terrace--1950-1960; Bethesda Lutheran Church (Mountlake Terrace);

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.);

New one story rambler in Mountlake Terrace addition. The number "2611" is written on the glass window of this new home. A shed can be seen in the backyard. The house appears to be of concrete block construction- a popular fifties building material. A covered entryway leads into the front door.

Houses--Mountlake Terrace--1950-1960;

Tacoma School District No. 10, Central School. Vacant house at 5204 South J Street, windows broken and weeds in front yard. Two-story house with bay windows, horizontal shiplap and shingle siding; covered entry porch later addition. Home was photographed on August 2, 1952.

Houses--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Long shot of So. 9th St. facing east, intersecting Commerce and Pacific, featuring the Pacific Coast Fuels sign at 9th and Pacific, and ending at A Street. Parking meters can be seen in the right hand foreground of the picture.

Business districts--Tacoma--1950-1960; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Exposure of Seattle homes for Master Builders Display at the Seattle Home Show, for Phares Advertising Agency. This L shaped suburban rambler with siding by E.B. Vick has a two car garage to the left and an extension at the rear of the home to the right.

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

Seattle homes. For Master Builders display at Home Show. Ordered by Phares Advertising. Split-level house with garage on lower level. Vertical knotty-pine siding. Photographed on March 31, 1952. A. G. Goodwin.

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

Exposure of Seattle homes for Master Builders Display at the Seattle Home Show, for Phares Advertising Agency. Rough hewn wood split level with garage below by A.C. Goodwin. A tall chimney runs up the side of the home. The front entrance lies several feet above the street level. The small windows in the front appear to slide to one side for ventilation. Large plate glass windows wrap around corner on the left.

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

Exposure of Seattle homes for Master Builders Display at the Seattle Home Show, for Phares Advertising Agency. Rough hewn wood split level with garage below by A.C. Goodwin. A tall chimney runs up the side of the home. The front entrance lies several feet above the street level.

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

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);

Wallace R. and Eleanor Stabbert built a new home in Fircrest in 1950. Smooth, rounded stucco on the exterior of the home provides a very fresh appearance to the home. The curved walkway to the entry way mimicks the curved corners of the building. Wally Stabbert was president of Fred Stabbert Co., Inc., contractors for plastering, roofing, stucco and cast stone. Their offices were at 1929 South Tacoma Avenue.

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

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);