Each year the model home constructed by members of the Tacoma Master Builders Association for the Tacoma Home Show would be full of new creative ideas for prospective homeowners. In 1954, this was no exception. The model home was built with two children's bedrooms; however, the rooms could be made into one large room or two separate ones using modern folding doors. Built-in storage units and vanities and large closets along with desks with indirect lighting were just some of the amenities. Shelves were movable so they could be adjusted for the growing child. Blackboards were provided for a child's amusement and sturdy tile floors made housekeeping easier for mothers. The 1954 Tacoma Home Show model home was designed by College of Puget Sound alumnus Robert Billsbrough Price and built by S.L. Rowland Construction Co. Photograph ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association. (TNT 5-18-54, C-9)

Bedrooms--Tacoma--1950-1960; Model houses--Tacoma; Greater Tacoma Home Show (Tacoma); Blackboards;

A large rockery borders and complements the extensive Arizona sandstone-and wood- exterior of a new Skyline Terrace residence in 1954. Each home was built on a view lot; large windows on this split-level home would probably take advantage of enjoying the Narrows Bridge, Puget Sound, mountains or city lights. Miller Construction Co. built many houses in Skyline Terrace, a relatively new housing development. Miller Construction was owned by Edward P. Miller; by 1954, he may have moved the company to Skyline Dr. This home at 1102 North Skyline Dr. was labeled the "Skyliner" model home, built and designed by Mr. Miller in 1953. The City Directory for that year lists the Millers as residents of that address. (Additional identification provided by a reader)

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

Harbor Terrace Apartments, ordered by McGuire and Muri, Architects. This apartment building was built in 1951 by Elmer L. Burnham and Henry O. Wheeler. It was built on a hill overlooking the water. The upper structure, shown in this picture, is three stories. Each floor has a balcony offering views of the Sound.

Apartment houses--Tacoma--1950-1960; Harbor Terrace Apartments (Tacoma);

Exterior of 2623 No. 29th St., taken for Fanning Starkey realtors. This modernistic home was built in 1939 and designed by Stanley T. Shaw, architect. It was built by J.P. Burke, contractor. The marine view home has 32 windows to take in the sights. The home was so unique that when it was open for public view in 1939, it was visited by thousands of area residents.

Houses--Tacoma--1950-1960;

The waterfront home of Harrison and Myrtle Clark at 12901 duBois Avenue SW in Lakewood, ordered by the Douglas Fir Plywood Association. This lovely home looks out onto American Lake from almost every room. Designed and built by the Korsmo Builders, the home is finished with siding of striated or "combed" plywood. The patio has lakefront dining available on a picnic table or a circular table with umbrella and chairs. A covered patio or porch can be seen at the back of the house. Harrison Clark was the treasurer of the DFPA. (TNT 9/9/1956, pg. E-19)

Clark, Harrison--Homes & haunts; Houses--Lakewood--1950-1960; American Lake (Wash.);

Exteriors of the Rancho Vista or the Thunderbird model home for Briggs Construction. The home is a one story rambler built in an L form. There is no sidewalk to the front door and the landscaping is incomplete.

Houses--1950-1960; Real estate development--1950-1960; Housing developments--1950-1960;

A bedroom in the Better Homes & Gardens "Idea Home of the Year," at Skyline Terrace. Skyline Terrace was a 30 million, 1500 home development being built by Miller Construction. The home had three bedrooms with a roughed in fourth bedroom located in the basement. (TNT 9/9/1956, pg. E-18)

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

The waterfront home of Harrison and Myrtle Clark at 12901 duBois Avenue SW in Lakewood, ordered by the Douglas Fir Plywood Association. This lovely home looks out onto American Lake from almost every room. Designed and built by the Korsmo Builders, the home is finished with siding of striated or "combed" plywood. The patio has lakefront dining available on a picnic table or a circular table with umbrella and chairs. A covered patio or porch can be seen at the back of the house. Harrison Clark was the treasurer of the DFPA. (TNT 9/9/1956, pg. E-19)

Clark, Harrison--Homes & haunts; Houses--Lakewood--1950-1960; American Lake (Wash.);

The Better Homes & Gardens "Idea Home of the Year," at Skyline Terrace. Skyline Terrace was a 30 million, 1500 home development being built by Miller Construction. The one story ranch home with a two car carport sits by itself on the wide open landscape with the view of the Narrows bridge beyond. A fence surrounds the unlandscaped yard and the patio. The home was single story, rectangular and measured 73 feet long x 48 1/2 wide, including the carport. It was 1430 sq. feet on the ground floor with another 1430 sq. feet in the daylight basement. (TNT 9/9/1956, pg. E-18)

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

The Better Homes & Gardens "Idea Home of the Year," at Skyline Terrace. Skyline Terrace was a 30 million, 1500 home development being built by Miller Construction. This appears to be a small home office, divided by an accordion door from the rest of the house. The folding doors were used throughout the house, including a massive modernfold door that slid on a curved metal ceiling track to separate the family room from the kitchen. (TNT 9/9/1956, pg. E-18)

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

New homes by the Jardeen Brothers, in the vicinity of the Westgate shopping center. A shirtless boy in shorts stands in the summer sun in the new road in front of the one story rambler with garage. The mailbox leans at an angle, probably not set yet. Construction debris litters the area around the new homes. There is no vegetation because landscaping has not been done yet. The home has vertical cedar siding, a crushed gravel roof and large windows. This, and other homes pictured, may have been on No. Shirley St. where the Jardeen Brothers were building new homes. Jardeen Brothers' office and millwork plant was located at 1240 So. Sprague Ave. (TNT 9/9/1956, pg. E-12, TNT ad 9-9-56, E-16)

Houses--Tacoma--1950-1960; Real estate development--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Exterior of home, possibly 4009 Ridge Rd. West, in University Place; ordered by the Douglas Fir Plywood Association. This August, 1956, photo shows the two story home built snug into the hillside, with a patio below covered by an open air deck above. At the top of the hill is a one story structure, possibly a garage. The home appears to be new; no landscaping has been installed at this time.

Houses--University Place--1950-1960;

Heavy wood ceiling beams attract the eye in the new Brockman residence; there are not many lights to distract from the smooth wooden surfaces. Wood is plentiful in the living and play areas, with paneled walls and vertical columns separating large plate glass windows. A woman is enjoying the sunshine as she sits on top of an elongated wooden desk. Photograph ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association.

Living rooms--1950-1960; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma);

This photograph of a modern stucco and red cedar contemporary styled home was taken in January, 1953. The two-story house has a balcony on the second floor extending almost the length of the building, along with a crushed white marble roof.. It is on a natural setting of timber with two streams. This $35,000 home was designed, decorated and furnished by Lindstrom's Home Furnishings on Portland Avenue. Photograph ordered by Al Lindstrom. (TNT 1-25-53, C-15)

Houses--Washington; Balconies--Washington; Lindstrom, Al;

Home Construction Company were local designers and builders in the 1950's. They were owned by C.E. Hinton and J.M. Hoskins. They built several homes in the Sylvan Park subdivision near Lakewood; view of one-story rambler on large lot. The new home appears to be made of brick, with french doors and attached garage. Photograph ordered by Mark Hoskins.

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

Not all homes in the new Sylvan Park subdivision near Lakewood were expensive brick models. Some were more modest in nature, set on smaller lots. Home Construction Co., owned by C. E. Hinton and J. M. Hoskins, built a variety of houses and styles. View of Sylvan Park neighborhood in March, 1953, showing row of one-story houses, some with shutters, and all with attached garages. Photograph ordered by Mark Hoskins.

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

Folding doors mark the separation line between two children's bedrooms in the Dr. William R. Taylor residence. Both bedrooms appear to have the same furnishings, a combined desk-storage unit and stuffed animals. The beds are probably located on opposite walls. There is a chalkboard with a figure drawing on top of a wall heater. The carpet is apparently wall-to-wall and is made of geometric shapes. Photograph ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association.

Taylor, William R.--Homes & haunts; Folding doors--Tacoma--1950-1960; Bedrooms--Tacoma--1950-1960; Blackboards; Toys; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma);

A little girl is being handed over to her beaming mom outside a new home in the Mountlake Terrace neighborhood near Seattle. This area was rapidly expanding with new construction; families were perhaps attracted by the large lots and contemporary residential designs. Homes were built with either attached carports or garages and most seemed to have carefully landscaped yards. Photograph ordered by Phares Advertising, Seattle.

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

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);

Exterior Joseph Carbone residence. Joseph and Angeline Carbone resided in this lovely one-story, brick home at 821 South Ainsworth Avenue. Mr. Carbone was listed in the 1953 City Directory as a blacksmith with the Chicago Milwaukee St. Paul & Pacific Railway, a major employer in the 1950's. Their house had large picture windows and a recessed entryway. There appears to be a mail slot built below the colored glass window next to the front door. The house was apparently built recently by Ostruske-Murphy, Inc. Photograph ordered by Don Murphy, Ostruske-Murphy, Inc.

Carbone, Joseph--Homes & haunts; Houses--Tacoma--1950-1960; Ostruske-Murphy, Inc. (Tacoma);

A Mountlake Terrace homeowner prepares to insert a baking dish into her white Westinghouse stove in a June 2, 1953, photograph. Light colored cabinets along with shiny white Westinghouse appliances of refrigerator, washer, dryer and stove, made the kitchen a cheery place to spend time in. A darker linoleum floor would help the housewife to conceal scuff marks and be durable as well. Photograph ordered by Phares Advertising.

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

ca. 1953. A very contemporary rambler sits up higher than its neighboring lot on 29th St. W. in University Place in 1953. This home may have belonged to Brice Anderson. Large corner picture windows would bring in lots of sunlight and provide a nice view of the lawn and possible street. A two-tier rock wall covers part of the property.

Houses--University Place--1950-1960;

ca. 1953. Exterior Swearingen residence. Curtis E. and wife Shirley M. Swearingen resided at 9024 - 29th St. W., University Place in 1953. Mr. Swearingen, according to the 1953 & 1954 City Directories, was an employee of Munson-Smith Motors. His residence was a one-story contemporary rambler with wood siding and a single car garage.

Swearingen, Curtis E.--Homes & haunts; Houses--University Place--1950-1960;

Modern ranch home designed by Fitzpatrick and McIntyre for the 1953 Parade of Homes. Narrows bridge in the background. The rather plain front gives way to tall windows and a patio area on the Narrows side. The partnership of James Fitzpatrick and Richard McIntyre was formed in 1946. The pair met while attending the University of Washington and served together in the Navy during WWII. McIntyre was married to Fitzpatrick's sister and they both lived in houses that they designed on Hipkins Road in Bellwood. (TNT 9/27/1953, pg. E-17)

Houses--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma Master Builders Association (Tacoma);

The back of Frank Kirste's house in the Sunset Beach area of University Place. The two-story brick and cedar siding house has a one-car garage in the lower level as seen on the left. Gordon Johnston was the architect for the house.

Houses--University Place--1950-1960; Johnston, Gordon N.; Kirste, Frank--Homes & haunts;

Exposure of large coral area with small barn next to it, house behind some trees, hills around it are covered with trees.

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

This one-story wood and brick house with attached garage is located in Mountlake Terrace, a housing development north of Seattle. House #22805 has a large wood planter in front of building. Ordered by Phares Advertising Company.

Housing developments--Mountlake Terrace; Phares Advertising Co. (Seattle); Houses--Mountlake Terrace--1950-1960;

A kitchen in one of the new homes in Mountlake Terrace showing, from the left, a refrigerator, dryer, counter and sink, washer and stove, small counter with phone. Round, concave knobs have been used on the drawers and cupboard doors. Ordered by Phares Advertising Company.

Housing developments--Mountlake Terrace; Phares Advertising Co. (Seattle); Kitchens--Mountlake Terrace--1950-1960;

This new home was located at 4610 Merry Lane W. in the University Place neighborhood of Beckonridge. The contemporary, two-level residence with pre-stained vertical siding was built by Dally Construction Co. of Puyallup. It was planned to blend with nature as trees grew through parts of the home. A Douglas fir grew through the rear second floor sun deck over the ground floor patio. A stately Madrona rose through the roof between the double carport and the front entrance to the home. Purchased by Mr. and Mrs. Don Bozman, formerly of Texas, the Beckonridge-neighborhood home was situated in the first open space scenic community. Beckonridge was 240 acres of unspoiled natural woodland. There were wooded pathways throughout the community, including paths to the new Sunset Elementary School, and all utilities were underground. Photograph ordered by Dally Construction Co. (TNT 7-8-66, p. 17 -Ad; TNT 8-21-66, C-19)

Houses--University Place--1960-1970; Bozman, Don B.--Homes & haunts; Neighborhoods--University Place;

Swimming pool at the Lively Oaks. The Lively Oaks Apartments, located at the entrance to the Oakbrook housing development, provided an enclosed, heated kidney-shaped swimming pool for its residents. Regardless of the weather, tenants could swim in a temperature-controlled setting. Large picture windows supplied natural light to the area. Ads for the apartments stressed the country club atmosphere including the heated indoor and outdoor pools, saunas, and health spas. Rents were listed as $95-135. Photograph ordered by Fairway Investments, Inc. (TNT ad 10-15-67, D-18)

Lively Oaks Apartments (Lakewood); Swimming pools--Lakewood;