Children eating breakfast with mom standing by. This is possibly an example of the "great room" concept whereby the living room and kitchen area blend in seamlessly. The little boy and girl, bowls of cereal before them, are seated before a long wooden curved counter that extends slightly into the living room; the other side of the counter has kitchen cabinets and drawers below it. Other eyecatching features include a recessed wall to fit a small sofa and to highlight family photos and a long beam providing a silent demarcation between the two living spaces. Photograph ordered by the Weyerhaeuser Co.

Houses--1960-1970; Living rooms; Kitchens; Eating & drinking;

View of eight-story reinforced concrete apartment house, "Sky Terrace," on October 19, 1961. Located at 235 Broadway with views of Commencement Bay, it was designed by well-known architect Robert Billsbrough Price. O & M Builders Supply was listed as the builder with Ostruske -Murphy, Inc., as contractors. All one and two-bedroom units would have balconies at the rear of the building. Photograph ordered by O & M Builders.

Apartment houses--Tacoma--1960-1970; Sky Terrace Apartments (Tacoma);

New construction by Dean Lyster Construction Co. This home in the University Estates subdivision was included in the 12th annual Tour of Homes held in mid-August, 1961. It was one of eighteen new homes on display in the tour sponsored by the Home Builders Association of Greater Tacoma. The "modern colonial" featured a recreation and family room with sliding glass doors to the rear court, separate living room with colonial fireplace, tile entry, oak paneling, 1.5 baths, and a two-car attached garage wtih automatic electric door available. It was heated with natural gas. Photograph ordered by Dean Lyster Construction Co. (TNT 8-18-61, C-1, TNT 8-27-61, B-3)

Houses--University Place--1960-1970;

Exterior - Thunderbird Garden Apartments. The Thunderbird Garden Apartments used a Northwest Indian motif as a decoration on the building's cedar-sided exterior. The 51-unit complex was built in 1961 in close proximity to the Thunderbird Shopping Center on Steilacoom Blvd. Each section of the apartment complex was no more than two stories high. All apartments had all-electric kitchens and heating and had insulated and soundproof ceilings and walls. Wall to wall carpeting was provided in the spacious living rooms and bedrooms. In addition, all the one and two bedroom units were pre-wired for phone and television. Parking was convenient with spaces located in the back of each unit. A luxurious swimming pool and tennis courts provided the residents with a country club atmosphere. Rents ranged from $75-135, unfurnished, with additional cost for furnishings. Photograph ordered by Thunderbird Investment Corporation. (TNT 3-26-61, B-8, TNT full page ad 8-20-61, B-9, B-10)

Thunderbird Garden Apartments (Lakewood); Apartment houses--Lakewood;

This row of classic older homes was photographed on behalf of architects Liddle & Jones on June 29, 1961. They, and others, were located on South Yakima, between Sixth Avenue and 8th St. Home in the center of photograph appears to be of the Queen Anne style. The large home was constructed mostly of brick with steeply pitched gabled roof, dormers, and a turret. Built on a smoothly sloped lot, it is separated from neighboring homes by hedges.

Houses--Tacoma--1960-1970;

Pearson, Anderson & Pearson of the Rust Bldg. requested photographs of the intersection of Sixth Avenue and Stevens to be taken shortly before noon on June 24, 1961. These photographs were to be used in the case of William Heath vs. Yellow Cab. Bob's S&S Tire Service and the Narrows Bowling Alley can be seen on the left side of the street. A man and a woman are waiting, possibly for the bus, at the Sixth Ave. Drugstore on the right. TPL-9167

Neighborhoods--Tacoma--1960-1970; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1960-1970;

On Sunday, April 16, 1961, a Richards Studio photographer journeyed to the third floor of the Washington Building to snap photos of the soon-to-be demolished Bernice Building and Pacific First Federal Savings. Bender's Ready to Wear fashions for men and women appears to already have vacated the premises; windows are either boarded up or empty. A modern Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan would emerge in 1964. The new building, designed by Tacoma architects Lea, Pearson & Richards, would cost $1,500,000, and more than double the present size of the savings and loan. (TNT 1-12-61, p. 1)

Bernice Building (Tacoma); Pacific First Federal Building (Tacoma); Bender's (Tacoma);

Streets of downtown Tacoma appear quiet on a Sunday in April, 1961. A few people stand near Bender's Ready to Wear clothing store for women and men located in the Bernice Building in the 1100 block of Pacific Avenue. Both the Bernice and the adjoining Pacific First Federal Building would be but a memory shortly as they would be torn down to make way for a modern Pacific First Federal Savings location. Photograph taken from the third floor of the Washington Building on behalf of Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan.

Bernice Building (Tacoma); Pacific First Federal Building (Tacoma); Bender's (Tacoma);

Contemporary home with beautiful view of the Narrows Bridge, ca. 1961. Apparently built on a hillside, this modern home appears to have large skylights and a two-car garage. Two vehicles are parked nearby. This is the home of George Franklin at 636 No. Fairview Dr., and was built for him by famed Tacoma architect, Robert Billsbrough Price about 1956. Mr. Price built schools, temples and even a fire station. The William Weaver family were the second owners of the home, living there from about 1972 to 2003. (Additional information provided by a reader)

Houses--Tacoma--1960-1970; Tacoma Narrows Bridge (Tacoma); Franklin, George--Homes & haunts; Weaver, William P.--Homes & haunts;

Full front of Bernice Building, Pacific Avenue side. Located on the ground floor of the Victorian era Bernice Building was Bender's, women and men's clothing store owned by Jack R. Bender. Customers seem to be flocking to the ready-to-wear store, drawn by the low prices in the quitting business sale. The Bernice Building, as well as the adjacent Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan Assn. building, would be demolished to make way for a modern, expanded Pacific First Federal structure. The new building would open in September, 1964.

Bernice Building (Tacoma); Bender's (Tacoma);

Commerce St. side of Bernice Building. By 1960, there were many vacancies in the venerable Bernice Building located in the 1100 block of Pacific Avenue. The building would be demolished later to make room for the new Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan Assn.site. Pacific First Federal had requested photographs of the front and rear of the Bernice Building with adjoining buildings removed.

Bernice Building (Tacoma);

Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan building at intersection of S. 11th & Commerce Sts. Pedestrians wait to cross busy Commerce St. on February 1, 1961. The savings & loan association had announced two weeks before that they would be constructing a new building on the original site and including the Bernice Building location next door. Both buildings had been built in the late 1800's and heavily utilized the semi-circular Roman arch feature. Photograph ordered by Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan Assn.

Pacific First Federal Building (Tacoma); Bernice Building (Tacoma);

Originally built in 1891 as the Merchants National Bank, the building on the corner of 11th and Pacific Avenue became home to Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan in 1939. When the building was remodeled in 1949 many innovations were added to the venerable structure including Tacoma's first escalator. Both the Pacific First Federal building at 1102-04 Pacific and the Bernice Building next to it were torn down shortly after this photograph was taken in 1961; a new, larger Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan Association building was built on the site. The new savings and loan had its grand opening in September 1964. Today it is home to Washington Mutual Bank. (Photograph ordered by Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan Assn.)

Pacific First Federal Building (Tacoma); Bernice Building (Tacoma); Bender's (Tacoma);

ca. 1960. 1960 Richards stock footage- the County-City Building, taken from Tacoma Avenue South. This twelve story central structure towers 167 feet above the street level. The court wing sits to the left and the law enforcement wing to the right. The glass and aluminum building was dedicated in April of 1959 and built from a design by architect A. Gordon Lumm. The building is still in use and the central structure looks much the same, however the side wings have been remodeled and greatly expanded.

County-City Building (Tacoma); Courthouses--Tacoma;

ca. 1960. 1960 Richards stock footage- the County-City Building from the intersection of 11th and Tacoma Avenue South. In the background to the left can be seen the Armory. This view shows the two story court wing next to the twelve story central structure. The very controversial joint building took over 7 years from voter approval to finished structure, with skirmishes over location, architect, cost (it finished 3 1/2 million over original budget) and division between city and county. The building, however, has served Tacoma and Pierce County well and still meets the needs of the community. The wings have been extensively remodeled and added on to and now stretch almost to Tacoma Ave. So.

County-City Building (Tacoma); Courthouses--Tacoma;

ca. 1960. The County-City Building, dedicated in April of 1959, over 7 years after the voters' approval, and designed by A. Gordon Lumm. The building stretches over 2 city blocks and was built at a cost of 9 1/2 million dollars; 3 1/2 million over the original amount approved by the voters. Shown is the four story law enforcement wing that was completed and occupied last. It housed both the Pierce County Sheriffs and the Tacoma Police Department. It is connected to the twelve story central structure. The photograph is taken from the intersection of 9th and Tacoma Ave. South with the structure facing onto Tacoma Ave. So. Photograph from the 1960 Richards stock files.

County-City Building (Tacoma); Courthouses--Tacoma;

Exterior of Parkland home. Several homes on 138th St. E. in Parkland were photographed on September 1, 1960, for George Barclay. Barclay was the primary builder for the 90-acre Mayfair Estates. This bungalow-styled home was located at 1226 - 138th St. E. and featured an unusual balcony and one-car attached garage. Small bushes and shrubs surrounded the wood-framed building. This home was featured as part of the 1960 Fall Tour of Homes sponsored by the Home Builders Association of Greater Tacoma.

Houses--Parkland--1960-1970;

Side view of Vista Palms Apartments. The ultra modern Vista Palms Apartments were built in 1959 by Phil Baldasare. On the ends of the four-story units were concrete building blocks that would provide both insulation and noise control. The apartments were built at the corner of No. 5th and Yakima Ave. on the site of the former Wm. F. Sheard Spanish Mission mansion. The palm trees he had planted were saved when the mansion was demolished and were featured in the apartment's courtyard. Each of the one and two bedroom units had built-in kitchens and wall-to-wall carpeting. Built at a cost of $500,000, the 24-units had marine and mountain views. Photograph ordered by Graystone of Tacoma. (TNT 8-21-60, B-6. B-7)

Vista Palms Apartments (Tacoma); Apartment houses--Tacoma--1960-1970; Palms--Tacoma;

Displayed under sunny August, 1960, skies is a new L-shaped rambler. This wood-framed home is either 1506 North Orchard or its neighbor, 1512 North Orchard. According to the small sign placed on one end, Stan Warp Realty is the listed agent. A long driveway leads directly to a covered attached carport. The home is so new that no landscaping appears to have been done. Photograph ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association.

Houses--Tacoma--1960-1970;

Built on the corner of North 5th and Yakima Avenue by owner Phil Baldasare, the Vista Palms Apartments were considered an ultra modern complex in August, 1960. Units on all four floors overlooked a charming courtyard which contained palm trees saved from the William F. Sheard mansion which had occupied this location. The Mission style Sheard home, designed by Russell and Babcock, was demolished in 1959 to make way for the apartments. A full page ad in the News Tribune indicated that an open house would be held on August 21, 1960, to view the 24-unit $500,000 apartment complex. (TNT 8-21-60, B-6, B-7)

Vista Palms Apartments (Tacoma); Apartment houses--Tacoma--1960-1970; Palms--Tacoma;

A worker in hard hat and thick gloves maneuvers a long section of rebar in this July 8, 1960, photograph. Rebar is a steel rod with ridges for use in reinforced concrete. Photograph ordered by Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel Corp.

Building construction--1960-1970; Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel Corp. (Seattle);

This contemporary rambler style home was built in the Skyline Terrace housing development by Miller Construction Co. It was used as a model home in 1960. The home appeared to have a daylight basement and either an adjoining or adjacent garage. Skyline Terrace was an eighty million dollar, 1500 home development with views of the city, Narrows, and mountains.

Model houses--Tacoma; Houses--Tacoma--1960-1970; Miller Construction Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

Flora B.Tenzler Memorial Hall at the College of Puget Sound, ordered by Strom Construction. Silas E. Nelson, architect. Tenzler Hall was dedicated on October 26, 1958. The furnished dormitory was the largest single gift ever received by the college. It was donated by the Tenzler Foundation and named after Flora B. Tenzler of Tacoma, the late wife of Herman E. Tenzler, president of the Northwest Door Company. Mrs. Tenzler had an intense interest in young people and education. The dormitory could house 80 girls and was intended for senior girls and sororities high in education. It had apartment like living areas, a lounge, spacious recreational areas, sundecks, study facilities and fireplaces. (TNT 10/27/1958, pg. 15)

Building construction--Tacoma--1950-1960; College of Puget Sound (Tacoma)--Buildings;

ca. 1959. Imposing entrance of the new County-City building, an soaring glass and aluminum structure designed by A. Gordon Lumm. Lumm was the controversial selection of the County Commissioners as architect. His selection raised the ire of the local architects as he was the only one who did not participate in the free preliminary work performed by the architects' society. Bids for the construction of the original design came in 3 1/2 million higher than available funds. Voters approved an additional $3,700,00 in a bond issue to make up the difference. The building was finally constructed according to the original design and dedicated on April 10, 1959. (TNT 4/7/1959, pg. B1+)

County-City Building (Tacoma);

ca. 1959. The new County-City building from the intersection of 9th and Tacoma Ave. So. In April of 1959, Macdonald Building Co. had finally finished construction on the building that almost did not get built. In November of 1952, after a previous bond issue defeat, voters approved 6 million dollars to finance a joint county and city building. Over 20 sites were proposed, each with its own adamant supporters. The County Commissioners overrode all, including their own advisory committee that recommended the area bounded by So. 13th, 15th, Market and Tacoma Ave, to choose its present site. A Gordon Lumm was the controversial selection as architect. In midstream, 1953, Tacoma changed its form of government and the new council wanted the city to have its own wing, a demand that Lumm could not accomodate. In 1956, things went from bad to worse, as construction bids came in at 3 1/2 million over available funds. Voters voted in another bond issue to cover the shortfall. The council agreed on a lease agreement, after stormy negotiations, whereby the city would pay the county $80,000 a year for 20 years. The building was finally completed and dedicated on April 10, 1959, after much political blood letting. (TNT 4/7/1959, pg B1+) TPL-8169

County-City Building (Tacoma); Courthouses--Tacoma;

ca. 1959. A rare view of the modern fifties architecture of the County City Building (dedicated April of 1959) and the Romanesque building that it was replacing, the Pierce County Courthouse. The County Courthouse was built in 1892 and although beautiful, by the fifties it had deteriorated, had sagging floors and was a fire hazard. The building was demolished the summer of 1959 and the area used as additional parking for the County-City Building. With this added parking area, the County-City Building would have available parking for 604 cars. The increased need for parking reflected the increase in personal automobile ownership in the fifties. TPL-9929

County-City Building (Tacoma); Pierce County Courthouse (Tacoma);

ca. 1959. The gothic spires of the old Pierce County Courthouse overlook the new glass and aluminum County-City building in this photograph from April or May of 1959. The old Courthouse was scheduled to be demolished as soon as all offices were relocated to the the new building. Of special interest was the movement of thousands of paper records, required by law for the county to store. Four trucking firms were hired to move 5,000 beer cartons of public records to the new building. Approximately 9 additional truck loads of records that were over 10 years old were ordered destroyed. Demolition of the Old Courthouse began in June, 1959. It was replaced with a parking lot.

County-City Building (Tacoma); Pierce County Courthouse (Tacoma); Courthouses--Tacoma;

ca. 1959. One story rambler designed and built by Oscar Hokold. The home has an attached two car garage with living space above it. This home was being used as the display home for Hokold's new addition in the Wapato Lake area. These homes were priced from $23,500- $33,000 and featured built in appliances, a family room with fireplace and large lots. Hokold had sold over 100 new homes in the Wapato Lake area and had plans to built over 100 more at the north end of the lake and 300 at the south end of the lake, to be sold at a variety of prices. Hokold at this time actually resided in this house with his wife Olivann and children Harry (18), Jean (16) and Jack (14). At 44 years of age, Hokold had been in construction since 1939; he formed Hokold Construction in 1947. He was a Tacoma native, born in the southend and a graduate of Lincoln High School. He developed large sections of Tacoma in the fifties and even operated his own millwork and cabinet firm, Viking Millwork. He later developed the Northwest King Oscar chain of motels. (TNT 6/7/1959, pg. B-12)

Houses--1950-1960; Hokold, Oscar--Homes & haunts;

In November of 1959, Verla White was photographed selecting art prints for the imported grasscloth wall in her new apartment at the Finisterre Apartments. The modernistic Finisterre (meaning "lands end") was built in 1959 by Stromberg Building Enterprises, who served as builder, architect and contractor. It was completed on November 20, 1959. The building was located at the north corner of 6th and No. Jackson, overlooking Puget Sound and the Narrows Bridge. Each apartment had soundproofing, wall-to-wall carpeting, draperies, built-in colored appliances and ceramic tile baths. Five color schemes were available. There were a total of 20 one and two bedroom suites. The one bedrooms rented for $105- 127.50, the two bedrooms for $120-127.50. They could be rented furnished or unfurnished. The building was sold to C. William Brasier prior to opening. (TNT 9/20/1959, pg. B-6; 11/8/1959, pg. B-4-B-5-photograph & article on Finisterre)

Finisterre Apartments (Tacoma); Apartment houses--Tacoma--1950-1960; White, Verla; Apartments;

The modernistic Finisterre was built in 1959 by Stromberg Building Enterprises, who served as builder, architect and contractor. It was completed on November 20, 1959. The court apartments were labeled "Century 21 Architecture." The building was a four story court type structure with 22 suites, including 2 penthouses. The penthouses were originally occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Bill Harbke and Dr. and Mrs. Frank Unmack. The building offered panoramic views of the Puget Sound and the Narrows. The exterior was viking brick accented with modern panels and 18 foot contemporary seahorses on the 6th Avenue side. The suspended, motel-like cantilever decks and stairs were built of structural steel and concrete with a paneled railing for safety. The court area included a contemporary pool and an original design fountain garden was the focal point of the courtyard. Finisterre means "lands end." The building was located at 6th and No. Jackson. TPL-7913 (TNT 11/8/1959, pg. B-4- B-5)

Finisterre Apartments (Tacoma); Apartment houses--Tacoma--1950-1960;