The E. Gundersons are shown relaxing and reading in the living room of their Monte Vista Court trailer home in October, 1951. Mrs. Gunderson is perusing Screen Stories magazine while retired Army sergeant Gunderson turns the pages of his book. Their cat "Bluff" reclines in its bed. The living room is well ventilated with several windows, complete with blinds and curtains. There is room for a large sofa and several chairs on the carpeted floor. Photograph ordered by Trailer Life, Los Angeles.
Retired sergeant E. Gunderson hands a potted plant to his wife outside their home at the Monte Vista Trailer Park on October 25, 1951. A white picket fence surrounds the Gunderson home and the trailer rests on a cement pad. A patio is covered by a large awning which provides shade along the side of the trailer. There appears to be a small fuel tank in the backyard. The Monte Vista Trailer Park was located at 8328 South Tacoma Way just across the street from the Star-Lite Theater. Photograph ordered by Trailer Life, Los Angeles. TPL-7187
Trailers--Lakewood--1950-1960; Mobile home living--Lakewood; Gunderson, E.--Homes & haunts; Gunderson, E.--Family; Fences; Trailer Life (Los Angeles);
Mrs. H.E. Sears deftly handles cooking duties in her trailer home at the Monte Vista Court. Mrs. Sears is the wife of T. Sgt. H.E. Sears. The kitchen appears compact but is arranged to have space for a walled-in Frigidaire refrigerator, Dixie stove, and large sink. There is storage space next to the refrigerator and around the stove and sink. Photograph taken on October 25, 1951; ordered by Trailer Life, Los Angeles.
Trailers--Lakewood--1950-1960; Mobile home living--Lakewood; Kitchens--Lakewood--1950-1960; Cookery--Lakewood; Sears, H.E.--Family; Sears, H.E.--Homes & haunts; Trailer Life (Los Angeles);
Two-year-old Ricky Sears wears his father's hat in this photograph taken for Trailer Life magazine on October 25, 1951. T. Sgt. H.E. Sears and his family lived in a trailer at Monte Vista Court, 8328 South Tacoma Way, Lakewood. The Monte Vista Court trailer park was just across the street from the Star-Lite Theater.
Trailers--Lakewood--1950-1960; Mobile home living--Lakewood; Sears, H.E.--Family; Sears, H.E.--Homes & haunts; Military uniforms--United States--1950-1960; Trailer Life (Los Angeles);
One-story ramblers were popular in the 1950's; many came with one-car attached garages. View of small one-story home with shutters and vine-covered trellis. House appears to be made of concrete block and wood. Photograph ordered by Phares Advertising Agency, Seattle.
This one-story ranch style home was advertised at $7999.00 in August, 1951. The house had long, horizontal lines and a shallow-pitched composition roof. The yard appeared to be nicely landscaped with plants and bushes behind a small rock border along the house. This home could possibly have been in the Mountlake Terrace neighborhood. Photograph commissioned by Budget Homes, Inc., Al La Pierre.
Night exposure possibly of Season-Master model home taken on August 21, 1951. Carpeted living room with modernistic furniture and part of the dining room can be seen through the large picture window, portions of which can open for fresh air. There is a brick fireplace with wood nearby. Added feature to this home is extra open storage near the ceiling where plants can be displayed. Photograph ordered by Al La Pierre, Budget Homes, Inc.
Houses--1950-1960; Living rooms--1950-1960; Fireplaces;
It was a busy time for Tacoma-area builders and realtors. 25,000 people were expected to visit the over fifty open houses during National Home Week held on September 9-16, 1951. View of typical rambler on display with one-car garage, chimney, and two/three bedrooms. Prices were about $10,000 for these one-story homes. This is possibly located at 7015 86th St. S.W.
National Home Week in 1951 fell in September. Dozens of new homes were on display in the Tacoma area for eager home buyers. One-story ramblers could be purchased for slightly under $10,000 with low down payments for G.I.'s. View of rambler with chimney, shutters, and one-car attached garage on mature lot.
Several interior and exterior exposures were taken of homes located in the Orchard Park addition at North 31st and Cheyenne Streets in August, 1951. This compact kitchen in the model home located at 3129 North Cheyenne Street appears to be square shaped with plenty of cupboard and drawer space. Gleaming white appliances conveniently placed adjacent to the shiny new formica counter tops would make kitchen chores much easier for the homeowner. A small dining room table is handy to the stove. The model home was a 1 1/2 story with full basement and garage. Asking price was $11,460, according to the nearly full page ad in the News Tribune. Photograph commissioned by L. Leo Green, Real Estate. (TNT 8-5-51, p. B-12)
There were very few homes on Tacoma's west side until after the Second World War. Westmoreland Terrace, near North 30th and Orchard Streets, was a small housing development. View of entrance show the presence of several similar styled homes with a model home for prospective homeowners to inspect. This photograph was taken just prior to the grand opening of the new subdivision in August, 1951. Roads were crushed rock ballast; they were to be graveled shortly. A sidewalk and nearby landscaped lawn end abruptly across the street from the finished homes. (TNT 8-10-51, p. 8)
An example of plywood siding is found on a duplex located at 2512 North McCarver. Newly constructed in 1950, the duplex is a one-story, side-by-side structure with a chimney for each unit and situated on a nicely landscaped lot. There is a television antenna on at least one side of the duplex. Photograph commissioned by Tom Sias, Douglas Fir Plywood Association.
Houses--Tacoma--1950-1960; Television antennas; Plywood; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma);
Row of tract homes, no landscaping in yards, sidewalks. Sign placed against the home at right indicates it and others are "New Homes." They appear to be bungalow styled wood sided residences built close together. Garages, if any, are probably at rear of lot. Photograph was taken on August 1, 1951 but location of the homes not given.
Jim Fitzpatrick of Quality Home Builders commissioned this August, 1951, photograph of a new home for newspaper reproductions. The house appears to be situated on a large level lot with tall trees in the backyard. It is a one-story ranch style home, partially constructed of brick, with a composition roof and a two-car garage.
Exterior view of home possibly owned by Frank Gratias, building contractor, taken on August 1, 1951. The address of the house might be 5807 Pacific Avenue. The home was to be used in an advertisement for St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Company. The one story cottage had several unique features: bay window, wrought iron balcony, and glass block windows. Televisions were becoming more common; antennae can be seen on both the featured home and its neighbor.
Over fifty newly built homes were open for display during National Home Week, September 9-16, 1951. Belfoy-Smith Construction built several houses in the 86th and Manitou-Custer Road area, not far from the Lakewood Center and Meadow Park Golf Course. These were three bedroom ramblers with attached one-car garages which sold for $9950.00. They came with forced air heat and fireplaces. Bus transportation was close by. View of rambler with unfinished landscaping.
Houses--Tacoma--1950-1960; Housing developments--Tacoma--1950-1960; National Home Week; Belfoy-Smith Construction Co. (Tacoma);
September 9-16th was designated as National Home Week in 1951. Over 50 newly constructed homes were on display in the Tacoma area, including Wollander designed houses such as this model home at 86th and Manitou-Custer Road. This three bedroom rambler was priced at $9950.00 with a low $600 down payment from qualified G.I.'s. Built by Belfoy-Smith Construction, the home had forced air heat, freshly planted lawns, and convenient bus stops close by. (TNT 9-9-51, B-10)
Houses--Tacoma--1950-1960; Model houses--Tacoma; National Home Week; Belfoy-Smith Construction Co. (Tacoma);
New homes, 3621 South Cedar Street and 3625 South Cedar Street. This one and one-half story home has been covered with shingles and has an open trellis over the front door and windows. Ordered by Llewellyn Advertising Agency.
This view of Nelson S. Perkins' residence shows the one-story, L-shaped rambler with a two-car garage. Trees can be seen behind the new home. N.S. Perkins headed up the technical and engineering departments of the DFPA. Ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association, Tom Sias.
Perkins, Nelson--Homes & haunts; Houses--Lakewood--1950-1960; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma);
The exterior of P.D. Sanders' home at the corner of Union Avenue and Gove Street in Steilacoom. The photograph was ordered to show the home and garden for the family's Christmas card.
The exterior of P.D. Sanders' home at the corner of Union Avenue and Gove Street in Steilacoom, possibly 705 Gove Street, as pictured on August 15, 1951. The photograph was ordered to show the home and garden for the family's Christmas card.
This living room has been decorated with the contemporary 1950's look with abstract patterns in the covering on the sofa and lamp base, sleek, bond wooden furniture, found objects such as driftwood and non-symetrical arrangements. The carpet is a solid color with a longer nap but not yet a true "shag". It appears that the carpet has been protected with pieces of plywood so perhaps this home was a model home for the builder. Ordered by Phares Advertising.
A view from outside the house across the dining area to the front of the house and the living room. The kitchen can be seen to the left. The ceilings have been left open with a decorative shelf running across between the living room and dining area. A false ceiling has been added to the kitchen area. Ordered by Phares Advertising.
Living rooms--Mountlake Terrace--1950-1960; Dining rooms--Mountlake Terrace--1950-1960;
The living/rec room of this Mountlake Terrace home in the early 1950's was decorated in a mixture of bold green, gold and dark rose tones. The furniture displayed was of a slighter fashion with lightweight woods used instead of heavier cherrys or oak. A fire blazes in the elongated stone fireplace to provide warmth to the carpeted living area. ALBUM 15.
Living rooms--Mountlake Terrace--1950-1960; Fireplaces--Mountlake Terrace--1950-1960;
The interior of a house showing a wall furnace in the living room. A small desk with a fold-down writing surface and four drawers stands along the same wall as the furnace. Two side chairs with striped seats stand on either side of the desk. A small table with a telephone stand on the other side of the front door. Patterned rugs have been placed on the hardwood floor.
Living rooms--Tacoma--1950-1960; Desks; Telephones; Furnaces--Tacoma; H.C. Little Burner Co. (Seattle);
The interior of a house showing a wall furnace which faces into both the entry way and the living room. The living room can be seen through the arched doorway. Patterned rugs have been placed on the hardwood floor.
Living rooms--Tacoma--1950-1960; Furnaces--Tacoma; H.C. Little Burner Co. (Seattle);
This view from the exterior of a 1950's house shows the interior through a large set of floor-to-ceiling windows and the open front door. One of the panes of glass in the set of windows is open to a horizontal position. A large ash can stands just inside the front door and a rubber plant stands a little beyond. An outdoor walkway has been built of flat stones. The living room carpet has been protected with pieces of plywood. This home was featured in the Northwest Builders Exhibition by Budget Homes, a "Season Master" model. Ordered by Phares Advertising.
Houses--Mountlake Terrace--1950-1960; Living rooms--Mountlake Terrace--1950-1960;
A recently completed one-story home is advertised for sale by Art Manley, a member of the Master Builders Association. It is "a Quality-Bilt Home". Located in University Place, the house featured a fireplace, tile bath, heatlox automatic oil furnace, insulation and an attached garage. The exterior is covered with dark siding and the windows and doors are painted white. A chimney extends through the roof. It was offered for sale at $9,500 with $1,500 down. Ordered by Arthur Manley. (TNT, 9/9/1951, p.B-19)
Homes--Tacoma--1950-1960; Arthur G. Manley Contracting (Tacoma); Tacoma Master Builders Association (Tacoma);
This view from the exterior of a 1950's house shows the use of large windows to bring the outdoors inside. The ranch style home has partial walls of stone with a low-pitch roof. The chimney has a unique shape, tapering to a smaller shape at the top. This home was featured in a display booth at the Northwest Builders Exhibition in Seattle in September 1951 by Budget Homes. Ordered by Phares Advertising.
A young boy is lying on an Oriental rug reading comic books in a typical living room in one of the new two- and three-bedroom homes in the Lakeview district on Bridgeport Way, just east of Lakewood Center. Large windows were featured in this living room. The kitchen can be seen through the open archway against the far wall. These new homes were built by Lakeview Builders, Inc.
Living rooms--Tacoma--1950-1960; Lakeview Builders, Inc. (Lakewood);
