Southgate housing subdivision for Sherman L. Rowland, contractor. Sherman Rowland was a member of the Tacoma Master Builders Association. He was developing one of the newest suburban parks, a huge track west of Highway 99 and opposite Max Frolic's cafe. The track of land, formerly a large private estate, was being developed into 300 plus private homes adorned with mature trees in a park like setting. Development began in mid 1954; and by 1955, 70 Rowland built homes were complete and no two were alike. Future plans included an elementary school and easy access to the Lakes district. TPL-8314

Housing developments--Lakewood--1950-1960;

Interiors of Ben Cheney's home in Browns Point. The living room of the home has knotty wood panelling, exposed beams and a sunken conversation pit in front of the stone fireplace. A trophy and baseball memorabilia line the mantel. The room features the ever present fifties television and comfortable seating. The room has a comfortable, homey feel.

Cheney, Ben B., 1905-1971--Homes & haunts; Living rooms--Tacoma--1950-1960;

The "All Electric Starliner" home by Miller Construction Co., built for the 1955 Parade of Homes. This home was one of the model homes in the 1955 Parade of Homes in University Estates, 2 miles south of the University Place school. The homes were built by members of the Tacoma Master Builders Association and their location was kept secret until their unveiling Sept. 10th. The 21 homes in 1955 were located on 42 acres in University Place. The Starliner was built of clinker brick and cedar siding and featured 3 bedrooms, a merged living and dining area, planned kitchen, 2 baths and a family room with an 8 ft wide sliding glass door opening onto a partially paved play area. The play area had a built in sunken sandbox and wading pool. The children in the picture are Penny Valley (on tricycle), Polly Valley (filling pool with hose) and Beidra Miller, daughter of Edward P. Miller- builder and contractor. The home also had an attached garage and a large storage room. After the Parade of Homes, the house was placed on the market for $15,000. (TNT 9/9/1955, pg. B-16, B-29)

Houses--University Place--1950-1960; Children playing in sand; Children playing in water; Children playing outdoors--University Place--1950-1960; Children riding bicycles & tricycles; Valley, Penny; Valley, Polly; Miller, Beidra;

New house at 9032 Steilacoom Pt. Dr. for Fitzpatrick-McIntyre, designers and builders. Ordered by J. Fitzpatrick. The designers dubbed this home "The Home of All Homes." The pair claimed that it was the result of eight years of building better class "Homes of Perfection." The home rested on 100 feet of choice waterfront real estate off Steilacoom Blvd., 1 block west of the Lakewood Ice Arena. It had water on two sides and was completely landscaped. James M. Fitzpatrick and Richard H. McIntyre had been building homes for eight years in the upper scale additions of Lakewood, Narrowmoor, Fircrest and American Lake. (TNT 9/6/1953, pg. A-3 advertisement)

Houses--Steilacoom--1950-1960; Fitzpatrick-McIntyre;

Interiors of the home of Perry F. Knight in Lakewood. The kitchen includes a sunny breakfast nook for lingering over morning coffee. Windows line the space above the kitchen sink. The door at the rear probably leads to the backyard area.

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

Interiors of the home of Perry F. Knight in Lakewood. A welcoming roaring fire has been built in the fireplace. The fireplace mantle and built-in bookshelves are of knotty wood. Wallpaper has not been used in this room, instead the plaster walls have been painted. Comfortable stuffed furniture flanks the fireplace.

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

An "after-photo" of a remodeled one-story bungalow was taken on April 24, 1954. The house's exterior was resurfaced with Perma-Stone, a tough, weather resistant coating resembling stone which was placed over existing walls of wood, stucco, tile, block or brick. It could be used with new or used construction. K.H. Kaman Co. specialized in Perma-Stone installation; they were situated on Tacoma Avenue South. Photograph commissioned by Karl H. Kaman.

Houses--Tacoma--1950-1960; Remodeling--Tacoma--1950-1960; K.H. Kaman Co. (Tacoma);

The Lincoln Park Christian Church was located in the city's southend, close to the Lincoln Business District, at 3832 South "G" Street. According to the 1954 City Directory, its pastor was the Rev. Donald R. Johnson. This view of South "G" Street, looking southward, shows the well-kept houses with trim lawns, and a large flowering tree in the foreground. The church itself is not shown in this April, 1954, photograph. Nearly fifty years later, it is still located in the same neighborhood. TPL-8571

Neighborhoods--Tacoma--1950-1960; Lincoln Park Christian Church (Tacoma);

Sherman Rowland was a member of the Tacoma Master Builders Association. He built many homes in the city's southend neighborhoods. The home pictured here in May, 1954, is believed to have been located at 6433 South "I" Street. The 1954 City Directory shows a William F. Beard in residence at that address. The house appears to be a typical 1950's rambler with large picture windows and two-car attached garage. The lawn looks to have been newly planted and fenced off.

Houses--Tacoma--1950-1960;

View of Sylvan Park neighborhood. A paved roadway wanders through the new Sylvan Park housing subdivision, near Lakewood, in March, 1953. Homes appear to be one-story contemporary ramblers, many of them brick, with attached garages. Home Construction Co., owned by C. E. Hinton and J. M. Hoskins, built many of the homes in the area. Photograph ordered by Mark Hoskins.

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

ca. 1953. The exterior of a unidentified home, nearly L-shaped, with superb lake views. This photograph, taken circa 1953, shows the house on apparently a good-sized lot with tall firs in the back and side grounds. The walkway to the home splits into two as it nears the building with a pathway to each door.

Houses--1950-1960; Lakes & ponds;

Exterior Norval Hatfield residence. According to the 1953 City Directory, Norval R. Hatfield was an engineer with Pacific Telephone & Telegraph. He and his wife Marion E. resided at 2712 North 29th St. in a home built by the Charles Baker Construction Co. The one-story contemporary rambler was situated on a slight knoll and may have had a nice view of the city's landscape. A natural rock wall bordered part of the lot. The home apparently had a basement and fenced back yard.

Hatfield, Norval R.--Homes & haunts; Houses--Tacoma--1950-1960; Stone walls--Tacoma;

A young toddler watches as a woman, possibly mom, selects a coat for an evening out. Spacious closets with built-in drawers and shelves were part of the amenities offered in the new homes built in Mountlake Terrace in 1953. Wall-to-wall carpeting in the bedrooms was also present. Mountlake Terrace was a growing community close to Seattle; it would be an easy commute for businessmen and still provide suburban living for families. Photograph ordered by Phares Advertising.

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

Edward Miller of Miller Construction Co. opened this beautiful two-story cut stone and wood home for public viewing in June, 1953. Situated close to the entrance of Skyline Terrace, the home offered superb views of the Narrows Bridge and Narrows. Built-ins were almost too numerous to mention, including TV's and radios, bathroom heaters, electric range & grill, napkin and tissue holders, bathroom scales and even bathroom magazine racks and toothbrush holders. Children would have a separate children's combination sleeping and play area, bathroom and their own television and radio. Additional amenities would include an intercom system, automatic garage door opener, kitchen BBQ, wall-to-wall carpeting in living areas with cork hallways, indirect lighting and thermopane windows. Miller Construction, who designed their own projects, stated that they were combining the best ideas of local building in this "Skyliner" model. Photograph ordered by Llewellyn Advertising Agency. (TNT 6-5-53, p. 6)

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

ca. 1953. This kitchen, photographed possibly in spring, 1953, may have belonged in the residence at 8902- 29th St. W., University Place. In keeping with the very modern contemporary exterior, the kitchen had knotted pine cupboards and ceiling. A white stove fits snugly against the unit holding the double sink and extensive counter space. Part of the walls have light colored tile. A large window with blinds would offer a view of the dining room; a portion of the dining room table and chair can be glimpsed from the open doorway. .

Houses--University Place--1950-1960; Kitchens--University Place--1950-1960;

Entrance to the new housing addition "Fairway at Lakewood" and exteriors of new ranch style homes as pictured on September 22, 1953. This is the east entrance to Fairway, taken from the grounds of the new Custer School on Steilacoom Blvd., west of the north end of Steilacoom Lake. Children sit atop the brick markers to the entrance of the addition. This was a favorite waiting spot to cross Steilacoom Blvd. The new homes were being sold by H.A. Briggs Co. They were built on the site of the old airport. The planned community had curved asphalt streets with curbs, wide lawns and different rambler designs of brick, concrete block or frame. The 3 bedroom and 1-2 bath homes sold for $10,500 to $13,800. (TNT 9/27/1953, pg. E-4 & E-5) TPL-10462

Houses--Lakewood--1950-1960; Housing developments--Lakewood--1950-1960; Residential streets--Lakewood--1950-1960;

Last minute preparations are being made by contractors for the imminent 1953 Parade of Homes. Sixteen new homes, designed by 15 different design firms, would be open for viewing on Skyline Dr. between No. 13th & 17th. The Parade of Homes would run from 9/24 - 10/4, with homes open Sat. & Sun. from 1-10pm and 6-10pm Mon. - Fri. The Parade was sponsored by the Tacoma Master Builders Association in conjunction with National Home Week. Altogether 60 homes would be available for viewing in the Pierce County area. (TNT 9/27/1953, pg. E-2)

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

Ordered by the Douglas Fir Plywood Association, this is a progress photograph of cedar siding being applied over sheathing at the Jim Fowler residence. James Fowler was the Director of the DFPA and this is possibly his home at 37 Beverly Drive SW in Rhododendron Lanes in Lakewood. Fowler was adding a new extension to his Lakewood home. The extension was designed by Architect Donald F. Burr.

Houses--Lakewood--1950-1960; Remodeling--Lakewood; Fowler, James--Homes & haunts;

Work is being done on the roof of the summer estate of Tacoma Lumberman Ben Cheney. The home lies in a heavily wooded area and the front has a view of a large body of water.

Cheney, Ben B., 1905-1971--Homes & haunts;

Ben Cheney relaxes in a rocking chair in front of the roaring fire in the huge fireplace of his summer estate.

Cheney, Ben B., 1905-1971--Homes & haunts; Cheney, Ben B., 1905-1971;

Modern ranch home with carport in the rear before siding is applied. Photograph taken for Leevers Construction Co. on May 19, 1956.

Houses--1950-1960;

A floor to ceiling cabinet with pull out drawers occupies the hall outside the bedroom door at James Fowler's addition to his house. The drawers provide plenty of storage space for extra linens. The cabinet is built of plywood, the building material of choice for the Douglas Fir Plywood Association's promotion director Fowler.

Houses--Lakewood--1950-1960; Remodeling--Lakewood; Fowler, James--Homes & haunts;

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);

Some Skyline Terrace residents enjoyed beautiful views of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. Miller Construction Co. was a prime developer of the housing development; they had three bedroom homes built on view lots where the bridge, Puget Sound, mountains or city lights could be savored. This house, located at 1102 North Skyline Dr., was a contemporary split-level rambler with extensive Arizona sandstone exterior and large chimney. It was dubbed the "Skyliner" model home and was designed and built by Edward Miller. Photograph ordered by Miller Construction Co.; it was taken on April 20, 1954. (Additional identification provided by a reader)

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

John W. Jankanish farm, Rt. 2, Box 660, Tacoma. View of two-story, wood frame house and surrounding property.

Farms--Tacoma; Farmhouses--Tacoma; Jankanish, John W.--Homes & haunts;

John W. Jankanish farm, Rt. 2, Box 660, Tacoma. Distant view of house hidden by row of fruit trees.

Farms--Tacoma; Farmhouses--Tacoma; Jankanish, John W.--Homes & haunts;

John W. Jankanish farm, Rt. 2, Box 660, Tacoma. View of farm showing house and garage on left, pasture, fences and trees.

Farms--Tacoma; Farmhouses--Tacoma; Jankanish, John W.--Homes & haunts; Fences;

John W. Jankanish farm, Rt. 2, Box 660, Tacoma. View of house, landscape and gravel road. Rose arbor, border plants and trees in garden.

Farms--Tacoma; Farmhouses--Tacoma; Jankanish, John W.--Homes & haunts; Trellises;

John W. Jankanish farm, Rt. 2, Box 660, Tacoma. Distant view of dairy barn and outbuildings. Cattle in pasture.

Farms--Tacoma; Jankanish, John W.--Homes & haunts; Barns--Tacoma; Cattle;

Safeway Builders after pictures. Safeway Builders apparently remodeled numerous homes in the Tacoma area in the 1950's. This contemporary home was a one-story wood model with long, horizontal lines and shallow-pitched roof. A small awning shades the front doorway. A split fence separates the property from the land next door.

Houses--Tacoma--1950-1960; Remodeling--Tacoma--1950-1960; Safeway Builders Co. (Tacoma); Fences;