This one story rambler with its attached one car garage was built by Miller Construction in Skyline Terrace. The 1500 home project, designed by Ed Miller, featured homes of many designs and price ranges. This home was owned by Mr. and Mrs. Tom McGraw. A community recreation center was being planned by Miller for the addition. It would have 2 pools, tennis, basketball and volleyball courts, a picnic area and a large clubhouse. A family membership would be included with the home purchase.

Houses--Tacoma--1950-1960;

This one story home has a view of the mountains through its one car carport. It is located in scenic Skyline Terrace. Skyline Terrace was designed by developer Ed Miller and was noted for its views. This home is made of brick, cedar and siding. The home had already been sold to its first owner Claude Harris.

Houses--Tacoma--1950-1960;

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);

This modest one story home with its one car garage was built in Skyline Terrace by Miller Construction. The development by Ed Miller was 1500 homes, of varying designs and prices. The development was located in the growing Westgate area, around the path that the future 16 freeway would take to the Narrows bridge.

Houses--Tacoma--1950-1960;

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;

Interior and exterior shots of the new County-City building; jail cells in the new law enforcement wing. The combined facility for the county sheriff and the Tacoma police departments was jokingly referred to as the "joint joint." The jail was designed for maximum security and to be a more comfortable and spacious environment for the city, county and federal prisoners. It had air conditioning, a chapel, infirmary, delousing room and even a fenced rooftop exercise area called the "patio." The city jail was located on the third floor and the county jail on the fourth floor of the north wing. Jointly there were 8-9 tanks capable of holding 10-50 prisoners each. The city and county jails each had space for 140 prisoners. The day cells were equipped with showers, but the shower booths had no controls. A jailer yards away controlled both the temperature and the volume of the spray. (TNT 4/7/1959, pg. B-10)

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

Exterior shot of the 1959 Home Show model home, "The Calypso," taken at night with flaring gas torches for light. The 1959 home was designed by Robert Billsbrough Price and built by Stromberg Construction. It was located in Glenwood Acres in Lakewood. This shot is taken from the patio area, with its privacy fence, looking into the glass walled living room area. The home was a "whole site" development, where the entire site was incorporated into the home. The patio area is extensively landscaped. (TNT 3/16/1959, pg. 30)

Houses--Lakewood--1950-1960; Tacoma Master Builders Association (Tacoma); Greater Tacoma Home Show (Tacoma);

The exterior of the 1959 Home Show model home, "The Calypso." The 1959 Glenwood Acres home was designed by Robert Billsbrough Price and built by Stromberg Construction. The fenced patio lies to the left of the two car carport. Another fenced outdoor living space is in the back of the home. These areas are fenced with an opaque material for privacy. The use of the outdoors as additional living space for this small home won it national awards. (TNT 3/16/1959, pg. 30)

Houses--Lakewood--1950-1960; Tacoma Master Builders Association (Tacoma); Greater Tacoma Home Show (Tacoma);

Interior of the living room of the 1959 Home Show model home, "The Calypso." The 1959 Glenwood Acres home was designed by Robert Billsbrough Price and built by Stromberg Construction. The home was decorated for the Home Show by his wife and fellow architect Joan Price. The furniture is the square, spare, utilitarian style of the fifties. The glassed wall and door at the rear of the living room leads to the outdoor living space, screened for privacy. The house features an open floorplan where one room flows into another & then continues on to the outdoor living spaces. (TNT 3/16/1959, pg. 30)

Houses--Lakewood--1950-1960; Tacoma Master Builders Association (Tacoma); Greater Tacoma Home Show (Tacoma); Living rooms--Lakewood--1950-1960;

Interior shot of the 1959 Home Show model home, "The Calypso." The 1959 home was designed by Robert Billsbrough Price and built by Stromberg Construction. It was located in Glenwood Acres. The home was decorated by Price's wife and fellow architect Joan Price. The home was noted for its open floor plan and integration of the outdoors as a living space. In this picture, the centrally located kitchen flows into the dining area and out the glass doors to the outdoor patio. A white privacy plastic screen-fence protects the homeowners from curious eyes. The home later won national awards for its use of space and the outdoors. (TNT 3/16/1959, pg. 30)

Houses--Lakewood--1950-1960; Tacoma Master Builders Association (Tacoma); Greater Tacoma Home Show (Tacoma); Signs (Notices);

The exterior of the 1959 Home Show model home, "The Calypso." The 1959 Glenwood Acres home was designed by Robert Billsbrough Price and built by Stromberg Construction. A firm believer in the theory that good fences make good neighbors, Price has carried this one step further with glassed walls that look out onto patios, fenced with transluscent multi-colored plastic screens as high as the roofline for privacy. The home has two fenced areas, one off the kitchen-dining area for outside dining and one off the living room area. The home later won national awards for its use of space and privacy. It also has numerous skylights allowing for the introduction of natural lighting. (TNT 3/16/1959, pg. 30)

Houses--Lakewood--1950-1960; Tacoma Master Builders Association (Tacoma); Greater Tacoma Home Show (Tacoma);

The identifying sign for the 1959 Home Show model home, "The Calypso." The unveiling of the model home was an integral part of the Tacoma Master Builders Association's Home Show. The 1959 home was designed by Robert Billsbrough Price and built by Stromberg Construction. It was located near the community pool in Glenwood Acres. A fine example of contemporary architecture, the home had won a design citation by Progressive Architecture magazine, from a field of 600. (TNT 3/16/1959, pg. 27+)

Houses--Lakewood--1950-1960; Tacoma Master Builders Association (Tacoma); Greater Tacoma Home Show (Tacoma); Signs (Notices);

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;

The kitchen of the 1959 Home Show model home, "The Calypso." The 1959 Glenwood Acres home was designed by Robert Billsbrough Price and built by Stromberg Construction. The centrally located kitchen has an open floor plan and a free-standing island with a built in gas range top and rotisserie grill. The draft vent for the range has a clock on the outside. A double oven is to the left of the refrigerator. A wide expanse of glass looks out onto the privacy fenced patio. Pegboard makes up some of the walls, blending into the family room with its built-in television. The kitchen could conveniently serve the dining room, family room and outside dining court. (TNT 3/16/1959, pg. 30)

Houses--Lakewood--1950-1960; Tacoma Master Builders Association (Tacoma); Greater Tacoma Home Show (Tacoma); Kitchens--Lakewood--1950-1960;

Two children play outside on the swingset behind this view home designed by Miller Construction and located in Panorama Park. Large windows cover the rear of the home to take in the inspiring view of the Narrows Bridge. The home appears to be a split level, the address is unknown.

Houses--Tacoma--1950-1960;

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;

The new home of Karl and Ruth Johnson at 11309 Loma Place in Rhododendron Lanes. The rambler has a cottage style peaked roof and cross hatched window panes. It features a wide driveway and a two car garage. Picture ordered by Cole & Weber, Bob Harrison.

Houses--Lakewood--1950-1960; Johnson, Karl--Homes & haunts;

The Ansonia Apartments, ordered by Ward Smith Inc. TPL-4577. This beautiful example of German- English Renaissance architecture was built in 1914 at an original cost of $135,000. The apartments were designed by the architecture firm of Heath & Gove. Designed as city dwellings for the elite, the building even featured burglar-proof vaults for their jewels and treasures. In 1939, the building was purchased by the Rhodes Investment Company. It became famous for its lush roof top garden. The building has an arched canopy that reaches into Tacoma Ave. No. to shield residents from the elements as they alight from their carriages, and later vehicles. It has several balconies.

Ansonia Apartments (Tacoma); Apartment houses--Tacoma--1910-1920;

Harbor Terrace Apartments, ordered by Ward Smith Inc. These modern apartments were built in 1951 with lots of floor to ceiling glass and balconies to take in the water view. The apartments are terraced so that no apartment blocks the view of the one behind it.

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

The former Yorktheimer residence, 27 Broadway, taken from Stadium Way; the rear entrance to the home. The ornate home was built in 1887 in the florid style of the eighties. The home was occupied by the Cardin and Chambers families. In 1910, it served as the home of the Gatlin Institute and its alcoholism cure. The home was purchased by Mr. and Mrs. Frank Yorktheimer in 1918. The family, consisting of the mother, father and four daughters, moved in on Armistice Day. The 16 room house had an elaborate interior with a massive staircase of hardwood, huge paneled wooden doors and intricately carved wooden lacework. One of the daughters, Miss Blanche Yorktheimer, still resided in the house until 1959. The home was bought by a trio of investors and demolished in 1959 to make way for the 12 story, 108 unit apartment building, Belmont Terrace. (TNT 8/30/1959, pg. 1) TPL-9850

Houses--Tacoma--1880-1890;

A trio of Broadway buildings, taken from the year entrances on Stadium Way. On the left is the Broadway Apartments at 21 Broadway. The Broadway apartments were built in 1928 based on a Gothic design by architect Stanley Shaw. They were trimmed in Wilkeson sandstone. According to the 1958 City Directory, it had 42 apartments. In the center is the former Yorktheimer home. The 16 room mansion was built in 1887 in the ornate style of the excessive eighties. It was purchased in 1918 by Mr. and Mrs. Frank Yorktheimer. In 1958, it was still occupied by one of the daughters, Miss Blanche Yorktheimer, who listed her profession as music teacher. This home was demolished to make room for the 108 unit Belmont Terrace apartment building. To the right is an unnamed 7 unit apartment building which was also demolished.

Belmont Terrace (Tacoma); Broadway Apartments (Tacoma); Houses--Tacoma--1880-1890;

Progress photograph of model home construction. Hammer in hand, a carpenter is on the roof of a newly constructed model home in Federal Way. The roof is partially covered with plywood. Wooden joists and trusses form a geometric pattern. The one-story model home was being built by contractor Bud Montgomery, Seattle, in the spring of 1958. Photograph ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association.

Building construction--Federal Way; Progress photographs; Plywood; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma);

Intersection of Bay St. and Puyallup Ave. Traffic appears light at 10 a.m. on March 13, 1958, at the intersection of Bay St. and Puyallup Ave. Only five cars are clearly visible on Puyallup Ave. Safeway and Brownie's Texaco station are across the street from Cavanaugh Lumber, where "Reject Plywood" can be purchased, and Ben's Truck Parts. Washington Hardware Co's wholesale division is next door. Smitty's Drive-In restaurant, "Open All Nite," is close to Safeway. Photograph ordered by Peterson & Peterson, attorneys, for Hess vs. Bettridge.

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1950-1960; Signs (Notices);

The Home Construction Co. designed and built this lovely lakefront home. It may have belonged to Martin Gosselin of Steilacoom Point. Expansive windows draw attention to the still waters outside the dock. Heavy drapes were available if the glare of the sun became too fierce or for privacy at night. An enormous stone fireplace would make evenings cozy for the home's residents. The fireplace would provide double-duty, separating the living room from the dining area. A glimpse of the kitchen can be seen in the background. Photograph ordered by Home Construction Co.

Gosselin, Martin D.--Homes & haunts; Houses--Lakewood--1950-1960; Fireplaces;

Night exposure of contemporary rambler style home belonging to Martin and Barbara Gosselin of Lake Steilacoom Point. The Gosselins owned Marty's Styling Salon on Sixth Avenue. The drapes are left open so that residents can enjoy the evening view from this wood framed house. Rather than walls, an enormous stone fireplace separates the dining room from the living room. At one end of the home is a more casual TV room with comfortable sofas and an additional fireplace. A partially covered patio appears to run the length of the house. The exterior of the home is gray with pale blue trim and roof. This home was designed and constructed by Mark Hoskins Home Construction Co. Photograph ordered by Home Construction Co.

Gosselin, Martin D.--Homes & haunts; Houses--Lakewood--1950-1960;

A feeling of spaciousness prevails in the Martin Gosselin residence at Lake Steilacoom Point with a "Great room" concept. The kitchen appears to be tucked away between the living room and informal room. There do not appear to be many walls separating the defined living spaces. A large glass door leads to the fenced outdoors which may have a covered patio. Because the flooring appears to be a natural tile, it blends in with the outdoor concrete. A clam-shell style chair and bean-shaped laminated table are prominent in the foreground. This three bedroom home was designed and constructed by Mark Hoskins Home Construction Co. Photograph ordered by Home Construction Co.

Gosselin, Martin D.--Homes & haunts; Houses--Lakewood--1950-1960;

The Oxford Apartments were located in Auburn at 717 A St. N.E. The two-story, twenty-unit apartment complex was built in a L-shape with carports for some renters. Auburn was a growing little community with a population of nearly 7,000 in the 1950 Census. By 1960, the population had sprouted to 11,933. Housing would be needed for new residents with new housing developments and apartments springing up to meet the need. Photograph ordered by S & S Builders.

Housing developments--Auburn; Garages--Auburn;

Southdale, a model home in the Auburn area, was photographed on March 13, 1958, from the viewpoint of another new house across the street. The model home was constructed in the contemporary rambler style; it had a one-car garage and small covered porch. Auburn in the 1950's was still a small "bedroom" community with many residents commuting to Seattle and other King County jobs. Lots appear to have been on the large side and housing relatively inexpensive. Photograph ordered by S & S Builders.

Houses--Auburn--1950-1960;

ca. 1958. Photograph taken in 1958 at the corner of Pacific Ave. and 10th, looking north on Pacific. The six story Security Building, 917 Pacific Ave., is clearly marked on the side of the building. It was built in 1903 from a design by George Bullard, architect, and named the "Provident Building." It was renamed in 1952. To the right is a smaller building, originally built in 1885 for the Tacoma National Bank and added on to in 1888 (921-23 Pacific Ave.) It has since been demolished. The tenants in 1958 were the Smoke Shop Tavern at 921, the Travel Center of Tacoma at 923 and Archie's Coffee Cup at 925 Pacific Ave. Around the corner was the Lutheran Service Center for service men and Ward-Smith, Inc. The Montgomery Ward catalog center is located at 919 Pacific Ave.

Security Building (Tacoma); Provident Building (Tacoma); Facades--Tacoma--1950-1960; Archie's Coffee Cup (Tacoma); Smoke Shop Tavern (Tacoma); Travel Center of Tacoma (Tacoma);