This photograph of the west side of the 900 block of Pacific Avenue, looking south, was taken for a full page ad that ran in the December 13, 1950 Tacoma News Tribune. Sponsored by the Pacific Avenue Progress Club and the merchants of Pacific Avenue, the advertisement extolled the virtues of their street and stores for Christmas shopping. Many of the stores stayed open until 9 p.m. every evening from December 15 through the 24th. Pacific Avenue offered one-level shopping with "no hills to climb." Except for the Rust Building on the corner, all the buildings in the 900 block were torn down in the 1960s and replaced with a parking lot. (TNT 12/13/1950 p.B-1)

Commercial streets--Tacoma--1950-1960; Rust Building (Tacoma);

An elevated view of Pacific Avenue looking south from the 900 block. The Riviera Theatre is shown on the lower right corner at 906 Pacific Avenue. Ghilarducci's California Florists is seen across Pacific at 909. The Provident Building is at 915 Pacific. The Bank of California and the Washington Building are prominent in the next block. Peoples Department Store was on the corner across 11th Street. Bankers Trust Building at 1111, the Puget Sound National Bank Building at 1119 and the National Bank of Washington at 1123 Pacific filled most of the following block. Shoenfeld's Furniture is seen prominently at 1423 Pacific Ave. TPL-2299

Business districts--Tacoma; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Exterior of the snow-dusted home of William J. and Eva B. Parker. The three-story, Spanish-style house with a tile roof and stucco exterior was built in 1928 for James L. Garvin. A Mercury or Hudson automobile is parked on the other side of the street. William J. Parker was president of Parker Paint Manufacturing Company.

Houses--Tacoma--1950-1960; Parker, William J.--Homes & haunts; Automobiles--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Pouring concrete at the new Tacoma Transit Company building. A crane from Sunnen Heavy Hauling & Crane Service is lifting a bucket of cement to the top of the forms built for the reinforced concrete construction of the building. Ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association, John Ritchie.

Building construction--Tacoma--1950-1960; Concrete--Tacoma; Reinforced concrete construction--Tacoma--1950-1960; Hoisting machinery; Sunnen Auto Freight & Heavy Hauling Co. (Tacoma); Plywood; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma);

Pouring concrete at the new Tacoma Transit Company building. Three men are standing on a form guiding a cabled bucket of concrete into a shaft. Buildings are seen in the background. Ordered by John Ritchie, Douglas Fir Plywood Association.

Building construction--Tacoma--1950-1960; Concrete--Tacoma; Reinforced concrete construction--Tacoma--1950-1960; Plywood; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma); Tacoma Transit Co. (Tacoma);

Exterior view of one story home taken in September, 1950. House appears to have been constructed with brick and wood combination; it seems to have two chimneys. Small shrubs and trees dot the landscape.

Houses--1950-1960; Chimneys;

This possibly could be the front entrance to the Dennis Slenning residence at 1215 North Alder Street. The house has a contemporary look to it; very simplistic in style and lines. The building evidently had many windows, including three corner windows at the front entrance and three miniature openings in the wooden door.

Houses--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Exterior view of one story unit. It is unclear whether this is the front or back entrance to the residence. Style is contemporary with slightly sloping roofline. Light colored masonry to the side of the door may be an outdoor barbecue. There is apparently a basement as small windows can barely be seen ground level.

Houses--1950-1960;

This is possibly the residence of Dennis Slenning, manager of the Oregon-Washington Plywood Company. According to the 1949 city directory, he and his family resided at 1215 North Alder. This contemporary style home was built with many picture windows. It had both a covered patio and a deck for entertaining.

Houses--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Exterior view of recently constructed duplex at 2512 McCarver Street. Photograph taken in September, 1950, shows one story duplex with wood siding. Sidewalk may have been newly added; stakes with ropes are aligned next to sidewalk.

Houses--Tacoma--1950-1960;

This appears to be the back entrance to a duplex which may have been recently constructed at 2512 No. McCarver Street. View shows chimney and screened back door. Also in photograph, which was taken on September 13, 1950, is roof overhang which connects the two buildings.

Houses--1950-1960; Chimneys;

ca. 1950. A "positively no admittance" sign is visible near the scaffolding resting against a large building. It is possible that new siding is being installed.

Building construction; Scaffolding; Signs (Notices);

Exterior exposure of house on 3732 East "I". This photograph was commissioned by Alpro Roofing Company, 1502 South Tacoma Way. This bungalow-style home was located possibly at 3732 East "I". It featured a wide pitched roof, covered porch with partial brick columns, and low, broad, horizontal lines.

Houses--Tacoma--1950-1960;

ca. 1950. The summer of 1950 was a busy time for Tacoma's construction industry. Four large apartment complexes were being built at the same time, with total costs of upward to $2,000,000. Work is being continued on the second floor of this large apartment house shown in an overhead view.

Building construction--Tacoma--1950-1960; Apartment houses--Tacoma--1950-1960; Progress photographs--1950-1960;

ca. 1950. This photograph shows an exterior view of possibly one extremely large home nestled among several tall trees. There is an automobile parked on the grass near the building. A chimney and dormers are present on this sprawling wooden structure. The location is unknown; it could possibly be in a park-like environment.

Houses--1950-1960; Buildings--1950-1960; Automobiles--1950-1960;

Construction looks to be well underway on the Park Towers Apartments on July 28, 1950. It will have fifteen floors and 139 units. It is expected to cost approximately $780,000. The apartment building opened for occupancy May of 1951. A two bedroom apartment with a living room, dinette, kitchen and bath rented for $85 - 112.50 per month. A one bedroom with dinette $ 65- 92.50 per month, a one bedroom with kitchenette $65 - 82.50 per month. A studio rented for $60-65 a month. (TNT 7-30-50, p.1) TPL-8366

Building construction--Tacoma--1940-1950; Apartment houses--Tacoma--1940-1950; Progress photographs--1950-1960; Park Towers Apartments (Tacoma);

Exposure of house at 4551 Sixth Avenue. This exterior view of the home located at 4551 Sixth Avenue was taken on July 11, 1950. It was the residence of Thomas T. and Belle B. Richmond. Built in 1927, this Tudor-style home had a steeply pitched roof and arched doorways and windows. There was a small balcony built above a side entry which overlooked the yard's many bushes and shrubs. TPL-9522

Dwellings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Yards--Tacoma--1950-1960;

After picture of apartment house at 1115 South J. Blair Construction, 3022 South 38th St. The Minsch Apartments were originally built in 1910 by A.H. Minsch and designed by architect George Trust. The daylight photograph of this three story Craftsman-style apartment house was commissioned by Blair Construction Co.

Apartment houses--Tacoma; Minsch Apartments (Tacoma); Blair Construction Co. (Tacoma);

House being lowered on barge for 4th of July show. A house is being carefully lowered by crane onto a barge at the Port of Tacoma and will be towed to Commencement Bay. As the sign on the old wood framed house proclaims, it will be set afire on the evening of the 4th of July as part of the Tacoma Athletic Commission's Big Free Show. The City Fireboat will be present to extinguish the flames.

Housing--Tacoma; Barges--Tacoma; Fourth of July celebrations; Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma); Fireboats--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Broadway Furniture has vacated their premises at 1117-19 Broadway between Ted Brown's Music Company and GallenKamp Shoes. The building had six stories. The exterior of the ground floor was decorated with bas-relief stone carving framing the display windows and main entrance.

Commercial facilities--Tacoma; Mercantile facilities--Tacoma; Architectural decorations & ornaments--Tacoma; Broadway Furniture (Tacoma);

After photograph, of the three-story apartment house at 13th and Market, the LeRoy Apartments. The detailing in the window shapes has been repeated in the detail at the cornice. A man looks out from the upper, front window. The sign on the lower left corner indicates the building was recently reshingled with John's-Manville asbestos shingles by Blair Construction. Ordered by Blair Construction Company, Mr. Blair.

Apartment houses--Tacoma; Building materials; Blair Construction Co. (Tacoma);

Before view of Gilbert A. and Vera Knutsen's home showing the most siding. The one-story, cottage-style home has a side gable roof. Concrete steps lead to a large covered porch with double columns supporting the porch roof. Ordered by Linwood Sales, Mr. Rauscher.

Houses--Tacoma--1950-1960; Linwood Sales Co. (Tacoma); Knutsen, Gilbert A.--Homes & haunts; Linwood Sales Co. (Tacoma);

Two beds with a bedside table between them fit easily in the large bedroom that was part of the new second-story addition to Verne Carlson's residence in 1950. Drawers with an open storage area on top have been fitted into one of the areas left by the sloping roof-line. A window has been placed along the far wall. Ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association, Hal Dixon.

Carlson, Verne--Homes & haunts; Houses--Tacoma--1950-1960; Plywood; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma); Building materials; Bedrooms--Tacoma--1950-1960; Remodeling--Tacoma;

A June, 1950, view of the back of Verne Carlson's residence showing how the new second-story addition fits with the rest of the house and the roof. Ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association, Hal Dixon.

Carlson, Verne--Homes & haunts; Houses--Tacoma--1950-1960; Plywood; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma); Remodeling--Tacoma;

A larger view of the bedroom that was part of the new second-story addition to Verne Carlson's residence in 1950 shows the study area, closet, beds and storage under the eaves. His older daughter is trying on a new dress in front of the large mirrors on the sliding closet doors while her younger sister starts the combination radio-phonograph. Ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association, Hal Dixon.

Carlson, Verne--Homes & haunts; Houses--Tacoma--1950-1960; Plywood; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma); Building materials; Girls--Tacoma--1950-1960; Teenagers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Bedrooms--Tacoma--1950-1960; Typewriters; Radios; Phonographs;

A study area has been included in the bedroom that was part of the new second-story addition to Verne Carlson's residence in 1950. His older daughter is typing at a desk with a goose-neck lamp on the corner. A combination radio-phonograph is shown on a table that has a storage area below for phonograph records. Ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association, Hal Dixon.

Carlson, Verne--Homes & haunts; Houses--Tacoma--1950-1960; Plywood; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma); Building materials; Girls--Tacoma--1950-1960; Teenagers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Bedrooms--Tacoma--1950-1960; Typewriters; Radios; Phonographs;

Another bathroom was included in the new second-story addition to Verne Carlson's residence. One of his daughters is preparing to brush her teeth in this June, 1950 photograph. The walls are painted a light color and the floor has been covered with alternating colors of linoleum tile. Sconces with upright light bulbs stand on either side of the mirrored cabinet over the sink. Ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association, Hal Dixon.

Carlson, Verne--Homes & haunts; Houses--Tacoma--1950-1960; Plywood; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma); Building materials; Bathrooms--Tacoma--1950-1960; Mirrors; Sconces; Girls--Tacoma--1950-1960; Toothpaste;

Exterior of plywood house owned by Mr. H.J. Cox, Eugene, Oregon. This one-story home has been covered with wide pieces of plywood painted a light color with narrow banding between each piece painted a dark color. The roof is extended over the sides of the house and large, picture windows are seen on this side of the home. Orderd by Douglas Fir Plywood Association, Hal Dixon.

Houses--Oregon--Eugene; Plywood; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma); Building materials;

A two-story, Dutch Colonial home of W. Kostick, at 115 7th St. in Auburn, has recently been resided with wide shingles. Concrete steps, set at an angle to the house, lead up to the front door. The downspout curves to be able to follow the line of one of the double supporting columns at the front of the porch. Ordered by Linwood Sales. Compare with D49,047-2.

Houses--Auburn--1950-1960; Linwood Sales Co. (Tacoma); Kostick, W.--Homes & haunts; Then & now comparisons;

An "After" view of this older home. This home was recently sided by Linwood Sales Company. Unfortunately some of the beautiful details in the earlier siding was covered, such as fish-scaling along the divide between the first and second stories and in the pediment areas above the two gables. The upper windows were changed from two, tall, slender windows and below, there had been sets of three windows instead of large, single ones. It was built in 1889 by J.B. McMillen for Josephus S. Howell. In 1951 the E.P. Youngs lived here. Compare with photograph D48,498-2 and BU-720.

Houses--Tacoma--1950-1960; Then & now comparisons; Linwood Sales Co. (Tacoma); Young, E.P.--Homes & haunts;