The exterior of the old B.F. Goodrich building. B.F. Goodrich moved to their new location at 707 Pacific Avenue in May 1950. Lloyd Suiter Tire Company had taken over this location by 1951. Lloyd Suiter had formerly been located at 2302 Pacific Avenue. Lloyd Suiter died in April 1949. Ted L. Fix served as president of the Lloyd Suiter Tire Company in 1951. Wesley Maitland served as secretary. Ordered by Lloyd Suiter Tire Company, Mrs. McGorran.
Wollander Far West Homes at Mountlake Terrace. A row of one-story, rambler-style houses from the Mountlake Terrace housing development are shown in December of 1950. The houses appear to have similar floor plans, being turned left to right to create some variance in the facades of the homes.
Houses--Mountlake Terrace; Real estate business--Mountlake Terrace; Neighborhoods--Mountlake Terrace; Wollander Farwest Homes (Tacoma);
Wollander Far West Homes at Mountlake Terrace. A one-story house built of cement block located in the Mountlake Terrace housing development was photographed in December of 1950. The exterior has been painted a light color. A decorative screen has been added to the left of the front door.
Houses--Mountlake Terrace; Real estate business--Mountlake Terrace; Neighborhoods--Mountlake Terrace; Wollander Farwest Homes (Tacoma); Housing developments--Mountlake Terrace;
Wollander Far West Homes at Mountlake Terrace. A one-story house in the Mountlake Terrace housing development built of cement block is shown. The home in December of 1950 was probably occupied as several full glass bottles of milk stand on the front porch.
Houses--Mountlake Terrace; Real estate business--Mountlake Terrace; Neighborhoods--Mountlake Terrace; Wollander Farwest Homes (Tacoma); Housing developments--Mountlake Terrace;
A Trendmaker House designed by W.A. Wollander. A newly constructed, one-story ranch house with a low-pitched roof, over-hanging eves, picture windows and a wide, brick chimney sits on the highest part of the lot.
Wollander Homes. A view of several one-story, ranch-style homes built of concrete blocks with cedar shake roofs along a curving residential street. The lawns are large with concrete driveways also serving as walkways. A few trees have been left standing in the housing development. Ordered by W.A. Wollander. TPL-8309
Houses--Tacoma; Housing developments--Tacoma; Suburban life--Tacoma; Wollander Homes (Tacoma);
Progress photograph of the American Apartments, later opened as the Vista Manor Apartments, at 319 Tacoma Ave. No., for the Douglas Fir Plywood Association. The building was designed by Lance, McGuire & Muri, Architects, and built by the C.F. Davidson Construction Company. The building was constructed with 16 stories and 133 units at a cost of one million dollars.
Apartment houses--Tacoma--1950-1960; Vista Manor Apartments (Tacoma); Progress photographs--1950-1960;
The F.W. Woolworth Company celebrated the grand opening of their store # 105 (in Tacoma) on November 2, 1950. The four-story building at 955 Broadway had entrances on both the Broadway and Commerce Street levels. It replaced the Fidelity Building which had stood on the corner from 1890 until in was demolished in 1949. Woolworth closed their Tacoma store in 1993.
A view of the exterior of the F.W. Woolworth Company building recently completed in Tacoma from across Commerce Street. The store's escalator can be seen through the large window on this side of the five-and-dime's building. TPL-4551
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;
The beautiful Queen Anne style home at 318 North Yakima Avenue was owned by Mabel Basham. Built in the 1890's, the house had tall, vertical proportions; balconies, overhanging porch, and chimney were added amenities. The lot was landscaped with shrubs and small trees . Sepia photograph ordered by Mabel Basham.
Exterior - Avalon Apts. The Avalon Apartments at 237 Saint Helens Avenue were undergoing some remodeling in August, 1957. Wally Stabbert, Inc., were contracted to plaster and lathe the exterior of the units; scaffolding is already in place. The Avalon Apartments were designed by architect Frederick Heath and built by contractors Olson & Young in 1906. It was twice damaged by fire, in 1933, and finally destroyed on May 2, 1969. Photograph ordered by Wally Stabbert, Inc.
View looking south at the Intermediate Building under construction at McChord Air Force Base in August, 1957. This is the SAGE Project #1557. Workers on scaffolding peer down at activity occurring below. SAGE stood for semi-automatic ground environment (air defense system.) Once completed, the buildings would store computers built by IBM. The computers would keep track of air traffic, report weather conditions, issue split-second reports on defensive weapons available to be unleased on enemy targets and direct and control jet fighters and missiles. There would be four 400-ton air conditioning units to keep the computers cool. Photograph ordered by Western Electric Co. (TNT 11-9-58, A-10)
Building construction --McChord AFB; Western Electric Co., Inc.;
View of Gehri Apartments. These modern three-story apartments, located at 302 North Stadium Way, were built on a sloping lot. The apartment complex was built by Alfred J. Gehri, longtime local builder, and designed by John Sutton & Alan Liddle, architects. The units were completed in August, 1956. Photographed a year later on August 16, 1957, these apartments featured multiple view windows and covered balconies. Photograph ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association.
Harold and Dagmar Wick's brick home, with awning, is the last house on the left in this March 9, 1958, photograph. Brick homes predominate the row of houses. This 9th & Monroe northend neighborhood was extremely close to Jefferson Park. Photograph ordered by Reyier & Wick Construction Co.
Wick, Harold E.--Homes & haunts; Houses--Tacoma--1950-1960; Neighborhoods--Tacoma--1950-1960;
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;
This lovely brick contemporary at 5714 79th St. W. was owned and built by Sherman L. Rowland. It had a well-manicured lawn with nice landscaping, and the two-car garage in addition to the multiple large windows made it an attractive addition to the neighborhood. It was located near Lochburn Middle School. Sherman Rowland was a developer and built the Southgate Housing development.
Exterior Security Building. A "no parking loading zone" sign sternly advises against the possibility of blocking these loading doors during business hours in 1955. This was probably the rear of the Security Building which was located at 9th & Pacific. The beautiful brickwork has been defaced by scratches and possibly paint. Designed by noted architect George W. Bullard and built in 1903, the building had previously been known as the Provident Building. Photograph ordered by Comfort, Davis & Blangy.
Security Building (Tacoma); Provident Building (Tacoma); Signs (Notices); Comfort, Davis & Blangy (Tacoma);
Ground has been broken and dirt excavated for a new Reichhold Chemicals plant on January 16, 1956. Plywood forms are partially in place; they may later be reinforced with concrete. Large pools of water dot the landscape; there are also many power lines in the background as well. Photograph ordered by Reichhold Chemicals, Inc..
Building construction; Dirt; Reichhold Chemicals, Inc. (Tacoma);
Reichhold Chemicals. An almost completed structure, a 20,000 square foot warehouse in which "penta" and plywood glue are stored, at the Lincoln Ave. site of Reichhold Chemicals is captured in this progress photograph ordered by Soule Steel of Seattle. The plant was being constructed on 51 acres on the Tideflats between Tacoma Sash & Door and Pennsalt. The plant hoped to begin production of plywood glue by April with a staff of 25. By May, the plant would be able to begin production of pentachorophenol, a wood preservative. The company would employ 100- 125 workers over the next 2 years. The production of the chemicals was automatic; ingredients were combined using a system of pipes and vats in a "batch process." The raw materials were loaded into tanks and moved from chemical reaction to reaction untouched by human hands. The basic ingredient was soya flour. The completed facility would include a laboratory, control station, warehouse, plant, offices and railroad siding. (TNT 3/18/1956, pg. 1; 6/28/1956, pg. A-4)
Building construction--Tacoma--1950-1960; Steel; Reichhold Chemicals, Inc. (Tacoma); Soule Steel Co. (Seattle);
Exterior of home at 2220 No. Mason Ave. ordered by John Raetz. The bungalow style home is two story with a possible attic room, a latticed front porch and a rear first floor laundry or utility room. The home is listed as vacant in the 1956 City Directory. It is not listed at all in the 1957 directory and is replaced by a 2214 No. Mason Ave. occupied by Mr. Raetz. An ad in the Tacoma News Tribune used this picture to advertise the house for sale and removal from its present location. The price was $1500.00 "as is" and stated that the home was well built and should easily moved without the shifting of timbers or plaster. (TNT 3/18/1956, pg B-15) TPL-9201
Houses--Tacoma--1950-1960; Then & now comparisons;
ca. 1956. Exteriors of the Hunt & Mottet building. The eight story brick building was built in 1907 and designed by Bullard & Hill. Letters several feet tall emblazon the company name on the side of the building. A smaller new building lies to the left, with a parking lot to left of that. Hunt and Mottet were wholesalers of hardware.
Interiors of the Hunt & Mottet building. Hunt & Mottet were wholesalers of hardware. A man inventories what looks like life jackets in the foreground. Boxes of items line the walls and the other employees appear to be filling orders.
Ben Cheney observes the ongoing work on the porch or deck of his summer home. The home lies in a wooded area and smoke rises from its large chimney. The rustic cabin has many windows and glass doors that will open onto the deck. The building faces onto a water view.
Cheney, Ben B., 1905-1971--Homes & haunts; Cheney, Ben B., 1905-1971;
Plywood is the material of choice in the interior of this new addition to the Rhododendron Lanes home of James Fowler. Fowler is the promotion director for the Douglas Fir Plywood Association. The hallway has plenty of storage space, with built in closets and cabinets. All of the doors and cabinet facings are constructed of plywood. A set of swinging saloon doors opens the hall into another room, possibly a laundry room.
Street scenes from the housing addition "Fairway at Lakewood," developed by H.A. Briggs. Fairway was a planned community of upscale ranch homes off Steilacoom Blvd. about 1 mile from the Lakewood Center. The rambler homes were distinctive in that they were originals; of different designs and varied materials. The curved streets and rolling green lawns invited play by neighborhood children and a suburban style of life.
The Better Homes & Gardens "Idea Home of the Year," at Skyline Terrace. Skyline Terrace was a 30 million, 1500 home development being built by Miller Construction. This is the street entrance view of the house and attached carport. Two planter boxes flank the steps leading up to the front door. The home was 1430 square feet on the ground floor with another 1430 sq. feet available in the basement. (TNT 9/19/1956, pg. E-18)
Houses--Tacoma--1950-1960; Housing developments--Tacoma--1950-1960; Miller Construction Co., Inc. (Tacoma);
Exteriors of the Rancho Vista or the Thunderbird model home for Briggs Construction. The home is a one story rambler built in an L form. There is no sidewalk to the front door and the landscaping is incomplete.
Houses--1950-1960; Real estate development--1950-1960; Housing developments--1950-1960;
The Better Homes & Gardens "Idea Home of the Year," at Skyline Terrace, built by Miller Construction. This is the living room of the home. The spacious living room had a cutstone fireplace with a stone mantle and slate hearth. It had a mahogany accent wall and large picture windows that embraced the view. (TNT 9/9/1956, pg. E-18)
Houses--Tacoma--1950-1960; Housing developments--Tacoma--1950-1960; Miller Construction Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Living rooms--Tacoma--1950-1960;
