In September 1948, 62,559 residents in Tacoma had telephones; this number would continue to increase as the phone company got closer to completing their expansion and improvement program. The telephone growth rate was three times as fast as before and during World War II. The Fawcett building was four stories with a basement of steel frame construction, fireproof and reinforced concrete with brick and terra cotta facing; the building addition was at the rear of the main building. View of building progress at the Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Company; scaffolding provided by the Safway Steel Scaffolding Company.
Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Company began enlarging and expanding their communications center before World War II, the war slowed the process due to inability to obtain necessary materials. The improvement program was estimated to cost about $25,000,000. Every telephone district in Tacoma would get new dial and long distance equipment and telephone lines would be extended. View of building progress at the Pacific Telephone and Telegraph facilities located at 757 Fawcett Avenue, scaffolding provided by Safway Steel Scaffolding Company.
Pietro Belluschi amazed the world with his modern office building in Portland, Oregon. The Equitable Building, later known as the Commonwealth Building, was an ethereal tower of sea green glass and aluminum. This was the first skyscraper to be built in over twenty five years in Portland. Aerial view of Portland's downtown business district.
Commercial facilities--Oregon--Portland; Office buildings--Oregon--Portland; Architecture--Oregon--Portland; Architects; Belluschi, Pietro; Equitable Building (Portland, Or.); Commonwealth Building (Portland, Or.);
The Equitable Building, later known as the Commonwealth Building, was completed in 1948. It was a completely modern office building, twelve stories high, built in the International style, but was called "distinctly American". Aerial view of Portland's downtown business district; the Willamette River separates the downtown and Old Town area from the east side of the city; view of Mount Hood in background.
Commercial facilities--Oregon--Portland; Office buildings--Oregon--Portland; Architecture--Oregon--Portland; Architects; Belluschi, Pietro; Equitable Building (Portland, Or.); Commonwealth Building (Portland, Or.); Hood, Mount (Or.);
January of 1949 view of building construction on Market Street; Wild Cat Bargain Center and Neal's Radio Sales Company are located next to the construction site; the building site is marked with a Roy T. Earley Company "Engineers -- Builders" sign. Neal's Radio Sales Company advertises their electric appliances; Wild Cat Bargain Center appears to be a grocery store and soda fountain; an "Olympia Beer" and West Coast Grocery Company truck is parked in front. TPL-10534
Commercial facilities--Tacoma; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1940-1950; Building construction--Tacoma--1940-1950; Business enterprises--Tacoma; Neal's Radio Sales Co. (Tacoma); Wild Cat Bargain Center (Tacoma); Automobiles--Tacoma--1940-1950;
Exterior view of George and Alice Franklin's home, located in Tacoma's Stadium district at 425 Tacoma Avenue North, taken on January 5, 1949. The Franklin's home was awarded second place in the 1947 Tacoma Times House Beautiful contest. View of beautifully maintained lawns, rose garden is located on right side of driveway, view of the Franklin Greenhouse.
Houses--Tacoma--1940-1950; Gardens--Tacoma; Lawns--Tacoma; Yards--Tacoma; Greenhouses--Tacoma; Neighborhoods--Tacoma--1940-1950; Stadium District (Tacoma); Franklin, George G.--Homes & haunts;
George G. Franklin was the owner of Franklin Food Stores, a Tacoma grocery and meat store. Franklin Food Stores had five locations located throughout Tacoma. George G. was married to Alice S. Franklin, they lived at 425 Tacoma Avenue North, in Tacoma's Stadium District. Exterior view of the Franklin home, two large trees frame the view of the house, greenhouse on right.
Interior view of home designed by Wollander Better Builder Plans and built by Wollander Farwest Homes. The living room is decorated with a matching sofa and chair; the brick fireplace gives the room a warm and cozy feel, a closet with shelves is located by the bedrooms in background.
Prefabricated houses; Housing--Tacoma; Closets--Tacoma; Living rooms--Tacoma; Seating furniture--Tacoma; Building construction--Tacoma; Housing developments--Tacoma; Wollander Farwest Homes (Tacoma); Wollander Better Builder Plans (Tacoma);
Exterior view of a Wollander Farwest prefabricated house; view of driveway and stepping stones leading to the main entrance of house. This house was constructed with prefabricated plywood panels, and likely built in just a few days. In 1946 Farwest Homes stated they would be building approximately 25-100 homes daily; these homes were being purchased by new families.
Prefabricated houses; Housing--Tacoma; Driveways--Tacoma; Yards--Tacoma; Building construction--Tacoma; Housing developments--Tacoma; Wollander Farwest Homes (Tacoma); Wollander Better Builder Plans (Tacoma);
Interior view of Wollander Farwest Home; view of living room with matching shag trimmed sectional sofa, shag rug, curtains, fireplace and end tables. The kitchen has white cabinets, a three burner stove and oven, a single sided sink and a washing machine located on left side of sink; there was likely a utility room where refrigerator was kept.
Prefabricated houses; Housing--Tacoma; Kitchens--Tacoma--1940-1950; Living rooms--Tacoma; Seating furniture--Tacoma; Housing developments--Tacoma; Wollander Farwest Homes (Tacoma); Wollander Better Builder Plans (Tacoma);
Most of the Wollander Farwest Homes built were two bedroom family homes in Tacoma and the surrounding area. The January 1949 Tacoma Times advertised two and three bedroom houses, some furnished, in various areas of the city, for prices ranging from $3,600 to $7,500. Interior view of a Wollander Farwest home; view of fully furnished living room with shag trimmed sofa and chair and matching shag rug, two chairs and radio unit against the back wall, dining room area on right side.
Prefabricated houses; Housing--Tacoma; Living rooms--Tacoma; Seating furniture--Tacoma; Building construction--Tacoma; Housing developments--Tacoma; Wollander Farwest Homes (Tacoma);
Most of the houses built in Tacoma after the end of World War II were prefabricated houses. The need for housing was a serious issue in Tacoma for many years after the war; this also increased the need for telephones, which prompted Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Company to expand. Interior view of home designed by Wollander Better Builder Plans and built by Wollander Farwest Homes. The living room is decorated with a matching sofa and chair; the brick fireplace gives the room a warm and cozy feel.
Prefabricated houses; Housing--Tacoma; Living rooms--Tacoma; Seating furniture--Tacoma; Building construction--Tacoma; Housing developments--Tacoma; Wollander Farwest Homes (Tacoma); Wollander Better Builder Plans (Tacoma);
Willard A. Wollander owned Wollander Farwest Homes and Wollander Better Builder Plans, home designers and building companies. In 1946 Farwest was getting ready to build a massive amount, about 25-100 homes daily, of prefabricated homes in Tacoma. The consumer would have a choice of 725, 832 or 920 square feet, two bedroom houses; these houses would be available for under $6,000. Exterior view of a Wollander Farwest home, family dog in foreground.
Prefabricated houses; Housing--Tacoma; Neighborhoods--Tacoma; Building construction--Tacoma; Housing developments--Tacoma; Wollander Farwest Homes (Tacoma); Wollander Better Builder Plans (Tacoma);
The house designed and built by Wollander Far West Homes was likely a two or three bedroom house. Wollander homes were made with prefabricated materials and usually built in just a few days. Interior view of prefabricated house built by Wollander Farwest Homes. View of small kitchen, it is equipped with a sink, cabinets, stove and oven unit, and a "Kenmore" washing machine; view of living room on right side.
Prefabricated houses; Kitchens--Tacoma--1940-1950; Washing machines; Cupboards--Tacoma; Building construction--Tacoma; Housing developments--Tacoma; Wollander Farwest Homes (Tacoma); Wollander Better Builder Plans (Tacoma);
Tacoma and its surrounding communities were growing rapidly and housing construction was in great demand. After World War II ended, many small 2 and 3 bedroom homes were built to accommodate the new families. Interior view of home designed by Wollander Better Builder Plans and built by Wollander Farwest Homes. The living room is decorated with a matching sofa and chair; the brick fireplace gives the room a warm and cozy feel.
Prefabricated houses; Living rooms--Tacoma; Fireplaces--Tacoma; Building construction--Tacoma; Housing developments--Tacoma; Wollander Farwest Homes (Tacoma); Wollander Better Builder Plans (Tacoma);
ca. 1979. The historic Waddell Building, 1502-04 Pacific Ave., circa 1979. The structure was built in 1890 by builder James Waddell. It has been remodeled and in 2004 it was incorporated into the Marriott Hotel.
Waddell Building (Tacoma); Business districts--Tacoma--1970-1980;
ca. 1979. This 1979 photograph shows the deterioration of the Commerce side of the buildings located at, left to right, 1523 Broadway and 1519-21 Broadway. The buildings are studded with broken windows and plants growing from crevices. The buildings have since been demolished and this is now the site of the Convention Center.
Commercial facilities--Tacoma--1970-1980; Building deterioration--Tacoma--1970-1980;
ca. 1979. Shrubs grow from crevices of the historic Waddell Building, 1502-04 Pacific Ave., circa 1979. The structure was built in 1890 by builder James Waddell. It has been remodeled and in 2004 it was incorporated into the Marriott Hotel.
Waddell Building (Tacoma); Business districts--Tacoma--1970-1980;
ca. 1979. The ground floor of the historic Waddell Building, 1502-04 Pacific Ave., circa 1979. The structure was built in 1890 by builder James Waddell. It has been remodeled and in 2004 it was incorporated into the Marriott Hotel.
Waddell Building (Tacoma); Business districts--Tacoma--1970-1980;
ca. 1979. In 1979, this structure at 1902-06 Tacoma Ave. So. was home to the Mountainview Apartments and Disco 2000. It was built in 1891 and has been demolished.
Mountainview Apartments (Tacoma); Disco 2000 (Tacoma);
ca. 1979. The historic Waddell Building, 1502-04 Pacific Ave., circa 1979. The structure was built in 1890 by builder James Waddell. It has been remodeled and in 2004 it was incorporated into the Marriott Hotel.
Waddell Building (Tacoma); Business districts--Tacoma--1970-1980;
ca. 1979. Photograph taken in 1979 from the intersection of 15th St. and Fawcett Ave. The duplex in the center of the photograph is the Donald McDonald double house, built 1888, at 1346 Fawcett Ave. The house was later further divided into apartments.
