Tacoma lumberman and philanthropist Ben Cheney sharpens his ax at a grinding wheel. Possibly he is planning to do some of the remodeling work at his summer home himself. He isn't dressed to labor, wearing dress shoes, slacks, jacket and natty cap. He is being observed by an older gentleman in a plaid wool shirt with a cigarette dangling from his amused mouth. Cheney himself was blessed with a strong sense of humor and is smiling at his own actions.

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

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;

Old fashioned kitchen in the summer home of Tacoma lumberman Ben Cheney. An iron skillet sits on the stove top. The shallow sink has a very high back splash where the faucet and handles come out of the wall. A hard surfaced counter to either side of the sink offers space for cutting and chopping. Matching canisters sit on the low table top with drawers underneath.

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

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;

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;

Oscar Hokold Construction; open houses for new homes. Most of the homes appear to be modest split levels, with the back of the house 2 stories and the front one story with the front door opening on the higher level. Hokold was holding an open house for these homes, the first of 40 to be built in an area between 76th & 78th on So. Thompson. The average price was $11,800, with $1200 down and $75 a month. The homes were designed to expand as the family enlarges. They featured oak floors, mahogany doors, fireplaces, recreation rooms, plus room for two more bedrooms in the basement. Hokold was also developing additions on East 64th off of Portland and between Wapato and Alling Park. Hokold would later establish the Northwest hotel chain of King Oscar motels. (TNT 4/8/1956, pg. B-6)

Houses--Tacoma--1950-1960; Residential streets--Tacoma--1950-1960;

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;

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;

New house at Five Mile Lake to be raffled off by Kit Russell. Interior of living room, fireplace with glowing fire, furniture, mantle clock and portraits, glimpse of man at extreme right. Five Mile Lake is in Federal Way. Photograph was taken in May of 1940.

Houses--Federal Way--1940-1950; Living rooms--Federal Way; Fireplaces--Federal Way;

New house at Five Mile Lake to be raffled off by Kit Russell. Interior of kitchen looking through alcove to dining room.

Dwellings - Houses - King County - Federal Way

New house at Five Mile Lake to be raffled off by Kit Russell. Exterior of minimal traditional house with shingle siding.

Dwellings - Houses - King County - Federal Way

Residential neighborhood, Sumner, Washington. View of several homes from intersection of Main Street and Lewis Avenue. (T. Times, Special Edition).

Neighborhoods--Sumner;

Two-story Tudor-style brick and stucco home with basement and detached garage in Gig Harbor. Identified as Puratich home. Fenced driveway, extensive landscape. With the opening of the Narrows Bridge, the Key Peninsula would be connected with the larger business area of Tacoma. Many homes were now being built in Gig Harbor. (T. Times, Special Edition).

Houses--Gig Harbor;

Large, three-story Dutch Colonial building with double gambrel roof in Sumner, Washington, at corner of Maple Street and Wood Ave. The large structure at 140 Wood Ave. in Sumner has been identified as being built for Ralph and Mamie Weaver. (T. Times, Special Edition).

Houses--Sumner--1940-1950;

Large, two-story brick and shingle home in Buckley, Washington. (T. Times, Special Edition).

Houses--Buckley;

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;

ca. 1955. Interiors of Ben Cheney's home. The living room of Cheney's home in Browns Point is simply furnished and decorated. A leather or vinyl comfortable chair with ottoman sits next to a table loaded with magazines. Sports trophies and baseball memorabilia adorn the shelves and flat surfaces. A photograph of one of the Cheney Stud baseball teams is mounted over the heater. Although Cheney was a millionaire, his tastes remained simple, as indicated by this room.

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

ca. 1955. Interiors of Ben Cheney's home. The living room of Cheney's home in Browns Point has exposed beams, knotty wood panelling and a large fieldstone fireplace. In front of the fireplace is a sunken conversation pit with pillows. The furniture is simple and comfortable. Although Cheney was a millionaire, his home is very simply decorated and comfortable.

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

Interiors of Ben Cheney's home in Browns Point. This is the bedroom of Ben Cheney's daughter Sandra. Open closet doors show neatly lined up dresses and shoes. Television set can be seen in built-in cabinets.

Cheney, Ben B., 1905-1971--Homes & haunts; Dolls; Stuffed animals (Toys); Bedrooms--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Interiors of Ben Cheney's home in Browns Point. This is the bedroom of Ben Cheney's daughter Sandra. Her doll collection and stuffed animals line the room. Twin beds provide space for having friends sleep over.

Cheney, Ben B., 1905-1971--Homes & haunts; Dolls; Stuffed animals (Toys);

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;

Master Builders, Alf West. Exposure of the residence of Rex Peirce at 9104 So. 29th St. Rex and Beatrice Peirce are listed in the 1958 Suburban City Directory as the owners of the Sixth Avenue Art Shop. This appears to be the back of the house showing the deck and picture windows.

Houses--University Place--1950-1960; Peirce, Rex--Homes & haunts;

ca. 1937. Early vernacular cottage with wood foundation, gable roof and central chimney. Fire hydrant in front of home. Murder story connected with house. No further details, including location, were provided. Photograph was taken circa 1937. (T. Times).

Houses--1930-1940; Fire hydrants;

Overall views of Lincoln Heights for Comfort, Davis & Blangy, insurance & real estate agents. Lincoln Heights was a 400 unit housing project built by the federal government during WWII to provide shelter for defense workers. It was located on 90 acres bordered by So. Pine & So. State St. & So. 35th & So. 38th. The original expenditure for the development was $1,500,000 and the homes were built at the rate of 10 per day. Gilbert Stanley Underwood was the architect and the project was operated by the Tacoma Housing Authority. It was best known for the early use of a curvilinear street plan. Following WW II, the homes were provided for returning veterans. All the units were sold to private interests.The last unit was sold in 1955.

Housing--Tacoma--1940-1950; Lincoln Heights Housing Project (Tacoma);

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;

The birth of the baby Jesus takes center stage in this roof top holiday decoration, as Santa stands to one side, at 6421 Vickery Ave. The one story rambler has a unique angled roof line. The fence to the viewer's left has shelves with potted plants, while built in planter boxes line the front of the home. A woodsy undeveloped area can be seen to the rear of the house.

Houses--Puyallup--1950-1960; Creches (Nativity scenes)--Puyallup--1950-1960; Christmas decorations;

A view of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge from homes in the Narrowmoor housing addition. Narrowmoor was an upscale addition west of Jackson, with view lots of the Narrows and the Olympic Mountains. TPL-9640

Houses--Tacoma--1950-1960; Housing developments--Tacoma--1950-1960; Real estate development--Tacoma; Tacoma Narrows Bridge (Tacoma);

A portion of the Narrowmoor addition, an upscale housing addition west of Jackson Ave. with views of the Narrows and the Olympic Mountains.

Houses--Tacoma--1950-1960; Olympic Mountains (Wash.); Housing developments--Tacoma--1950-1960; Real estate development--Tacoma;

Ranch style home at the intersection of Fairview Dr. and Hegra Rd. in Narrowmoor, 7525 Hegra Rd., backed by the Narrows portion of the Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains. One half of the home and the garage are faced in brick, the other half of the house is rough hewn wood. Mailboxes stand sentinel near the street.This was the home of Thomas & Katherine Anderson. Mr. Anderson owned Concrete Engineering Co. and Tacoma Construction and Engineering Co. Undoubtedly, the rear of the home has a fabulous view of the Sound and the mountains.

Houses--Tacoma--1950-1960; Olympic Mountains (Wash.); Anderson, Thomas--Homes & haunts;

The Miller Construction Company built many homes in the Skyline Terrace housing development in the 1950's. Each lot had a view of either the Narrows, Olympic Mountains or city lights. This nicely landscaped home in Skyline Terrace appears to have been a contemporary ranch style house with two-car attached garage. It was constructed mostly of wood with some brick facing which matched the flower border. Skyline Terrace was a $30,000,000-1500 home housing development. Photograph ordered by Ed Miller Construction.

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