Category Archives: Residential

Housing in all forms

Cones/Reynolds House

Cone/Reynolds HouseThe Cone/Reynolds House at 1244 South Ainsworth, Tacoma, was placed on the Tacoma Register of Historic Places in 1995. It was built in 1908 by Amanda Cone for the John W. Reynolds family. The original cost was about 5,000. Here is a link to the nomination form.

Epic Mural in Puyallup

8620091265_44c58141f9_bI was driving around the other day and found this terrific mural 2914 East Main Avenue. It is a Trompe-l’œil style and I was tempted to drive on through to the beautiful mountain sunrise. But of course that would be a bad idea. I think the building is used as apartments. There is a sign on one of the doors that says “Due to the recent thefts, the upstairs tenant has been instructed to shoot … then call police“.

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Bing Crosby was born here

8510838375_821a1f1f49_oBing Crosby was born at this private home at 1112 North J Street in Tacoma on May 3, 1903. He only lived there until 1906 and then his family moved to Spokane. Bing’s most famous song is White Christmas, which has sold over 100 million copies. Although I tend to think of him as a singer, Wikipedia tells me “With 1,077,900,000 movie tickets sold, Crosby is by that measure the third most popular actor of all time, behind Clark Gable and John Wayne.”

The Coolest Basement at Casablanca Apartments

8486085817_f4d0cd6cce_zThe Casablanca Apartment at 720 North 2nd, Tacoma was originally constructed in 1890, but was significantly remodeled or rebuilt in 1944 by Ray Gamble. The building’s original name was the Lincoln Apartments. During the 18 year (yes, 18 years!) remodel, Mr. Gamble designed the basement level of the building based on tiles he had collected on his international travels. The three story building has 30 units. In the 1960s Mr. Gamble turned over the income from the property to the University of Puget Sound for use as scholarship money.

Tacoma Public Library’s Page on the property includes additional information and photos.

Casablanca

 

 

Any movie buffs recognize this house?

8435970655_f6e8128315_zThis lovely home at 808 North Yakima, Tacoma was used in the 1992 thriller movie, The Hand that Rocks the Cradle. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hand_That_Rocks_the_Cradle_%28film%29. Our family had watched the movie a couple of months earlier and it has held up pretty well.

I found an interesting blog called I Am Not A Stalker, that has a very nice write up here http://www.iamnotastalker.com/2010/11/09/the-hand-that-rocks-the-cradle-house/

Also of interest, is that Tacoma Public Library indicates that President McKinley visited the house, then they go on to say that it might actually may have been President Wm. Howard Taft.

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The Mural at Bergerson Terrace

Another hidden art treasure in Tacoma is the mural at Bergerson Terrace Apartments at 5305 South Orchard. The mural was installed in 2011 and the lead artists were Rachael Dotson, Joni Joachims and Jeremy Gregory.

Great Gate at Viewcrest Terrace Apartments

Viewcrest Apartments at 601 S Jackson Ave (the southeast corner of Jackson and Sixth Avenue) in Tacoma has a wonderful, metal security gate featuring the sun and moon. The relatively small brick apartment complex (8,000 square feet) opened in April 1960.

 

 

Quality Food & Deli, Available

The building at 1302 Tacoma Avenue, Tacoma is mixed use property with the Tacoma Avenue frontage having a vacant convenience store/deli and the part fronting South 13th Street having apartments. I remember when the convenience store was open and it never seemed very welcoming to me. Since its been vacant, it has been repainted to a pleasant dark green. The building in 1926.

Alber’s Mill

Alber’s Mill a 1821 Dock Street in Tacoma was constructed in 1904 and was originally occupied by Albers Brothers Milling Company, which made cereal.  Between 1945 and 1977 it was primarily occupied by Inter-City Auto Freight and Acme Inter City Freight Lines was in place between 1978 and 1982. Per the Tacoma Public Library, other occupants have included Interstate Terminals, Carnation Milk Co., Puget Sound Feed Mill, Totem Stores, Inc., J.H. Galbraith Co., Acme Fast Freight, Inc., National Car Loading Co., John K. Waite Co., Republic Car Loading & Distributing Co., Consolidated Sales Co., Plywood Tacoma, Inc., E.J. Bartells Co., Plywood, Inc., James Stack Co., Associated Grocers, Universal Carloading & Distributing Co., W.S. Walter Co., Best Foods, Flying Tiger Line, Dougherty Sales Co., Merchant Skippers Assoc., Galbraith Motors, Stor-Dor Forwarding Co., Burnham Van Service, Inc., Burnham World Forwarders, K Lines, Inc., Karevan, Inc., Mountain Road Auto Service, Northwest Consolidators, Inc., Sun Pack Movers, Inc., Astron Forwarding Co., Mountain Trucking Co., and Empire Household Goods. In 2003 in was renovated into loft apartments with William Traver Gallery and Vetri International Glass in the street level space. The retail tenants have since vacated. The property is on the National and Tacoma historic registration. In the photo one can see the reflection of the neighboring Glass Museum.

http://www.albersmilllofts.com/index.html