February 11, 2014 · Derek

A Rare Vintage Look at Tacoma

Here's a little discovery that brings joy to our Tacoma history loving hearts. Several people posted on Facebook last night this vintage 8mm footage of Tacoma's Stadium District. We see Yakima Avenue, Division, North I, North D, and North J streets. There are people in the streets of downtown Tacoma, and priceless footage of classic homes, some now long gone.

We are particularly drawn to Russell & Babcock designed William Sheard mansion at 509 North Yakima Avenue. The huge mission style home was built in 1907. It was leased by John Philip Weyerhauser for several years. It was later renamed "Villa Montana" by John Buffelen. The home eventually fell into disrepair, and was demolished in 1959 to make way for the Vista Palms apartment.

What do you see?

Filed under: History, Historic Preservation

8 comments

Sarah February 11, 2014

What a great find. Love seeing the Sheard mansion, it would be unbelievable to see that place now, what a lose.
Amanda February 11, 2014

Early google earth prototype
Jenny J February 11, 2014

What I'm noticing - other than how flat and smooth the streets and sidewalks appear - is how few fences I see. All the properties seem so open to the street. It's kind of nice.
nosaturn February 11, 2014

Yet again, I have to remind ya'll that's my great grandfather's old place. :) my dad lived there for a few years too. Thanks for the video!
Jesse February 11, 2014

Very cool. I wish it were narrated so I knew what I was looking at.
thackerspeed February 12, 2014

At one scene break, the car turns right at North 6th and North E ST, and heads south toward Stadium High School. The two blocks of houses on the east side of North E ST between North 6th and North 4th are still standing. As the car turns right on North 4th ST, the camera shows homes that no longer stand along the west side of North E ST from North 4th to North Stadium Way. That stretch now contains a parking lot for the Vista Del Rey apartments, and south of that a vacant grassy field, and finally on the corner lot at North Stadium Way, stands a condominium. What does remain along the west side of North E ST is a staircase mid-block, and a concrete retaining wall along the sidewalk.
Bryan Flint February 12, 2014

Someone need to go through the streets and show today in the same order.
ErinK February 17, 2014

Amazing! Thanks for putting together and sharing!