1015 & 1021 North 5th Street (1905)

The Cornell brothers, Ernest and Daniel, operated one of Tacoma’s largest construction firms. In 1905 they built these two residences for themselves: Ernest at 1015 and Daniel at 1021. Since no architect is listed, it’s likely that they designed the houses themselves. The Cornell Brothers built many houses in the North Slope as well as First Presbyterian Church, the grain elevators, the Elks Building (now McMenamins Elks Temple), and much of Camp Lewis (now Fort Lewis) in World War I.

The Cornell brothers, Ernest and Daniel, operated one of Tacoma’s largest construction firms. In 1905 they built these two residences for themselves: Ernest at 1015 and Daniel at 1021. Since no architect is listed, it’s likely that they designed the houses themselves. The Cornell Brothers built many houses in the North Slope as well as First Presbyterian Church, the grain elevators, the Elks Building (now McMenamins Elks Temple), and much of Camp Lewis (now Fort Lewis) in World War I. In the late 20th century, the house at 1021 N 5th St. underwent a massive addition to the top floor which drastically changed the roofline.

Ernest C. and Daniel Cornell, natives of Ohio, moved to Tacoma in the late 1880s. The brothers started working in the contracting business immediately, and for a while partnered together. By the 1920s they helped create the firm of Albertson, Cornell Brothers & Walsh, a large business which constructed roads, erected power stations and a large part of Fort Lewis during World War I. The firm’s average payroll included between 400 and 600 men, although to build Fort Lewis the firm employed more than 10,000 men. Daniel Cornell later became vice president of the Washington Paving Company. Both the brothers were active in community affairs, particularly with fraternal orders, and were members of the Masons, Knights Templar, Scottish Rite, Elks, and the Union Club.

OTHER HOMES BUILT BY THE CORNELL BROTHERS

• 1319 North 4th Street (1895)
• 615 North Ainsworth Street (1901)
• 624 North J Street (1902)
• 1102 North J Street (1901)
• 1415 North J Street (1901)
• 407 North K Street (1906)
• 409 North K Street (1891)
• 613 North K Street (1901)
• 707 North K Street (1903)
• 1022 North K Street (1901)

A Walking Tour of the North Slope Historic District. Tacoma, WA. Historic Tacoma Press, 2008.