720 North Sheridan Ave (1908)

Through this portion of the North Slope Historic District walking tour, this next section of North Sheridan and North M includes several Craftsman homes, Cape Cods, and Tudor cottages mostly from the North Slope’s third building phase from about 1919 to 1930. By this time the North Slope had become an older middle-class urban neighborhood. Residents at the time were salesmen, engineers, carpenters, and bookkeepers.

This 1908 residence was built as a regional variation of the Four-Square style, sometimes referred to as the “Seattle Box.” The style is distinguished by a recessed front porch, which often only covers a portion of the front. Second floor corner windows project on the main façade, and were designed to provide dramatic views. The center of the second floor is also commonly accented with a small exotically designed window or occasionally a pairing of windows.

This house was originally the home of C. A. Mudgett, a local grocer.

Courtesy of Tacoma Historical Society:

"Charles M. Mudgett built this 24-by-36 foot house on North Sheridan in 1908. He came to Tacoma in 1896 as a grocer. By the time the house was completed he was owner of the Pacific Fuel Company. Charles lived in this house with his wife Marilla, daughters Roberta and Ellen, his mother, and one servant. He also died in the house in 1925 at the age of 55.

"Between 1934 and 1945 the house was home to George Milton Savage, his wife Anne, and his daughter Ethel F. Clark. Both father and daughter died here in 1938 and 1954 respectively. Anne was a true native Washington pioneer being the granddaughter of Michael T. Simmons, who migrated to Puget Sound in 1845. She was also the niece of the infamous Dr. David Maynard, and was born in his house in Seattle. George M. Savage came to Tacoma in 1884 to become one of the city's primary contractors and street builders. Early on he joined with George Scofield to form the Savage-Scofield Company. In the 1920s, Savage branched out on his own by establishing the George Milton Savage Company. He was directly instrumental in the construction of Stadium High School and the Nisqually River power plant at La Grande, among many other projects. His handiwork can also be seen in the remaining cobblestone streets in Tacoma's North End."²

1. A Walking Tour of the North Slope Historic District. Tacoma, WA. Historic Tacoma Press, 2008.
2. Historic Homes of Tacoma Tour 2000. Tacoma, WA. Tacoma Historical Society, 2000.