1501 North 5th Street (1904)

In 1904 Charles Bartz, owner of Tacoma Millwork Supply, built this unique Four-Square with a two-story bay as his residence. Bartz was a native of Germany, and originally settled in La-Crosse, Wisconsin. Although he only lived here a few years, the house showcased his millwork. Most of the woodwork on the main floor was originally golden oak, with imitation birch floors. The second level floors were fir. Sadly many of the interior finishes were lost when it was divided into apartments.

In 1904 Charles Bartz, owner of Tacoma Millwork Supply, built this unique Four-Square with a two-story bay as his residence. Bartz was a native of Germany, and originally settled in La-Crosse, Wisconsin. Although he only lived here a few years, the house showcased his millwork. Most of the woodwork on the main floor was originally golden oak, with imitation birch floors. The second level floors were fir. Sadly many of the interior finishes were lost when it was divided into apartments.¹

By 1907 the house was owned by W. A. Barnes, a Toronto, Canada native who worked in the real estate and insurance industry. The family had quite a surprise in April of 1918—they returned home from an evening out and found that thieves had not only stolen cash and jewelry, but had helped themselves to dinner, even carrying off sardines, bread and butter, and a cake! Mr. Barnes served as president of the Tacoma Real Estate Board, and vice-president of the Northwest Real Estate Association.

Courtesy of Tacoma Historical Society:

"In 1949, the house was purchased by Emmett and Lucille Anderson. Active in the Tacoma Elks, Emmett was, coincidentally, born in Tacoma on January 17, 1890, the same day the local lodge was established. He became not only leader of the Tacoma lodge but rose to be the Grand Exalted Ruler of the national order. Anderson also entered politics and was elected Lieutenant Governor in 1952. In 1956, he won the Republican nomination for governor, but was defeated in the general election by Albert Rosellini (another Tacoma native). Anderson ran his own printing business, Anderson Printing Company, for many years.

"The original cost of the nine room house was $4,500. It has a pyramidal hip roof with flared eaves and a wraparound porch supported by square columns. On the right is a two-story round bay that projects forward, an interesting variation of the standard foursquare box design.

"The interior of the home has colonial touches in the downstairs rooms, which have dark oak floors. The entry is spacious and features a fireplace with small green tablet tiles and leaded glass side cabinets. An elegant open stairway on the left leads upstairs. The living room to the right has a fireplace with tiles that match the entry fireplace. An enclosed portion of the original wraparound porch provides a small office off the living room. The dining room has a third fireplace. Unlike the entry and living room fireplaces, the dining room fireplace has small brown tablet tiles and a very omate surround. Beyond the dining room are the main floor bath and a family room. Both of these rooms are the result of a 1948 addition. Upstairs the master bedroom has a rounded bay. Both the master bedroom and the other front bedroom have interesting v-angle windows. There are two rooms in the finished third floor.

"In 2005 the current owners purchased the house, which had been made into a duplex in the late 1950s, and have been painstakingly renovating and restoring it to its original design as a single-family home."²

After the Bartz residence, to continue the North Slope Historic District walking tour, head to North Sheridan and turn left (west).

1. A Walking Tour of the North Slope Historic District. Tacoma, WA. Historic Tacoma Press, 2008.
2. Historic Homes of Tacoma Tour 2009. Tacoma, WA. Tacoma Historical Society, 2009