715 North Sheridan Ave (1920)

Here is the heart of the North Slope Historic District, the site of Tacoma pioneer Job Carr’s farmhouse (not to be confused with his first cabin in Old Town), fairly close to the center of his farm. This area was originally known as Job Carr’s Hill.

The house that you see here now was built in 1920 as the home of noted Tacoma architect Roland Borhek.

If you are enjoying the North Slope Historic District walking tour, turn right (North) on to North 9th Street for the next stop on the tour.

Here is the heart of the North Slope Historic District, the site of Job Carr’s farmhouse (not to be confused with his first cabin in Old Town), fairly close to the center of his farm. This area was originally known as Job Carr’s Hill. Carr, a Civil War veteran from Indiana, came to Commencement Bay in 1864 right after the war. That year, the Northern Pacific Railway was granted 40 million acres of public domain land and mineral rights as incentive to build a railroad from Lake Superior to Puget Sound. Carr, alert to the development opportunities, decided to found a city at what he hoped would be the western terminus of the railroad. Carr, along with his sons Anthony and Howard, cleared land and built a cabin at what is now Old Town. In 1869 Job received a land grant of 168 acres in the area we know as Old Town today. His sons also received similar land grants that year. Carr became the first postmaster and his cabin served as the post office. He was also the first mayor.

In 1868 Carr sold his Old Town property to Morton McCarver. In 1872 Carr filed for and received a Homestead Claim for 166 acres for a farm on the hillside above the new town, which became known as Job Carr's Hill. He built a farmhouse and fruit orchard. He lived here until 1884 when he moved to Olympia with his new wife. He appears to have returned to Tacoma about 1886 though it is not known if he returned to the farmhouse. He died in Tacoma in 1887. The farmhouse remained in the family until the last of the farm was subdivided and sold off in 1910. The farmhouse was torn down in 1920.

The house that you see here now was built in 1920 as the home of noted Tacoma architect Roland Borhek. Borhek came to Tacoma in 1907 and worked here until he retired in 1942. Originally from Boston he came west in 1905 and became chief draftsman for Augustus Warren Gould of Seattle, designing several large buildings in Seattle, Tacoma, and Spokane. In 1910 Borhek opened his own firm in Tacoma. He designed the Walker Hotel, along with the Rialto Theatre (1918), Puget Sound Bank Building (1912), and the Pacific Garage. He also designed Jason Lee Middle School (1924), possibly the first middle school in Washington State. He served as president of Tacoma Architects Association for a decade and was affiliated with the American Institute of Architects.

For more on architect Roland Borhek and Tacoma pioneer Job Carr, follow the links below.

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