Historic Property Inventory Report for Changes t o plan :
Parkland School
Extensive
Changes to original cladd ing :
Changes to interior: Moderate
Intact
Changes to other:
Extensive
at
1 2 1 08 Pacific A ve S. Parkland (Tacoma. WA 9844 7
Form/Type
Style
Art Deco - PWA Moderne
Commercial - Central Block with Wings
Modern Queen Anne - Richardsonian Romanesque Changes t o windows:
Moderate
Cladding
Other (specify):
1 908 South Facade
Foundation
Concrete - Block
Concrete - Poured Concrete - Block
Roof Material
Asphalt I Composition - Built Up Asphalt I Composition - Shingle
Roof Type
Varied Roof Lines Flat with Parapet Hip - Parallel Hipped Gable
INARRA TIVE SECTION Study Unit
Date Of Construction :
Other
Education
Private Colleges & Universitie
Ethnic Heritage
Norwegian / Scandinavian
Religion
Lutheran
Architect:
1 908. 1 920. 1 937? 1 942
Wilfred J. Plouffe. Lundberg and Mahon. Mock and M
Bui lder: Concrete Construction Co. Engineer:
Unknown Property appears to meet criteria for the National Register of Historic Places: Yes Property is located in a potential historic district (National and/or local) :
Unable t o Determine
Property potentially contributes to a historic district (National and/or local): Statement of Significan,ce
No observed differences since the October 1 998 survey prepared by C. Holstine. Her entry is as follows: "For the past 90 [currently 1 00] years, Parkland Grade School has stood as a landmark of education in the heart of the community named for its original park-like beauty. Despite early and more recent modifications and additions, the school retains most of its character-defining exterior, as well as numerous interior spaces and features that evoke a sense of its long and important role in the education of the community's youngest students. As such, the Parkland School (including the 1 908. 1 920, and 1 937 structures) appears to meet the eligibility requirements of the National Register of Historic Places under Criterion A. (The 1 948 wing and anached 1 91 5 Manual Training and Domestic Science building do not appear eligible, however) . With the possible exception of the large oak tree south of the school . And equally large (and presumably old) maples and spruce to the north, none of the landscape elements appear to contribute to the school's eligibility, i ncluding the laurel hedge along the SR 7 right-of-way i n front of the school , which is a later addition to the school grounds. Built in 1 908, the oldest portion of the school was designed by W ilfred J. Plouffe, an architect responsible for at least seven other buildi ngs in Tacoma and the Woodland School in Puyallup. Born in Michigan, Plouffe practiced in the Tacoma area from his office in the Klaber Building on South Tacoma Avenue. He spent the last seven years of his life near Eatonville, where he died in 1 932. As Parkland grew as a result of its location along a major transportation route serving nearby Tacoma. And in response to the World War I military expansion at Fort Lewis and, later, McChord Air Force Base, Parkland School expanded in kind. Architects Lundberg and Mahon designed a four-classroom addition on the rear of the original school in 1 920, while Mock and Morrison designed the gymnasium in 1 937 (Historic Building File, Tacoma Public Library Northwest Room; Obituary, Tacoma News Tribune 8 September 1 932, p. 2; Polk's 1 908). Thomas and Agness Tellentire claimed 640 acres on what was, in the 1 850s, known as Washington Prairie, which i ncluded this school property among lands extending one-half mile east and west of Pacific Avenue (SR 7). In 1 88 7 Parkland Grade School was built on land donated by W illiam Wilson east of Pacific Avenue at its junction with 1 21 st Street.
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