Recognize this home? It’s known by some as the Galbraith home and is still there today — near the Millpond Park. The home was built for John H. Galbraith in 1925 and was added to the National Register in 1982.
Mill President & Mayor
The Galbraith name was well known in Eatonville, especially in the early part of the 1900s. T. S. Galbraith was one of the owners of the Eatonville mill. And in 1922 you would have referred to J. H. Galbraith as Mayor.
T. S. Galbraith operated a saw mill and shingle mill in Tacoma, before it burned down. Around 1913, after operating the Eatonville mill for two years, he and E. J. McNeeley bought a controlling interest in the company and reorganized with E. J. McNeeley as president, T. S. Galbraith as VP and mangaer, S. L. Barnes as secretary and J. H. Glabraith, treasure.
In 1925 E. J. McNeeley sold his stock to T. S. Glabraith and in 1930 T.S. sold his stock to John H. Glabraith who then became president. It wasn’t until 1941 when J. H. Galbraith sold his interest in the mill. He moved to Gig Harbor. (History of Southeastern Pierce County.)
Photo courtesy of the Tacoma Public Library archives.
Click on image to enlarge.
Eatonville To Rainier 
11 responses to “Galbraith home 1925-today”
I always go by this house in old milltown, whenever I come to Eatonville. I think this house has such distinction, and glamour. A real landmark of the glory days of Eatonville Milltown. I wonder if it had a ForSale sign in front of it, if I would be tempted to buy it !! It is like the Ohop Bob, of Milltown !!
LikeLike
Yes, the home even looks better today. I need to take a picture and put it up. 🙂
LikeLike
I’m guessing but the school bus looks like a mid 1930’s or later.
LikeLike
Pat, this is the same model of school bus that was in a previous posting, with the buses all in front of the school. They were determined to be ’38 or’39 International buses.
LikeLike
[…] Clint in 1934. At the time, it was one of two car dealerships in this area. The other was owned by J. H. Galbraith, the owner of Eatonville Lumber […]
LikeLike
John Galbraith was my grandfather’s best friend. My grandfather, William Hill, managed the Standard Oil depot in Eatonville. The last time I was in town, it was still there, as was my grandparents’ house, a couple blocks away from the Galbraiths’. When the Galbraiths left Eatonville, they moved into the vacation house they had built in the 1930s in Rosedale, near Gig Harbor. In 1946, my grandparents bought a house across Lay Inlet from the Galbraiths’. Both houses were build by the same man, a retired boat builder named Combs. When the Galbraiths sent out a photo Christmas card in the 1940s, my Grandfather countered with a parody Christmas card of the barn in his own yard. Linked below, if the link works…
Rosedale Christmas Cards
LikeLike
Thank you SO much for the information and the Christmast cards. I’m going to take your “reply” and cards and put them up as a post so no one will miss them. Thank you again. Keep the images and stories coming! 🙂 Diane
LikeLike
[…] John Galbraith way my grandfather’s best friend. My grandfather, William Hill, managed the Standard Oil depot in Eatonville. The last time I was in town, it was still there, as was my grandparents’ house, a couple blocks away from the Galbraiths’. […]
LikeLike
[…] there were financial difficulties and new management was needed. The Bank of California hired T. S. Galbraith to operate the mill. He came to Eatonville in the fall of 1909 and his family moved up the following […]
LikeLike
What is going on with the house? It’s in shambles and it made me so sad to see it in this shape. Is it being restored?
LikeLike
Not sure. It looks like they are renovating.
LikeLike