William R. Rust House - Tacoma, WA
Posted by: 
Hikenutty
N 47° 15.906 W 122° 27.376
10T E 541132 N 5234767
The ornately decorated Rust House was built in 1915 in the 20th Century Italian Villa style, and is considered a pivotal structure. It is one of over 175 contributing structures within the Stadium-Seminary National Historic District.
Waymark Code: WM3444
Location: Washington, United States
Date Posted: 02/06/2008
Views: 17
William R. Rust was the president of the Tacoma Smelter and Refining Co. and I have to wonder if this house was built by William R. Rust, Jr. because just 10 years before this house was constructed Rust had a beautiful
mansion built in what is now the North Slope National Historic District.
Whatever the case may be, this somewhat ostentatious Italian Villa sytle home, built in 1915, is considered to be a pivotal structure in the Stadium District. I doubt that the large, cast-iron sculptures along the front walkway were original. There are also two large fountains on either side of the walkway, adding to the very formal, ornate feel of the home.
The narrative for the historic district states the following:
The Stadium-Seminary Historic District is significant to the city of Tacoma as a sizeable, intact residential area which was the ultimate in fashion, particularly during its zenith between the turn of the century and the period of the First World War. Within its boundaries are several institutional buildings of monumental proportion as well as examples of nearly every residential style current in the Pacific Northwest between 1888 and 1930.