Frederick Heath

Frederick Heath (April 15, 1861 – March 3, 1953) was an American architect responsible for numerous projects in Tacoma, Washington. He worked out of his own office and as a senior partner at architectural firms. He was involved with Spaulding, Russell & Heath (with Ambrose J. Russell), and Heath & Gove (later Heath, Gove & Bell). His work included designs for several historic and notable schools, churches, stadiums, and commercial properties.

Background Heath was born in LaCrosse, Wisconsin, and raised in Minnesota, where he attended Powell's Academy.

Heath was the City of Tacoma's official school architect. He also designed the Masonic temple in North Yakima along the lines of interpretive reconstructions of King Solomon's Temple. He planned the 18-story National Realty Building in Tacoma— at the time the tallest building west of the Mississippi River— as well as a number of schools, such as Stadium High School Lincoln High School, and Oakland Alternative High School.

Heath was known as the "Father of the Stadium" for his work on Stadium Bowl in Tacoma, one of his best-known projects. Fellow architect Ambrose J. Russell worked in his Tacoma office.

He designed the Nereides Baths, which were located in Point Defiance Park between 1906 and 1931. The "eclectic building was constructed of logs and somewhat resembled a Swiss chalet". It was an attraction for the area that included Tacoma's first indoor swimming pool. Heath served as president of the park board from 1911 until 1916. Heath also worked on designs for the Greek Theater (Los Angeles) in Griffith Park, Los Angeles. designed the 6th Avenue Baptist Church, the Masonic Home of Washington in Des Moines, and the Sitka Pioneers' Home in Sitka, Alaska. Heath was also involved in the Spaulding, Russell & Heath (Spaulding was a marine architect and was only with the firm for a year) was designed the Frederick H. Murray Residence at 402 North Sheridan Avenue (1901) and the Burton A. Moore Residence at 414 North Sheridan Avenue (1901) in the Tacoma's historic North Slope area. The firm was contracted to supervise the reconstruction of Olympia's old state capitol building after a fire.

Legacy

The Paradise Inn at Mount Rainier (1915) that Heath's firm designed is listed as a landmark on the National Register of Historic Places and the building was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1987.

Pythian Temple was added to the National Register of Historic Places on August 23, 1985.

Stadium High School, featured in the 1999 film 10 Things I Hate About You, underwent a two-year $80 million renovation starting in 2004. The work won several awards.

In 2008, plans for restorations and renovations of historic Tacoma schools, including several designed by Heath and his firm Heath & Gove, were discussed.

Some of Heath's completed projects

Pythian Temple 924-9261⁄2 Broadway, Tacoma (1906) Listed on the National Register of Historic Places Stadium High School, 111 N E St, Tacoma (1906) Tacoma Grocery Co. building, 2108-12 Pacific Avenue (1906) Morris-Miller Co. building, 2102-06 Pacific Avenue (1906)

McKinley Elementary School at 3702 McKinley Ave. (East Side) (1908) Barlow Annex at 3012 S. 59th St. (South Tacoma) (1910) Public library on Railroad and Fifth in Shelton, WA Lincoln High School, 701 South 37th Street, Tacoma (1913) Paradise Inn at Mount Rainier (1915)

First Church of Christ Scientist (1908–1911) (across the street from Wright Park) in Tacoma, Washington Trommald Building (1915), Enumclaw, Washington Auburn Masonic Temple at 10 Auburn Way, Auburn, Washington (1924) Heath, Gove & Bell

Wilkeson School, State Route 165, Wilkeson, Washington

Parks Heath drew up plans for an open air 10,000 seat amphitheater that was proposed for Mount Rubidoux in Riverside, California in 1918. The theater was to be used for conventions and the "established" Easter sunrise service. Nereides Baths (1906) located in Point Defiance Park between 1906 and 1931 Greek Theater in Griffith Park