Built by Western Builders, Inc. in 1925, this "Electro-Ease" model home - the second in Tacoma - featured nearly every electrical household device on the market at the time, including an electric piano, sewing machine, range, refrigerator and furnace. In addition to all of the electronics, the house served as a showcase for local purveyors of fine furnishings and fixtures. The house was opened to the public upon completion and hosted more than 3,000 visitors during its first week on the market. It was purchased fully furnished by Albert and Adelina Innocenti for $7,500.
Born in Italy circa 1893, Albert Innocenti was living in Tacoma by the early 1910s. He was a member of the Tacoma Eagles and the Tacoma Elks Lodge, and he worked officially as the manager of a “soft drinks” establishment on Jefferson Ave during the prohibition era. In truth, Innocenti was also the owner of the Lucky Silver Tavern on South Tacoma Way, and he made the news in August of 1931 when his home on Union Ave was raided by federal prohibition agents. Barrels of moonshine were discovered in the basement along with a concrete tunnel – with locked doors at both ends - connecting the basement of the house to the garage on N. 22nd St. The liquor cache in the basement also had a special platform for the loading and unloading of shipments. Law enforcement reportedly found documents pointing to a larger bootlegging ring, but those documents were quashed in federal court and Albert was only convicted on state liquor charges. He lived in the house until his death in 1974. Adelina died in 1989. The couple had no children.