Significance |
In the opinion of the survey, this property appears to meet the criteria of the Seattle Landmarks Preservation Ordinance. |
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The Kreyscher/Edgell House was constructed in 1905. William H. Kreyscher (b. ca 1866), born and raised in Pennsylvania by German parents, married Ann (b. 1858) about 1895. Ann, the daughter of German immigrants, also was born and lived until adulthood in Pennsylvania. They arrived in Seattle about 1900 with their four year old daughter, also called Ann. Architect and builder, Kreyscher was drawn to Seattle by its booming real estate market. Although he took commissions to design residences, Kreyscher devoted most of his time purchasing vacant land, building homes, and selling them to the influx of newcomers. During late winter of 1904-1905, he purchased four lots and on April 6 acquired a building permit (# 34095) to build "4 - 1 story frame Cottages," each measuring 24 x 36 feet. He went right to work. Apparently during construction, Kreyscher decided to increase the size of the residences. By July, he completed the houses, which had increased in size to 24 x 48 feet. Kreyscher continued constructing Seattle houses for another year when he sold his business and moved out of town.
Kreyscher apparently sold the house to real estate agent Harvey J. Edgell who rented it. In 1910, two families lived in the house. Newlyweds Robert (b. ca 1872) and Hulda (b. ca 1871) Paterson who, in 1893, both immigrated to the United States, met and by 1909 had married and moved to Seattle. The other family, the Augustines with their newborn daughter were the other family living in the house. Henry Augustine, and his wife Hannah were also Swedes who had immigrated to the States in 1902 and married in 1909. Robert Paterson worked in a meat packing plant and Henry Augustine, a machinist, worked in a shipyard.
In 1911, Edgell sold the house to Italian Tomasso 'Thomas' Scalzo (b. ca 1872). In 1905 he arrived in the United States. Two years later, Florence (b. ca 1895) immigrated from the same country and they soon met and married. The year they moved into the house Florence gave birth to their first child, Emma. By 1920, their household increased to five with the arrival of Joe (b. 1912) and Victor (b. 1920). At the time they moved into the house, Scalzo clerked for wholesaler Magnano & Company which continued for four years. For a year he was a teamster. In 1916, he established himself as a sewer contractor, which continued until he sold the house. In 1925 John Franzini purchased the house from Scalzo.
The residence appears to meet City of Seattle Landmark criteria due to the age of the structure (about 100 years old), and minimal alterations. The two similar adjacent vernacular houses, designed and built by the same architect makes for a unique group of residences from this period.
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