Seattle Historical Sites

Summary for 7454 4th AVE / Parcel ID 9528101230 / Inv #

Historic Name: McMillin House Common Name: McMillin House Style: Vernacular Neighborhood: Green Lake Built By: Year Built: 1903   Significance In the opinion of the survey, this property appears to meet the criteria of the Seattle Landmarks Preservation Ordinance. The McMillan House was constructed in 1903. In early May 1903, Seventh Day Adventist Pastor Hans Wollekar deeded some Green Lake property to recent Seattle arrival, John C. McMillin (also spelled McMillen). A month later McMillin procured a building permit and hired architect and builder Ottis Kellberg (sp?) to start building a 24 ft x 24 ft house. No information on Ottis Kellberg has been located. Before the end of 1903, Kellberg completed the house and the McMillins moved in. The family included John McMillin, a woodsman and lumberman, Ophelia McMillin, a cook at the Good Health Restaurant, George McMillin, a laborer, and Jesse McMillin. Jesse would walk two blocks to East Green Lake Boulevard (later renamed Aurora Ave N) to catch the Green Lake streetcar to downtown Seattle to commute to her job at the Bon Marche department store. The streetcar, which originally ran along the eastside of Green Lake terminating at the northwest side of the lake, had just been extended south along the west side of Green Lake through Woodland Park. The route completely encircled the lake and many considered it the most scenic streetcar route in the city. John McMillin worked for a short period as installer for the city water department. After John McMillin died about 1927, widow Ophelia lived there through World War II and then her daughter Jessie McMillin Williams occupied the house through the 1940s. Later occupants. In 1951 Mary J. Kanski purchased the house for $7,000. Seattle Transit bus driver Fred E. and Phyllis E. Starkey lived in the house in 1951. By the mid 1950s Joseph H. Jaeger, a real estate agent for Square Deal Realty and his wife Lois A. occupied the house, followed by Adelbert F. and Mary C. Hatch. Hatch worked as chief mechanic for Frosted Fruit Products. The 1975 Historic Seattle Survey of the Greenlake neighborhood listed the building as Significant to the Community. The residence appears to meet City of Seattle Landmark criteria due to the age of the structure (over 100 years old) and minimal alterations. Variant spellings. The following spellings were listed for the John C. McMillin family - McMillan, McMillian, McMillin, McMullen, McMullian, McMullin.   Appearance On June 11, 1903 Ottis Kellberg procured a building permit for a one and a half story 24 x 24 feet residence estimated to be worth $850 (permit # 20993). Kellberg was listed as architect and builder. The 1905 Sanborn map shows a one story 12 x 25 foot 'addition' in the rear (east side). This is likely a preexisting building that was incorporated into the 1903 building. A side gable house with a central gable wall dormer on the west elevation. A wrap around porch extends along the entire west and south elevations of the 1903 house. Square posts support the hip porch roof. Slight alterations to windows.

Detail for 7454 4th AVE / Parcel ID 9528101230 / Inv #

Status: Yes - Inventory Classication: Building District Status: Cladding(s): Wood - Drop siding Foundation(s): Concrete - Block, Post & Pier Roof Type(s): Gable Roof Material(s): Asphalt/Composition Building Type: Domestic - Single Family Plan: Irregular Structural System: Balloon Frame/Platform Frame No. of Stories: one & ½ Unit Theme(s): Architecture/Landscape Architecture Integrity Changes to Plan: Slight Changes to Windows: Slight Changes to Original Cladding: Intact Major Bibliographic References City of Seattle DCLU Microfilm Records. King County Property Record Card (c. 1938-1972), Washington State Archives. Polk's Seattle Directories, 1890-1996. Sanborn Map Company. Insurance Maps of Seattle, Washington. (New York, Sanborn Map Company, 1904-1905) 4 volumes. Sanborn Map Company. Insurance Maps of Seattle, Washington. (New York, Sanborn Map Company, 1916-1919) volumes 1, 3, 4, 5, 6. Sanborn Map Company. Insurance Maps of Seattle, Washington. (New York, Sanborn Map Company, 1949-1950 update) 11 volumes.

Photo collection for 7454 4th AVE / Parcel ID 9528101230 / Inv #

Photo taken Nov 23, 2004