Seattle Historical Sites

Summary for Building 917 / Parcel ID 1525039012 / Inv #

Historic Name: Quartermaster Stables Common Name: Style: Vernacular Neighborhood: Magnolia Built By: Year Built: 1902   Significance Fort Lawton is located in Seattle's Magnolia neighborhood, within the area that is now Discovery Park. Established as a U.S. Army post in 1898, the fort had been envisioned by local residents and businessmen as a major regimental post, with the hope that it would enhance the local economy and the city’s status in its ongoing competition with Tacoma to the south. Upon selection of the site, local landowners donated more than 700 acres for the fort. By 1900, construction of the first seven permanent, wood-frame buildings on the site was completed. While local aspirations for the fort were slow to be realized, initial construction continued through 1910, at which time there was an assembly of 25 buildings set around an oval-shaped parade ground. While Fort Lawton never became as large or influential as Seattle residents had anticipated, during World War II it was the second-largest port of embarkation on the West Coast. After the 1940s, the use of the fort declined again and many of the temporary and wartime buildings were removed. The Army stayed on until 1972, at which time it transferred ownership of a portion of Fort Lawton to the City of Seattle. A large portion of the post, including its historic core area, with 25 buildings and parade ground, was surplused by the Army and added to Discovery Park in the mid-1970s. The Fort Lawton Historic District was nominated to and listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. The City of Seattle designated Fort Lawton as a local historic district in 1988. The Fort Lawton Historic District is associated with the development and the history of the City of Seattle; and embodies the characteristics of military interpretations of American architectural styles of the 1890s and early 1900s, based on standard Quartermaster General building designs, as well as its planned site. The period of significance for the Fort Lawton Historic District extends from its inception in 1898 to 1945, based on the development of the post, with additional buildings and site features resulting from the Depression-era public works, and the fort's role in WWII. Building 917 was constructed in 1902 as a Quartermaster Stable. It is one of two remaining stables at Fort Lawton.   Appearance The two remaining stable buildings are located in the northwestern portion of the Historic District, their narrow south facades facing onto Utah Street. Placed side by side, they are surrounded by an open, grassy area which has few apparent design features. Building 917 – Quartermaster Stables (Completed April 24, 1902) Located on the north side of Utah Street, south of Building 916, this one-and-a-half-story, frame structure sits on an unpainted brick foundation. Its original dimensions were 60' by 33', and in 1907 a 51' by 33' addition was constructed on the north end. A long, gabled roof spans the structure, which has two ventilators. Now asphalt-shingled, the roof was originally slate-shingled, with contrasting color shingles to spell out "Fort Lawton." The open eaves feature scrolled rafter tails. This simple building is clad with lapped cedar siding and has corner boards, gable end trim and simple trim around window and door openings. Two large loading doors are located on the west façade. These were added circa 1940, when a plank warehouse floor was installed 2' above the original stable floor. A large door on the south façade has been covered with siding. According to the 1981 HABS report, the interior originally featured 22 stall spaces, framed haydrops, a metal-lined grain room in the loft, and a hand-operated lift. This building is vacant and has been mothballed since the late 1980s/early 1990s. Window openings have been covered with wood panels.

Detail for Building 917 / Parcel ID 1525039012 / Inv #

Status: Yes - Inventory Classication: Building District Status: NR, LR Cladding(s): Wood - Clapboard Foundation(s): Brick Roof Type(s): Gable Roof Material(s): Asphalt/Composition-Shingle Building Type: Defense - Military facility Plan: Rectangular Structural System: Balloon Frame/Platform Frame No. of Stories: one & ½ Unit Theme(s): Architecture/Landscape Architecture, Community Planning/Development, Military Integrity Changes to Plan: Slight Changes to Interior: Slight Major Bibliographic References Lentz, Florence, et al. "Historic American Buildings Survey, Fort Lawton." U.S. Dept. of the Interior, National Park Service, Pacific Northwest Region, 1981. Kavanaugh, Major Robert E. "Fort Lawton." National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form, January 1978. Mann, Millegan, Morse and Ramsey. "Fort Lawton Buildings: A Survey and Report, Prepared for City of Seattle Parks and Recreation." August 15, 1975. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Seattle District. "Context Study of the United States Quartermaster General Standardized Plans 1866-1942." Report prepared for U.S. Army Environmental Ctr, Envir. Compliance Division, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md., Nov. 1997.

Photo collection for Building 917 / Parcel ID 1525039012 / Inv #

Photo taken Mar 15, 2007