Seattle Historical Sites

Summary for 441 NE 73rd ST NE / Parcel ID 9528101550 / Inv #

Historic Name: Colson House Common Name: Colson House Style: Vernacular Neighborhood: Green Lake Built By: Year Built: 1904   Significance In the opinion of the survey, this property appears to meet the criteria of the Seattle Landmarks Preservation Ordinance. The Colson House was constructed in 1904. Charles (ca 1869-ca 1930) and Sophie Colson (1864-1946) were both born in Sweden, Charles crossing the Atlantic in 1878 and Sophie following four years later. The couple met in Illinois, married in 1887, and had three children; Frank, Mabel, and Violet. The family moved west in 1902 and settled in the Green Lake neighborhood. In January 1904 the Colsons hired carpenter Olof Wickander to build a house at 441 NE 73rd which was completed by May. The Seattle building permit listed Olof Wickander as the architect and he may have used a design procured from a plan book or house catalog, which was common prior to World War I. Adjacent to his residence, Charles Colson established the Green Lake Fuel Company, which sold cordwood and coal to heat nearby homes. The Colsons also raised chickens in a hen house they built in the rear of the lot. Son Frank Colson's (b. ca 1890) commute included a two block walk to the trolley that ran along NE Green Lake Way which would take him to Moran Shipyards to work as a rivet heater. During the 10 years he lived with his pareents, Frank also worked as an ironworker. In the early 1920s, Charles Colson apparently closed down his fuel yard operations and constructed a house on that site. The Colsons moved into that house where they remained for the rest of their lives. They continued to own their original residence and apparently rented it. Olof Wickander (b. ca 1863) born in Sweden married his wife Martha (b. ca 1865) in 1885 and had two daughters before they immigrated to the United States in 1894. The Olof Wickander family moved from Minnesota to Seattle in 1902 and settled near Green Lake. For the next 30 years Olof built and remodeled houses. Later occupants. In the late 1930s Paul W. Hoffman rented the house for about $25.00 a month and stayed there into the 1950s. Hoffman worked as branch manager for Eba’s Mutual Groceries with 21 Seattle stores, as a driver for Troy Cascade Laundry Company, and then assistant storekeeper for Port of Seattle. In 1957 painting contractor Jene Michaelini and wife Betty purchased the house and moved in. The residence appears to meet City of Seattle Landmark criteria due to the age of the structure (over 100 years old) and minimal alterations. Sources: "Rites Arranged for Mrs. Colson" Seattle Times December 26, 1946. Newspaper Index. Seattle Room, Seattle Public Library, Downtown Branch.   Appearance On January 19, 1904 the Seattle Building Department issued a building permit for a one and a half story 24 x 30 feet cottage. O. Wickanderer is listed as the architect and builder. Sometime prior to 1937 the south elevation porch was enlarged and enclosed and incorporated into a one story 17 x 9 foot addition to the house. The 1905 Sanborn shows a full width north elevation porch. The 1937 house photograph shows the porch extending just half the width of the north elevation and shows no signs that it ever extended across the full width of the house. It appears that the 1905 Sanborn map has an incorrect depiction of the house. Front gable vernacular house with wall gable dormers on the east and west elevations. End gable has fishscale shingles. Porch has heavy tapered posts supporting a hip roof.

Detail for 441 NE 73rd ST NE / Parcel ID 9528101550 / Inv #

Status: Yes - Inventory Classication: Building District Status: Cladding(s): Shingle, Wood - Clapboard Foundation(s): Concrete - Poured Roof Type(s): Gable Roof Material(s): Asphalt/Composition Building Type: Domestic - Single Family Plan: Rectangular Structural System: Balloon Frame/Platform Frame No. of Stories: one & ½ Unit Theme(s): Architecture/Landscape Architecture Integrity Changes to Windows: Intact Changes to Plan: 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. Seattle Daily Bulletin

Photo collection for 441 NE 73rd ST NE / Parcel ID 9528101550 / Inv #

Photo taken Nov 23, 2004