Seattle Historical Sites

Summary for 302 W Howe ST W / Parcel ID 2397100901 / Inv #

Historic Name: Carlson House Common Name: Carlson/Hemen House Style: Vernacular Neighborhood: Queen Anne Built By: Year Built: 1905   Significance In the opinion of the survey, this property appears to meet the criteria of the Seattle Landmarks Preservation Ordinance. The Carlson/Hemen House was constructed in 1905. In 1905, shortly after carpenter Swan A. Carlson arrived in Seattle, he acquired some Queen Anne property, hired architects Knapp and West, and building contractor Eric J. Hoberg. On Saturday February 25, 1905 the city issued Swan A. Carlson three building permits to build three houses at 302, 306, and 310 W Howe Street. Hoberg, who spent three or four years building houses in Seattle completed the houses by summer or fall 1905. Shortly after Hoberg finished the house at 302 W Howe Street, Swan Carlson sold it to John F. Hemen (1868-1937). Born in Wisconsin to a German father and raised in Montana, Hemen arrived in Seattle in the spring 1883 when the town's population was just 6,645. He was a member of the Seattle Fire Department when downtown Seattle burned down in June 1889. Hemen got swept up in the 1897 Klondike Gold Rush and remained a miner for a number of years after his return to Seattle. He later joined the King County Engineering Department. Hemen never lived in the house, but served as its landlord, leasing it to the influx of new Seattle arrivals. He sold it during the 1910s. Later occupants. In 1910, lawyer Charles T. Hutson (b. ca 1876) and family rented the house for seven years. He arrived in Seattle from Wisconsin in 1907 and worked for the U.S. District Attorney for four years and a partner in a legal firm until 1918. When they moved into the house the family included Charles, Jennie A. (b. ca 1877) his wife of three years, and newborn daughter Helen. By 1910, the household increased by daughter Elizabeth (b. 1909) and Swedish born domestic servant Hilma Kalberg (b. ca 1891). In 1920 Richard B. Wegner, owner of Wegner Optical, and his wife Rilla purchased the house and moved in. A few years later Richard Wegner died and Rilla continued to live in the house through the 1940s. By the mid-1950s, Serge I. and Miriam J. Peck occupied the house. Serge Peck repaired appliances for Magnolia Radio & Appliance. In 1957, Boeing illustrator Ronald A. and Barbara J. Ligshay moved in and lived there into the 1960s. Due to its age, minimal alterations, and vernacular style, the Carlson/Hemen House appears to meet City of Seattle Landmark criteria. Sources: "John Hemen Rites Thursday" Clipping file, University of Washington Special Collections. "City Records. Building Permits." #s 33138, 33140, 33141. Seattle Daily Bulletin February 27, 1905 p. 2   Appearance On February 25, 1905 builder E. J. Hoburg acquired a building permit to construct a "1 1/2 story frame cottage 24 x 34 [feet]" designed by Knapp & West (# 33138). The building department gave 90 days to complete the house sited on a corner lot. The side gable house has two large hip dormers with a double hung window with a leaded glass upper sash centered between two decorative circular windows. The same arrangement of windows are on the east and west elevation gable ends. East elevation has a three sided bay window topped by a roof. Upper sash of most of the double hung windows are leaded glass. Recessed porch has a decorative square column. A second floor window has an altered surround. Exterior chimney added to house.

Detail for 302 W Howe ST W / Parcel ID 2397100901 / 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 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 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 302 W Howe ST W / Parcel ID 2397100901 / Inv #

Photo taken Dec 23, 2004