Seattle Historical Sites

Summary for 309 E Harrison ST E / Parcel ID 684770-0365 / Inv #

Historic Name: St. Ingbert Apartments Common Name: St.Ingbert Apartments Style: Art Deco - Zig Zag Neighborhood: Capitol Hill Built By: Year Built: 1928   Significance In the opinion of the survey, this property appears to meet the criteria of the National Register of Historic Places. In the opinion of the survey, this property appears to meet the criteria of the Seattle Landmarks Preservation Ordinance. This building with stylish Art Deco ornament was built by contractor Ludwig J. Hellenthal; the architect is not known. Hellenthal and his wife Edith lived in the Lower Queen Anne area, but his family had been pioneers in Columbia City. Joseph Hellenthal and his wife Susan brought their three children to the United States from his German hometown, St. Ingbert, in 1880. They came to Seattle in 1891 after working in masonry in Pennsylvania and Texas, and built a brick house in Columbia City. A third story was added in 1904, and the building became the Dakota Hotel and later the Columbia Hotel. It is still an important anchor in the Columbia City historic district. (Rainier Valley Historical Society, "Hellenthal Building: Columbia City's Living Room") The St. Ingbert, named for the Hellenthal hometown, is notable for its ornamental brickwork at the parapet and ornate Art Deco entry surround of cast stone. It is largely intact, although some windows have been replaced with one-over-one metal sash.   Appearance The St. Ingbert Apartments have an L-shaped plan, with a garage extending along the east end. It sits on a hillside, with the entry at the northwest corner. It is three stories on East Harrison Street, increasing to six stories at the rear. Cladding is red brick veneer, with stucco on the foundation. Above the top story windows is a large diamond pattern executed in buff-colored brick. The elaborate entry surround is of terra cotta, with wide fluted pilasters flanking the doorway. The pilaster capitals and the area above the doorway have an elaborate Art Deco ornament with an abstract floral motif. The surround extends around the window directly above the entry. Two lantern-style light fixtures flank the entryway. Most windows have eight-over-one leaded sash; some have been replaced with black metal one-over-one sash.

Detail for 309 E Harrison ST E / Parcel ID 684770-0365 / Inv #

Status: Yes - Inventory Classication: Building District Status: Cladding(s): Brick Foundation(s): Concrete - Poured Roof Type(s): Flat with Parapet Roof Material(s): Unknown Building Type: Domestic - Multiple Family Plan: L-Shape Structural System: Concrete - Poured No. of Stories: three Unit Theme(s): Architecture/Landscape Architecture, Community Planning/Development, Ethnic Heritage Integrity Changes to Windows: Slight Changes to Original Cladding: Slight Changes to Plan: Intact Major Bibliographic References Polk's Seattle Directories, 1890-1996. Shaping Seattle Architecture: A Historical Guide to the Architects. Jeffrey Karl Ochsner, ed. Seattle: University of Washington Press, 1994. King County Tax Assessor Records, ca. 1932-1972. City of Seattle, Department of Planning and Development, Microfilm Records.

Photo collection for 309 E Harrison ST E / Parcel ID 684770-0365 / Inv #

Photo taken Mar 16, 2006 Photo taken Mar 16, 2006