Significance |
In the opinion of the survey, this property appears to meet the criteria of the Seattle Landmarks Preservation Ordinance. |
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The Kreyscher/McCue House was constructed in 1905. William Kreyscher (b. 1866), an architect and builder, moved to Seattle near the beginning of the city's biggest building boom. Between 1900 and 1910, Seattle tripled in population from about 80,000 to over 240,000 and they all needed shelter. In 1895, Pensylvannia born William H. Kreyscher, raised by German parents, married anther Pennsylvania native of German heritage before moving west. William, his wife Ann, and their only child arrived in Seattle about 1900. Although he took commissions to design residences, Kreyscher devoted most of his time to purchasing vacant land, building homes and selling them to newcomers. During the late winter of 1904-1905, he purchased four lots on on April 6 obtained a building permit (# 34095) to build "4 - 1 story frame Cottages," each measuring 24 x 36 feet. By the time they were completed, in July 1905, the houses increased in size to 24 x 48 feet. Kreyscher continued constructing Seattle houses for another year when he sold out his business and left the city.
About 1908, Kreyscher sold the house to John McCue (b. ca 1874). In 1890, McCue immigrated from Ireland to the United States. Fourteen years later, John McCue lived in Montana, with Nellie (b. ca 1881), his Irish born bride of three years, and their newborn son John. In 1908 they moved to Seattle and purchased the house that they would remain in for the next three decades. The household population continued to increase, so that by 1920, five additional sons increased the family to eight.
The residence appears to meet City of Seattle Landmark criteria due to the age of the structure (about 100 years old), and minimal alterations. The two similar adjacent vernacular houses, designed and built by the same architect makes for a unique group of residences from this period.
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