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Summary for 6906 CARLETON AVE / Parcel ID 3468800520 / Inv # 0
Historic Name: Benjamin W. Ehring House Common Name:
Style: Arts & Crafts - Craftsman Neighborhood: Georgetown
Built By: Year Built: 1919
 
Significance

Based on field work conducted in September 2014, this historic property retains its relationship to the streetscape, historic building form and a sufficient amount of exterior historic building fabric (design features, cladding and/or window sash/openings) to contribute to the distinct historic character of the Georgetown neighborhood. This is a well-preserved historic property that appears to possess architectural and/or historic significance. This property appears to have been well maintained and exhibits no substantive changes to the exterior appearance since it was identified in the 1997 HRI project.


(1997) This property is associated with an era of residential and commercial building between 1916 and 1942 which continued in Georgetown despite an acceleration of the trends toward the industrialization of the area. Significant changes came with prohibition and the closure of the brewery in 1916, the completion of the Duwamish Waterway in 1917, and the arrival of new businesses, such as the Boeing Airplane Company in 1916. In spite of the increasingly industrial nature of the area which had been zoned as such in 1923, residents of Georgetown continued to build new homes and businesses and to plan for a future in the neighborhood. This residence was constructed by builder or small-scale housing developer Benjamin W. Ehring. It does not appear that Mr. Ehring resided here.
 
Appearance
A generally intact example of an early 20th C residential design that reflects modest Craftsman design influences. This residence is similar to a common house type constructed during this era throughout the Seattle area and is similar to numerous designs available through architect/builder’s plan books and Aladdin type house catalogs. However, while this residence exhibits design features and historic building fabric that reflect popular early 20th C Craftsman design modes, it includes some peculiar design features: a one and ½ story form with a second floor level that projects beyond the first floor facade, a medium pitch front gable roof form that varies considerably from the low pitched porch and dormer roofs and unusual vertical decorative pieces at all of the barge and rake trim boards. The house is distinguished by wide barge boards, wide overhanging eaves and exposed rafter ends, a projecting full width entry porch with a prominent (low pitched) gable roof supported by square wooden columns on a low plinth wall, and a combination of standard double-hung windows and a cottage window (that includes an ornamental leaded glass w/prairie pattern). The house is clad with the clapboard siding and has a prominent brick foundation/basement. The siding and brick base along with trim and architectural features tend to emphasize its horizontal design character.

Detail for 6906 CARLETON AVE / Parcel ID 3468800520 / Inv # 0
Status: Yes - Inventory
Classication: Building District Status:
Cladding(s): Wood - Clapboard Foundation(s): Brick
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, Community Planning/Development
Integrity
Changes to Original Cladding: Intact
Changes to Windows: Intact
Changes to Plan: Intact
Major Bibliographic References
City of Seattle DCLU Microfilm Records.
King County Property Record Card (c. 1938-1972), Washington State Archives.

Photo collection for 6906 CARLETON AVE / Parcel ID 3468800520 / Inv # 0

Photo taken Apr 22, 1997

Photo taken Sep 20, 2014
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