Seattle Historical Sites

Summary for 7300 12th AVE / Parcel ID 6814600005 / Inv # SPU007

Historic Name: Green Lake Reservoir Pump Station Common Name: Style: Colonial, Colonial - Colonial Revival Neighborhood: Green Lake Built By: Year Built: 1911   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. The Seattle Water Department completed construction of this small brick pump station in 1911 to serve the adjacent 50,000,000-gallon Green Lake Reservoir completed the previous year in 1910. The Green Lake Reservoir and the nearby 60,000,000-gallon Maple Leaf Reservoir and their pump stations were built as part of the Cedar River Water System No. 2, which also included a second pipeline from the Cedar River and the reservoirs and their appurtenances at Beacon Hill. Construction of the Cedar River water system had commenced in 1899 after Seattle residents voted in 1895 for the approval of bonds to finance the system. On January 10, 1901, water began flowing from the Cedar River into Seattle’s system carried by a newly completed 28.57-mile pipeline to the new Lincoln and Volunteer Park reservoirs. This new system had a capacity of 23.5 million gallons per day. Over the next ten years, the city’s population increased from 80,600 in 1900 to 237,194 in 1910, greatly increasing the demand for water all over the city. In 1908, construction began on a second pipeline and the reservoirs, which would be supplied by it. At Green Lake, the City acquired through purchase or condemnation the necessary lands for the reservoir site between 1906 and 1908. On June 21, 1909, the second pipeline went into service, providing an additional 45 million-gallon per day capacity to meet the water needs of a fast-growing Seattle. Within a year, the Green Lake and Maple Leaf Reservoirs were completed with water supplied via water mains from the Volunteer Park Reservoir. With a capacity of 50,000,000 gallons, the low service Green Lake reservoir served the north end of the city along with the larger intermediate service Maple Leaf Reservoir. After the completion of the reservoirs, the Water Department planned to erect a standpipe at the Maple Leaf Reservoir site to improve gravity service to higher elevations. The standpipe would be supplied by a hydraulic pump, which would be installed at the Green Lake Reservoir. Water flowing downhill from the Maple Leaf Reservoir into the Green Lake Reservoir Pump Station would then be pumped back up to the standpipe at Maple Leaf. For some reason, the Water Department chose not to construct a standpipe but opted to construct two elevated tanks within the next decade. A new 1,000,000-gallon tank later replaced these smaller tanks in 1949. The Green Lake Reservoir Pump Station is identical in design to the Maple Leaf Reservoir Pump Station, however both are unique among all Water Department structures in terms of their design and their materials. With its Colonial Revival/Georgian Revival stylistic features, the Green Lake Reservoir Pump Station is significant for its design and for its associations with the development of the Cedar River Water System No. 2 and with the growth and development of Seattle’s water system.   Appearance This one-story brick building is located at street level below the southwest corner of the Green Lake Reservoir, which lies in a high berm at its southern end. Measuring 26 feet by 40 feet, the Classical Revival design of this small building is nearly identical to if not exactly the same as the Maple Leaf Reservoir Pump Station, which was completed the same year in 1911. Set on a high brick base over a concrete foundation, the rectangular plan structure features a hipped roof lined with an elaborate terra cotta cornice adorned with solid modillion blocks and corners embellished with fluted terra cotta pilasters. An intermediate cornice above the brick base appears to visually support the corner pilasters. On the principal west elevation, two large window openings with terra cotta surrounds have been infilled with concrete and flank a center entrance covered by a small projecting pediment. Square engaged terra cotta columns on either side of the entrance opening support the pediment’s entablature containing an incised sign, which reads "19 - GREEN LAKE RESERVOIR - 11." A semi-circular fanlight covered with a decorative metal grille is set above the modern double entrance doors. The south elevation has a single large window opening at the center, which has also been infilled with concrete. On the north elevation, the original window opening has been altered and enlarged to accommodate a modern metal door. The east elevation has two openings, one containing a modern door and the other a pair of tall, narrow paneled original double doors with transom windows above and a boom extending some six feet out. In addition to the extensive alterations, the brick is pitted in places and the trim detail is somewhat deteriorated, especially at the corners where it has broken off. Despite these conditions, this building retains good overall physical integrity.

Detail for 7300 12th AVE / Parcel ID 6814600005 / Inv # SPU007

Status: Yes - Inventory Classication: Building District Status: Cladding(s): Brick, Terra cotta Foundation(s): Concrete - Poured Roof Type(s): Gable, Hip Roof Material(s): Asphalt/Composition Building Type: Industry/Processing/Extraction - Waterworks Plan: Rectangular Structural System: Masonry - Unreinforced No. of Stories: one Unit Theme(s): Architecture/Landscape Architecture, Science & Engineering Integrity Changes to Plan: Intact Changes to Windows: Extensive Changes to Original Cladding: Intact Major Bibliographic References King County Property Record Card (c. 1938-1972), Washington State Archives. McWilliams, Mary. Seattle Water Department History, 1854-1954: Operational Data and Memoranda. Seattle, WA: Water Department, City of Seattle, c1955. Seattle Water Department. Annual report / City of Seattle, Water Department. Seattle, WA: 1908-1965.

Photo collection for 7300 12th AVE / Parcel ID 6814600005 / Inv # SPU007

Photo taken Jul 25, 2000