Seattle Historical Sites

Summary for 19-21 Prospect ST / Parcel ID 3879900260 / Inv #

Historic Name: Sherman, Mrs. A. B. House Common Name: Sherman House Style: Colonial - Colonial Revival Neighborhood: Queen Anne Built By: Year Built: 1903   Significance In the opinion of the survey, this property appears to meet the criteria of the Seattle Landmarks Preservation Ordinance. The Sherman House was constructed in 1903. Physician Arthur and Agnes Sherman (b. ca 1857) moved from Minnesota to Seattle in 1890 with their two children, William Bell (b. ca 1878) and Anna Bell (b. ca 1884). By 1892, the Shermans divorced and Agnes remained in Seattle with her children. In July 1904, Angus Sherman hired architect J. Harry Randall to design a duplex at 19-21 Prospect Street. Harry Randall arrived in 1903 to open an architecture office. After just two years he closed his office and started a general contracting firm with the Walter brothers. Randall’s brief Seattle stay ended a year later when the firm dissolved and he left town. Willis E. Dwyer (1867-1924) constructed the house. Born in New Hampshire to an Irish immigrant father, Dwyer arrived in Seattle in 1888 during the city’s first major building boom. For the almost all of the next 20 years, he was a carpenter or a building contractor. In the mid 1890s, Dwyer digressed briefly, during a national bicycle craze, when he established a bicycle repair shop. In 1908, he entered the architecture profession which he continued until his death in 1924. It took about three months for Dwyer to complete the house and by the end of 1903 Agnes Sherman and her two adult children moved into the duplex where the family would spend the next six decades. Streetcars to downtown Seattle ran down Queen Anne Avenue just one block from the house. Agnes lived there for 30 years until her death when her daughter Anna E. Bell moved in to 21 Prospect Street and resided there until the 1950s. Anna Bell worked for Frederick & Nelson Department Store in various positions ending as a Department Head. By 1961, Mrs. Louise Bell, the widow of William Bell (Agnes Sherman’s son), was living at 19 Prospect Street. Agnes Sherman earned some income by renting the other half of the duplex. One of the early renters of 21 Prospect Street was Rollin Ankeny who resided there from 1908 until 1920. Since his 1888 Seattle arrival Rollin Ankeny worked for Puget Sound National Bank and within six years he had risen to the position of head cashier. In 1910 living with 45 year old Rollin on Prospect Street were wife Eleanor (age 42) and son Irvine (age 19) attending school. Also living in the residence was 22 year old recent Norwegian immigrant Anna Elkin, who was a domestic servant for the Andenys. That same year Rollin became head cashier of Seattle National Bank when it bought out Puget Sound National Bank. In 1916, Rollin’s professional abilities were further rewarded when Seattle National Bank promoted Ankeny to Vice President. After the death of her husband in 1934, Eleanor Ankeny returned to the duplex and lived at 19 Prospect Street for the remainder of the decade. Later occupants. During the 1940s, Lloyd W. and Mildred Martin lived at 19 Prospect. Martin was a clerk for Seattle Parks. In late 1964 Betty Davidson purchased the duplex. The Colonial Revival residence appears to meet City of Seattle Landmark criteria due to the age of the structure (over 100 years old) and minimal alterations. Sources: "Mrs. Willis E. Dwyer" Seattle Times June 2, 1963. Clipping File. Special Collections, University of Washington Library. "Building Permits" Seattle Daily Bulletin July 29, 1903 p. 3.   Appearance On July 28, 1903 the City of Seattle issued Mrs. Agnes Sherman a building permit (# 21790) for a "2 story frame residence 36 x 45 [feet]" estimated to be worth $4150. J. H[arry] Randall designed the residence and W[illis] E. Dwyer constructed the building. The building department gave the builder 90 days to complete the building. Very broad pediment with bracketed soffit overhanging second story. Trim bands between basement - first floor and first floor - second floor. Three Doric columns support a flat roof porch and balcony. Large double hung window with arched panel on west end of north elevation. Stairway along east elevation to upper floor of small two story extension with hip roof.

Detail for 19-21 Prospect ST / Parcel ID 3879900260 / Inv #

Status: Yes - Inventory Classication: Building District Status: Cladding(s): Shingle, Wood - Drop siding Foundation(s): Concrete - Poured Roof Type(s): Gable Roof Material(s): Asphalt/Composition Building Type: Domestic - Multiple Family Plan: Irregular Structural System: Balloon Frame/Platform Frame No. of Stories: two & ½ Unit Theme(s): Architecture/Landscape Architecture Integrity Changes to Windows: Slight Changes to Plan: Intact 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 of 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 19-21 Prospect ST / Parcel ID 3879900260 / Inv #

Photo taken May 13, 2003