| Historic Name: |
McElwaine, Myron & Irene, House |
Common Name: |
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| Style: |
Italian - Italian Renaissance |
Neighborhood: |
Queen Anne |
| Built By: |
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Year Built: |
1919 |
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| Significance |
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In the opinion of the survey, this property appears to meet the criteria of the National Register of Historic Places. |
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In the opinion of the survey, this property appears to meet the criteria of the Seattle Landmarks Preservation Ordinance. |
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In the opinion of the survey, this property is located in a potential historic districe (National and/or local). |
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This house was built in 1919 by Gardiner J. Gwinn of the University Construction Company, who was particularly well known for the many apartment buildings he built in Seattle. It was designed by local architect Willis E. Dwyer. Its Italian Renaissance style is unusual among the Colonial and Tudor revivals usually seen on Queen Anne. The original owners were Myron and Irene McElwaine. At that time, McElwaine was sales manager for Seattle Plumbing Supply, but he later rose to become its president. They remained in this house until 1952, when it was purchased by Mary Burnett, followed in 1956 by Robert Galbraith, owner of the Galbraith Garage, and his wife Elizabeth. In 1960 it was purchased by Robert P. St. Germaine, a draftsman, and his wife Virginia, and then by Perry and Margaret Elliott (1970s). Elliott, a real estate agent, remodeled the interior and replaced some windows and doors in 1974.
Gardiner J. Gwinn began doing construction work with his father in his native Nova Scotia, moving to Seattle in 1909. He soon established his own construction business, building more than 700 homes ranging in value from $5,000 to $25,000. They were noted for their livability and strong construction. In 1925 he turned primarily to apartment construction, building more than fifty apartment houses during the 1925-30 development boom. His largest project was the 14-story Benjamin Franklin Hotel, the second largest in Seattle (demolished for construction of the present Westin Hotel). His brother Wells Gwinn also headed prominent housing contraction and finance companies that were active in the Queen Anne area.
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| Appearance |
| This is a simple Italian-inspired house, with stucco cladding, a hipped roof and deep eaves with curved Italianate brackets. It is difficult to see due to the hedge and large trees on the front of the property. The center entry has an arch of cast stone over the doorway, but no porch or covering. The doorway is flanked by a pair of 18-light casement windows. Above these are four eight-light casements. Just east of the entry is a pair of plain French doors, replacing the original multipaned sash. Other windows are primarily plain casements. |
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| Status: |
Yes - Inventory |
| Classication: |
Building |
District Status: |
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| Cladding(s): |
Stucco |
Foundation(s): |
Concrete - Poured |
| Roof Type(s): |
Hip |
Roof Material(s): |
Asphalt/Composition-Shingle |
| Building Type: |
Domestic - Single Family |
Plan: |
Rectangular |
| Structural System: |
Balloon Frame/Platform Frame |
No. of Stories: |
two |
| Unit Theme(s): |
Architecture/Landscape Architecture |
| Integrity |
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Changes to Plan: |
Intact |
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Changes to Original Cladding: |
Intact |
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Changes to Windows: |
Moderate |
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| Major Bibliographic References |
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City of Seattle DCLU Microfilm Records.
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King County Property Record Card (c. 1938-1972), Washington State Archives.
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Polk's Seattle Directories, 1890-1996.
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Bagley, Clarence B. History of King County, Washington. Chicago: S.J. Clarke, 1929.
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