| Historic Name: |
Seattle Tent and Awning Company/ Seattle Tent and Housing Company |
Common Name: |
Day Wireless Systems/ Ratelco Communications |
| Style: |
Art Deco - PWA Moderne, Commercial |
Neighborhood: |
South Lake Union |
| Built By: |
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Year Built: |
1928 |
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| Significance |
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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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Drawings for this building, which was designed by architect W. R. Grant, date from December 1927. The building was completed in 1928 for owner A. J. Eberharter. This building is one of several buildings designed by William R. Grant, also known as William R. Grant, for Eberharter, who commissioned many buildings which are still extant along Dexter Avenue North, including: 228 Dexter Avenue N. (#158), 400 Dexter Avenue N and 513 Dexter Avenue North (#162) and most likely (509 Dexter Avenue N (#163).
W. R. Grant worked as an architect from 1911 to 1954 and in partnership with his son from 1947 to 1954. He was also responsible for Christ Episcopal Church in the University District and for the West Home Funeral Chapel in the West Seattle Junction neighborhood.
Architect V. W. Voorhees, also known as the architect, who produced pattern books for local house construction between 1907 and 1911 and the architect of the Vance Hotel, appears to have done some interior work on the building, which included construction drawings for an interior truss. Drawings by V. W. Voorhees from 1939 indicate that the work was done for the Seattle Tent and Housing Company. A photo from the same period, perhaps slightly earlier, shows a sign on the building for the Seattle Tent and Awning Company and Polk’s directories from 1938 to 1948 also show that this company was the main tenant of the building.
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| Appearance |
| This is a one story building, with exterior cladding in rug brick and cast stone trim. The building has two street facing elevations, a main façade along Dexter Avenue North and a north elevation along Republican Street. Pilasters in brick with cast stone bases and modified capitals divide each elevation into five bays, designed to contain storefronts. Both elevations, symmetrical in design, have raised gabled parapets over the end bays. In elevation, the pilaster terminations consist of a central rectangle flanked by two smaller recessed rectangles. The pilaster shafts follow the same pattern: the narrower sides of the shaft are set back and flank a wider central portion. These pilaster details are also used on 522 Dexter Avenue North, also probably designed by W. R. Grant. Along with the raised parapets, they contribute, in great part, to the architectural interest of the building.
Also characteristic are the storefronts set between the pilasters. Storefront glazing, often replaced by wood board, was set over low walls, with projecting brick sills. A photo from around 1936 indicates that the original glazing was industrial sash. Because this is a building used for industrial use, the fourth storefront has been replaced by a garage door. The storefronts also include clerestories, but original glazing has mostly been replaced by new glazing with a tripartite division. Despite the replacement of the glazing, the general sense of the building shape and the important architectural elements are largely extant. Also of note is the shield motif centered toward the top of the raised gable parapet on the Dexter Ave N facade. It is likely that the north gable parapet had a similar ornament, but it is currently covered by a sign.
The exterior masonry is currently painted white with the shafts of the pilasters in a royal blue. Despite this and the storefront fenestration, the building retains enough of its original design, detail and materials to be significant. |
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| Status: |
Yes - Inventory |
| Classication: |
Building |
District Status: |
INV |
| Cladding(s): |
Brick, Stone - Cast, Wood |
Foundation(s): |
Concrete - Poured |
| Roof Type(s): |
Flat with Parapet |
Roof Material(s): |
Asphalt/Composition, Other |
| Building Type: |
Commercial/Trade - Warehouse |
Plan: |
Rectangular |
| Structural System: |
Concrete - Poured |
No. of Stories: |
one |
| Unit Theme(s): |
Architecture/Landscape Architecture, Commerce, Manufacturing/Industry |
| Integrity |
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Changes to Original Cladding: |
Slight |
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Changes to Plan: |
Intact |
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Storefront: |
Moderate |
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| Major Bibliographic References |
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King County Tax Assessor Records, ca. 1932-1972.
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City of Seattle, Department of Planning and Development, Microfilm Records.
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Tobin, Carol. “Christ Episcopal Church, 4548 Brooklyn Ave NE, Seattle, WA - University Neighborhood,” “Historic Property Inventory Report,” City of Seattle Historic Neighborhood Inventory Database. 21 June 2002.
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Sheridan, M. “West Home Funeral Chapel, 4400 California SW, Seattle, WA – West Seattle Junction,” “Historic Property Inventory Report,” City of Seattle Historic Neighborhood Inventory Database. 10 February 2002.
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