| Historic Name: |
Murphy House |
Common Name: |
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| Style: |
Arts & Crafts - Craftsman |
Neighborhood: |
Wallingford |
| Built By: |
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Year Built: |
1911 |
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| Significance |
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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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Nyberg and Steinbrueck assigned this residence a construction date of 1912; however, the King County Assessor Property Characteristics Report (accessed in 2005) and the King County Property Record Card (1937) both indicate that the structure was completed in 1911. The construction permit was issued to owner, builder and designer William. R. Dickson, a local building contractor, in September 1911. The permit was set to expire in December, leaving open the possibility that the house was actually finished the following year. Matthew M. Murphy, who apparently was one of the operators of the Griffin – Murphy Business College, lived at the house with his wife Florence beginning in 1912 according to Polk’s Seattle Directory. The King County Property Record Card suggests that Murphy did not actually own the house until 1916.
Murphy was issued a permit to add a porch to the structure in February 1916; this work was completed about a month later. Murphy also built a detached garage on the property in 1921. Murphy and his wife was still living at the house in 1938
An electrical permit issued in 1971 lists R. L. Crook as the property owner.
The house is presently owned occupied by Maggi L. Murphy. It is not known when Ms. Murphy acquired the property or if Ms. Murphy is a descendant of previous owner Matthew M. Murphy.
Nyberg and Steinbrueck identified this structure as a building significant to the City warranting further evaluation for designation as an historic landmark and noted that the structure "illustrates the rustic qualities of a craftsman shingle style home." The house is significant as a well-maintained craftsman structure built in the heyday of that style’s popularity in the middle of Seattle’s first north end building boom. The unusual stacked timber wall detail at the upper floor is unique among houses found in the Wallingford neighborhood.
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| Appearance |
| This is a 1-1/2 story, shingle and timber clad, frame residence over a full basement on a concrete unknown foundation. The moderate slope of the gabled roof, the wide bargeboards supported by triangular timber knee braces, the open soffits and exposd rafter tails, and a variety of bungalow style windows – many with distinctive muntin patterns, and most ganged to form horizontal bands -- are all design characteristics typically associated with the craftsman style. The house features an unusual “stacked timber” wall cladding at the upper floor that forms an interesting corner detail that is unique among houses found in the Wallingford neighborhood and perhaps throughout the city. |
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| Status: |
Yes - Hold |
| Classication: |
Building |
District Status: |
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| Cladding(s): |
Log, Shingle, Wood |
Foundation(s): |
Unknown |
| Roof Type(s): |
Gable, Shed |
Roof Material(s): |
Asphalt/Composition-Shingle |
| Building Type: |
Domestic - Single Family |
Plan: |
Irregular |
| Structural System: |
Balloon Frame/Platform Frame |
No. of Stories: |
one & ½ |
| Unit Theme(s): |
Architecture/Landscape Architecture, Community Planning/Development |
| Integrity |
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Changes to Original Cladding: |
Slight |
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Changes to Windows: |
Slight |
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Changes to Plan: |
Slight |
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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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