Seattle Historical Sites

Summary for 5208 18TH AVE / Parcel ID 8823900200 / Inv # 0

Historic Name: Common Name: Style: Arts & Crafts - Craftsman Neighborhood: University Built By: Year Built: 1912   Significance In the opinion of the survey, this property is located in a potential historic districe (National and/or local). Based on field work conducted in October 2014, this historic property retains its relationship to the streetscape, historic building form and a sufficient amount of exterior historic building fabric (design features, cladding and/or window sash/openings) to contribute to the distinct character of the University Park neighborhood.  (2002) This two-story Craftsman style house is an example of one of the many houses built in the area by N.B. Beck. Beck apparently did not live in this house. Nemias B. Beck was likely related to William W. Beck, who developed Ravenna Park and nearby property. Nemias B. Beck was an insurance agent and real estate developer. He lived in the house at 5825 16th Avenue NE from 1907 until 1912 and also built the house at 5827 16th Avenue NE in 1910. He also built the houses at 5604 16th Avenue NE and 5204 16th Avenue NE. This house is included in the inventory as a good example of the Craftsman style and as one of the houses built by Nemias B. Beck in the area. It is very similar to the house next door at 5212 18th Avenue NE. Past residents have included B.F. and Jane Waldo from 1933 until 1938, and H.C. Bronson in the 1940s.     Appearance (2014) This property exhibits no substantive changes to the exterior appearance since it was identified in the 2002 HRI project.  (2002) This two-story Craftsman style house has clapboard cladding on the first floor and wood shingles above. It is noteworthy for the large trellis with pairs of square columns on massive clinker brick bases. The house has wood windows with multi-paned sash above. There are two bay windows on the south elevation and one on the second floor on the west (main) elevation. The house has prominent brackets below the roof. The gable end of the entry porch and the main roof above are matching and have a stucco and half timbering pattern. The porch supports are four slender square columns on massive brick bases, similar to those supporting the trellis. There is an exterior chimney on the south elevation. There are also gabled dormers on the north and south elevations. The house next door at 5212 18th Avenue NE is very similar, although it lacks the trellis, and was probably built at the same time. There is a new carport on the east elevation.

Detail for 5208 18TH AVE / Parcel ID 8823900200 / Inv # 0

Status: Yes - Inventory Classication: Building District Status: Cladding(s): Shingle, Wood - Clapboard Foundation(s): Concrete - Poured Roof Type(s): Gable Roof Material(s): Asphalt/Composition Building Type: Domestic - Single Family Plan: Rectangular Structural System: Balloon Frame/Platform Frame No. of Stories: two Unit Theme(s): Architecture/Landscape Architecture Integrity Changes to Plan: Intact Changes to Windows: 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.

Photo collection for 5208 18TH AVE / Parcel ID 8823900200 / Inv # 0

Photo taken Jun 22, 2002 Photo taken Oct 02, 2014