Seattle Historical Sites

Summary for 839 S Elmgrove ST S / Parcel ID Unknown / Inv #

Historic Name: Unknown Common Name: Style: Tudor Neighborhood: South Park Built By: Year Built: 1930   Significance This house is included in the survey for the historical information it offers. The Prentice Reserve was set aside when River Park was platted because it was the farm of John Prentice, a South Park pioneer (See 1917 Sanborn Map). Prentice's son, Robert was a carpenter who built 8104 Eighth Ave S on the west side of the reserve where he began Prentice and Watson Florists. He built an extensive complex of greenhouses behind his house which by 1917 were considered "Japanese Greenhouses." Prentice had died by 1915 and by 1920, his widow had moved to a bungalow on the north side of the reserve. Presumably Nisakee Aroki had been managing the greenhouses when he bought the operation in 1921. Araki and then his son Toru operated Kanada and Araki Greenhouses (called South Park Florist by 1928) for approximately 50 years.   Appearance Elmgrove Street, in front of this house has been vacated and the house is now completely surrounded by industrial buildings and activities. The greenhouses no longer exist. An examination of the house was not possible but the rear is visible from Southern Street and tax records providea a ca. 1937 photo. The house is Tudoresque with steeply pitched gable roof, dormer and porches. It is decorated with patterns of polychrome brick and has a prominent exterior chimney. It is interesting to note that this distinctive type of brick house also appears in a traditionally Asian American area of the Central District around the 1800 block of Dearborn and Lane.

Detail for 839 S Elmgrove ST S / Parcel ID Unknown / Inv #

Status: Yes - Inventory Classication: Building District Status: Cladding(s): Brick 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: one & ½ Unit Theme(s): Agriculture Integrity Changes to Windows: Unknown Changes to Original Cladding: Intact Changes to Plan: Intact Changes to Interior: Unknown Major Bibliographic References King County Property Record Card (c. 1938-1972), Washington State Archives. Polk's Seattle Directories, 1890-1996. Sandborn (Insurance) Map Company, Seattle, Washington.

Photo collection for 839 S Elmgrove ST S / Parcel ID Unknown / Inv #

Photo taken