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Summary for 4004 59th AVE / Parcel ID 1563100805 / Inv #

Historic Name: Maurer House Common Name: Maurer House
Style: Arts & Crafts - Rustic Neighborhood: West Seattle Junction
Built By: Year Built: 1906
 
Significance
In the opinion of the survey, this property appears to meet the criteria of the Seattle Landmarks Preservation Ordinance.
The Maurer House was constructed about 1906. Land developer Andrew Chilberg sold two lots from his development to the Maurers in early December 1905. John G. (b. 1848) and wife Ella M. (b. 1860) Maurer likely hired the house built the following year. Husband and wife were both born and raised in Iowa and after their 1877 marriage continued to live in Iowa raising a family of three children. By the beginning of the 20th Century they headed west and settled in Seattle. They lived in the house from about 1906 until 1912. When John Maurer first arrived in Seattle he established the Bay View Bottling Works which he ran for two years. Then he tried the realty business for a couple of years. By the end of the decade, he entered the trades, first as a ice hauler and then a house painter. Son Merritt Maurer (b. 1884) lived with his parents until 1910, one year after he married. While living in the house Merritt worked for a jeweler. In 1913 the John Maurer family moved to Capitol Hill and three years later sold their West Seattle house to Percy Rochfort. For about twenty years Seattle fireman Percy and his wife Ann lived in the house. By World War II, Mrs. Alma Kastner and son Helmer lived there. Helmer contributed to the war effort by working for Boeing Aircraft Company. The Historic Seattle 1975 Survey listed the Alki house as significant to the city. The rustic style of the Maurer House, with vertical log cladding and full width porch and balcony with trimmed log posts, is unique amongest the early buildings of Seattle. It appears to meet City of Seattle Landmark criteria due to the architectural style, age (over 100 years old), and minimal alterations. Variant addresses: 4010 Chilberg Ave (1911-1912 Polk), 4004 Chilberg Ave.
 
Appearance
The Maurer House has vertical log cladding. The west elevation has a covered full width balcony above a full width porch. Porch posts are trees with limb stubs. Two gable dormers on west elevation and one shed dormer on east elevation. Some windows are diamond shaped and others are decorative. An one story addition made of river rock was added to north elevation.

Detail for 4004 59th AVE / Parcel ID 1563100805 / Inv #

Status: Yes - Inventory
Classication: District Status:
Cladding(s): Log 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 & ½
Unit Theme(s): Architecture/Landscape Architecture
Integrity
Changes to Plan: Slight
Changes to Original Cladding: Intact
Changes to Windows: 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 4004 59th AVE / Parcel ID 1563100805 / Inv #


Photo taken Jan 01, 2005
App v2.0.1.0