Significance |
In the opinion of the survey, this property appears to meet the criteria of the Seattle Landmarks Preservation Ordinance. |
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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.
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