| Historic Name: |
Alfred Bartlett Residence |
Common Name: |
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| Style: |
Vernacular |
Neighborhood: |
Fremont |
| Built By: |
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Year Built: |
1904 |
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| Significance |
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This house located in the Fremont neighborhood and built in 1904, was originally owned by Alfred Bartlett, a plasterer. Little else is known regarding the history of the property ownership. [Updated january 1, 2009] This house is a distinctive and intact example of popular turn-of–the–century residential design and reflects Fremont’s early history as a working class neighborhood. It was constructed in 1904 during an intense period of historic residential development in the district. Building permit #28608 was issued to Alfred Bartlett on July 15, 1904 to build a ‘1 story frame cottage with attic - 18 x 24’ for an estimated cost of $250.00. The following summer, a permit (# 35472) was issued to Mr. Bartlett to build a rear porch. Alfred Bartlett was listed in the Polk’s Seattle City Directory as a plaster and is believed to have resided here with his sister or mother (Lucy) and possibly a brother (Claude) from 1905 through 1907 or 1908. King County tax records indicate that the south wing addition was constructed in 1912, by which time the property may have been the residence of H.L. Ferguson. Other early and subsequent residents included a shipworker, a boilermaker, an electrician, a millworker and a Boeing clerk. In 1920, the U.S. census enumerated a Swedish immigrant family of six as residents. When the house was photo documented in 1937 (King County PRC) it remained little changed from the historic appearance. However, by the mid-1940s it had been entirely clad with machine-saw shakes and the original wooden windows at the porch had been replaced by an aluminum sash. Additional aluminum sash members were subsequently installed within the original window openings. The current owners bought the house in 1998. They immediately began restoration work on the house after being inspired by the 1937 photo. They determined that the original narrow cedar siding remained in place under the modern shakes. The owners uncovered and painted the original siding and replaced the non-historic windows with insulated wood double-hung windows. Evidence of the design of the original windows remained at the windowsills, which allowed the window manufacturer to accurately match the original appearance. The decorative gable end feature had also been removed; it was reconstructed with fancy cut shingles. The original window crowns had also been removed in order to install the modern siding; they were also restored. The original porch columns had been enclosed and once uncovered they were found to be too damaged to restore. The owners were able to locate salvaged porch columns that closely matched the original, which were salvaged from a house that was being demolished in the University District and installed. The exterior restoration process took five years. Interior restoration work has also been undertaken. [Updated information provided by the current owner.]
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| Appearance |
| This vernacular residential building has a rectangular plan and a front gable roof form with gable end returns. The full width front porch features a hipped roof that is supported by columns. The building has narrow clapboard siding with decorative fishscale shingles in the front gable end. The building features the original window openings with newer one-over-one double hung wood windows. [Updated january 1, 2009] Located mid-block on the west side of Linden Ave. N. with the façade oriented to the east. One and one-half story, wood-frame, single family residence. Exhibits front-gable vernacular form and modest late Queen Anne style design features. In well-preserved and restored condition. Irregular footprint with original main portion measuring approx. 18’ x 28’ and wing addition at south side measuring approx. 7’ x 23 ft. Concrete foundation and partial basement level. Medium-pitched front-gable roof form with full width projecting hip-roofed entry porch. South wing addition covered by shed roof extension from main gable. Prominent pedimented front-gable end is clad with fishscale cedar shingles. Gable is trimmed and includes gable-end returns. Porch distinguished by slender tapered wooden columns supported on low wood-clad wing walls. With the exception of gable end feature, cladding is narrow horizontal cedar clapboard siding. Original window openings with (in-kind replacement) tall, narrow, double-hung wooden windows. |
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