Seattle Historical Sites

This is a exuberant and well maintained combination of Stick, Queen Anne and Craftsman style elements that has retained a high degree of integrity despite the replacement of several windows.

This is one of approximately 2,200 houses that are still extant out of more than 5,000 that were built by the end of 1906 in Seattle’s Central Area, Eastlake, First Hill, Leschi, Madison Park, Madrona, and North Capitol Hill neighborhoods.

A complete permit history, and a complete record of ownership and occupation have not yet been prepared for this property; however, Ethel Partridge apparently owned the house when the Assessor surveyed it in 1937. The property changed hands in 1966, though the name of the new owner is indecipherable on the King County Property Record Card. Leslie Sager and John Paul Riley bought the house from Frank R. Kiuchi in 1999

It appears the structure was acquired by Daniel J. Baird in 2005. Joseph and Elizabeth Slagel have owned it since 2006.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

King County Property Record Card (c. 1938-1972) Washington State Archives

King County GIS Center Property Report (http://www5.kingcounty.gov/kcgisreports/property_report.aspx; accessed July 29, 2008)

This is a one-and-a-half story, clapboard and shingle clad, wood frame single-family residence on a concrete foundation, over a full basement.

The overall composition of this structure is characterized by angularity, verticality, and a degree of asymmetry, all characteristic associated with the Stick style variant of Queen Anne work. The roof is composed of steep intersecting gables and features deep overhanging eaves with exposed rafter tails and decorative trusses at the apex of the gables, all typical Stick style elements, though characteristic features of the Craftsman style as well.

The extensive use of shingle siding above the second floor level is suggestive of the Shingle style, but the verticality of the façade, and the rectangular bay in the street facade, the oriel at the north side stair landings, the small projecting roofs, and the other trim elements that interrupt the shingle surfaces give the house a more agitated, Queen Anne appearance.

The open but rectilinear stickwork of the numerous window boxes, the wide bargeboards supported by timber knee braces, the even larger timber braces supporting the hipped roof projecting over the entry stairs, and the square pier marking the outside corner of the recessed entry porch, all suggest the emerging Craftsman style.

Most of the original double-hung windows were relatively wide units that featured a small upper sash over a larger undivided lower sash. These windows occur singly or, les often, in pairs, as is customary in the many variants of Queen Anne work, but are not banded together in larger groups as would be typical of many Craftsman style structures. Several of the windows have been replaced. The new windows are similar in proportions to the original windows, but feature false divided lights in their upper sashes.

The gable-capped rectangular tower near the southwest corner of the structure appears to be an addition. There appears to be a single story addition at the southwest corner of the structure as well, although at least a portion of the low structure located at the back of the house is an early addition or an original back porch.

The house was built in 1906 (King County Property Record Card; King County GIS Center Property Report, accessed July 29, 2008).