Seattle Historical Sites

This is a nicely maintained example of Queen Anne cottage design with good integrity despite a recent renovation. It is one of a number of similar structures in the immediate vicinity and is very similar to the structure at 2716 E. Union Street, built the same year.

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, B. C. Barnes apparently owned the house from 1927 until at least 1937. Kay Kimbrell acquired the house from the United States Government in 1984. The current owner has owned the house since 2002.

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 story, clapboard and shingle clad wood frame single-family residence on a concrete and post-and-beam foundation, over a half basement.

The moderate slope of the roof probably represents an effort to economize in the construction of this bungalow-like structure. The variety of siding materials use on this very small house is indicative of Queen Anne predilections in the tastes of the designer and/or builder: The pent-enclosed gable, clad with shingle siding to contrast with the two widths of clapboard siding used at the body of the house, and the distinctive “cottage” window (featuring a shallow rectangular component with a decorative pattern of diagonal muntins over a much larger undivided component) are also typical Queen Anne style elements.

The back porch may have been modified, although it appears that it has existed at its preset location since at least 1937. A notation on the King County Property Record Card suggests that the concrete basement was built around 1939.

The house itself was built in 1904 (King County Property Record Card; King County GIS Property Report, accessed Julyy 29, 2008). Acoording to the King County GIS Property Report, the house was renovated in 2005.