Seattle.gov Home Page
Link to Seattle Department of Neighborhoods home page

Seattle Historical Sites

New Search

Summary for 815 20TH AVE / Parcel ID 2254502485 / Inv # 0

Historic Name: Common Name:
Style: Queen Anne - Cottage Neighborhood: Central Area
Built By: Year Built: 1899
 
Significance
This is an interesting example of Queen Anne cottage design exhibiting a mix of detailing approaches. The structure’s design integrity has been somewhat compromised by alterations to the porch and 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 separate database entry for this house was prepared by Marilyn Sullivan in 1991.

A complete permit history, and a complete record of ownership and occupation have not yet been prepared for this property; however, the structure appears to have been owned by Mary Bayes when the property was surveyed by the Assessor in 1937.  The current owner appears to have acquired the property in 1991 from Arthur Davis.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

King County GIS Center Property Report (http://www5.kingcounty.gov/kcgisreports/property_report.aspx; accessed July 12, 2008)

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

 
Appearance
This is a one story, drop siding, shingle and vertical board clad, wood frame single-family residence on a post and beam and concrete foundation. Although the King County Property Record Card indicates that post and beam foundation includes some concrete elements, there is no basement.

The rectangular plan is capped by a hip roof with a partial width front facing gable. The structure has minimal roof overhangs and enclosed soffits. The hip roof with intersecting gable is a typical characteristic of the Queen Anne style, as are the front facing cut-away bay, the mix of cladding materials, the tall double hung windows, and the half glazed entry door. The windows and door casings are characterized by patterns and details sometimes associated with the Stick style, and the corner boards are also a common Stick style element; however, the spindlework-like detailing that once embellished the porch is more typical of later Queen Anne design. Despite the long rectangular footprint, this single story structure with moderate roof slope is best characterized as a Queen Anne cottage.

This house was built in 1899 according to the King County Property Record Card (although the King County GIS Center Property Report indicates that the structure was erected in 1901).

Since 1937, most of the window have been replaced, some with aluminum units. The wood porch column, the wood spindlework-like railings, and the matching decorative detailing at the base of the porch roof have been replaced with metal elements. A small shed was added to the site in 1962; however, it is unclear if this structure is still extant.


Detail for 815 20TH AVE / Parcel ID 2254502485 / Inv # 0

Status: Yes - Hold
Classication: Building District Status:
Cladding(s): Shingle, Vertical - Boards, Wood, Wood - Drop siding Foundation(s): Post & Pier
Roof Type(s): Gable, Hip Roof Material(s): Asphalt/Composition-Shingle
Building Type: Domestic - Single Family Plan: Rectangular
Structural System: Balloon Frame/Platform Frame No. of Stories: one
Unit Theme(s): Architecture/Landscape Architecture
Integrity
Changes to Plan: Slight
Changes to Windows: Extensive
Changes to Original Cladding: Slight
Changes to Interior: Unknown
Major Bibliographic References

Photo collection for 815 20TH AVE / Parcel ID 2254502485 / Inv # 0


Photo taken Nov 25, 2007
App v2.0.1.0