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Summary for 1705 S MAIN ST S / Parcel ID 3319500705 / Inv # 0

Historic Name: Common Name:
Style: American Foursquare, Queen Anne - Free Classic Neighborhood: Central Area
Built By: Year Built: 1895
 
Significance
This is an example of American Foursquare design with Queen Anne Free Classic detailing. The structure’s design integrity has been somewhat compromised by minor alterations to the detailing at the front of the building and additions at the back end.

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, the structure appears to have been owned by Clara E. Masher from about 1930 until at least 1937. The building was apparently acquired by Frank M. Okamura in 1940, and later by Taro Paul Takemura (date unknown). A church appears to have purchased the property in 1969. Robin Wendell Reid acquired the property from Robert James Tuttle in 1998. In 2001, it was transferred from Interstate Brands Corporation to
Interstate Brands West Corporation.

This property was previously entered into the database by Marilyn Sullivan in 1991. The previous entry is addressed as 1707 S. Main Street and includes a photograph made in 1979.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

King County GIS Center Property Report (http://www5.kingcounty.gov/kcgisreports/property_report.aspx; accessed August 18, 2008)

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

 
Appearance
This is a two story, clapboard and drop siding clad, wood frame duplex on a brick and post and beam foundation, over a quarter basement. The projecting portion of the front porch appears to be built on a post and beam foundation. A second story addition at the rear is clad with vertical board siding. The two units are addressed as 1705 and 1707 S. Main Street.

The essentially rectangular plan is capped by a hip roof with moderate overhangs and enclosed soffits with closely spaced modillions. The second story addition at the rear has a shed roof with minimal overhangs.

The windows and doors are characterized by patterns and details customarily associated with Queen Anne design. The projecting porch has the appearance of an octagonal structure partially embedded in the four square block of the main building. This shape is mirrored the in the central, front facing dormer, which also appears to be a partially embedded octagonal volume. The paired, Tuscan colonettes, and associated built up wood entablature, at the front porch, together with the now missing porch roof balustrade, exemplify a type of Free Classic detailing often associated with Queen Anne work. The octagonal porch and the modillions give the structure a slight exotic and Italianate flavor.

This house was built in 1895 and remodeled in 1922 according to the King County Property Record (the date of construction is given as 1900 in the
King County GIS Center Property Report, accessed August 18, 2008). If not originally constructed as a duplex, the building had been converted to that use by the time it was surveyed by the King County Assessor in 1937.

Some of the basement window openings have been boarded up. The small but heavy decorative turned-wood baluster railing that crowned the front porch in 1937 has been removed.
A relatively recent, shed roofed, second story addition had been built over an older one story extension at the back of the house.

Detail for 1705 S MAIN ST S / Parcel ID 3319500705 / Inv # 0

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

Photo collection for 1705 S MAIN ST S / Parcel ID 3319500705 / Inv # 0


Photo taken May 15, 2008
App v2.0.1.0