| Historic Name: |
Charles I. Anderson House |
Common Name: |
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| Style: |
Arts & Crafts - Craftsman |
Neighborhood: |
Fremont |
| Built By: |
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Year Built: |
1911 |
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| Significance |
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In the opinion of the survey, this property appears to meet the criteria of the Seattle Landmarks Preservation Ordinance. |
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This house is a highly distinctive and intact example of Craftsman – Arts & Crafts style design. It is located in Motor Line Addition, which was platted in June 1888, and was constructed in 1911 during a period of intense historic residential development in the district. According to Permit # 99131 (dated 1/2/1911), this house was constructed for $1,300.00 for Charles Anderson who was identified as the applicant and owner. The permit application identifies “Creutzer” as the architect. Charles I. Anderson was listed in the Polk’s Directories (1910-1921) as a carpenter residing nearby at 4217 Dayton Avenue; it seems likely that he initially built his own home and then developed the subject house as a speculative real estate investment. He does not appear to have ever resided there. Charles I. Anderson was initially listed in the Polk’s Directory (1908) as a carpenter residing at 3834 Fremont Ave.; in 1909 he was residing at 4223 Dayton Ave. N, also near the subject property. He may have developed and built one or both of these properties. He continued to be listed in city directories as a carpenter up until 1929 and resided at various addresses in Fremont and Wallingford. The original home owner and/or residents have not been identified. John Alfred Creutzer was a native of Sweden who immigrated to the United States with his family as a child. After spending his childhood and starting his professional career in Minnesota, he migrated west, first moving to Spokane and eventually settling in Seattle in 1906. Creutzer initially worked as an architect and construction supervisor in association with Seattle contractors Henderson Ryan and Alexander Pearson, as well as taking on independent design commissions. A highly notable early work by Creutzer is the Swedish Tabernacle on First Hill (First Covenant Church c. 1906). Creutzer’s most significant commission was the Medical Dental Building (c. 1924-25; City of Seattle Landmark), which he designed in association with Seattle architect A. H. Albertson. Creutzer also designed a number of smaller commercial retail buildings, including the Melrose Building in the Pike-Pine neighborhood (c. 1915, @ 301 E. Pine St.), a one-story terra-cotta clad building currently occupied by the Crocodile Café in Belltown (c. 1925, @ 2200 Second Ave.) and the Colony Club Building (1928 @ 1923 Fifth Ave.). Creutzer also designed domestic buildings, including single family residences and apartment house/hotels. Numerous extant examples of the latter building type designed by Creutzer are located in neighborhoods throughout the city including First Hill, Capitol Hill, Denny Regrade, Ravenna and University District. Apartment houses among this group include the Park Vista Apartments (c. 1928, @ 5810 Cowen Pl.), and the El Rio Apartment Hotel (c. 1929; NRHP) as well as the Steinert Apartments at 3632 Woodland Park Ave. N. [#2147011391] in Fremont. Creutzer became a member of the Washington State Chapter of the AIA in the final years of his practice. He died from a fatal heart attack at the age of 55 on August 23, 1929 (obit. Washington State Architect 9/1/1929). [Biographical info primarily provided by Susan Boyle & Mimi Sheridan]
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| Appearance |
| Located mid-block slightly uphill above the street with façade oriented to the east. A prominent 1-1/2 story, wood-frame, single family residence. Measures approx. 24’ x 35’ w/ concrete foundation and full basement. High-pitched front gable form with full width cutaway entry porch at main elevation. Distinguished by prominent Craftsman stylistic features: rustic chalet design character, wide barge boards and roof overhangs, solid stepped kneebraces, prominent gable end treatment and 2nd floor level central recessed porch at facade. The entry porch is further distinguished by sets of square porch columns accentuated by small curved design elements (also visible at upper porch). Gabled dormers are located at the south and north elevations. Original and/or in-kind replacement cladding is cedar clapboard (loere floor level0 and cedar shingle (upper floor level). Original and restored stucco accent panels at gable ends. Original brick chimney located at south elevation. Original (and/or matching in-kind) double-hung Craftsman-style wooden windows appear to remain in place. This house appears to have been restored and carefully renovated in the recent past; new concrete entry stairwell with curved checks and a non-intrusive street level two-car (tandem designed to preserve traditional street level proportions) garage are in place. The original character and condition of the interior is reported to be largely intact including dark fir woodwork, built-ins and sliding pocket door. |
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| Status: |
Yes - Inventory |
| Classication: |
Building |
District Status: |
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| Cladding(s): |
Shingle, Stucco, Wood - Clapboard |
Foundation(s): |
Concrete - Poured |
| Roof Type(s): |
Gable |
Roof Material(s): |
Asphalt/Composition |
| Building Type: |
Domestic - Single Family |
Plan: |
Rectangular |
| Structural System: |
Balloon Frame/Platform Frame |
No. of Stories: |
one & ½ |
| Unit Theme(s): |
Architecture/Landscape Architecture |
| Integrity |
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Changes to Plan: |
Intact |
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Changes to Windows: |
Intact |
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Changes to Original Cladding: |
Intact |
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Changes to Interior: |
Intact |
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| Major Bibliographic References |
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U.S. Census Records (1880-1920)
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Polk's Seattle Directories, 1890-1996.
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Sanborn (Insurance) Map Company, Seattle, Washington.
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King County Tax Assessor Records, ca. 1932-1972.
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City of Seattle DPD Microfilm Records.
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