| Historic Name: |
Frederick M. Cosman House |
Common Name: |
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| Style: |
Queen Anne - Cottage |
Neighborhood: |
Fremont |
| Built By: |
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Year Built: |
1901 |
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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 is a distinctive and generally intact hipped cottage; it is a good example of modest working class house types that were prevalently constructed by building contractors and carpenters during this era. It was constructed in ca. 1901 and is located in the replatted Denny & Hoyt’s Addition, one of the earliest platted and developed residential areas in Fremont. Edward Blewett was a wealthy businessman from Fremont, Nebraska who decided to invest in undeveloped land at the northwest corner of Lake Union. On March 20, 1888, Blewett and his wife Carrie purchased the town site for $55,000 under a mortgage held by John P. Hoyt. With the help of their agent, Luther H. Griffith (also of Fremont, Nebraska) and their attorney Edward C. Kilbourne, the Blewetts prepared a plat for the area. This plat, known as Denny & Hoyt's Addition, was approved by King County on May 8, 1888. King County tax rolls indicate that Edward Blewett retained ownership of unimproved Lots 5, 6, 7 & 8 of Block 9 until as late as 1900. All four lots were subsequently acquired by Frederick M. Cosman (b. c.1870), a Canadian-born house carpenter. The Sanborn Insurance Map (1904-05) clearly shows four cottages he constructed located at 3824, 3828, 3832 and 3834 Evanston Avenue N. Based on this map and King County PRC photographs the four cottages appear to have been very similar in form, design and construction materials. The cottage on Lot 8 (3824 Evanston Avenue N.) appears to have been the exact same plan and design as the subject property. The cottages at 3824 and 3828 have been demolished and the cottage at 3834 has been altered significantly. In 1910, Frederick M. Cosman and his wife Clara L. along with their son Charles were residing at 435 Blewett St. (N. 35th Street) and they later lived at two other addresses in the neighborhood, all very likely to have been in houses constructed by Mr. Cosman. They moved to Edmonds in 1918. Frederick died in 1945 and Mrs. Cosman returned to Fremont. She was active in the Fremont Baptist Church and died in 1968. Her obituary indicated that she was born in Nova Scotia, which may have also been Frederick’s birthplace. [Obit. Seattle Times April 23, 1968.]
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| Appearance |
| Located mid-block with main elevation oriented to the west. One story, wood-frame, single family residence. Measures approx. 22’ x 43’ w/post & pier foundation (assumed) and no basement. Hipped roof cottage with projecting front gable wing. Pedimented main gable and 4’ x 5’ cutaway entry porch at south side of main elevation. Single cottage window and cutaway porch dominate main elevation. Original narrow 6” horizontal fir siding with corner boards appears to remain in place. Original diamond and scalloped shingle siding at gable end appears to remain in place. Original double-hung wooden windows appear to remain in place. Original dentil brackets at roof soffit and central narrow brick chimney with corbelled cap have been removed. Porch elements appear to be non-historic; original spindle frieze no longer in place. Original (1916) one-car garage remains intact and well preserved: located at the street edge and immediately in front of and attached to north side of house. |
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| Status: |
Yes - Inventory |
| Classication: |
Building |
District Status: |
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| Cladding(s): |
Shingle, Wood - Clapboard |
Foundation(s): |
Post & Pier |
| Roof Type(s): |
Hip |
Roof Material(s): |
Asphalt/Composition |
| Building Type: |
Domestic - Single Family |
Plan: |
Rectangular |
| Structural System: |
Balloon Frame/Platform Frame |
No. of Stories: |
one |
| Unit Theme(s): |
Architecture/Landscape Architecture |
| Integrity |
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Changes to Windows: |
Intact |
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Changes to Plan: |
Slight |
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Changes to Original Cladding: |
Intact |
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Changes to Interior: |
Unknown |
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| Major Bibliographic References |
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U.S. Census Records (1880-1920)
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Seattle Public Library – Biographical Index File
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Polk's Seattle Directories, 1890-1996.
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King County Tax Assessor Records, ca. 1932-1972.
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Baist Maps of 1905, 1908 and 1912.
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Sanborn (Insurance) Map Company, Seattle, Washington, 1904.
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City of Seattle DPD Microfilm Records.
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