Seattle Historical Sites

Summary for 4011 GREENWOOD AVE / Parcel ID 9906000006 / Inv # 0

Historic Name: Jesse & Methilda Jesson House Common Name: Style: Arts & Crafts - Swiss Chalet Neighborhood: Built By: Year Built: 1909   Significance According to Permit # 78591 issued 9/2/1909, this house was constructed as a family dwelling for Jesse C. Jesson, his wife Methilde and their three children at a cost of $1,000. Mr. Jesson (born c.1872-1966) was a native of Dyreby Heene, Denmark who immigrated to the U.S. in 1890. He initially settled in California and then migrated to Seattle in 1899. He was a partner in Krogh & Jesson – Greenlake Gravel Company, which was also a general contractor. Mr. Jesson’s obituary described him as a retired building contractor and noted that he was the founder of the Danish Home. Mrs. Jesson (b. c.1876-1963) was also a Danish immigrant arriving in 1897 and settling in Seattle with her husband in 1899. The couple continued to live at this address until c.1953. It went through multiple different ownerships between 1953 and 1973. King County property tax records indicate that by 1961 the exterior was in ‘very poor condition.’ It was remodeled in 1968 when it appears to have been converted to a duplex and the vertical cedar siding and the brick wainscot were installed. Additional research would be necessary to determine if the design reflects Danish cultural diffusion patterns.   Appearance Located at the SW corner of the intersection of Greenwood Avenue and N. 41st St. on a steeply westward sloping; the façade is oriented to the east. One story, wood-frame, single family residence that has been converted to a duplex. Measures approx. 32’ x 36’ with a concrete foundation and full daylight basement level. Front gable form with low pitched roof and prominent central recessed entry porch. Distinguished by modest Craftsman/Chalet Style details and stylistic features: symmetrical low sloped front gable building form, wide barge boards and roof overhangs, large kneebraces, exposed rafter ends, and accentuated porch entry with narrow bracketed roof above heavy surround trim and lintel. Square bay window located at south elevation. Slender central brick chimney. Current vertical cedar siding and the brick wainscot at main elevation are modern installations; the entire house was originally clad with cement stucco still visible at north elevation. Original and/or matching sets of narrow double-hung wooden windows and cottage windows are symmetrically placed flanking the entry porch. A central window above the entry porch includes ornamental glazing, which may to be original. Finishes at daylight basement level are modern. Design of this house may have been based on a planbook source and/or given the Danish heritage of the owners the design may be associated with cultural diffusion patterns.

Detail for 4011 GREENWOOD AVE / Parcel ID 9906000006 / Inv # 0

Status: Classication: Building District Status: Cladding(s): Brick, Stucco, Vertical - Boards Foundation(s): Concrete - Poured Roof Type(s): Gable 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, Ethnic Heritage Integrity Changes to Plan: Slight Changes to Windows: Intact Changes to Original Cladding: Moderate Changes to Interior: Unknown Major Bibliographic References Seattle Public Library – Biographical Index File Polk's Seattle Directories, 1890-1996. King County Tax Assessor Records, ca. 1932-1972. City of Seattle DPD Microfilm Records.

Photo collection for 4011 GREENWOOD AVE / Parcel ID 9906000006 / Inv # 0

Photo taken May 21, 2009