Seattle Historical Sites

Summary for 211 NW 41ST ST NW / Parcel ID 1819800300 / Inv # 0

Historic Name: John W. & Callie M. Smiley House Common Name: Style: Queen Anne - Cottage Neighborhood: Fremont Built By: Year Built: 1905   Significance This is a distinctive and well-preserved hipped cottage; it is a very good example of modest working class house types that were prevalently constructed by building contractors and carpenters during this era. It was constructed in 1905 and is located in the William Crawford Tracts, which was platted by David Eastman of The Eastman Company in April 1905. Thus, this house was constructed very shortly after the 9.2 acre plat – the former Crawford homestead - was opened for residential development. This was the last large plat to be recorded in the Fremont area, whereas the great majority of plats were recorded between 1887 and 1890. On April 25, 1905, permit #33905 was issued to J.W. Smiley for the construction of a “1 stry frame cottage 24 x 42” at 211 Ross Place (now NW 41st St.). The estimated cost of constructions appears to have been $1,300. [A house constructed according to the exact same plan is located at 4113 Woodland Park N.] John W. Smiley was a Kentucky-born teamster working for the nearby Bryant Lumber & Saw Mill Co. Prior to settling in Seattle with his wife Caroline (Callie) and his older sister Emma Smiley, John Smiley appears to have worked in Libby, Montana. He continued to reside at this house and work for the Bryant Mill as a driver and watchman until at least 1930. The property appears to have remained in the ownership of Mr. Smiley or his family members until c.1944. Subsequent owners included: Florence Lester (1944); Johan Johanson (1961); David & Marilyn Weaver (1964) and Paul Petit (1967).   Appearance Located mid-block on the south side of NW 41st St. with front elevation oriented to the north. One story, wood-frame, single family residence. Modest late Queen Anne style cottage. Measures approx. 24’ x 42’ w/ concrete foundation and basement level. Hipped roof cottage with projecting front gable at upper part of hip. Projecting full width entry porch at façade; has shallow hipped roof with prominent pedimented front gable at porch entry. Diamond windows in two front gable features. Gabled dormer above polygonal bay window at west elevation. Original narrow horizontal fir siding with corner boards appears to remain in place. Original or matching scalloped shingle siding at gable ends and band below soffit line. Original ornate leaded-glass cottage windows and entry window in place. Double-hung wooden windows appear to remain in place. Original wide roof soffit remains in place. Porch includes original slender tapered wooden columns supported on solid wing walls.

Detail for 211 NW 41ST ST NW / Parcel ID 1819800300 / Inv # 0

Status: Yes - Inventory Classication: Building District Status: Cladding(s): Shingle, Wood - Clapboard Foundation(s): Concrete - Poured Roof Type(s): 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: Intact Changes to Windows: Intact Changes to Original Cladding: Intact Changes to Interior: Intact Major Bibliographic References U.S. Census Records (1880-1920) King County Property Record Card (c. 1938-1972), Washington State Archives. Polk's Seattle Directories, 1890-1996. City of Seattle DPD Microfilm Records.

Photo collection for 211 NW 41ST ST NW / Parcel ID 1819800300 / Inv # 0

Photo taken May 07, 2009