| Historic Name: |
Alvah B. & Ida B. Miller House |
Common Name: |
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| Style: |
Colonial - Dutch Colonial, Colonial - Dutch Colonial |
Neighborhood: |
Fremont |
| Built By: |
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Year Built: |
1922 |
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| Significance |
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This house is a well-preserved (and unusual for Fremont) example of a Dutch Colonial Revival style constructed by Stephen Berg in 1922. On June 12, 1922, permit #213850 was issued to Stephen Berg for the construction of a residence at this address estimated to cost $4,000. Stephen C. Berg (1887-1966) was a very successful local real estate developer. Mr. Berg was born in Trujheim, Norway where he was trained as a carpenter by his father. He immigrated to the United States in 1905 and initially settled in Boston before migrating to Seattle in 1907. In 1909, after having worked for others, he established his own building and contracting business. By 1916, Berg was credited with having built and sold some 125 buildings – primarily family homes. This was an era of dramatic growth in homebuilding and homeownership and Berg appears to have benefited. By 1916, Berg was a member of the Seattle Real Estate Association and owned numerous improved and unimproved pieces of real estate. The Seattle Times reported in July 1924 that berg had constructed nearly 500 homes since 1909 including 75 “Colonials, bungalows and English type” houses built in Wallingford that year. He also developed the Biltmore Apartments and the Stephenberg Apartments in 1924. By 1927, Berg is reported to have developed seven large buildings downtown and was referred to in the local press as a “pioneer uptown hotel builder” in reference to the Claremont Apartment Hotel (Hotel Andre) that he developed in 1925, the Continental Hotel (Hotel Seattle) constructed in 1926 and the Bergonian Hotel (Mayflower Park Hotel) constructed in 1927. It is assumed that he experienced financial problems during the early 1930s, when the Bergonian Hotel was “rescued from foreclosure.” He continued to be listed as a contractor in city directories until 1934, after which he was no longer listed. [Biographical information regarding Stephen Berg provided by Katheryn H. Krafft, Bergonian Hotel Landmark Nomination Form.] The earliest owners and residents have not been identified. King County tax records indicate that by 1925 the house was owned by Alvah B. (and Ida B.) Miller, who was a Nebraska-born steamfitter who migrated to Seattle from Lincoln, Nebraska sometime after 1920. Members of the Miller family may have retained ownership of this house into the 1970s.
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| Appearance |
| Located at the SW corner of the intersection of N. 47th St. and Evanston Ave. N. with the front elevation oriented to the north. Very well-preserved, two story, wood-frame, single-family residence constructed in 1922. Exhibits distinctive Dutch Colonial Revival style design elements/features. Side-gable building form w/prominent gambrel roof form including full width shed dormers at both the north and south slopes. Asymmetrical façade with off set projecting front-gable porch at west side. Measures approx. 27’ x 30’ with concrete foundation and basement level. Prominent 4’ x 17’ porch exhibits tapered round columns, pedimented roof with gable-end returns, brick masonry wing walls and stair checks. Colonial Revival style design elements/features include: gambrel roof form; cobblestone porch features; 4” horizontal cedar siding; cedar shingle cladding at shed dormers; double-hung wooden windows with multi-pane windows sash; classical-inspired porch design, prominent brick chimney at gable end. Distinctive original wooden windows including accent windows (including ornate long narrow transom windows at north and east elevations). Original multi-pane Colonial style door remains in place. The original interior is believed to have been distinguished by tile work in the kitchen and bath. |
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