| Historic Name: |
Fred J. Kerr Co. House |
Common Name: |
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| Style: |
Arts & Crafts - Craftsman |
Neighborhood: |
Fremont |
| Built By: |
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Year Built: |
1910 |
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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 an outstanding and well-preserved early example of a Craftsman Bungalow cottage constructed by Jud Yoho. It was built in 1910 by Jud Yoho for Fred J. Kerr, a real estate developer with offices at 4228 Fremont Avenue (permit #92199). Known as “The Bungalow Craftsman” Jud Yoho (b.1882) is considered to have been Seattle's most active and market-oriented bungalow entrepreneur. He was the owner of the Craftsman Bungalow Company and the Take-Down Manufacturing Company, as well as president of Bungalow Magazine. After 1912, Yoho published eight editions of Craftsman Bungalows the Craftsman Bungalow Company catalog of house plans. The Craftsman Bungalow Company primarily built and sold bungalow-style homes on installment purchase plans between 1911 and 1918. The short-lived Take-Down Manufacturing Company specialized in small “portable” or manufactured buildings, especially pre-fabricated garages. Bungalow Magazine was published in Seattle from 1912 to 1918; it was modeled on Gustav Stickley's The Craftsman and on an earlier Los Angeles publication with a similar title. This widely-circulated publication featured many Seattle bungalows along with notable examples from southern California. The magazine served to promote The Craftsman Bungalow Company and the sale of Craftsman Bungalows catalogs, as well as the sale of stock house plans for residential designs credited to Yoho and others, including his close associate Edward L. Merritt (b.1881). Jud Yoho and the Craftsman Bungalow Company are known to have developed two small clusters of bungalow style residences in Fremont in the 600 block of N. 47th Street and the 4400 block of Greenwood Avenue N. in the spring and summer of 1910. Several of these properties have been demolished or extensively altered. [A Take-Down Manufacturing Company garage has been identified at 3840 Linden Ave. N.] This house is part of the cluster on N.47th St. and is the most distinctive and best preserved example of Jud Yoho work in Fremont. A very similar (possibly using the exact same floor plan) cottage constructed in 1911 is located at 500 N. 43rd St.; however, it has been altered by cladding changes but retains a cobblestone porch and fireplace. King County property tax records indicate that the interior was remodeled prior to 1937 and again prior to 1972. [Information regarding Jud Yoho and other Fremont houses associated with him was obtained from: Doherty, Erin M. "Jud Yoho and The Craftsman Bungalow Company: Assessing the Value of the Common House" - M.A. Arch. Thesis, University of Washington 1997.]
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| Appearance |
| Located mid-block on the south side of N. 47th St. with front elevation oriented to the north. Very well-preserved, one story, wood-frame, single-family residence constructed in 1910. Exhibits highly distinctive Craftsman Bungalow style design elements/features. Front gable building form w/ prominent cutaway porch at east side of facade. There may be a small habitable attic area (shed dormer at east elevation). Measures approx. 26’ x 40’ with concrete foundation and basement level. Prominent 12’ x 12’ cutaway porch with cobblestone wing walls, tapered column and stair cheeks. Craftsman style design elements/features include: low pitched roof forms; cobblestone porch features; cedar shingle cladding; multiple kneebraces; wide barge boards and roof overhangs. Distinctive original wooden windows including diamond pattern upper sash cottage and accent windows (including long narrow set of windows at gable end). Corner bay window at west side of façade. Bay window at east elevation. Original multi-pane Craftsman style door remains in place. Presence of original brick and cobblestone masonry fireplace at (south?) elevation needs to be confirmed. |
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| Status: |
Yes - Inventory |
| Classication: |
Building |
District Status: |
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| Cladding(s): |
Shingle, Stone - River Rock |
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 |
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Changes to Windows: |
Intact |
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Changes to Original Cladding: |
Intact |
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Changes to Plan: |
Intact |
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Changes to Interior: |
Unknown |
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| Major Bibliographic References |
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King County Property Record Card (c. 1938-1972), Washington State Archives.
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Polk's Seattle Directories, 1890-1996.
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City of Seattle, Department of Planning and Development, Microfilm Records.
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