Seattle Historical Sites

Based on field work conducted in September 2014, this historic property retains its relationship to the streetscape, basic historic building form and a sufficient amount of exterior historic building fabric (design features, cladding and/or window sash/openings) and despite historic alterations may contribute to the distinct character of the Georgetown neighborhood.

Plat: Commercial St Steam Motor, Block: 10, Lot: 3

This building has been altered over time and is the only house on the block that has been this extensively modified. Now a multi-unit residence containing four units, the building was originally designed as a single-family residence. King County Property Record cards date the house from 1927. S. T. Hart, who also purchased the slightly altered and neighboring 1905 single family residence at 615 S Brandon Street in 1927, also owned this house. The main two-story portion of the house originally had a standard gabled roof, which has since been modified. As today, there was a one-story gabled side wing, set perpendicular to the taller story portion of the building, with the main entry facing Brandon Street. On the other hand, the main entry was accessed through a porch, which was gone by 1958. There was also a porch, which allowed direct entry from the west into the main two-story portion of the house. The back one story wing, which is somewhat longer than the front wing, was also part of the building. There was also apparently a small porch located on the west side between the main wing and this back wing.

In 1927, the windows had wood window surrounds. Many, if not all of the windows, included a row of smaller panes above one large pane. By 1958, in a photo of the period, most of the windows had been replaced by what look like aluminum frame windows. The wood windows surrounds were also gone and the two porches, previously described, had also been removed. The roof of the main wing was also modified: the south side of the two-story area was extended to allow for a higher head height. This created the new roof shape that resembles that of a large salt-box house, but it is not original. Finally, the siding of the original 1927 design was replaced with new horizontal wood siding at the top of the elevations and split shakes at the lower level. Although the 1958 photo shows most of the changes, apparently modifications to the building began in 1957 and continued to1962.

The main alterations to the building seem to have mostly occurred by 1962, although many of the late 1950s/ early 1960s windows have since been replaced again. The building is interesting because of its transformation from a single family dwelling to a much altered multi-unit residence.

This frame building is sited mid-block on the south side of Brandon Street between 6^th Avenue South and Maynard Avenue South. It is situated on a block that includes several noteworthy single-family residences, which date from as early as 1891 and 1905. Now a multi-unit residence containing four units, it was originally designed as a single-family residence. Major changes occurred between 1927, when the house was built, and 1958. The building, which has a basement level, includes a taller two-story main wing topped by an irregular gable that is reminiscent of the roofs on salt-box houses. To each side of the main wing, to the south, facing Brandon Street and to the north, facing an alley, there is a one-story wing, topped by a standard gable roof. Windows, which appear to be replacement vinyl windows and are not numerous, are widely spaced and generally not placed according to any particular architectural pattern. Horizontal wood siding covers the tops of the elevations, including the second story of the two-story wing, while dark shakes usually cover the lower parts of the elevations. An exterior wooden stair, (probably required by code to allow for a second exit), is set on the east side of the front one-story wing. It leads to the second level of the main wing.