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Summary for 1905 26TH AVE / Parcel ID 871210-0610 / Inv # 0

Historic Name: Matthews Residence Common Name: 46 Jessup-Powell Residence
Style: Tudor Neighborhood: Montlake
Built By: Year Built: 1929
 
Significance
This residence is a good example of the Tudor Revival style. Built in 1929, it is associated with the late 1920s developmental era in the Montlake neighborhood.  It remains intact and is a contributing resource to the Montlake NRHP Historic District.The earliest known owners, in 1938, were Robert R. & Versal Matthews; he was a supervisor for Northern Life Insurance Co. It was owned by David E. Wolfstone, who worked at Berdell's Jewelry, and his wife, Mary, from the 1940s through at least the 1950s.

Montlake is generally described as extending from the Washington Park Arboretum west to Portage Bay/15th Avenue E., and from the Montlake Cut on the north to Interlaken Park. The area is a significant and cohesive collection of residential architecture typical of early 20th century Seattle and is eligible as a NRHP historic district under Criterion C.  Construction occurred primarily between 1910 and 1940, with a variety of Craftsman and revival styles ranging from modest cottages and builder's houses to high-style architect-designed residences, impressive institutional buildings, and notable parks and natural features.  There are few intrusions of newer buildings.  In the early 1960s, construction of SR 520 and the unfinished R.H. Thomson Expressway bisected Montlake, but the neighborhood retains its basic integrity as a pre-World War II Seattle neighborhood.  

Montlake was incorporated into the City of Seattle in 1891.  Although the first plats (Union City 1st and 2nd additions) were filed by Harvey Pike in 1869-1871, development did not really begin until plats were filed by John Boyer (Interlaken, 1905) and H. S. Turner (1907). Montlake Park (north of SR 520) was platted in 1909 by the developers James Corner and Calvin and William Hagan.  With the 1909 Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition came a streetcar line on 24th Avenue E. and an impetus for development. In 1916, the Lake Washington Ship Canal was completed and the Montlake Bridge linked the neighborhood to the university area in 1925. A small commercial district grew along the car line.

The 1903 Olmsted Parks and Boulevards Plan of 1903 surrounded Montlake with parks.  Montlake Boulevard (then call University Boulevard) connected Lake Washington Boulevard to the A-Y-P grounds.  Washington Park, the eastern boundary, was acquired by the City in 1900 and developed as an arboretum in 1936-41. At the southern edge is steep, forested Interlaken Park and boulevard.

By 1915, the neighborhood had developed enough to require a temporary school building; the permanent structure opened in 1924.Soon afterwards came a playfield and shelter house (1933-36) and a library (1944, replaced 2006). Other noteworthy structures include the Seattle Yacht Club (1920), the NOAA Northwest Fisheries Center (1931), and St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church (1962).

Major Bibliographic References:

King County Tax Assessor Records, 1937-2014.  

Becker, Paula.  Seattle Neighborhoods: Montlake--Thumbnail History.  HistoryLink File # 10170, accessed 12/2/2013.

Gould, James W. Montlake History. http://www.scn.org/neighbors/montlake/mcc_history.Jim_Gould.html

Smith, Eugene. Montlake: An Urban Eden, A History of the Montlake Community in Seattle. La Grande OR: Oak Street Press, 2004.

 
Appearance
This brick-clad Tudor-style house has a rectangular plan and a steep cross-gable roof with clipped ends, no overhangs and wide bargeboards. The gable-front section features a wing wall with an arched opening that leads to the side yard to the north. The enclosed entry porch, at the center of the main (east) facade, has a clipped end gabled roof and an arched opening with a decorative brick surround. The oak door has a small arched window. To the south of the entry is a three-part window with an 8/1 leaded center flanked by 4/1 leaded sidelights.  To the north of the entry is a group of 3- 6/1 leaded double-hung windows. An arched, leaded casement window is located in the gable end. Double-hung windows with divided uppers are typical on the north and south facades and all windows have brick lintels and sills.  A concrete retaining wall divides the raised area of the site that is planted with lawn and shrubs, from the concrete driveway at grade that leads to a newer paneled garage door.

Detail for 1905 26TH AVE / Parcel ID 871210-0610 / Inv # 0

Status:
Classication: Building District Status:
Cladding(s): Brick Foundation(s): Concrete - Poured
Roof Type(s): Gable Roof Material(s): Asphalt/Composition
Building Type: Domestic - Single Family Plan: Rectangular
Structural System: Balloon Frame/Platform Frame No. of Stories: one & ½
Unit Theme(s): Architecture/Landscape Architecture
Integrity
Changes to Plan: Intact
Changes to Interior: Unknown
Changes to Original Cladding: Intact
Changes to Windows: Intact
Major Bibliographic References
King County Assessor Property Characteristics Report, database at http://www5.metrokc.gov/ --parcel locator

Photo collection for 1905 26TH AVE / Parcel ID 871210-0610 / Inv # 0


Photo taken Dec 31, 2014

Photo taken Dec 31, 2014

Photo taken Jan 01, 1900
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