Residential Ballard is generally described as extending from the 8th Avenue NW to the east and the bluff to the west, and from NW 85th Street on the north to NW 65th Street to the south. The area primarily contains single family houses, but also includes a collection of mutli-family dwellings, commercial buildings, schools, churches, and other buildings. Most of the historic buildings in Ballard are modest cottages and builder's houses, and were not architect-designed. Building styles include, but are not limited to, Victorian (primarily Queen Anne), vernacular, Craftsman, American Foursquare, Colonial Revival (including variations), Tudor Revival, Minimal Traditional, and Ranch. The historic building fabric of Ballard is threatened by a rapid pace of development.
The City of Ballard was incorporated in 1890. It was the first community to incorporate after Washington achieved statehood in 1889. Although population increased rapidly, north Ballard was still relatively rural. In 1907, primarily due to lack of adequate water for its population of 15,000, Ballard citizens voted to be annexed to Seattle to ensure a good water supply for the area.
After annexation Ballard’s street names were changed to conform to Seattle’s: Ship Street turned into 65th Street, Main Street became 15th Avenue. During the Great Depression and World War II, construction in Ballard nearly ground to a halt, with the exception of some houses built by Earl F. Mench. However, following World War II, fueled by the G.I. bill and the rise of the automobile, Ballard boomed again, and new housing followed. In recent years, the demand for new housing has spurred a tremendous amount of change in Ballard, with old, modest houses being replaced by large box houses and multi-family units. These changes threaten to alter the character and feeling of this historic neighborhood.
References
Ballard Historical Society Classic Home Tour guides.
Crowley, Walt. Seattle Neighborhoods: Ballard--Thumbnail History. HistoryLink File # 983, accessed 6/1/16.
King County Tax Assessor Records, 1937-2014.
McAlester, Virginia Savage.
A Field Guide to American Houses (2nd ed.). New York, NY: Alfred A Knopf Press, 2013.
Oschsner, Jeffrey Karl
Shaping Seattle Architecture: A Historical Guide to the Architects. Seattle, WA: University of
Washington Press, 1994.
Passport to Ballard: The Centennial Story. Seattle, WA: Ballard News Tribune, 1988.
Alternate Addresses:
632 TIMES
2832 W 58TH ST (property possibly renumbered at one point?
2838 NW 58TH ST
Eugene and Maude Schneider occupied the home for a period of time. According to the 1910 US Census the Mr. Schneider worked at a Furniture Store. Eugene, whose parents were of French descent and Maude, whose parents were from Illinois, both lived in Iowa for a period of time before moving to the Seattle area.
According the Polk Directory Chester and Aurel Steele occupied the home for a period of time between 1928 and 1937 when Mrs. Steele passed away.
Polk Directory Excerpts:
1905 POLK:
1906 POLK: Schneider Eugene clk h 632 Times
1928 POLK: (2832 W 58TH ST) Steele Chester A Su 1731 (property possibly renumbered at one point?
1940 POLK: Coon Ella E (wid Melvin) nurse r 2838 W 58th (see also Koon and Kuhn)
SANBORN INSURANCE MAPS: SHEET 380
Property Card Excerpts:
PC: Earl J Schneider + Phyllis Schneider owned home (~1935-1939)
PC: Carl Johnson owned home (~1937)
PC: N.I. Nelson purchased home 01/28/44
PC: J.K. Halbert purchased home 08/30/63
PC: Built 1904
