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.
The brick Tudor house at 8001 25th Avenue NW was built in 1930. A bedroom addition was done in about 1943. The 1940 census shows the house valued at $5,000.
It's unclear who the original owners were, Stewart B. & Ada M. Fallis' names show up on permits in 1934 but the Seattle Polks Directory doesn't list them living there until 1937. Stewart was a jeweler/watch repairman/optometrist who worked for his father at Elliott C. Fallis & Son Jeweler & Optometrists at 1516 1st Avenue.
Next couple to own the house were William D. & Vena B. Lewer (1942-44, maybe longer). He was an instructor at Metropolitan Business College. The Lewers did a bedroom addition. It is not clear when Jack D. & Marie G. Tarrant purchased the house but the 1951, 1952 Seattle Polks Directories lists them residing there. Jack was a driver. William E. & Irene B. Woodbury lived in the house from 1954-1963. William was a machinist for Rowe Machine Works. Rolf D. & Ellen I. Larsson owned the house for 30 years from 1964-1994. Rolf was a cutter for Elmer Moody. In 1994 Ashley A. & Pamela D. Mitchell purchased the house from Ellen Larsson for $160,000. Ashley bought out Pamela's interest in the house in 2001, then sold the house to the current owners, Michael D. Gurley & Becky Hart.
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.
