Seattle Historical Sites

In the opinion of the survey, this property appears to meet the criteria of the National Register of Historic Places.

In the opinion of the survey, this property appears to meet the criteria of the Seattle Landmarks Preservation Ordinance.

This commercial building is in the Uptown neighborhood, with Wilson Machine Works established here in 1926. The metal working company began operation on January 2, 1926—the first new factory established that year in the state. The state had previously set a new annual record in 1925 with 177 new factories established, with hopes that this growth trend would continue into 1926.

Industrial and warehouse development along Elliott Avenue W was attributed to the growth of the business district north of Pike Street and a rising need for warehouses to support the north end. The south end relied on warehouses in south downtown (SoDo). The plant for the American Cracker Company was also built at this time along Elliott Avenue W. Francis McKay worked at the shop in 1944 and was the baritone for the Seattle Civic Opera Association.

The machine shop was opened by Robert John Wilson in 1926. As of 2018, the shop is operated by Robert David Wilson Jr., his son William Maxwell Wilson, and Keegan Carriveau. It’s a full metal working shop with several lathes, mills, and welding equipment. The company holds several patents related to elevator safety, repair, and maintenance.

The building retains an excellent level of integrity and is a good example of an industrial building within the neighborhood and the industrial growth of this area; it has significant associations with the Wilson family.

References:

City of Seattle DCLU Microfilm Records.

Jeffrey Karl Ochsner, ed., Shaping Seattle Architecture: A Guide to the Architects (Seattle, University of Washington Press: 2014), 2nd edition.

King County Property Record Card (c. 1938–1972), Washington State Archives.

Polk's Seattle Directories, 1890–1996.

Seattle Daily Times, November 02, 1924: 20.

Seattle Daily Times, January 15, 1926: 10.

Seattle Daily Times, February 07, 1926: 28.

Seattle Daily Times, December 03, 1947: 25.

Wilson Machine Works, “History,” accessed July 20, 2018, http://wilsonmachineworksseattle.com/history.htm

Constructed ca. 1926, this brick masonry industrial building is located along the north side of Elliott Avenue W. The site is generally level with the building’s work bays and oriented to the northwest and an adjacent paved parking/work area. The two-story structure stands on a poured concrete foundation, has a rectangular plan, and features a flat roof with parapets with raised outer parapet ends on the south facade.

An unreinforced brick structure clad with raked brick veneer (not bonded with header courses to the core brick structure) on the front south and west facades. Decorative brick bonding provides visual accents on the front facade, including a soldier course band along the top of the parapet, decorative panels at the parapet, chevrons flanking the south entrance, and two rowlock bands along the base of the building.

Multi-lite metal sash windows on the south, east, and west facades provide day lighting. Several wood sash windows at the west end provide day lighting. Window openings feature rowlock brick sills with a cement wash and flat soldier course headers and steel lintels.

A single door south entrance flanked by three-lite side lights provides access to the building. A flat soldier course header spans this doorway. A pair of top hung wood doors with multiple lites and a pair of vertical lower wood panels provide access to the industrial bay. A steel lintel spans the opening.

Alterations include a rear two-story addition with a flat roof with parapets. This addition is clad in horizontal wood siding and runs the full length of the building. A series of multi-lite windows form a transom above a single large bay opening at the west end of the addition. A contemporary sign has been attached to the front west end of the building. The front south door has been replaced.