Seattle Historical Sites

Summary for 5702 Woodlawn AVE / Parcel ID 9551201700 / Inv #

Historic Name: Skone House Common Name: Skone House Style: Vernacular Neighborhood: Green Lake Built By: Year Built: 1903   Significance In the opinion of the survey, this property appears to meet the criteria of the Seattle Landmarks Preservation Ordinance. The Skone House was constructed in 1903. House builder Charles Skone (b. ca 1855), child of Swedish immigrants, was born, raised, and married in Minnesota. In the late 1890s, the Skone clan, which included Charles wife, four children, both parents, and at least one brother, headed west. The boom times and influx of people started by the Klondike gold rush likely drew them to the northwest. By early 1901, his family settled near the south end of Green Lake and Skone engaged in his trade building houses. In early 1902, he acquired some property just two blocks away from the Green Lake streetcar line. On the last day of 1902 Skone procured a building permit for his own house. By the following spring, Charles, wife Matilda (b. ca 1861), two sons, and two daughters ages 16, 13, 9, 6, moved in. Skone’s parents lived in a house nearby on the south side of 57th street. Charles Skone continued his carpentry trade and remained in the house until the end of World War I. Later occupants. In the late 1920s, Mrs. Clara M. Pratt occupied the house. During the 1940s, mechanic Frederick H. and Mildred R. Rehfeld resided there. By 1952 Marvin E. and V. Irene Prater purchased and moved into the house. Marvin Prater worked for the Langendorf Bread Company as department superintendent. Five years later Urban Costello acquired the house. In 1960 Boeing x-ray technician Lynn R. and wife Norma E. Brown purchased and moved into the house. In 1975 the Historic Seattle Survey of the Greenlake neighborhood listed the house as Significant to the Community. The residence appears to meet City of Seattle Landmark criteria due to the age of the structure (over 100 years old) and minimal alterations.   Appearance On December 31, 1902 owner and builder Charles Skone acquired a building permit for an one and a half story 26 x 38 foot cottage. In 1919 a permit was issued for an 8 x 16 foot sleeping porch. Not known where this porch was located, perhaps in the rear (east end). The front gable vernacular house has large gambrel dormers on the north and south elevations. The west elevation recessed porch has Doric columns. The second floor west elevation window may be altered. A bay window is located on the south elevation.

Detail for 5702 Woodlawn AVE / Parcel ID 9551201700 / Inv #

Status: Yes - Inventory Classication: Building District Status: Cladding(s): Shingle, Wood - Clapboard 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 Windows: Slight Changes to Original Cladding: Intact Major Bibliographic References City of Seattle DCLU Microfilm Records. King County Property Record Card (c. 1938-1972), Washington State Archives. Polk's Seattle Directories, 1890-1996. Sanborn Map Company. Insurance Maps of Seattle, Washington. (New York, Sanborn Map Company, 1904-1905) 4 volumes. Sanborn Map Company. Insurance Maps of Seattle, Washington. (New York, Sanborn Map Company, 1916-1919) volumes 1, 3, 4, 5, 6. Sanborn Map Company. Insurance Maps of Seattle, Washington. (New York, Sanborn Map Company, 1949-1950 update) 11 volumes. Seattle Daily Bulletin Historic Seattle Preservation and Development Authority. “Greenlake: An Inventory of Buildings and Urban Design Resources.” Seattle: Historic Seattle, 1975.

Photo collection for 5702 Woodlawn AVE / Parcel ID 9551201700 / Inv #

Photo taken Nov 23, 2004