| Historic Name: |
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Common Name: |
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| Style: |
Ranch |
Neighborhood: |
Beacon Hill |
| Built By: |
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Year Built: |
1948 |
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| Significance |
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Built in 1948 as a two family dwelling, the residence forms part of the large development body comprised of 3918-3920, 3924-3926, and 3930-3932 Fourteenth Avenue South. Construction on this duplex began in March and was completed by October of the same year. Seattle architect, John Mattson, designed the residence for Standard Homes, Inc., which had offices in the Vance Building. The building cost an estimated $14,000. In 1949, S. P. Carone occupied one of the units. Frank E. Tennison moved into one of the units ca 1953. Sherman Meriam resided in 3822 from 1955 through 1970. From 1955 through 1957, William Dover occupied 3820. Then in 1959, Thomas Gullikson moved into 3820, followed by John Leary ca 1964 and Patricia Russell by 1970.
Beacon Hill is a long north-south tending ridge located southeast of downtown Seattle and stands 350 feet at its highest point. The hill’s steep topography deterred substantial Euro-American settlement through the early 1880s. Then, development of the area was stimulated by the introduction of streetcar lines in the 1890s, its proximity to Seattle’s main industrial area to the west, and the regrading of the hill’s north end in the early 1900s.
Originally acquired by the City in 1898, Jefferson Park was integrated into Seattle’s Olmsted system of parks, and the Olmsted Brothers prepared a plan for the park in 1912. The first public golf course west of the Mississippi opened at Jefferson Park in 1915. Jefferson Park has exerted a profound positive influence on the development of the Beacon Hill neighborhood.
Because of its proximity to the International District, Japanese and Chinese families moved to Beacon Hill starting in the 1920s. World War I and II stimulated a surge in housing development associated with wartime industry. The construction of Interstate 5 in the 1960s and Interstate 90 in the 1980s sliced through the neighborhoods and contributed to Beacon Hill’s relative isolation. Today, Beacon Hill is an ethnically diverse working class community, which has a mixed Asian, Chicano, African American, and Caucasian population.
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| Appearance |
| Built in 1948, this horizontally-emphasized, Modern style, four-family dwelling stands on a rectangular lot. The building is oriented to Fourteenth Avenue South on a sloped site below street level. This 1270 square foot, single-story apartment building with a full daylight basement features a rectangular plan, measuring approximately 20’ by 50’, with small side stoop entrances. A poured concrete foundation supports the wood frame, shingle and Roman brick veneer-clad superstructure. Asphalt composition roofing covers the front low-pitched gable roof. Vertical siding accents the front facing gable end. Overhanging eaves define the roofline. Wood sash 2:2 horizontal lite windows provide day lighting. Front facade windows feature rowlock brick sills. Side entrances lead to the building interior. Projecting gable roofs shelter these entrances. Internal brick chimneys service the building. |
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| Status: |
Yes - Inventory |
| Classication: |
Building |
District Status: |
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| Cladding(s): |
Brick - Roman, Shingle - Concrete/Asbestos |
Foundation(s): |
Concrete - Poured |
| Roof Type(s): |
Gable |
Roof Material(s): |
Asphalt/Composition |
| Building Type: |
Domestic - Multiple Family |
Plan: |
Irregular |
| Structural System: |
Balloon Frame/Platform Frame |
No. of Stories: |
one |
| Unit Theme(s): |
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| Integrity |
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Changes to Original Cladding: |
Intact |
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Changes to Plan: |
Intact |
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Changes to Windows: |
Intact |
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| Major Bibliographic References |
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City of Seattle DCLU Microfilm Records.
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King County Property Record Card (c. 1938-1972), Washington State Archives.
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Polk's Seattle Directories, 1890-1996.
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City of Seattle. Survey of City-Owned Historic Resources. Prepared by Cathy Wickwire, Seattle, 2001. Forms for Ravenna Park structures.
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Tobin, Caroline. (2004) "Beacon Hill Historic Context Statement."
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