Seattle Historical Sites

Summary for 316 Florentia ST / Parcel ID 197320-0006 / Inv # QA004

Historic Name: Bleitz Funeral Home Common Name: Bleitz Funeral Home Style: Tudor Neighborhood: Queen Anne Built By: unknown Year Built: 1921   Significance 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. In the opinion of the survey, this property is located in a potential historic districe (National and/or local). Bleitz Funeral home was founded by Jacob J. Bleitz in 1904. Bleitz had just arrived in Seattle from Chicago, where he had graduated from the Chicago College of Embalming in 1900. The business was first locate near Green Lake, but moved to this location about 1921. The chapel organ is the twin of the one in Bethany Presbyterian Church on Queen Anne. James and Lawrence Bleitz took over management of the facility after their father's death in 1939. Although it is now owned by a corporation, it is widely known for its agreement with the People's Memorial Association, which provides lower cost alternatives to traditional funeral services. A compatible 5,000 square-foot addition, designed by KSWA Architects, was built on the west side of the building in 1989. A small garage was added in the rear in 1962.   Appearance This concrete building has an unusual Tudor-influenced style. The main mass of the building is 2-1/2 stories with a hip roof, clad with standing seam metal. Large gabled dormers are on the east, south and west elevations. The south gable has elaborately carved bargeboards; the other two dormers once had half-timbered detailing, which has been painted over. The building is topped by a large sign saying "Bleitz Funeral Home;" a sign has been there since at least 1937, when it said "Bleitz Funeral Parlors." The main entry is on the south, through a narrow two-story anteroom section and a one-story Tudor arched porch. Adjacent to the east is a matching Tudor-arched portal for vehicles. The anteroom, porch and portals all have stepped parapets and are subtly decorated with tiles in geometric patterns. The east elevation has a large chimney and an entry approached by a walkway covered with a gabled canopy. Windows throughout are multipaned sash in a variety of configurations, with concrete sills. The addition on the west is in the same styles as the main building and is connected by an enclosed walkway.

Detail for 316 Florentia ST / Parcel ID 197320-0006 / Inv # QA004

Status: Yes - Inventory Classication: Building District Status: Cladding(s): Concrete Foundation(s): Concrete - Poured Roof Type(s): Hip Roof Material(s): Metal Building Type: Funerary - Mortuary Plan: Rectangular Structural System: Concrete - Poured No. of Stories: three Unit Theme(s): Architecture/Landscape Architecture, Other Integrity Changes to Plan: Moderate Changes to Windows: Intact Changes to Original Cladding: Intact Major Bibliographic References King County Property Record Card (c. 1938-1972), Washington State Archives. Polk's Seattle Directories, 1890-1996. Reinartz, Kay F. Queen Anne: Community on the Hill. Seattle: Queen Anne Historical Society, 1993.

Photo collection for 316 Florentia ST / Parcel ID 197320-0006 / Inv # QA004

Photo taken Dec 27, 2004 Photo taken Dec 27, 2004