| Historic Name: |
Richfield Service Station |
Common Name: |
Puget Sound Radiator |
| Style: |
Commercial |
Neighborhood: |
Roosevelt |
| Built By: |
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Year Built: |
1922 |
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| Significance |
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In the opinion of the survey, this property appears to meet the criteria of the Seattle Landmarks Preservation Ordinance. |
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This is one of the city's most intact early service stations, built in 1922. It is also one of the very few reminders of Lake City Way's historic role as the major highway to Snohomish County. Before the completion of the George Washington Memorial Bridge on Aurora Avenue, this road (then called Bothell Way) was the primary route to the north. It ran along the lake to Bothell and from there to Everett. Because of its importance, many early auto-oriented businesses congregated here, including gas stations, auto courts and roadhouses. This is one of the few that remain. It is largely intact and is still in an auto-related use.
This simple building was built as a gas station but always had other uses as well. In 1937, it housed a hardware store and a post office as well as the gas pumps. It was remodeled slightly in 1941 when it was a Union Oil station; the original canopy was replaced and the interior was remodeled. It remained a gas station until the 1950s, and has been Puget Sound Radiator since at least 1960.
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| Appearance |
| This small brick masonry building has an irregular shape, a rectangle with one side clipped off to fit the triangular lot and provide better visibility for the storefront. It is largely intact, including the canopy that extends over the drive to the island where the gas pumps were. The brick has been painted white. Windows are original multipaned metal sash, most in arched window openings. The west elevation has the storefront, primarily multipaned glass with transoms. The east (rear ) elevation has three 9-light windows. The south side has a single large 12-light window and two smaller two-light windows. Folding garage doors are on the north; these may not be original, but are older replacements. |
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