Seattle Historical Sites

Summary for 10228 Fischer PL / Parcel ID 2568300190 / Inv # RO014

Historic Name: LaVilla Dairy Common Name: The Shutter Shop Style: Commercial Neighborhood: North District Built By: Year Built: 1929   Significance In the opinion of the survey, this property appears to meet the criteria of the Seattle Landmarks Preservation Ordinance. This small brick building, with the sign "Lavilla Dairy," may be the city's best remaining structure from the small-scale dairy industry that flourished in many parts of Seattle until the 1950s. Its location and the appearance of the buildings indicate that it may have been a dairy with milk processing rather than simply a dairy products store. Further research is needed to identify role. The building is largely intact, although some of the sash has been replaced. It appears that the street was regraded to a higher level after the 1937 Tax Assessor photo, so that the original concrete steps have been removed. The building has been owned by the Blindheim family since 1937, when Ole Blindheim purchased it. The current owner is Alvin Blindheim. During the 1960s a Firestone tire wholesaler used the building; it is now a shop that makes and sells shutters and doors.   Appearance This building is in a pastoral setting off of Lake City Way, close to Thornton Creek. It is on a slope with a garage/shop area at the rear, below the grade level of the street. It is clad with clay tile with brick trim. The main façade has a stepped parapet coming to a gable in the center. Below the gable are the words "LAVILLA DAIRY" in large letters. Below the sign is a decorative belt course of brick set in the more rustic clay tiles. Two wood-and-glass doors with transoms flank a large multipaned window with a transom; a similar window is at the south end of the elevation. The doors are replacements of the original; the windows may also be newer, although they resemble the original. Each entry has a small fabric canopy over it. At the north end of the building is a small wing with lap siding than may have originally had a sales window. Behind this is a large garage door. The south elevation here the ground slopes toward the rear, has three original 1/1 windows. At the rear are three large wood eight-light garage doors. Based on Tax Assessor information, this area may have originally been open, but the present garage doors have been there for many years.

Detail for 10228 Fischer PL / Parcel ID 2568300190 / Inv # RO014

Status: Yes - Inventory Classication: Building District Status: Cladding(s): Brick, Wood - Clapboard Foundation(s): Concrete - Poured Roof Type(s): Flat Roof Material(s): Unknown Building Type: Commercial/Trade - Specialty store Plan: Rectangular Structural System: Balloon Frame/Platform Frame No. of Stories: one Unit Theme(s): Agriculture, Commerce Integrity Changes to Plan: Intact Changes to Windows: Slight 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.

Photo collection for 10228 Fischer PL / Parcel ID 2568300190 / Inv # RO014

Photo taken Oct 30, 2002