Historic Name: |
V.L. Miller Building |
Common Name: |
Brass Tracks/Ground Control |
Style: |
Commercial |
Neighborhood: |
Georgetown |
Built By: |
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Year Built: |
1940 |
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Significance |
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Based on field work conducted in September 2014, this historic property retains its relationship to the streetscape, historic building form and a sufficient amount of exterior historic building fabric (design features, cladding and/or window sash/openings) to contribute to the distinct historic character of the Georgetown neighborhood. This is a generally well-preserved historic property that may possess some architectural and/or historic significance.
(1997) This property is associated with an era of residential and commercial building between 1916 and 1942 which continued in Georgetown despite an acceleration of the trends toward the industrialization of the area. Significant changes came with prohibition and the closure of the brewery in 1916, the completion of the Duwamish Waterway in 1917, and the arrival of new businesses, such as the Boeing Airplane Company in 1916. In spite of the increasingly industrial nature of the area which had been zoned as such in 1923, residents of Georgetown continued to build new homes and businesses and to plan for a future in the neighborhood. This property is located immediately adjacent to a similar commercial storefront (GT035) constructed in 1927 for the same owner, V.L. Miller. It was designed by Seattle architect, Theo Damm. In 1965, in order to construct the adjacent freeway ramp, a portion of the building was condemned and removed.
(2014) According to an obituary published in the Seattle Times (Nov. 30. 1964, pg 47) Victor L. Miller was born in Alpena, Michigan and settled in Seattle c.1904. He was identified as a builder and owner of rental properties in the “Georgetown District’. At the time of his death he was survived by three children: Arthur Miller (Seattle), Mary Ellorin (Stockton, CA) and Iris Groves (Canby, OR).
Theodore Harold Damm (August 10, 1902-January 17, 1984).
Born and raised in Seattle; studied architecture at University of Washington, 1921-22; employed by Floyd A. Naramore, 1922, by Victor Voorhees, 1923-32; in private practice after 1933; designed Ware & Hosey, Inc., building, Seattle (1928); in partnership Damm-Daum & Associates, with James Daum, 1961-66; designed W. P. Brezeau residence, Seattle (1938), F. H. Rodgers residence, Seattle (1938-39), W. R. Burton residence, Seattle (1939), V. L. Miller building, Seattle (1940), Irwin Chirporactic Clinic, Seattle (1947), Laurelhurst Community Club gymnasium, Seattle (1949-50), Alki Masonic Temple, Seattle (1950), Westside Ford (now Huling Brothers Chevrolet) dealership building, Seattle (1952-53; altered), John Rogers Elementary School, Seattle (1954-56), West Seattle High School gymnasium, Seattle (1958-59), Seattle Municipal Building, Seattle (1958-62, with J. N. McCammon Associates, Dallas; destroyed), Graham Hill Elementary School, Seattle (1960-61), addition to Alki Elementary School, Seattle (1965-67); retired in 1973; died in Seattle. [Credit: Shaping Seattle Architecture, UW Press 2014, pg. 431]
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Appearance |
No subtantantive changes have been made to this property since it was identified in the 1997 HRI project
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(1997) A partly intact however altered example of a one-part, brick masonry, commercial storefront design. The facade is angled and oriented toward both S. Bailey and Airport Way S. It exhibits commercial storefronts divided into four bays of varied width. Approximately the north 26 feet of the building and facade were removed in order to construct the adjacent freeway ramp system. The extant storefronts include some original large display and transom windows, and brick bulkheads. The facade composition is further distinguished by a galvanized iron coping, variegated brick colors and pattern treatment. Original cladding, wire-cut brick veneer and roman brick of varied colors, remains intact. This building includes a combination of copper and wooden window sash and some extant store doors. |
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