| Historic Name: |
Brett/Petersen House |
Common Name: |
Brett/Petersen House |
| Style: |
American Foursquare |
Neighborhood: |
Queen Anne |
| Built By: |
|
Year Built: |
1906 |
| |
| Significance |
|
In the opinion of the survey, this property appears to meet the criteria of the Seattle Landmarks Preservation Ordinance. |
|
|
The Brett/Petersen House was constructed in 1906. When John Brett acquired the building permit (#44165) for the Brett/Petersen House in August 1906, his family had lived on the block since early 1903. John Brett worked as a foreman for Stetson and Post Sawmill Company. In 1902 he saw an opportunity to take advantage of the influx of newcomers to Seattle and purchased some vacant property on West Galer to build some residences. He had the Brett/Helm House (314 W Galer) built in 1902 and the Brett/Jones House (320 W Galer) built in 1906. Upon the completion of each house, the Brett family lived in it for awhile before selling.
During the late summer and early fall of 1906, John Brett constructed the Brett/Peterson House at 318 W Galer Street. When it was completed the Bretts sold the Brett/Jones House and moved next door into the Brett/Petersen House. In February 1907, after living there for just a few months, the Bretts sold it to Christian Petersen.
Born in Denmark, Christian Petersen (b. ca 1856) immigrated to the United States and entered the merchant marine. By 1875, he was sailing along the Pacific Coast as a mate on the schooner Lizzie Madison. In 1884 he became Captain of the schooner Paralle. In 1890 he superintended the building of the four-masted schooner Ethel Zane, of which he was part owner and commander. During this time he lived in California and in 1893 he married Denmark native Bertha Petersen (b. ca 1861) and started a family. By the turn of the century the Petersens moved to Washington and by early 1907 they moved to Seattle and purchased the Brett/Petersen House. The Petersens raised their two children, Helen (b. ca 1895) and George (b. ca 1901) and continued living in the house until the early 1930s. The Seattle Polk directories continued listing Christian Petersen as a master mariner until 1930. This was just about the end of the period of sailing ships along the Pacific Coast.
In 1937 printer Lester Thayer acquired the house and owned it into the 1960s. He lived there some of the time and rented it out at other times. In the late 1940s, Leo Sinclair, a Boeing Airplane Company electrican, rented it. In 1954 William Brunner operated Adeo Television, an early Seattle television shop, out of the house.
|
|
| |
| Appearance |
| The building permit for the foursquare Brett/Petersen House was issued on August 7, 1906 (# 44165). The south (front) elevation has a hip dormer and a partially recessed porch with a hip roof and heavy posts. Three sided bay windows on south and west elevations. Small decorative windows on second floor of south elevation. Some double hung windows have beveled sashes. Window added to west elevaion. Converted into a duplex in the mid 1950s. |
|
|
