| Historic Name: |
Case, Austin and Eva, House |
Common Name: |
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| Style: |
Queen Anne |
Neighborhood: |
University |
| Built By: |
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Year Built: |
1905 |
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| Significance |
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In the opinion of the survey, this property is located in a potential historic districe (National and/or local). |
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Based on field work conducted in October 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 character of the University Park neighborhood.
This Queen Anne style house is one of the earliest houses in Thompson's University Addition north of University Park. It was built by Nemias B. Beck as his home. (Beck also built the houses at 5825 and 5827 16th Avenue NE a few years later.) This was the home of Austin E. and Eva Case for many years, from about 1907 until about 1950. The house is distinctive for its unusual form, its tower, and front porch. The prominent porch was originally open but has been enclosed for many years.
Nemias B. Beck was an insurance agent and real estate developer. He was likely related to William W. Beck, the developer of Ravenna Park. Later residents included Archie Messner, Arthur Fairhall, and Niles and Airdrie Thomsen. Niles was a former sea captain who wrote a two-volume autobiography, and Airdrie is an artist, who has also published several books. The current owners purchased the house in 1988.
There is a similar house at 1708 NE Ravenna Boulevard, also built in 1904, which still has an open porch. The current owners have the original columns for the porch, which were found in the basement.
This house is significant for its Queen Anne style, its construction by Nemias B. Beck, and as a relatively early building in this area.
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| Appearance |
| This Queen Anne style house occupies a large corner lot in the Thompson's University Addition/University Park neighborhood north of the University of Washington campus. This house is noteworthy for its cross-gable roof form, hexagonal tower, and prominent enclosed front porch. The most substantial change to the house was the enclosure of the front porch in 1920. The siding was changed in about 1960 from a combination of narrow clapboard and shingles above to wide aluminum siding on all but the north elevation. A kitchen addition on the north elevation with a skylight and rooftop deck was built in 1991. Most of the double-hung wood windows appear to be original. There is an exterior chimney on the south elevation and an internal chimney on the north side of the house.
There is a separate detached garage, built later than the house, which has been altered some. |
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