Nov 01, 1974
National Register of Historic Places - Wilke Farmhouse
Statement of Significant: The Wilke Farmhouse was built by Charles Wilke in 1898, on what was then the edge of town. He was a building contractor and a sign on top of the barn roof once advertised his services as "carpenter and builder". In subsequent years, when property values rapidly increased due to Seattle's population growth, Wilke divided the southern portion of his property and built houses where his orchard had stood. He also built a number of other homes throughout the central and eastern portions of Queen Anne Hill. In addition to Mr. Wilke's building activities, the family supported itself to varying degrees with the help of their small farm. The barn housed horses, some chickens and possibly a pig. A large sign once identified the barn as the "Wilke Riding Stables". After Charles Wilke's death, his widow, Minnie, remained in the home along with their children Amanda, Helen, and Laudeus. Helen, working in an office and Laudeus, in home construction, occupied the house until 1969. Since the property was sold in 1970, there has been one owner who has always been conscious of the historical interest of the buildings. They have undertaken no major alterations, and the house itself is in very good condition. The farmhouse is a fine example of late 19th Century small-farm architecture, and this is the last remaining complete complex of farm buildings close to the center of Seattle. The house was built not only as a dwelling, but as a showpiece of the carpenter's skill in the art of home construction. It has an unusually warm, inviting quality that is unmistakable. This is due, in part, to the unpretentious traditional form and sensitive ornamental carpentry -- intricate in detail but restrained in application. The wide verandas are typical of mid-West American architecture from that period, where they served to shade the parlor from the heat of strong sunlight. For different reasons this feature is well suited to the climate of the Pacific Northwest, where it is desirable to shelter the entrance from persistent winter rain. The farmhouse's structural design is a marvelous solution to the needs for economy in materials and quick, easy construction. The plan arrangement is ideally suited to the advantages of balloon frame construction where the walls are all nearly two-story flat planer surfaces. The narrow wings reduce the span of the floor and roof joists, enabling the builder to use smaller structural members without going so far as to make the interior spaces excessively narrow or unlivable. The Wilke property is significant as a complex of related buildings that are evidence of a semi-agrarian way of life that was once common in early Seattle among families with modest incomes. The home is a rare and exceptional example of small farm architecture surviving in an urban setting.
National Register of Historic Places - Wilke Farmhouse
Statement of Significant: The Wilke Farmhouse was built by Charles Wilke in 1898, on what was then the edge of town. He was a building contractor and a sign on top of the barn roof once advertised his services as "carpenter and builder". In subsequent years, when property values rapidly increased due to Seattle's population growth, Wilke divided the southern portion of his property and built houses where his orchard had stood. He also built a number of other homes throughout the central and eastern portions of Queen Anne Hill. In addition to Mr. Wilke's building activities, the family supported itself to varying degrees with the help of their small farm. The barn housed horses, some chickens and possibly a pig. A large sign once identified the barn as the "Wilke Riding Stables". After Charles Wilke's death, his widow, Minnie, remained in the home along with their children Amanda, Helen, and Laudeus. Helen, working in an office and Laudeus, in home construction, occupied the house until 1969. Since the property was sold in 1970, there has been one owner who has always been conscious of the historical interest of the buildings. They have undertaken no major alterations, and the house itself is in very good condition. The farmhouse is a fine example of late 19th Century small-farm architecture, and this is the last remaining complete complex of farm buildings close to the center of Seattle. The house was built not only as a dwelling, but as a showpiece of the carpenter's skill in the art of home construction. It has an unusually warm, inviting quality that is unmistakable. This is due, in part, to the unpretentious traditional form and sensitive ornamental carpentry -- intricate in detail but restrained in application. The wide verandas are typical of mid-West American architecture from that period, where they served to shade the parlor from the heat of strong sunlight. For different reasons this feature is well suited to the climate of the Pacific Northwest, where it is desirable to shelter the entrance from persistent winter rain. The farmhouse's structural design is a marvelous solution to the needs for economy in materials and quick, easy construction. The plan arrangement is ideally suited to the advantages of balloon frame construction where the walls are all nearly two-story flat planer surfaces. The narrow wings reduce the span of the floor and roof joists, enabling the builder to use smaller structural members without going so far as to make the interior spaces excessively narrow or unlivable. The Wilke property is significant as a complex of related buildings that are evidence of a semi-agrarian way of life that was once common in early Seattle among families with modest incomes. The home is a rare and exceptional example of small farm architecture surviving in an urban setting.
Nov 01, 1974
Posted Date
Jul 24, 2023
Historical Record Date
Nov 01, 1974
Source Name
National Register of Historic Places
