Mar 10, 2004
National Register of Historic Places - Jovita Land Company Model Home-Corbett House
Statement of Significant: The Corbett House is eligible under National Register Criterion A for its association with early twentieth century suburban residential development spurred by the construction of Interurban Railway service in south King County, as well as the growth of automobile- oriented commuter patterns in rural areas of King County during the early decades of the twentieth century. The house is also eligible under Criterion C as a particularly rare and early example of a model home that exhibits distinctive characteristics drawn from popular residential home designs of the era and Craftsman-inspired architectural features and details. Early Federal Way Area History The origins of Federal Way and its environs (including the Jovita area) are closely linked to the creation of Military Road. Efforts to construct a route between Fort Walla Walla and various points on Puget Sound were begun by the United States military in 1852. The federal government agreed that access between Fort Steilacoom and Fort Bellingham should be established for the protection of settlers in the area. Growing impatience with the slow progress of the Puget Sound portion of the construction led Seattle pioneers in 1854 and 1855 to use construction volunteers. Once complete, the rudimentary roadway was little used and soon became overgrown. During the Indian wars of 1855-56 the roadway was of little help in moving troops between Seattle and Fort Steilacoom. The poor condition of the initial route ultimately convinced Congress to appropriate $35,000 to construct a passable roadway between Fort Steilacoom and Fort Bellingham via Seattle. The upgraded roadway was completed in 1860 and became known as King County Road No. 4. The thick forest of the Federal Way area attracted few early settlers. Those who did build homes or log cabins primarily selected sites on Puget Sound or on the shores of the several lakes in the area. Some individuals settled on 160-acre homesteads or timber claims and small scale, subsistence farming was also undertaken by early settlers. Despite the Military Road, overland travel remained difficult and mail service (beginning in c.1879) was via boat to the small settlements on Puget Sound (known as Milton, Buenna, Stone's Landing and Redondo) and distributed by horseback. Twentieth Century Development in the Federal Way Area Commercial logging activity increased in the early 1900s and a few sawmills operated for a short period of time. Land acquisition and subdivision increased during this period in anticipation of the residential growth spurred by the construction of the Seattle-Tacoma Interurban Railway completed in 1902. Among those subdivisions platted in the first two decades of the century were Maltby's Five-Acre Tracts, Algona, Lake Killarney Shore Lands, West Auburn Five-acre Tracts, Pacific City, Jovita, and Jovita Heights.
National Register of Historic Places - Jovita Land Company Model Home-Corbett House
Statement of Significant: The Corbett House is eligible under National Register Criterion A for its association with early twentieth century suburban residential development spurred by the construction of Interurban Railway service in south King County, as well as the growth of automobile- oriented commuter patterns in rural areas of King County during the early decades of the twentieth century. The house is also eligible under Criterion C as a particularly rare and early example of a model home that exhibits distinctive characteristics drawn from popular residential home designs of the era and Craftsman-inspired architectural features and details. Early Federal Way Area History The origins of Federal Way and its environs (including the Jovita area) are closely linked to the creation of Military Road. Efforts to construct a route between Fort Walla Walla and various points on Puget Sound were begun by the United States military in 1852. The federal government agreed that access between Fort Steilacoom and Fort Bellingham should be established for the protection of settlers in the area. Growing impatience with the slow progress of the Puget Sound portion of the construction led Seattle pioneers in 1854 and 1855 to use construction volunteers. Once complete, the rudimentary roadway was little used and soon became overgrown. During the Indian wars of 1855-56 the roadway was of little help in moving troops between Seattle and Fort Steilacoom. The poor condition of the initial route ultimately convinced Congress to appropriate $35,000 to construct a passable roadway between Fort Steilacoom and Fort Bellingham via Seattle. The upgraded roadway was completed in 1860 and became known as King County Road No. 4. The thick forest of the Federal Way area attracted few early settlers. Those who did build homes or log cabins primarily selected sites on Puget Sound or on the shores of the several lakes in the area. Some individuals settled on 160-acre homesteads or timber claims and small scale, subsistence farming was also undertaken by early settlers. Despite the Military Road, overland travel remained difficult and mail service (beginning in c.1879) was via boat to the small settlements on Puget Sound (known as Milton, Buenna, Stone's Landing and Redondo) and distributed by horseback. Twentieth Century Development in the Federal Way Area Commercial logging activity increased in the early 1900s and a few sawmills operated for a short period of time. Land acquisition and subdivision increased during this period in anticipation of the residential growth spurred by the construction of the Seattle-Tacoma Interurban Railway completed in 1902. Among those subdivisions platted in the first two decades of the century were Maltby's Five-Acre Tracts, Algona, Lake Killarney Shore Lands, West Auburn Five-acre Tracts, Pacific City, Jovita, and Jovita Heights.
Mar 10, 2004
Posted Date
Jul 17, 2023
Historical Record Date
Mar 10, 2004
Source Name
National Register of Historic Places
