(Image: Marvin Anderson Architects)
The Blochs (Image: Marvin Anderson Architects)
The latest landmark on Capitol Hill will be a Tudor Revival style home that has stood on a corner across from Volunteer Park for more than 115 years.
The Seattle Landmarks Preservation Board last week voted to designate the Bloch House at 15th and Prospect for landmarks protections of the structure’s exterior “and portions of the interior that include: the entry vestibule, foyer, main staircase, dining room, living room, study, rathskeller, and ballroom.”
The board agreed the house is “associated in a significant way with a significant aspect of the cultural, political, or economic heritage of the community, City, state or nation” and “embodies the distinctive visible characteristics of an architectural style, or period, or a method of construction. The board also declared the structure worthy of protections as an example of “an outstanding work of a designer or builder” — Congratulations, Clayton D. Williams and Arthur Loveless.
By the way, you’ve probably enjoyed some of Arthur’s other work in the neighborhood.
The nomination was undertaken on behalf of present day owners Mary-Alice Pomputius and Walter Smith along with Marvin Anderson Architects, who, according to city permits, have been guiding the 1908-era house through a significant repair and remodel while preserving the 2 1/2-story structure’s historically significant elements.
The house lies just around the corner from Capitol Hill’s Millionaire’s Row where CHS reported on the tax incentives and impacts on redevelopment historic preservation can have on the coveted blocks around Volunteer Park.
Not every surviving old building on Capitol Hill becomes a landmark, of course. CHS reported here earlier this year on the lack of landmark-worthiness of the 1924-built Olive Way Improvement Company building at Olive Way and Denny. That property is now lined up for a 106-unit mixed-use development.
As for the original owner at 15th and Prospect, Seattle’s recorders of history report William “Billy” Bloch immigrated from Germany and created the Germania Cafe just as the city was beginning to recover from the Great Fire. As the Gold Rush took shape, “the restaurant, bar and social club” became “a popular spot for both visitors and locals.” Bloch built his Volunteer Park home with the riches. Prohibition ruined his business and, in 1916, Seattle police reportedly tracked a barrel of whiskey to the Bloch house and then raided the Germania and busted Bloch for the booze. Bloch continued to have bootlegging run-ins with the law and, like most of us who see our Seattle fortunes diminished, moved off Capitol Hill, and, eventually, out of the city.
The Seattle landmarks process for the Bloch House will now proceed to the Seattle City Council to confirm the designation next year.
(Image: Marvin Anderson Architects)
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AKA Nimby Nonsense to block dense housing…love our little suburb within the city!
Yeah, fk history and aesthetics completely, tear it all down and put up brutalist high rise apartments everywhere. Let’s make it all so ugly and depressing that no one wants to move here anymore.
Brutalist architecture would be more interesting than current building styles.
While I do not disagree that concrete and hardiboard is puke worthy, I was thinking of something along these lines.. there is actually worse.
I’m sorry, but that statement is totally detached from reality (and this article). Perfect example of why the Sawantist progressives have become the laughing stock of the town.
In that location it wouldn’t be replaced by apartments or even townhouses tho, just a bigger uglier SFH with a 10 car garage.
You should stick to the denser parts of the Hill. You’ll feel more welcome there.
Very cool to read the history of this house! You always wonder as you walk by, who has lived there … and who lives there now? It’s incredible how closely they’ve replicated the original design and furnishings — and weird to see Volunteer Park with so few trees!
There used to be a wonderful restaurant called “Bloch’s” at the NW corner of 15th Ave E and E Mercer St. It was cafeteria-style and had great food, for its time. I wonder if it has a connection to descendants of the Bloch family?
Blast from the past, and an interesting question. Bloch’s had the best French Dip sandwich. (Shoutout to the Deluxe for adding a not too shabby one to their menu.)
I still think of that French Dip sandwich even though it’s been more than 40 years since I had one.