Current List  |  Watch List  |  Past Sites Listed
Nomination Process & Criteria

Every year, many historic properties across the state of Washington are threatened by demolition or neglect.

The following properties, nominated by concerned citizens and organizations throughout Washington, form the Trust’s Most Endangered Historic Properties List for 2009. In addition, unfortunately many sites from our past lists are still threatened and remain on our Watch List.

The Washington Trust will be assisting those involved with each property to develop support to remove the threat.

2009 Most Endangered Historic Properties List

Alki Homestead Restaurant – Seattle, King County

In 1903, Gladys and William Bernard began construction of Fir Lodge. This country estate, located near Alki Point in West Seattle, exemplified the Rustic Style of architecture and stands as an early iteration of the style in the Puget Sound region. Its log structure and river rock fireplace provided a retreat from the hustle and bustle of Seattle and the city’s accompanying growth during the 1890s. Almost immediately after its construction, Fir Lodge became a gathering place, serving as the first clubhouse for the fledgling Seattle Auto Club from 1907-1911. Since 1950, the structure has been home to the Alki Homestead Restaurant. Because of its architectural quality and its association with the development of Seattle, the Alki Homestead Restaurant is a designated city landmark.

The Threat:  In January 2009, the restaurant suffered an electrical fire leaving the interior and portions of the roof damaged. While temporary measures have been taken to prevent additional damage from weather exposure, the timeframe for implementing major repair work needed to stabilize the building is uncertain at this time. Compounding matters is the fact that the restaurant had been for sale for nearly a year prior to the January blaze. Despite this, the owner has publicly stated his intent to restore the building and re-open the restaurant, allowing denizens of West Seattle and other neighborhoods to continue to enjoy the warmth and storied history of the landmark building.

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(Additional Photos)

BF Tabbott House – Bainbridge Island, Kitsap County

Built in 1903, the BF Tabbott House is part of a small and cohesive group of early island wood-framed residences along Ericksen Avenue constructed to house workers at the Hall Brothers Shipyard in Winslow. The Winslow Master Plan, updated in 2006, describes these houses as being built in the form of a New England village: close to the street, close to each other, complete with front porches and consistent architectural character. The stated cohesiveness of the area prompted the City of Bainbridge Island to create the Ericksen Avenue Overlay District as part of the city’s Comprehensive Plan. As identified in the plan, the intent of the Overlay District is to preserve the historic character these resources provide.

The Threat:  Counter to the objectives of the Overlay District as defined in the Comprehensive Plan, the city’s planning commission approved a proposal on May 14, 2009 to demolish the BF Tabbott House, replacing it with a mixed-use project that would combine residential and commercial uses on the site. This decision was based in part on an independent legal analysis that the Ericksen Avenue Overlay District as defined in the Comprehensive Plan, while designed to preserve the area’s historic character, does not specifically prohibit demolition of the historic resources located therein.

The design guidelines in place for the Overlay District do allow conversion of the historic single family structures to non-residential use, but require new additions to be made toward the rear of the existing buildings. With the recent planning commission decision, the fear is that more property owners will simply opt to demolish historic structures within the Overlay District rather than work to retain the historic character by implementing development programs that utilize the existing buildings. As for the BF Tabbott House, one of the more intact structures along Ericksen Avenue, the remaining hope is that someone interested in relocating the house will come forward.

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(Additional Photos)

Bush House – Index, Snohomish County

Founded in 1890 as a way station for travelers venturing over Stevens Pass, the town of Index flourished during that decade and into the early twentieth century with the construction of the Great Northern Railroad and the subsequent engineering marvel that is the Cascade Tunnel. With additional economic activity from mining, quarrying, and railroad construction needs, Index was able to sustain five hotels. Only one of these remains: the Bush House.

Constructed in 1898, the Bush House was initially managed by Clarence Bush and his wife who operated the property as a hotel serving railway passengers venturing over Stevens Pass. Although the business changed ownership several times, it managed to hang on to its original name. Closed for a period during the Great Depression and beyond, the hotel re-opened in the 1970s and continued to serve as a major community gathering place, hosting dances, community celebrations, meetings, concerts, and weddings.

The Threat:  Several years ago, Snohomish County revoked the hotel’s Certificate of Occupancy due to structural and public safety concerns. Since this time, the building has been subject to vandalism and squatters. The structure’s shingle roof is rotting and could be subject to collapse given the heavy snowfall that commonly occurs in the area. The property is for sale, but despite receiving several purchase offers, the owner has opted not to sell. The hope is that an agreement can be reached with a buyer interested in rehabilitating the Bush House. Of the five pioneer-era hotels that once served Index, the Bush House, listed in the Washington State Heritage Register, stands as the last remaining.

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(Additional Photos)

Carmack House – Seattle, King County

For nearly thirteen years, this Jefferson Street residence in Seattle’s Squire Park neighborhood was home to George Washington Carmack. Credited with staking the first major claim of the Klondike Gold Rush, Carmack’s gold discovery and subsequent boosterism helped spark the mobilization of thousands headed to the Yukon to strike it rich and led to Seattle’s first major economic boom. In addition to the building’s association with Carmack, the house, constructed in 1902, is a rare regional example of the Shingle Style – an architectural style popular on the east coast but much less common in the west.

The Threat:  Vacant for the last few years, the house has fallen into disrepair and been subject to vandalism. In addition, the property is for sale. Adjacent to an institutional medical center, existing zoning allows for a much more intensive level of development than the existing single family house, making demolition the likely course of action for a new owner. Despite this, the Carmack House retains a high degree of integrity, a fact acknowledged by the Seattle Landmarks Preservation Board when a majority of board members voted to designate the structure as a city landmark at a recent meeting. Even with landmark status, the future of the Carmack House is uncertain. Plans to relocate the house to a nearby vacant lot and implement a comprehensive rehabilitation program are in the works, but as yet no agreement has been reached.

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(Additional Photos)

Curran House – University Place, Pierce County

It may seem a rare instance when the technology-centered mindset of the Puget Sound Region can blend seamlessly with the rich fruit growing heritage of eastern Washington, but it can be argued that the Curran House in University Place provides just such an experience. Architecturally, the Curran House is a fine example of mid-century modern design. Robert B. Price, noted as the first architect from Tacoma to be inducted to the AIA College of Fellows, designed the house in 1952. But what sets it apart, and provides the agricultural connection, is the setting: the house is situated within an orchard providing a unique example of early western Washington apple horticulture. This combination deems the property eligible for listing in the Washington Heritage Register, and if listed, would be the first Price-designed resource to achieve such designation.

In the early 1990s, Pierce County purchased the property and the existing house from the original owners with funds from the county’s Conservation Futures program for use as parkland. The guidelines of the program require that the property, as well as the house, be used for horticultural and educational purposes in perpetuity. After incorporating as a city in 1995, University Place assumed control of the property. The city leased the Curran House for some time, but the structure has sat vacant for over a year.

The Threat:  In 1999, University Place developed a Master Plan for the park in order to evaluate future uses and programs at the site. Of the several scenarios included in the plan, each called for retaining the Curran House based on findings that the building could serve a useful function and was an integral part of the property as a unit. Despite this planning document, the city is currently debating whether or not to demolish the structure, citing a variety of costs related to repairs, security, and utility bills as barriers to rehabilitation. Given the lack of funds, the responsibility has fallen on the community to provide money for needed improvements and ongoing maintenance.

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(Additional Photos)

Day Block – Dayton, Columbia County

Dayton has a well-deserved reputation as a place where folks appreciate their history. Whether in the commercial core or the outlying residential neighborhoods, evidence abounds that this is not mere lip service: the community walks the walk. Home to the state’s oldest operating county courthouse, meticulously restored Victorians, and a downtown historic district listed in the National Register of Historic Places, it seems incongruous that one of the city’s contributing historic resources would be threatened. But such is the case with the Day Block.

Built in 1882, the existing Day Block is actually the half-block remnant of what was once a larger structure. The original Italianate-style Day Block featured 11 round-arched windows, cast iron store fronts, and a bold projecting cornice at the roofline. Important architecturally, the building is also significant for its association with the Day Family and stands as one of the earlier two-story commercial structures in Dayton.

The Threat:  Despite its storied history and role in Dayton’s development, deferred maintenance has taken its toll on the building. The second floor has been vacant since the 1950s and, in part because of a partial roof collapse in December of 2008, the commercial space on the ground floor is now vacant as well. Failure to address the needed repairs and continued exposure to the elements could potentially result in a case of demolition by neglect. At present, the Day Block is neither for sale nor for rent.

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(Additional Photos)

Old Ellensburg Hospital – Ellensburg, Kittitas County

At a time when re-purposing existing buildings is seen as desirable due to the cool factor and environmentally friendly because it is a sustainable practice, Ellensburg’s Old Hospital Building would seem a prime candidate for a program of adaptive reuse. Its design and floor plan is flexible enough to allow a variety uses, while its proximity to downtown gives the building a locational advantage. Despite this, with the exception of a caretaker, the building has sat vacant for several years.

The Hospital Building is historically significant as an intact example of the architectural work of Charles Bebb and Carl Gould. Operating primarily out of Seattle, they are credited with nearly 200 projects including the Seattle Art Museum, Ballard Locks Government Buildings, and several buildings on the UW campus. With its stucco exterior and curvilinear parapet, the hospital building is also expressive of Mission Revival design, an architectural style unique for Ellensburg. Constructed in 1919, the building represents a shift from smaller, decentralized clinics to a unification of medical services in the Lower Kittitas Valley.

The Threat:  Existing zoning for the hospital building is Public Reserve – a category that limits the potential use of the structure. In addition, the surrounding neighborhood is zoned residential, effectively rendering the hospital a “white elephant.” The hospital is in good condition, but without a viable program the building could sit vacant for more years to come. A worst-case scenario would see the hospital demolished: a move that would make way for a small scale residential project. Eligible for listing in the National Register and therefore able to utilize rehabilitation tax credits, the Old Hospital Building is currently for sale.

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(Additional Photos)

Libbey House – Coupeville, Island County

In many ways the Town of Coupeville and Ebey’s Landing Historic Reserve are a historic preservationist’s paradise. As a participant in the state’s Certified Local Government program, Coupeville promotes preservation through its local register of historic places and encourages property owners to utilize existing preservation incentives. Ebey’s Landing provides a unique model whereby private and municipal entities partner with the National Park Service with the mutual goal of preserving and providing stewardship for a truly spectacular collection of cultural resources encompassing both the natural and the built environment. It seems odd, then, that one of the area’s most significant historic resources is threatened with demolition.

Constructed in 1870, the Libbey House is associated with early Euro-American settlement in the Pacific Northwest. The builder, John Alexander, was a member of the family that co-founded Coupeville. In 1871, just a year after construction, the house was sold to Joseph Libbey, a member of a prominent pioneer family in Central Whidbey Island. Architecturally, the house as constructed can be classified as Carpenter Gothic as it features gothic inspired bargeboards, finials and bracketing. It is listed as a Class I Historic Structure on the Town of Coupeville’s Historic Register and is also a contributing structure of the Central Whidbey National Register Historic District, located within Ebey’s Landing National Historic Reserve.

The Threat:  Desiring to construct a new, larger house on the site, the current owner filed an application to demolish the historic Libbey House in March 2009. Given the significance of the resource, the Town of Coupeville is requiring that an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) be prepared and has invoked a mandatory two-year waiting period required whenever demolition is proposed for a Class I historic structure. Despite this, the concern is that the owners will continue on the path towards demolition.

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(Additional Photos)

P-I Globe – Seattle, King County

Emblazoned with the motto “It’s in the P-I,” the Globe sitting atop the Seattle Post-Intelligencer Building along Elliot Avenue continues to spin even though the presses ceased turning out newspapers over two months ago. Long a visual icon of Seattle’s cityscape, the Globe first began revolving on November 9, 1948, at its original location on the corner of Sixth Avenue and Wall Street. It landed at its current home in 1986 when the P-I moved its staff to the Elliot Avenue office building – it has remained there ever since. Regardless of its location, at 30 feet in diameter and over 18 tons, the Globe has consistently turned heads and is a cherished symbol of Seattle’s long and proud journalistic heritage. In assessing the structure’s importance, Seattle City Councilmember Sally J. Clark said, “The Globe is a symbol of our culture and a reminder of our history. Its preservation is a statement honoring the role that newspapers play in our society.”

Built by Pacific Car and Foundry and Electrical Products Consolidated (still in business today as PACCAR), the Globe as logo is a visual representation for the newspaper and remains a post-war tribute to the significant role trade signs and the graphic arts hold in commercial advertising. With the P-I now limited to an on-line presence, the Globe does double duty as a tangible reminder of the challenges currently facing the newspaper industry in a community increasingly reliant on digital media formats. With concerns swirling about how those same challenges might impact the future of the Globe, local elected officials have engaged in efforts to recognize the structure as an official historic resource. Councilmember Tim Burgess stated, “The City Council has long worked to save Seattle’s landmarks and icons. Councilmembers Clark, Godden and I nominated the Globe as a landmark to the City’s Landmarks Preservation Board. We intend to work hard to make sure the Globe has a proper home in Seattle.”

The Threat:  While no plans indicating the Globe’s removal have been publicized, office space within the P-I building is for lease and maintenance needs for the structure could play a role in coming years. These facts have sparked discussion about an appropriate site for the Globe if its relocation ever becomes imminent. Praising its inclusion in the 2009 Most Endangered Historic Properties List, Seattle City Councilmember Jean Godden states, “Kudos to the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation for selecting the Seattle Post-Intelligencer Globe as one of the top preservation goals for this state. The Globe not only represents the city’s longest continuously operated business, but it’s also a symbol of press freedom and public enlightenment.”

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(Additional Photos)

Sand Point – Seattle, King County

Beginning in 1923, the Thirteenth Naval District based its operations at Sand Point, supervising aviation activities for air stations throughout the northern west coast. 1970 marked the end of military flying out of the base, leaving the task of surplusing a large tract of land containing numerous structures. In the 1990s, the Navy transferred ownership of much of Sand Point to the City of Seattle. Currently part of Seattle’s Magnuson Park, overall integrity of the buildings at the site is relatively high. With construction dates ranging from 1929 through 1942, the structures embody an array of architectural styles.

The Threat:  At present, the City of Seattle has initiated efforts to fully evaluate the historic structures at Sand Point with the potential goal of collectively listing the resources as a historic district in the National Register of Historic Places. Such listing could result in financial incentives for historically appropriate rehabilitation of many structures at Sand Point, making private-public partnerships an appealing option for underutilized buildings. In the meantime, deferred maintenance remains an issue and deterioration is a factor for several historic structures.

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(Additional Photos)

St. Edward’s Catholic Church – Shelton, Mason County

In recent years, congregations across the state have grappled with a troubling dilemma: balancing the religious and ecumenical missions of the congregation against costly capital needs required to properly maintain the structures in which those congregations worship. Compounding the issue, in some instances, is a decreasing number of churchgoers, resulting in diminished resources with which to provide building stewardship. For historic houses of worship, this combination too often results in demolition.

St. Edward’s Catholic Church in Shelton is poised to be the next historically significant church in Washington to face the wrecking ball. Organized by Rev. Father McReavy in 1890, the St. Edward’s congregation completed the construction of a wood frame church in 1892. In 1930, the congregation planned to move to its current centrally located site near downtown and hired architect Paul Thiry to design the new church. Thiry is widely regarded as the “Father of Northwest Modernism” and is noted for his residential, civic and religious buildings, along with his role as the lead architect and planner for the Century 21 World’s Fair held in Seattle. St. Edward’s features several gothic-inspired elements and generally takes the form of a French country church. Completed in 1931, it is significant as an example of Thiry’s early work prior to the architect’s emergence as the region’s leading modernist. The church is also significantly associated with Shelton’s religious history.

The Threat:  Facing structural deficiencies identified through an engineer’s evaluation, the congregation opted to sell the parcel rather than pay for expensive stabilization work. Interested in the land for the purpose of expanding its adjacent county campus facilities, Mason County purchased the parcel, stipulating that the congregation be responsible for removal of the church building. In April of 2009, the congregation applied to the City of Shelton for a permit to demolish the sanctuary. Acknowledging the historic significance of the building, the city has called for a 90-day waiting period before issuing a demolition permit with the hope that local advocates can work with the county and the congregation on a strategy for preserving the resource. The waiting period will expire in August.

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(Additional Photos)

Surrey Downs – Bellevue, King County

In 1953, the architectural firm of Mithun & Neslund was hired to design houses for a new subdivision in Bellevue known as Surrey Downs. With open floor plans and carports, the houses are distinct examples of mid-century modern design and the neighborhood is significant as an intact, early subdivision of Bellevue exemplifying 1950s residential architecture.

The Threat:  As Sound Transit continues to focus on an alignment for the proposed East Link transit corridor through Bellevue, options under consideration could result in potential adverse impacts to the Surrey Downs neighborhood. Collectively, the Mithun & Neslund designed houses have been determined eligible for listing as a historic district in the National Register of Historic Places. With this determination, it falls on Sound Transit to ensure that the final alignment selected for the East Link Corridor fully considers the potential impacts to the neighborhood.

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(Additional Photos)

Vashon Gym – Vashon Island, King County

Built in 1919, the wood frame gymnasium is reputed to be the largest and one of the most historic non-agrarian structures on Vashon Island. Vashon’s first high school was constructed at the site in 1912 and soon thereafter was consolidated to serve elementary students; the gymnasium was constructed to meet the needs of the expanding school. Having outlasted several subsequent school structures (the last of which was demolished in 2004), the gym stands as the last physical connection to Vashon’s early schools.

The Threat:  The Vashon Island Parks District recently received a state grant to develop athletic fields at the location of the gymnasium. The project requires removal of the gymnasium and in October 2008 the Vashon Island School Board, which currently owns the site, voted to demolish the gym. Potentially eligible as a King County Landmark, the hope is that the gym can be relocated to a different area of the site and integrated as a viable component of the proposed recreational fields.

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(Additional Photos)