HARD DRIVE TO THE KLONDIKE:
PROMOTING SEATTLE DURING THE GOLD RUSH
A Historic Resource Study
for the Seattle Unit of the
Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park
CHAPTER SIX
Historic Resources in the Modern Era
William Wood House
| Property 9 | William Wood House 816 35th Avenue Seattle, WA |
Tax Parcel No. 918470-0715 Legal Description: Washington Heights, Blk. 7, Lot 14. National Register Status: Unlisted |
Architectural Description
This two-and-a-half story Classic Box house is located in Madrona, on the edge of a hill overlooking Lake Washington. The house is set back from 35th Avenue and is approached by an alley-like driveway that runs between two houses set closer to the street. The east facing principal facade overlooks Lake Washington.
The house has a hip roof with hip-roof dormers on the east and west elevations. The exposed rafter tails that once decorated the eaves have been removed. The clapboard walls of the second floor flare slightly before meeting a flat board that separates the first and second floors. The northeast corner of the house has an inset porch supported by classical columns. The railing surrounding the porch has turned balusters. Most of the house's original windows are one-over-one and double hung. On the north side of the house is a ribbon of three leaded glass windows. The principle facade has a one-story bay window on its north side. The north, south, and west sides of the house are unaltered. The south elevation is obscured by thick vegetation making it difficult to discern if alterations have occurred to this side of the house.
Historical Significance
Seattle City Directories indicate that Seattle Mayor William Wood and his wife Emma lived in this house from 1905 until 1915. Wood had many interests which included working as a realtor, lawyer, and businessman. As a realtor in 1888, Wood owned a large amount of land on the east side of Greenlake, which he platted. Prior to becoming mayor in 1897, he acted as the president of W.D. Wood & Co. lawyers. His business interests included serving as president for both the Seattle-Yukon Transportation Co. and the Antimony Smelting & Refining Co.
The year the gold rush began, Wood became the Mayor of Seattle. Unable to resist the temptation of striking it rich, he, too, went to the Yukon for a short period. In the years following his return from the Far North, he lived in several different houses for short periods. It is unknown if Wood commissioned the construction of this house; however, it is likely that he and his wife were the first people to live here. [50]
