Harry Vanderbilt Wurdemann House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Harry Vanderbilt Wurdemann House
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Harry Vanderbilt Wurdemann House
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 Location in Washington (state)
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| Location | 17602 Bothell Way NE., Lake Forest Park, Washington |
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| Area | 2 acres (0.81 ha) |
| Built | 1914 |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals, Mediterranean Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 90002154 |
| Added to NRHP | December 27, 1990 |
The Harry Vanderbilt Wurdemann House, often called the Wurdemann House, is a beautiful old home in Lake Forest Park, Washington. It was built in 1914. This house is special because it was one of the very first homes in Lake Forest Park. In 1990, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's an important building with a lot of history!
Contents
What Does the Wurdemann House Look Like?
The Wurdemann House is a large, two-story home. It is made of wood and sits on a strong concrete base. The house has four bedrooms and covers a big area of 4,180 square feet.
Design and Style
This house was designed to be a real showpiece. Its shape is rectangular, and its style is based on a Mediterranean villa. Think of a fancy house you might see in Italy or Spain! The house has two special porches called porticos. Each portico has eight tall pillars. The house sits on a small hill, giving it a great view of Lake Washington.
Original Property Features
When the house was first built, it had several other buildings on its property. These included:
- A large cottage for the gardener, which also served as a garage.
- A special house for chickens (a poultry house).
- A shed for the boiler, which heated the house.
- A greenhouse for growing plants.
The Wurdemann House was built right at the entrance to Lake Forest Park. It replaced a small office that helped people buy land in this new community.
Who Lived in the Wurdemann House?
The house was built for Harry and May Wurdemann. They moved to Washington and wanted a grand home. But they didn't live there for too long.
Later Owners and Their Changes
In 1924, the Wurdemanns sold the house to Adolf Linden. Mr. Linden was the president of a company called Puget Sound Savings and Loan Association. He added a swimming pool to the property. He also put up a nice brick-and-iron fence.
Over the years, many other interesting people owned the house:
- Roy L. Maryatt: He owned a laundry company and a linen supply business.
- Walter Brown: He owned a local railroad.
- John Clancy: He owned a saloon.
- Mrs. True Uncaphor: She owned an insurance company.
- Arie Vanderspeck: He was an international banker and a consul for the Netherlands. A consul is like a representative for their country in another country.
What Happened to the House Recently?
The Wurdemann House was empty for some years. Then, in 1990, a company bought the property.
Plans for the Property
This company wanted to build a retirement home with 55 units on part of the land. But many people in the community did not like this idea. They spoke out against it. Because of this strong public opposition, the local Planning Commission suggested that the company's plan should not be approved.
Changes to the Entrance
The way you enter the property has also changed over time. It used to have a wide, circular driveway from the southeast. Now, you enter from a smaller street to the north.
Public Events at the House
The house has also been used for special events.
- In 1990, the Seattle Symphony rented the mansion for several months. They used it to raise money by charging people to visit.
- In 2014, private tours were offered. The money from these tours helped the Shoreline Historical Museum & Heritage Center. This helps keep history alive for everyone!
