Helmer and Selma Steen House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Helmer and Selma Steen House
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Steen House
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 Location in Washington (state)
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| Location | 10924 SW Cove Rd., Vashon, Washington |
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| Area | 12.5 acres (5.1 ha) |
| Built | 1911 |
| Built by | Steen, Helmer |
| Architectural style | Bungalow/craftsman |
| NRHP reference No. | 00000976 |
| Added to NRHP | August 10, 2000 |
The Helmer and Selma Steen House is a special old home located on Vashon Island in Washington state. It was built way back in 1911. Because of its history and unique style, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in the year 2000. This means it's officially recognized as an important historical building.
Contents
Discovering the Steen House Design
What Does the Steen House Look Like?
The land around the Steen House was once very large, about 80 acres. Today, it's a bit smaller, around 12.5 acres. The house itself is a two-story building made of wood. It sits on a strong concrete base. You can walk around three sides of the house on a concrete path.
There is also a separate garage on the property. People think this might have been one of the very first garages for cars on Vashon Island! This is because Helmer Steen was the first person on the island to order a car. However, his car delivery was delayed.
The house has two special window areas called bay windows. One of these bay windows goes up both stories of the house. On the west side, there used to be a chimney made of river rocks. But an earthquake in 1965 damaged it. It was then replaced with a new chimney made of bricks. The wide front porch of the house rests on strong piers, also made from river rocks.
Inside the Historic Home
When you step inside the Steen House, you'll find a staircase. The landing of this staircase is lit up by three beautiful stained glass windows. The house has five rooms on both the first and second floors. There are also four more rooms in the basement.
The kitchen has been updated over the years. However, most of the inside of the house is still original. This includes the old hot water heater and the radiators that kept the house warm. The fireplace, which is made of sandstone, was also replaced after the 1965 earthquake, just like the chimney.
The Story of the Steen Family
Who Were Helmer and Selma Steen?
Helmer and Selma Steen were a couple who moved to Vashon Island all the way from Norway. Helmer Steen was a busy man. From 1900 to 1907, he ran a mill north of Vashon. A mill is a place where raw materials, like logs, are processed into useful products.
After building their house on Cove Road in 1911, Helmer also built a small logging railroad and another mill. This mill was very important because it provided electricity for their house. This made the Steen House one of the first homes on Vashon Island to have electric power!
Changes Over the Years
The Steens moved away to Seattle in 1923. After they left, different families owned the house over the years. Around the year 2000, the house was used as a bed-and-breakfast. This means people could pay to stay there overnight, like a small hotel. There was even an ostrich farm next to it! We don't know who owns the house now or what it is used for today.
