Norvell House facts for kids
The Norvell House is a special old house in Seattle, Washington. It was built in 1908. This house is a great example of the Swiss chalet style of Architecture. It sits in the Ballard area, near Sunset Hill. The house still has its original large yard with beautiful old trees. It also has its original carriage house, which was used for carriages and horses long ago.
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What Makes the Norvell House Special?
The Norvell House mixes different building ideas. It uses both local building styles (called vernacular architecture) and a mix of styles (called eclecticism). The inside of the house has lots of wood, especially fir floors. This shows how important the local lumber industry was back then.
Inside the House
The inside of the house also has many design ideas from the early 1900s. You can see classical revival columns, which look like old Greek or Roman designs. There are also American Craftsman-style trims and moldings. These are simple, well-made wooden decorations. The windows have beautiful beveled and stained glass, which creates colorful light.
Outside the House
The outside of the house is very fancy. It has many decorative brackets, small towers (called turrets), and balconies. The roof has large parts that hang over the sides, called eaves. There's also a fun, flared cupola on the front roof. A cupola is a small, dome-shaped structure. This one looks a bit like the famous Zytglogge clock tower in Bern, Switzerland.
Why Swiss Chalet Style?
The Norvell House is in an area where many people from Norway settled. Because of this, some people thought its style might be like the "Dragon Style" from Norway. This style was popular in the late 1800s. It was inspired by old Norwegian Stave churches. These churches have special curves, carvings, and fancy wooden details. However, the Norvell House does not have these specific Norwegian designs. So, it is known as a local example of the Swiss Chalet revival style.
A Look Back: The Norvell House's Story
This house is now more than 100 years old! It was built in 1908 for the manager of the Stimson Lumber Mill. The house was made using fir wood from the mill in Ballard.
The Norvell Family
The house is named after James and Hazel Norvell. They lived there for the longest time. They bought the house in 1949. At that time, many families thought old houses like this were out-of-date. But James and Hazel loved its style. They chose to keep most of its original features. James Norvell passed away in 1986. Hazel continued to live in the house until she passed away in 2005.
A Seattle Landmark
The Norvell House was officially named a Seattle Landmark on May 14, 1979. This means it is a historically important building that should be protected. In 2012, a local contractor helped choose new paint colors and repaired parts of the house.
Images for kids
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Exterior shot of windows
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A stained glass panel
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Overhanging eaves
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Cupola
