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Overview

Olympia Brewing Company founder Leopold Schmidt, his wife Johanna, their five sons and one daughter resided in this large, 2-and-a-half-story residence beginning in 1904. Conrad Breitung, who had many connections within the local German-American community, served as its architect. In style, the building reflected Colonial Revival influences becoming increasingly popular during the first decade of the twentieth century. The simpler, historically-native Colonial Revival was a decisive shift away from the 19th century's fondness for imported fashions and complexity of form, color and ornamentation.

Building History

The Seattle Times published a notice in 1902 indicating that the architect was C. Alfred Breitung of Seattle: "C. Alfred Breitung has just finished plans and specifications for a handsome $10,000 residence to be built in Olympia for Leopold F. Schmid [sic], of the Capitol Brewing Company. The house will be two stories high, with basement and attic. Tenino stone will be used for the basement. The interior will be finished throughout in hardwood, and a hot water heating plant will be installed. The work will be let in Olympia." (See "Real Estate and Building Review," Seattle Times, 06/08/1902, p. 32.) Breitung worked frequently with members of the German-American immigrant community and the local Roman Catholic Archdiocese.

Albert McIntosh was the building contractor.

When the Pabst Brewing Company purchased the Olympia Brewery and its product line in 1983, it donated the Schmidt House to the Olympia Tumwater Foundation, which has maintained the house since that time.

Building Notes

Built for a highly-influential figure in Olympia's economic development, the Schmidt House has been added to the National Register of Historic Places, the Tumwater Register of Historic Places and is within the Tumwater Historic District.

Tel: 360.943.2550 (2016).

PCAD id: 20318