Structure Type: built works - dwellings - houses

Designers: Tucker, Shields and Terry, Architects (firm); Robert McKay Shields (architect); Roland Clyde Terry (architect); Bert Atherton Tucker (architect)

Dates: constructed 1948-1949

1 story

2129 NE 55th Street
Ravenna, Seattle, WA 98105

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Overview

The German refugee Ernst Levy (1881-1968) taught in the Law School at the University of Washington between 1936-1952. He began his teaching career in 1919 at the University of Frankfurt, before moving to Freiburg in 1922, where he attained the rank of full professor. In 05/1928, he became a tenured professor at the University of Heidelberg, and taught here until Nazi persecution forced all Jewish professors out of the school in 1936. He and his wife, Zerline Marie Wolff (1884-1974), came to the US and settled for 16 years in Seattle. They later moved back to Basel, Switzerland, and Davis, CA, in later years. This relatively small, 1,530-square-foot house was completed in 1949.

Building History

The Levys had two children, a son, Wolfgang Emanuel Levy (1910-2001), who became a physician in San Jose, CA, and Brigitte Marianne Levy Bodenheimer (1912-1981), who became a lawyer and law professor at the University of Utah (1962-1966) and the University of California, Davis (UCD), (1966-1979).

Building Notes

This modest, one-floor residence had a basement, and was designed by Robert M. Shields (1917-2012) of the firm of Tucker, Shields and Terry.

PCAD id: 21644