Overview

The Seattle Post-Intelligencer published a story just before the Seattle Fire of 06/06/1889 that Elmer H. Fisher was designing a "terrace of residences," four in number, for a location at 3rd Avenue and Cherry Street. It is unclear if this housing group was realized, but given the stress and uncertainty following the fire, this project may have been shelved.

Building History

The Seattle Post-Intelligencer, in its issue of 02/17/1899, wrote of this cluster of four residences: “Architect Fisher is engaged in drawing plans for a terrace of residences that for elaborateness of finish, design and accommodation are to eclipse anything of the kind yet built in Seattle. They are to be erected by Mr. J.G. Scurry, on the corner of Third and Cherry, fronting Third, and no limit is placed on the cost of their construction. The terrace will number four houses, with a total frontage of 120 feet. The dwellings will be three-storied, the first being brick and the others wood, in the unique compazitic [sic] style of architecture so much in vogue in the large Eastern cities. The dwellings will be heated by hot water and lighted by electricity, and each will contain about twelve rooms. No pains will be spared in their finish, and though work will begin as soon as the plans are drawn, six or seven months will be occupied in their construction.” (See “The Largest for the Year,” Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 02/17/1889, p. 5.) Presumably the author was looking for the word “composite” rather than “compazitic.”

The high level of bombast notable in the description above, e.g., the terrace having an "elaborateness of finish, design and accommodation... to eclipse anything of the kind yet built in Seattle," reflected a part of Fisher's personality, to inflate or embroider accomplishments on occasion.

PCAD id: 23781