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Overview

In 1928, Seattle architect Arthur Lamont Loveless designed this large residence for the banker Harry B. Lear, his wife Maude E. Wells and their son H. David Lear. The Lears occupied the house for over 40 years before selling it.

Building History

Architect Arthur L. Loveless (1873-1971) designed this residence for the long-time Seattle banker Harry Bonnell Lear (born 11/24/1881 in Pittsburgh, PA-d. 01/04/1967 in ) and his first wife Maude E. Wells (born 08/30/1888 in Covington, KY-d. 04/02/1932 in Seattle, WA).

Harry Bonnell Lear, was the eldest son of four children had by George Washington Lear(born 08/1847 in Zanesville, OH-d. 07/31/1928 in Seattle, WA), a mine owner and later a banker, and Marie Louise Bonnell(born 09/20/1858 in Madison, WI-d. 09/24/1938 in Seattle, WA). who would became the President of the University National Bank, an institution that had its office located in a Beezer Brothers-designed building on the northeast corner of University Way NE and NE 45th Street. A Seattle Times obituary summarized his early career: “A native of Pittsburgh, Pa., Mr. Lear was a descendant of George Washington’s secretary, Tobias Lear. Living in various parts of the country as a boy, he began work at 14 delivering payrolls for mines owned by his father at Joplin, Mo. While attending the Scaritt Military College at Neosho, Mo., Mr. Lear was a roommate of the late Will Rogers. His banking career began in 1900 at Sioux Falls, S.D., when he joined the State Banking & Trust Co. He later worked for the bank throughout the Midwest, mainly in Minnesota.” (See "Harry B. Lear, 85, Banker," Seattle Times, 01/05/1967, p. 41.) Lear relocated to Seattle with his brother Louis Krumm Lear (born 06/13/1885 in Elmira, NY-d. 05/01/1950 in Seattle, WA) in 1906. Soon after arriving in Seattle, he formed Lear, Forbes and Lear, a financial firm dealing in real estate, insurance, rentals and loans with Lewis and Lee S. Forbes. He and Lewis resided together at 5010 14th Avenue NE. (See R.L. Polk and Company's Seattle, Washington, City Directory, 1907, p. 711.)

In 1907, Harry Lear co-founded the Green Lake State Bank with his father George W. Lear, who had moved West to join his sons. In 1908, George served as its president and Harry, the cashier, while Lewis worked in real estate. The family lived at 712 17th Avenue North. (See R.L. Polk and Company's Seattle, Washington, City Directory, 1908, p. 794.) In 1917, George was the President of the Green Lake State Bank and Lewis, the Cashier. (See R.L. Polk and Company's Seattle, Washington, City Directory, 1917, p. 1016.) By 1922, George had became fhe Chairman of the Board and Lewis both the Cashier and President of the Green Lake State Bank. (See Seattle, Washington, City Directory, 1922, p. 1016.) The Green Lake State Bank would eventually merge into what became the Seattle Trust Bank. (See "Papers Filed in Fisher, Lear Estates," Seattle Times, 01/11/1967, fourth section, p. 55.)

By 1910, Harry had become the cashier at the University State Bank (USB). (See R.L. Polk and Company's Seattle, Washington, City Directory, 1910, p. 946.) Lear assumed the presidency in either late 1916 or early 1917 of the USB. (See R.L. Polk and Company's Seattle, Washington, City Directory, 1917, p. 1016.) and remained at the helm of the bank for 48 years. He merged it with the Pacific National Bank in 1955, becoming its chairman of the board after the merger. He retired as chairman in 1965, although continued to play a part in some board functions. (See "Harry B. Lear, 85, Banker," Seattle Times, 01/05/1967, p. 41.)

According to the 1930 US Census, the Lear House had an estimated value of $35,000. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1930; Census Place: Seattle, King, Washington; Page: 60A; Enumeration District: 0025; FHL microfilm: 2342227, accessed 04/08/2024.)

Lear married twice, the first time to Maude Wells in 1911. (See Ancestry.com, Source Information Ancestry.com. Washington, U.S., County Marriages, 1855-2008 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014, accessed 04/05/2024.) They had a son David H. Lear, Sr., (sometimes referred to as "Harry D. Lear," or "H. David Lear," born 02/19/1913 in Seattle, WA-d. 1976 in Seattle, WA), who resided in this house and who would later become an executive with the Burlington Northern Railroad. (See "David H. Lear," Seattle Times, 04/03/1976, p. D19.) After Maude passed away in 1932, he married Lilia Mora y Ramirez on 10/20/1934 in Seattle, WA. (See King County Marriage Records, 1855-2017 - Harry B Lear - Lelia M Mora [sic], King County Marriage Records, 1855-2017, Washington State Archives, Digital Archives, http://digitalarchives.wa.gov, accessed 04/05/2024.) The Lears lived together in this residence from 1928 until his death in 1967.

The banker traveled a great deal during his life. In 1923, he spent six months abroad in Europe, seeing the British Isles, France, Italy, and Spain. He, his wife and son traveled from Vancouver, BC, Canada, to Honolulu, Hi, between 01/12/1927 and 01/19/1927 aboard the Royal Mail Ship RMS Niagara and returned via the Dollar Liner SS President Pierce on 04/25/1927 to Seattle. (The Pierce originated in Yokohama, Japan, but the Lears likely boarded in Honolulu. See Ancestry.com Source Citation National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Washington, D.C.; Series Title: Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving At Honolulu, Hawaii, Compiled 02/13/1900 - 12/30/1953; NAI Number: A4156; Record Group Title: Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, 1787 - 2004; Record Group Number: RG 85, accessed 04/08/2024 and Ancestry.com, Source Citation National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Washington D.C.; NARA Series: Passport Applications, January 2, 1906 - March 31, 1925; Roll #: 2189; Volume #: Roll 2189 - Certificates: 252226-252599, 28 Feb 1923-02 Mar 1923, accessed 04/08/2024 Ancesty.com, Source Citation The National Archives in Washington, DC; Washington, DC, USA; Passenger and Crew Lists of Vessels Arriving At Seattle, Washington; NAI Number: 4449160; Record Group Title: Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, 1787-2004; Record Group Number: 85, accessed 04/08/2024.) He and his wife Lilia traveled to Brazil in 1949. (See Ancestry.com, Source Information: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Immigration Cards, 1900-1965 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2016, accessed 04/08/2024.) Harry Lear died while he and Lilia were on a Caribbean cruise, with his body returned by air to Seattle for burial.

Lilia would remain in the house at 3054 East Laurelhurst Drive NE after Harry's death in 1967. (See "Papers Filed in Fisher, Lear Estates," Seattle Times, 01/11/1967, fourth section, p. 55.) According to a Seattle Times article about his estate, the banker left assets of about $500,000 when he died, of which $200,000 was left to his wife and $200,000 to his son David. (See "Papers Filed in Fisher, Lear Estates," Seattle Times, 01/11/1967, fourth section, p. 55.)

After the Lears, the house was sold to the Shorgram Family.

Gail A. Nank sold the house for $3,300,000 on 12/23/1997 to Kevin L. and Linda G. Wold. Kevin and Linda Wold changed ownership of the house’s deed six times (for no money apparently transacted) between 2003 and 2019. In 09/25/2019, Kevin and Henry Wold sold it to Laurelhurst2003, LLC, for $10,580,000. (See King County Department of Assessment iMap Parcel Viewer, Parcel Data for Parcel #4217402315, accessed 04/08/2024.)

Building Notes

Prior to 04/04/2024, PCAD mistakenly located the Frank R. Pierce House at 3054 East Laurelhurst Drive NE rather than at its correct address at 5747 NE Ambleside Road. Thank you to Loveleess homeowner Sallie Chaney and Howard L. Miller of The Johnson Partnership Architects for correcting this error. (See emails from Sallie Chaney to the author, 04/03/2024 and from Howard L. Miller to the author, 04/03/2024.)

The Lear house occupied a 40,463-square-foot (0.93-acre) lot in 2024. It contained 6,830 total square feet, with 2,700 on floor one, 2,450 on floor two and 1,680 in the finished basement. The Lear House also had a 490-square-foot deck and a 170-square-foot open porch.