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Overview

The Anderson Mansion had a very up-to-date Neoclassical appearance for 1904, stylistically in keeping with large country houses being built in major metropolitan areas around New York, Boston or Chicago. It served as the home of a Whitman College Professor of Greek and Latin John Francis Anderson and his two wives, Mabel Ida Anderson and after her death Florence Mary Bennett until 1968.

Building History

The noted Spokane architectural firm of Cutter and Malmgren designed this Neoclassical residence for Mabel Ida Baker Anderson (born 07/25/1868 in Walla Walla, WA-d. 08/16/1915 in Walla Walla, WA) and Professor of Greek and Latin Louis Francis Anderson (born 07/31/1861 in Morris, IL-d. 11/12/1950 in Walla Walla, WA). The pair married on 10/30/1890 in Walla Walla.

Mabel's father was one of the city's wealthiest Euro-American pioneers, the Walla Walla banker and real estate investor, Dr. Dorsey Syng Baker (born 10/18/1823 in Wabash County, IL-d. 07/05/1888 in Walla Walla, WA). Her mother was Dorsey's third wife Elizabeth Hannah Millican (born 10/20/1840 in Dade County, MO-d. 05/06/1917 in Walla Walla, WA). Dorsey Baker owned a great deal of real estate around Walla Walla, particularly on what would become Boyer Avenue, near Whitman Seminary (renamed in 1883 as "Whitman College"). According to the 1870 US Census, Dorsey, a "retired merchant," reported owning $22,000 worth of real estate and having a personal estate of approximately $100,000, making him quite well-to-do, particularly by Walla Walla standards. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1870; Census Place: Walla Walla, Walla Walla, Washington Territory; Roll: M593_1683; Page: 312A, accessed 07/02/2024.)

John Francis Anderson's father was also an academic, Alexander Jay Anderson, Sr., (born 11/06/1832 in Greyabbey, Northern Ireland-d. 03/15/1903 in Olympia, WA) who taught in public secondary schools and universities in IL, KY, and OR, and would later serve as the President of the University of Washington (between 1877 and 1882) and Whitman Seminary/College (between 1882 and 1891). His mother Louisa Phelps (born 05/27/1831 in Mayville, NY-d. 09/22/1889 in Walla Walla, WA) had at least four sons with Alexander.

The couple had no children of their own but they adopted in the mid-1890s a daughter, Pauline Lora Anderson, a child of John's brother Arthur, Jr., (born 03/02/1863 in Newark, IL-d. 12/19/1892 in Walla Walla, WA), who passed away at age 29. With only one child and comfortable savings, the Anderson could afford to travel for leisure and to academic gatherings. Being a professor, Louis studied sites in the Mediterranean germane to his interest in the Greek and Latin languages. As Walla Walla historian Steve Wilen has noted: "During their marriage, the Andersons traveled extensively in the United States and Europe, gathering paintings, sculptures and other furnishings for their home. Because of the professor’s keen interest in the classics, their visits included Greece and Italy." One of these extended absences occurred in 1906, when the Andersons were set to spend up to two years abroad. (See Ancestry.com, source citation: National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Washington D.C.; NARA Series: Passport Applications, January 2, 1906 - March 31, 1925; Roll #: 21; Volume #: Roll 0021 - Certificates: 20799-21498, 13 Sep 1906-06 Oct 1906, accessed 07/02/2024.)

Mabel and John resided in this mansion from 1904 until her death in 1915 of Bright's disease or nephritis. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Washington State Archives; Olympia, Washington; Washington Death Index, 1940-2017, accessed 07/02/2024.) Three years later, John married his second wife Florence Mary Bennett (born 05/20/1883 in Chateagay, NY-d. 12/10/1968 in Walla Walla, WA), also a professor of Greek and Latin at Hunter College in New York, NY. Florence and John lived together in the house until his death in 1950. Thereafter, she dwelled here alone until her passing in 1968.

Building Notes

An archival collection pertaining to the Anderson House has been preserved at the Whitman College and Northwest Archives. The collection included drawings, photos and correspondence concerning the construction and maintenance of the Anderson Mansion. (See Archives West.org, "Anderson Mansion Collection, 1900-1920," accessed 07/02/2024.)

PCAD id: 25329