OpenStreetMap (new tab)

Google Map (new tab)

Google Streetview (new tab)

Building History

Charles D. Stimson (1857-1929), his wife, Harriet Mary Overton (1862-1936), and their son, Thomas (1884-1931), moved from his family's hometown of Big Rapids, MI, to the Puget Sound area in 1888, and settled permanently in Seattle, WA, in 02/1889, and formed a timber and real estate company that grew into one of the region's most prominent firms; C.D. was the son of Thomas Douglas Stimson (1827-1898), a Michigan lumberman whose extensive properties in the Midwest had begun to be deforested by the mid-1880s. Thomas recommended that the family relocate to the Far West. T.D. set up his business interests in the fast-growing town of Los Angeles, CA. By 1909, C.D. Stimson may have become Seattle's most influential person, as he headed the Metropolitan Bank, the General Insurance Company of America, the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition effort, and the Metropolitan Building Company; the Metropolitan Building Company developed the Highlands, an up-scale residential sub-division and the Metropolitan Tract, an ensemble of ten buildings that was then the largest downtown development plan of any city in the U.S. at the time.

He and his wife moved into this mansion in the summer of 1901. The Seattle Daily Times reported on 07/28/1901: “Mr. And Mrs. Charles D. Stimson have moved into their handsome new home on the corner of Minor avenue and Seneca street.” (See "Notes and Personals," Seattle Daily Times, 07/28/1901, p. 15.)

In 1914, Stimson sold the house to the shipping and banking tycoon, Joshua Green, an early settler in city; Green and his wife, Laura, lived in the house for approximately 60 years, from 1915-1975. (Joshua Green lived until his 105th birthday, Laura until her 104th.) The Seattle historic preservation group, Historic Seattle, purchased the house from the Joshua and Missy Green Estate on 07/14/1975. It lobbied the Landmarks Preservation Board to pass preservation legislation to protect the main dwelling, property and out-buildings. Historic Seattle sold the Stimson-Green Mansion with a Seattle City Landmark designation and easement in 12/1977. According to Historic Seattle, "The facade easement protects the main house, carriage house, and grounds from demolition, construction, alteration, or remodeling. The interior easement protects the inside of the house by limiting remodeling to the upper floors only." (See "Stimson-Green Mansion,"Accessed 09/05/2013.) Following Historic Seattle's stewardship, Priscilla "Patsy" Collins (1920-2003), a granddaughter of Charles and Harriet Stimson, bought the family landmark and renovated it. On 08/30/2001, Patsy Collins donated the residence to the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation for use as its headquarters.

Building Notes

The Spokane architectural firm of Cutter and Malmgren served as the Stimson House's principal designer, but because it was located at some distance from Seattle, it collaborated with the local English-born architect, Charles H. Bebb (1862-1942), who supervised construction. Kirtland K. Cutter (1860-1939) served as the main creative force. Cutter's Tudor Revival ornamentation would have been very au courant in 1899, as it was a relatively new style, appealing to wealthy trendsetters. According to historian Henry Matthews, the Stimson House cost its original owners $30,000 to build and $16,000 to furnish, a very large sum at the turn of the century. As Matthews noted, it was "based closely" on the Amasa B. Campbell House in Spokane, WA, (1897-1898). (See Henry Matthews, Kirtland Cutter Architect in the Land of Promise, [Seattle and Spokane: University of Washington Press and the Eastern Washington State Historical Society, 1998]. p. 141.) Architectural historian Lawrence Kreisman summarized the Stimson House's local significance: "From an architectural standpoint, the First Hill house set a precedent and was a prototype that would be copied and embellished by a host of local designers in the first decade of the 20th century. These gracious English traditional homes lined and defined the streets in well-to-do neighborhoods of First Hill, Queen Anne Hill, Capitol Hill, Denny Blaine, Washington Park and University Heights. Not surprisingly, one of the most prolific firms to work in the style was that of Charles Bebb, Cutter's local supervisor...." Bebb would go on to form a partnership with Louis Mendel (1867-1940) in February 1901, just as the Stimson House was being finished. (See Lawrence Kreisman, "Preserving in Trust," Seattle Times,Accessed 09/06/2013.)

The Stimson-Green Mansion was voted one of the "10 Greatest Homes" by Seattle Metropolitan magazine in 01/2012.

In 2010, it occupied 19,350 square feet of land, .44 of an acre; the taxable value of house and property was $2,314,913 in that year.

C.D. Stimson, like other wealthy men in Seattle at the time, enjoyed duck hunting. In 1904, the Seattle Daily Timesreported that Stimson, J.W. Clise and other wealthy businessmen were beginning to buy property along the Squak (now spelled "Squawk") Slough near Kenmore. This article stated: "A number of wealthy Seattle men have purchased large acreage tracts bordering on Squak Slough and will at once beautify the grounds, making them into fine summer homes and shooting preserves. J.W. Clise has already started the erection of a $7,000 summer residence and by fall will have a fine shooting box installed for the fall flight of ducks. Mr. Clise has purchased 240 acres of land near Redmond. He proposes to have this tract laid out in beautiful drives and walks. The foundation for his new home it is understood is already in. He was first taken with the area owing to the possibilities of rare opportunity for duck hunting that may be dound in that locality every fall and spring. He is an enthusiast along this line. Charles D. Stimson has done one mile north of the Clise place and purchased 400 acres of land, primarily for a shooting preserve, although, like Clise, he will also build a fine residence and the place his summer home." (See "To Build Summer Homes," Seattle Daily Times, 06/15/1904, p. 3.) Others buying acreage in this vicinity included the architect Charles H. Bebb (1862-1942), and others including financier R.J. Fisher, and Eldred Tucker, owner of the Tucker Printing Company.