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AKA: Todd, Elmer E., House, The Highlands, Seattle, WA
Structure Type: built works - dwellings - houses
Designers: Olmsted Brothers, Landscape Architects (firm); Willatzen and Byrne, Architects (firm); Francis Barry Byrne (architect); Frederick Law Olmsted Jr. (landscape architect); John Charles Olmsted (landscape architect); Andrew Christian Peter Willatzen (architect)
Dates: constructed 1908-1909
2 stories
Overview
The Clarke House was one of Seattle's most distinguished Prairie Style houses, designed by architect Andrew Willatsen (1876-1974), a Danish native, who worked for Frank Lloyd Wright's first studio in Oak Park, IL, before migrating to Seattle in 1907.
Building History
In 1916, Charles H. Clarke was the President of the Kelley-Clarke Company, Merchandise Brokers, Manufacturers' Agents and Importers. It had offices in Room #200 of the Colman Building in 1916. (See R.L. Polk and Company's Seattle, Washington, City Directory, 1916, p. 932)
Charles H. Clarke was the first owner, but Elmer E. Todd lived in this residence in the Highlands for many years. The first house for Elmer Todd, a lawyer, was designed by another Illinois transplant, Ellsworth Storey (1879-1960). (Thank you to Michael Houser for information on the Clarke/Todd House, sent via email to the author, 08/25/2016.)
Building Notes
The Architecture and Urban Planning Library at the University of Washington had a presentation drawing by Willatzen of the Clarke House in 2008. This drawing was subsequently transferred to the UW Libraries Special Collections Division.
PCAD id: 4962
