Résumé

Draftsman, Hermann Steinmann, Architect, Seattle, WA, 1889. (See R.L. Polk and Company's Seattle, Washington, City Directory, 1889, p. 100.)

Draftsman, James A. Johnson, Architect, Seattle, WA, 1890.

Architect, Seattle, WA, 1891- 1894. (See Polk Seattle Directory Company's Seattle, Washington, City Directory, 1891, p. 119, R.L. Polk and Company's Seattle, Washington, City Directory, 1892, p. 141 and Polk Seattle Directory Company's Seattle, Washington, City Directory, 1894, p. 136.) Allan was not listed in the architects' classified ads in this 1892 and 1894 city directories. He may have worked on his own or worked for another architect. It is possible that he attempted to start his own practice in 1892, but given the very significant economic slowdown that hit the Seattle business community after 1893, he may have had to work for another architect by mid-decade. The Polk Seattle Directory Company's Seattle, Washington, City Directory, 1895, indicated that he again worked as a draftman by this time. (See Polk Seattle Directory Company's Seattle, Washington, City Directory, 1895, p. 119.)

By 1895, Allan relocated to the San Francisco Bay Area, where he worked for approximately two years. He returned by about 05/1897, according to a story in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. (See Ancestry.com, Norris B. Allen Tree, accessed 04/09/2018.) He was not listed in the Crocker-Langley Company's San Francisco City Directory for either 1896 or 1897.

Partner, Josenhans and Allan, Architects, Seattle, WA, 1899-1912. Josenhans and Allan had an office in Rooms #415-416 of the Pioneer Building in 1899. (See Polk Seattle Directory Company's Seattle, Washington, City Directory, 1899, p. 122.) Between 1900 and 1902, they leased space in Rooms #74-75 of the Hinckley Block. (See Seattle, Washington, City Directory, 1900, p. 135 and Seattle, Washington, City Directory, 1902, p. 169.)His obituary said this: "Mr. Allan came to Seattle in 1889. For fifteen years he was the junior member of the architectural firm of Josenhans & Allan, with offices in the old Hinckley Block." (See "Rites this Evening for Norris B. Allan," Seattle Daily Times, 09/27/1932, p. 7.)

Principal, Norris B. Allan, Architect, Seattle, WA, 1913-1922.

Inspector, City of Seattle, Building Department, Seattle, WA, c. 1924-1932. (See Seattle, Washington, City Directory, 1924, p. 253 and Seattle, Washington, City Directory, 1932, p. 98.)

College

Graduate, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA. (See "Rites this Evening for Norris B. Allan," Seattle Daily Times, 09/27/1932, p. 7.)

Relocation

Born in the Guy's Ward section of Saint John, NB, Canada, Norris Best Allan lived in Saint John in both 1871 and 1881. Guy's and Albert Wards were located in the center of old Saint John, adjoining its northern and eastern port facilities. His birthdate has been determined to have been 03/1867, this date gained from the 1900 US Census. (It is possible that Allan had been born in 1866, as well.)

He came to the US from Canada in 1885, and had been naturalized in 1889, according to the US Census of 1920. (The 1900 US Census also corroborated his date of migration to the US as 1885.) In 1889, he boarded in a room on the south side of Main Street near South 9th Avenue in Seattle in 1889. In 1891-1892, he roomed in a building on the west side of 11th Avenue, two dwellings north of Jackson Street. (See Polk Seattle Directory Company's Seattle, Washington, City Directory, 1891, p. 119 and R.L. Polk and Company's Seattle, Washington, City Directory, 1892, p. 141.) Allan rented a room at 518 Windom Street in Seattle, WA, in 1894. (See Polk Seattle Directory Company's Seattle, Washington, City Directory, 1894, p. 136.) In 1895, he boarded at 621 McClaire Street. (See Polk Seattle Directory Company's Seattle, Washington, City Directory, 1895, p. 119.)

It was thought that Norris Allan lived for about two years in the San Francisco Bay Area, c. 1895-1897, although cannot be substantiated. (See Ancestry.com, Norris B. Allen Tree, accessed 04/09/2018.) He had to have returned to WA State by 08/20/1898, the date of his marriage to Rose Mathey in Everett.

His address in 1899 was 621 21st Avenue in Seattle. (See Seattle, Washington, City Directory, 1899, p. 122.)He and Rose, his wife, lived at 2117 5th Avenue in Seattle in 1900. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1900; Census Place: Seattle Ward 6, King, Washington; Page: 1; Enumeration District: 0108, accessed 04/06/2018.)

He lived at 426 11th Avenue North from at least 1903 until 1922. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Washington State Archives; Olympia, Washington; Washington Births, 1891-1919; Film Info: Various county birth registers. Microfilm, accessed 04/06/2018 and Seattle, Washington, City Directory, 1922, p. 257.)

In 1920, Allan lived 11th Avenue North with his wife, daughter and a boarder, Eldred E.C. Ireland, (born 1895 in OR-d. 08/29/1965 in CA). (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1920; Census Place: Seattle, King, Washington; Roll: T625_1928; Page: 6A; Enumeration District: 187, accessed 04/06/2018.)

He relocated to 604 East 45th Street by 1924, and to 743 10th Avenue North one year later. (See Seattle, Washington, City Directory, 1924, p. 253 and Seattle, Washington, City Directory, 1925, p. 223.) He lived at the latter address in 1928. (Seattle, Washington, City Directory, 1928, p. 229.) The Seattle, Washington, City Directory, 1929,(p. 218) stated that he lived at 739 10th Avenue North. This 1929 listing was probably in error, because the 1932 directory (p. 98) listed his address back at 743 10th Avenue North.

Allan died at this residence at 743 10th Avenue North on 09/25/1932.

Parents

His father was Robert R. Allan (1831 in NB–1904), his mother, Anna Burton (1830 in NB–05/08/1873 in Carleton, NB). Following Anna's early demise, Robert subsequently remarried Janie Allen (born c. 1845 in Nova Scotia) by 1881. According to the 1871 and 1881 Canadian Censuses, he worked as an iron foundry man. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1871; Census Place: Guy Ward, Saint John, New Brunswick; Roll: C-10374; Page: 33; Family No: 140, accessed 04/09/2018 and Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1881; Census Place: Guy Ward, Saint John City, New Brunswick; Roll: C_13178; Page: 77; Family No: 417, accessed 04/09/2018.)

His siblings were Kate Allan Quinton (1852 in Saint John, NB–04/10/1908 in Saint John, NB), Thomas R. Allan (born 01/14/1854-d. 10/29/1923 in Saint John, NB, Canada), Morton S. Allan (possibly spelled, "Morten," born 10/30/1855 in Canada-d. 01/28/1936 in Los Angeles, CA), Clarence Burrington Allan (born 11/1857 in NB, Canada) and Bertha Allan (born c. 1861 in NB). According to the 1881 Canadian Census, Morton worked as an engineer in Saint John, NB. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1881; Census Place: Guy Ward, Saint John City, New Brunswick; Roll: C_13178; Page: 63; Family No: 340, accessed 04/09/2018.) He resided in Los Angeles, CA, in 1914. (See Los Angeles, California, City Directory, 1914, p. 434.)

Kate Allan married William A. Quiton on 12/06/1877. (See William Bradford Browne, The Babbitt Family History 1643-1900, [Taunton, MA: 1912], p. 257.)

Spouse

His wife was Rose Catherine Mathey (born 1873 in Saint Charles, MN-d. 04/01/1954 in Seatttle, WA,) on 08/20/1898 in Everett, WA. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Washington State Archives; Olympia, Washington; Marriage Register; Collection Title: Washington Marriage Records, 1854-2013, accessed 04/06/2018.)

Her parents were Alice Ames and Louis Mathey, her mother born in MN, her father, France.

She passed away in a nursing home at 912 Broadway Avenue North in 1954. (See "Mrs. Norris B. Allan," Seattle Times, 04/02/1954, p. 35.)

Children

Norris and Rose had one daughter, Helen Quinton Allan (born 08/09/1903 in Seattle, WA-d. 07/02/1981 in Goldendale, WA). (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Washington State Archives; Olympia, Washington; Washington Births, 1891-1919; Film Info: Various county birth registers. Microfilm, accessed 04/06/2018.)

Biographical Notes

Allan's last name was sometimes mispelled "Allen."

The Allan Family in Saint John, NB, was Presbyterian. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1871; Census Place: Guy Ward, Saint John, New Brunswick; Roll: C-10374; Page: 33; Family No: 140, accessed 08/31/2023.)

The architect was listed among those elected as a Republican delegates to an election in the City of Seattle, on 02/18/1892. A witness at his wedding, W.B. Van Wart, was also elected as a delegate. (See "The Primary Vote," Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 02/18/1892, p. 8.)

• Guy's Ward, Saint John, NB Canada (Architect's Birth)
  Guy's Ward, Saint John, NB Canada

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