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.)

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.)

Relocation

Born in the Guy's Ward section of Saint John, NB, Canada, Norris Best Allan lived in Saint John in 1881.

He came to the US from Canada in 1885, and had been naturalized in 1889, According to the US Census of 1920. 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. (See Ancestry.com, Norris B. Allen Tree, accessed 04/09/2018.)

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 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.

Parents

His father was Robert R. Allan (1831–1904), his mother, Anna Burton (1830–05/08/1873 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 (1852–1908), Thomas R. Allan (born c. 1855 in NB), Morton S. Allan (born c. 1856 in NB), 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.)

Spouse

His wife was Rose Catherine Mathey Schreck (born 1873 in 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.

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 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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