VintageSeattle.org

We all know about Capitol Hill’s “Millionaires’ Row” around 15th Ave, but there are also a number of equally high-end homes closer to 23rd. Anna and I were fortunate enough to get a private tour of one such residence currently selling at 957 22nd Ave. I will refer to it as the “Royal Residence” because in 1939 the Crown Prince and Princess of Norway stayed at the home while visiting the Puget Sound. This sprawling 7,000 square foot palace was built in 1909 for C.H.G. and Anna Stoltenberg and designed by architect Orison Dickinson. Stoltenberg was the Secretary Treasurer of Puget Navigation Company and the International Steamship Company. Amazingly, there have only been four owners since the home was built nearly 100 years ago. In 1926, ownership changed hands to Haaken Friele, a prominent international businessman. The Friele family hosted many extravagant parties in the home, including a dinner party in 1939 attended by the King Of Norway, Anna Eleanor Roosevelt (the president’s daughter), and the Governor. In fact, the chandelier and sconces in the dining room were gifts from the King of Norway. You may be saying “wow” right now just as I was when I toured this home. Now there’s a story to tell dinner guests! The Georgian Revival Style home is now selling for $3.4 million, so if you are in the market check out the listing and virtual slide show. This property is far too impressive to hold to just one posting, so I’ve divided it up into two sections. This is Part 1 detailing the exterior and historic documents and Part 2 has be posted where we take a look inside the home. I want to thank Beth Toomey & Terry Miller of Coldwell Banker Bain and current owners Bob & Darlene Erickson for touring us around the home. Click on the thumbnails for larger images.

The first thing you notice as you see the home from the street is the side-gabled roof, oversized front porch, and repeated use of modillion course, both common in Georgian Revival homes.	The Georgian Revival Style homes are usually larger than the original Colonial iterations with many of the elements oversized. With the influence of Queen Anne Style, porches and dormers were enlarged.
The north face of the property yields a closer view of the thin clapboards and chimney.	The chimney detail closely matches the rest of the house. Also notice the curved bay window.
The front door is usually the centerpiece on a Georgian Revival, and this door knocker makes it so. You may recognize it from an episode of Harry Rinker’s popular show The Collector Inspector on Home & Garden Television. The current owners gave the show permission to film their door.	A detail shot of the north face of the home. As you’ll see from the interior images, these massive windows light the home well.
This close-up of the north face again shows the clapboard siding.	The back of the home features this porch and attached garage. The home backs right up to the alley, leaving no room for a back yard. This isn’t surprising, given the 7,000 square feet of the house.
The dental molding catches the eye on the exterior of the home. The flag pole looks ready for a State of Washington flag (or perhaps a Norwegian flag).	Close-up of the back face of the residence shows more ornate molding and the elaborate beamed porch.
A detail shot of the modillion course.	The detail work on the porch alone is impressive.
The front porch is supported by these beautiful Ionic capitals.	This Close-up shot of the columns shows them to be in excellent condition.
1931 tax document for the home. H.B. Friele is listed as the then current owner and a (thankfully wrong) future life of just 27 years.	This 1970’s era document shows the assessed valuation of the property.
This King County property record shows a planned addition.	An article from the Seattle Post-Intelligencer in 1939 detailing the impending visit of Crown Prince Olav and Princess Martha of Norway. An avid skier, Prince Olav won a gold medal at the 1928 Summer Olympic Games. He was made King of Norway in 1957 and died in 1991.

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