History of Property

It is probably difficult for us to imagine life in Seattle at the turn of the century. Investment money from the gold rush fueled a rapidly growing economy and the sight of West Seattle on the other side of Elliot bay must have seemed like a perfect escape. In time it lived up to that calling, the small community that ran along what is now the beach at Alki soon acted as a hub for a community of vacation homes.

Somewhere between 1901 and 1903 Seaveiw Hall was added to the ranks of holiday homes built around the beach. A log home built in the traditions of east cost vertical log homes. Inspection of the logs tells us much about its construction. It was built of logs cut from Douglas and Silver Fir; the cedar logs where almost certainly added during a major remodel in 1958 - 60. The external surface of the logs indicate that they were harvested in the summer and winter months. The general belief is that the logs were mainly salvaged from the beach with some being cut on site. It is possible to see logs, cut during different seasons, positioned next to each other which would support the collection theory.

It is difficult to know the layout and design of the original house as much of this was removed in the 1950’s remodel and pictures of the inside are very few. Materials removed during the 2005 remodel indicate that the interior walls including the external log walls were re-clad with drywall in the 1950’s. The logs were prepared for drywall or other treatment after installation and so it is not possible to know if the original home had the logs exposed inside.

During the 2005 remodel it became apparent that the house was probably subject to some changes during construction. The original foundation still lay beneath the 1950’s concrete slab and showed an original line that would have put the south wall about ten feet south of the ground floor fire place. The beams and log work however support the theory that this was extended during construction.

Seaview Hall is not without its share of urban legends and my favorite involves a Mr. Kastner who owned the property during prohibition. Legend has it that under the cover of darkness, moonshine would be brought to Seaveiw Hall for distribution. Its location, high in the woods just off the beach, with a straight shot to Blake island from where the goods where shipped made it perfect for this. Delivery drops would be made in the woods to await client collection. As for the less fortunate who could not afford to purchase the goods it must have turned the surrounding woods into a glorious opportunity to take up “truffle hunting”. The only evidence we have to support this story of dark woods and clandestine rendezvous is poor Mr. Kastner demise, he was sent to prison for bootlegging and the property was purchased by Percy Rochfort in 1920.

The cobble stone room, built from materials collected on the beach, was added sometime before the start of Second World War. After its addition the house left service as a family residence and became a boarding house. The structure shows signs of remodel and division including door structures left inside walls, additional beams and patches in the 1¼” thick fir floors. The electrical distribution suggested that the house had two kitchens, one on the ground floor and one on the second floor about where the bathroom shower and wash basin are today. When the house was purchased in 2005 some doors still retained their room numbers.

Sometime in the late 1940’s the house was converted back to a single family home but a lack of maintenance during the depression and World War II had taken its toll. By the mid 1950’s the house had been condemned by the City and boarded up. The chimney had originally been built on a cedar stump which had long since rotted away causing the chimney to drop some two feet. The original foundation had been a mixture of wood and concrete which had also rotted and settled. In 1959 the house was purchased by the Ross family who remained its custodian for the next 45 years. The Ross’s completely remodeled Seaview Hall adding a new concrete floor, fire places and chimney. Damaged fir logs where replaced with reclaimed Cedar telegraph poles and the whole house was treated with creosote to protect it. A new kitchen was added as was a ground floor bathroom. The house was partially re-plumbed with the exception of the external waste pipes on the south wall and completely rewired.

The entrance to Seaview Hall has always been framed by a small bridge over a pond that used to be supplied by a natural spring that ran through the property. The flow from the spring has long since been diverted but the pond has been restored and the bridge rebuilt. In early 2005 a major two year restoration of Seaview Hall started to provide all the comforts we expect of our living quarters in the twenty first century while respecting the heritage of this fine old house.

We could tell you all about it but why not take a Tour