CITY OF LYNDEN Reconnaissance Level Survey 2018-01-00051 Lynden, Whatcom County, Washington September 2018 Report prepared and survey conducted by: Katie Pratt, Architectural Historian, Northwest Vernacular, Inc. Spencer Howard, Historic Preservationist, Northwest Vernacular, Inc. Contents Acknowledgments 5 1. RESEARCH DESIGN 6 Objectives 6 Survey Methodology 6 Expectations 8 Area Surveyed 9 Integration with Planning Process 10 2. HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT 12 Natural Setting 12 Pre history 12 1800–1860 Early settlement 14 1870–1899 Logging Community 16 1900–1909 Logging to Agriculture 23 1910–1919 Commercial Growth 28 1920–1929 City Growth 31 1930–1939 Depression Era Growth 35 1940–1949 Density and INdustrial Growth 37 1950–1959 Post World War II Growth 39 1960–1969 Subdivision Expansions 41 1970–1979 Population growth 43 1980–1989 Business District Changes 44 1990–2018 Subdivision Growth 45 3. SURVEY RESULTS 47 Development Periods 47 Property Uses 48 Architectural Styles 51 National Register and Washington Heritage Register Eligibility 51 City of Lynden | Reconnaissance Level Survey Northwest Vernacular 2 Lynden Register of Historic Places Eligibility 55 Recommendations 63 Development Trends 64 4. APPENDIX 65 Bibliography 65 Maps 67 City of Lynden | Reconnaissance Level Survey Northwest Vernacular 3 LIST OF TABLES AND MAPS Table 1. Survey Reports within and adjacent City of Lynden 9 Table 2. Population Data 1890 to 1910 24 Table 3. Properties Surveyed by Development Period 47 Table 4. Property Types Surveyed 48 Table 5. Architectural Styles of Properties Surveyed 51 Table 6. Potential NR Eligible Properties per Criterion C 53 Table 7. Table: Potential LR Eligible Properties per Criterion 2 57 Map 1. Survey area. 68 Map 2. Citywide survey selection. 69 Map 3. Downtown survey selection. 70 Map 4. Properties to be surveyed. 71 Map 5. Eligibility recommendations for surveyed properties. 72 Map 6. Surveyed properties by decade built. 73 Map 7. Surveyed properties by use. 74 Map 8. Surveyed properties by structural material. 75 Map 9. Surveyed properties by architectural style. 76 Map 10. 1891 Sanborn 77 Map 11. 1903 Sanborn 78 Map 12. 1907 Sanborn 79 Map 13. 1925 Sanborn 80 Map 14. 1929 Sanborn 81 Map 15. 1942 Sanborn 82 City of Lynden | Reconnaissance Level Survey Northwest Vernacular 4 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The authors of this historic property survey report wish to express their sincerest thanks to the following organizations and individuals for providing their insight, and assistance throughout this project: CITY OF LYNDEN • Dave Timmer, City Planner • Christina R. Brewer, GIS Analyst LYNDEN HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION (LHPC) • Mark Bratt, Chair • Patti Leach, Vice-chair • Karin Schulhauser • Denny DeMeyer • Troy Luginbill “This publication has been funded with the assistance of a matching grant-in-aid from the Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation and the Historic Preservation Fund, National Park Service, Department of the Interior. Any opinion, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of the Interior. Regulations of the U.S. Department of the Interior strictly prohibit unlawful discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, age or handicap. Any person who believes he or she has been discriminated against in any program, activity, or facility operated by a recipient of Federal assistance should write to: Office of Equal Opportunity, National Park Service, 1201 Eye Street, NW (2740) Washington, DC 20005” “The activity that is the subject of this Survey Report has been financed in part with Federal funds from the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. However, the contents and opinions do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Department of the Interior, nor does the mention of trade names or commercial products constitute endorsement or recommendation by the Department of the Interior.” Cover Images: (upper left) Undated view of the Waples Department Store along Front Street. Image courtesy of the Pioneer Museum. (upper right) Undated view of a single family residence in Lynden. Image courtesy of the Pioneer Museum. (lower) Undated view northwest along Front Street. Image courtesy of the Pioneer Museum. City of Lynden | Reconnaissance Level Survey Northwest Vernacular 5 1. Research Design OBJECTIVES The survey objectives listed below support the continued growth of the City’s new Certified Local Government (CLG) program and the identification and protection of historic buildings within the city. • Objective 1: Historic context development to support the identification and evaluation of potential historic properties within the City of Lynden and highlight areas for further research; • Objective 2: Identify potential historic properties within the City of Lynden; and, • Objective 3: Evaluate identified properties for potential eligibility to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP), City of Lynden Historic Register of Historic Places (LRHP), and Washington State Heritage Barn Register to establish a baseline for potential outreach to property owners to encourage the preservation and rehabilitation of eligible historic properties. SURVEY METHODOLOGY The project consisted of two primary tasks: strategic planning guidance to support the Lynden Historic Preservation Commission (LHPC) for the next five years until the city updates its comprehensive plan, and a reconnaissance-level survey and inventory of 100 properties within the city limits. Northwest Vernacular (NWV) conducted a project kick-off meeting on January 3, 2018, with the LHPC and City staff to discuss goals and priorities for shaping the strategic planning work and to begin the identification of which properties to survey. Following the meeting, NWV staff walked through downtown Lynden and drove around the city to gain a better understanding for the types of existing properties. Based on initial input from the LHPC, City staff, and field observations, NWV focused on six concentration areas, outlined below. Refer to the Survey selection maps (“Map 2. Citywide survey selection.” on page 69 and “Map 3. Downtown survey selection.” on page 70) for the initial drafts provided to the HPC and the City for final selection. • The commercial core along both sides of Front Street and along Judson Street Alley at the west end. The commercial core is a key anchor to the city and is its historic “Main Street” corridor. • The residential area which extends along both sides of Front Street at either end of the commercial core. Front Street is a notable entry route to the city. Surveying the full length would quickly exceed 100 properties, so we focused on the segments abutting the commercial district. • Agricultural properties within the city. Lynden’s history is closely tied to agriculture and subdivision growth within the last 40 years has dramatically reduced open farmland and agricultural buildings within the city limits. City of Lynden | Reconnaissance Level Survey Northwest Vernacular 6 • 1800s era properties within the city based on assessor data. There were quite a few of these properties. Using Google Street view we focused in on those which appeared to have the most potential integrity. • Mid-20th century residences within the city. The city experienced substantial mid-20th century housing growth and we surveyed those that appeared to be some of the better examples. This was cut during the final selection. • Industrial buildings around the railroad branch connection with Lynden. The railroad branch line was a key economic engine for the city with industrial buildings developed around the depot and rail connection. This was cut during the final selection. • Lynden High School and gymnasium, currently used as an elementary school. The LHPC and City staff reviewed the potential property list and made the final selection of the properties to survey. Refer to the “Map 4. Properties to be surveyed.” on page 71 prepared by the City of Lynden. Archival research entailed working with the Lynden Pioneer Museum to obtain digital copies of historic photographs and tracking down primary and secondary sources. NWV staff utilized the City of Seattle library for access to published histories on Lynden. Many of these histories told the story of Lynden through different individuals, companies, and events. Polk City Directories provided general overviews of development patterns and businesses, though these were bundled under Whatcom County and were limited in the level of detail. Articles from the Lynden Tribune provided additional details on specific events and some growth patterns within the city. The Washington State Office of Financial Management (OFM) provided statistics on population growth. NWV ordered a set of Sanborn Fire Insurance maps from EDR, a data collection resource, which assisted greatly in reviewing development patterns within the commercial district. The City of Lynden provided scans of plats and GIS data on properties within the city limits which informed the assessment of overall development patterns. Heritage Quest and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) provided data on early residents and settlement patterns. NRHP and LRHP nominations provided additional contextual background. Survey and field work entailed mailing notices to property owners of the surveyed properties and field work by NWV staff. NWV staff worked with the City to develop the notices informing owners of the survey work and who to contact