Reconnaissance Built Environment Survey of Walla Walla’s Germantown – Portions of Chase’s Addition, Henderson’s Addition, Freise Addition and an Unplatted Area, Walla Walla, Washington AHA! Project 2015-006 August 14, 2015 Reconnaissance Built Environment Survey of Walla Walla’s Germantown – Portions of Chase’s Addition, Henderson’s Addition, Freise Addition and an Unplatted Area, Walla Walla, Washington By: Ann Sharley, M.A., Principal Investigator Prepared for: City of Walla Walla Development Services Department 55 E. Moore Street Walla Walla, Washington 99362 AHA! Project 2015-006 Architectural History & Archaeology! LLC 109 S. Holiday Road Spokane Valley, Washington 99016 August 14, 2015 CULTURAL RESOURCES REPORT COVER SHEET Authors: Ann Sharley Title of Report: Reconnaissance Built Environment Survey of Walla Walla’s Germantown – Portions of Chase’s Addition, Henderson’s Addition, Freise Addition and an Unplattted Area, Walla Walla, Washington. Date of Report: August 14, 2015 County: Walla Walla Section: 29 Township: 7 North Range: 36 East Quad: Walla Walla, 7.5’ USGS, 1998 Acres: 31 PDF of report submitted (REQUIRED) Yes Historic Property Inventory Forms to be Approved Online? Yes No Archaeological Site(s)/Isolate(s) Found or Amended? Yes No N/A TCP(s) found? Yes No Replace a draft? Yes No Satisfy a DAHP Archaeological Excavation Permit requirement? Yes # No DAHP Archaeological Site #: N/A ABSTRACT The City of Walla Walla was awarded a Certified Local Government (CLG) grant by the Washington Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation (DAHP) for reconnaissance level built environment survey of a seven-block residential area within the city limits. The survey area, a portion of Section 29, T. 7 N., R. 36 E., W.M., is bounded by Chestnut Street on the north, Malcolm and Morton streets on the south, Chase and South 4th avenues on the west, and South 2nd Avenue and St. John Street on the east. The project comprises portions of Chase’s Addition, Henderson’s Addition, Freise Addition, and an unplatted area, lands totaling approximately 31 acres. The City of Walla Walla contracted with Architectural History & Archaeology! LLC (AHA!) to conduct the survey and report the results; historical research was not included in the scope of work. During the fieldwork, conducted in June 2015, 153 historical properties were recorded and the survey area was identified as the heart of Walla Walla’s historical Germantown. Nearly all historical properties within the survey area are small residences with associated garages and outbuildings, although two churches, several commercial buildings, and two bridges were also recorded. Most of these properties date to the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the period of Volga German immigration to the area. Although most of the buildings have been altered through replacement of doors, windows, and other fabric, nearly all remain clearly recognizable as historical. Relatively little modern infill has occurred in the area. The 153 properties were subsequently added to the Washington Historic Property Inventory database and evaluated for National Register of Historic Places eligibility under Criterion C, for their architectural merits, and under other criteria if information were readily available. Although only 22 properties were recommended individually eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places, most buildings in the survey area appear to qualify as contributing elements in a Germantown historic district. Additional research is recommended to identify boundaries of such a district and establish criteria for inclusion of properties. Walla Walla’s Germantown i August 2015 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Architectural History & Archaeology! LLC (AHA!) would like to thank the following individuals and organizations for assistance with this project. Ms. Chamberlain and the City of Walla Walla managed the contract, supplied background information, reviewed the report, and completed countless other support tasks; Kim Gant and the Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation (DAHP) distributed funding and reviewed the report; the National Park Service supplied funding; and all others provided valuable historical information. Elizabeth Chamberlain, City of Walla Walla Development Services Director City of Walla Walla Kim Gant, DAHP Certified Local Government Coordinator & Survey Program Manager Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation Russ Antes, local resident Rondall “Ron” Brown, lifelong local resident Grant Crichton, local resident Bill Coleman, local resident John Edson, local resident Rod and Jennifer Eng, local residents Louis Gonzales, local resident Janice James, local resident Phil Neumann, local resident Heather Santo, local resident Bob Savage, local resident Michael Shaw, local resident Joanne [asked that last name not be used], local resident The Center for Volga German Studies at Concordia University Germans from Russia Heritage Collection, North Dakota State University Walla Walla 2020 Walla Walla County Assessor Walla Walla County Auditor Whitman College and Northwest Archives, Whitman College U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service This report has been financed in part with Federal funds from the National Park Service, Department of the Interior, funding administered by the Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation (DAHP) and the City of Walla Walla. The report contents and opinions, however, do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Department of the Interior, DAHP, or the City of Walla Walla. This program received Federal funds from the National Park Service. Regulations of the U.S. Department of the Interior strictly prohibit unlawful discrimination in departmental Federally Assisted Programs 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: Director, Equal Opportunity Program, U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, 1849 C Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20240. Walla Walla’s Germantown ii August 2015 TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................................................... i ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .......................................................................................................................... ii LIST OF FIGURES ..................................................................................................................................... iv LIST OF TABLES ....................................................................................................................................... iv INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................................ 1 Project Background and Description ........................................................................................................ 1 RESEARCH DESIGN .................................................................................................................................. 4 Objectives .................................................................................................................................................. 4 Methodology ............................................................................................................................................. 4 Expectations .............................................................................................................................................. 6 Area Surveyed ........................................................................................................................................... 6 HISTORIC CONTEXT ................................................................................................................................. 6 Historical Development ............................................................................................................................ 6 SURVEY RESULTS AND ANALYSIS .................................................................................................... 11 Survey Overview ..................................................................................................................................... 11 Architectural Styles ................................................................................................................................. 14 Evaluation of Historical Significance ..................................................................................................... 20 Development Trends ............................................................................................................................... 21 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ..................................................................................... 21 BIBLIOGRAPHY ....................................................................................................................................... 23 APPENDIX A: SURVEY AREA HISTORICAL PROPERTIES ........................................................... A-1 APPENDIX B: SURVEY AREA ARCHITECTURAL STYLES .......................................................... A-7 APPENDIX C: DESCRIPTIONS AND NRHP RECOMMENDATIONS ..........................................