Location Field Site No. DAHP No. Historic Name: N/A Common Name: Chang Property Address: 2755 Towne, Sequim, WA 98382 Comments: Tax No./Parcel No. 04313660590100000 Plat/Block/Lot JEVNE SHORT PLAT V4 P32 ABERNATHY & MADISON DC Acreage 2 Supplemental Map(s) Township/Range/EW Section 1/4 Sec 1/4 1/4 Sec T31R04W 43 County Clallam Quadrangle SEE DUNGENESS Coordinate Reference Easting: Northing: 998290 1035426 Projection: Washington State Plane South Datum: HARN (feet) Identification Survey Name: Sequim Date Recorded: 05/05/ Field Recorder: Spencer Howard, Artifacts Consulting, Inc. Owner's Name: Clallam County Owner Address: 223 E 4th Street City: Port Angeles State: WA Zip: 98362 Classification: Building Resource Status: Survey/Inventory Comments: Within a District? No Contributing? National Register: Local District: National Register District/Thematic Nomination Name: Eligibility Status: Not Determined - SHPO Determination Date: 1/1/0001 Determination Comments: Wednesday, June 08, Page 1 of 14
Description Historic Use: Agriculture/Subsistence - Farmstead Current Use: Domestic - Single Family House Plan: Irregular Stories: 2 Structural System: Balloon Frame Changes to Plan: Extensive Changes to Original Cladding: Moderate Changes to Other: Extensive Other (specify): Chimney Style: Vernacular Arts & Crafts Foundation: Post & Pier Cladding: Wood - Drop Siding Shingle Wood - Board-and-Batten Wood - Vertical Form/Type: Single Family - Gable Fronter / Homestead House Roof Type: Hip Changes to Interior: Extensive Changes to Windows: Moderate Gable - Front Gable Roof Material: Metal - Corrugated Asphalt / Composition - Rolled Narrative Study Unit Architecture/Landscape Architecture Date of Construction: 1890 Built Date 1905 Addition 1975 Remodel Other Builder: Engineer: Architect: Property appears to meet criteria for the National Register of Historic Places:No Property is located in a potential historic district (National and/or local): No Property potentially contributes to a historic district (National and/or local): No Statement of Significance: The residence does not appear eligible to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) as an individual property or as part of a district. Although first thought to have been the Thomas Abernathy residence, General Land Office survey and field note records show the Abernathy residence predating this residence and at a significantly different location. Field note records do indicate the Francis A. Rowe Residence in the general vicinity of 2755 Towne Rd house; however the Rowe s serial patent (BLM Serial No. WAOAA 097490) was not issued until June 25, 1878 for lots/tracts 1, 2, and 7 of Section 36 of Township 31N Range 04W. The residence underwent significant plan, interior and exterior alterations. The associations with local settlement patterns, known past residents, and architectural quality of the original house and subsequent additions, while important as part of the local narrative, do not appear to rise to the level of individual NRHP eligibility at the local level of significance. Wednesday, June 08, Page 2 of 14
Estimated date of construction for the original 2755 Towne Rd residence is late 1890s. Based on architectural detailing and interviews with past owners, major living room and kitchen additions occurred in the early 1900s. The rear lean-to addition, currently a work shop, appears to have been an ongoing extension that was altered variously by previous occupants to accommodate expanding uses ranging from storage and food curing to work shop space. This estimate stems from archival records available to date. Subsequent new information may change this date. The 2755 Towne Rd house resides within Township 31N and Range 04W. Subsequent descriptions indicating only sections are for this Township/Range. The settlement of New Dungeness is among the state s earliest established Euro-American communities on the Olympic Peninsula. Among the first residents was Captain E. H. McAlmond, who received his Donation Land Claim in 1857. The McAlmond House National Register of Historic Places nomination attributes many of these early settlers to New England sailors arriving in the early 1850s. The 1859 Government Land Office (GLO) survey records several existing Donation Land Claim homesteads predating the GLO survey on land just south of New Dungeness Harbor in Township 31N and Range 04W. These included David Smalley, Thomas and Christina Abernathy, Dr. John P. Barrow, John Thornton, William Craswell (shown as Carroll on the 1859 GLO survey map), B. J. Madison, Charles M. Bradshaw, and Captain Elijah H. McAlmond. During this same period the federal government established the New Dungeness Light House Reserve on March 12, 1859. The GLO survey map, signed by the Surveyor General s Office in Olympia on July 21, 1859 did not show any building or settlement activity at or in the immediate vicinity of the current 2755 Towne Rd house location. John Trutch undertook the survey work in 1858 under contract no. 33. The Abernathy homestead was on top of the bluff approximately 0.6 miles to the west. The Smalley homestead resided due south approximately 0.6 miles and the Madison homestead was just 0.3 miles away to the northeast of the current 2755 Towne Rd house. On May 10th, 1859 a surveyor recorded the Abernathy s Donation Land Claim (DLC No. 43). This was undertaken as part of a larger effort recording Donation Land Claims for other homesteads in the area. Field notes did not identify the surveyor. The surveyor started in the upper northeast corner of the Abernathy s claim, along the shoreline using the northwest corner of McAlmond s claim as a reference point. The surveyor proceeded counter clockwise around the claim. The westernmost edge of this claim runs immediately adjacent the current 2755 Towne Rd house location. Field notes indicate that as the surveyor moved from south to north along this west edge he passed through a clearing (referred to as the Rowe Clearing) around the Rowe house. This house belonged to Francis A. Rowe who was issued a patent on June 25, 1878 for his land claim. The Rowe house was 24 chains (approximately 1,584 feet) from the southeastern most corner and 5 chains (approx. 330 feet) east of the route the surveyor took. Based on the field notes and the 1859 GLO map, this would have placed the Rowe residence outside of Abernathy claim and close to the wooden road leading north from the Smalley homestead. Placement of the Rowe house occurred further back from the river than the 2755 Towne Rd residence. No description was provided of the Rowe residence, nor is the location shown on subsequent maps. During the early to mid 1860s a series of land patents were issued for these Donation Land Claims. The first within the 1860s period were Levi B. Mastic and Seabury L. Mastic, issued on December 9, 1864 for section 25 and November 1, 1865 for section 33. The next year (1866) brought a whole group of claims starting with Jacob Rogers (section 33) and Charles M. Bradshaw (sections 26, 27, 34, 35) on January 11th, followed by Christina and Thomas Abernathy (sections 25, 36) and Dr. John P. Barrow (section 35) on March 6th, and then Elliot Cline (section 26) on October 10. On September 22, 1866 the President also approved the naval reservation on Dungeness Spit. David Smalley s patent was issued on March 11, 1867 (section 36). Additional patents followed in 1869 and the 1870s and 1880s. B. J. Madison s patent was not issued until 1878 and Elijah McAlmond s in 1882. Wednesday, June 08, Page 3 of 14
Description of Physical Appearance: Between the late 1800s and 1908, the Abernathy family sold off part of their land east of the Dungeness River. The Mapes resided in the house by 1908. This is based on Bill Jevne s discovery of writing on the cedar walls with the name Jim Mapes dated 1908 during removal of wall paper and muslin. The location of this writing within the house is not known. There were several land patents issued to Mapes in the area during the late 1890s and prior to 1905. However no links were identified. James M. and Audrey (sp?) Baker purchased the property ca. 1916. Based upon Bill Jevne s past conversations with the Baker s son Jim, the original portion of the 2755 Towne Rd residence existed at the time of the ca. 1916 purchase. The Baker s son, Jim, grew up in the house. Jim later moved on to Seattle before World War II. After serving in World War II, he returned to the house making a living as a logger with supplemental income from fishing. He had a trailer launched boat that he used to fish for ling cod and halibut and was locally renowned for his knowledge of the best spots. By the 1970s Jim started work on the single story residence across Town Rd from the 2755 house. To raise the necessary funds to finish this new house he sold the 2755 house in 1975 to Bill Jevne. Bill moved to the area in the fall of 1975 from Minnesota. During his brief residence and ownership through ca. 1978, Bill undertook several interior and exterior repairs. Bill installed the current french doors off the dining room. Many of the original charred cedar foundation posts on stone footings had deteriorated to the point of needing replacement. Using hydraulic jacks, Bill raised the foundation enough to insert new creosoted posts from the beach, replacing all the original posts. He replaced the stones with poured-in-place concrete pier pads. A chimney fire in the original unlined brick chimney prompted its replacement. The brick chimney had rested on a wood shelf built into the wall of the main original part of the house. Originally this would have been an exterior wall and possibly a metal chimney that was replaced with brick as part of the living room addition converting this wall to an interior wall. Bill moved the heater, poured a new concrete footing, and built a lined, concrete block chimney. He also removed approximately 20 feet of the rear lean-to-shed from the house and enclosed the back porch. Bill removed the multiple wall paper layers over muslin attached to the interior walls, then chinked openings in the cedar sheathing and installed gypsum board on the ceiling. The house was not insulated. During this work he uncovered what he attributed as children s writing on a wall with the name Jim Mapes and dated 1908. Bill split up the land and sold the house to Raymond Chang ca. 1978. Raymond Chang lived in Hawaii and rented out the house. Steve Tharinger, Yvonne Yokota, Carey Kalina and Steve Godwin rented the house from Raymond in the late 1970s before they purchased the rest of the land Bill had held onto (including a barn) in the 1980s and built a new house on the purchased property. They operated a wood working business out of the barn. In the 1980s Nash Huber rented the house for a period of five years. During that time additional repairs of the foundation were undertaken as well as electrical wiring upgrades. In 1985-86 Nash installed the current wall fabric to help retain heat during the winter. Paul Chang, Raymond s son, received the property from his father. Paul sold the house to Clallam County in 2010. Built in the late 1890s, this two-story, wood frame residence orients east fronting Towne Road, the former main north/south thoroughfare for the New Dungeness settlement. The house sets just back from the Dungeness River and immediately south of the contemporary dike. An irregular plan consisting of two main, off-set rectangular footprints organizes ground floor living space towards the front with kitchen and dining space at the rear. Bedrooms and closets occupy the second floor. The house experienced several major additions. The following narrative begins with the original house and proceeds through each of the main additions. Wednesday, June 08, Page 4 of 14
The original residence construction year built is attributed to construction materials, local development patterns and conversation with resident Nash Huber. Having a narrow rectangular footprint, this twostory original house featured balloon framing. A post and pier foundation supports the house. Originally these consisted of charred cedar posts set on stone piers. The house oriented east/west with the front door off the northeast corner. Window openings provided day lighting along the first story front and side facades and in the gable ends of the second story. A steeply pitched, front gable roof sheltered interior spaces. A small shelf in the north wall at the northwest corner supported an external chimney. All windows are wood sash, double hung and consist of two types. They occur as singles and paired. The twoover-two sash with vertical lites appear to be the older. The other type is a one-over-one with large horizontal lites. Based on glass size these appear to be a later addition. Both types existing on the main addition to this house, suggesting patterns were continued or all original windows, if any, were replaced when the addition was built. The rear gable end window has been replaced with a single fixed pane. The original doorway was located in the northeast corner and was in-filled when the main entry was moved as part of the main addition. A second doorway exits the south side of the house. This doorway consists of an added multiple-lite wood door. It is unknown if this doorway is original or later addition. Alterations reroofed the house with asphalt composition roll roofing. The siding currently does not have an intact coat of paint. Living, dining room and upper bedroom addition appeared to occur as one major addition. Based upon architectural features and background this addition occurred in the early 1900s, likely before 1908. This addition expanded out to the north of the original residence adding a larger living space, and rear kitchen. The addition consisted of a main hipped-roof with two smaller hipped roof towers set at the east and north outer corners. From the front the rooflines appear orderly. From the rear the difficulties of aligning pitches of successive additions becomes immediately apparent. An open porch, since enclosed, extended off the back. A post and pier foundation supports the house. Originally these consisted of charred cedar posts set on stone piers. A porch with a low, solid railing extends along the front facade with pillars supporting the outer roof edge. Two story bay windows project out on the north facade expanding first floor living and second floor bedroom spaces. Painted wood drop siding clads the wood frame structure. Corner boards define the outer building corners. This same siding and corner boards continued on the original house. Windows featured exterior casings and sills. All windows are wood sash, double hung and consist of several types. They occur as singles and paired. The two-over-two sash with vertical lites appear to be the older. Another type is a one-over-one with large horizontal lites. The front tower features several smaller decorative multiple-lite wood sash windows. Alterations replaced several of the rear windows with aluminum sliders and re-roofed the addition with corrugated metal and asphalt composition roll roofing. Parts of the siding having been painted, though most currently does not have an intact coat of paint. Enclosure of the rear porch occurred following the main addition. The enclosure continues the same drop siding. A corrugated metal roof shelters interior spaces. An added door having a lower recessed panel and upper lite provides exterior access to the porch from a small outside stoop. Dining room addition occurred following the main addition. This addition continues the same drop siding as the main addition along with a corrugated metal shed roof. A 1930s-50s era wood sash window with long, horizontal lites provides day lighting from the west. A pair of contemporary French doors provides access to a small exterior stoop. A lean-to addition projects off the enclosed rear porch. This occurred following the main addition. This addition utilizes a variety of materials. Parts feature board and batten, vertical plank, and coursed shingle siding. Windows include both wood and aluminum sash varieties without consistency. A corrugated metal shed roof shelters the space. Wednesday, June 08, Page 5 of 14
Major Bibliographic References: The original house interior was modified as part of the main addition to accommodate an interior stairway at the west end with a closet below the stairway. A second closet was added in the upper floor at the top of the stairway. The first floor consists of a single main volume with the closet at the west end. A large added doorway leads from this house into the main addition. The upper floor features a single bedroom at the east end with a hallway and stairway at the west end. The hallway leads into the upper floor of the main addition. Woodwork on the stairway, doors and trim appears to date from the main addition. The original Douglas fir flooring and horizontal board clad interior walls remain behind added finishes. Windows feature interior casings, stool and aprons. A single overhead light illuminated the upper floor bedroom. A five panel wood door leads into the bedroom from the hallway. The main addition interior spaces underwent extensive finish alterations. The muslin and wallpaper were removed and a variety of finishes added, including sheetrock and fabric. Spaces feature wood floors with linoleum in the bathroom. Simple single bulb ceiling light fixtures illuminate the spaces. Windows feature interior casings, stool and aprons. Flooring consists of wide Douglas fir boards. Notable metal hardware on doors and wood door surrounds and trim speak to the original quality of features employed in the main addition. Window sash featured lifts and sash locks. Outbuildings consist of a small shed and concrete block storage building. The pole construction shed features shake roofing. Bureau of Land Management, Field Note Record (1745701-0000000) Donation Land Claim survey. Survey No. 43. Surveyed in 1859. Volume WA-D0001 Page 0700.0 State: WA Meridian: 33 Township: 031-0N Range: 004-0W Clallam County Assessor records. McAlmond House, National Register of Historic Places Nomination. (October 1975). Prepared by Jerome Hellmuth and Jacob E. Thomas, Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation. Margaret Lotzgesle. Telephone interview on May 9,. Su Howat. Telephone interview on May 9,. Nash Huber. Telephone interview on May 9,. Bill Jevne. Telephone interview on May 13,. Wednesday, June 08, Page 6 of 14
Photos Sketch plan prepared for photo and narrative reference. Not to scale. No measurements taken to develop sketch. First Floor Sketch Plan Sketch floor plan. No measurements taken to prepare plan. For reference of photographs and narrative only. Second Floor Plan Green dot marks 2755 Towne Rd house location. Yellow outline marks Abernathy DLC. Red circle marks estimated vicinity of Rowe house. Locations of Abernathy and Smalley houses shown as black dots in GLO overlay. 1859 GLO Survey overlaid on aerial image. Front gable is original house. Hip is main addition. Front east facade. Wednesday, June 08, Page 7 of 14
Northeast corner. Southeast corner with original house in foreground. South facade. Lean-to addition visible at rear. CMU outbuilding. Wednesday, June 08, Page 8 of 14
West facade. Variety of rooflines associated with additions. Shed, east side. northwest corner. Second floor original house, bedroom (1). Looking east. Window detail, northeast tower at second floor. Second floor, bedroom (3) looking east. Wednesday, June 08, Page 9 of 14
Floor transition at second floor at hallway. Narrow boards in original, wider boards in main addition. Located in rear of original house. Converted to stairway with main addition. Door at left leads to bedroom (1), smaller door leads to closet. Second floor hallway. Door hardware detail. Main addition. Door hardware detail. Main addition. Wednesday, June 08, Page 10 of 14
Stairway added with main addition. Doorway from main addition to original house, looking south. Original house looking east. Living room, main addition, looking north. Entry, main addition, looking east. Wednesday, June 08, Page 11 of 14
Bathroom, main addition. Kitchen to dining room, looking south. Kitchen, looking north. Kitchen cabinet detail and view of door leading to enclosed porch. Stoves. Water heating done with coils run through wood stove. Wednesday, June 08, Page 12 of 14
Dining room enclosure, looking south. Shop looking west. Enclosed porch, looking north. Shop lookng west. Enclosed porch. Blue door leads back into kitchen. Wednesday, June 08, Page 13 of 14 Work done in the 1970s.
Foundation. Creosote piers salvaged from the beach and set on concrete footings. Wednesday, June 08, Page 14 of 14