Dr. Annie Russell (1868-1942)
Dr. Annie Russell (1868-1942), one of Washington State's first female physicians.
Dr. Annie Russell was a pioneering figure in Washington State medical history. Born in 1868, she became one of the first female physicians in the state at a time when women in medicine faced significant barriers. A 1906 newspaper described her as "a woman physician with a vast knowledge of her profession" who had established a practice of 20 years in Seattle.
She was no less remarkable outside of medicine. In 1906, Dr. Russell climbed the volcano Popocatepetl near Las Cruces, Mexico. She was also politically active, serving as manager and campaign committeeman for the Democratic County Central Committee in 1922.
Dr. Russell commissioned this distinctive home in 1908 and lived here until her death on March 2, 1942, at the age of 86.
Historical Significance: Dr. Russell's home represents the achievements of early female professionals in Seattle and stands as a testament to women breaking barriers in traditionally male-dominated fields.
The House
Built circa 1908 by contractor Walter G. Frost, the house was designed by architect Frederick A. Sexton in the Rustic style with Swiss Chalet and Craftsman influences.
Architectural Features
- Untrimmed log construction on the first floor - a distinctive feature rarely seen in Seattle residential architecture
- River stone fireplaces throughout the home
- Cedar shake siding on upper floors
- Swiss Chalet elements including decorative brackets and balconies
- Craftsman details in the interior woodwork
From a 1959 newspaper article: "The Russells' home is surrounded with old trees and the expanse of ground between the house and the street is terraced with small rocks and planted solidly with flowers." The interior was described as a "log cabin full of Indian lore, fairly plastered with Mexican and American Indian Baskets, a collection of Indian footwear, and various other Indian relics, and some Navajo rugs."
Photos: NWMLS / Windermere R.E. Northeast, Inc.
Day's Acre Gardens
The house sits on Lot 15 in Day's Acre Gardens, a historic plat filed on February 15, 1889 by John S. Day. The original plat map, surveyed by Scurry W. Owens, shows 40 lots laid out in what is now Seattle's Roosevelt neighborhood.
Day's Acre Gardens plat map, filed February 15, 1889. The Russell House sits on Lot 15.
Originally, Lot 15 was a generous 0.94 acres (40,788 sq ft), measuring 133 feet wide by 308 feet deep. The western boundary was Crawford Street, which ran where Interstate 5 stands today.
Interstate 5 and the Lost Western Portion
In 1958, the Washington State Department of Highways purchased the western portion of the property for the construction of Interstate 5. As a 1959 newspaper article reported, "The freeway has taken 85 feet of the Russell's original two acres, and two thirds of what is left has been bought for a church parking lot." This section included two small rental cabins built around 1914 that stood in the rear of the lot.
549 E 58th St - One of two rental cabins on the rear of Lot 15.
541 E 58th St - The second rental cabin, also demolished in 1958 for I-5.
When the freeway opened in 1963, the property had lost approximately 60% of its original depth. The remaining parcel—the east 125 feet of Lot 15—is today's 15,871 square foot lot (0.36 acres). This intact parcel, which has remained unchanged since the I-5 taking, is itself a protected feature under the landmark designation.
Landmark Designation
On September 17, 2008, the Seattle Landmarks Preservation Board designated the Dr. Annie Russell House as a Seattle Landmark (LPB 526/08). The designation was formalized in Seattle Ordinance 123074.
The designation protects:
- The exterior of the building
- The first floor interior (central hallway and stairway to second floor)
- The parcel of property itself
- The site and the shed
National Register Eligible: The property has been determined eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places, recognizing its significance in American history and architecture.