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Frederick W. Winters House 2102 Bellevue Way SE
The Frederick W. Winters House was recognized for its significance when it was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1992. It was also selected for an award recognizing its excellent restoration from the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation in 1992. The house, built in 1929, is important for both its distinctive architectural character reflecting the Spanish Eclectic style and its association with bulb growing and the floricultural industry in King County and Washington State. It is one of the few buildings associated with the past agricultural activity in the Bellevue area that remains on its original site and has retained its architectural integrity. The Winters house is unusual in the Bellevue area for its farmland setting and its Spanish Eclectic style. This style of residence, while popular in the Southwest, Florida and California, was rarely used in the Pacific Northwest. Most distinctive residences, during this period, were situated along Lake Washington. Frederick and Cecilia Winters settled in the Bellevue area in 1916. They purchased 10 acres along Mercer Slough in 1917. They established a wholesale florist business. By 1924, the Winters had built several greenhouses and purchased an additional 10 acres in the area to expand their business into flower bulb farming. The house was designed and constructed in the late 1920s during a time when the bulb farm was particularly successful. The architectural style reflects both unique family circumstances and popular taste. Mrs. Winters' brother, Elmer H. Roedel, was a tile supplier and contractor. The design of this house appears to have been based on the design of an extant house built for Mr. Roedel in Portland Oregon. The house was built for approximately $32,000. In 1943, the Winters sold the house to Anna and Frank Riepl. Mrs. Riepl lived in the house until 1983. The City of Bellevue Parks Department acquired the property in 1989 as part of its Mercer Slough Park. The house is now being used as a public meeting facility with space for Bellevue Historical Society. The F. W. Winters House relates to the study unit themes of agriculture and architecture. For additional information please see the link for the Winters House. |