Seattle native John Spellman was elected the very first King County Executive in 1969 and he would go on to become the 18th Governor of Washington from 1981 to 1985. To date, he is the last Republican governor Washington State has ever had. Afterward he came back home to Seattle to practice law and serve his community in various ways.
Spellman's longtime home in View Ridge recently hit the market and aside from that notable distinction, it's actually a house that stands out all on it's own. Originally-built in 1937, it was remodeled in 1973 by architect James Jennings gutted the interiors to create an open floorplan family room, breakfast area & grand staircase made of raw cedar.
Jennings used subtle touches like a grouping of wood beams to provide distinction between rooms, a nice way to provide separation without losing the openness. There's also some nice craftsmanship still standing, including the classic wood doors to bedrooms and a gorgeous sleeping nook in the attic. Out back, there's a brick paver patio and landscaped grounds.
· 7048 51st Ave NE [Windermere]
· Spellman, John D. [HL]