Redmond's Stone House First Landmark Designated by New Commission
March 23, 2007 - A new commission created by an agreement between the King County Landmarks Commission and the City of Redmond has designated its first landmark: the Orson and Emma Wiley Residence, popularly known as the Stone House, in the city's historic Old Town neighborhood. The action by the Redmond Landmarks Commission earlier this year boosts the structure's eligibility for grants and loans and potential listing as a federal landmark.
Under the inter-local agreement, the King County Landmarks Commission and a local representative act as the Redmond Landmarks Commission to review nominations submitted as city landmarks. Fifteen other structures in Redmond are already official landmarks under a less formal system replaced by the inter-local agreement. As the first building designate by the new commission, the Stone House enjoys higher status, and improves the potential for tax breaks and grants to the owners. "The new system has worked very successfully," says Dianna Broadie, the City's historic preservation program manager.
The Stone House itself is important to Redmond's cultural and architectural heritage. Built around 1916 as a home for Redmond pioneers Orson and Emma Wiley, the Craftsman-style bungalow is made almost entirely of river rock and stones. The window frames are made of brick. "All the materials are local," says co-owner Patty Gordon, who sought the landmark designation. "It's a very cool property and unique to the Northwest."
The house is currently home to the Stone House Café, which has added period furniture and décor to the interior. Gordon says she and the other co-owners will likely pursue listing the building on the National Register of Historic Places. For more information on Redmond historic preservation programs, contact Dianna Broadie at 425-556-2414.
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