1409 E Prospect St
Parker-Fersen Mansion
Built: 1908
The Big White House with the Colorful Past
- Style: Neoclassical Revival
- Architect: Frederick Sexton
- Builder: Frederick Sexton (superintendent) and J.S. Shockey (contractor)
Description
A 1909 Seattle Times article said of this house "It is a structure – of purely colonial architecture, the most truthful copy of the style in the city." Frederick Sexton was both the architect and superintendant of construction. It is a massive white building, the largest residence in the district. The building construction, land, and landscaping cost $100,000. Technically it is a neoclassical design. The house faces Volunteer Park, and four Corinthian columns support a portico two stories high, emanating from the lower roof line, at the front of the house. A pediment rises above it. A lower portico, supported by rectangular columns, is one story tall and runs the width of the house. Additional one story porticos flank the sides of the house. The sides also are embellished with Corinthian columns, rising from the second floor to the third, with a balcony in between. The house has double hung windows, fine dentils lining the various cornices, and rectangular modillions, under the eaves, appearing as larger dentils. The balusters surrounding the various balconies and porches have been removed, but the house retains its original imposing character. It is already designated as a Seattle City Landmark.
History
This house has a colorful past, with the first owner being sent to prison for a notable case of stock fraud just about a year after moving into the house, and the second owner being a purported Russian baron who started a new religion / philosophy called The Lightbearers.
George H. Parker, the first owner of the house, was born in Canada around 1858. He immigrated to the U.S. in 1870, became a naturalized citizen, and married a lady named Evvie from Iowa. They lived in Colorado for a time where he befriended others that would also become part of the stock fraud, and then moved to Seattle around 1907, with no notable affluence at the time. George H. Parker took on the role of fiscal agent for United Wireless and Telegraph for the region west of the Mississippi. United Wireless sold shares in an enterprise promising to build a radio infrastructure throughout the country. There were only two problems. Firstly, they didn't own patents that gave them the rights to this technology, which Marconi had developed earlier in Italy. Secondly, for each $1000 that was invested in the company, Parker personally kept $200, some friends in Denver received $180, the state agent received $220, the company officers in New York pocketed $200, leaving only a measly $200 to be invested in building wireless infrastructure.
Given this scheme, and the tremendous excitement about the limitless potential of wireless, one can easily understand how Parker cleared over one million dollars on this fraud. He spent some of this money on his home ($100,000 in 1909 dollars), the nearby Parker apartment house (approximately $100,000 as well), stock in the Arctic Club building, a significant art collection, several cars, and various other investments. This fraud was described as the first of its kind in the history of the U.S. (but unfortunately was not the last). In 1911, Parker was sentenced to spend two years in a New York federal prison. The company however did deploy some radio towers, which assisted coastal and trans-pacific vessels at the time.
Eugene Fersen bought this house several decades later, around 1939-1940. He was born on November 18, 1873 in St. Petersburg Russia. According to one source, he was the oldest son of Marie Alexandrovna, the Grand Duchess of Russia, and on his father's side he was a descendent of Count Axel Fersen. According to another source, he was the only acknowledged out-of-wedlock son of Czar Nicholas II. Fersen said that his family castles were taken by the Bolsheviks during the Russian Revolution. He came to the U.S. in 1901-1902, and formed a philosophic / religious organization called The Lightbearers, which still exists today. Two of his books, Science of Being and Is there a God? describe his philosophy. According to a neighbor, Fersen said that he chose this house because, "We've always lived in houses fronting parks. London, Paris, St. Petersburg." He died on April 24, 1956, leaving his house first to his sister, and then to revert to The Lightbearers upon her death. The Lightbearers operated their Science of Being College out of the house into the 1980's, at which point the house was purchased and converted back into a private residence.
Accessory Structure: Detached garage with living quarters
Built: 1909
Building permit #71521 allowed for this garage to be built. It has living quarters above. George H. Parker owned several cars at this relatively early date. During the 1920 census, the gardener appeared to live here.
Additional Material
Land Purchase
The Seattle Daily Times reported on August 7, 1908 that George H. Parker bought additional lots for his home. He bought these from C.F. White, who owned the house to the south.
Building Permit
A freehand record of the permit from 1908.
House Wrecked
A gale demolished the partially constructed house (Seattle Times, Dec. 25, 1908).
Mostly Finished
On Aug. 8, 1909, the Seattle Sunday Times declares that the house is almost ready for occupancy.
The 1st Owner
George H. Parker, the first home owner, became very wealthy by running a fraudulent wireless stock scheme, and then went to jail.
The 2nd Owner
Eugene Fersen, self-proclaimed baron and descendent of royalty, created the Lightbearers, a new-age enlightenment movement that operated out of this house.
The Architect
Frederick Sexton designed this house for Parker, who later commissioned an apartment building and hotel from the architect. (Photo from Everett Public Library)
Archive Photo
This 1937 photo, from the Washington State Archives, shows the house up for sale.
Vintage Postcard #1
Looking south on 14th from the base of the Water Tower, the Parker-Fersen Mansion is on the left.
Vintage Postcard #2
Similar view, looking south from the top of the Water Tower. The Parker-Fersen Mansion is on the left.
Seattle Landmark
The Parker-Fersen Mansion was declared a Seattle Landmark in 1987.
Capitol Hill Inventory
Nyberg and Steinbrueck's 1975 Inventory listed this house as one of 80 significant buildings in Capitol Hill
Restored
Marvin Andersen Architects oversaw the Parker-Fersen Mansion restoration in a landmark-compliant manner, and researched the house's history.