Where We Live

In celebrating our homes, we honor our heritage, our selves

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY. I don't have an exact date, but I do know that 80 years ago, some time in 1926, our house first became a home. It had a series of owners and bravely faced the remodeling indignities of some of these well-meaning people until we came along in 1981. Wayne and I have left our own mark on the house by creating a ground-floor master suite, adding a top-floor bathroom, and expanding the kitchen — opening it up to a garden with salvaged leaded- and stained-glass doors.

This house has been good to us. It has kept out winter rain and snow. It has withstood major and minor earthquakes — so far. Periodically, it has called out for reroofing, dry-rot repairs, siding replacement and a new coat of paint. But it has never let us down.

Remembering the birthdays and anniversaries of relatives and friends is a common and expected occurrence in our society. Remembering to honor and celebrate our home as it reaches a milestone is not so common. With a population given to moving around frequently, upsizing or downsizing as their families expand and contract, the traditional role of the house has changed as a place where you were born, grew up and retired. When houses were passed on to children and grandchildren, they proudly cherished them until the next generation took over. That hardly ever happens in our 21st century.

Next month offers a perfect opportunity to set aside time to wish your house a happy birthday — if you actually know the date of its completion — or simply a happy anniversary to thank it for the quiet, reliable role it has played in your well-being. May is the month set aside to celebrate historic preservation nationally. It's when every community large and small takes the time to appreciate what it has preserved, to look seriously at the buildings, sites and objects that may be threatened or lost if nobody takes action, and to educate people to respect built heritage as an important connection to our past as well as our distinctive civic character.

One way to celebrate your house may be to research its genealogy, just as you would your own family. It can be done by reviewing building plans and permits, requesting photographs and records taken by the King County assessor in the late 1930s, finding the names and occupations of its first and later owners by examining city directories, and even interviewing former owners as you discover their names. You will be rewarded by discoveries that give new meaning to your house and its place in the neighborhood. You may even find out that an important person lived there or that a significant local architect had a hand in its design. Chances are it is not a "landmark" house, but it may be one of a whole block or district of houses that are defining features in your neighborhood.

To celebrate the anniversary of our house, we share a photograph of it, along with other Northwest Living homes in Seattle and King County that have been featured in the past to reflect over a century of residential construction and design innovation in the region. They have stood the test of time and — through good stewardship, the foresight of public and private organizations or the active support of people in the community — continue to serve a role far greater than simple shelter.

Look, listen and learn

Throughout Seattle, there is a wonderful variety of mostly free lectures, tours and special events that celebrate buildings and neighborhoods during May, National Historic Preservation Month. This year's theme is "Sustain America: Vision, Economics and Preservation." For a complete list, see www.historicseattle.org.

• Celebrate the restoration of Trinity Parish Episcopal Church, one of the city's oldest and most important churches, a designated Seattle landmark. Historic Seattle co-sponsors with Trinity a lecture by Paul Dorpat on First Hill. Preceded by tours of the restored historic sanctuary, followed by refreshments in the parish hall.

When: Saturday, May 20, 4:30-5:15 p.m., tours; 5:30-6:30 p.m., lecture.

Where: Trinity Parish Episcopal Church, 609 Eighth Ave.

Information: 206-622-6952 or www.historicseattle.org

• Seattle Architecture Foundation sponsors two lectures on Seattle architecture by Jeffrey Ochsner.

When: Saturday, May 13, 1-3 p.m., pre-1935 Seattle architecture; Saturday, May 20, 1-3 p.m., post-1935 Seattle architecture.

Where: Seattle Public Library, Microsoft Auditorium

Contact: 206-667-9184 or www.seattlearchitecture.org

• Jewish Historical Society sponsors an illustrated lecture by Grant Hildebrand honoring architect B. Marcus Priteca, whose classic theater, synagogue and natatorium designs added greatly to the beauty of Seattle. Co-sponsored by Historic Seattle.

When: Monday, May 22, 7:30 p.m.

Where: Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center, 104 17th Ave. S.

Tickets: $10

• The Seattle Department of Parks and Recreation offers a guided tour of Discovery Park and Fort Lawton, including the lighthouse, conducted by Kevin Stoops, manager of major projects and planning, and Kathleen Connor, parks planner.

When: Thursday, May 18, 2-5 p.m.

Where: Visitors Center

Lawrence Kreisman started writing Northwest Living features for Pacific Northwest magazine in 1988 and celebrates 18 years educating the public to the value of residential design. He is the program director for Historic Seattle.