History of 1003 Boyer Avenue – Walla Walla, WA

Legal Description

Lots 4 and 5 in Block 2 of Lennon’s & Wildwood Addition to the City of Walla Walla, Washington, according to the official plat thereof recorded in the office of the Auditor of Walla Walla County, Washington in Book D of plats at Page 16. Situated in the City and County of Walla Walla, State of Washington

Title and Occupant History

Washington Territory was created in 1853. In 1854, the new territorial legislature created Walla Walla County, which stretched from the crest of the Cascade Mountains to the crest of the Rocky Mountains in the present states of Washington, Idaho and Montana. In 1855, Isaac Stevens, governor of Washington Territory, held a council on the banks of Mill Creek at the present site of Walla Walla with representatives of regional Indian tribes to purchase land from them. The Yakamas, Cayuses and Walla Wallas were dissatisfied with the treaties and the intrusion by whites into their lands before the treaties’ ratification, and war followed. Missionaries, former French-Canadian employees of the Hudson Bay Company trading post at Wallula, and soldiers at the military Fort Walla Walla were the primary European occupants of the area prior to 1859, when the treaties were finally ratified, and the land was opened for settlement. The transfer of ownership occurred by virtue of a treaty signed on June 9, 1855 in Walla Walla and ratified on March 8, 1859 by President James Buchanan, in which all of the land in the Walla Walla area was acquired from the Cayuse and Walla Walla Indian tribes.

The town of Walla Walla was originally laid out by County Surveyor Hamet Hubbard Case in 1859, prior to its formal incorporation as a city in 1862, as a one-quarter mile square with its eastern side centered on the point where Main Street crossed Mill Creek (at roughly the point where it does now). The original plat was lost, probably in the fire of 1865. Thus, the earliest plat on file is one made by W. W. Johnson, City Surveyor, in July 1865 that claims to have made corrections to Case’s survey. Johnson’s survey was made the official plat of the City of Walla Walla on September 25, 1866, was filed and recorded July 5, 1867.

This property is a part of a U. S. Patent to Artimas Dodge for 160 acres as a cash sale issued at the Vancouver, WA Land Office on April 1, 1865. Artimas and his wife Fannie were born in Maine and arrived in Walla Walla I in 1860 with their three children. By 1870, they had moved to Lebanon in Linn County, Oregon with their seven children.

The first legal transaction recorded in the office of the Walla Walla County Auditor on this property was a sale from William Matzger to Eugene Lennon on May 21, 1881. Matzger, born in Prussia, was listed in the 1881 City Directory as Postmaster of Dayton, W.T. Lennon was born in Ireland in 1850 and had lived in Walla Walla since 1880. He listed his occupation as a brick mason in the U. S. Census. Neither party to this deed is present in the Walla Walla Auditor’s Direct or Reverse Index and the stated deed number is incorrect. However, Eugene Lennon testified to its accuracy under oath on May 24, 1922. In that same testimony he stated he had been single when he purchased this property in 1881 but married Fannie C. Dixon in 1886. There were several transactions regarding this property between Lennon, W. W. Baker and the Walla Walla Water Company regarding easements and water rights. Lennon seemed to have used this property as a bank account, borrowing and repaying money of varying amounts frequently. These mortgages provide more information about this property than the deeds. Lennon’s first recorded mortgage was on August 2, 1881 for $1500 to John H. Stahl and Joseph McDonald, satisfied in full on October 4, 1881. This document also stated that Lennon’s property included 22.5 acres excepting the 1.93 acres sold to H. P. Isaacs plus a brick kiln and bricks. In 1905, Boyer Avenue did not extend beyond the city limit at Division Street. At that time Division had not been built between Alder and Boyer because there was no bridge across Mill Creek there. On June 4, 1907, Lennon had this area platted as Lennon’s and Wildwood Addition to the City of Walla Walla, filed the same date.

The plat map of 1907 refers to it as Lennon’s and Wildwood Addition, including lots on the north and south sides of Boyer Avenue, continuing south beyond Francis Avenue. North Bellevue Avenue did not connect with Boyer Avenue as it does now. When Bellevue was extended south to Boyer Avenue Lots 1 and 2 of Block 2 were vacated for the street; thus Lots 4 and 5 now make up the northeast corner of Block 2. Curiously, the 1909 Atlas of Walla Walla County, two years after the platting of Lennon’s and Wildwood Addition, refers to the property on both sides of Boyer Avenue as Lennon’s Addition and the lots on the south side of Francis Avenue and continuing south as Lennon’s Wildwood Addition. Clover Street between Boyer and Francis Avenues on both the plat map and the 1909 atlas was renamed South Bellevue Avenue, probably when North Bellevue Avenue was connected to Boyer Avenue.

4/1/1865, Patent, Bureau of Land Management, Vancouver, W.T. to Artimas Dodge for 160 acres in Section 21, Township 7 North of Willamette Meridian, Range 36 East.

4/18/1876, Warranty Deed, William and Abigail Matzger, grantors; Asa Fall, grantee, 34 and 54/100ths acres in 21-7N-36E, $3,000.

2/1/1878, Deed, Asa Fall, grantor: Henry P. Isaacs, grantee, 34 and 54/100ths acres in 21-7N-36E, $2,720.40. Henry Isaacs was influential in the development of Walla Walla as a wheat growing area. W. D. Lyman in his 1918 History of Old Walla Walla County states that Isaacs “demonstrated to the farmers that wheat could be produced profitably on the hills and uplands which in those early days had been given over to stock-raising.” He built numerous flour mills throughout the Northwest. According to Lyman, Isaacs’ “knowledge of the manufacture and handling of flour became proverbial, and he was recognized as an authority on all matters pertaining thereto.” He found markets for wheat in the Orient, especially China.

8/2/1881, Deed, William Matzger, grantor; Eugene Lennon, grantee, “22½ acres more or less, along with hereditaments and appurtenances excluding [water] rights given to H. P. Isaacs on 7/3/1863.”

9/22/1881, Lease, H. P. and Lucie Isaacs, lessors; J. C. Isaacs, lessee, “to conduct away subterranean waters for…supplying the City of Walla Walla and the inhabitants thereof with water…,” $10,000.

5/8/1884, Warranty Deed Against Grantor, H. P. and Lucie Isaacs, grantors; Eugene Lennon, grantee, “The following described parcel of real estate situated, lying, and being in Walla Walla County, Washington Territory to wit: Commencing at a point on the North line of the South West quarter of Section 21 in Township 7 North of Range 36 East of the Willamette Meridian 245 and 19/100ths feet West of the center of said Section 21, thence West on the North line of the South West quarter of Section 21 813 feet, thence Southerly to the South line of the piece of land deeded by Asa Fall and wife to H. P. Isaacs February 1, 1878 and recorded on page 306 in Book “P” of Deeds in the County Auditor’s Office of Walla Walla County, W.T., thence East 813 feet to the South East corner of said land deeded by Asa Fall and wife to H. P. Isaacs as afore said being a point 245 and 19/100ths feet West and 80 and 19/100ths feet South of the center of Section 21, thence North to the place of beginning, containing 1 and 5/10ths acres more or less,” $200.

9/11/1886, Right of Way Deed, H. P. and J. C. Isaacs, grantors; The Walla Walla Water Company, a corporation, “to conduct all surface or subterranean water, to dig, excavate and maintain ditches or conduits…to maintain a reservoir and the building to enclose same,” $1 and other valuable considerations.

3/21/1893, Right of Way Deed, E. M. and Cornelia Aeils and John G. and Josie P. Muntinga, grantors; Eugene Lennon, grantee, “to construct, maintain and repair a water ditch 7 feet wide,” $100. Aeils and Muntinga were in business together operating a grocery store at 302-308 West Main Street.

7/17/1895, Indenture, Eugene and Fannie C. Lennon, grantors; W. W. Baker, grantee, 22½ plus 1½ acres in 21- 7N-36E, $4,000. William W. “Walla Walla Willie” Baker was a son of Dorsey Singh Baker.

11/16/1895, Quit Claim Deed, W. W. and Mary E. Baker, grantors; The Walla Walla Water Company, a corporation, specified land bordering on property of H. P. Isaacs and E. M. Haney, including “all water rights conveyed by W. W. Baker to Eugene Lennon,” $4,000.

12/2/1899, Warranty Deed Against Grantor, The Walla Walla Water Company, a corporation, grantor; The City of Walla Walla, a Municipal Corporation, grantee, 80 acres plus 34 and 53/100ths acres in 21-7N-36E plus numerous other properties in other locations, $60,000.

7/12/1900, Lease, Eugene Lennon, grantor; G. S. Young, grantee, a 5-year lease on “15 acres more or less about one mile East of Main Street bridge…until the apple crop of 1905 is harvested,” $600 for 1901, $500 for 1902 and 03, $400 for 1904 and $250 for 1905. No more specificity is given to the location of the property.

4/15/1910, Indenture, Eugene and Fannie C. Lennon, grantors; Florence McDonald and Grace Halvor, grantees, Lots 3 and 4, Block 2, $1,600. This transaction is the first sale of Lot 4 separate from other lots except for Lot 3 that was removed when North Bellevue Avenue was extended south to Boyer Avenue. Florence McDonald was married to Mordo McDonald, proprietor of McDonald’s Feed, Stable, Dealer in Draft and Carriage Horses. The McDonald’s lived at 429 Lincoln. Grace Halvor was a nurse, listed as residing in Die Brucke Building.

11/17/1911, Indenture, Eugene and Fannie C. Lennon, grantors; Simon Wertheimer and Harry C. Temple, grantees, Lot 5, Block 2, $575. This transaction is the first sale of Lot 5 alone. Wertheimer was manager of Western Union Telegraph Company with residence at 116 West Poplar Street. Harry Temple was listed as a clerk with Oregon Rail & Navigation Company.

9/17/1926, Quit Claim Deed, Eugene and Fannie C. Lennon, grantors; A. Florence McDonald, Grace Halvor, said Grace Halvor being a spinster, grantees, Lots 3 and 4, Block 2, $1. By 1926 Grace Halvor was operating baths in the Drumheller Building, where she also lived.

9/17/1926, Warranty Deed, Grace Halvor, a spinster, and A. Florence McDonald, grantors; John and Theresa Hoffman, grantors, Lot 4, $1,200. (Hoffmann is the correct spelling, but it appears on all deeds with just one N. The Hoffmanns will be discussed below.)

9/17/1926, Deed, Simon Wietheimer and Harry C. Temple, grantors; John Hoffman, grantee, Lot 5, Block 2, $10 and other valuable considerations.

3/18/1942, Executor’s Deed, Edward Hoffman, Valentine Hoffman and C. A. Shafer, executors of the Last Will of Theresa Hoffman, deceased, grantors; Philip I. and Edith B. Welk, grantees, Lots 4 and 5, Block 2, $10,000. Mr. Welk was listed in the city directory as general manager of Preston-Shaffer Milling Company.

7/31/1957, Warranty Deed, Philip I. And Edith B. Welk, grantors; C. G. and B. Arlene Horton, Lots 4 and 5, Block 2, $10. Mr. Horton was Walla Walla division manager of Waddell & Reed, Inc., headquartered in Seattle.

3/21/1960, Statutory Warranty Deed, C. G. and B. Arlene Horton, grantors; Seymour B. and Delia E. Williams, Lots 4 and 5, Block 2, $10. Seymour Williams was a licensed livestock auctioneer.

10/17/1966, Statutory Warranty Deed, Seymour B. and Delia E. Williams, grantors; George M. and Montana E. Edgar, grantees, Lots 4 and 5, Block 2, “subject to a mortgage made by C. G. and B. Arlene Horton to First Federal Savings & Loan Association of Walla Walla on 7/31/1957.” George Edgar was a partner in Herefore & Hansen, CPA, with a suite of rooms in the Jones Building.

7/9/1968, Statutory Warranty Deed, George M. and Montana E. Edgar, grantors; Francis C. and Helen Holden Mills, grantees, Lots 4 and 5, Block 2, $10, subject to the same mortgage described in transaction of 10/17/1966. Mr. Mills was a salesman for Pacific Power & Light.

7/20/1982, Statutory Warranty Deed, Francis C. Mills, a widower, grantor; George D. and Louise K. DeMers, grantees, Lots 4 and 5, Block 2, $10 and other valuable considerations, “subject to existing easements, reservations and servitudes.” The correct spelling of the grantees’ name is DeMaris. “Bud” DeMaris was employed by Bankers Life & Casualty Company.

11/20/1985, Statutory Warranty Deed, George D. and Louise K. DeMers, grantors; Graeme P. and Betty S. N. Auton, grantees, Lots 4 and 5, Block 2, $10 and other valuable considerations. Mr. Auton was a professor of political science at Whitman College.

12/11/1987, Statutory Warranty Deed, Graeme P. and Betty S. N. Auton, grantors; Norm and Ann Robison Passmore, grantees, Lots 4 and 5, Block 2, for assumption of the debt only subject to the Deed of Trust of 11/12/1985 in favor of Frontier Federal Savings & Loan Association. Dr. Passmore was a physician.

6/15/1999, Statutory Warranty Deed, Norm and Ann Robison Passmore, grantors; Mark D. and Shannon Johnson, Lots 4 and 5, Block 2, subject to reservations, restrictions and covenants of record. Mark Johnson was the owner of Ford of Walla Walla.

4/14/2000, Statutory Warranty Deed, Mark D. and Shannon Johnson, grantors; Ormond G. and Christine Marie Hilderbrand, grantees.

Construction of Building

On 10/15/1926, John Hoffmann obtained Building Permit 4710 from the City of Walla Walla to construct a house and garage at 1003 Boyer Avenue (the address was initially listed as 1001 Boyer Avenue). The house was estimated to cost $19,800 and Hoffmann paid $50 for the permit. O. D. Keen’s name was included as contractor. Construction was not completed until 1928.

John Hoffmann was a prominent farmer of many years in Walla Walla. Born in Germany in 1852, he was sent to the United States by his father at age 16 in order to avoid conscription into Bismarck’s army. Remaining in New York for a few years, he headed west, arriving in Walla Walla in 1878. Beginning as a farm hand, eventually he was able to acquire 8,000 acres of wheat-growing land. There being no railroads at the time, Mr. Hoffmann began hauling freight from Wallula to Spokane. Working from 3AM until dark, he threshed his first wheat crop at Eureka Flats in 1880, hauling it to Prescott. Hoffmann continued adding acreage and in time owned 12,000 acres. John Hoffmann married Theresa Kirchner, ten years his junior, in Walla Walla in 1891. Born in Minnesota, she had come to the Walla Walla valley with her parents at age four. The Hoffmanns had ten children!  They lived on their farm until 1893 when he retired from direct management and they moved to Walla Walla. In the 1890s they lived at 635 Chestnut Street, and the year before moving into their new home on Boyer they resided at 621 South 1^st.

John Hoffmann was well into his seventies when he and Mrs. Hoffmann hired prominent Walla Walla architect Henry Osterman to design their grand home. The choice of Osterman was a natural one as both he and Hoffmann were German by birth. The grand size of the home is puzzling, as it is doubtful that there were more than two of the children still residing with their parents. What emerged from Osterman’s drafting board is a stunning architectural achievement, enhanced through the eye-catching diamond pattern brickwork applied by Walla Walla’s superior masonry contractor, the Scotsman Alexander Taylor, whose first commission in Walla Walla was the stonework for the home of Dr. James Cropp at 403 East Rose Street in 1899.

Mr. Hoffmann was only able to enjoy the fruits of his labor for some nine years after the house was completed. He died in September 1937. Mrs. Hoffmann remained in the home until her death in January 1940. Both are buried in Mountain View Cemetery.

Stylistically, the house is eclectic Tudor with an asymmetrical façade. It features a primary side gable roof with a projecting cross gable that adjoins the massive chimney and is flush with the projecting portion of the façade. The main entrance to the house is enclosed in an overlapping and steeply-pitched gable, the upper portion of which features stucco work with randomly projecting bricks. Windows are multi-pane, many, though not all, tall and narrow, some with shutters. To the right of the entrance porch is a large vertical window that provides an abundance of light to the landing of the interior staircase. To the right of this window the roof of the main gable is raised, providing an “eyebrow” over the two windows directly below. At the third level of the main gable on the left in the photo can be seen faux half timbering.

The John and Theresa Hoffman house surely is one of Walla Walla’s architectural gems.

References

• TitleOne Title & Escrow (formerly Pioneer Title) Whitman Archives
• Walla Walla City Directories, various years
• Walla Walla County Auditor direct and reverse indexes to deeds
• Standard Atlas of Walla Walla County Washington, George A. Ogle & Company, Chicago, 1909 City of Walla Walla plat maps
• Andres, Penny, Walla Walla: Her Historic Homes, Vol. 2, 1993
• Lyman, William D., Lyman’s History of Old Walla Walla County, Vol. 2, S. J. Clarke, Chicago, 1918 Taylor, Roger B., The Building Legacy of Alexander Taylor in the Pacific Northwest, 1899 – 1944, 2020