Former Everett school on endangered list

EVERETT — Everett Public Schools’ historic Longfellow building has been named one of the “most endangered properties” in the state.

The Washington Trust for Historic Preservation released its annual list of those properties last week.

The Longfellow building, 3715 Oakes Ave., was designed by architect Wesley Hastings and built in 1911. It was used as a school and later as an administration building for the school district.

It’s strongest claim to fame, however, is to former U.S. Sen. Henry M. Jackson.

“That’s where Scoop went to school,” said David Dilgard, a historian with the Everett Public Library. “The family home is just a couple blocks away.”

The Washington Trust is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to draw attention to historic buildings and properties in the state that for one reason or another are threatened.

“It could range from imminent demolition to inappropriate maintenance,” said Chris Moore, the executive director of the trust.

In the case of the Longfellow building, the school district has tried without success to sell it to a group that will preserve the historic architecture. The district only received one proposal, which was deemed not viable.

The district’s original intent was to raze the building and build more parking on the site, which serves the adjacent Memorial Stadium and other athletic facilities.

The building now is mostly vacant, used for storage and occasional police and fire training exercises. The district estimates that it spends $78,000 per year keeping the electricity, heat and security system running.

The district has also estimated it would cost $7.8 million to bring Longfellow up to current code for a commercial building. The building and its 2.3-acre lot is worth somewhere between $1.1 million and $1.4 million, however.*

Dilgard said that while the Longfellow building is fairly typical for commercial architecture of that era, it’s a sturdy building that’s survived two major earthquakes. He still hopes that some creative solution to saving the building can be found.

For example, Queen Anne High School in Seattle was turned into a condominium complex, and Everett High School was restored and is now one of the best examples of Beaux-Arts architecture in the state, Dilgard said.

Moore said that the intent of the listing is to call attention to and garner support for local efforts to preserve endangered properties.

“All preservation is local,” Moore said.

“I think there is a heritage component as well that I think school districts need to consider in their decision-making,” he added

Other buildings on the endangered list this year include the Robert Morris Earthwork sculpture in SeaTac, the More Hall Annex (the “Nuclear Reactor Building”) at the University of Washington’s Seattle campus, the Masonic Home of Washington in Des Moines, St. Ignatius Hospital in Colfax and the Lincoln School in Port Townsend.

Chris Winters: 425-374-4165; cwinters@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @Chris_At_Herald.

Correction, May 19, 2015: Everett School District’s Longfellow building sits on a 2.3-acre site and is estimated to be worth between $1.1 million and $1.4 million. The acreage and value were incorrect in an earlier version of this story.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Trader Joe’s customers walk in and out of the store on Monday, Nov. 20, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
New Trader Joe’s opens this week at Everett Mall

It’s a short move from a longtime location, essentially across the street, where parking was often an adventure.

Ian Bramel-Allen enters a guilty plea to second-degree murder during a plea and sentencing hearing on Wednesday, March 6, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘Deep remorse’: Man gets 17 years for friend’s fatal stabbing in Edmonds

Ian Bramel-Allen, 44, pleaded guilty Wednesday to second-degree murder for killing Bret Northcutt last year at a WinCo.

Firefighters respond to a small RV and a motorhome fire on Tuesday afternoon in Marysville. (Provided by Snohomish County Fire Distrct 22)
1 injured after RV fire, explosion near Marysville

The cause of the fire in the 11600 block of 81st Avenue NE had not been determined, fire officials said.

Ashton Dedmon appears in court during his sentencing hearing on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Everett Navy sailor sentenced to 90 days for fatal hit and run

Ashton Dedmon crashed into Joshua Kollman and drove away. Dedmon, a petty officer on the USS Kidd, reported he had a panic attack.

A kindergarten student works on a computer at Emerson Elementary School on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘¡Una erupción!’: Dual language programs expanding to 10 local schools

A new bill aims to support 10 new programs each year statewide. In Snohomish County, most follow a 90-10 model of Spanish and English.

Logo for news use featuring the Tulalip Indian Reservation in Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
Woman drives off cliff, dies on Tulalip Reservation

The woman fell 70 to 80 feet after driving off Priest Point Drive NW on Sunday afternoon.

Everett
Boy, 4, survives fall from Everett fourth-story apartment window

The child was being treated at Seattle Children’s. The city has a limited supply of window stops for low-income residents.

People head out to the water at low tide during an unseasonably warm day on Saturday, March 16, 2024, at Lighthouse Park in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Everett shatters record high temperature by 11 degrees

On Saturday, it hit 73 degrees, breaking the previous record of 62 set in 2007.

Snohomish County Fire District #4 and Snohomish Regional Fire & Rescue respond to a motor vehicle collision for a car and pole. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene, near Triangle Bait & Tackle in Snohomish. (Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office)
Police: Troopers tried to stop driver before deadly crash in Snohomish

The man, 31, was driving at “a high rate of speed” when he crashed into a traffic light pole and died, investigators said.

Alan Dean, who is accused of the 1993 strangulation murder of 15-year-old Bothell girl Melissa Lee, appears in court during opening statements of his trial on Monday, March 18, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
31 years later, trial opens in Bothell teen’s brutal killing

In April 1993, Melissa Lee’s body was found below Edgewater Creek Bridge. It would take 27 years to arrest Alan Dean in her death.

Logo for news use featuring the municipality of Snohomish in Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
Man dies after crashing into pole in Snohomish

Just before 1 a.m., the driver crashed into a traffic light pole at the intersection of 2nd Street and Maple Avenue.

Bodies of two men recovered after falling into Eagle Falls near Index

Two men fell into the falls and did not resurface Saturday, authorities said. After a recovery effort, two bodies were found.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.