Stimson-Green Mansion

"Seattle's historic Stimson-Green Mansion was decked out for the holidays - the century-old chandeliers were gleaming, roaring lions flanked the blazing main fireplace and the wedding champagne was flowing.......

But a massive black and gold safe stuck into the staircase wall leading to the Turkish-themed smoking room drew Brian Toye, a guest at his sister-in-law's wedding, away from the post-vows merrymaking. The safe hadn't been opened, he was told, for about 20 years. The combination had been lost. The mystery intrigued him, he started to fiddle with the big tumbler in the middle of the solid metal door. For kicks, he asked a passing staff member for some information about the mansion, wondering if it could hold a clue.

Following his hunch, Toye spun through some numbers associated with the Mansion. Nothing. He flipped their order. Nope.

The heavy door swung open. 'There was nothing in there but a light bulb' Toye said. The safe, about 5 feet tall and 2 feet wide and deep, only held empty wooden shelves and drawers. No jewels, furs, deeds or other mementos. But is was still exciting!!"

Priscilla “Patsy” Bullitt Collins, granddaughter of the original owners of Stimson-Green Mansion, started the catering company by the same name in 1986. Over the years, she used a portion of the revenue to restore and maintain her family home. In the fall of 2001, Patsy gave the company and the Mansion itself to the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation. A more gracious hostess or generous donor simply can’t be imagined. Stimson-Green Mansion now serves as headquarters for the nonprofit Washington Trust. The organization continues to use a portion of catering company revenue to maintain the landmark home and to fund historic preservation throughout the state.

Photo Tour of the Mansion

The imposing brick and stucco half-timbered Tudor mansion at 1204 Minor Avenue celebrated one hundred years of existence in 2001 - and one hundred years of continuous use as well.

Designed by Spokane architect Kirtland K. Cutter, the 10,000-square-foot house was commissioned by lumberman and real estate developer Charles D. Stimson and his wife Harriet as their primary residence. The home was completed in 1901, and for the next 14 years the Stimsons and their extended family lived their lives in Cutter's rich mixture of Classical, Romanesque, Moorish, Gothic, and Renaissance style rooms.

When the Stimsons were ready to move their household north of town, C.D. Stimson traded his First Hill property for John and Abbie Frink's Fifth Avenue and Pike Street parcel - site of the Coliseum Theater to be, now the Banana Republic store.

The Frinks, due to ill health, never occupied the home, selling it instead to businessman and banker Joshua Green and his wife Laura, often called "Missy." Several generations of Greens made the mansion their home for 61 years.

Upon Joshua Green's death at the age of 105, the house was purchased, and rescued from demolition, by Historic Seattle in 1975. Working with Historic Seattle, the city's Landmarks Preservation Board guaranteed preservation of the mansion's exterior and significant interior spaces. The home was listed on both the state and national historic registers and designated a City of Seattle landmark.

The next decade saw several different owners, culminating in a purchase in 1986 by the Stimson's granddaughter, Priscilla (Patsy) Bullitt Collins. As mentioned above, she developed the catering company and undertook the considerable task of repairing and restoring her family's home to its original elegance. Fully restored and functioning as one of Seattle's favorite entertaining venues, Mrs. Collins donated Stimson-Green Mansion to the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation in September 2001. The Trust makes its headquarters at the Mansion and continues to operate it as both an historic home, which is open for twice-monthly public tours, and as a special event space.

Established in 1976, the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation is a statewide, non profit organization founded to safeguard Washington’s historic places through advocacy, education, stewardship and collaboration. The Washington Trust fulfills its mission through a range of programs reaching communities in every part of the state. It advocates for strong public policies and financial incentives to support historic preservation. It provides technical assistance and public information on preservation issues and opportunities through it's quarterly newsletter and other publications. The Trust works to be an effective problem-solver when local citizens need help on issues that threaten historic buildings. And, it plays a critical role in helping save landmarks by using tools such as its Most Endangered Historic Properties program and Valerie Sivinski Washington Preserves Fund to provide media attention, technical help, and a small amount of financial assistance to help insure that buildings are saved.

Thanks to the generous donation of the Stimson-Green Mansion by Patsy Bullitt Collins in 2001, the Washington Trust is proud owner and steward of one of the most significant residential landmarks in Seattle. In addition to serving as one of Seattle's premier wedding and special event venues, for the first time in more than two decades, the Trust is now providing regular public tours of the Stimson-Green Mansion in conjunction with its neighbor, Historic Seattle who owns the H.H.Dearborn House. If you would like to book an educational and enjoyable historic tour of these mansions, join the Washington Trust or find out more about the Trust's programs and services, please go to www.wa-trust.org

Historical tours of the Stimson-Green Mansion in conjunction with the neighboring Dearborn House are conducted by Historic Seattle. If you would like to book an educational and enjoyable historic tour of these Mansions, please contact (206) 622-6952 or visit their website http://www.historicseattle.org