Gilman Town Hall Museum
Building History and Physical Description

From the 1998 "Issaquah Historic Property Inventory"

History

This building is located on Andrews Street which was originally called "Main Street", a prominent location. According to Issaquah Historical Society research, building construction began in late 1888 as public hall for hire and was used for this purpose immediately --- even before the roof was completed. A wedding celebration took place in January 1889, and over the next 10 years many public and private activities took place there. 

In 1891 David & Dinah Davis bought the building from Ingebright Wold, an original homesteader. In late 1894, the Episcopal Mission Services were held on Sunday morning. J.A. Boynton Cox, a young layman from Seattle came each Saturday, spent the night, and preached the next day's service. 

On April 4, 1898, the town of Gilman (now Issaquah) bought the building from David and Dinah Davis (for $225) to use as a town hall. The City used the main front room as Council Chambers and the smaller back portion for storage. 

In 1911 the Issaquah Volunteer Firemen moved their hose cart and equipment to Town Hall. The northwest part of the building was given over to them, and a fire tower with a bell was constructed on the back of the building. Around this same time, a corral for "errant animals" was built. 

lssaquah's second jail, built in 1914, is a very solid, two cell jail (still standing). The jail is built of 8" thick concrete walls and a 12" thick floor, all reinforced with 1" steel rods. 

In 1918 the library moved out of Gus Enos' Barbershop into the Town Hall. Property ownership map from around 1934 shows Paul Blaich as the owner of the site. The library was there until the mid-I950's when Issaquah acquired a library building. 

King County Assessor's Office records show purchases of the site in 1951 (for $6,300); in 1962 (for $9,950); and 1966 (for $12,000). 

In 1972, the city re-purchased the building for the headquarters for the Issaquah Historical Society. Members have been restoring the interior. A false front with double doors and windows have been added to the main facade. Assessor Office photographs dating to 1940 do not show a false front.

Issaquah Press Photo

This photo was taken in 1983 before the building was restored by the Issaquah Historical Society.  It's appearance here is as a private home, as it had been for many years before it was re-purchased by the city.

Description of Physical Appearance

This building is a 1½ story wood frame structure that has seen a variety of uses over time. In the past decades its front façade has been renovated from a medium front gable to a tiered western false front; the asphalt shingled gable remains behind. 

The false front is stepped up above the stained glass transom and pair of centered wood front entry doors. The renovation included new 6-over-6 double hung windows on the front elevation. The newer front is sided with wood bevel siding. Ten triangular scroll brackets decorate the cornice line. The other façades generally retain the alterations that have happened over time. The side elevations have 1-over-I double hung windows. 

Inside the building has been remodeled to retain some historic qualities; its current use is as the historic town hall museum. 

Behind the main building is the old jail: a solid 2 cell structure built of 8" thick concrete walls and a 12" floor, all reinforced with rebar. The heavy jail door is made of 2x6's on edge, bound together with metal and mounted on hand-forged strap hinges. A massive iron bar weighing over 8O# locks the jail door.  Assessor Office photographs dating to 1940 do not show a false front.

Major Bibliographic References

Issaquah Historical Society research.  King County Tax Assessor records.

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