In 1898 Charles Wilke built a comfortable, modest 4-bedroom home for his family at 1920 2nd Ave. North (at the corner of Newton) which was out in the country at the time.

Wilke was a framing carpenter and put a large sign on the roof of his barn "Chas. Wilke, Carpenter and Builder." As land values rose Wilke cut his orchard to the south of his house, and built more houses which he sold. He also built a number of houses in the eastern and central neighborhoods of Queen Anne. The barn also housed chickens, horses, and possibly a pig.

After Wilke's death, his widow Minnie remained in the home along with three of their children. Two of the three children lived in the home until 1969. The property was sold in 1970, and the purchaser, John Counter, had the house designated a historic landmark on the National and State registers. The barn was in deteriorating condition and was subsequently razed. A house now sits on the lot behind the original farm house.

(from about 1974 showing barn to the east of the farm house)(photo courtesy of DAHP, State of WA)

(Sources: Queen Anne: Community on the Hill; WR application document)