The Handschy/Kistler House

By Gene Luzala, QA Historical Society intern and PhD candidate

Each year the Queen Anne Historical Society honors five businesses and individuals for their notable contributions to preserving our neighborhood's rich history. The most recent recipient of the Outstanding Stewardship Award is Laurie Reed, who owns the Handschy/Kistler House at 2433 9th Ave. W.

The Handschy/Kistler House is a beautiful example of early 20th-century architecture, blending Frank Lloyd Wright’s Prairie School style with local materials and topography. The home’s design is notable for its long, horizontal form, which reflects the Prairie School style popularized by Frank Lloyd Wright and his apprentices. Andrew Willatsen and Barry Byrne, the architects of the Handschy/Kistler House, served as apprentices in Wright’s home and studio. They moved to Seattle following its dissolution.

The main entrance to the house, located off West Wheeler Street, allows the front yard to remain open, providing a visual buffer from 9th Avenue West and emphasizing the home’s horizontal profile. This design choice not only prioritizes the architectural aesthetics but also strengthens the connection between the home and its surrounding environment.

Built in 1909 for brewery executive Frederick Handschy, the house was acquired by Andrew Kistler, founder of the Greenwood Gallery in 1974. In 1981, the Handschy/Kistler House was designated a Seattle Landmark.

By awarding the Handschy/Kistler House the Outstanding Stewardship Award, the Queen Anne Historical Society recognized not only the historical and architectural significance of the property but also the continued efforts to preserve it. The house remains an integral part of the neighborhood’s identity.