Port Townsend Historical Sites

Name: Francis W. James House
Year Built: 1889
Location: 1238 Washington Street
Area: Uptown Port Townsend

Francis Wilcox James, a businessman with a vision for Port Townsend, arrived in 1853. He held several jobs before opening his own mercantile business. He reportedly made his fortune during the Civil War by converting gold into unsecured green backs at 35 cents to the dollar. He reinvested those gains in U.S. bonds at a 15 percent discount.

James built this house in 1889. It gave him a clear view of Port Townsend and the shipping in the bay. His wife, Mary, died seven weeks after moving into the house. In 1909, he married his housekeeper. He was 77 and she was 24. The marriage ended in divorce, and James died in 1920.

The house originally cost $10,000 to build. It is a fine example of Queen Ann architecture. The complex roof and chimney forms were considered modern at the time it was built.

James built his home with the finest of woods and the finest of views from Levery window. The present owner, Carol McGough, adds her own vision to his. She has developed English gardens, and restored the original pump house windmill which used to pump water from a deep well to the house.

The James House is now the Northwest's oldest bed and breakfast inn.

Entry
The beautiful parquet floors are made of oak, walnut, and cherry. Wild cherry was brought in from Virginia around Cape Horn for the stairway bannisters, newel posts, and spindles. Carving was done in the house.

Music Parlor
Located to the right of the entry, there is a player piano and an Edison Victrola with a rare oak horn. Also note the rare Regina music box.

Formal Parlor
Located to the left, the settees are original. The portiers (heavy curtains dividing the rooms) are also original.

Dining Room
Contains an unusually large complete antique dining room set. An original document recording the James Addition in Seattle, recorded Dec. 17, 1887 hangs on the dining room wall. That piece of property is now known as Pioneer quare.

Second Floor
Bridal Suite
This was James' personal suite. Note the woodwork and the ceramic pieces on the fireplace. A sliding window opens to the balcony. The armoire was his.

Chintz Room
The tall door to the balcony is a recent addition. The dresser and bed came from the Conway family, who owned the famous Farm House Restaurant.

Tapestry Room
This room still has the original cherry furniture that James' daughters used.

Mary's Room
This was Mary James' dressing room. The bathroom used by Mary's Room guests has silver-plated fixtures.

Third Floor
Alcove Room
Note the golden oak and mahagony furniture and the brass bed.

Rainier Room
Oriental nesting tables, a mahagony sleigh bed, and sterling silver ceiling fixture and lamp grace this room.

Bay Room
Eastlake period oak furniture dominates this room. Note the burled wood incorporated into the dresser.

Olympic View Room
This room boasts a quartersawn oak dresser.