The Calvert House was built around 1909 by architect David Meyers, and stood at 415 S.E. Shoreland Drive in Bellevue. This was the first house built in this area of Bellevue.

The home was owned by William Calvert Sr. and he and his family used it as a summer home. Around this time, the shores on the eastside of Lake Washington were filled with summer beach homes that belonged to wealthy Seattle families.

William Calvert was the founder of the Pacific National Bank and established the San Juan Fishing and Packing Company. He owned a long stretch of the Lake Washington waterfront, from Enatai to Meydenbauer Bay. William’s son, Frank Calvert, was one of the founders of the Beaux Arts colony.

In 1916, when Lake Washington was lowered, the home moved 100 feet downhill. The home was used mainly as a summer home by the Calvert family until the 1960s. Above the homes fireplace, were the words “Here awa there awa haud awa hame” carved in wood. Loosely translated from Scottish, “Here awhile, there awhile, there’s no place like home.”

The Calvert House was torn down and in 2001 a new home was constructed on the site.

 

Heritage Corner is a feature in the Bellevue Reporter. To learn more about Bellevue and Eastside history contact the Eastside Heritage Center at 425-450-1049 or visit EastsideHeritageCenter.org.