“Stubborn pigheadedness.” It sounds like a funny concept. It is the base of how Hawthorne Hills came to be. Before the 1900s, Hawthorne Hills was an area with few settlers. It was outside Seattle’s city limits. Roads were lacking.
Let’s travel back to 1893. Dr. Hamilton Stillson, an eye doctor, settled in this remote area. He wanted to file a homestead claim, but he was rejected. The state had reserved the land for schools. But Dr. Stillson was undeterred. He took possession of 160 acres. It stretched from NE 55th to 65th Streets and from 45th to 55th Avenues NE. He established his home there. He began fending off intruders.
In 1897, the state land office held an auction to rent parts of the land. Herman Sommers won a bid. When Sommers tried to claim his land, Stillson threw out his belongings. Stillson even chopped them to pieces. The conflict continued until Stillson hired a lawyer. He got a court order against Sommers.
Stillson lived on the land without legal title. In 1905, the Washington House considered a bill. It would have awarded Stillson the land for $10 per acre. The Attorney General said the legislature lacked the authority. Stillson then sued the state of Washington. The court awarded him all 160 acres for $1,500. Reports suggested the land was worth much more.
The Seattle Times investigated the matter in 1907. The lawsuit, settlement, and judgment had all been filed in a single day. Stillson’s lawyer had been compensated with 25 acres of land. The newspaper accused Stillson’s lawyers of colluding with the state land commissioner.
Regardless of accusations, Stillson’s gamble paid off. Hawthorne Hills was annexed into Seattle in 1910. Dr. Stillson sold the northeast portion of the land. In 1918, Stillson contracted to sell the remaining land to the H. K. Dent Investment Company.
Dent sold the land to the Goodwin Company in 1928 for $200,000. It was the largest undeveloped tract in the city limits. Goodwin developed the exclusive Hawthorne Hills subdivision. Restrictive covenants prohibited cheap buildings. They also prohibited farm animals and nonwhite owners. Hawthorne Hills became known for its large houses and views.
Today, Hawthorne Hills remains a residential neighborhood. It is known for its quiet streets and expensive homes. The residents enjoy views of Lake Washington. They also see Downtown Seattle and the Cascade Mountains. So, remember Dr. Stillson. Think about his stubbornness. It shaped this Seattle neighborhood.