Friedline Apartments

Constructed in 1902, this unique building with a single turret was designed by Boise native Ross Cartee and featured eight two-story apartments. The building was named after the local dentist, real estate investor, and mining company owner Dr. Abraham Friedline. The Friedline family never lived or worked in the apartment building, but rather constructed this as an investment property. Now branded as State Street Apartments, the renovated building is overseen by Parklane Management and features six units with balconies, front and back patios, exposed brick walls, and wood floors. Listed in the National Register in 1982, it is a rare surviving example of commercial Queen Anne-style architecture in Boise.

Dr. Abraham Friedline (1848-1914) was born in Pennsylvania in 1848 and was of Dutch ancestry. He first worked as a farmer, like his father, but later studied dentistry. Abraham enlisted in the Union Army during the Civil War when he was just fifteen. He married Sarah Smith of Nebraska in 1869; the couple had two daughters and two sons. He began practicing dentistry in Nevada in 1876; he later moved to California before relocating to Moscow, Idaho. He settled in Boise in 1897 where he partnered with a son, George P., as Friedline & Friedline; the business also was known as Denver Dental Partners. In 1904, Abraham lived at 513 N. 14th St. in Boise; the home was described in a 1904 book on prominent men of Idaho as an "elegant home". This house was behind and across 14th St. from the new apartment building that bore his name: Friedline Terrace. The dental office was located at 723 -1/2 W. Main St. An attendant at the dental office, Abram G. Friedline, boarded with Abraham (his father). George P. lived elsewhere in town, at 1501 N. 12th St., in 1904.

None of the three men lived in the flats at Friedline Terrace in 1911, although each worked at Denver Dental Parlors. Abraham lived a block away from the dental offices, at 819-1/2 W. Main St. George P. resided at 1215 N. 12th St., and Abraham G. lived near his brother at 1219 N. 12th. The 1902 apartment building was likely an investment and was not meant to become a family residence. Dr. Abraham Friedline also was an investor in mining and real estate; he was head of the X-Ray Mining, Tunneling, and Development Co., Limited, with stock holdings in 1904 of a million dollars. He also owned seven mining claims in the Black Hornet district of Ada County. Abraham was a member of the local chapter of the Grand Army of the Republic, a club for Union veterans of the Civil War (GAR Hall in Boise is also a Clio entry). He passed away in 1914.

The Queen Anne style Friedline Apartments building measures 150 feet along State St. and 50 feet along N. 14th St. A 1904 book described the apartments as each having seven rooms, "all well finished and supplied with all modern conveniences." The apartments are separated by eight-inch fire walls. The street addresses, as listed in a 1911 city directory for Friedline Terrace, were 1312 to 1316 W. State St. The building was still known as Friedline Terrace in a 1927 city directory.

The dental practice, with three Friedline men, was located in Suite 262 of the Sonna Building in 1927. George P. still lived at 1215 N. 12th St. with his wife Emma L. Abraham G. (Sr.) and his wife Apal (sometimes spelled Opal) resided at 919 N. 22nd. Abraham G. Jr. had joined his father in the dental business; he and his wife Helen lived at 100 Warm Springs Ave. By 1936, Abraham G. (Jr.) had died, and his widow, Helen, lived at 715 Pueblo. Dentists Abraham G. (Sr.) and George P. continued to live and work at the same addresses as in 1927.

The apartment building has been revamped into six rental units and renovated while keeping some of the historic touches, like original hardwood floors. Screened patios and balconies have been added to the rear of the building. Now known as State Street Apartments, a recent listing for rental of a two-bedroom, one-bath unit mentioned that the apartment contained 870 square feet and exposed brick walls.

Apartments.com. 1326 W. State St. Unit 101, Boise, ID 83702, Apartments.com. January 1st, 2023. Accessed February 1st, 2023. https://www.apartments.com/1326-w-state-st-boise-id/c523lcd/.

A. W. Bowen & Co. Progressive men of southern Idaho. Chicago, IL. A. W. Bowen & Co., 1904.

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R.L. Polk & Co. R.L. Polk & Co.'s Boise City and Ada County Directory, 1911. Edition 7th. Boise, ID. R.L. Polk & Company, 1910.

R.L. Polk & Co. R.L. Polk & Co.'s Boise City and Ada County Directory, 1927. Edition 16th. Boise, ID. R.L. Polk & Company, 1926.

R.L. Polk & Co. Polk & Co.'s Boise City (Ada County, Idaho) Directory 1936-1937, including Ada County. Salt Lake City, UT. R.L. Polk & Company, 1937.

R.L. Polk & Co. Polk's Boise City Directory 1950. Salt Lake City, UT. R.L. Polk & Company, 1950.