402 North Sheridan Ave (1901)

Ambrose Russell designed this unusual shingle-style house in 1901 for attorney Frederick H. Murray. Its extremely high-pitched roof and dormers, faced with art nouveau panels, are unique.

Architect Ambrose Russell designed this house for attorney Frederick H. Murray. Murray arrived in Tacoma in 1889 to work as an attorney for the Northern Pacific Railway. He and later started his own practice and eventually was the City Attorney for the City of Tacoma. His adopted son, Robert, was a noted opera singer discovered by the Metropolitan Opera. In 1920 Robert had his New York City début at age 12. Mr. Murray moved the family to New York to oversee his son’s career. Robert once performed for Enrico Caruso who encouraged his short career in NY opera.

The house was later repurposed as a sanitarium, a convalescent home, and even a restaurant (known as the "Modern Inn"). It is now apartments. The Murray House is on the National, State and Local Registers of Historic Places.

Architect Ambrose Russell was born in India, son of a Scottish missionary. By age 18 Russell decided to design buildings and enrolled at the University of Glasgow. He soon won a scholarship to attend the renowned École des Beaux-Arts in Paris where he became friends with classmate Bernard Maybeck. In 1884 Russell became one of famed architect H. H. Richardson’s last apprentices before his death. Before moving to Tacoma in 1892, Russell worked in several U. S. cities, including a brief partnership with Maybeck in Kansas City. He was associated with a number of architects and firms, including Albert Sutton, P. H. Heath, Spalding, and Babcock.

The Murray House was designed by Russell when he was with the architectural firm Spaulding, Russell & Heath. The firm is credited with designing several magnificent homes in the Tacoma North Slope Historic District, including the Rhodes Mansion at 701 N J St (also on this tour).

Firms associated with Architect Ambrose Russell

Spalding, Russell & Heath:

• 614 North J Street (1901)
• 701 North J Street (1901)
• 1102 North J Street (1901)
• 1202 North J Street (1901)
• 402 North Sheridan Street (1901)
• 414 North Sheridan Street (1901)

Ambrose J. Russell:

• 122 North 4th Street (1896)
• 823 North I Street (1895)
• 412 North M Street (1903)
• 423 North Sheridan Street (1895)

Russell & Heath:

• 702 North I Street (1902)
• 624 North L Street (1902)

Russell & Babcock:

• 1414 North 5th Street (1907)
• 609 North I Street (1907)
• 710 North I Street (1907)
• 901 North I Street (1906)
• 1001 North I Street (1905)
• 702 North J Street (1907)
• 901 North J Street (1908)
• 916 North K Street (1905)

A Walking Tour of the North Slope Historic District. Tacoma, WA. Historic Tacoma Press, 2008.