The Council of Independent Colleges: Historic Campus Architecture Project

Houk House

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Houk House (three-quarter view), Sheldon Jackson College

Houk House (side view), Sheldon Jackson College

Institution Name: Sheldon Jackson College
Original/Historic Place Name: Houk House
Location on Campus: 801 Lincoln St.
Date(s) of Construction:

1918	original construction Brown, M. A.
1930	addition

Designer: M. A. Brown
Type of Place: Individual building
Style: Colonial revival, Other (Glossary)
Significance: architecture, engineering, history
Narrative: see below
References: see below

Materials:

Foundation: concrete, wood

Walls: wood, slate, and plaster

Roof: shingle, shake

Function:

ca. 1918	other (girls practice house)
ca. 1930	other (all domestic sciences)
ca. 2004-present (2006)	other (guest house)

Narrative:
The original building on this site was constructed in 1918. Unfortunately, the cottage burned in 1926. By October of 1928, a similar building was constructed on the same site by carpentry staff and students. The cottage was named after Cora Mae Houk, who spent several years on campus training girls to be young women.

The Houk House was originally used as the older girls' practice house. In 1930, a one story addition was constructed so all could be housed under one roof. During this time, girls were formally trained to present themselves as young ladies. The training was then considered an art, and SJ girls learned to prepare meals, act as hostess, how to sit properly, and walk gracefully--a living reminder of how western values were taught to Alaska Natives.

The cottage is an adaptation of Dutch colonial design and received National Historical Landmark Status on Aug, 7th, 2001.

References:

Crittendon, Edwin B. Survey [Sheldon Jackson College]. [CCC Architects and Planners, Anchorage, AK], 1987-1995.

Clemens, Janet, Chris Allan, Linda Cook, Heidi Siegel, and Amanda Zeman. Sheldon Jackson School. National Register of Historic Places designation report. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of the Interior/National Park Service, 1972.