Bonney-Watson Capitol Hill

Bonney-Watson Funeral Home, located at 1732 Broadway on Seattle's Capitol Hill, stands as a testament to the enduring legacy of the city's oldest mortuary company. Established in the 19th century, Bonney-Watson has served generations of Seattle families with dignity and compassion. The Capitol Hill location, built in 1961-1962, represents the company's seventh home and its longest-standing facility, having replaced a custom-built structure at the south end of the same block that served from 1912 until 1962. The building was designed by the esteemed Seattle architecture firm Bain & Overturf and constructed by E.F. Shuck Construction Company. Its modern style features a distinctive marblecrete exterior (a stucco embedded with marble chips), a wrap-around driveway with a covered portico supported by concrete block columns, and a nearly windowless facade that emphasizes privacy and solemnity. The interior includes a main chapel with exposed beams and an original wood-and-metal screen, family rooms, offices, a casket display area, and a lower level housing preparation rooms, a garage, and a crematorium. The property occupies a 14,080-square-foot parcel at the southeast corner of Broadway and East Howell Street, adjacent to Cal Anderson Park and Seattle Central College. The site slopes significantly, providing a daylight basement accessible from Nagle Place. The building has undergone minimal exterior alterations, mainly a metal fence and painted finishes, while interior updates have occurred in the 1980s and again in the past decade. As a landmark nomination filed in 2017 notes, the funeral home is historically significant for its association with Bonney-Watson, the first mortuary in Seattle, and for its intact mid-century modern architecture. The building continues to serve as a funeral home and crematorium, offering comprehensive end-of-life services including traditional funerals, cremations, memorials, and pre-planning. Its location in the vibrant Capitol Hill urban center, with easy access to downtown and nearby institutions, reflects the company's commitment to serving the community with professionalism and care. The property is under consideration for landmark status, recognizing its architectural and historical importance to the city.