If you have spent much time driving around the Eastside area in King County, Washington, you probably have noticed some attractive Mid Century Modern houses, especially in Lake Hills in Bellevue. Many of these homes are the work of builder George Bell.
Despite how many people admire the Mid Century Modern legacy of George Bell, the man himself has been woefully overlooked. Let’s learn more about Bell and his contribution to Mid Century Modern Washington.
Who Was George Bell?
George Everett Bell was a prolific builder during the 1940s through the 1960s. He was born on March 26, 1917 in Idaho. During World War II, he worked as a civilian contractor in Hawaii, after which he moved to Seattle, Washington, where he would live out the majority of his life.
He launched his business with a $2,000 loan, which was enough for him to buy a bulldozer. He then went on to start building homes, targeting the market of veteran homebuyers coming back to Seattle from the war.
Originally, Bell built and sold the homes on his own. Later, he did so with partners. One of his principle partners was Ted Valdez; Bell and Valdez’s names are often seen together during, as they operated a business together called the Bell-Valdez firm. He also partnered with developer R. H. “Dick” Connor, who purchased 1,200 acres of land in Lake Hills.
During the course of their careers, Bell and Valdez constructed an impressive 15,000 homes in the Eastside area. The majority of these houses took the forms of split levels or ramblers. 4,000 of those homes were located in Lake Hills. An advertisement for the Lake Hills homes described the opportunity for “getting away from it all just 20 minutes from downtown Seattle.”
Affordable Housing, Especially for WWII Veterans
One of the highlights of Bell’s homes was how affordable they were. Costs in the 1960s for Bell houses ranged from $12,000 to $16,000. One could purchase a home with just $200 down, and pay as little as $75.29 a month on one’s mortgage. Homebuyers who were willing to paint the interior walls of the house themselves were able to get out of making a down payment.
As a point of interest, $12,000 in 1960 is equivalent to around $125,202 today. The $200 down payment would be equivalent to around $2,086 in today’s dollars. The monthly mortgage amount of $75.29 would be equivalent to around $785 in today’s dollars. So, the homes were not dirt cheap, but they were very reasonably priced, particularly for their quality level. Many homebuyers qualified for the GI Bill to help them with their purchase.
George Bell’s MCM Ranch Homes are Now Timeless Classics
Living in one of George Bell’s beautiful mid century homes feels as much like “getting away from it all” today as it would have back in the mid-20th century.
At the time, the homes were sold complete with modern appliances for turn-key living. Some of them even featured fallout shelters, in case the Cold War were to become hot.
The photos in this post are all of a particular George Bell house located in Pleasure Point, a neighborhood in Bellevue. If you wish you could get a closer look at this beautiful Mid Century Modern home, now is your chance. Atomic Ranch will be hosting a Talk & Tour event on September 14, featuring an hour and a half-long tour of the house, followed by a live interview with homeowner Mike Holmes and renovator Rick Chesmore. Find out more about the George Bell House Talk & Tour Event, and how you can get tickets.
If you enjoyed this post, you may also like A Mid Mod Stunner in Washington State and Playful Preservation in a 1960 Washington Home. And of course, don’t forget to follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest and YouTube for more Atomic Ranch articles, house tours, and ideas!
