The Tollefsen House is an excellent example of a one-and-a-half-story Craftsman-style bungalow and is eligible for listing on the Spokane Register of Historic Places under Category C for its high artistic values. The house reflects a thoughtful blend of Craftsman (or Arts and Crafts) and Tudor Revival influences—a combination that was not uncommon in early 20th-century Spokane. However, the Tollefsen House distinguishes itself through its distinctive design motifs and detailing, setting it apart from other residences that merge these two styles. While it does not fully embody every characteristic of either the Craftsman bungalow or the Tudor Revival style, the unique manner in which it integrates select elements from both results in a composition of exceptional character.

Features characteristic of the Arts and Crafts tradition include the extensive use of natural materials—stone, brick, and stucco—as well as the evident craftsmanship in the deep eaves and exposed rafters that define the home’s strong gable forms. Tudor Revival influences are expressed through the false half-timbering and textured stucco surfaces, with the pargeted stucco finish on the upper level being a particularly distinctive and uncommon feature.

The Tollefsen House holds architectural significance and is already recognized as a contributing property within the Marycliff/Cliff Park National Register Historic District. Its eligibility for individual listing on the Spokane Register is based on its high artistic values, evident in the side-gabled form with prominent front and rear gables, decorative false half-timbering that enhances the façade, and the richly textured natural materials used throughout—especially the unique pargeted stucco of the upper story.

The home was constructed by contractor James L. Morrison, who lived there in 1910 and early 1911. Morrison’s wife, Mary, was the sister of T.H. Tollefsen, for whom the house was built.

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