Seattle architect Hubert Emerson Stewart was born in Salmon City, Idaho on October 4, 1914. The eldest of three children, his dad Sidney was a forester by trade. Upon graduation from high school in Burley, Idaho, Stewart enrolled at the University of Idaho and attended there for a couple of years. While city directories show Stewart as a student living in Seattle in 1935, by the next year he had moved to Salt Lake City, Utah, where he worked as a draftsman for the architectural firm of Ashton & Evans (1938-41). After a short stint working as a heavy construction inspector for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (1941-42), he returned to Seattle and finished up his bachelor’s degree in architecture at the University of Washington (1942). Upon graduation he moved back to Salt Lake and worked as an architect, most likely at a firm and not independently. However, by 1946 he was back in Seattle again, this time working as a draftsman and designer for architect Henry Bittman.

In 1950, Stewart formed a partnership with fellow University of Washington graduate Arthur E. Edwards, Jr. They practiced under the name Stewart & Edwards until 1954, when Stewart opened his own independent firm.

Among his notable projects are the Queen Anne Christian Church (1958); Seatoma Nursing Home (1959); and several speculative homes for a variety of builders including John Philbrook for homes he was building in the Brookwood Development (1960), and for builder Les W. Lane for homes he was building in the Trails End development in Bellevue (1961).

Stewart also designed 24 basic home models for builders Max and Rex Gill and their firm Cascade Homes Inc. By 1961, Cascade Homes had built over 750 homes (utilizing Stewart’s designs) which were scattered across Puget Sound including within the communities of Seattle, Kirkland, Kent and Tacoma. Reportedly Stewart continued his practice in Seattle for nearly 40 years, eventually specializing in the remodeling of older buildings.

During this time, he was active in the Capitol Hill Chapter of the Lion’s Club, serving in many capacities including a term as president. In 1992, Stewart and his wife, Fern, moved to Utah to be close to family. Still active, while in his 80s he supervised the remodeling of the clubhouse and pool at Three Fountains development where they lived. At the time of his death, he was serving as chair of the building and grounds committee.

Stewart passed away in Salt Lake City on November 29, 2001, at the age of 87.

– Michael C Houser