Born November 5, 1902, in Seattle, architect Edwin Emmanuel Dofsen might best be known for his work with developer/builder Frederick Anhalt. However, his influence on Anhalt’s projects might be overstated. Additional research has shown his connection to Anhalt is dubious at best. Note that while several histories note that Dofsen was Anhalt’s lead draftsman, only one record can be found that ties the two directly together. Edwin’s father, Swedish immigrant John Dofsen, was Anhalt’s primary gardener, and Anhalt may have hired the young Edwin to help his lead designer, Bjarne Moe, complete plans for several apartment complexes during a short period in the late 1920s. While a December 11, 1927, Seattle Times newspaper article notes that Dofsen drew plans for a two-story apartment at 1405 E John Street in Seattle for Anhalt, Dofsen had just taken his first architectural job a year earlier, and without any formal architectural training. It is unlikely he designed Anhalt’s complex apartment building on his own, rather he likely just helped put the design on paper. Note that Dofsen never acquired his architectural license.

According to census records, Edwin E. Dofsen completed only three years of high school. Per Polk Directories, at the age of 18 he was a driver by trade. By age 20 he became a mechanic and remained as such until at least 1924. In 1925, Dofsen left the auto world and became a “window trimmer,” most likely installing store displays for the larger department stores in downtown Seattle. Then in 1926, at the age of 24, he landed his first architectural job, working as a draftsman for architect J.A. Creutzer. By the next year he was working for Arthur L. Loveless (1927) and then took a job as a draftsman for William J. Bain (1928), all while reportedly working for Anhalt. After being listed as a draftsman/designer employed at an unknown location, he was listed as a draftsman for noted Seattle architect Earl W. Morrison in 1931. Such hands-on training was an alternative way to acquire an architectural education in the early 20^th century.

By 1935, Dofsen was working as a draftsman for the Washington Emergency Relief Administration (WERA), an early predecessor of the Federal New Deal work programs at the state level. He then took a job as an architectural designer with Homes Inc., a design, construction and financial development firm run by F.E. Voorhees and W. E. McKinney. At the time, architects J. Lister Holmes, William J. Bain, George W. Stoddard, and Arthur L. Loveless, who were struggling to get independent commissions, all worked at the firm.

While Dofsen is listed at a draftsman and/or architect in the Polk Directories during the waning years of the Great Depression and build-up to WWII, according to his draft card he was working for the Corp of Engineers at the Boeing Aircraft Company in 1942. By 1939 he had also formed a partnership with engineer Charles A. Tiffany. According to newspaper accounts the partnership continued for 10 years, until 1949. However, projects under the Dofsen & Tiffany name are limited to a handful of projects. These include a home at 2621 42^nd Ave W (1939); 4206 Glenmont Lane (1949); and several of the early homes in the Vuecrest development in Bellevue (1949).

After Dofsen and Tiffany parted ways, Dofsen continued providing designs for Vuecrest developers/builders Robert and Stuart Rogers. In fact, Dofsen was a favorite of the father and son team and provided the Rogerses with designs for many of their other projects including homes in Bellevue’s Holiday Hills (1955) and the Apply Valley (1954). Verified designs include the “Rogers Rambler” at 9810 Vineyard Crest (1950); 351 108^th Ave SE (1952); 2723 107^th Ave NE (1954); 10620 NE 26^th St (1954); and 1806 109^th Ave NE (1955).

Later projects include two apartments in Capitol Hill — 330 W Roy Street (1958) and 1717 Summit Avenue (1959). Dofsen’s last known project was an eclectic home on Yarrow Point – 9062 NE 37^th Pl (1964).

Dofsen passed away in Edmonds, Washington, on February 13, 1976, at the age of 73.

– Michael C Houser