1926-1937: Apartment Life

Both the Shoremont and Lakecrest apartments were marketed to appeal to younger professional men and women with the appeal of being an alternative to the dreary and uniform apartment buildings of the era. Classified rental ads for the Shoremont & Lakecrest between 1925 and 1940 were written to appeal to artists and writers with messaging describing the community as distinctive, modern and charming. The nature of this unique apartment configuration grew to foster a sense of security, exclusivity and community. Society columns frequently mentioned parties and dinners hosted by tenants on site. Tenants developed close relationships with one another and with the Doxy family. Residents began to host annual Christmas parties in the 1930’s for which to provide donated gifts, food and clothing to needy families. Notable tenants of Shoremont and Lakecrest during this time period included Adolph B. Spreckels II, heir to the Spreckels sugar fortune (Spreckels inherited his fortune while living at the Shoremont in 1930), and orchestra leader Victor Meyers. Meyers was living at the Shoremont in 1934 while serving as Lieutenant Governor of Washington State (1932-1952) and later became Washington’s Secretary of State in 1956. The last public reference to William Doxy as manager of the Shoremont was in 1935. The Seattle Daily Times announced the death of John Doxy in 1936, noting he was a “pioneer Seattle real estate developer”. The Doxy family remained owners of the Shoremont and Lakecrest until at least 1937. Notices of public auction following foreclosure on the Shoremont and Lakecrest properties were placed in the Seattle Municipal News on May 14 and June 4 of 1938.