Early in his career, he moved to Seattle in the employ of a well-known New York architectural firm with that was developing a large area in downtown.Albertson moved to Duluth, Minnesota, in 1905,[1] and then to Seattle in 1907 as the local representative of the New York City architectural firm Howells and Stokes.[3] Alberston was the local representative of Howells and Stokes planning the redevelopment of the original downtown Seattle site of the University of Washington.[5] Albertson designed a significant modification to the waterfront for a new Seattle Railroad and Marine Terminal, but the project was abandoned due to the more pressing needs of World War I.[6] The architectural styles produced by Albertson varied greatly, including Spanish Revival, Art Deco, and Collegiate Gothic.
The Stuart/Balcom House, called the Mrs. Grant Smith residence when Albertson designed it