The First Hill Exhibit

A public exhibit, “The First Hill Exhibit: Seattle's Boom Years, 1880-1925,” permanently on display in Swedish Hospital’s lobby at the corner of Boren Avenue and Madison Street, vividly illustrates what the neighborhood was like, replete with wooden sidewalks, cable cars, and ornate residential architecture. The First Hill neighborhood served as an exclusive enclave for prominent Seattle families, including the Stimsons, Greens, Dearborns, and others. Apartment buildings and medical facilities replaced the mansions as the “first” families moved away in the first decades of the twentieth century.

The Seattle of Tomorrow, From the Past

Last Wednesday, I ventured to MOHAI for the History Cafe program “The Seattles That Might Have Been.” The evening’s speaker Eric Scigliano (award-winning writer & journalist) opened the program by noting that cities are ultimately collections of ideas. We primarily experience what has come to into being and persists in our local landscape - this is what makes up the “Emerald City” as we know it. Or we remember what has been built and demolished (strong in my memory - Kingdome, Sit N Spin, Cloud Room at Camlin Hotel). Adaptive reuse presents a spectrum of options in between, whether preserving the facade or other methods.

For historical unrealized buildings and construction projects, they comprise a number of many possible outcomes, much like a disco ball with faceted mirrors. According to Mr. Scigliano, it is important to pay attention to Seattle’s ideas of the past because they remain relevant today. They also can provide insight into possible future civic projects, whether for research purposes or to revisit (such as further lidding I-5, first suggested by the architect Paul Thiry in the 1960s).

Eric Scigliano sets the context for this presentation, noting how cities can take on second (or third lives), and Seattle is a great example with multiple boom and bust historical cycles.

Mr. Scigliano outlined an intriguing survey of Seattle’s proposals, many quite serious and developed, others more imaginative and a bit whimsical.

Rare newspaper illustration commenting on the Bogue Plan, which would have been Seattle’s first comprehensive plan that included subways and a civic center in Denny Regrade. Residents of Queen Anne were concerned that the development would isolate and negatively impact them. Image via HistoryLink.

George Hartman believed that every great city should have a river. Hence, a proposal to fill in I-5 with water!

The next day, I headed to the Seattle Public Library’s Seattle Room to learn more about these unrealized plans. The SPL staff helpfully pointed me towards a University of Washington thesis - “A Forgotten Future: One Possible Seattle” by Steven Gano Cecil. Submitted in 1981, the thesis further expands the survey to include additional plans and projects.

Images that illustrate proposed above ground train at Westlake and Fourth Ave. (1918), and section perspective for underground light rail on Third Ave. (1961).

Rendering for proposed Seattle General Hospital in downtown (1932).

Metropolitan Tract Plan was proposed by the Tishman family from New York City, bringing a bit of Gotham to Seattle with a Rockefeller Center-type development (1952).

Urban Stream proposal for a salmon stream to run from Volunteer Park to downtown (1975).

A video recording of the event is available via the Seattle Channel.

MOHAI also offers audio recordings of all History Cafe programs online via Soundcloud - well worth checking out.

A Visit to the MOHAI Archives

As part of my consulting work, I am researching the narrative and visual history of transportation along Third Avenue from Yesler Way to Denny Way. This objective has provided a terrific opportunity to visit some of our vital local archives. On January 18th, I scheduled an appointment at the Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI) Resource Center.

The exterior of the MOHAI Resource Center, at a former marble showroom.

Located in Georgetown, the Center inhabits a former marble showroom. MOHAI moved the collection to Georgetown as part of the museum’s relocation to South Lake Union.

MOHAI stewards two collections of particular interest for my project:

Collection on the Pacific Outfitting Company, 1907-1991 
Collection Number: 2008.3.18 (accession)
Finding Aid: http://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv64495

The Pacific Outfitting Company was founded in 1907 by Alfred Shemanski, who immigrated from Poland to Seattle. The store sold clothing, and had a flagship store at Third Avenue and University Street (where Benaroya Hall is now). The collection includes photographs and brochures of the store, which also depict the transportation modes on the street - horse and carriage, streetcars, and automobiles.

Negatives on the light table with Pacific Outfitting Co. advertisements.

Here is an intriguing (and rare early view) of the store’s interior, ca. 1910:

Image courtesy MOHAI - Image # 2008.3.18.4

In a further transportation connection, a 1949 brochure advertises uniforms for Seattle bus drivers. As noted in the brochure, the Pacific Outfitting Company has been operating since the “Trolley Days.”

Price List brochure dated October 1, 1949 advertising Seattle Transit System uniforms. and equipment

View of the store facing southwest on Third Avenue, ca. 1970s.

The collection also contains the manuscript “Cheerful Credit,” which provides a colorful history of the company compiled from interviews transcribed with the executives. The store eventually closed in 1991.

Seattle Post Office Photographs and Other Material, 1889-1962
Collection Number 1972.5319 (collection)
Finding Aid: http://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv68076

Initially in reading the finding aid, I was interested in viewing building photos of the downtown post office, located at Third Avenue and Union Street. What I discovered was much more - photographs of employees, including at parades and other events.

1903 view showing the site of the to-be-constructed Seattle Post Office at Third Avenue and Union Street amidst street regrade activities. The post office had moved multiple times before landing in its current location on Third Avenue.

View of the 37th Biennial Convention of the National Association of Letter Carriers on Parade. The parade occurred on Third Avenue.

These two distinct collections provide another context to understand the transportation history of Third Avenue. Although the subject matter is focused on something else, I enjoyed connecting the dots. A few of the images showing the postal worker parades on Third Avenue even included the Pacific Outfitter Co. store in the background!

I would like to thank Adam Lyon at MOHAI with the Library Services team for all his help to locate these resources and facilitating my visit.

Letting the Light In: Art on the Seattle Waterfront

Image via Friends of Art on Pier 86 website

On the brisk Friday evening of December 21st, we attended the “Let There Be Light” Closing Viewing Party. Hosted by the Friends of Art on Pier 86, the event included a vibrant video art piece heralding Seattle’s history, along with anticipating the future. Created by the artist duo Hexagon Misfit, the piece was projected over 200 feet tall & onto the head house of the Pier 86 Grain Terminal. Incredibly, the terminal still functions and is operated daily by the Port of Seattle.

In speaking with artist Craig Winslow, he explained drawing inspiration from images of Seattle’s past. Photographs depicting the area over time were projected onto the facade.

A collaboration between Craig Winslow and Chris Rojas, the Pier 86 projection mapping explores the past, present, and future of the Seattle waterfront and the Pacific Northwest people.

via Chris Rojas/YouTube

Utilizing visual mapping techniques, aspects of the architecture were also superimposed onto the building. Some of this work reminded me of the Borealis light festival at MOHAI back in October.

The event took place at Expedia’s offices on Elliot Ave, providing great views of the video art, although it was even more compelling viewing from outside. As we all look to a changing downtown Seattle waterfront, one in which artists will have permanent works on display according to the city’s art plan & vision, I look forward to what the Friends group has in store for the future!