Profile: B.F. Day School
December 19th, 2007 @ 1:24 am by Cliffe | Sorted Historic Buildings
From one sacred institution to another. Yesterday we had a look at some early 1900’s churches from around the city and today I want to have a look at one of Seattle’s oldest schools, B.F. Day School. Located just off Highway 99 in Fremont, B.F. Day is Seattle’s oldest continually operating elementary school. Queen Anne High may get all of the architectural attention, but this building is all 1800’s utility. The site was a gift to the Seattle School Board from Francis and Benjamin Franklin Day valued at the time at $10,000. After opening in 1892, the school gained additions in 1901 and 1916. Since its $5 million renovation in 1991, the school continues to serve children in the Fremont area. Do we have any Vintage Seattle readers who attended B.F. Day? In any case, let’s have a look at the photos of this long-standing structure. Click on the images for high-res copies.
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| A circular planting bed anchored by a flagpole greets visitors to B.F. Day Elementary School in Fremont. The large floor-to-ceiling windows also draw the eye. | A view of the east and north faces of the building. The stone trim and sills contrast the red brick very well. |
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| The front door of the building with brick archway. | Another look at those massive windows. Natural light was a necessity in 1892 when the school was built. |
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| A closer look at the windows and brick wall. | One concrete entryway is painted with this colorful mural. |
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| The south face of the building with stairs. | A view of the back side of the building. |
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| Closing in on the back side of the building with concrete stairs. | A small play area around the back of the building. Just beyond are a collection of basketball courts. |
December 19th, 2007 @ 8:15 am
I am so jealous. I never attended a school that looked as beautiful as this on the outside. Totally not fair!
December 20th, 2007 @ 1:21 am
I don’t even remember my elementary school building. That’s how memorable it was.
December 21st, 2007 @ 6:08 pm
LOL. Well, I do. Almost all of them anyway. Two Catholic elementary schools Cleveland, Ohio barely that memorable. Two public elementary schools in Chicago one of which was not bad and probably had some distinct early 1900s stuff all covered up now. A Chicago Catholic high school memorable but not distinct.
December 25th, 2007 @ 11:34 am
I went to thes school it was very good. It was in 1952-55
May 22nd, 2008 @ 7:48 pm
I attended B.F. Day 1953-58 give or take. It was a great school. The principal was Mr. Swideen. I had some very good and inspiring teachers there:
2nd grade - Miss Player
3rd grade - Miss Olsen
5th grade - Mr. Hovis
6th grade - Mrs. Wilkerson
My apologies to those I’ve forgotten. Would love to see photos of the north end of the school and the upper playground.
I really do enjoy your site. Thanks.
December 4th, 2008 @ 10:37 am
For Gary L.
Seattle Municipal Archives has posted a 1913 foto of BF Day’s upper playground at flickr.com…not much had changed from then til the 1950s!!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/seattlemunicipalarchives/2653446545/