VintageSeattle.org

Another week goes by, another vintage Seattle landmark goes down. This time though, it’s a “borderline landmark” — the term that’s as good as a death sentence for a structure. The Northcliffe Apartment Building at 1119 Boren Avenue is a 1920’s era brick building looming over Boren Ave surrounded by a number of historic First Hill buildings that have faced and will face extinction. As you can see from the photos, she is being prepped for demolition but the scheduled tear down of December 29th came and went. Consider this a “stay” of sorts and your chance to see the building before it’s just a memory. The building, designed by Lake Union Steam Plant architect Daniel Huntington, was considered for landmark status in 2004 but deemed “borderline.” You know what that means… future home of another generic Virginia Mason medical building. Click on the images for larger views or feel free to see the building in person before she goes.

The Northcliffe Apartments on a clear day at the corner of Boren and Seneca. This large brick building was constructed in the 1920’s.	Alternate angle of the building, also showing the south face. Security fencing surrounds the site as it awaits the wrecking ball.
The north face of the building and back stairwell.	The building features a few decorative steeply pitched gable roofs with brick timber-framing.
The front entrance of the building is on the east side.	The ornate entryway had been covered up by a less impressive green canopy.
The south face of the building borders an empty parking lot and is without bay windows.	Another view along the front of the building. Old doors have been placed into windows to thwart squatters.
Looking up toward a lone bay window with paint chipping away.	A view of the back of the building along the alley.
Virginia Mason signage is a stark reminder of the medical complexes that threaten many early 20th century buildings on First Hill.	A 2 by 4 boards up a window with an old radiator just inside.
A close-up view of the brick and window on the south face.	A different stucco bay window deteriorating.

Now this is a fun find — certainly less creepy than yesterday’s images. I’ve always loved looking back at past predictions. Sometimes they’re pretty close, but more often than not are downright humorous. And of course we’re all still waiting for flying cars. But check out this image from the 1914 Cosmogram titled “A Forecast.” It illustrates what they thought Pine Street would look like in 2014 — complete with blimps, oversized lion sculptures, an early stab at the Space Needle, buses, and spiffy architecture that I only wish was actually the modern style. Very cool! Click on the image to study the full res version.

Looking up Pine Street, Seattle, Washington, A.D. 2014.

First off, welcome to 2008. To kick things off here in the new year I thought we’d start with some great vintage Washington landscape photography. I found this small picture book titled Twenty-Four Views of Washington and Oregon in Color while rummaging through relics downtown. It’s probably from around the late 50’s or early 60’s and the images have that hauntingly beautiful period look. To me this is a 50-year offset reminder that we live in a state with an amazing natural environment. See for yourself. I’ll post more from this piece later. Click on the images to go full-res.

Twenty-Four Views Of Washington and Oregon in Color. By Ray Atkeson. Binfords & Mort Publishers.

Mt. Rainier, Washington, viewed from the slopes of the Tatoosh Range.

Tulip time on Washington’s Puyallup Valley bulb farms.

Autumn haze on the Upper Columbia near White Salmon, Washington.