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I’m moving to West Seattle tomorrow! When I told Vintage Seattle key contributor Deran Ludd, he kindly sent me these turn of the century picture postcards of Luna Park in West Seattle. Long before Fun Forest, there was Luna Park — nicknamed the “Coney Island of the west.” It opened in June of 1907 and the forces of moralism and scandal shut her down in 1913. Back to present day… West Seattle, here I come! Let’s hope the moving process is more efficient than the mortgage process has been and let’s hope the dead whale carcass is kept to a minimum. Again, special thanks to Deran Ludd for the photos (Deran is going to be opening a Yesler blog soon, so keep an eye out for that).

Luna Park’s dancing pavilion and summer garden. Photograph courtesy Deran Ludd.

Luna Park circa 1908. Photograph courtesy Deran Ludd.

A view from above the park. Photograph courtesy Deran Ludd.

A 100 ton whale on exhibit at Luna Park, 1907. Photograph courtesy Deran Ludd.

Luna Park snapshot, 1908. Photograph courtesy Deran Ludd.

Luna Park snapshot, 1908. Photograph courtesy Deran Ludd.

Dug up a couple 1962 Seattle World’s Fair items for you this evening. First up is a guide handed out at the United States Science Exhibit during the fair. The spread covered six and a half acres among five buildings showing the history, philosophy, and findings of then present-day science. Check out pages 2 and 3 of the guide for the overhead map. Do we have any Vintage Seattle readers who attended the science exhibit? Tell us in the comments. Lastly, just for fun, we’ve got 2 packets of official Expo ‘62 sugar. Think it’s still good? If only I had a Fun Dip/Lick-A-Maid stick handy…

United States Science Exhibit Guide, United States Department Of Commerce. Seattle World’s Fair, 1962. Page 1.

United States Science Exhibit Guide, United States Department Of Commerce. Seattle World’s Fair, 1962. Page 2-3.

United States Science Exhibit Guide, United States Department Of Commerce. Seattle World’s Fair, 1962. Page 4.

Century 21 Exposition C&H Cane Sugar, 1962.

Jenni Pertuset of the Open Book Blog sends in this vintage postcard featuring Husky Stadium. Here’s Jenni:

Front: University Of Washington Stadium, Home Of The Huskies. Postcard courtesy Jenni Pertuset.

Your daily commute down Boren Ave just got a little emptier. Holly Birge sent in this depressing camera phone photograph and word that the Northcliffe Apartment Building is indeed gone — destroyed. I profiled the Northcliffe here last month. The large brick apartment building loomed over boren for over 80 years and will now be replaced with a Virginia Mason hospital wing. Thanks to Holly for sending in the photograph, as sad as it is.

Where the Northcliffe Apartment building used to stand, Boren & Seneca. Photograph courtesy Holly Birge.

“Cranky” Kate Forneigh alerted me to the existence of this Queen Anne Craftsman in need a craftsman. The 1908 fixer-upper at 1108 West Blaine is selling for a cool $539,950. Yes, half a million for a house in *this* condition. It’s Queen Anne — don’t go expecting something reasonable now. It is (or once was) a great Craftsman with solid bones needing a complete overhaul. Up for the job? See the listing and get your tools ready. Check out my photos below and thanks to Kate for the heads up on the house.

With just a quick read on the house, you can tell it needs a lot of work.	The view of the back section of the home from the alley.
The front yard is located directly above the detached garage.	It is very likely that this front porch was enclosed as an addition at some point.
Box beam ceiling, built-in cabinets, stained molding — all of the Craftsman hallmarks are here.	The kitchen is very dated and could use a complete remodel.
Opposite angle of the living and dining area. The fireplace has potential, though the wood paneling and ceiling tiles could stand to be cut.	A peak inside the bathroom reveals some 1970’s fashions waiting for a craftsman.

By now you’ve all heard the news about the Ballard Manning’s/Denny’s designated a landmark last week. It’s a big win for Seattle preservationists yet we all have to remain vigilant about defending this building since Benaroya Company will certainly appeal the decision. Anne Forestieri, of the group who worked for the designation, was kind enough to get in touch with me and send along some photographs of the Ballard Manning’s/Denny’s circa 1983 taken by former Manning’s general manager Winnie Young. The first with a snow covered ground shows the beautiful Manning’s sign while the second is shot along Market. According to Anne, many of the original significant and character defining elements remain, including the glue lam beams, the mirawal at the base of the building (still the original red color, under several layers of paint), and the concrete battered columns on the sides. For more information on the significance of the structure, you can read architectural historian Alan Michelson’s report submitted to the Landmarks Preservation Board right here. Then check out the photos below and give them a click for a closer look.

A snow covered Manning’s Cafeteria, circa 1983. Photograph courtesy Winnie Young/Anne Forestieri.

Opposite angle of Manning’s Cafeteria in Ballard, circa 1983. Photograph courtesy Winnie Young/Anne Forestieri.

Links To The Past is back from the dead. Big week of news, mostly Ballard Googie related.

• Surprise: Denny’s Declared Landmark
  “Call it a Grand Slam of Googie proportions.” So begins the Seattle Times article on the Manning’s Cafeteria building becoming a landmark. Here come the puns.
• Ballard Denny’s Site Spared From Demolition: It’s A Landmark
  The PI chimes in with their take on the Manning’s story. But why does everyone keep referring to the building as “Denny’s”? That’s pretty innapropriate, kind of like calling the Alaska Building the Marriott Building.
• Googie Or Not, It’s A Landmark
  Knute’s take on the situation. Finally, “Denny’s” is left out of the headline.
• The Ballard “Upset”- Manning’s/Denny’s
  Blogger Peggy Sturdivant attended the heated Landmark Board meeting and reports on her experience. Definitely worth a read.
• Postcard Penned In 1929 Arrives In Boston Mailbox From Seattle
  You see one of these stories every once in a while — “wallet lost in 1940 finds its way back to owner 68 years later!” But this one has a postcard from Seattle arriving from 1929. Cool.
• Museum Of Flight Showing 75 Years Of Flying In Style
  Looks like the Museum of Flight has a nifty exhibit showcasing vintage flying styles. I need to make it down there — sounds interesting. Check out the slideshow for a taste. Great stuff.
• Bulletin: 3811 California Advances To Next Landmark Round
  West Seattle Blog reports on the Charlestown Court four-plex landmark nomination being approved. The next step is a public hearing on April 2nd. Sadly, this duplex probably won’t be so lucky.

Now here’s something you don’t see often — a postcard showing the rag-tag building that was demolished to make way for one of Seattle’s first and most well known skyscrapers. I’m guessing the Benaroya Company was not planning on issuing a Ballard Denny’s postcard. Just a guess. The vintage postcard comes from 1918. You can compare the modern day satellite image with the postcard and find a few surrounding buildings still standing. Click on the images to see full-res.

Front: Corner one-story building with bill boards on roof marking the site which the 42 Story L.C. Smith Building was erected upon.

Back: Postcard sent July, 1918.

Deran Ludd comes through again! Just one week after sending in this cool Art Deco postcard, he just sent in a collection of photos from Seattle’s 1916 blizzard. This is the same storm that, in late January/early February 1916, collapsed the dome of St. James Cathedral. From February 1st to 2nd of that year, 21.5 inches of snow fell — which is still a record for the city. Check them out! And big thanks to Deran Ludd once again for sending these in.

The view from Yesler Way, showing Smith Tower. Photograph courtesy Deran Ludd.

Unknown street. Photograph courtesy Deran Ludd.

Trolleys stuck in the snow at night. Photograph courtesy Deran Ludd.

Creative residents build a snowman downtown. Photograph courtesy Deran Ludd.

Digging out from the snow on a downtown street. Photograph courtesy Deran Ludd.

The Coliseum Theater inundated with snow, 1916. Photograph courtesy Deran Ludd.

Seattle’s original post office on 3rd Ave. Photograph courtesy Deran Ludd.

Before Seattle Engraving there was Seattle Engraving Co. This vintage ad comes from said company around 1900. The firm offered “quality, utility, artisticness, and uniqueness” with their plates for printers. From what I can gather, the Hinckley Block was probably on 2nd and Columbia (Thanks BenL). Click on the thumbnail for higher-res.

Seattle Engraving Company. Plates for printers. 5th Floor, Hinckley Block. Seattle, U.S.A. The Argus, 1900.

John Methot tipped me off to the fact that South Lake Union’s historic C. B. Van Vorst Building is being renovated as part of the Interurban Exchanged project, in preparation for Amazon’s move to the area. According to this article, once renovated the building will serve as a conference center for biotech companies. The 1915 Spanish Mission style brick building was originally used by the J. M. Colman Company, housing the Frederick and Nelson department store’s furniture outlet until 1913 (see the ghost sign on the side of the building). Here’s the update from John on what’s happening currently, followed by my photographs:

The front face of the C. B. Van Vorst Building with parapet.	The east and south faces of the building. The parking lot next to the building was being used for storage.
The south brick wall of the building with faint Frederick and Nelson ghost sign.	The back side of the structure facing an alley is quite dilapidated.
The front center of the building. The brick has been painted over many times over the years.	A closer look at the Van Vorst sign.
View of the front face looking north.	Opposite angle of the building facade.
The building shows signs of years of wear.	Many of the building’s windows have been infilled.

Maybe I’ve been playing too much Bioshock, but I can’t get enough of that 1930’s style lately. Check out these snapshots of the Northwestern Mutual Insurance Building, an Art Deco masterpiece built in 1931. Now known as Olympic Tower, it was put on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980 and granted landmark status in 1987. If you’re downtown admiring the building, you may want to pack heat. Or just some nunchucks. Click on the thumbnails for larger images.

2116 Northwestern Mutual Fire Ins. Bldg. Seattle, WN.

2117 Northwestern Mutual Fire Ins. Bldg. Seattle, WN.

Happy Presidents’ Day, everyone! Hopefully you’re having a relaxing day while paying homage to Washington, Lincoln, or Taft. Wait, what? In order to stay on topic I dug up this photo of Seattle Mayor J.D. Braman greeting President Lyndon B. Johnson at Seattle-Tacoma airport in 1966. Check it out.

In other news, Vintage Seattle was destroyed in the Blarch Badness Blog Contest. “It seems as if Accidental Hedonist is losing in a poll against a history blog! This doesn’t seem right,” said Kate Hopkins of Accidental Hedonist before asking readers for more votes. A history blog! In the end, this meddling history had trouble competing with pork — in all its splendor.

Mayor J.D. Braman greeting President Lyndon B. Johnson at Seattle-Tacoma airport during the president’s Canadian visit in 1966. Photograph courtesy Seattle Municipal Archives.

This is a very special edition of Vintage Seattle Player O The Week. Getting the honors this week is the legendary Mario Mendoza. I’ve mentioned the “Mendoza Line” before, so now you get a look at the man himself. You may note that he did hit above .200 during a few seasons, so the “Mendoza Line” is more of a rough euphemism for “hitting poorly.” Click on Mario for a closer look at his glasses (which have evolved).

Mario Mendoza, Seattle Mariners, Shortstop, Topps, 1981.

This week we’ve had Jenni Pertuset and Deran Ludd write in with some great old postcards. Now I feel like I have to get my act together and show something from my archives, lest I should be out of a job. This 1929 card shows the University of Washington Campus and the site of the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition. By ‘29 most of the buildings were already destroyed — though you can see the Forestry building. Speaking of postcards sent in 1929, check out this article about a card from Seattle to Boston that took the scenic route. Click on the images for more resolution.

Front: An Aeroplane View Of U. Of W. Campus, Seattle.

Back: 582-acre University of Washington campus on two beautiful lakes has a setting unparalleled. Postcard sent August, 1929 to New Haven, Conn.