VintageSeattle.org

Since we’re on the subjectof the A.Y.P.E., might as well stick to the U.W. grounds. This Past Post from 1910 shows Denny Hall, which opened in 1895 and is the oldest building still standing at the University. And speaking of A.Y.P.E. buildings, Ben Lukoff mentioned that they are planning on moving Cunningham Hall (originally the Women’s Building). I’m not sure I’m a fan of moving historic buildings like this — it takes away from their permanence. Of course it’s preferable to demolition, but a significant structure like this should stay put. Surely there’s somewhere else to stick a new molecular engineering building. What say you?

University Of Washington, Seattle, Wash.

The University of Washington is located on a beautiful site of 355 acres lying between Lake Union and Lake Washington. Twenty minutes from the heart of the city by street car, boat, or train. The Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition will be held on these grounds in 1909.

You already know how much I love the panorama. You also know how much I love the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition. So why not bring them together? This super cool 1909 panorama(o-rama), snapped by A.J. Park, may be as close as any of us will get to being there. It’s enough to make Lukoff and I cry. It’s time we started planning a second A.Y.P.E. and building even more impressive buildings, all by Pb Elemental. Ok, maybe not, but I do kinda like their stuff. Have mercy on me. Click on the thumbnail for full resolution, but beware — this thing is massive.

Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition panoramic photograph, 1909. Copyright A.J. Park, August 5, 1909. Image courtesy Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.

I don’t come across a lot of 1970’s material for post here at Vintage Seattle  (well, except for tons of powder blues), so I was glad to receive this photo submission in my mailbox from Ryan Donaldson. He writes: “It is amazing to realize how much that skyline has changed and will continue to be altered.” And Ryan isn’t wrong. I’m also intrigued by the changing skyline over the years, not to mention the haunted quality of Polaroids. (soon to be gone). Give this 1979 skyline photo a once over.

Seattle skyline circa 1979. Photo courtesy Ryan Donaldson and Lucille Mroczek.

Past Postcard today is showing Denny-Blaine Park in 1912. It was originally donated to the city by Charles Denny and Elbert Blaine, the latter having served as Seattle Parks Commissioner from 1902 to 1908. If you go today you can find a stone wall that marks the original shoreline pre-1917, when Lake Washington sank nine feet due to the construction of the Lake Washington Ship Canal. Go ahead, click on the thumbnails. Now that’s some nice calligraphy on the back — who can decode it?

1743 — A Scene in Denny-Blaine Park, Seattle, Washington.

Postcard sent to West Toledo, Ohio 1912.

Postcard detective work sent in by Gabi Campanario.

After yesterday’s photo dating contest, I thought it best to relax and take in Part 2 of the World’s Fair Snapshots collection I started back in January. See here for the first batch. The date on the photos is May 24, 1962 and the only information we know is that the dapper man in the suit was named Harry Peterson. Once all of these photos are posted, it’ll be as if we were there. Almost. Speaking of which, wouldn’t it be cool if we all put together a Photosynth presentation of the ‘62 World’s Fair. Hmm…

Candid snapshot from the Seattle World’s Fair (Century 21 Exposition) #1. May 24, 1962.

Candid snapshot from the Seattle World’s Fair (Century 21 Exposition) #2. May 24, 1962.

Candid snapshot from the Seattle World’s Fair (Century 21 Exposition) #3. May 24, 1962.

Candid snapshot of Harry Peterson from the Seattle World’s Fair (Century 21 Exposition) #4. May 24, 1962.

Candid snapshot from the Seattle World’s Fair (Century 21 Exposition) #5. May 24, 1962.

Let’s try this again. Last time it didn’t go so well (mostly because I failed to come up with the actual date). However, I promise that this time I have a precise answer. So have at it. Use your wit, your intuition, your research skills — tell us all what year this bird’s-eye view of downtown Seattle was taken. The winner claims bragging rights in all future comment threads. And Shipley, I’m fairly certain this one is after Christ.

Update: Congrats to litlnemo, Mike, Bryan, violetdawn, Rachel, & Alan. Their detective work led to a correct date of 1918 and a Smith Tower vantage point.

Looking north from Smith Building. Lake Union in Distance. Showing portions of Second and Third Avenues. In the foreground, Arctic Building, home of the Arctic Club and the Chamber of Commerce and Commercial Club. Photograph by Asahel Curtis, The Argus, 1918.

Venerable! It’s a word I don’t use often but the Triangle Hotel & Bar (located down at the southern end of Pioneer Square next to the stadiums) deserves it. This is definitely one of my favorite buildings in the city and it’s one that you don’t forget once you lay eyes on it. The Triangle Hotel was designed by architect C. A. Breitung and built in 1910, having been inspired by the design and construction techniques of New York City’s Flatiron Building. As tidelands were aggressively being filled in around the area in the early 1900’s, the structure was unique for its triangular shape (at the corner of 1st Ave and Railroad Way S) and Italianate windows. The building’s ground floor bar space changed over to a Western Union branch in 1929 and the upper floors are said to have housed a brothel just as the Great Depression set in. In May of 1976 the Triangle was placed on the National Register of Historic Places and today the renovated building once again has a bar at ground level. Here’s a toast to the venerable Triangle Hotel & Bar! Give the photos a click for high-res goodness.

View of the Triangle Building from the corner of 1st Ave and Railroad Way S.	Opposite angle revealing ghost sign.
Looking up at building detail from the front of the bar along 1st Ave.	The upper floors along Railroad Way S. The windows appear to have been recently restored.
Closer look toward the most narrow face of the trapezoidal building.	Another look along Railroad Way S.
The Triangle is dwarfed by the scale of the Alaskan Way Viaduct.	Pulling further back along Railroad Way S with vast shadows cast by the Viaduct.

After months of neglect, a thick layer of dust has settled on the School Days section here at th’ Org. It’s so thick I can write my name in it (that was always my mother’s metric for when it was time to dust). Clearing the dust is this World War II era (Pearl Harbor was a little over a year prior) snippet from the Garfield High School yearbook showing kids huddled under desks during air raid drills. “Get out and get under” reads the headline. Sixty-six years later the photo remains unsettling.

“Get Out And Get Under.” Garfield High School Yearbook “Arrow,” Seattle, Washington, 1942.

“Air Raid Drill Style.” Garfield High School Yearbook “Arrow,” Seattle, Washington, 1942.

To break this season’s curse I think the Mariners need to bring back the 1980’s button-up shiny jacket. Once you check out this 1981 Jim Beattie card from Topps, you’ll see what I mean. With that said, Jim Beattie is our Vintage Seattle Player O The Week. In ‘82 he pitched 19 consecutive scoreless innings and threw the first M’s one hitter in ‘83. After hanging up the shiny jacket, Beattie went on to serve as Director of Player Development for the Mariners (1990-1995), was GM of the Expos (1995-2001), and acted as Executive VP of the Baltimore Orioles (2003-2005). Not bad for an ex-jock with a University of Washington M.B.A.

Jim Beattie, Seattle Mariners, Pitcher, Topps, 1981.