Hello Mother, Arrived in Seattle this noon. We leave at 3:30 p.m. Everything is fine so far. Is my car alright. Tell ???? to look at it once in a while. Will write again soon. Virgil.
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| Frink Boulevard Serpentine, Seattle, U.S.A. |
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| Postcard sent August, 1924. |
Insert all Professor John Frink of “The Simpsons” jokes here!
Hey, this is near my house! I think the modern day view is actually a little north of your marker at what is now labeled S Leschi Pl near the edge of Frink Park and Leschi Park. Attempted Google view map below:
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&q=frink+boulevard+seattle,+wa&ie=UTF8&ll=47.600068,-122.290983&spn=0,359.997677&t=h&z=19&layer=c&cbll=47.599428,-122.290456&panoid=7g66eaNNEHcH8v2OHS0p5g&cbp=12,161.90854172576357,,0,4.587413861730398
First link did not work right, so trying again:
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&q=frink+boulevard+seattle,+wa&ie=UTF8&t=h&layer=c&cbll=47.600723,-122.287527&panoid=upuatt7QUaxGjzyLn2DH1w&cbp=11,226.02449057071001,,0,9.88874700271784&ll=47.600709,-122.287703&spn=0.003169,0.013561&z=16&iwloc=addr
Bryan, we’re neighbors
I don’t think that’s S. Leschi Pl. either. (the Google Streets image Bryan sent is mislabeled; it’s actually 35th Ave S.; not Leschi Pl.) But more to the point, the terrain seems too flat and open in the background on the postcard to correspond with that location. There’s a steep hill due west of the serpintine on Lk Washington Blvd at 35th, while the postcard shows almost a peek-a-boo to the lake.
Also, ifit were @ 35th, with no vegitation you’d see the Yesler Trolley bridge in the postcard, no?
Maybe it’s 180 deg. from where Cliffe Google-Streeted on S. Lk. Wash Blvd.?
Wherever it is, it’s amazing how much vegitation has grown.
Thanks for this.
To add to the confusion…I think it’s where present day Frink intersects with Lake Washington Blvd S:
100 years ago, Frink was Frink all the way through the park – it did not change names or intersect with Lake Washington Blvd. Also, the view from a serpentine turn at this location would have been the lake, and worthy of a stoppable vista on the Olmstead park plan.
Have a look, and see what you think.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=S+Frink+Pl,+Seattle,+WA+98144&sll=47.599131,-122.288861&sspn=0.005411,0.013776&ie=UTF8&cd=1&ll=47.599132,-122.288867&spn=0.005411,0.013776&t=h&z=16&g=S+Frink+Pl,+Seattle,+WA+98144&iwloc=addr&layer=c&cbll=47.599132,-122.288867&panoid=P5S2TIO2G23l9VxrVbm2Og&cbp=11,273.3823317586279,,0,5
Okay. here’s my theory. It’s possible that the card is mislabeled and that the view was sho in nearby Madrona Park along Spring Street
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=3844+e+spring+st+seattle,+wa&sll=47.613237,-122.283701&sspn=0,359.996567&g=3844+e+spring+st+seattle,+wa&ie=UTF8&ll=47.612239,-122.285192&spn=0.006712,0.013733&t=h&z=16&iwloc=addr&layer=c&cbll=47.611389,-122.285169&panoid=uk7eWKUQm5lz2PdNxQ6tRw&cbp=12,94.40507639811102,,0,13.365836383856237
If you notice the cars are going up and turning to the left. Notice there are no concrete barriers on the sides with the distinctive “clover” pattern. I think the illustration possibly mislabeled and is of this location:
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&q=frink+boulevard+seattle,+wa&ie=UTF8&t=h&layer=c&cbll=47.622116,-122.283879&panoid=DxUf0t4h-lgOy8findgrtQ&cbp=12,196.86994282954993,,0,7.387064834743618&ll=47.622161,-122.283196&spn=0.002502,0.009656&z=17
This is on Lake Washington Blvd. East in Lake View Park. Notice how to the right the next hairpin is visible and it goes to the right? Also see the small tree in the illustration in the middle of the bend – now in the photo it’s there but all grown up.
BTW – my wife and I went to Frink Park this morning and took a lovely picture for our holidays card. Thanks for posting this.
My guess (knowing nothing about the area’s history, just looking at the map).
This is not Frink Park, this is Colman Park. The postcard is mislabeled (or the park has been renamed).
This is the right view here (obscured by trees now)
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Colman+Park,+Seattle,+WA+98144&sll=47.599129,-122.289037&sspn=0.001183,0.002178&g=S+Frink+Pl,+Seattle,+WA+98144&ie=UTF8&ll=47.58694,-122.290358&spn=0,359.997822&t=h&z=19&layer=c&cbll=47.58686,-122.290575&panoid=ZvMXsKYZ_-c98-QESVVEaQ&cbp=12,140.4999624219028,,0,5
Another one, less obscured:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Colman+Park,+Seattle,+WA+98144&sll=47.599129,-122.289037&sspn=0.001183,0.002178&g=S+Frink+Pl,+Seattle,+WA+98144&ie=UTF8&ll=47.58686,-122.291085&spn=0,359.996803&t=h&z=19&layer=c&cbll=47.586731,-122.290219&panoid=nG5Aern1GRbL2tUlofkO6A&cbp=12,113.26095310720217,,0,22.506273074565645
Note that the downhill portion of the road (on the left) in Colman Park goes very straight, all the way down. The serpentine that Casey posted (up north in the Washington/Madison park area) bends leftward.
Here is a VR on VR Seattle of the location:
http://tinyurl.com/5w29vg
I think the Colman Park answer is the correct one
Yes, I think Brian’s got it.
Well spotted, Brian!