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| Butler Cafe Revue, Seattle. December 14, 1921. Image courtesy Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division. |
Archive for January, 2009
Seattle Girl 1921
January 9th, 2009 by Cliffe | Sorted Photo Exposure |
5 Comments »
This 1921 photograph simply says “Butler Cafe Revue, Seattle. ” Who was she ? Where was the Butler Cafe ? Shipley? Click on it for “study.”
Past Post: Hotel Seattle
January 8th, 2009 by Cliffe | Sorted Past Post | 6 Comments »
Even though I’ve requested no mention of the old Seattle Hotel’s replacement, I figure it’s time to face my fears. Even though the likes of Matt Wright (check out his tasty food blog aka flog) will put it in my face — here we go. Read the sordid history here and gawk here if you must. Pour one out for Hotel Seattle, gone since 1961. Click for higher-res.
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| Junction 1st Ave. Yesler and James Sts., Seattle, Washington. Hotel Seattle. |
U.S. Science Pavilion Arches Pt. 1
January 7th, 2009 by Cliffe | Sorted Photo Exposure | 5 Comments »
Vintage Seattle regular Benjamin Lukoff posted an article recently over at Crosscut about the Pacific Science Center arches being under attack. They’ve found their way to the Cultural Landscape Foundation’s 2008 list of endangered modernist landscapes. Apparently the city has a plan that would potentially alter the campus walkway and demolish several Yamasaki structures. Check out the full article for more. I smell a fight a’ brewin’. Here are a couple snapshots from 1962 that I dug up. [see also: Part 2]
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| The U.S. Science Pavilion arches, designed by Minoru Yamasaki. 1962 The Craftsman Press, Seattle. |
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| The U.S. Science Pavilion arches, designed by Minoru Yamasaki. 1962 The Craftsman Press, Seattle. |
Profile: Friedlander Court Apartments
January 6th, 2009 by Cliffe | Sorted Historic Buildings | 7 Comments »
When I profiled Alki’s Shoremont Apartments in October, it didn’t go over so well. The doomed building was called out in the comments for being an ordinary 1920′s “clone.” I think it’ll be harder to criticize the Friedlander Court Apartment building, just down the street at 2246 Alki Ave SW. The Shoremont is rather boxy and lacking in ornamentation, but the Friedlander is downright elegant with its stepped living spaces, terra-cotta, and green courtyard. I’m having trouble pinning down exactly when this one was built, but I’m assuming (safely) that it was in the early to mid 1920′s. UW Digital Collections has one shot of it from 1926 here. [Update: Tracey from West Seattle Blog let me know that it was built in 1926.] Chime in if you or someone you know has lived there over the years. In conclusion, A++++++ Would want to live there! Click on the thumbnails for the high-res photos.
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| Establishing shot of Friedlander Court Apartments. | South face of the building along 53rd Ave SW. |
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| Close-up of courtyard and Friedlander sign. | Terra-cotta coping and decorative inset. |
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| Opposite angle of south face of building. | East face (back) of apartments, with garages. |
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| Close-up of interior courtyard. | Bay window facing Alki Ave, with shaped Mission roof parapet. |
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| Gate open to courtyard. | Close-up of 53rd Ave living space. |
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| Looking south down Alki Ave. | One last shot of that courtyard. |
Past Post: Third Ave @ Night 1909
January 5th, 2009 by Cliffe | Sorted Past Post | 5 Comments »
More snow threatening yet another day of work ? Nooooo. I hope that by the time you’re reading this it’ s all melted away. Regardless, I like the eerie look of this 1909 postcard — and the repetition. Mrs. Magill writes:
Nov. 3rd 1909. Dear Friend, How is th is for a moonlight view. This is one of the main streets of Seattle we have some very fine buildings here. Your Friend, Mrs Magill.
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| Third Ave. At Night, Seattle, Wn. |
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| Postcard sent November 3, 1909 to Hubbard, Ohio. |
Frederick & Nelson 1929
January 2nd, 2009 by Cliffe | Sorted Photo Exposure | 10 Comments »
First of all… happy new year, everyone! Welcome to 2009 @ Vintage Seattle. So how much time have you been spending at this building lately, returning gifts ? This is the Frederick & Nelson building as photographed by Asahel Curtis in 1929. These days you’ll probably recognize it as the Nordstrom flagship building in downtown Seattle’s so-called retail core. The upper floors were added in the early 50′s and, as you can see, quite a bit of architectural detail stripped away. It’s still an impressive building. Click on the thumbnail for more resolution.
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| The Frederick & Nelson Department Store. Established thirty odd years ago as a furniture store, it is generally conceded that there is no more modern department store in the world, although naturally there are larger ones. During the past year this establishment passed into the hands of Marshall, Field & Co. Beyond, the Medical and Dental building. A contract was recently let to double the capacity of this building. Photo by Asahel Curtis. The Argus, 1929. |
