VintageSeattle.org

Attention Taft fans! I know you’re out there! Have I got a photo for you! I can joke about it because I am somehow loosely related to the man (or so the family story goes — no bathtub jokes please). Scope out a couple photos from the 1909 Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition with Taft having a look around and a couple exhibit interiors. Click for higher res.

President Taft sightseeing at the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition, 1909.

Department Of Commerce And Labor — Fisheries Exhibit.

War Department exhibit.

I can see my house from here, again. Well, my old apartment on Capitol Hill anway. This supersized 1.8mb photo from 1962 shows portions of Th’ Hill while Interstate 5 was being constructed. There’s a nice writeup over at HistoryLink about how it came to be. Click for the super high res goodness.

Photo shows construction of the Seattle Freeway, now Interstate 5. 1962. Photo courtesy Washington State Digital Archives.

The Scottish Rite Cathedral, which I assume stood facing this way (based on the grade). So what happened to it? Alan? Click for higher resolution.

The Scottish Rite Cathedral, Broadway and Harvard, Seattle.

And I’m back. Dug up a couple of nice color shots from the World’s Fair. You can never have too many of those. The more interesting ones shows Memorial Stadium with Tommy Bartlett’s Water Ski Sky and Stage Show. Looks wild. Click for higher res.

Seattle World’s Fair, 1962. Memorial Stadium showing Tommy Bartlett’s Water Ski Sky and Stage Show. Photo by Mike Roberts, Max Jensen, and Morley Studios.

Seattle World’s Fair, 1962. Photo by Mike Roberts, Max Jensen, and Morley Studios.

Seattle has a lot of things to be proud of. One of those things that you might not have heard of is the Hoppicopter, developed by Seattle’s own Horace Pentecost. Not sure what it is? Oh, and… add to cart! [see also: Helicopters For Everybody]

Photo shows a man wearing a Hoppi-Coptor, a personal helicopter device developed by Seattle’s Horace Pentecost. Ca. 1950. Photo courtesy Washington State Digital Archives.

Once again, the A.Y.P. Expo anniversary is coming up this summer. At first glance, I read the name on the back of this “official postcard” of the Expo as “Hate Remibold.” Best name ever, perhaps? Alas, no, just “Kate Remibold.” Not as good. The author seems like an unwilling cousin forced to give a shout out. Click for higher res.

A Bit of Scenery on Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition Grounds, Seattle, Wash., 1909. Official Post Card, Photo only Copyrighted 1908 A.Y.P.E. Co.

Postcard sent to Egypt, Wash.

I know this is Vintage Seattle. Yet today I’m off on a plane bound for Kansas City for a family visit. So today we’re Vintage Kansas City. Check out this panorama from 1909 showing 10th and Baltimore. See this link for the modern day street view — a number of buildings remain. Click for the high res.

10th and Baltimore Sts., Kansas City, Mo. c1909. Image courtesy Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.

We’re fast approaching the 100 year anniversary of the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Expo. Better get to work on more AYPE buildings. Take it away, Chas:

Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition 1909, Seattle, Washington. Manufacture Building.

Postcard sent October 24, 1909.

There’s kind of no point in posting yet another downtown Seattle bird’s eye after yesterday’s 2.5meg behemoth. There’s also no point in holding a “what year was I taken” contest because this one’s too easy. So here they are… 1913 from atop the Smith Tower under construction. Click for higher res.

Looking northeast from Smith Building, across Lake Union. Photo by Webster & Stevens. The Argus, 1913.

Looking east from Smith Building. Photo by Webster & Stevens. The Argus, 1913.

Looking southeast from Smith Building. Photo by Webster & Stevens. The Argus, 1913.

Looking south from Smith Building. Photo by Webster & Stevens. The Argus, 1913.

Well, my old house at least. Can you? This 1955 bird’s eye is our first supersized high-res photo — weighing in at a healthy 2.5meg and 4000 pixels wide. Consider that a warning if you’re on a low bandwidth connection. Click the thumbnail for a closer look.

In other Seattle related news, end of an era coming this Tuesday. The 146-year old Seattle Post-Intelligencer will publish their last edition Tuesday. They will be retaining a web presence though.

Photo shows an aerial view of Seattle, taken from the southeastern neighborhood Mount Baker. The waters of Lake Union and, further west, Elliot Bay can be seen. Ca. 1955. Photographer’s stamp on verso.”City of Seattle viewed from over the Mount Baker District toward the NorthwestThe arterial street seen running from the lower edge of the picture toward the Northeast is Rainier Avenue.” Photo courtesy Washington State Digital Archives.

This is the third in our line of “Greetings From Seattle” vintage postcards. Check out the first 40’s card here and the second here. This particular card looks to be from the 1940’s, judging from the Lake Washington Floating Bridge inside the second letter “t”. Click on the thumbnail for higher res.

Greetings From Seattle, Washington. Linen era postcard from the 1940’s.

These are stressful times. Seems like a good moment for a simple photo of the Needle, Pacific Science Center, and some tulips. The shot is from 1962 and photographed by Mike Roberts, Max Jensen, and Morley Studios. Have a relaxing weekend, everyone. Click on the thumbnail for higher res.

Space Needle at night. 1962. Photo by Mike Roberts, Max Jensen, and Morley Studios.

Ok Seattle sports nerds, it’s time that the Old Sport category got in on the action around here. I received this autographed 8×10 as a Christmas present this year. It shows 1969 Seattle Pilot Diego Segui at what looks to be a “take your children to work day.” Diego’s son, David Segui also played in the major leagues — so i wondered if that was his John Hancock over on the right. He was born in 1966 so this picture would put him at three years old. He did wear the number 21 and this autograph looks to be similar. I think the mystery is solved. Any sports nuts that can confirm this? Diego Segui played his last season in Seattle with the Mariners and son David also spent a year in Seattle.

Seattle Pilots Cuban born pitcher Diego Segui and children, 1969.

When you’re on First Hill admiring St. James Cathedral (see my photo profile here) be sure to head one block east to see O’Dea High School. Ground was broken in March 1923 and school was in session by the next year. The school was the last major project in Seattle for architecture firm Beezer Brothers.

The Cathedral School, located on the same block as St. James and now closed, opened in 1911 and moved into their new building in 1912. This website has some history and photos: Click on the photos for higher res copies.

O’Dea High School. 802 Terry Ave. Front.

O’Dea High School. 802 Terry Ave. Side.

O’Dea High School. 802 Terry Ave. Alternate angle, front.

O’Dea High School. 802 Terry Ave. Alternate angle, front.

Cathedral School. Front.

O’Dea High School. 802 Terry Ave. Alternate angle, south side.

Attention roadside Americana fans, today we’ve got the old Ace Motor Hotel on Aurora. This 1957 postcard shows the “strategically located” Ace — which is now a Travelodge site. Five minutes from downtown, Northgate, and U District? I don’t think so, not even in ‘57. Click for higher res.

Ace Motor Hotel. 8512 Aurora Ave., Seattle, Wash. 30 modern units. Strategically located on U.S. 99 North. 5 minutes from downtown, Northgate, University Districts.