On Tuesday we took a look at the Henry M. Jackson Federal Building and
Dave was asking for photos of the buildings it replaced.
Well, here is one: The Burke Building.
Located at 2nd and Marion, it was built in 1891 and designed by architect Elmer H.
Fisher. In this super high res photo you can see the building elements worked into
the ground floor of the Jackson Building.
Click for the full view.
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| Photo shows the six-story Burke Building with many arched windows, a sign with a cross and a sign beginning with “JA.” “Burke Building” is carved into the building near the top. Photo by Werner Lenggenhager, courtesy Washington State Digital Archives. |
Yes, the venerable arch is just barely visible at the bottom center, below the lamps. I hadn’t realized it before but, yes, some of the elements from up high are now down around the Jackson Building’s plaza walls. Thanks for this Jess. I used to work right behind one of the windows on the 18th floor of the Exchange Building visible right behind the Burke here. I now work exactly one and a half blocks west of the Burke’s erstwhile front arch.
Thanks for the image of the beautiful Burke. Does anyone out there know what the H. in Elmer H. Fisher stands for? It has stumped me for a long time.
What a beautiful building.
That’s just heartbreaking.
oh, how depressing. thanks for posting, tho
Thank you for posting this! My husband’s Great-Great Grandfather, Gustavus N. Miller had his offices (G.N. Miller & Son) in this building in the early 1900′s. Does anyone happen to have any interior photos of the orignial Burke Building?
My great uncle, Sidney James Williams, was the president of the UW’s first graduating law class and had clerked for Judge Burke while attending school.
He later worked in the Burke Building with his partner in a law firm called Blake and Williams. They had the largest client base in King County.