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Houses, houses, houses. They’ve been ruling my life lately. And nothing makes you realize how humble your domicile is until you’ve had a look at some the homes of Seattle’s forefathers. Check out this 1901 Washington Illustrated pictorial showing A.J. Blethen’s residence. Blethen was one of the original publishers of the Seattle Times and members of the Blethen family still have majority ownership of the newspaper. Click on the thumbnail for a higher-res copy.

Residence of Col. A.J. Blethen, Queen Anne Hill, Seattle. Washington Illustrated, 1901.

Remember those three high-end Craftsman beauties that I profiled a while back? Their price came down to $879,000 from the 900’s recently, but now my inside sources are telling me that it could go for $795,000 if you approach them without a realtor. The direct line is 206-963-3431. That’s some serious discounting. Makes me with I could afford 800k…

One of three high-end Craftsman’s recently completed on 20th Ave in Squire Park.

We are continuing to get settled in here at our new house in West Seattle. The unboxing is going slowly — very, very slowly. Everyone in the neighborhood and surrounding area has been super friendly. As the moving truck was being unloaded last weekend, I even got a visit from VS reader and contributor Richard P. Hill. Speaking of contributors… never one to stand still, Deran Ludd sends in these old photographs of J. E. Standley and his home in West Seattle. Standley was the owner of Ye Olde Curiosity Shop, opening the store in 1899. Thanks Deran. Click on the images for more resolution. Does anyone know if his house is still standing?

Shells from every sea in the yard of J. E. Standley in West Seattle.

J. E. Standley outside his home, 1920’s.

I recently got in touch with World’s Fair historian Bill Cotter who provided these excellent candid shots taken at the ‘62 Seattle World’s Fair. If you’re interested in getting photos from the ‘62 Expo or other fairs, check out his website at www.worldsfairphotos.com where you can buy copies. You can also find his book, The 1964-1965 New York World’s Fair at Amazon. Once again, thanks to Bill for providing the snapshots. Enjoy!

Hawaii Pavilion. Photograph courtesy Bill Cotter.

Tram Boulevard West. Photograph courtesy Bill Cotter.

Science Way. Photograph courtesy Bill Cotter.

Horiuchi Mural. Photograph courtesy Bill Cotter.

I want to take a step back again and look at another super wide angle (well, stitched together) photograph of our city. This one comes straight from 1926 taken from what looks like Queen Anne. Also check out our last panorama-o-rama from 1917. Click on the thumbnail for the larger res version. This is a fun one to study. Which landmarks can you pick out?

Seattle panorama. Copyright deposit; Pierson Photo Co.; April 19, 1926. Image courtesy Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.

I’m moving to West Seattle tomorrow! When I told Vintage Seattle key contributor Deran Ludd, he kindly sent me these turn of the century picture postcards of Luna Park in West Seattle. Long before Fun Forest, there was Luna Park — nicknamed the “Coney Island of the west.” It opened in June of 1907 and the forces of moralism and scandal shut her down in 1913. Back to present day… West Seattle, here I come! Let’s hope the moving process is more efficient than the mortgage process has been and let’s hope the dead whale carcass is kept to a minimum. Again, special thanks to Deran Ludd for the photos (Deran is going to be opening a Yesler blog soon, so keep an eye out for that).

Luna Park’s dancing pavilion and summer garden. Photograph courtesy Deran Ludd.

Luna Park circa 1908. Photograph courtesy Deran Ludd.

A view from above the park. Photograph courtesy Deran Ludd.

A 100 ton whale on exhibit at Luna Park, 1907. Photograph courtesy Deran Ludd.

Luna Park snapshot, 1908. Photograph courtesy Deran Ludd.

Luna Park snapshot, 1908. Photograph courtesy Deran Ludd.

By now you’ve all heard the news about the Ballard Manning’s/Denny’s designated a landmark last week. It’s a big win for Seattle preservationists yet we all have to remain vigilant about defending this building since Benaroya Company will certainly appeal the decision. Anne Forestieri, of the group who worked for the designation, was kind enough to get in touch with me and send along some photographs of the Ballard Manning’s/Denny’s circa 1983 taken by former Manning’s general manager Winnie Young. The first with a snow covered ground shows the beautiful Manning’s sign while the second is shot along Market. According to Anne, many of the original significant and character defining elements remain, including the glue lam beams, the mirawal at the base of the building (still the original red color, under several layers of paint), and the concrete battered columns on the sides. For more information on the significance of the structure, you can read architectural historian Alan Michelson’s report submitted to the Landmarks Preservation Board right here. Then check out the photos below and give them a click for a closer look.

A snow covered Manning’s Cafeteria, circa 1983. Photograph courtesy Winnie Young/Anne Forestieri.

Opposite angle of Manning’s Cafeteria in Ballard, circa 1983. Photograph courtesy Winnie Young/Anne Forestieri.

Deran Ludd comes through again! Just one week after sending in this cool Art Deco postcard, he just sent in a collection of photos from Seattle’s 1916 blizzard. This is the same storm that, in late January/early February 1916, collapsed the dome of St. James Cathedral. From February 1st to 2nd of that year, 21.5 inches of snow fell — which is still a record for the city. Check them out! And big thanks to Deran Ludd once again for sending these in.

The view from Yesler Way, showing Smith Tower. Photograph courtesy Deran Ludd.

Unknown street. Photograph courtesy Deran Ludd.

Trolleys stuck in the snow at night. Photograph courtesy Deran Ludd.

Creative residents build a snowman downtown. Photograph courtesy Deran Ludd.

Digging out from the snow on a downtown street. Photograph courtesy Deran Ludd.

The Coliseum Theater inundated with snow, 1916. Photograph courtesy Deran Ludd.

Seattle’s original post office on 3rd Ave. Photograph courtesy Deran Ludd.

Happy Presidents’ Day, everyone! Hopefully you’re having a relaxing day while paying homage to Washington, Lincoln, or Taft. Wait, what? In order to stay on topic I dug up this photo of Seattle Mayor J.D. Braman greeting President Lyndon B. Johnson at Seattle-Tacoma airport in 1966. Check it out.

In other news, Vintage Seattle was destroyed in the Blarch Badness Blog Contest. “It seems as if Accidental Hedonist is losing in a poll against a history blog! This doesn’t seem right,” said Kate Hopkins of Accidental Hedonist before asking readers for more votes. A history blog! In the end, this meddling history had trouble competing with pork — in all its splendor.

Mayor J.D. Braman greeting President Lyndon B. Johnson at Seattle-Tacoma airport during the president’s Canadian visit in 1966. Photograph courtesy Seattle Municipal Archives.

This is a continuation of our look at the Views of Washington In Color picture book. The collection of photographs, Twenty-Four Views of Washington and Oregon in Color, was published in the late 50’s or early 60’s. This second installment features photos of Mount Baker, San Juan Islands, Bailey Range, and Lake Chelan. Like the first batch, they’ve got a bit of a creepy look. Spy the pics below.

Mt. Baker, Washington, from Austin Pass ski shelter.

Picturesque San Juan Islands off the Washington Coast.

Washington’s towering evergreens frame Bailey Range in the Olympics.

Lake Chelan in Central Washington lies deep in the Cascade Range.

It’s been two days since our Washington State Caucus. At first I was pretty disturbed at the lack of organization but came away pretty impressed with the local involvement with a record turnout. With this recent political momentum I wanted to look back at two Pacific Northwest icons of the Women’s Suffrage movement. After all, it wasn’t until 1920 that the Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution came about — granting women the right to vote. Pictured first is Emma Smith DeVoe, a major player in the movement and presidential elector. Below DeVoe you’ll find Dr. Cora Smith King of Seattle, who was a prominent member of the Advisory Council of the Congressional Union for Women Suffrage.

P.S. I’m locked in a heated contest over at Metroblogging Seattle against another blog in their Blarch Badness Blogging Contest. Click here to head over and stick up for Vintage Seattle. They’ve also posted an interview with little ol’ me. Something tells me I should have had Shipley answer the questions for me.

Mrs. Emma Smith Devoe, of Seattle, Washington ca. 1910-1920. Image courtesy Library of Congress, U.S. Copyright Office.

Dr. Cora Smith King of Seattle, Washington ca. 1913-14. Image courtesy Library of Congress, U.S. Copyright Office.

Vintage Seattle reader and Portland-based historian Kathy Tucker was kind enough to send in this fascinating photograph of her great grandfather and State Supreme Court judge, as a child in Seattle. I’ll let Kathy explain:

From the top down: McBurney Mitchell, Donald A. McDonald, Dr. Herbert Coe, Dubois Mitchell, Harry Coe, last unidentified. 7th and Pike, ca. 1892. Photo courtesy Kathy Tucker.

We all know that Seattle Center is in pretty pitiful shape these days and has been for a number of years. Topping off the decay is Fun Forest, which is likely to close next year. It wasn’t always this depressing, though. Case in point, this advertisement for the Gayway (which would later become Fun Forest) from the official 1962 World’s Fair souvenir program. Check out the wonderfully brilliant and manipulative nostalgia driven marketing, pretty much forcing dad to remember the good old days and take the kid to the Gayway for some rides and ice cream. That copy writer definitely deserved a raise. Click on the images for larger views.

Gayway Advertisement. Official Souvenir Program, Seattle World’s Fair 1962.

Gayway Advertisement. Official Souvenir Program, Seattle World’s Fair 1962.

Seattle’s preservation community is locking horns again with the local government, this time concerning a proposed restoration of the King County Courthouse. A $109,000 study ascertaining how much it would cost to reopen windows covered by aluminum panels in the 1960’s was vetoed by King County Executive Ron Sims. Former Seattle City Council member Peter Steinbrueck responded with a firm editorial over on Crosscut arguing that the County Council should override the veto. Historic Seattle is urging members to contact members of the County Council and asking them to support restoration of the Courthouse by overriding the veto. Now that you’re done writing those e-mails, I thought we could all look back to the old King County Courthouse Building. Before the courts moved to the current building in 1917 on Third Avenue, they used this architectural beauty atop First Hill (then known as “Profanity Hill”) beginning in 1890. Unfortunately, it was torn down in the 1930’s. No doubt, Ben Lukoff and I are left thinking “if only we’d kept this building!” All we have now are photographs, like this one from the 1900 Argus. Click on the image for a larger view.

The old King County Courthouse in 1900.

As we all celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day I wanted to point out Powell Barnett, one of Seattle’s great African American civic leaders. He first came to Seattle in 1906, over time working for the Barary Asphalt Paving Company, General Engineering Construction Company (who built many Seattle landmarks), and eventually serving as a clerk for State Senator Frank Connor. As a community leader, Barnett put together the Leschi Improvement Council and was its first president in 1967. As chairman of the East Madison YMCA he was known for integrating black and white communities. In 1969, the Leschi Improvement Council moved to name the park on Martin Luther King Jr Way after Barnett. This 1970 photograph depicts Powell Barnett being shown development plans by Seattle Parks and Recreation officials. Click on the image for higher resolution.

Mr. Powell Barnett Being Shown Development Plans by John O. Andrew, chr. Board of Parks Commissioners (left), Hans A. Thompson, Supt. Dept. of Parks and Recreation, Roy Lehner, Designer, David Jensen Assoc. (Right) Oct 1970. Photograph courtesy Seattle Municipal Archives.