VintageSeattle.org

Dive bar it isn’t, that Tom A. Williams Bar and Billiards establishment. This undated vintage advertisement probably comes from some time in the early 1900’s and is a nice visual insight into watering holes from that era. In addition to the mounted moose head across from the bar, Williams also elected to have a couple of them on all fours — hooves and all. Sometimes one moose head just isn’t enough. Also note the creative seafairing pattern near the crown molding. Playing to the clientele down there on First Ave, smart move. Click on the image for the full resolution version.

Tom A. Williams Bar and Billiards. 614 First Avenue. Seattle, Wash.

You know, holiday shopping season is coming up… Oh forget the tie-in, it’s only November 1st. Let’s just go way back over 100 years for this vintage ad from The Argus dated December 22, 1900. It’s from Seattle’s MacDougall & Southwick Company advertising a holiday sale of boys’ clothing. Or, as the subtitle puts it, sweeping reductions that will enable you to give “some boy” a suitable and useful Christmas present. Some boy, any boy! They had boys’ reefers, vestees, long-pant suits… all at cut rate prices from two to five bucks. From what I can ascertain, MacDougall & Southwick opened up shop in 1874 and lasted until 1964, with several stores in the Puget Sound. Not a bad run. Here’s a shot of the store in 1929 and some women in 1924 trying on some clothes. Ok let’s take a look at the vintage ad. Click on it for more resolution. You know you want to.

The MacDougall & Southwick Company. First Avenue, Seattle, Wash. Holiday sales of boys’ clothing. The Argus, 1900.

Today’s Seattle Vintage Ads come from an unknown 1919 Seattle area High School yearbook and the theme revolves around keg stands, ravers, and co-eds. Well, sort of. Business Colleges, my friends! The first is from Hall Business College on Third and Columbia urging readers to “start right!” and learn shorthand from the “world’s foremost exponent of Gregg Shorthand.” The second ad shows Wilson’s Modern Business College located at 2nd and Stewart, who were convinced of their superiority. Check out this 1910 photo from MOHAI showing a group of students learning shorthand. Let’s have a look at the images, click on them for a high-res version.

Wilson’s Modern Business College, Seattle. Second Ave. At Stewart St. Main 3016. 1919.

“Start Right!” Hall Business College, Seattle. Third And Columbia. A Business Training School Of The Highest Class. 1919.

Check out this vintage advertisement for H. Hanson’s Sewing Machine Agency’s carload sale of Wheeler & Wilson sewing machines. It comes from 1902’s Seattle Mail And Herald, boasting a ruffler that will “ruffle everything but your temper” and whichever model you buy is sure to “turn drudgery into pastime.” Now that’s how to market a sewing machine! Though I’m afraid that if you heed the call to action today and go down to 215 Columbia Street looking for a sewing machine, you’ll only find Pacific Northwest Title Company. I guess that sale really didn’t last forever. Click on the image for a larger view.

Big Discount Sale Of Sewing Machines. Seattle Mail And Herald, 1902.

Every day heading west down James Street just before entering the I-5 on-ramp, two or more of my tires nearly explode. This area, along with Mercer Street, has some of the most heinous pot holes I think I’ve ever seen. The chasms seem nearly bottomless, and the damage to cars… outrageous. Well if only we still had The Barber Asphalt Paving Company around laying pavement on First Hill, which by the way (at the time) was “the best paved residence district in the world.” If that’s true, and I have no reason to believe otherwise, then things have changed. For the worse! But seriously, some Seattle streets just look like war zones. So readers, which area(s) of the city have done the most damage to your car? While you’re pondering that, let’s have a closer look at this vintage ad from 1902’s Seattle Mail And Herald. Click on the image for a higher-res version.

The Barber Asphalt Paving Co. Street paving. Reservoir Lining. The Seattle Mail And Herald, 1902.

Read all about it and sign up for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer… in 1902. This advertising relic comes to us from The Seattle Mail and Herald, at a time when the weekly plan cost just 75 cents a month. It now costs about 14 bucks. Apparently, at the time, the Seattle PI was only made up of “gentlemen” and “your friends in the east” would appreciate your subscription. I wonder what would happen if you sent this coupon in today, I mean there’s no legalese stating when it expires! Click on it for a larger view:

Subscription coupon for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer circa 1902.

Straight from a 1914 edition of The Cosmogram comes this vintage ad for The Bon Marche. This Seattle institution opened in 1890 by the enterprising Nordhoff family. The store moved into the building pictured below in 1896 at Second and Pike/Union and remained at this location until 1928. And a couple of corporate buyouts later, you now know The Bon Marche simply as Macy’s (now at 3rd and Pine). In this ad, notice the emphasis on cash instead of credit. Times do indeed change. Click the image for a closer look.

1914 ad for The Bon Marche located at 2nd and Pike/Union. “Seattle’s Great Cash Store.” Featuring the millinery parlors, or um, hats.

Ok let’s settle in for another few stories from that May 1964 copy of the Seattle Times. Although this first article isn’t strictly Seattle related, it’s interesting nonetheless. The article reports on the six-hour JFK Assassination re-enactment the Secret Service undertook in Dealey Plaza. Interesting that they even wore Governer Connally’s suit that he had worn the day of the assassination. And speaking of this subject, I recently Netflix’d a documentary called The Men Who Killed Kennedy that I have to recommend. Next up is a simple ad for Northgate Mall boasting that it is open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday until 9:30. Nine thirty! Just a simple reminder of how times change — especially with our modern conveniences. Northgate, by the way, opened in 1950 and was one of the nation’s very first malls. So I suppose that you could say that mallrats are all our fault! Click on the image for a closer look:

May 25, 1964 article in the Seattle Times regarding the Kennedy Assassination re-enactment.	Northgate Mall advertisement, 1964.

This week we’re going to be concentrating on the Seattle Times. Before getting to the building later in the week, let’s flip through the pages of the May 25, 1964 edition of the paper. First there’s an ad for the Emmy Awards on King 5 TV. First person to post the winners in the comments wins a special prize*. And second is an ad for Pacific Northern Airlines, which was swallowed up by Western Airlines (”it’s the oooonly way to fly!”) in 1967. Click on the news clippings for a larger view:

* Special prize is the admiration of all 5 Vintage Seattle readers.

Pacific Northern Airlines, ca 1964.

Today’s item is from a 1902 edition of the weekly Seattle Mail And Herald. This vintage ad proclaims West Seattle to be a good investment complete with graded streets, good water piped in, and grand views. And look at those lot prices. $150 to $400 — not too bad! Anyone have any intel on whatever happened to the public school house and flour mill? Couldn’t quite fit the newsprint on the scanner, don’t hold it against me. Click on the image for a larger view:

West Seattle Property Is A Good Investment. The Seattle Mail And Herald, 1902.