As Seen From the Smith Tower

Seattle's Smith Tower's Observation Deck and Chinese Room have not been open to the public since  December 4, 2014 according to their calendar here. They are presently closed for renovation. There is no date posted for when they expect to reopen. If you have any "intell" when that will happen,  please comment!
From Wikipedia:

Completed in 1914, the 38-story, 484 ft (148 m) tower is the oldest skyscraper in the city and was the tallest office building west of the Mississippi River until the Kansas City Power & Light Building was built in 1931. It remained the tallest building on the West Coast until the Space Needle overtook it in 1962.

For decades, the Smith Tower's observation deck was a favorite vantage point. Check out these old post cards.


"Second Avenue in the business District, as seen from the top of the 42 Story L. C. Smith Building, Seattle, U. S. A." 
#3,000 Published by C. P. Johnston Co., Seattle, U. S. A. Copyrighted 1913 by Frank H. Nowell. R-40703 C. T. American Art


"Looking up Second Ave. from Smith Tower, Seattle." 
16126 Pub. by The Puget Sound News Co., Seattle, Wash


"Harbor and Second Ave. from Smith Building, Seattle, Washington" 
#1756 Edward H. Mitchell, Publisher San Francisco


"Portion of Seattle and Elliott Bay. Queen Anne Hill and Olympic Mountains in Distance." 
107872 C. T. American Art Colored. 3014 Published by C. P. Johnston Co., Seattle, U. S. A. mailed 1927


2070:-"A Partial View of Seattle, Wash" 
Photo by Asahel Curtis 1930s?



"Seattle Skyline. Viewed from the 42 story Smith Tower. Seattle's Financial district forms the foreground with the waterfront and uptown districts forming a background" 
C-59 Ektachrome by Larrie Seifert. General Natural Color. Made by Dexter Press, Inc., West Nyack. N. Y. Pub. By J. Boyd Ellis, Arlington, Wash." It appears the Alaskan Way viaduct is under construction so I'd date this about 1953.


"Seattle, Washington. From Smith Tower's observation platform 35 stories high, is seen this view of busy Seattle, Washington's major city. On the left is a portion of Puget Sound and waterfront." Natural Color from Kodachrome. Mike Roberts Color Production Berkeley 2, California. Published by C. P. Johnston Co., Seattle C971. Postcard mailed June 1954


"Seattle, Washington. Looking North from Smith Observation Tower." 
P3789. Plastichrome by Colourpicture Publishers, Inc., Boston 15, Mass., USA, Color by Roger Dudley. Pub. by Smith's Scenic Views, Tacoma, Washington


"HARBOR FREEWAY, SEATTLE, WASHINGTON" 
NEW PROCESS COLORCARD  - SEATTLE, WASHINGTON. NATURAL COLOR REPRODUCTION - CURTEICHCOLOR ART-CREATION REG. U.S. PAT. OFF. 7C-K306 (I'd love to find a better photo of that Rainier Beer billboard in the foreground!)


"Seattle, Washington - From Smith Tower's observation platform, 35 stories high, is seen this view of busy Seattle, Washington's major city. On the left is a portion of Puget Sound and waterfront. In center is new Norton Bldg."
Color photo by Max R. Jensen


"Seattle Skyline as viewed from atop the 42 story Smith Tower. The financial district is in the foreground while on the left may be seen the Alaskan Way viaduct which carries through traffic along the waterfront. Lake Union is on the far right."
Ektachrome by Clifford B. Ellis. Published by Ellis Post Card Co., Arlington, Washington 33275-B. C-59 Made by Dexter West Nyack, NY.  I believe that black building that appears in this view is the Norton Building which was completed 1959 so I believe this postcard is between 1959-1962

Factoria Mervyn's Home and Fashion 1987

More from the Factoria Square's Mervyn's Grand Opening March 6, 1987.

Home Furnishings.

We bought our first home in 1987.  I had the goose motif on display here



These colors just scream 1987






Fashion jewelry


Fashion foundations


Fashion footwear


Toys and children




More Factoria Mervyn's March 1987
Factoria Mervyn's Welcomes Shoppers
Factoria Mervyn's Spring Fashions

Meet Me In Seattle

"♪ ♫ ♩ ♬Meet Me In Seattle ♪ ♫ ♩ ♬" "Seattle Washington. A new landmark, The Space Needle, dominates this view with Seattle in the background and Mt. Rainier 60 miles in the distance standing guardian over all."
 
I'm growing quite a collection of Seattle Postcards.  I'm particularly fond of anything related to the 1962 Seattle World's Fair.
I have several of this postcard view.  But the musical inscription led me to look for the song.
It's awesomely awful. So I love it.
The mp3 file has been uploaded here (which was blogged here)

I was compelled to geek out the lyrics to this peppy tune:

"Meet Me In Seattle" Joy and the Boys - Seafair Records

Meet me in Seattle at the fair

If you want to meet me I’ll be there

I will be your guy

You will be my doll

We will have a ball

Remember

If you wanna hug me hug me there

If you wanna kiss me kiss me there

I’ll be waiting

to start that celebrating.

Meet me in Seattle

That’s where I’ll be at; I’ll meet you 
in Seattle at the fair.

Doodoodoodoo

Paris at the exposition

The item of the hour

that took the prize

and raised the eyes - the Eiffel tower

Chicago of the 30s had Billy Rose’s plan

The Aquacade,

Promenade

and Sally 
and her fan

Now it’s in Seattle

and honey you can bet

Meet me here

I promise dear

Ya aint seen nothing yet! Yeah!

Dressed up in my finery

Up in that space age dinery

Meet me in Seattle

That’s where I’ll be at; I’ll meet you 
in Seattle at the fair

If you fail me I’ll be blue

Wanna ride that monorail with you

Meet me in Seattle

That’s where I’ll be at; I’ll meet you 
in Seattle at the fair!

Any other interpretations of the lyrics welcome!

1930s Seattle Business District

I've been in thrift stores and have been told they actually throw away used postcards!!!  Can you believe it?! Those are my favorites!  I've mentioned before I love peeking at the messages.  This one from e-Bay is a bonus as it labels some buildings (although not 100% correct) and has a bit of a curious message on the back.
"New Washington Hotel, Seattle P. O., M. D. Bldg, Northern Life Bldg, Telephone Bldg, Olympic Hotel, Elks Club"

P - 100 Section of Seattle Business District - Asahel Curtis
back

Postmarked June 10 1940.

"Dear Tom, This is the best I can do in Seattle. There hasn't been a new P. O. built here in 55 years therefore Seattle is ashamed to photo the old one Hear's(Here's?) where it is located. Greetings G. Switzer"

I'm imagining that these two fellas, G. Switzer and Thomas J. Ashe, travelled frequently for business. For whatever reason, they promised to mail each other postcards of the towns' post offices. But Mr. Switzer was unsuccessful finding one during his visit to Seattle.  He did pretty well labeling Seattle buildings in this one but it's quite a bit harder when you don't have the benefit of Google Maps.  The building labeled "M. (D?) bldg" between "Seattle P. O." and "Northern Life bldg" is actually 1411 Fourth Avenue Building.  Perhaps he thought it was the Medical Dental building which is three blocks further north.  The Post Office was completed in 1908 according to King County Snapshots so was 32 years old in 1940 - I'd love to know where he got "55 years" but he was probably just being snarky ;-).

I do have some images of some of the buildings he's labeled - from left to right
"New Washington Hotel"

"The New Washington Hotel, Seattle, Washington"

"The New Washington Hotel, Seattle, Wash."

The "New Washington Hotel" is now known as
The Josephinum
1902 Second Avenue (Stewart)
It was completed in 1908 and still stands. 
 

This was fun . . .  I was looking on-line for Seattle post office images the same day my "new" postcard arrived in the mail and not very successful finding good ones but lo-and-behold, I open my flickr contacts' Photostream and there is a beauty right at the top.  Thanks TrackWalker!
"Seattle P. O."  AKA  U.S. Court House, Custom House, and Post Office  AKA The Federal Building
Acccording to King County Snapshots, it was completed in 1908 and torn down in 1958.
Check out the Google street view for the current Post Office in the same location.  Really?  (shaking my head) I'm sure there was a really good reason to build it that way without much character. 

Less than a week later, I acquired my own postcard of the old Post Office

"U. S. Court House and Post office, Seattle." The Lowman & Hanford Co., Seattle.  If you return to the postcard at the top of this, you'll see "Lowman & Hanford" painted on the side of the Empire building on the lower right - the publisher of this and many other old Seattle postcards.

Further to the right in that current Google Street View you can see The Northern Life Building now known as the Seattle Tower with the three spires on top.
Here is another view of the Northern Life and Telephone Buildings - 1968 from Seattle Municipal Archives.  The Josephinium is appears left of the Space Needle.

They both still stand - this photo gives you an idea of how dwarfed they are now. (photo linked to Wikimedia Commons where it was found  - Joe Mabel)


1411 Fourth Ave. Building (the one labeled "M. D. Bldg") 
Completed in 1929 and still standing. (Photo linked to Wikimedia Commons where it was found  - Joe Mabel)



The Olympic Hotel
411 University Street.  Completed in 1924 and still standing.


The Elks Club (B. P. O. E. Building "Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks") was built in 1913 at the corner of 4th & Spring.  It was demolished about 1966 to make way for the Sea-First Building AKA The Box the Space Needle came in AKA Safeco Plaza.
From Jasperdo's photostream


The building in the lower right of my new old postcard: "The Empire Building" was also known as "The American Saving's Bank" was at 920 Second Avenue - it was built in 1906 and demolished in the 1970s.

The Wells Fargo Center (999 3rd AVE) was completed in that block in 1983.

I just thought it was fun to examine this postcard and learn more about the buildings in it.

Ye Olde Curiosity Shop

Joseph E. Standley established Ye Olde Curiosity shop in Seattle in 1899.  What began as a hobby as a child turned into a business that has lasted well over 100 years.  The Shop has moved several times but has always been on the central waterfront.  It is still run by J. E. Standley's family. And while I would highly recommend visiting the actual store to appreciate the experience, you can also make on-line purchases. See more about their history on the Shop's website.

I have a few postcards (of course!) and hope to continue to grow my collection.

"Interior of Ye Olde Curiosity Shop, Seattle, U. S. A. Located in the Colman dock. Most Unique Shop in the World. J. E. Standly, PROP'R. Established 1899"


"VISIT YE OLDE CURIOSITY SHOP EST'D 1899. 1-Whale Jaw Bones 1 ton each, 21 1/2 feet, largest in U. S. 2-Skull of Alaska Buffalo, largest in the world. 3-Giant Clam Shell. weighs 161 pounds. From Equator. 4-Ivory Tusk of Alaska Elephant (mammoth). 5-Head of Arctic Walrus with ivory tusks 6-Shell, 855 pounds, fired from U. S. Fort Worden. 7-Navajo Rugs, from Navajo Indians. 8-Indian Totem Poles. 9-Saw of Saw Fish. 10-Indian Cooking Basket. 11-Old Ship Lanterns, brass. 12-Hat worn by Chief Seattle. 13 - Alaska Snail, petrified, 67 pounds. 14-Chilcat Blanket from Alaska. GROUND FLOOR AT COLMAN DOCK ENTRANCE, SEATTLE"

I posted this one on the Facebook pages of Vintage King County and  Ye Olde Curiosity Shop.  The Shop posted this about the items on this 1920s postcard:

This picture is likely from the 1920's. Yes, we do still have most of the things shown in the photograph. I will list them in order. We have about 3/4 of one of the whale jaw bones. One was lost from being out in the weather too long and about a fourth of the other was cut off by someone in the middle of the night (!) when it was chained to the outside of the building that housed the shop when we were on pier 51. The ivory tusk of an Alaskan elephant (mastodon) is on display near the front of the shop (inside). We actually have two. We have several giant clam shells on display. There are many Native American totem poles in our collection (some older and some newer) and we have many for sale also. We have always bought directly from the local artists and some from Alaska and British Columbia as well. We have more than one saw fish saws. We have many Native American baskets in our collection but not sure if this exact one is on display. We purchased many weavings from Chief Sealth's daughter, Princess Angeline, which were for sale at the time and we have kept some examples. We do have a hat that Chief Sealth (Seattle) wore. In case you didn't know Seattle was named after Chief Sealth. The Alaska 67 pound fossil snail is on display in the outside window on the north side of the shop along with many other things from our museum collection. Lastly we do still have a Chilkat blanket on display.

The back of this postcard did not have space for writing, just space for an address and a stamp on the right, on the left side reads:
"VISITORS IN SEATTLE SHOULD SEE: The Pike Place Market; Zoological Gardens; The Smith Tower, 42 stories, Day and Night View; Anderson's Bout Tour of Harbor through U. S. Ship Canal to Lake Union into Lake Washington; Mt. Rainier; Snoqualmie Falls, 100 feet higher than Niagara; Big Trees in Schmitz Park; Sea Bathing at Alki Beach; View of Harbor from Colman Dock Rotunds; Battleships and great docks; U. S. Navy Yard at Bremerton, 1 hour boat ride; Municipal Frozen Fish Aquarium in Spokane St. Wharf; Tropical Conservatories and Art Museum in Volunteer Park; State Museum and Art Gallery on University Campus. The Seattle Chamber of Commerce and Alaska Bureau will give you free literature, maps and information about sight seeing.
VISIT THE WORLD FAMOUS YE OLDE CURIOSITY SHOP and see the Russia Brass Ikons, Samovars; Carvings on 4 grains of rice; Shrunken Human Head size of a lemon from Ecuador; the Lord's Prayer on a pin head; Fleas in dresses; a duckbill Plattypus; a devil fish, wolf fish, musk ox skull, camel bells, old ship lanterns; Narwhal tusk, Aztec pottery; ships in bottles, old guns; India mask and real hand-carved Indian Totem Poles, one to forty feet tall. Big variety of antique brass and bronze, Fossil Ivory jewelry from Alaska Eskimos. Odd rings and beads; rare novelties, Indian Baskets, Bracelets and rings, daggers and thousands of other curiosities from every land and see.
Everybody welcome to Ye Olde Curiosity Shop
Est'd 1899 by J. E. Standley
BEATS THE DICKENS
At Foot of Marion Stret
The Ground Floor Entrance to Colman Dock
Look for the Whale Jaw Bones 21 1/2 Ft. Tall"


"Interior of the world famous Ye Olde Curiosity Shop, Ferry Dock Pier 52, Seattle 4, Washington U. S. A., on Seattle's historic Waterfront. In the foreground is 'Sylvester' the mummy and Cigar Store Indian. Most unique shop in the world, 'Beats the Dickens'. Established 1899" Ektachrome by J. Boyd Ellis. 
According to HistoryLink essay about Ye Olde Curiosity Shop, Sylvester was acquired in 1955 - I think this postcard photo might have been taken about this time


"World Famous Ye Olde Curiosity Shop - 601 Alaskan Way - Pier 51, Seattle 4, Washington (Established 1899 on the waterfront.) Interior view showing Thunderbird House Front, Easter Island Carving, Korean Grave Figure, Cobalt Blue Foo Dog, Sylvester the Mummy (background), and Cigar Store Indian foreground."
This store is on Pier 51 (the above was on Pier 52) and I don't know which location was earlier but since Sylvester is further back in the store, I'm supposing it's a little later.  The Zone number between the City and State indicates it pre-dates the zip code which came in to effect in 1963.

"Seattle Ferry Terminal and Ye Olde Curiosity Shop on the Seattle Waterfront" "Seattle Waterfront, Seattle, Washington, U. S. A. Modern touch to colorful Seattle waterfront is provided by the new $3,000,000 SEATTLE FERRY TERMINAL. The world-famous YE OLDE CURIOSITY SHOP is at left. Waterfront visitors are afforded unlimited sightseeing opportunities from piers which extend far out into Elliot Bay. Fireboats and ferries provide interesting maritime activity in Seattle harbor."

Guessing the date mid to late 1960s (it's after the Seattle World's Fair ended - the barrel poles in front were originally at the Ford Pavilion at the Fair).

Fun place to see; fun place to shop!

Ballard Locks

The U. S. Government Locks, AKA The Hiram M. Chittenden Locks AKA The Ballard Locks  are 96 years old.

From History Link

After decades of often-rancorous debate, construction of a Ship Canal to link Lake Washington and Puget Sound finally began on November 10, 1911. Following the failure of several private canal schemes, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Gen. Hiram M. Chittenden (1858-1917), advanced the project, and his name was later given to the Government Locks linking the Sound and Salmon Bay at Ballard. The canal required digging cuts between Salmon Bay and Lake Union at Fremont and between Lake Union and Lake Washington at Montlake, and building four bascule bridges at Fremont, Ballard, the University District, and Montlake. The Locks officially opened on July 4, 1917, but the canal was not declared complete until 1934.

This is the opening weekend of boating season and many are making their way through The Locks which join Puget Sound to Lake Union and then on to Lake Washington.



"No. 80 in Union Oil company's Natural Color Photographic Scenes of the West. Seattle, metropolis of the Northwest and gateway to Alaska, takes its name from an Indian chief who was friendly to the settlers who first arrived in 1851. The Ballard Locks, shown here make possible passage of deep sea ships from Puget Sound into Lake Union and Lake Washington" See the West with 76 Gasoline Copyright 1939 Union Oil Company of Calif. Made in U. S. A


"Canal Locks Second to Panama, Seattle, Washington" 74031 Tichnor Quality Views. Reg. U. S. Pat. Off. Made only by Tichnor Bros., Inc., Boston, Mass. Mailed January 1944


"C2037 Government Locks, Seattle, separate Puget Sound from freshwater Lake Union and Lake Washington. Large ocean steamers easily pass through these enormous locks."  A Mike Roberts Color Production, Berkeley 2, California


"U. S. Government Locks Seattle, Washington. Second largest locks in the world. Although mighty ocean liners pass through these locks connecting Lake Union with Puget Sound, the locks will operate for even small pleasure craft as shown here."  Color by Paul L. Miller - Shostal.


"U. S. Government Locks - Seattle, Washington. Second largest locks in the world. Both mighty ocean liners and pleasure craft pass through these locks connecting Lake Union with Puget Sound." Color by Cal Harbert.


"Government Locks, Seattle, Wash. Thousands of pleasure craft as well as the largest ocean freighters pass through these locks from the waters of Puget Sound to the fresh waters of Lake Union and Lake Washington."  Ektachrome by Clifford B. Ellis. Mailed January 1970

Opening Day

Opening Day for boating and the weather is supposed to be amazing!  This is a beautiful area to enjoy water craft sports.

Vintage boating and yachting Seattle-area postcards


"University of Washington and Seattle Yacht Club, Seattle, Washington. Showing Mt. Baker in Distance" 9225 "The University of Washington was founded in 1861, just ten years after Seattle was settled. It has a 583 acre campus and now boasts an enrollment of more than 10,000 students. Lake Washington, shown to the left, is one of the three large fresh water lakes located within the city limits." Published by Adams News Co., Seattle, Wash. C Asahel Curtis


"Seattle - Great Boating Center. Boats gather in Portage Bay for opening day regatta on Lake Washington - a yearly event. Seattle Yacht Club at right, University of Washington campus in background." Ektachrome by Josef Scaylea


"Portage Bay and Seattle Yacht Club, Seattle, Wash. University of Washington campus in the distance with new medical center and stadium showing prominently." C-98 60195 Ektachrome by Josef Scaylea.


"Seattle Boat Parade" "Seattle, Washington; Boating Capital of the World. With numberless fine inland waterways and beautiful Puget Sound, boating is the most popular recreation of Seattle residents. Boat Season Opening Day is a huge civic event." Color photo by Max R. Jensen
Anybody know when that wing of the UW Hospital was being built to help me date this? There is no Evergreen Point Floating bridge under construction so it's before 1961.


"Portage Bay and University of Washington Campus, Seattle, Washington. At left center is the University medical and hospital center. At right center is the Athletic Pavilion and Stadium. At lower right is the beautiful Seattle Yacht Club." C-425 Aerial color by Clifford B. Ellis. mailed July 1962


"3002 - Seattle Yacht Harbor. Where thousands of pleasure craft are moored on beautiful Lake Washington." Photo by James W. Power.


"Yachting on Puget Sound, Wash." "3014 Lowman & Hanford Co., Seattle, Wash. (Germany)


"Fishing at Seattle's Front Door. Elliott Bay offers real sport for the lovers of salmon fishing. annual derbys are held and salmon up to 50 pounds are often caught within sight of Seattle's main business section" C-99 Ektachrome by Josef Scaylea.