Photographs of Seattle Trolleys collection

Photographs of Seattle Trolleys collection, approximately 1916

Overview of the Collection

Title: Photographs of Seattle Trolleys collection
Dates: approximately 1916 (inclusive)
19161916
Quantity: 27 photographic prints (1 folder) ; various sizes
Collection Number: PH0896
Summary: Photographs showing the Seattle Electric Company trolley railcars in the snow storm of 1916
Repository: University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections
University of Washington Libraries
Box 352900
Seattle, WA
98195-2900
Telephone: 2065431929
Fax: 2065431931
speccoll@uw.edu
Access Restrictions: Entire collection can be viewed on the Libraries’ Digital Collections website. Permission of Visual Materials Curator is required to view originals. Contact Special Collections for more information.
Languages

Historical BackgroundReturn to Top

In 1916, Puget Sound experienced one of its worst snowfalls to date. January of that year had already witnessed 23 inches of snow, and the 24 hour period between January 31 and February 1 brought 21.5 inches more on top of the previous number. The resulting 44.5 inches of snow shut down the city. Streetcars could not run, though several were equipped with snow plows to clear the tracks. The roads were impassable, and many buildings in the city and surrounding areas were damaged by the wet snow, especially when the temperatures began to rise and melt the top layers of the snow. The dome at St. James Cathedral collapsed in on itself.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The collection consists of photographs depicting scenes of the effect a snow storm, circa 1916, had on the streetcars in Seattle and vicinity.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Alternative Forms Available

View the digital version of the collection

Restrictions on Use

Restrictions may exist on reproduction, quotation, or publication. Contact Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries for details.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Processing Note

Processed by Erin Mettling; processing completed in 2010.

Photos transferred from Transportation Files 2010.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Folder	item
1	1	Trolley car in snow, South Seattle	1916?
1	2	Trolley cars in snow at the Fremont Barn	1916?
1	3	Men shoveling snow from the Virginia street trolley tracks near Hotel Nelson	1916?
1	4	Ladies walking past the trolleys caught in the snow at 1st and Republican	1916?
1	5	Trolleys and pedestrians at 14th and E. Madison, looking N.E	1916?
1	6	Trolley on plowed street at 1st and James near Hotel Seattle	1916?
1	7	Trolleys and pedestrians on James street, near Hotel Seattle	1916?
1	8	Commuters waiting for the trolley at the foot of Yesler Street	1916?
1	9	Trolleys climbing the Yesler Trestle	1916?
1	10	Men clearing snow from trolley tracks on Yesler Trestle	1916?
1	11	Trolley tracks on Railroad Ave (later Alaskan Way), as seen from Yesler Way Caption on photo: #73 - Western Ave. from Yesler Way.	1916?
1	12	Trolleys covered in snow at the North Seattle Barn	1916?
1	13	Trolleys in the Seattle Electric Company shed at North Seattle Barn near Hotel Roslyn	1916?
1	14	Trolleys covered and stuck in snow at North Seattle Barn	1916?
1	15	Trolley workers riding cart on a bridge behind a snow-covered trolley near North Seattle Barn	1916?
1	16	Trolley workers on cart with shovels at Jefferson Barn	1916?
1	17	Men shoveling snow near trolley stuck in snow	1916?
1	18	Trolley plow clearing snow on 23rd Avenue	1916?
1	19	Two men with trolley plow clearing snow on 23rd Avenue	1916?
1	20	Three men with trolley plow clearing snow on 23rd Avenue	1916?
1	21	Trolleys caught in the snow at 2nd Avenue and Pike Street	1916?
1	22	Trolleys caught in the snow on Pike Street	1916?
1	23	Parked snow plow	1916?
1	24	Side view of parked snow plow	1916?
1	25	Front of snow plow Caption on photo: #73-2 Snowplow after "The Battle".	1916?
1	26	Railcars trapped in the snow by the Georgetown shops	1916?
1	27	Men clearing the snow off the tracks at the Georgetown shops	1916?

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

Cable cars (Streetcars)--Washington (State)--Seattle
Snow removal--Washington (State)--Seattle--Photographs
Snow--Washington (State)--Seattle--Photographs
Street-railroads--Employees--Photographs
Street-railroads--Washington (State)--Seattle--Photographs
Trolley cars--Washington (State)--Seattle--Photographs
Visual Materials Collections (University of Washington)

Geographical Names

Seattle (Wash.)--Photographs

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