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Rainier Heat & Power Co. International District photograph album, circa 1925
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Rainier Heat & Power Co.
- Title
- Rainier Heat & Power Co. International District photograph album
- Dates
- circa
1925 (inclusive)19201930
- Quantity
-
17 black and white photographs in 1 album
7.5 x 9.5 inches - Collection Number
- 1990.21 (accession)
- Summary
- Photographs of streets and buildings in Seattle's International District, circa 1925
- Repository
-
Museum of History & Industry, Sophie Frye Bass Library
P.O. Box 80816
Seattle, WA
98108
Telephone: 2063241126 x102
library@mohai.org - Access Restrictions
-
The collection is open to the public by appointment.
- Languages
- English.
Historical NoteReturn to Top
The Rainier Heat & Power Co. was founded in 1912 by William M. Chappell (1867-1921). Chappell first earned his fortune in the Midwest timber and real estate industries, coming west to join gold prospectors in the Klondike. He was successful, and came to Seattle in 1900 to invest in real estate. The Rainier Heat & Power Co. maintained a heating plant and developed buildings on Jackson Street in Seattle's International District. In later years, the company functioned as a management trust selling parcels of land in the International District. Rainier Heat & Power Co. is listed in city directories from 1912 through 1981.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
17 photographs of streets in Seattle's International District, showing business and storefronts. The area depicted is approximately bounded by South Jackson Street to the north, South Weller Street to the south, and 5th Avenue South and Maynard Avenue to the west and east respectively. Some buildings depicted, such as the Bush Hotel and the Rainier Heat & Power Co. building, are known to have been owned by Rainier Heat & Power Co. It is likely that at least some of the other properties depicted were also owned by Rainier Heat & Power Co.
The photographs document the vitality of the International District in the wake of regrading along Jackson Street, finished in 1909, and the construction of railroad passenger terminals and marshalling yards in the rebuilt area. A number of small and large hotels are documented in the photographs, as is the proliferation of Asian-American owned businesses in the thriving neighborhood.
The album measured 8.5 x 11 inches, with leather covers, the front embossed with "Rainier Heat & Power Co., Seattle" in gold. The covers were removed due to deterioration.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Alternative Forms Available
View selections from the collection in digital format by clicking on the camera icons in the inventory below.
Restrictions on Use
The Museum of History & Industry is the owner of the materials in the Sophie Frye Bass Library and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. Written permission must be obtained from MOHAI before any reproduction use. The museum does not necessarily hold copyright to all of the materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from the copyright owners.
Preferred Citation
Rainier Heat & Power Co. International District photograph album , Museum of History & Industry, Seattle
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Folder | ||
| 1 | 1990.21.1: Bush Hotel, corner of Jackson and Maynard Avenues
Designed by John L. McCauley, the Bush Hotel was built in 1915 by the Rainier Heat & Power Co. and
served railroad passengers arriving and departing from the nearby King Street Station.
Other businesses in photo: Jackson Furniture Co. in ground level of Bush Hotel |
circa 1925 |
| 2 | 1990.21.2: Northwest corner of Jackson and 6th Avenue South
Businesses in photo: Alaska Grill, Oriental Optical Co., Chop Suey Noodles
|
circa 1925 |
| 3 | 1990.21.3: Rainier Heat & Power Co. building, Maynard Avenue northeast corner of
Jackson
Designed by John L. McCauley, and built around 1918.
Business in photo: Thumler & Kovar real estate and insurance. |
circa 1925 |
| 4 | 1990.21.4: Southeast corner of Jackson and 6th Avenue South
Businesses in photo: Jackson Fuel & Transfer Co., Jackson Auto Rent Co., Peking Low, Dr. H. Sugata,
physician and surgeon, Aiko Photo Studio, Welcome Hotel. Bush Hotel adjacent to the left.
|
circa 1925 |
| 5 | 1990.21.5: Southwest corner of Jackson and 6th Avenue S.
Building shown is identical in design to 1990.21.4 but appears to be across 6th Avenue South.
Businesses in photo: Jackson Soft Drinks, Jackson Sanitary Barber Shop, Dr. H. Kato, physician and
surgeon, Dr. S. Higashida, dentist, Sanyo Company, Gosho Drug Co., Jackson Dye Works, Good Cafe.
|
circa 1925 |
| 6 | 1990.21.6: Corner of King Street and 6th Avenue South
Businesses in photo: Bison Cafe, U.I. Hotel, King Coffee House, Russell House, Mulkiteo Hotel, Paris
Hotel
|
circa 1925 |
| 7 | 1990.21.7: Corner of 6th Avenue South at Weller Street
Businesses in photo: Paris Hotel, Hinode Laundry and Baths
|
circa 1925 |
| 8 | 1990.21.8: Probably corner King and 6th Avenue South looking toward Weller
Businesses in photo: Sang Lung Co. Merchandise, National Pool Hall, Ohio Hotel
|
circa 1925 |
| 9 | 1990.21.9: Corner of King Street and 6th Avenue South
Same corner pictured in 1990.21.6 but closer view.
Businesses in photo: U.I. Hotel, King Coffee House, Bison Cafe. |
circa 1925 |
| 10 | 1990.21.10: Businesses on 5th Avenue South, probably near Jackson Street
Businesses in photo: Diamond Hotel, N.P. Restaurant, St. Paul Hotel, Dreamland Cabaret, Monte Carlo Pool
Room, Fiore d'Italia Cafe.
|
circa 1925 |
| 11 | 1990.21.11: Dreamland Hotel on northeast corner of King and 6th Ave South, looking
toward Jackson on left
Bush Hotel sign visible behind top of building. Businesses in photo: Salvation Army, New Golden Shoe
Repair, Welcome Hotel, Peking Low.
|
circa 1925 |
| 12 | 1990.21.12: King Street businesses, possibly corner of 5th Avenue South
Businesses in photo: Sunrise Coffee House, Harding Pool Room.
|
circa 1925 |
| 13 | 1990.21.13: Street near corner 6th Avenue South and Jackson
Businesses in photo: Queen Hotel, Sun Express
|
circa 1925 |
| 14 | 1990.21.14: The Waste Laundry, 520 5th Avenue South
Two men stand in front of the building and a sports car is parked nearby.
Hotel Alps in the distance |
circa 1925 |
| 15-17 | 1990.21.15-.17: Wooden scaffolding under structure, possibly a building under
construction 3 photographs
Chains, a roll of cable, tubing and other equipment are visible on the ground in number 15.
|
circa 1925 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Asian American business enterprises--Washington (State)--Seattle
- Bush Hotel (Seattle, Wash.)
- International District (Seattle, Wash.)
- Jackson Street (Seattle, Wash.)
- Maynard Avenue (Seattle, Wash.)
- Sixth Avenue (Seattle, Wash.)
Geographical Names
- United States--Washington (State)--Seattle
Form or Genre Terms
- Photograph albums
Finding aid prepared by Jody Hendrickson
2009
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
