Lewis, Wiley & Morse Inc. Alki Avenue Regrade Photograph Album

Lewis, Wiley & Morse Inc. Alki Avenue Regrade Photograph Album, 1913-1914

Overview of the Collection

Title: Lewis, Wiley & Morse Inc. Alki Avenue Regrade Photograph Album
Dates: 1913-1914 (inclusive)
19131914
Quantity: 104 photographs in 1 album, (1 box)
Collection Number: 2010.3.32 (accession)
Summary: Photograph album documenting West Seattle’s Alki Avenue regrade, fill and seawall construction projects
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.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The collection consists of a 10x12 inch black leather album with 104 photographs, each 7.5 by 9.5 inches. The photographs are numbered consecutively, dated, and captioned (on negative) with "Lewis, Wiley & Morse, Inc" and a description. All of the photos were taken by the Curtis & Miller Photographic Studio, a partnership between Asahel Curtis and Walter Miller operating in Seattle from approximately 1911-1920.

The photographic series provides a visual documentation of the Lewis, Wiley & Morse, Inc. Alki Avenue construction project from 1913-1914. Each photograph has a handwritten, detailed annotation providing information on street intersections, exact locations, building landmarks and directional views. The laregely chronological arrangement of the album documents all stages of the street widening project, including bulkhead construction and water pipeline installation.

Historical BackgroundReturn to Top

Alki Beach in West Seattle is the site of the first white settlers landing in November 1851. Fifty years later, there were 800 residents living in West Seattle and by the early 1900s the population had grown to over 1500. At the turn of the 20th century, West Seattle had no public transportation, no electricity and an inadequate water supply for summer demand. Access to the area was by ferry boat. In 1902, the Spokane Avenue trestle bridge was completed and in 1904 an electric streetcar line finally connected the popular Alki Beach to downtown Seattle. In 1907, an elaborate amusement center called Luna Park was constructed on pier pilings near the Duwamish Head. West Seattle was annexed to Seattle in 1907, securing police and fire protection as well as a reliable supply of municipal water from the Cedar River. In 1910, Alki Beach became the first municipal saltwater beach on the west coast.

In the winter of 1913, the Seattle-based hydraulic contracting firm Lewis, Wiley & Morse began work on the Alki Avenue regrade, fill and seawall project. The construction continued through 1913 and was completed in the spring of 1914. William Chester Morse (1874-1949) managed the company during that time. He later served as Seattle’s water superintendent from 1938 until his death in 1949. The project involved a hydraulic hillside regrade near the intersection of Fairmount Avenue and Alki Avenue. A new seawall was constructed along Elliott Bay and a municipal water system pipeline installed along Alki Avenue. The existing wood plank roadbed was also widened during the 1913-1914 projects. Alki Avenue was eventually paved in 1923.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

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.

Alternative Forms Available

View selections from the collection in digital format by clicking on the camera icons in the inventory below.

Preferred Citation

Lewis, Wiley & Morse Inc. Alki Avenue Regrade Photograph Album, Museum of History & Industry, Seattle

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Location of Collection

2a.4.5

Acquisition Information

Found in collection.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Page
1	2010.3.32.1: Railroad tracks, buildings, pedestrians, bicycles and construction materials Caption on photo: Looking W. from N.W. corner of N.P.R.R. Elevator	1913 February 1
2	2010.3.32.2: Hillside, railroad tracks, buildings, wood platform and pipes Caption on photo: Looking S. from E. side of bulkhead line between N.P.R.R. Elevator and flour mill	1913 February 19
3	2010.3.32.3: Elevated railroad tracks, hillside and pipes Caption on photo: Looking S. from S.W. corner of flour mill	1913 February 19
4	2010.3.32.4: Wooden plank street with buildings and railroad tracks Caption on photo: Looking S.E. on Alki Ave. from S. margin of W. Atlantic Street	1913 February 19
5	2010.3.32.5: Wooden plank street with buildings and railroad tracks Caption on photo: Looking S.E. on Alki Ave. from N.W. line of boat and engine shops	1913 February 12
6	2010.3.32.6: Wooden plank street with buildings and railroad tracks Caption on photo: Looking N.W. on Alki Ave. from the S. boundary of Fairmont Ave.	1913 February 19
7	2010.3.32.7: Wooden plank street with flour mill and railroad tracks Caption on photo: Looking S.E. on Alki Ave. from the N. boundary of Fairmont Ave.	1913 February 19
8	2010.3.32.8: Wooden plank street with railroad tracks and line of pipes Caption on photo: Looking N.W. on Alki Ave. from the N. boundary of Bronson Place	1913 February 19
9	2010.3.32.9: Lewis, Wiley & Morse Hydraulic Contractors Building with snow Caption on photo: Looking W. from N.W. corner of N.P.R.R. Elevator	1913 March 19
10	2010.3.32.10: Hillside, railroad tracks and buildings with snow Caption on photo: Looking from the E. side of bulkhead between N.P.R.R. Elevator and flour mill	1913 March 19
11	2010.3.32.11: Hillside and pipes with snow Caption on photo: Looking S. from the S.W. corner of flour mill	1913 March 19
12	2010.3.32.12: Street, buildings, railroad tracks and wagons with snow Caption on photo: Looking S.E. on Alki Ave. from S. margin of W. Atlantic Street	1913 March 19
13	2010.3.32.13: Street, pipes and flour mill with snow Caption on photo: Looking S.E. on Alki Ave. from the N.W line of boat and engine works shop	1913 March 19
14	2010.3.32.14: Street and construction materials with snow Caption on photo: Looking N.W. on Alki Ave. from the S. boundary of Fairmont Ave.	1913 March 19
15	2010.3.32.15: Street and flour mill with snow Caption on photo: Looking S.E. on Alki Ave. from the N. boundary of Fairmont Ave.	1913 March 19
16	2010.3.32.16: Street and railroad tracks with snow Caption on photo: Looking N.W. on Alki Ave. from the N. boundary of Bronson Place	1913 March 19
18	2010.3.32.17: Construction materials in front of Lewis, Wiley & Morse building Caption on photo: Looking W. from N.W. corner of N.P.R.R. Elevator	1913 April 19
19	2010.3.32.18: Construction materials in front of Lewis, Wiley & Morse building Caption on photo: Looking S. from E. side of bulkhead line between N.P.R.R. Elevator and flour mill	1913 April 19
20	2010.3.32.19: Tracks and construction materials Caption on photo: Looking S. from S.W. corner of flour mill	1913 April 19
21	2010.3.32.20: Street and construction workers Caption on photo: Looking S.E. from S. margin of W. Atlantic Street	1913 April 19
22	2010.3.32.21: Street with pipes and flour mill in the distance Caption on photo: Looking S.E. from N.W. line of boat and engine works shop	1913 April 19
23	2010.3.32.22: Street with pipes and construction workers in the distance Caption on photo: Looking N.W on Alki Ave. from the S. boundary of Fairmont Ave.	1913 April 19
24	2010.3.32.23: Street with pipes, four mill and pedestrian Caption on photo: Looking S.E. on Alki Ave. from the N. boundary of Fairmont Ave.	1913 April 19
25	2010.3.32.24: Elevated street and tracks with pipes Caption on photo: Looking N.W. on Alki Ave. from the boundary of Bronson Place	1913 April 19
26	2010.3.32.25: Hillside removal, pit and water canon Caption on photo: Looking S. into the pit	1913 April 19
27	2010.3.32.26: Tracks and construction materials Caption on photo: Looking W. from the N.W. corner of N.P.R.R. Elevator	1913 May 21
28	2010.3.32.27: Tracks, construction materials and elevated pipes Caption on photo: Looking S. from E. side of bulkhead line between N.P.R.R. Elevator and flour mill	1913 May 21
29	2010.3.32.28: Tracks, elevated road and hillside Caption on photo: Looking S. from S.W. corner of flour mill	1913 May 21
30	2010.3.32.29: Street with construction workers and horse teams Caption on photo: Looking S.E. from S. margin of W. Atlantic St. on Alki Ave.	1913 May 21
31	2010.3.32.30: Street with flour mill in distance Caption on photo: Looking S.E. from N.W. line of boat and engine works shop	1913 May 21
32	2010.3.32.31: Street with buildings and pedestrians Caption on photo: Looking N.W. on Alki Ave. from the S. boundary of Fairmont Ave.	1913 May 21
33	2010.3.32.32: Street with flour mill and horse wagon Caption on photo: Looking S.E. on Alki Ave. from the N. boundary of Fairmont Ave.	1913 May 21
34	2010.3.32.33: Elevated street and tracks with pedestrians Caption on photo: Looking N.W. on Alki Ave. from the N. boundary of Bronson Place	1913 May 21
35	2010.3.32.34: Hillside removal, pit and water canon Caption on photo: Looking S. into the pit	1913 May 21
36	2010.3.32.35: Elevated street and tracks with pedestrians Caption on photo: Looking N. from the S. boundary of W. Florida St.	1913 May 21
37	2010.3.32.36: Street and tracks Caption on photo: Looking S.E. from the pump station on Alki Ave.	1913 May 21
38	2010.3.32.37: Tracks, construction materials and Lewis, Wiley & Morse building Caption on photo: Looking W. from the N.W. corner of N.P.R.R. Elevator	1913 June 20
39	2010.3.32.38: Hillside with pipes and tracks Caption on photo: Looking S. from the side bulkhead line halfway between elevator and flour mill	1913 June 20
40	2010.3.32.39: Hillside with elevated tracks Caption on photo: Looking S. from S.W. corner of flour mill	1913 June 20
41	2010.3.32.40: Street with buildings Caption on photo: Looking S.E. from S. margin of W. Atlantic St. on Alki Ave.	1913 June 20
42	2010.3.32.41: Street with flour mill and horse wagon Caption on photo: Looking S.E. from the N.W. line of boat and engine works shop	1913 June 20
43	2010.3.32.42: Street with pedestrians, horses and wagons Caption on photo: Looking N.W. on Alki Ave. from S. boundary of Fairmont Ave.	1913 June 20
44	2010.3.32.43: Street with wagons and flour mill Caption on photo: Looking S.E. on Alki Ave from the N. boundary of Fairmont Ave.	1913 June 20
45	2010.3.32.44: Elevated street and tracks Caption on photo: Looking N.W. on Alki Ave. from the N. boundary of Bronson Place	1913 June 20
46	2010.3.32.45: Hillside removal, pit and water canon Caption on photo: Looking S. into the pit	1913 June 20
47	2010.3.32.46: Street and tracks with elevator and flour mill Caption on photo: Looking N. from the S. boundary of W. Florida St.	1913 June 20
48	2010.3.32.47: Street and tracks with carriage Caption on photo: Looking S.E. from the Lewis, Wiley & Morse pump station on Alki Ave.	1913 June 20
49	2010.3.32.48: Tracks, Lewis, Wiley & Morse building and pedestrian Caption on photo: Looking W. from the N.W. corner of N.P.R.R. Elevator	1913 July 21
50	2010.3.32.49: Elevated tracks, buildings and construction materials Caption on photo: Looking S. from the E. side of bulkhead line halfway between N.P.R.R. elevator and flour mill	1913 July 21
51	2010.3.32.50: Tracks, construction workers and horse teams Caption on photo: Looking S. from the S.W. corner of flour mill	1913 July 21
52	2010.3.32.51: Street and building Caption on photo: Looking N.W. on Alki Ave. from the s. boundary of Fairmont Ave.	1913 July 21
53	2010.3.32.52: Street with horse wagons, pedestrians and flour mill Caption on photo: Looking S.E. on Alki Ave. from the N. boundary of Fairmont Ave.	1913 July 21
54	2010.3.32.53: Street and tracks Caption on photo: Looking N.W. on Alki Ave. from the N. boundary of Bronson Place	1913 July 21
55	2010.3.32.54: Hillside removal, pit and water canon Caption on photo: Looking S. into the pit	1913 July 21
56	2010.3.32.55: Street, tracks and flour mill Caption on photo: Looking N. from the S. boundary of W. Florida St.	1913 July 21
57	2010.3.32.56: Street, tracks and buildings Caption on photo: Looking S.E. from the Lewis, Wiley & Morse pump station on Alki Ave.	1913 July 21
58	2010.3.32.57: Street, tracks and bulkhead Caption on photo: Looking N.W. on Alki Ave. from S. side of Spokane Ave.	1913 July 21
59	2010.3.32.58: Street, tracks and construction workers Caption on photo: Looking S. along Alki Ave. from N. side of Porter Way	1913 July 21
60	2010.3.32.59: Street, tracks, houses and horse teams Caption on photo: Looking S. along Alki Ave. from N. side of Hinds St.	1913 July 21
61	2010.3.32.60: Street, tracks, pedestrians, automobile and horses Caption on photo: Looking S. along Alki Ave. from N. side of Porter Way	1913 August 19
62	2010.3.32.61: Street, grocery store and horse buggy Caption on photo: Looking S. along Alki Ave. from N. side of Hinds St.	1913 August 19
63	2010.3.32.62: Lewis, Wiley & Morse building with empty wagon Caption on photo: Looking W. from N.W. corner of N.P.R.R. Elevator	1913 August 19
64	2010.3.32.63: View of tracks and hillside Caption on photo: Looking S. from S.W. corner of flour mill	1913 August 19
65	2010.3.32.64: Street and tracks Caption on photo: Looking N.W. on Alki Ave. from the S. boundary of Fairmont Ave.	1913 August 19
66	2010.3.32.65: Pipeline and street Caption on photo: Looking S. from E. side of bulkhead line between N.P.R.R. Elevator and flour mill	1913 August 19
67	2010.3.32.66: Street and flour mill Caption on photo: Looking S.E. on Alki Ave. from N. boundary of Fairmont Ave.	1913 August 19
68	2010.3.32.67: Streetcar on tracks Caption on photo: Looking N.W. on Alki Ave. from the N. boundary of Bronson Place	1913 August 19
69	2010.3.32.68: Pit, hillside removal and water canon Caption on photo: Looking S. into the pit	1913 August 19
70	2010.3.32.69: Street, tracks and flour mill Caption on photo: Looking N. from the S. boundary of W. Florida St.	1913 August 19
71	2010.3.32.70: Street and tracks with pedestrians Caption on photo: Looking S.E. from the Lewis, Wiley & Morse pump station on Alki Ave.	1913 August 19
72	2010.3.32.71: Street and bulkhead Caption on photo: Looking N.W. along Alki Ave. from the S. side of Spokane St.	1913 August 19
74	2010.3.32.72-73: Interior view of pit with pipes and water canon Caption on photo: Looking into the pit from the S.E. corner level with grade (panorama of 2 photos)	1913 September 24
75	2010.3.32.74: Street, tracks and pipes Caption on photo: Looking N. on Alki Ave. from the center of crossing at Alki and Florida St.	1913 September 24
76	2010.3.32.75: Street and construction workers Caption on photo: Looking S. on Alki Ave. from Parker Way	1913 September 24
77	2010.3.32.76: Pit and water canon with flour mill in distance Caption on photo: Looking N.E. from S. end of pit	1913 September 24
78	2010.3.32.77: Interior view of pit with pipes Caption on photo: Looking into the pit from the N.E. corner level with grade	1913 September 24
79	2010.3.32.78: Elevated tracks across water Caption on photo: Looking E. on Manning St. from point 25 yards S. of Spokane Ave. from S.W. side of Alki Ave	1913 September 24
80	2010.3.32.79: Tracks and buildings along grade Caption on photo: Looking S.E. from E. edge of new grade 25 yards N. of Manning St.	1913 September 24
81	2010.3.32.80: Street, pipeline and construction workers Caption on photo: Looking S. on Alki Ave. from center of crossing at Alki Ave. and Florida St.	1913 September 24
82	2010.3.32.81: Tracks over water Caption on photo: Train trestle	1913 October 28
83	2010.3.32.82: Tracks, street, pipe and flour mill Caption on photo: Looking N. on Alki Ave. from Landers St.	1913 October 28
84	2010.3.32.83: Bulkhead and water Caption on photo: Showing method of letting fill seal under lower board of bulkhead	1913 October 28
85	2010.3.32.84: Filling around bulkhead posts Caption on photo: Showing bulkhead construction	1913 October 28
86	2010.3.32.85: Filling around bulkhead posts Caption on photo: Showing bulkhead construction	1913 October 28
87	2010.3.32.86: Shear board on top of pile and timber Caption on photo: Showing bulkhead construction on curve	1913 October 28
88	2010.3.32.87: Building bulkhead in advance of fill Caption on photo: Showing method of letting fill seal under lower board of bulkhead	1913 October 28
89	2010.3.32.88: Bulkhead construction near flour mill Caption on photo: Showing fairly good bulkhead built on hard mud or sand foundation	1913 October 28
90	2010.3.32.89: Bulkhead construction process Caption on photo: Showing a poor bulkhead built on soft mud	1913 October 28
91	2010.3.32.90: Old bulkhead and bulkhead rebuilt on pile and timber Caption on photo: Showing a section of bulkhead washed out by tidal action	1913 October 28
92	2010.3.32.91: Bulkhead with tracks and train cars Caption on photo: Showing a good bulkhead built on solid foundation	1913 October 28
94	2010.3.32.92: Tracks, bridge and elevated road Caption on photo: Looking S.E. from Eastern edge of new grade 25 yards N. of Manning St.	1913 October 23
95	2010.3.32.93: Tracks and group of people Caption on photo: Looking S. from Porter Way from side of Alki Ave.	1913 October 23
96	2010.3.32.94: Street and group of people Caption on photo: Looking S. from Porter Way from side of Alki Ave.	1913 October 23
97	2010.3.32.95: Pit and water canon Caption on photo: Looking S. into the pit	1913 December 23
98	2010.3.32.96: Collapsed bulkhead Caption on photo: Break in city bulkhead S. of Lander St. on Alki Ave.	1913 December 23
99	2010.3.32.97: Collapsed bulkhead Caption on photo: Break in city bulkhead S. of Lander St. on Alki Ave.	1913 December 23
100	2010.3.32.98: Collapsed bulkhead Caption on photo: Break in city bulkhead S. of Lander St. on Alki Ave.	1913 December 23
101	2010.3.32.99: Interior of pit Caption on photo: S.W. corner of pit (panorama with 100)	1914 February 2
102	2010.3.32.100: Interior of pit Caption on photo: S.W. corner of pit (panorama with 99)	1914 February 2
103	2010.3.32.101: Interior of pit Caption on photo: S.E. corner of pit	1914 February 2
104	2010.3.32.102: Interior of pit Caption on photo: N.E. corner of pit	1914 February 2
105	2010.3.32.103: Interior of pit with pipes Caption on photo: Bulkhead at entrance to pit	1914 February 2
106	2010.3.32.104: Collapsed bulkhead Caption on photo: Break in city bulkhead S. of Lander St. on Alki Ave.	1913 December 23

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

Construction workers--Washington (State)--Seattle
Earthmoving machinery--Hydraulic equipment
Grading (Earthwork)--Washington (State)--Seattle
Pipes (Conduits)--Washington (State)--Seattle
Plank roads--Washington (State)--Seattle

Corporate Names

Lewis, Wiley & Morse, Inc.

Geographical Names

Alki Avenue (Seattle, Wash.)
West Seattle (Seattle, Wash.)

Form or Genre Terms

Photograph albums
Photographs

Other Creators

Corporate Names
- Curtis & Miller (creator)

Archives West Finding Aid

Table of Contents