Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
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
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)