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I. Curtiss Parker photographs of Seattle and the Third Avenue Regrade, 1909
Overview of the Collection
- Photographer
- Parker, I. Curtiss, 1879-1965
- Title
- I. Curtiss Parker photographs of Seattle and the Third Avenue Regrade
- Dates
- 1909 (inclusive)19091909
- Quantity
- 20 photographic prints (1 folder)
- Collection Number
- PH1026
- Summary
- Photographs of Seattle and the Third Avenue regrade and Curtiss Parker residence taken by Curtiss Parker approximately 1909.
- 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 Libraries' Digital Collections website. Permission of Visual Materials Curator is required to view originals. Contact Special Collections for more information.
- Languages
- English
Biographical NoteReturn to Top
Isaac Curtiss Parker (1879-1965) was a civil engineer, born in Seattle on April 15, 1879. He graduated from Seattle High School in 1898 and the University of Washington in 1904. He is listed in the 1907 Seattle City directory as a draftsman city engineer, and on his 1917-18 draft card as a civil engineer who worked in the Smith Building. He was a member of several professional engineer associations, a Masonic lodge, and the Knights of Pythias. He died in Seattle in 1965.
Historical BackgroundReturn to Top
The regrading of Seattle was a project that took many years and $2.25 million dollars to complete. The first phase (1898-1899) leveled First Avenue from Pine Street to Denny Way. Between 1903 and 1906 the area from Second to Fifth Avenues between Pike and Cedar Streets was regraded. From 1906 to 1909, additional sections of Seattle were regraded, including Third Avenue as far south as James Street; additional portions of Denny Hill; Beacon Hill; Jackson Street; and the Dearborn Street project began. More than five million cubic yards of dirt were sluiced into Elliott Bay. The avenues and streets were lowered to a gradient no more than 5%, and 4th and 5th Avenues were widened. The regrade was not fully completed until the 1930s, when the last embankment along 5th Avenue was removed.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
This collection consists of photographs taken by I. Curtiss Parker of downtown Seattle, including the 1909 Third Avenue regrade and widening of Fourth Street, and the Curtiss Parker residence.
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
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Folder | item | ||
| 1 | 1 |
3rd Avenue between Pike and
Pine Hotel Federal is on the left. On the right is the former Methodist
Church building, with a sign for the 3rd Ave Theatre. The Theatre's building at
3rd and Madison was demolished in 1907, and the 3rd Ave Theatre moved into the
recently sold church building.Written on verso: Looking N. on 3rd Ave from between Pike &
Pine.
|
1909 |
| 1 | 2 |
Men working with a steam shovel on 3rd
Avenue regrade Written on verso: Denny Hill Regrade S.E. Cor 3rd & Olive -
1909.
|
1909 |
| 1 | 3 |
4th Avenue from Jefferson
street Written on verso: Looking North on 4th Ave from Jefferson St.
1909.
|
1909 |
| 1 | 4 |
Homes and courthouse above
regrade Written on verso: S.E. Cor. 4th & Cherry. S.A.C. on extreme
right.
|
1909 |
| 1 | 5 |
Homes and building foundations along 4th
Avenue Written on verso: E. side of 4th Ave between Columbia &
Cherry. J.M Colman res left center.
|
1909 |
| 1 | 6 |
J.M. Colman residence above
regrade Written on verso: S.E. Cor 4th & Columbia. J.M. Colman home in
center. March 1909.
|
March 1909 |
| 1 | 7 |
Regrade work in front of buildings on 4th
Avenue Written on verso: March 1909. 4th Ave North from Spring. White
Bldg Left center. Olympic Hotel-center. F.H. Whitworth home. Hungerford Hotel
(McNaught House) Extreme right.
|
March 1909 |
| 1 | 8 |
People on makeshift sidewalk along
regrade Written on verso: Spring St Looking East from 4th Ave.
|
1909 |
| 1 | 9 |
Buildings along 4th Avenue with exposed
foundations Written on verso: 4th Ave (East side) between Seneca & Spring
St. 1 F.H. Whitworth; 2 [blank]; 3 [blank]; 4 Old McNaught house-Hungerford
Hotel; 5 Library.Written on photograph: Providence Hospital. Numbers corresponding
to notes on verso.
|
1909 |
| 1 | 10 |
Y.W.C.A. and homes along regrade at 4th
Avenue The Y.W.C.A. was located at 706 3rd Avenue until it moved to new
headquarters in1914.Written on verso: Looking East on Seneca st from 4th Ave. 1909
I.C. Parker residence at SE Cor 8th & Seneca. Note: Street slopes to
East.
|
1909 |
| 1 | 11 |
Steam shovel and men removing
dirt Written on verso: NE Cor 4th & Pine 105' Cut. March 1909.
|
March 1909 |
| 1 | 12 |
Buildings at 5th Avenue and Seneca
Street Written on verso: Mch 1909 1. NE Cor 5th & Seneca St Spring
Apts. 2. J.E Chilberg's Home. 3. Presbyterian Church.
|
March 1909 |
| 1 | 13 |
Men sitting on railing on regraded 6th
Avenue below houses Written on verso: 6th & Seneca Looking South on 6th Ave
Providence Hospital Bldg in distance.
|
1909 |
| 1 | 14 |
Dirt and rocks piled high behind
homes Written on verso: SE. Cor 8th Ave & Stewart. Bus Terminal
1909.
|
1909 |
| 1 | 15 |
House atop a mound Written on verso: Bellevue-Summit North from Pike Street 1909.
|
1909 |
| 1 | 16 |
Corner 3rd of Avenue and Madison, with demolished 3rd
Avenue Theatre Church at left is Seattle First Presbyterian Church, Lincoln Hotel
is on the right, and the middle structure is a building called "The Wood."Written on verso, but containing partially incorrect building
identification: N.E. Cor 3rd + Madison. Site of Old 3rd Ave Theatre. Catholic
Church on extreme left (see 5th & Spring) Lincoln Hotel on Right. 1st
Presbyterian Church Center. Mch 1909.
|
March 1909 |
| 1 | 17 |
Row of buildings with exposed foundations, showing
Municipal Building in next block Written on verso: E. side 4th Ave between James and Jefferson.
|
1909 |
| 1 | 18 |
Trolley near the Hotel Mansfield along regrade Written on verso: Mch 1909. James St. between 4th & 5th Taken
from 4th Ave looking south. City Hall [Municipal Building] on extreme right.
Court House (Profanity Hill) tower on left. "The Mansfield" still standing
1957.
|
March 1909 |
| 1 | 19 | Seattle City Hall under demolition on 3rd Avenue between
Jefferson and Yesler, with Frye Hotel construction in background. Mch
1909. Written on verso: Old City Hall from the East. Frye Hotel in
background. Mch 1909.Seattle's 2nd City Hall was known as the "Katzenjammer
Castle."
|
March 1909 |
| 1 | 20 |
I. Curtiss Parker residence, 1120 8th Avenue,
Seattle Written on verso: Parker Residence S.E. Corner 8th & Seneca
St. 1120 8th Ave.
|
1909 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Commercial buildings--Washington (State)--Seattle--Photographs
- Dwellings--Washington (State)--Seattle--Photographs
- Public buildings--Washington (State)--Seattle--Photographs
- Public works--Washington (State)--Seattle--Photographs
- Streets--Washington (State)--Seattle--Photographs
- Visual Materials Collections (University of Washington)
Personal Names
- Parker, I. Curtiss, 1879-1965--Archives
- Parker, I. Curtiss, 1879-1965--Photographs
Geographical Names
- Denny Regrade (Seattle, Wash.)--Photographs
