Archives West Finding Aid

The Town of South Park was incorporated December 9, 1902 and the Town Council held its first meeting on December 23. South Park was served by three mayors in its four-and-one-half years of existence. These mayors were S.J. Bevan (1902-1903), G.C. Lingenfelter (1903-1905), and A.G. Breidenstein (1906-1907). Bevan resigned for unknown reasons after serving less than ten months.

South Park was plagued by problems in securing adequate city services. Particularly vexing was the inability to obtain a decent water supply. Although the City of Georgetown owned mains that ran through South Park, it refused to supply water to the latter, occasioning a bitter court battle over legal rights to the water. In 1905-1906, the town contracted with an independent water company, but in April 1906 the water was found to be contaminated because South Park did not have a sewer system. The Town Council petitioned Seattle to run Cedar River mains to the edge of the Town.

In October of 1906, the electorate voted 131-59 for annexation to Seattle, but apparently no action was taken beyond the vote. On March 23, 1907, a second vote for annexation was 181-36 in favor and on May 3, 1907, South Park became part of the City of Seattle.