Son of pioneer parents, Charles and Susan Prosch, Thomas Prosch came
with his family to the Pacific Coast in 1855 from Brooklyn, New York. The elder
Prosch was a printer and in 1858 founded the
About 1869 Charles Prosch and his two sons, Fred and Thomas, acquired
the
About 1879 he and Samuel L. Crawford bought the
In 1876 Prosch was appointed postmaster of Seattle by President Grant. He resigned the post after two years. He had charge of the municipal census of Seattle in 1890 and at the same time was special agent in charge of the federal census here. In the early 1890's he served three years as a member of the Seattle School Board. In 1894 he aided in platting the tidelands of Seattle and Tacoma. He was active in the Seattle Chamber of Commerce; he was secretary for three years and a member of the board of trustees for fourteen. He was member and officer of various pioneer and historical societies including the Washington Pioneer's association. His later life was devoted to historical writing and collecting. He died in 1915.
Album of photographs, mainly of Seattle street scenes and architecture including the Seattle Fire of 1889. It also includes scenes of Wenatchee Valley, Chelan, Okanagon, Neah Bay, Snoqualmie Falls and other Washington locations. The photographs of copies of work done by various local photographers including Boyd & Brass, Carlton Watkins, and M. P. Spencer.
Entire collection can be viewed on the Libraries’ Digital Collections website. Permission of Visual Materials Curator is required to view originals. Contact Special Collections for more information.
Restrictions may exist on reproduction, quotation, or publication. Contact Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries for details.
Processed by Ashby Lee Collinson; 2006; Don Romero 2013.
Written on page: Brown's Flat, Wenatchee Valley.
Written on page: On Riverside Stock Ranch, Wenatchee Valley.
Written on page: Wenatchee Valley and town from Lanham's.
Written on page: Campers at Chelan.
Written on page: The Chelan Country.
Written on page: Lakeside at high water.
Written on page: Lakeside at high water.
Written on page: Near lakeside.
Written on page: Moore's.
Written on page: Camp at 25 Mile Creek.
Written on page: Chelan Scenery.
Written on page: Chelan Scenery.
Written on page: Castle Rock.
Written on page: A Chelan gateway.
Written on page: Rainbow Falls, one of Stehikin Valley's attractions.
Written on page: A Chelan deer hunting party.
Written on page: Wild goats in the mountains of Chelan.
Written on page: Wild goats in the mountains of Chelan.
Written on page: Chelan game.
Written on page: Chelan game.
Written on page: Chelan game.
Written on page: Chelan game.
Written on page: In summer.
Written on page: In winter.
Written on page: In spring.
Written on page: House built of logs, furniture to match.
Written on page: Steamboats at Lakeside.
Written on page: View of Lake Chelan and Mountains from Moore's.
Written on page: Lakeside's business street.
Written on page: Hydraulic mining in Sultan River district
Written on page: Mining for gold at De Soto mine, Sultan River District, Cascade Mountains.
Written on page: Mining for gold at De Soto mine, Sultan River District, Cascade Mountains.
Written on page: An early day photograph.
Written on page: From a painting by T. A. Harrison in 1876.
Printed on photo: Souvenir of excursion of the State Press Association. From Seattle to Snoqualmie.
Written on page: A fallen giant-cedar.
Written on page: The beginning of a Puget Sound farm or town.
Written on photo: 325 feet long, 100 feet wide.
Written on page: Scene of the funeral obsequies of President Garfield in front of Occidental Hotel.
Written on page: Celebration at Seattle September 16, 1883, of the completion of the Northern Pacific Railroad, and driving of the last (gold) spike, in Montana some days before. Twelve following pictures.
Written on page: Same ship arriving at the wharf, with guests on board of President Henry Villard.
Written on page: The University bedecked for the celebration.
Written on page: Exhibition of old time logging team.
Written on page: View from cupola of University of this occasion.
Written on page: The two Barbecues-one of meats by the whites, and one of clams and fish by the Indians.
Written on page: The two Barbecues-one of meats by the whites, and one of clams and fish by the Indians.
Written on page: Two views of the same scene taken four years apart.
Written on page: Two views of the same scene taken four years apart.
Written on photo: Seattle showing Mt. Rainier.
Written on page:
Written on page: Looking southeast from Pike Street near First Avenue.
Written on page: Real winter in Seattle, 1884-5.
Written on page: From coal bunkers, foot of King Street, looking south and east.
Written on page: Real winter in Seattle, 1884-5.
Written on page: From same place, looking north and east.
Written on page: From First Avenue South, and Yesler, looking east.
Written on page: Steamer
Written on page: Nineteen pictures representing the great fire of June 6, 1889, in which all the main business portion of Seattle was burned over, thirty blocks, houses and contents, with losses in all aggregating $15,000,000.
The fire began as here shown on southwest corner First Avenue and Madison Street about 2pm in a paint shop, caused by the overturned contents of a glue pot igniting.
Written on page: An early view of the fire, while yet confined to the block in which it originated, from Pike street
Written on page: Depots, warehouses, wharves, sidewalks, railroads, even the streets, were destroyed.
Written on page: This fine building went as if it were made of boards and paper. The people then gave up hope, and allowed the fire to burn until all was gone that would burn.
Written on page: This was the Post Building; erected in 1881,
occupied then and for eight years by the
Written on page: Here were the Post, Yesler, and Yesler-Leary Buildings, facing 160 feet on Yesler Way.
Written on page: The finest lot of business houses in the city, in 1888-89, were those represented by these ruins. The block extended from Yesler Way to Columbia Street, 550 feet, and then down Yesler 160 feet more. The people were proud of this great block. The fire wiped it out in an hour.
Written on page: Second Avenue in June, 1889, had but two brick buildings. North of Columbia it was used for residence purposes only. Its shade trees checked the flames. Not a house was left standing on its west side from Spring Street south.
Written on page: Desolation, wreck, ruin. In the heart of the devastated district. Scene from Washington Street and Occidental Avenue
Written on page: Though all but the iron here was burned and destroyed, the Washington Iron Works have since risen greater in every respect than before.
Written on page: Here, where it encountered the bay, and less material, the fire ceased of sheer necessity.
Written on page: The waterfront from Main to Madison, also First Avenue, a few days after the fire.
Written on page: First Avenue from Madison Street north, as seen from wharves, with houses to the east on Second, Third and Fourth Avenues.
Written on page: This is as it looked a week or two after the fire. The debris was being removed, tents were everywhere, and new brick houses were constructing. It was a tented city later.
Written on page: The first stone houses in Seattle. They withstood the fire almost successfully, and were the only buildings in the burned section used after the fire. In 1891 they gave way to a new and more pretentious structure.
Written on page: Third Avenue, where Federal Building now stands. Tacoma people raised $20,000 which they gave to the Seattle Committee for relief of the destitute and suffering. With part of the money lodgings and meals were furnished free to the needy for some weeks.
Written on page: A Bureau of found goods was established in the Denny yard at Third and Union, on the present Government building ground, and which Bureau is here represented.
Written on page: President Harrison visited Seattle in June,
1891, arriving on the steamer
Written on page: These three views are of the Presidential party and populace on Yesler Way and First Avenue. After a drive through the city, short speeches and a reception were indulged in on the University ground.
Written on photo: President Harrison passing through the arch, Occidental Square.
Written on page: First Avenue from Cherry Street north.
Written on page: First Avenue from Cherry Street north.
Written on page: Pioneers at the reunion of 1899.
Written on page: At the Pioneer reunion. Before the session.
Written on page: At the Pioneer reunion. After the session.
Written on page: As Seattle looked three years after the great fire of 1889. The last business quarter had then been replaced by streets and houses greater, finer and in every way more suitable.
Written on page: As Seattle looked three years after the great fire of 1889. The last business quarter had then been replaced by streets and houses greater, finer and in every way more suitable.
Written on page: Popular passenger carriers.
Written on page: Popular passenger carriers.
Written on page: Destroyed by fire Jan. 1902.
Written on page: This group of nine pictures is illustrative of Seattle in 1888. All the wharves and all the fine houses shown but one were burned on the 6th of June, 1889.
Written on page: Seattle in 1887. Sixteen pictures. It's people numbered about 12,000. It was then the largest town in Washington Territory.
Written on page: From Second Avenue and Steward Street.
Written on page: These were the large, fine business houses of the city. Such houses relatively were greater than like houses in later days.
Written on page: Of these school houses the people were proud. They were the best yet built.
Written on page: These were the costly, elegant dwellings of the city.
Written on page: These views represent Seattle as it was in 1893. The changes of the preceding few years were among the most remarkable in the experiences of the cities of the world. This photo is in two parts, section 2 is on page 71.
This photo is in two parts, section 2 is on page 71.
Written on page: During the six years from 1887 to 1893 Seattle increased its inhabitants four times and more, from 12,000 in number to 55,000.
This photo is in two parts, section 1 is on page 70.
This photo is in two parts, section 1 is on page 70.
Written on page: Below is a photograph copied from another preserved by Mr. Yesler; also photographic copy of his certificate to the authenticity of the picture. Mrs. Yesler, in old style hoopskirt is depicted on the porch.
This view was taken from the intersection of First Avenue, James Street and Yesler way, in 1860. The house on the front was that of the Yeslers. It was enlarged later. The sawmill was across First Avenue from it. Seattle's first water enterprise is shown in the V-shaped flume on poles on James street. The house on the right was that of Captain S.D. Libby, afterwards of Dr. H.A. Smith. Between Smith's and Yeslers is the Hillory Butler house. The other dwelling is that of L.V. Wyckoff. The other houses are Yesler's barns. The timber line then was the present Third Avenue. Yesler's maples had just been planted.
Written on page: As Seattle looked in 1871. From a painting by Fife. It is difficult now to conceive that the land east of Third Avenue was so broken as here depicted. Prominently shown are the University, Central School, Brown, White and Catholic Churches, Denny, Brown, Shoudy, Young.
Written on page: This photograph is from a painting by Coombs. It represents the house built by Dr. D.S. Maynard on the NW corner of First Avenue South and Main Street, in 1852. Here he lived and did business as a merchant and salmon packer. Of course, the picture is only an approximate likeness.
Written on page: This also from a sketch, or painting, by
Clarence Hanford. It is somewhat inaccurate. The west row of houses stood on
the beach, the tide under several of them. The mill was opposite the first
house near it. The house to south was on the point. Bark
Written on page: Seattle, from Marion Street to Union, in 1870. The prominent buildings are Woodwards warehouse, Amos Brown's dwelling, M.P. Church, Central School, University, John Denny, W.H. Shoudy and other dwellings.
Written on page: These two pictures, about 1871, were taken from Main Street, looking north. They show among other houses Yesler's Hall, the Masonic Hall, Central School and University, M.E. Church, the main business section of the town, and the homes of L.B. Andrews, D. N. Hyde, Wm. Meydenbauer, O.C. Shorey and C.D. Emory. The timber line is about Fifth Avenue.
Written on page: Fourth Avenue, in 1872, from Seneca South. The dwellings on east side are those, beginning at north, of D.S. Lacey, O. Jacobs, H.B. Bagley, H. Burnett and S. P. Randolph, on the west side L. B. Andrews, I.M. Hall, D.R. Lord, H.A. Atkins and S.W. Russell. The churches are the Baptist and Catholic.
Written on page: From Pike and Third in 1874. Among the dwellings on Third Avenue are those of Dr. Calhoun, Captain Nickels, John Denny, A. Makintosh and Dexter Horton.
Written on page: The waterfront of Seattle from Columbia
street north in 1876. The buildings are those of the North Pacific Brewery; the
hulk that of the bark
Written on page: Seattle, from the New England Hotel, Main Street and First Avenue South, in 1875. The Horton Bank (stone) and the Schwabacher brick are to be seen on the left; but not the Colman, 1875, brick on the right.
Written on page: Jacob Galer's log house. The location of this house was the NW corner of Highland Drive and Fifth Avenue North, on Queen Anne Hill.
Written on page: The oldest house in Seattle. Built by Thomas Mercer in 1853, and occupied by him and family as home on his donation claim in north part of city.
Written on page: This house was built by Charles Plummer in 1859. It was one of the best business houses in Seattle. It stood on the southwest corner of First Avenue South and Main Street. The wharf in the rear was also Plummer's. The water in the V shaped flume came from a spring near Washington Street and Third Avenue South. The store was for a time conducted by Plummer alone; later by Plummer & Harris, Plummer & Deshaw and Plummer & Hinds. On the upper floor was a popular hall. The Tremont Hotel was kept in it during its later years. It was burned June 6, 1889.
Written on page: This house was built by E.M. Sammis, photographer, in 1865. The location was on south side of Yesler Way, between First Avenues South and Occidental. His gallery was on upper floor; A.S. Pinkham's Variety Store, and Kellogg Brother's drug store below. In the 70s Dr. H.B. Bagley had the upper floor, and M.R. Maddocks drugstore the lower.
Written on page: August 4th, 1853, D.S. Maynard sold to Captain Leonard M. Felker block 4 for $350. It was surrounded by Jackson and King Streets, First and Railroad Avenues. Felker at once built this house, the finest in Seattle for a number of years. In it the District Court was held, public meetings, and fine social affairs. M.R. Maddocks, John Leary, Bailey Gatzert, A.C. Anderson, J.S. Hill, S. Kermey, and other pioneers lived in it with their families. Burned June 6, 1889. Mrs. Conklin, otherwise known as "Mother Damnable" was, perhaps the most noted tenant. The house cost Felker $4500. He sold the property to A.C. Anderson in 1861 for $2000. Anderson held it about thirty years, getting for it, out of three different transactions, $51,000.
Written on page: The Charles Plummer house built 1858, on northeast corner Jackson street and Occidental Avenue. The picture was taken about 1885, the house having been enlarged and improved in the meantime. Many of Seattle's prominent citizens roomed here in the 70s and 80s.
Written on page: This picture, or pair of pictures, represents
Seattle as it was in 1871. They were taken from a point just north of Pike
Street near Second Avenue. Steamer
Written on page: Seattle in 1872. View from Main Street and Occidental Avenue, looking north. Occidental Hotel is the conspicuous building in center. The Central School, then the only schoolhouse in town, is to be seen; also the M.E. Church tower, and the dwellings of the Emory, Hyde, Meydenbauer, Shorey, Atkins and Terry families.
Written on page: Seattle in 1872, as seen from the cupola of
the University. The Yesler, Horton and Plummer wharves are the most noteworthy
objects. Yesler's mill and the steamer
Written on page: The deepest snow on record. Four feet on the level; five feet in drifts. Date: January 1880. View is from First Avenue east on Cherry street. On the right are Yesler's Hall, Wyckoff dwelling and Baptist Church; on the left are business houses, and dwellings of J.R. Lewis and A.C. Anderson.
Written on page: First Avenue looking north from Cherry Street in 1878. Parts of the Kenney, Hall, Maddocks, Brown and Denny dwellings are shown.
Written on page: The same view in January 1880, with four feet of snow on the ground.
Written on page: These two views together represent the city of Seattle as it looked in 1878. The camera stood at Pike Street and Second Avenue.
Written on page: The east side of Second Avenue from near Cherry street looking north in 1886.
Written on page: This was the finest business block in the Territory of Washington on the 6th of June, 1889. At 6 o'clock that evening it was a burning, smouldering mass of ruins. It was supposed to be safe against fire. It was the west side of First Avenue north from Yesler.
Written on page: The great fire of June 6, 1889, started in the basement of the Pontius building, and burned every house standing on the ground shown in this picture, not including the hill beyond. Many of the houses here had been replaced with large and finer structures. Piece of building on right is Pontius house, corner Madison Street. Next is the Woodward flour mill, corner of Marion. Next the North Pacific Brewery, corner of Columbia. Third story of Arlington Hotel shows in center of picture. A.W. Piper and son are in the foreground, Beacon Hill in background.
Written on page: For the murder of George B. Reynolds January 17th, 1882, James Sullivan and William Howard were hung by the people the day following. At the same time Benjamin Payne was hung for the murder of David Sires. The two named first were given examination before Justice Coombs. This photograph is copy of a drawing by A.W. Piper. It is very accurate, and easily recognized by eyewitnesses of the transaction. This event occurred on James Street, near First Avenue, on the south side of the Yesler dwelling. The trees were maples planted in 1859. H.L. Yesler and William Gross are plainly seen in the foreground, Gross in lower right hand corner, Yesler with knife and stick in hand. Gross weighed 400 pounds. Atkins, Jordan, Kellogg, ?, Green, Wyckoff were prominent actors in this affair.
Written on page: In this picture are shown bits of the three-story wooden buildings known as the Brunswick, Arlington and New England Hotels; also W.D. Scott's store. The brick and stone buildings are Schwabacher's, Horton's, Marshall's, Parker's, Colman's and McNaught's. This was then the best business part of Seattle.
Written on page: Block bounded by Cherry and Columbia Streets, Ninth and Terry Avenues, Seattle. The houses shown were built by Charles Coppin in the 70s and 80s. The tower was used as a tank in connection with the Coppin water works. The property passed from Coppin to Harrington & Smith.
Written on page: The outer end of the Yesler wharf in the later 70s, where Railroad Avenue now is. The sawmill fronted in Post Street. The building near center on right was used at first as a coal bunker, afterwards as a workshop and warehouse.
Written on page: East side of First Avenue from Cherry Street to Columbia in 1880. The houses from left to right were W.W. White's, Leonard Reinig's, John Sullivan's and Chris Scheurman's.
Written on page: The home of the Pontius family, on their farm midway between Seattle bay and Lake Union. House was erected by R.W. Pontius about 1870. Mrs. Margaret J. Pontius stands in front. Picture was taken about 1890. A few years later a fine new home nearby was occupied.
Written on page: The central property here shown was the W. N. Bell residence block as it was in 1886. The most central building is the Bell home. The largest house is the Bell Hotel, erected 1884. Block is surrounded by Bell and Battery Streets First and Second Avenues.
Written on page: The dwelling of Arthur A. Denny, built in 1865, but enlarged and beautified in 1880. Location-First Avenue, east side, between Union and University Streets. When built it was one of the finest houses in Seattle. Mr. Denny died here in 1899. This house was torn down in 1906, to make room for a new large modern business block.
Written on page: The J.J. McGilvra home, known as "Laurel Shade," built on Lake Washington. Before the extension of Madison Street, it was the landing and shipping place for that neighborhood, the Portage and Yesler's being the other two on the west side of the lake.
Written on page: The dwelling of Charles C. Terry, built in 1865, on Third Avenue, between James and Cherry. It was moved in 1889 to the rear, and fronted on James Street, where (in 1906) it still stands. For twenty years it was one of Seattle's finest houses. Since above was written, this house was torn down, to make room for a large business block-February, 1906.
Written on page: This house was built in 1869 on the southeast corner of Fourth and Madison streets, by and for Itas F. Roberts, the first Protestant Episcopal minister in Seattle. It still stands, in the midst of houses that are many times larger, and in some cases a hundred times more costly. Roberts did not live long here. He was one of the earliest of his denomination in Oregon or Washington.
Written on page: The house of Robert Russell, built about 1870, on the southeast corner of Fourth Avenue and James Street. The two lots were sold by the family in 1900 for $80,000. In 1906 they were sold again for $110,000.
Written on page: Seattle from the Yesler wharf looking to the
northeast in 1870. Steamer
Written on page: Seattle north of Columbia Street in 1880. The bay then came up to First Avenue, which on the west side, was held up by a wall of logs. The building on the left over the water was the Pontius, in which the fire of June 6, 1889 started. Next to it on the right was a house built for a flour mill by Woodard after whom the house was long known.
Written on page: A view from Pike Street and Second Avenue to the southeast in 1880. The dwellings shown include John T. Jordan's, A.W. Piper's, John Denny's, Harmon's, Whitworth's and other of well known people of that time.
Photo is a Peiser copy of Peterson Brothers original.
Written on page: First Avenue from Yesler Way North looked
like this in 1880. On the right was first Yesler's home, east of the shade
trees, and next to it was the Masonic Hall; just beyond the steps indicating
Yesler's Hall. Across the street were the Malson Meat Market, Doane's Baths,
Chilberg and Roe groceries, Boyd, Poncin & Young dry goods store, and the
Written on page: In this picture is shown the beginning of Fremont, May, 1888. It became quite a town, but in 1891, was annexed to Seattle. It is on Lake Union, at the outlet or canal. It was named after Fremont in Nebraska.
Written on page: The Seattle lake shore and Eastern Railroad in 1888, from Union Street north. The houses on the highland are the Ingraham, Root, Coombs and other dwellings between First and Second Avenues. The houses below are those of fishermen, beachcombers and other undesirable classes.
Written on page: The location was on First Avenue at the west end of Cherry Street.
Written on page: The first courthouse of King County, at the corner of Jefferson street and Third Avenue, built in 188[?] The second story of the county jail appears on the right or south. Sold to the city of Seattle in 1891, and used since with many changes and additions for a City Hall. The house on the hilltop is the dwelling of Beriah Brown, on Seventh Avenue and Terrace Street. Three blocks to the west is the M.S. Booth dwelling.
Written on page: House built by D.R. Lord in 1868. It was occupied as a dwelling by the Lord family that of M.S. Booth, David Kellogg and L.S.J. Hunt. After the great fire of 1889, the P.I. for a time was issued from it add a tent in the rear. Location: Northwest corner of Columbia street and Fourth Avenue. In the picture are to be seen the front of the A.B. Young house, the rear of B.F. Briggs house and the top of Providence Hospital.