University of Washington Libraries, Special CollectionsPH0045Seattle City LightSeattle City Light
albumsapproximately 1919-1940188 photographic prints (2 albums)Collection materials are in
English.Photographs of
construction projects of Seattle City LightSeattle's first hydroelectric project was on Cedar River, and the
plant first generated power for the city in 1905, under the supervision of the
City Water Department. By 1910, however, the City Council declared the need for
a department solely focused on electricity, and Seattle City Light was created
on April 1, 1910. The department's second superintendent, James Delmage Ross,
is known as the "Father of City Light." Ross spearheaded the complex effort to
build the three dams on the Skagit River which provide much of Seattle's
electricity.
The Skagit Hydroelectric Project was a series of dam and power house
construction projects along the Skagit River in northern Washington State which
began in 1918 and continued until the early 1960s. The Skagit River begins in
the Canadian Cascade Range and flows over the border into the North Cascades in
Washington State. Construction began with Gorge Dam near Newhalem, the furthest
downstream of the Skagit Hydroelectric Project dams; Gorge Dam was dedicated in
1924. The next dam built was Diablo Dam; construction was completed in 1930,
and power generation began in 1936. The furthest upstream dam, originally named
Ruby Dam but renamed Ross Dam after the death of James D. Ross, was the final
dam constructed; the dam was completed in 1943, and first power generation
occurred in 1949. These dams currently create electricity and provide water
storage for the city of Seattle.
Album 1: Contains 132 photographs documenting the construction of the
Gorge Powerhouse, railway, company town, and power substations for the Seattle
City Light Skagit River Hydroelectric Project.
Album 2: Contains 56 photographs documenting the construction of the
Diablo Dam by Winston Brothers and additional scenes of the Skagit River and
Valley.
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selections from the collection in digital format.
The collection is open to the public.
Request at UW
Restrictions may exist on reproduction, quotation, or publication.
Contact Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries for
details.
Album 1 processed by Ellie Kleinwort, 2011; Album 2 processed by
Elizabeth Russell, completed 2013.
92 loose photos determined to have different provenance were separated
in 2012 and form Collection No. PH1124, Photographs of Seattle City Light.
Visual Materials Collections (University of Washington)Seattle City LightSkagit River (B.C. and Wash.)Dams--PhotographsElectricity generation--PhotographsSkagit River Hydroelectric Project--PhotographsPublic utilitiesPublic worksPhotograph albums
Album 1 - Gorge DamPhotographs of Seattle City Light North Substation and
construction of the Gorge Dam and Gorge Power House on the Skagit River.
11-1Seattle City Light North
Substationcirca 1924 21-2Two men standing near 10,000 KVA
transformers at the North SubstationMay 28, 1924 31-3Transmission bus at North Substation
with 165 KV line and 154 KV G-2 oil circuit breakerscirca 1924 41-4Man with Westinghouse condenser at
North SubstationOctober 22, 1924 51-5Transmission lines near North
SubstationApril 1, 192461-6End of transmission line at Seattle,
North Substationcirca 1924 7-101-7 - 1-10165 KV transmission lineFebruary 28, 1924 111-11Towers and transmission line at river
crossing, probably on the Skagit RiverFebruary 28, 1924121-12165 KV transmission line above plank
roadJune 20, 1928 131-13165 KV transmission line with telephone
line, probably for City of SeattleJune 20, 1928141-14Gas-operated trolley nick-named
"Toonerville Trolley" en route from Rockport to Newhalem with
passengersJuly 17, 1921Toonerville Folkswas a popular
cartoon by Fontaine Fox that ran in newspapers from 1908 to 1955. The cartoon
featured the Toonerville Trolley, and the name was used in multiple locations
across the United States as a nick-name for local trolleys. 151-15Men constructing City of Seattle-owned
railway along river, probably the Skagit RiverAugust 11, 1920 16-171-16 - 1-17Looking along railroad line in the
mountains, probably near station for Gorge PowerhouseJuly 16, 1921181-18Early site of Gorge Powerhouse along
the Skagit RiverJuly 1, 1919 191-19Bridge across Skagit River at Gorge
Powerhouse site with cleared line of forest showing where tunnel surveying took
placeJuly 17, 1921Caption on page: Directly under this line is a tunnel about 2
miles long - 20'6" diameter - cut thru solid granite.
201-20Newhalem Powerhouse Construction
Plantcirca October 1924Caption on page: 3000 H.P.-Westinghouse-Pelton water supplied
by 2700' tunnel from Newhalem Creek.
211-21Gorge Tunnel intakeApril 1, 1924221-22Looking along railroad bed in
mountains, probably near Skagit RiverJuly 18, 1921231-23Man working at crib dam location at
Gorge Dam site during early drilling operationsOctober 17, 1919 241-24Men working at crib dam and intake
during constructionOctober 4, 1924 251-25Gorge Dam intakecirca October 1924 261-26aGorge Powerhouse excavation, showing
railway bridge across Skagit RiverDecember 1921 261-26bRailway and Gorge Powerhouse
excavationDecember 1921271-27Skagit River in mountains showing
downed treescirca 1925-1926281-28aMen working in Gorge Powerhouse
excavation siteApril 1922281-28bMen working in excavation pit, with
buildings in backgroundJune 6, 1922 291-29aMen working in Penstock Tunnels 1 and
2April 1922 291-29bMen working in Penstock Tunnel 1 and
starting work on Penstock Tunnel 2April 1, 1922301-30aWest End Tunnel portal during
winterFebruary 1922 301-30bRiver above Devil's Elbow drill
sitecirca 1919-1928 311-31aDraft Tube 1 partially in
placeNovember 29, 1922311-31bLooking toward excavation and
powerhouse foundation from southwest, showing Unit 1January 12, 1923321-32aLooking toward excavation from the
west, showing Units 1 and 2January 12, 1923 321-32bLooking toward excavation from the
west, showing Unit 3 and sumpJanuary 12, 1923331-33aPowerhouse foundation, viewed from
southwestJanuary 19, 1923331-33bClearing for town sitecirca 1919-1928Caption on photo: Upriver from Dohne Cabin.
341-34aFrozen water falling from
chuteFebruary 1922341-34bSmall waterfall in Ladder
CreekAugust 6, 1920 351-35a10 ton Holt Caterpillar with
trailersMarch 1921 351-35bEast portal of tunnel with railway line
and men at workApril 1922 361-36aRailway bridge at Devil's
ElbowFebruary 1922 361-36bGorge Powerhousecirca 1924-1925371-37Gorge Powerhouse and railway bridge
seen from higher elevationMarch 2, 1928 381-38Tail race of Gorge
PowerhouseApril 1, 1924 391-39Wooden footbridge across canyon at
Devil's Corner on the Skagit RiverJuly 1, 1919 401-40Mountain scene near Skagit
Rivercirca 1926411-41Newhalem Camp along the Skagit River
seen from a higher elevationJuly 17, 1921 421-42Small waterfall in Ladder
CreekOctober 21, 1919431-4310,000 KVA switching transformers and
165 KV oil circuit breakers, probably in Gorge Powerhousecirca 1924-1925 441-44aSawmillcirca 1919-1924 441-44bGorge Powerhouse foundation, seen from
west showing Units 1 and 2January 19, 1923 451-45aTop view of draft tube forms for Units
1 and 2January 19, 1923 451-45bMen placing steel in Unit 2 draft tube
seen from the southJanuary 30, 1923461-46aConcreting Unit 1 draft
tubeFebruary 27, 1923461-46bMan standing on steel reinforcing of
Draft Tube 1February 23, 1923 471-47aMen working on steel reinforcing for
Draft Tube 1February 23, 1923471-47bGorge Powerhouse foundation seen from
the southFebruary 20, 1923481-48aMan working in Unit 1 waterway. looking
northApril 9, 1923481-48bWoman standing in Unit 2
waterwayApril 15, 1923 491-49aSoutheast view of powerhouse and west
portal plants, seen from across the Skagit RiverMay 23, 1923 491-49bGorge Powerhouse intake
excavationJune 14, 1923501-50Gorge Dam, a wooden crib
damJanuary 12, 1926 511-51aRailway bridge near Gorge Powerhouse,
looking eastMay 23, 1923511-51bJohnson valve and scroll case of Unit
1August 10, 1923521-52aPowerhouse interior viewed from the
northJuly 6, 1923 521-52bMan working on Johnson valve and scroll
case of Unit 1August 10, 1923 531-53aMen working on Johnson valve and scroll
case of Unit 1August 13, 1923 531-53bMan posing by speed ring of Unit
1August 13, 1923 541-54aMen working on Johnson valve and scroll
case of Unit 1August 13, 1923541-54bMen standing inside Penstock Pipe
3August 13, 1923 551-55aMan posing beside Gate Ring Unit
1August 22, 1923 551-55bMan posing inside Johnson
valveAugust 22, 1923 561-56aJohnson valve in Unit 3August 25, 1923561-56bThree men with concrete gun, five yard
concrete car, and gas locomotiveNovember 4, 1923 571-57Concrete-lined tunnel, 20 feet 6 inches
in diameterSeptember 21, 1923 581-58aSpeed ring of Unit 2October 2, 1923581-58bFour men working on Johnson valve,
draft tube, and portion of scroll for Unit 2September 26, 1923 591-59aUnit 2 scroll, seen from
aboveOctober 3, 1923591-59bMan posing between snowdrifts in front
of commissary building, possibly at NewhalemFebruary 15, 1923 601-60aRotor Spider Number 1 Generator at
Gorge PlantSeptember 17, 1923 601-60bInterior of Penstock Pipe 2 with welder
workingNovember 2, 1923 611-61aGroup of men posing with mucking shovel
machineNovember 4, 1923 611-61bBench drilling crew posing with
Drilling Jumbo, a raised platform on wheelsNovember 7, 1923 621-62aStator in Unit 1 seen from
aboveNovember 24, 1923621-62bUnit 1 stator and Unit 2 rotor seen
from aboveNovember 27, 1923 631-63aTunnel interior showing raised platform
on wheels called a jumbo and grout hole markingsDecember 25, 1923 631-63bTunnel interior showing timbering of
fault in tunnel roofDecember 25, 1923 641-64aEast portal of tunnel with icicles
hanging from roofDecember 30, 1923641-64bSteel tunnel forms, bulkhead, and
concrete gun discharge pipe with men posing on jumboNovember 25, 1923 651-65aMen working on steel lining at the
junction of Penstock and main tunnelsFebruary 9, 1924 651-65bClose-up of steel lining form in
tunnelDecember 25, 1923661-66aUnloading locomotive from flat car,
possibly inside Gorge PowerhouseJanuary 9, 1924 661-66bInterior of power plant at
NewhalemJanuary 6, 1924 671-67aPenstock concrete gunJanuary 12, 1924 671-67bTrim Jumbo inside tunnelDecember 30, 1923681-68aGenerators inside
powerhouseFebruary 10, 1924681-68bHigh water at intake for Gorge
Powerhouse, probably during early flooding of the Skagit RiverFebruary 12, 1924 691-69Woman posing in tunnel
portalApril 1, 1924 701-70aMen standing on rotor of Unit 2 as it
is lowered into placeFebruary 25, 1924 701-70bGreat Northern excursion train at
NewhalemJune 7, 1924Caption states that this photo (photographer's number 955) was
taken from "'x' of photo #952." A photograph numbered 952 is not in the
album.
711-71Group of men and children posing in
tunnel near portals, probably near the powerhouse foundationAugust 15, 1924 721-72aCottages in NewhalemJune 25, 1923Caption on photo: Permanent Cottages Looking East from #6.
721-72bTwo 30,000 KVA Westinghouse generators
in Gorge Powerhouse generator roomSeptember 15, 1924731-73Two 30,000 KVA Westinghouse generators
in Gorge Powerhouse generator roomSeptember 15, 1924 741-74Two men standing next to generator in
Gorge Powerhouse generator roomcirca 1924-1925 751-75Suspension bridge over river in
mountains, probably the Skagit RiverJuly 18, 1921761-76Man looking at view of mountains,
probably in the Cascade rangecirca 1925771-77aThree men with wheel or reel, possibly
for guide rope of floating platform or for divercirca 1919-1924771-77bMan in submersible diving
suitcirca 1919-1924 771-77cTwo men in working clothes and one man
in diving suit standing on floating platformcirca 1919-1924 781-78aBuilding and equipment, possibly in
Newhalemcirca 1919-1924781-78bInterior of powerhouse with
transformers in crates, probably the Gorge Powerhousecirca 1923-1924781-78cControl room probably in Gorge
Powerhousecirca 1923-1925 791-79aExterior of Gorge
Powerhousecirca 1924791-79bTransformers in Gorge
Powerhousecirca 1923-1925791-79cTransmission lines along ceiling,
probably at Gorge Powerhousecirca 1923-1925801-80aReinforcing steel rods, probably near
scroll case of Unit 1 or 2circa 1923-1925801-80bMen watching pipe elbow lowered into
water near Gorge Powerhousecirca 1923-1925801-80cMen working, probably above scroll case
of Unit 1 or 2circa 1923-1925811-81a - 1-81cRaising of rotorcirca February 1924821-82a - 1-82bRaising of rotorcirca February 1924821-82cMachinery, probably interior of
generatorcirca 1924831-83aGenerator during assembly seen from
abovecirca 1924831-83bGenerator during assembly seen from
floor levelcirca 1924841-84Six men displaying large number of
fish, probably caught near Newhalemcirca 1919-1928 Album 2 - Diablo DamPhotographs of Diablo Canyon and Ruby Creek on the Skagit River
and construction of Diablo Dam.
12-1Diablo CanyonJune 30, 1919 22-2Diablo Canyon showing footbridge across
canyonMay 27, 1927 32-3Skagit Canyon below what is now Ross
DamJune 28, 191942-4Looking toward mountains near Diablo
Canyon with man in stocking cap in foregroundcirca 1919Caption on page: Mountain view - taken below Diablo Canyon -
looking upstream.
52-5Footbridge above Diablo
CanyonMay 27, 192762-6Winston Brothers Company camp for
Diablo Dam constructionMarch 12, 1928 72-7Diablo Dam project diversion dam for
de-watering tunnelMarch 18, 192882-8Incline railway for carrying materials
up hillside from construction campMay 23, 1928Caption on page: Incline for elevating materials in carload
lots.
92-9De-watering tunnel and diversion dam at
Diablo Dam projectMarch 1928 102-10Wooden footbridge and scaffolding at
Diablo Dam site, looking upstream1928112-11Reflector Bar on the Skagit
River1928Caption on page: "Reflector Bar" - Sand and gravel supply for
Diablo dam.
122-12U.S. Ranger station at Reflector
BarMarch 29, 1927 132-13Looking downstream at Diablo Dam site
during construction1928Caption on page: Diablo dam site - Looking down stream.
142-14Diversion dam at Diablo Dam
site1928Caption on page: Diversion - up stream view.
152-15Men at work on diversion
damApril 25, 1928Caption on page: Showing progress on diversion dam.
162-16Lower end of Diablo Canyon, with wooden
buildings above1928172-17Looking down on Skagit
RiverJuly 17, 1921Caption on page: Typical mountain view - Skagit River.
182-18Gravel grading equipment on Skagit
River gravel and sand barMarch 1928Caption on page: Gravel grading equipment - Reflector Bar.
192-19Railroad track and sand and gravel
storage bins under constructionMarch 16, 1928 202-20Bridge site at bend in canyon
nick-named "Devil's Elbow" on the Skagit RiverJuly 18, 1921212-21Pouring concrete during Diablo Dam
constructionOctober 3, 1928 222-22Lower end of Diablo CanyonMay 27, 1927232-23Davis Ranch near Diablo
CanyonMarch 29, 1927Caption on page: Davis' Ranch - Below Diablo.
242-24Incline railway for carrying material
up hillsideMarch 24, 1928 252-25Construction work above Diablo
CanyonMarch 1928 262-26Ranger station near Reflector Bar on
the Skagit RiverJune 30, 1919 272-27Flood water covering diversion
damMay 20, 1928 282-28Mouth of Diablo Canyon with man in
foreground, possibly James Delmage RossMay 27, 1927292-29Substation at Diablo DamMarch 28, 1928 302-30Seattle-owned railway line over
riverJuly 16, 1921Caption on page: City owned railway - Rockport to Diablo.
About 28 miles.
312-31Man and two horses carrying packs on
railroad right-of way in mountainsJuly 18, 1921322-32Workers in railroad car on incline
railway1928332-33River with mountains in
distanceJune 30, 1919342-34Incline railway car filled with
construction crew on the way to workApril 14, 1928 352-35Construction equipment at Diablo Dam
site above Diablo Canyon1928362-36Mouth of tunnel during construction,
seen from across river1928Caption on page: Tunnel excavation - Early stage.
372-37Inside of diversion tunnel1928382-38Overflow of diversion dam1928392-39Looking up from below diversion
dam1928402-40Diversion dam, seen from
above1928412-41Rip Rapids on the Skagit River, with
mountains in backgroundJune 28, 1919Caption on page: Where Rainbow trout abound.
422-42Construction work on Diablo
Dam1929432-43Skagit River and rocky, tree-lined
bankscirca 1919Caption on page: Skagit River scene - Note bridge across
ravine marking old trail.
442-44Rapids on the Skagit RiverJuly 1, 1919Caption on page: A fisherman's paradise.
452-45Water flowing over dam, probably
diversion dam1928Caption on page: More high water.
462-46Men standing next to dam made of logs,
probably diversion damMay 9, 1928 472-47Construction work above Diablo Dam
siteMay 7, 1928Caption on page: Scene of operations immediately above dam. 1.
Gravel & sand bins. 2. Cement house. 2-a. Conveyor. 3. Where material is
mixed.
482-48Incline railway under
construction1928 492-49Men at work, probably on diversion
dam1928502-50Men at work on diversion dam and
tunnelApril 12, 1928 512-51Diablo Dam under construction, showing
concrete walls partially completedcirca 1928 522-52Blank page532-53Junction of Ruby Creek with Skagit
River, seen from above, with two bridges visibleJune 29, 1919Caption on photo: Junction of Ruby Creek with Skagit River
Mile 29. Ruby Creek Trail Bridge, Shinkle Bridge in Distance.
Caption on page: Close to proposed Ruby Dam.
542-54Rapids in Ruby Canyon1928Caption on page: The boiling waters in Ruby Canyon.
552-55Skagit Basin above mouth of Ruby Creek,
showing bridges and Ruby Inn nearbyJune 28, 1919 562-56Diablo Canyon and surrounding
areaJune 30, 1919