WaSMAR9106 Guide to the City of Ballard Records 1890-1907 Ballard, City of, Records Finding aid prepared by Scott Cline Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities. Seattle Municipal Archives © 1989
PO Box 94728 600 Fourth Avenue, Floor 3 Seattle, WA 98124-4728 Phone: 206/233-7807 Email: archives@seattle.gov http://www.seattle.gov/cityarchives
Finding aid encoded by Shannon B. Lynch 2004 Finding aid written in English. Seattle Municipal Archives
PO Box 94728 600 Fourth Avenue, Floor 3 Seattle, WA 98124-4728 Phone: 206/233-7807 Email: archives@seattle.gov http://www.seattle.gov/cityarchives
9106 Ballard (Wash.) City of Ballard Records 1890-1907 14.4 cubic ft. 9 boxes and 20 volumes Records of the City of Ballard, 1890-1907, including City Council minutes, ordinances, administrative records, and warrants. Ballard was annexed to the City of Seattle in 1907. Collection materials are in English.

Ballard Police Sub-Station (Ballard City Hall), 1915. Seattle Municipal Archives.

 Historical Note

The Town of Ballard was incorporated in January 1890 and was governed by a five-member Board of Trustees appointed by a King County Superior Court Judge. Charles F. Treat was the first Chairman of the Board and was subsequently elected mayor in the Town's first municipal election in April 1890. Ballard achieved city of the third class status in December 1890.

Ballard entered into an agreement with the City of Seattle in 1902 whereby the latter supplied water from the Cedar River watershed. The agreement was extended in 1905. The water supply for Ballard was a central issue in the movement for annexation to Seattle. Annexation first became an issue at the time the first water supply agreement terminated. However, at a special election in December 1905, the citizens of Ballard defeated annexation by a 1033-549 vote.

At the regular municipal election in 1906, an "Annexation Ticket" appeared on the ballot and its nominee for mayor, H.E. Peck, was elected. The "Annexation Club" petitioned the City Council to call a special election and in April 1907 the population voted 998-876 in favor of annexation.

Besides the water supply issue, other concerns that led to the successful annexation movement were additional city services availability, taxation, local improvements, and the city debt. At the final meeting of the Ballard City Council on May 29, 1907, the City Treasurer reported the City's assets as $307, 568.91 and liabilities as $452,404.57.

Seattle City Council ordered City department heads to investigate the Ballard city departments and make recommendations to facilitate a smooth transition of responsibilities and activities. Reports from the Engineering, Water, Police, Health and Fire departments all suggested the maintenance of Ballard offices, equipment and staff with the former city to be referred to as the "Ballard District." Ballard became a separate ward of the City with one councilmember representing the newly-annexed area.

The City of Ballard Records, 1890-1907, include records that were maintained or filed with the Ballard City Clerk. These included City Council minutes, ordinances, resolutions, correspondence, petitions, specifications, bids and proposals for improvements and equipment, election materials, and reports of various City Officials. These records were transfered to the Seattle City Clerk upon annexation of Ballard.

Of particular interest is the 1890 Census, taken to verify Ballard's right to advance to a city of the third Class. This alphabetical listing provides only name and age, but includes 1636 names of residents during Ballard's first year of incorporation.

The Ballard records are arranged in six series:

Series I: Council Minutes (9106-01)

Series II: Ordinances (9106-02)

Series III: City Clerk's Files (9106-03)

Series IV: Register of Warrants (9106-04)

Series V: Demands and Warrants (9106-05)

Series VI: Local Improvement District Files (9106-06)

Within each series, records are arranged chronologically or alphabetically by subject.

Records are open to the public.

[Item and date], City of Ballard Records, Record Series 9106-[xx]. Box [number], Folder [number]. Seattle Municipal Archives.

This collection is indexed under the following headings in the online catalog. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons, or places should search the catalog using these headings.

Ballard (Wash.). City Council Ballard (Wash.)--Politics and government Seattle (Wash.)--Politics and government Ballard (Wash.)--Census, 1890 Annexation (Municipal government)--Washington (State)--Seattle City councils--Washington (State)--Seattle Civic improvement--Washington (State)--Seattle Seattle City and Town Life Government and Politics Ordinances Minutes Series I City Council Minutes 1890-1907 7 volumes

Proceedings of the Ballard City Council. Includes vote results by precinct of annual city elections.

1 Minutes 1890-1893 2 Minutes 1893-1896 3 Minutes 1896-1899 4 Minutes 1899-1902 5 Minutes 1902-1906 6 Minutes 1906-1907 7 Minutes (drafts used to prepare the official Minutes) 1892-1896 Series II Ordinances 1890-1907 7 volumes 1 Ordinances, 1-225 1890-1895 2 Ordinances, 226-383 1896-1900 3 Ordinances, 384-576 1900-1903 4 Ordinances, 577-753 1903-1904 5 Ordinances, 754-983 1904-1905 6 Ordinances, 984-1214 1905-1907 7 Ordinances, 1215-1260 1907 Series III City Clerk's Files 1890-1907 6.0 cubic ft.

Administrative records of Ballard filed with the City Clerk. Materials include audits, bids and proposals, financial statements, city officials' reports, contracts and bonds, political party nomination records, franchises, oaths of office, petitions, resolutions, specifications, and correspondence. Of particular interest are records relating to the city water system contracted from Seattle, local improvements, service franchises, election materials, activities of the West Coast Improvement Company, and a city census for 1890.

Files are arranged alphabetically by subject and/or record type.

 1/1 Affidavits 1892-1907 1/2 Annexation, Petition of Remonstrance 1890-1907 1/3 Annexation, Resolutions and Reports 1907 1/4 Applications, B-G 1894-1906 1/5 Applications, H-O 1890-1907 1/6 Applications, P-W 1899-1906 1/7 Appointments 1891-1902 1/8 Artesian Well, Drilling 1895-1899 1/9 Audit, City Records 1890-1901 1/10 Bids and Proposals, Artesian Well 1893-1905 1/11 Bids and Proposals, Bonds 1893-1905 1/12 Bids and Proposals, Building Construction 1890-1907 1/13 Bids and Proposals, City Wharf 1892 1/14 Bids and Proposals, Equipment 1890-1906 1/15 Bids and Proposals, Equipment 1891-1906 1/16 Bids and Proposals, Printing 1893-1907 1/17 Bids and Proposals, Property Purchase and Sales 1899-1906 1/18 Bids and Proposals, Services 1897-1905 1/19 Bids and Proposals, Sewer System 1893-1903 1/20 Bids and Proposals, Street Improvements 1898-1905 1/21 Bids and Proposals, Street Improvements 1900-1907 1/22 Bids and Proposals, Water Works 1890-1906 1/23 Bills and Receipts 1890-1892 1/24 Bills and Receipts 1893-1895 1/25 Bills and Receipts 1896-1897 1/26 Bills and Receipts 1898-1899 1/27 Bills and Receipts 1900-1902 1/28 Bills and Receipts 1903-1905 1/29 Bills and Receipts 1906-1907 1/30 Bills and Receipts 1890-1907 1/31 Bonds, Local Improvement Districts 1895-1899 1/32 Census 1890 1/33 Cigarette Licenses, Applications 1891-1905 1/34 City Attorney, Reports 1893-1906 1/35 City Clerk, Correspondence 1893-1906 2/1 City Clerk, Monthly Statement of Receipts 1895-1899 2/2 City Clerk, Quarterly Financial Statements 1890-1894 2/3 City Clerk, Quarterly Financial Statements 1895-1899 2/4 City Clerk, Quarterly Financial Statements 1900-1903 2/5 City Clerk, Quarterly Financial Statements 1904-1907 2/6 City Council, Committee Appointments 1904-1906 2/7 City Council, Committee Recommendations 1890-1907 2/8 City Council, Committee Reports 1891-1906 2/9 City Engineer, Reports 1890-1907 2/10 City Hall Construction 1893-1899 2/11 City Marshall, Reports 1890-1906 2/12 Claims 1895-1907 2/13 Contracts and Bonds, Artesian Well 1894-1904 2/14 Contracts and Bonds, City Wharf 1892 2/15 Contracts and Bonds, Construction 1892-1903 2/16 Contracts and Bonds, Equipment 1890-1904 2/17 Contracts and Bonds, Fire Station 1902 2/18 Contracts and Bonds, Printing 1891-1907 2/19 Contracts and Bonds, Services 1890-1905 2/20 Contracts and Bonds, Sewer System 1899-1907 2/21 Contracts and Bonds, Street Improvements 1893-1901 2/22 Correspondence, A 1891-1906 2/23 Correspondence, B 1891-1906 2/24 Correspondence, B 1891-1906 2/25 Correspondence, C 1891-1906 2/26 Correspondence, D 1890-1905 2/27 Correspondence, E 1890-1906 2/28 Correspondence, F 1890-1907 2/29 Correspondence, G 1890-1906 2/30 Correspondence, H 1890-1906 2/31 Correspondence, J 1890-1906 2/32 Correspondence, K 1890-1906 2/33 Correspondence, L 1890-1907 2/34 Correspondence, M 1890-1906 2/35 Correspondence, N 1890-1906 2/36 Correspondence, O 1890-1905 2/37 Correspondence, P 1890-1906 2/38 Correspondence, R 1890-1907 2/39 Correspondence, S 1890-1907 3/1 Correspondence, T 1890-1907 3/2 Correspondence, V 1890-1905 3/3 Correspondence, W 1890-1905 3/4 County Auditor, Reports 1890-1907 3/5 Debt Management 1890-1906 3/6 Delinquent Taxes 1895-1905 3/7 Delinquent Taxes, Land Sales Certificates 1890-1892 3/8 Elections, Affidavits of Publication 1893-1906 3/9 Elections, Annexation of Territory 1890-1891 3/10 Elections, Candidate Nominations 1890 3/11 Elections, Certificates 1895-1906 3/12 Elections, Certificates of Votes Cast 1890-1894 3/13 Elections, Citizens' Anti-Gambling Ticket 1904 3/14 Elections, Citizens' Independent Party 1895 3/15 Elections, Citizens' Party 1890-1905 3/16 Elections, Citizens' Union Party 1894 3/17 Elections, Contesting of Returns 1894 3/18 Elections, Democratic Party 1890-1903 3/19 Elections, Independent Citizens' Party 1898 3/20 Elections, Non-Political Citizens' Ticket 1896 3/21 Elections, Notices 1890-1905 3/22 Elections, Official Oaths 1890-1899 3/23 Elections, People's Party 1891-1892 3/24 Elections, Republican Party 1892-1906 3/25 Elections, Socialist Party 1904-1906 3/26 Elections, Voter Registration 1891-1906 3/27 Equalization, Board of 1890-1905 3/28 Finance Committee, Reports 1890-1902 3/29 Fire Department 1890-1906 3/30 Franchises 1892-1902 3/31 Franchises 1902-1907 3/32 Franchises, Correspondence 1890-1907 3/33 Health Officer, Reports 1894-1907 3/34 Insurance Policies 1898-1907 3/35 Insurance Policies 1898-1907 3/36 Insurance Policies 1898-1907 3/37 King County Treasurer, Tax Receipts 1894-1896 3/38 King County Treasurer, Tax Receipts 1897-1900 3/39 King County Treasurer, Tax Receipts 1901-1903 3/40 King County Treasurer, Tax Receipts 1904-1907 3/41 Leases 1890-1906 3/42 Legal Actions 1890-1898 3/43 Liquor Licenses, Petitions/Bonds 1890-1894 3/44 Liquor Licenses, Petitions/Bonds 1897-1902 3/45 Liquor Licenses, Petitions/Bonds 1903-1904 4/1 Liquor Licenses, Petitions/Bonds 1905-1907 4/2 Mayor, Communications/Vetoes to Council 1890-1906 4/3 Minutes, Board of Trustees 1890 4/4 Oaths of Office, A 1894-1906 4/5 Oaths of Office, B 1893-1906 4/6 Oaths of Office, C-D 1893-1906 4/7 Oaths of Office, E-H 1890-1906 4/8 Oaths of Office, I-L 1893-1906 4/9 Oaths of Office, M-P 1890-1906 4/10 Oaths of Office, R-W 1893-1907 4/11 Official Bonds, B 1899-1904 4/12 Official Bonds, C-G 1892-1905 4/13 Official Bonds, H-L 1890-1907 4/14 Official Bonds, M-P 1890-1906 4/15 Official Bonds, R-W 1891-1907 4/16 Payroll, City Engineer 1895-1896 4/17 Petitions, Annexation 1903-1907 4/18 Petitions, Assessment Readjustments 1893-1907 4/19 Petitions, Ballard General Hospital 1907 4/20 Petitions, City Limits Altered 1902 4/21 Petitions, Creation of Wards 1895 4/22 Petitions, Fire Hydrants 1892-1906 4/23 Petitions, Fire and Police 1890-1907 4/24 Petitions, General 1891-1906 4/25 Petitions, Leases 1901-1904 4/26 Petitions, Light and Power Issues 1891-1902 4/27 Petitions, Liquor and Saloons 1904-1907 4/28 Petitions, Livestock 1892-1906 4/29 Petitions, Permits to Use City Parks/Council Chamber 1895-1906 4/30 Petitions, Protests/Demonstrations 1891-1907 4/31 Petitions, Public Boat Landing 1904-1907 4/32 Petitions, Public Nuisances 1897-1906 4/33 Petitions, Sewer System 1903-1907 4/34 Petitions, Slaughterhouse 1898-1905 4/35 Petitions, Street Improvements 1893-1901 4/36 Petitions, Street Improvements 1902-1903 4/37 Petitions, Street Improvements 1904-1905 5/1 Petitions, Street Improvements 1906-1907 5/2 Petitions, Street Improvements 1890-1907 5/3 Petitions, Street Lighting 1897-1907 5/4 Petitions, Street Vacations and Condemnations 1900-1907 5/5 Petitions, Street Vendors 1890-1904 5/6 Petitions, Streetcar Service 1901-1906 5/7 Petitions, Water Main Extensions 1897-1903 5/8 Petitions, Water Main Extensions 1904-1907 5/9 Petitions, Water Main Extensions 1890-1907 5/10 Police/Justice Court 1892-1897 5/11 Police Justice, Reports 1891-1907 5/12 Property Ownership 1892-1903 5/13 Public Library 1893-1906 5/14 Reorganization, Advancement to Third Class City Status 1890 5/15 Requests for Construction 1895-1907 5/16 Requests, General 1890-1907 5/17 Resignations, B-W 1890-1907 5/18 Resolutions 1892-1907 5/19 Salt Water Main 1902-1903 5/20 Scandinavian American Bank, Deposits 1899-1904 5/21 Seattle and Montana Railway Company 1890-1906 5/22 Seattle Electric Company 1900-1907 5/23 Ship Canal, Correspondence and Condemnations 1898-1906 5/24 Specifications, Construction 1890-1906 5/25 Specifications, Equipment 1899-1906 5/26 Specifications, General Improvements 1890-1907 5/27 Specifications, Local Improvement Districts 1903-1907 5/28 Specifications, Local Improvement Districts 1906 5/29 Specifications, Local Improvement Districts 1906 5/30 Specifications, Local Improvement Districts 1906 6/1 Specifications, Street Improvements 1898-1901 6/2 Sunset Telephone and Telegraph Company 1899-1907 6/3 Superior Court Cases 1890-1904 6/4 Taxes, Collector's Statements and Levies 1892-1904 6/5 Treasurer's Receipts 1899-1906 6/6 Treasurer's Reports 1890-1897 6/7 Treasurer's Reports 1898-1900 6/8 Treasurer's Reports 1901-1904 6/9 Treasurer's Reports 1905 6/10 Treasurer's Reports 1906-1907 6/11 Water and Light, Superintendent's Reports 1896-1901 6/12 Water and Light, Superintendent's Reports 1902-1907 6/13 Water Supply, Agreements and Correspondence 1902-1906 6/14 Water System, Bids and Proposals 1895-1904 6/15 Water System, Contracts and Bonds 1895-1897 6/16 Water System, Contracts and Bonds 1902-1906 6/17 Water System, Correspondence and Reports 1894-1906 6/18 Water System, Specifications 1895 6/19 Water System, Specifications 1895-1906 6/20 Water System, Specifications 1902-1906 6/21 West Street and North End Electric Railway Company 1890-1897 Series IV Register of Warrants 1890-1907 5 volumes

Numerical register of warrants issued by the City of Ballard. Includes warrant number, date, to whom issued, amount, and reason for issue.

 1 Register of Warrants 1890-1896 2 Register of Warrants 1896-1901 3 Register of Warrants 1901-1905 4 Register of Warrants 1904-1907 5 Register of Warrants 1905-1907 Series V Demands and Warrants 1890-1898 1 volume 1 Demands and Warrants 1890-1898 Series VI Local Improvement District Files 1891-1907 2.4 cubic ft. 1 LIDs, A-W and 1-16 1891-1907 2 LIDs, 17-114 1891-1907 3 LIDs, 115-162 1891-1907