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, the Prosch family, now residing in Olympia, acquired the
From 1876 onward, Prosch was involved with a series of jobs and activities relating to the City of Seattle. In 1876, Prosch was appointed postmaster of Seattle by President Grant. 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. 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 also active in the Seattle Chamber of Commerce and a 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.
The collection includes two photographic albums containing images collected and annotated by Thomas Prosch. The photographs were taken by local photographers, among them Asahel Curtis, Webster & Stevens, George Moore, John P. Soule, Theodore Peiser and the Peterson Brothers Studio. The albums trace the early history of Seattle and vicinity, circa 1851-1906. Images include the Seattle Fire of 1889, early businesses and pioneer families.
All Asahel Curtis and Webster & Stevens photographs are copies. All photographs by John Soule are originals.
Photocopies are available for reference use.
The entire collection can be viewed on the Libraries Digital Collections website. The albums have been photocopied and users must use photocopies in lieu of the originals.
Restrictions may exist on reproduction, quotation, or publication. Contact Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries for details.
Donor: Edith D. Prosch, circa 1921.
Processed by Ashby Lee Collinson, 2006 and Marion Brown, 2009.
Written on page: One of Seattle's first houses.
Written on the photo: Survivors of first landed settlers.
Written on page: Lenora Denny, Carson D. Boren, Mary A. Denny, Rolland H. Denny, Mary Low Sinclair
Written on the photo: Monument from the west.
Written on the page: At their old home, corner of First Avenue and James Street.
Written on the page: One of seven bronze tablets unveiled November 13th, 1905 in Seattle
The tablet reads: Arthur A Denny In his log cabin home on this spot opened the first Post Office of Seattle August 27, 1853. This tablet was erected by the Washington University State Historical Society....November 13, 1905
Written on the page: Freeport, a sawmill and mill town, built by Williamson (J.R.) and others, in 1863-'64. Name was changed to Milton, by E.L. Marshall, in the 70's and in the 80's to West Seattle, by W.S. L. & L.. Co.
Written on the page: The University of Washington Territory, as built in 1861. The line of tall timber was then Fourth Avenue, in which the building partly stood.
Written on the page: House was between Fourth and Fifth Avenues, south side on Seneca Street. Dense timber in rear, east to Lake Washington.
Written on page: The student house of Washington University, built in Territorial days upon the campus, and occupied by many young people who later became useful, leading citizens.
Written on the page: House built by Charles Rummer in 1859, on northeast corner Jackson Street and Occidental Avenue. It was long one of the finest dwellings in Seattle. The land is now covered by one of the large manufacturing and mercantile houses of the city.
Written on photo: The large building here was built by Charles Plummer in 1858, on the southwest corner of First Avenue South and Main Street. In it he conducted a general store for many years, usually having a partner-Harris Deshaw or Hinds. On the upper floor was Plummer's Hall. This house and the dwelling were burned June 6, 1889.
Written on page: View to westward, from Second Avenue and Yesler Way, in 1876, showing old Occidental Hotel, Yesler mill, shops, the Sound and Duwamish Head.
Written on page: This house stood on the east side of Second Avenue, near Cherry street, next to the first M.E. Church. It was built by D.E. Blaine, and occupied by his family, by the E. Hanford family and by D. Horton's, the last owners. The New York building now occupies the site.
Written on the page: Logs in foreground belonged to sawmill, then leased to J.M. Colman. Coal bunker on north end of wharf. Freeport, Milton or West Seattle opposite side of bay.
This is a copy of a Peterson Brothers photograph, to which Peiser added his name.
Written on page: Post Building, erected by John Leary, in 1881. Finest business house then in Seattle. Home of Post-Intelligencer nearly eight years. Location: Yesler Way, north side, corner Post street.
Written on the page: In the great fire of June 1889, the Post or P-I Building was destroyed. Its ruins are shown above. It left an enduring mark in Seattle history, on account of its name, the newspaper, the street, its owner, its character and cost, the latter being $30,000 or in excess of any other house pion to 1882.
Written on the page: Among those on the front is S.L. Maxwell, founder and then publisher. The house stood on First Avenue, westside, south of Cherry street, opposite the present Newman building. It was built and owned by H.L. Yesler. The man standing above, in front of letter C was Isaac M. Hall, an attorney, whose law office was there. The City Council in 1876 used the same room as its place of meeting. The Intelligencer in 1875 moved to the north a short distance, the vacated printing office being taken by Boyd, Poncin & Young for their dry goods store.
Written on page: Built in 186- by Gardner Kellogg at southeast corner Fourth and Columbia and occupied there as a residence until 1883 by the Kelloggs and Colmans. Moved to Sixth and Columbia in 1883, and there stood twenty years, when torn down. In the picture Gardner Kellogg stands at corner. Date of picture about 1902.
Written on the page: The Phelps & Wadleigh meat market, Treen shoe store, Toklas & Singerman clothing store, and Jennings Grocery are shown. Bystanders here are Wm. A. Jennings, Ed. Reynolds, George Finn, Frank Rummer, Melody Choir, Paul Singerman, D.B. Jackson, Bailey Gatzert and others.
Written on the photo: West side of commercial street between Washington and Main, Seattle 1877.
Written on the page: Buildings shown are Sullivan's, Yesler Hall, Masonic Hall, etc. Piper's Bakery was there; the Lowman & Hanford Store, and the beginning of the Seattle Hardware Company, then Ballard & Sox. James Hamilton Lewis, then a new, young attorney, had office upstairs over hardware store.
Written on page: The first street car in Seattle. George Washington (colored) was driver. He says he drove the first car, starting Wednesday, Sept. 23rd, 1884. F.H. Osgood, manager and chief owner, stands by horses; E.B. Downing on back step; Mrs. Osgood, Mrs. Struve, Mrs. Harrington, Mayor Leary and City Councilmen seated inside. Scene: Occidental Avenue and Yesler Way.
Written on the page: The Olympian was beached and wrecked in Straight of Magellan in 1906.
Written on page: As built, the church faced on Jefferson Street. Later was turned, and made to face on Third Avenue, a tower built on front and an addition on rear. The ministers, in order, were: Itas F. Roberts, R. W. Summers, Charles R. Bonnell and George Herbert Watson. Both houses burned June 6, 1889.
Written on page: Grace Hospital, built by Trinity Church interests.
Written on page: Seattle in 1881, from King Street and the bay. The Felker house and Maynard's can be seen. The big houses down town are the Arlington Hotel and Squire Opera House.
Written on page: Seattle's first railroad terminal--King street west of First Avenue South-1879-'82.
Written on the page: The east side of First Avenue South between Main and Washington Streets, in 1888, showing Wyckoff, McNaught, Squire (the Brunswick) and Matthais buildings.
Written on page: Sold to M.V.B. Stacey, and resold by him to John Leary. On Second Avenue and Madison Street. Torn down and the parts burned in 1908.
Written on page: On block surrounded by James, Jefferson, Third and Fourth streets and avenues. The Terry home is to be seen in front on block opposite. While occupied by City Library the Yesler house was burned January 1st, 1901. Built in 1887-8 at cost of $50,000.
Written on page: Yesler, Leary, Occidental and Colman buildings are depicted. Courthouse behind Occidental. Snow 20 inches deep.
Written on page: Looking up Yesler Way from Post Street, June 5th, 1889. Buildings seen are Post, Yesler, Leary, Occidental, Schwabacher and Colman."
Written on photo: Yesler Ave East from R.R.
Showing horse drawn wagons.
Written on page: Front street (or First Avenue) cable line and car appear.
Written on page: The Korn, Occidental and Yesler. Leary buildings are seen.
Written on page: Houses shown are C.P. Stone's, Safe Deposit, Poncin's, Union and Toklas & Singerman's.
Written on page: Bark Memnon on her beam ends at Stetson and Post wharf. September, 1885
Written on page: The two nearest houses are the New England Hotel, on the left, and the United States Hotel, on the right, both at Main Street corners. The locality shown was the business center of the town then and for some years following.
Written on photo: Seattle 1874 Commercial Street.
Written on page: This is a reproduction of a drawing in Harper's Weekly representing the Seattle anti-Chinese riot of February 8, 1886. The location is in front of the New England Hotel, on the corner of Main Street and First Avenue South. The Chinese are in the middle; Captain George Kinnear's Home Guards protecting them, and the rioters surrounding and attacking. It is a fair picture.
Written on page: Yesler Home. Photograph from a drawing by A.W. Piper. Quite accurate.
Yesler and Grass are identified in drawing.
Written on photo: Seattle Looking East
Written on page: The Horton stone buildings on First Avenue South and Washington Street, after fire of June 6, 1889. These houses were the first ones in Seattle. They were the only houses in burned district that were or could be made habitable after the fire. The former occupants were doing business in them in July.
Written on page: The district burned over in Seattle June 6th, 1889. Photographed about ten days after fire.
Written on page: A common scene in 1882, '83, '84, '85, '86, at the west end of Vine, Cedar, Broad streets, Seattle. The canoes were those of Indians on their way from the north to the hopfields of White and Puyallup Valleys. This part of the city front has since been covered by four lines of railroad, wharves, warehouses, shops, streets, etc.
Written on page: Built in 1852, it stood on First Avenue South, between Yesler Way and Washington street. It not only served as cooking and eating place, but was office for Yesler's Mill and for County Auditor Yesler. Court and public meetings, as also religious services, were held in it. The Avenue looked as here shown in the 60s.
Written on page: The south end of Seattle in 1885. Logging exhibit in the foreground-oxen, train of logs, etc., on Columbia and Puget Sound Railroad.
Written on page: Same scene and time as preceding picture. There have been great changes in that district since these pictures were taken.
Written on page: The Church of our Lady of Good Help, the first of the Roman Catholics in Seattle, built by Father F.X. Prefontaine, in 1870-71. The clothes line on north side was that of the D.K. Baxter family, who lived in the house the verandah of which is partially seen.
Written on page: The President Garfield Memorial Services (October, 1881) in front of Occidental Hotel and on James street. Trinity Church and Rectory show in picture. The timber line was then on Seventh and more eastern avenues.
There is some disagreement on when this memorial service actually took place. Some sources say September 26th, September 27th or October. However, all sources agree this took place outside the Occidental Hotel in 1881.
See also page 66 in Album 2
Written on image: Denny Cabin. Alki Point. 1851. From a wood cut.
Written on page: Seattle in 1874, from a drawing by Eastman. The original is more distinct, being on a larger scale, and is remarkably truthful, as much so, almost, as a photograph.
Written on page: Built at Portland, brought to Puget Sound in 1859, ran until 1871, then laid aside, and allowed to go to ruin on the beach at Seattle. This photo is from a painting in the later 70s by Mrs. H.F. Beecher. Subsequently, the steamer was renewed and put into trade. In 1897 she was wrecked at Dutch Harbor, Alaska
Written on page: Photo by Joseph W. Phillips. Mrs. Phillips and Mrs. Campbell sitting on deck with children. This steamer was built in Alaska during Russian times. She came to Puget Sound in 1868, and for 29 years was here used as a towboat. She returned to Alaska in 1897, and was used at St. Michael for several years. Her hull now lies on the beach there, abandoned.
Written on page: This is the oldest, or first, known photograph of any part of Seattle. It represents that part of the town from the south line of Cherry Street on the left to the north line of James on the right, extending from First to Third Avenues east and west. The buildings shown are the Yesler dwelling in the foreground, and two barns or outbuilding of his. The Hillory Butler home is back of Yesler's. Opposite the nearest barn is the L.V. Wyckoff house. On its right is the H.A. Smith house, South of James street is the S.D. Libby house, later that of John Collins. These buildings occupied ground now covered by immense brick houses, reaching up to sixteen stories in one case. The pole shown stood in front of the Yesler sawmill, where Pioneer Place now is. A V-shaped flume shows in the picture. It brought water down James street. Seattle's first shade trees, framed in, are seen, or supposed to be seen on the right of the Yesler house.
This photograph is a copy of the original.
Written on page: The building shown in this picture was the North Pacific Brewery, built in the 1860s, and for along time owned by Martin Schmieg and Amos Brown. For a time the Brown family lived on the second floor. Its location was the southwest corner of Columbia Street and First Avenue.
Written on page: Seattle in 1882. Looking north from the corner of Third Avenue and Virginia Street. The wharf was G.L. Manning's; the octagonal dwelling on First Avenue was John Nation's, later Dr. O.G. Root's. The two-story dwelling was the house of E.S. Ingraham, it was at Lenora and Second.
Written on photo: No. B 5226. Bell Town, Seattle, W.T.
Written on page: The houses shown here include three University buildings, Providence Hospital, Central School, Plymouth Church, and the dwellings (on Third Avenue) of Dr. J. Settle, Mrs. Calhoun, Mrs. Jackling, Busby, John Denny, Walter Harmon, A. Mackintosh, Dr. Horton and others. Probably not ten of the houses in the view are now (1910) standing. Seattle in 1882; Looking south and east from Third and Pine, showing Third Avenue and Pike Street, and Beacon Hill in the distance.
Written on page: One of the wharves in the great snow of 1880.
Written on page: The great snow of January (7 to 11)1880. View from Main Street and First Avenue South to the south (north).
Written on page: View from Third and Cherry in summer of 1889.
Written on page: This is the way Second Avenue north of Cherry Street looked in August of 1889.
Written on page: Yesler Way west of Third Avenue in the summer of 1889.
Written on page: Southwest of Third and Jefferson in August, 1889.
Written on page: Seattle, from Occidental Avenue and Washington Street, looking north, in the 1870s
Written on page: Seattle waterfront in the middle 1880s. The nearest wharf is Colman's, Columbia street; next is Yesler's, with many buildings, and beyond the wharves of the Oregon Improvement Company."
Written on page: First Avenue north of Yesler Way in 1887. The Yesler Leary was the first big house on the left, the Frye Opera the big house on the distant right. The horse cars ran up James Street, and north on Second Avenue, the First was the better business street.
Written on page: Seattle's first railroad. This was the Lake Union end of a small road that extended to the west end of Pike street. The engine weighed two tons, and the coal cars drawn carried two tons. It was owned and operated by the S.C.& T. Co. from 1871 to 1877. This picture was probably taken on December 1871, when the first engine was put on the track.
Written on page: First Avenue South north of Main Street in 1881. The large building on the left was the New England Hotel, and the one on the right was the Squire Opera House. The view is of Seattle's main business and residence quarters at that time.
Written on page: The black building in the center of this picture was the house of W. N. Bell, on the northwest corner of Second Avenue and Cherry Street, where the 18-story Hoge Building was erected in 1911. The site was that of the home of C.D. Boren, who took the land claim there in 1852, and who sold the lot to Bell in 1855.
Written on page: This represents the north side of Yesler Way, then Mill street, west of First Avenue in 1871. The mill and buildings were H.L. Yesler's; the stores were L. Reinig's Bakery, M.A Kelly's Drug store, F.V Snyder's City Market, and Coombs and Pumphrey's Book and Stationary Store. Tide water, in the 1850s, came as far east as these buildings. Where they stood, Yesler's first mill was erected in 1852-53. The street surface shown was mill refuse-chiefly sawdust.
Written on page: The Occidental was Seattle's leading hotel for many years. It was then kept by John Collins. The house near it was the Hillory Butler home. Beyond it are the G. Kellogg, O.C. Shorey, D.V. Hyde and other pioneer homes. The timber line then was about Fifth Avenue. These pictures were stereopticon.
This photograph was copied from a stereo view.
Written on page: View from Pine and Third to south and east in 1876.
Written on page: Seattle from Madison Street north to Pine and
Virginia. In the foreground is the hulk of the bark
Written on page: This was the extreme south end of Seattle in the mid year of 1880s
Written on page: The intersection of James Street, Yesler Way and First Avenue 1876 to 1880. On the right are the Butler building and the Yesler home; on the left the Occidental Hotel, Colman brick and other buildings.
Written on page: This is rather an obscure view of that part of Seattle south of Yesler Way and west of Third Avenue about the 1st of July, 1889. What shows up like a house on the right was the stone buildings of Dexter Horton on the corner of Washington Street and First Avenue South. They were refloored, rewindowed, etc. and used again in business for a year or so, they being the only houses in the fire district that could be used."
Written on page: The
Written on page: Seattle in 1882, looking south from near-north of- Second and Pine, at the heart of the town. This picture and the one on opposite page are really two parts of one view."
Written on page: This picture and the one following connect in one view of Seattle from Madison Street to about King Street, in 1882.
Written on page: The wharves were on Washington and Main Streets, and belonged to the Oregon Improvement Co. The large houses near the front were the Hinds at North and New England Hotel in middle, and Arlington Hotel at south end. The Felker or Anderson house, 1853, is at south end on front. The Roman Catholic, Episcopal show, with crosses; also half of Baptist Church at northside. These churches were the first of their denominations. King Count's first Courthouse is shown in this picture at Third Avenue and Jefferson Street.
Written on page: Seattle from Jackson Street south, in 1882. The trestle on the front is the coal wharf of the Co. Columbia and Puget Sound Railway Co. The Company's shops are seen up the (King) street. The Felker house, owned by A.C. Anderson, with maple trees in front and behind, shown on Jackson street near First Avenue; the Geo. W. Bullene house, on First Avenue, faces the view. Next to it is James Mc. [illegible]inley's house, [illegible] Stetson & Post mill, [illegible]ing and First [illegible]minet. The forest line then was about Sixth Avenue.
Written on page: Seattle, from King Street waterfront, to east and south in 1882. Beacon Hill, covered with timber is to be seen. The bit of wharf and the pile road near shore belonged to the C. & P. Ry Co. The white spots on the side hill were dwelling houses. The bay then, as shown here, is now filled with earth and covered with streets, houses and railroad tracks. The mill on the left or north is the Stetson & Post sash and door factory; the mill on the right or south is the Stetson & Postsash cutting or board making establishment. It was destroyed by fire in 1885.
Written on page: Seattle in 1882, from Dearborn Street and Twelfth Avenue South, looking N.W. Among buildings are Stetson & Post Sawmill, gas works, County Courthouse, Catholic, Episcopal and Methodist Churches, Squire's Opera House, Frauenthal and Post buildings, [illegible].
Written on page: Thru the center of this picture runs Third Avenue from Spring Street to Pike and Union from Second Avenue to Fourth, as they appeared in 1871 from near Second Avenue and Pine street, Houses shown Buzby, John Denny, Mackintosh, Fisher dwellings, Central School University, and others."
Written on page: Seattle, in 1873, from First Avenue South and Washington Street. Among prominent buildings are Masonic Hall, Tower of M.E. Church, Wyckoff dwelling, the Pinkham, Naher, Sullivan, Meydenbauer, Robbins, and Freeman stores, also Grose's barber shop, etc. The woods or tree line was Fifth Avenue, to Sixth.
Written on page: A second view, of the same locality, in 1873. In this picture is shown more on left or west side, including the first bank-Horton & Co. the nearest house--Schwabacher's new brick store, a number of Yesler Way shops, the Yesler Hall, or Pavillion, Central School, etc. When new these pictures were very plain, it being possible to recognize the men, read the signs, etc.
Written on page: The above is the photographic copy of a drawing that appeared in Harper's in 1870, at the time Wm. H. Seward was in Seattle. It represented that portion of Seattle from Columbia Street and First Avenue to the old University at Seneca and Fourth. The large buildings on the water front were those of the North Pacific Brewery, then owned by Schmieg & Brown. The M.E. Church and M.P. Church on Second Avenue, show plainly. The dwelling on Third and Columbia, back of the M.E. Church, is the O.C. Shorey house. On the north of that church is the parsonage, and on the south two houses of the Dexter Horton's. On the front the north end is near Madison Street.
Written on page: Saint mark's church, when new or about 1896.
Written on page: Seattle in 1885-'86. The waterfront extends from Madison to Columbia Street. The big building in the center is Frye's Opera House. The Methodist Protestant church is shown north of Frye's; the McNaught and Stacy dwellings to the east, also Stetson & Post. The fire of June 6, 1889, began in house on extreme left, belonging to Mrs. Margaret Pontius.
Written on page: Celebration of the Fourth of July about 1886. The scene was the west end of James street. Houses shown are the Occidental Hotel, built in 1865, on the right, and on the left the H.L. Yesler. H.A. Smith and C.C. Terry dwellings, the latter also built in 1865. The timber line then was Fourth Avenue.
Written on page: This view was taken from near Jackson Street and First Avenue South, about 1863. The first Yesler sawmill is shown about the middle of the picture.
Written on page: This is the same scene, from a slightly different angle, about 1866. The saw mill shows in this, too. The flag pole, Seattle's first, is seen in both views. It stood at the present Pioneer Place. In this picture the M.E. Church, Masonic Hall, Occidental Hotel are conspicuous. The timber line is about Fifth Avenue.
Written on page: The home of an old settler-Indian Charley- on Shilshole Bay.
Written on photograph: Mrs. Louisa B. Denny
Written on page: Nee Louisa Boren, who has lived in Seattle continuously since Nov. 13, 1851. In January, 1853, she married David. T. Denny, they being the first white couple married in King County."
Written on page: H.B. Company's steamer Beaver in Victoria harbor. She was the first steamer on the Pacific Ocean. Sailed from England Aug 27, 1835, and arrived at Fort Vancouver April 10, 1836, under sail. She ran until July, 1888, when she ran on the rocks in Burrard Inlet, and there remained."
Written on page: H.B. Company's steamer Otter (below).Built in 1852, she worked in British Columbia waters from 1853 to 1890, when she was broken up. She was 122 feet long, the Beaver 101.
Written on page: This house stood on Yesler, south side opposite the Occidental Hotel. In the mid 1860s Gardner and David Kellogg had a drug store; A. S. [illegible]ham the variety store, and E. M. Sammis the photograph gallery. Sammis built this house. He was Seattle's early photographer, tho(sic) a man named Clark took pictures here before Sammis.
Written on page: This was a view of First Avenue near Yesler Way, looking north, about 1880. The far off end was Pine Street.
Written on page: A view of Seattle from about Pine Street and Second Avenue to the southeast-to about Madison Street and Ninth Avenue- taken about 1877 or 1878.
Written on page: Seattle, in 1886, from Seventh and Jefferson to the north. The large house on the hill was the Central School. The rough street next to it is Sixth Avenue. James Street is shown between Fifth and Sixth Avenues. This was a residence district. About a dozen of the houses in this picture are still standing--1900.
Written on page: The east side of First Avenue between James and Cherry Streets in 1886. It was a cheap looking piece of town, but the people did not so consider it. In fact, they were proud of it.
Written on page: The University boarding house, that stood and served for thirty years on the campus, about where University Street and Fifth Avenue now are.
Written on page: "An old settler" among the "new comers"--the Amos Brown dwelling built in 1870, on First Avenue and Spring Street, as it stands in 1911 surrounded by lofty modern business houses.
Written on bottom of page: Cherry Street from First to Fifth Avenue, in the great snow of January, 1880. The depth was three to four feet, in some places more. Much damage was done.
Left Side A.C. Anderson on Fourth. J.R. Lewis, on Third. Horton's vacant lots. Three belonging to H.B. Bagley west of Second. Chris Schuerman, on First.
Right Side: John Condon on Fifth. S.W. Russelt, First Baptist Church, on Fourth, T.S. Russel, on Third. L.V. Wyckoff on Second. Yesler Hall on First. In all 61 inches of snow fell in that storm, and 102 inches during 1880.
Written on page: In this view and the next is included 90 per cent of Seattle in 1878. In both is to be seen the wreck of the bark Windward, at Western Avenue and Marion Street. First Avenue, walled up with timber, was then next to the water.
Written on photo: Mt. Rainier 11,444 ft high. Elliott Bay. Seattle, W.T.
Written on page: View to the south from Pike and Second in 1878-79
Written on page: The Old Home of D.T. Denny and Family. Seattle Times, Sept. 17, 1911
From clipping accompanying photograph:
More than ordinary interest attaches to the wrecking of the big, roomy and even modern house which David. T. Denny built when growing affluence in the pioneer days made possible the moving of his family to their new abode. The house was two-story frame building, with an ornate porch in front, a shingle roof and large dining and living rooms, besides spacious bedrooms....
For many years the Denny home was regarded as a masterpiece of civic improvement and of the development of Seattle's home life.
Beyond the old home, gas tanks have reared their metal tops and the exacting demands of modern traffic conditions have called for the lowering of the surrounding hills. The old home is now dismantled, its windows blank, staring openings, its roof partly shattered. The house has long been tenantless and within a year or so it is expected that new factories, flats and business structures will be built on the old Denny homestead and the neighborhood surrounding it.
Written on page: Another view of the Denny home on Ninth Avenue, near Lake Union, as it looked in September 1911, while graders were making a deep cut in the street in front. The old barn and the new tanks of the Gas Company are shown. The dwelling was being torn down, as it could not stand with so deep a cut under the front.
Written on page: Enlarged photo of house built at 1519 First Avenue by Charles McDonals in 1869, and occupied continuously forty years by J.H. Hall, C.B. Shatluck, T.W. Prosch and other families and people. It was one of the fine houses of the town, and brought the highest rent-$25. On the verandah are Mrs. Charles Prosch, Mrs. Thomas W. Prosch, and Master Arthur M. Prosch.
Written on page: Holiday Parade on First Avenue South, from Jackson Street to Yesler in 1888.
Written on page: First Avenue north of Madison Street in 1886. The buildings on the left are the Kenyon and Brown; on the right Maddocks's, White & Tenney iron foundry, and Amos Brown and other dwellings.
Written on page: First Avenue north of Madison Street in 1887. The beginning of the steam railroad is to be seen, but not the street line, which was built in 1888.
Written on page: The Charles Plummer home on northeast corner of Jackson Street and Occidental Avenue, one of Seattle's finest places in the 1860s and '70s. It was burned June 6, 1889. Plummer was a merchant, wharf owner and leading citizen, dating back to 1853.
Written on page: The Territorial University as it looked twenty years after its building in 1861.
Written on page: The coal wharf and bunkers at west end of King
Street in the 1880's. Steamer
Written on page: Ruins of the fire of July 26, 1879, Seattle's greatest fire until 1889. Burned district about 350 feet square between Washington and Cherry streets west of Post-chiefly Yesler's wharf, mill and other properties. Loss, $100,000.
Written on page: Yesler wharf in 1880, from near Cherry Street.
Steamer
Written on page: Knights of Pythias, under Captain W.E. Wilson, at First Avenue and Marion Street in 1880. W.G. Ronald, H.A. Bigelow, O.O. Denny, G.W. Boardman, W.V. Rinehart, and W.H. Hughes are among those in the parade.
Written on page: Steamer
Written on page: Seattle south of Yesler Ave. and west of Occidental in 1888-1889, before the fire, from Occidental Hotel. All was destroyed June 6, 1889."
Written on page: The President Garfield Memorial exercises at James and Yesler in October, 1881
There is some disagreement on when this memorial service actually took place. It is reported variously as occurring on September 26th, September 27th, or in October. However, all sources agree is that it took place in Occidental Square sometime in 1881.
See also page 54b in Album 1.
Written on page: Engine house and fire company on south side of Columbia Street between First and Second Avenues before the fire of June 6, 1889.
Written on page: The finest house in Seattle when built, in 1881. This picture was taken some years later.
Written on page: House erected by G. Poncin at west end of Cherry Street in the 1880s; destroyed in Seattle's great fire.
Written on page: These two houses belonged to Carl Voss and L. Reining. They were at Marion Street and First Avenue; were burned June 6, 1889.
Written on page: Seattle, north of Columbia Street in 1870. In
the foreground are the Yesler mill sawlogs, The
Written on photo: 25117 C & M Seattle 1870
Written on page: Seattle in 1870, from Fourth Avenue and Seneca Street, looking south. The Baptist and Catholic Churches are to be seen; also Andrews, Atkins, Shorey, and other dwellings.
Written on photo: A view of Seattle in 1886, from Fourth Avenue and Olive Street, looking south and east. The Coppin water tower, Central School, Providence Hospital and University are shown on the far-away line.
Written on page: An 1888 view, from Seventh Avenue and James Street, to the northwest. Central School burned soon afterwards, is in the center. The showy dwelling was that of Joseph F McNaught. Columbia Street and Seventh Avenue are plainly exhibited.
Written on page: A bit of Seattle seen in the middle 1880s from Seventh Avenue and Washington Street to the southeast. The big building in the center was the Catholic Academy of the Holy Names. It cost $50,000. Twenty years later, in a Jackson street regrade it and all these other houses were destroyed.
Written on page: The Yesler dwelling on the fourth of July, 1887, Mr. and Mrs. Yesler standing at the James Street corner.
Written on page: This is a Seattle view from Washington Street and Railroad Avenue not long after the fire of June 6, 1889. The big house near the middle is the Boston, on Columbia and Second. The nearest wreckage was the Marshall building. Across Washington street from it is seen the D. Horton & Co. bank building.
Written on page: Angeline, daughter of Chief Seattle. Picture was taken in Madrona Park, in 1892, by John P. Soule. As far as known, she then took her first, and last perhaps, street car ride.
Written on page: This picture and 20 following pictures were taken by John P. Soule in the summer of 1889, after the great fire of June 6th. First Avenue southwest from Columbia and Second. The wrecks of buildings shown were in the what was the finest building block of the city of Seattle.
Written on page: Occidental Hotel, the James Street side, at First Avenue; the finest hotel in 1888-'89."
Written on page: The west end of the Occidental Hotel building.
Written on page: Yesler Way east from Post Street. The principal buildings shown are the Post, Yesler-Leary and Occidental on the left and the Colman on the right.
Written on page: The walls standing were those of brick buildings on First Avenue, west side, between Yesler Way and Columbia Street.
Written on page: Same locality as on opposite page; view from Second and Columbia
Written on page: First Avenue, north of Yesler Way. Jacob Furth (with tall hat) and Dr. T.T. Minor are two of the four men standing on the Yesler Way corner.
Written on page: First Avenue South, Yesler to Jackson. Houses on right are first D. Horton stone, and beyond Isaac Parker brock. On left furthest house is H.H. Dearborn's.
Written on page: Dexter Horton bank building and a bit of the Harrington & Smith grocery building, on First avenue South and Washington Street.
Written on page: The Oregon Improvement Company wharves at Washington, Main and Jackson Streets.
Written on page: Soutwest [sic] of Third and James in July, 1889.
Written on page: And this is the way it looked north of Marion Street.
Written on page: Second Avenue north of Madison Street 60 days after the fire of June 6th, 1889
Some of the visible tent fronts are Lake Union Furniture Manufacturing Company, Durants Book Store, W. G. Gilger Watchmaker & Jeweler, and Drummers Headquarters
Written on page: Second Avenue north of Spring Street 60 days after the fire of June 6th, 1889
Some of the visible tent fronts are J.M Whiton Hardware, Doheny & Marum Dry Goods, and Arthur Letts Gents Furnishing Goods.
Written on page: On this page and the next is a view of Seattle in 1894, covering all the burned district of 1889. It was taken from First Avenue and Pike Street. The Armory, the Central School, Coppin water tower, Courthouse, Methodist Church, University building and Providence Hospital plainly shown. The "skyscraper" near the center is the six-story Burke building. The A.A. Denny home is also near the center, bounded by First and Second Avenues, University and Union streets. Second Avenue then as a business thoroughfare was not nearly equal to First.
Written on page: Snoqualmie Falls in original condition, as seen in 1892 by John P. Soule, photographer. Present day appearance is quite different.
Written on page: The residence portion of Port Madison in 1880. The Philip West Hotel on extreme left and Geo. A. Meig's home on extreme right are shown. Between them are the places occupied by the Bucklin, Bullene, Comstock, Primrose and other families.
Written on page: John Miller Murphy, born in 1839, came to Oregon 1850, began publishing the Washington Standard at Olympia 1860, and has published it continuously since, now fifty-one years--1911."
Written on page: Kitsap County Courthouse at Port Madison, destroyed in 1912. It was one of the oldest in Washington.
Written on page: The building shown herein was the hotel of Blackwell & Kelly, erected in 1873 by the Northern Pacific Co. at Tacoma. It stood on the first wharf, up the bay from the Tacoma Mill, when it stands today (1911). Telegraph, express, railroad and hotel offices were on first floor. The view is from the south. No other commercial enterprises were in that part of Tacoma's waterfront in 1873-74."
"These two views were sent to me by L.J. Hatch, who lived at New Tacoma in 1874. They are reprints, of course. T.W.P."
Written on page: This rough landscape was that presented in Tacoma in 1874, at Pacific Avenue and Sixth and Seventh Streets. The barn was Cogswell's and it stood where the Northern Pacific headquarters building now (1911) stands. The road leading to the railroad-steamer wharf is partially shown. This bit of town was called New Tacoma, to distinguish it from the other place two miles away that legally bore the name Tacoma.