WAUParkerCurtissPHColl1026.xmlGuide to the I. Curtiss Parker Photographs of Seattle and the Third Avenue Regrade 1909Parker (I. Curtiss) Photographs of Seattle and the Third Avenue RegradeSpecial Collections, University of Washington Libraries© 2011 (Last modified: 8/4/2020)
Seattle, WA 98195
Finding aid written in English.Finding aid based on DACS (Describing Archives: A Content Standard).University of Washington Libraries, Special CollectionsPH1026Parker, I. Curtiss, 1879-1965I. Curtiss Parker photographs of Seattle and the Third Avenue Regrade190920 photographic prints (1 folder)Collection materials are in English.Photographs of Seattle and the Third Avenue regrade and Curtiss Parker residence taken by Curtiss Parker approximately 1909.

Isaac Curtiss Parker (1879-1965) was a civil engineer, born in Seattle on April 15, 1879. He graduated from Seattle High School in 1898 and the University of Washington in 1904. He is listed in the 1907 Seattle City directory as a draftsman city engineer, and on his 1917-18 draft card as a civil engineer who worked in the Smith Building. He was a member of several professional engineer associations, a Masonic lodge, and the Knights of Pythias. He died in Seattle in 1965.

The regrading of Seattle was a project that took many years and $2.25 million dollars to complete. The first phase (1898-1899) leveled First Avenue from Pine Street to Denny Way. Between 1903 and 1906 the area from Second to Fifth Avenues between Pike and Cedar Streets was regraded. From 1906 to 1909, additional sections of Seattle were regraded, including Third Avenue as far south as James Street; additional portions of Denny Hill; Beacon Hill; Jackson Street; and the Dearborn Street project began. More than five million cubic yards of dirt were sluiced into Elliott Bay. The avenues and streets were lowered to a gradient no more than 5%, and 4th and 5th Avenues were widened. The regrade was not fully completed until the 1930s, when the last embankment along 5th Avenue was removed.

This collection consists of photographs taken by I. Curtiss Parker of downtown Seattle, including the 1909 Third Avenue regrade and widening of Fourth Street, and the Curtiss Parker residence.

View the digital version of the collection .

Entire collection can be viewed on Libraries' Digital Collections website. Permission of Visual Materials Curator is required to view originals. Contact Special Collections for more information.

Request at UW

Restrictions may exist on reproduction, quotation, or publication. Contact Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries for details.

Donated by the Engineers Club, 1986.

Processed by Erin Mettling; finding aid revised by Susan Fitch, 2019.

Visual Materials Collections (University of Washington)Parker, I. Curtiss, 1879-1965--ArchivesDenny Regrade (Seattle, Wash.)--PhotographsPublic works--Washington (State)--Seattle--PhotographsStreets--Washington (State)--Seattle--PhotographsDwellings--Washington (State)--Seattle--PhotographsCommercial buildings--Washington (State)--Seattle--PhotographsPublic buildings--Washington (State)--Seattle--PhotographsParker, I. Curtiss, 1879-1965--PhotographsPhotographsSeattle

 

113rd Avenue between Pike and Pine 1909

Hotel Federal is on the left. On the right is the former Methodist Church building, with a sign for the 3rd Ave Theatre. The Theatre's building at 3rd and Madison was demolished in 1907, and the 3rd Ave Theatre moved into the recently sold church building.

Written on verso: Looking N. on 3rd Ave from between Pike & Pine.

12Men working with a steam shovel on 3rd Avenue regrade1909

Written on verso: Denny Hill Regrade S.E. Cor 3rd & Olive - 1909.

134th Avenue from Jefferson street1909

Written on verso: Looking North on 4th Ave from Jefferson St. 1909.

14Homes and courthouse above regrade1909

Written on verso: S.E. Cor. 4th & Cherry. S.A.C. on extreme right.

15Homes and building foundations along 4th Avenue1909

Written on verso: E. side of 4th Ave between Columbia & Cherry. J.M Colman res left center.

16J.M. Colman residence above regradeMarch 1909

Written on verso: S.E. Cor 4th & Columbia. J.M. Colman home in center. March 1909.

17Regrade work in front of buildings on 4th AvenueMarch 1909

Written on verso: March 1909. 4th Ave North from Spring. White Bldg Left center. Olympic Hotel-center. F.H. Whitworth home. Hungerford Hotel (McNaught House) Extreme right.

18People on makeshift sidewalk along regrade1909

Written on verso: Spring St Looking East from 4th Ave.

19Buildings along 4th Avenue with exposed foundations1909

Written on verso: 4th Ave (East side) between Seneca & Spring St. 1 F.H. Whitworth; 2 [blank]; 3 [blank]; 4 Old McNaught house-Hungerford Hotel; 5 Library.

Written on photograph: Providence Hospital. Numbers corresponding to notes on verso.

110Y.W.C.A. and homes along regrade at 4th Avenue1909

The Y.W.C.A. was located at 706 3rd Avenue until it moved to new headquarters in1914.

Written on verso: Looking East on Seneca st from 4th Ave. 1909 I.C. Parker residence at SE Cor 8th & Seneca. Note: Street slopes to East.

111Steam shovel and men removing dirtMarch 1909

Written on verso: NE Cor 4th & Pine 105' Cut. March 1909.

112Buildings at 5th Avenue and Seneca StreetMarch 1909

Written on verso: Mch 1909 1. NE Cor 5th & Seneca St Spring Apts. 2. J.E Chilberg's Home. 3. Presbyterian Church.

113Men sitting on railing on regraded 6th Avenue below houses1909

Written on verso: 6th & Seneca Looking South on 6th Ave Providence Hospital Bldg in distance.

114Dirt and rocks piled high behind homes1909

Written on verso: SE. Cor 8th Ave & Stewart. Bus Terminal 1909.

115House atop a mound1909

Written on verso: Bellevue-Summit North from Pike Street 1909.

116Corner 3rd of Avenue and Madison, with demolished 3rd Avenue TheatreMarch 1909

Church at left is Seattle First Presbyterian Church, Lincoln Hotel is on the right, and the middle structure is a building called "The Wood."

Written on verso, but containing partially incorrect building identification: N.E. Cor 3rd + Madison. Site of Old 3rd Ave Theatre. Catholic Church on extreme left (see 5th & Spring) Lincoln Hotel on Right. 1st Presbyterian Church Center. Mch 1909.

117Row of buildings with exposed foundations, showing Municipal Building in next block1909

Written on verso: E. side 4th Ave between James and Jefferson.

118Trolley near the Hotel Mansfield along regradeMarch 1909

Written on verso: Mch 1909. James St. between 4th & 5th Taken from 4th Ave looking south. City Hall [Municipal Building] on extreme right. Court House (Profanity Hill) tower on left. "The Mansfield" still standing 1957.

119Seattle City Hall under demolition on 3rd Avenue between Jefferson and Yesler, with Frye Hotel construction in background. Mch 1909.March 1909

Written on verso: Old City Hall from the East. Frye Hotel in background. Mch 1909.

Seattle's 2nd City Hall was known as the "Katzenjammer Castle."

120I. Curtiss Parker residence, 1120 8th Avenue, Seattle1909

Written on verso: Parker Residence S.E. Corner 8th & Seneca St. 1120 8th Ave.