Seattle Municipal Archives Digital Collections

Seattle at 150 Chapter 1: Foundations (1869-1896)

The common council focused first on bringing order to the new city. The earliest ordinances laid out penalties, set limits, and established regulations. As the city grew, the role of municipal government expanded and the city began building infrastructure to support economic development, while a new charter in 1896 streamlined the governing process and prepared Seattle for the population boom that followed the arrival of gold from the Klondike in 1897.

INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER 1: FOUNDATIONS 1869-1896
CHAPTER 2: BOOMTOWN 1897-1910
CHAPTER 3: GROWING UP: 1910-1929
CHAPTER 4: NAVIGATING THE GREAT DEPRESSION: 1930-1941
CHAPTER 5: WARTIME: 1942-1945
CHAPTER 6: BECOMING A GLOBAL CITY: 1946-1962
CHAPTER 7: ACTIVISM AND ENGAGEMENT: 1963-1990
CHAPTER 8: BOOMTOWN REDUX: 1991-2019
Seattle (1869)_pdfa
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View Toward Third and Union. University Campus as It Appeared Looking South
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Mayor Bailey Gatzert
A resolution was passed as a memorial to Bailey Gatzert. It stated, in part, that "the City has parted with a staunch supporter of Seattle enterprises, public and private, a man of unswerving fidelity to the interests of the municipality and a successful merchant of rare moral and commercial integrity."
A petition, signed by Gardner Kellogg and approximately 25 others, requested that an organized Fire Department be established. The petitioners submitted the by-laws of Portland's fire department as an example.
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[horse drawn] Seattle Street Railway. Streetcar barn at 2nd and Pike.
Survey Parties
Petition by James T. Armstrong to enclose his tent at Fourth and Jackson with corrugated iron. He and his family were living in the tent because their home was destroyed in the Great Fire.
Looking southwest from 3rd Ave. and Jefferson St. [Tents in Pioneer Square after Great Fire].
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Cedar River Pipeline Number 1 under Construction. Digging Trench in Bottom of Black River [men posing]
A. W. Parkhurst applied for a license to handle and transport explosives as described in Section 1 of Ordinance No. 3480. The Committee on Police License and Revenue reported favorably to his petition.
Petition and accompanying reports regarding filing and return of check filed by Rainier Power and Railway Company in compliance with Ordinance 1993 with regard to a franchise.
City Hall [Katzenjammer Castle]
J.K. Basye petitioned the Council for permission to erect a 15 foot street clock at 804 Front Street. Twenty-nine businesses and residents signed the petition endorsing the proposal.
Street Sign [320 Pike] [ street clock ]
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Flier from Police Chief Bolton Rogers stating a horse belonging to the Police Department was lost and there was a $25 dollar reward for its return.
A. M. Kent requested pay for the days he was sick and unable to perform his duties as a police officer. While he was sick the Chief of Police dismissed him from the police force because he did not receive notice that he was sick. Mr. Kent claimed that he had sent notice. The Board of Aldermen granted his claim.
A petition was submitted by members of the Women's Christian Temperance Union requesting that the City appoint and maintain a police matron. Members of the W.C.T.U. also requested that one of their members, Mrs. Jaycox, be appointed to the position. The C
Police Matron Emma Taylor
Fred E. Sander and Rebecca S. Latty requested permission to grade Eighth Street at James and have the cost credited to future assessments on their property. The Corporation Counsel, Board of Public Works, and the Committee on Streets were against granting the request.
Five residents living east of Rainier Street and south of Jackson Street petitioned the Council for water mains. Their only source of water was from two springs, one just below a stable and the other 100 yards from a cesspool.
Mount Baker Park and Lake Washington Boulevard
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At intersection of south curb line of Main St. and west curb line of Maynard Ave. looking north along the west curb line of Maynard Ave. Target on level rod held by Chauncy Wernecke is set at 0.75'
Report of the Board of Police Commissioners of the City of Seattle for the year 1895.
Men sorting fish on boat George H.I. . . .
The Seattle Public Library purchased fire insurance from the North German Fire Insurance Company for its location in the Rialto Building on the Northwest corner of Second Avenue and Madison Street.
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