Category Archives: Seattle History

Fred Sander and the Interurban Rail Line

Fred Sander (1853-1921) was an early Seattle settler who arrived in 1879, when Seattle didn’t look like much more than a seaside village, and yet Sander stayed to become a “city booster.” Born in Mississippi, Sander left home at age … Continue reading

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Fremont’s Grand Union Streetcar Switch

One of the reasons why Fremont in Seattle was long regarded as the Center of the Universe was because of its convergence of streetcar lines and the Interurban Railway which all crossed the Fremont Bridge. At the north end of … Continue reading

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The People Behind the Street Name: Densmore

Milton Densmore (1839-1908) was a Civil War veteran of Vermont who became an early resident of Seattle. At the close of the Civil War in 1865, Densmore followed the pattern of many veterans, who moved westward and made land claims.  He met … Continue reading

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The People Behind the Street Name: Galer

Early Seattle settlers came from all over the USA.  Some settlers have left us their stories so that we have a fair bit of info about them, such as the Denny and Mercer families.  Other early settlers, like Jacob Galer, … Continue reading

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Early Post Offices at the Ross and Fremont Neighborhoods in Seattle

Seattle’s home-grown railroad, the Seattle, Lake Shore & Eastern Railway, began running in 1887.  Railway stations and post offices were opened as the train passed through population centers, and these gave names to the neighborhoods.   This blog article will trace … Continue reading

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The People Behind the Street Name: Hamlin

The names of Seattle streets are worthy of a trivia contest to discern their origins and guess the meaning of the names.  What does it mean when a street in Seattle is named “Aloha???” The original meaning of some street names … Continue reading

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NE 68th Street in Wedgwood, Then and Now

On 35th Ave NE at NE 68th in Wedgwood there is the Northeast Branch Library on the northwest corner, and an apartment building on the southwest corner. In our minds’ eye we may imagine what was there more than a hundred years ago.  As of 1915 this … Continue reading

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Who were Burke & Gilman?

One of Seattle’s amenities is a trail which traverses the city and extends to the east side of Lake Washington.  Sometimes called “Seattle’s longest park,” the trail is overseen by the Parks Department and serves those who walk, run, or … Continue reading

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The Hudson Building in the 1920s

On the evening of July 4, 2025, a speeding car plowed into the Mioposto restaurant at 3426 NE 55th Street.  Diners were showered with broken glass, but fortunately no one was killed.  Immediately work began to reinforce the building’s storefront, … Continue reading

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Lumbermen of Lake City in Seattle

Northeast Seattle, including Lake City, really began to grow in the 1920s because of the rise of the automobile and the creation of more roads.  A highway called Erickson Road had opened in 1913 but its winding, narrow passage from … Continue reading

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