Northeast Seattle has wonderful natural areas where you may see birds and other wildlife, including Magnuson Park on Lake Washington, Meadowbrook Pond at NE 107th Street on the east side of 35th Ave NE, and the Union Bay Natural Area. While the trails in the UBNA are currently closed for construction, another good option for birdwatching is on the adjacent Yesler Swamp Trail which also looks out over Union Bay.
All of the Wedgwood neighborhood came into the Seattle City Limits in 1954, and then all of Wedgwood’s businesses were listed in the Seattle City Directories. The business listings are a fascinating look at the economics and lifestyle of the 1950s.
By way of contrast, a listing of the present-day businesses along 35th Ave NE shows the changes in economic conditions in Wedgwood over the decades and changes in the types of goods and services which are wanted. The business listings are different now, but the buildings themselves are much the same, dating from the 1940s and 1950s during Wedgwood’s period of growth and development.
Copyright notice: text and photos in this article are protected under a Creative Commons Copyright.
Wedgwoodians love their neighborhood trees, including the Flame Ash street trees which line the arterial 35th Ave NE. Here is a map of the City of Seattle street trees.
In addition to nurturing the trees that we already have, Wedgwoodians are enthusiastic about planting even more trees.
Throughout northeast Seattle there are many ravines, big and small, with creeks running eastward down to their outlets at Lake Washington. As can be seen throughout the city, there are possum, raccoon and coyotes living in Wedgwood’s ravines. It has been rumored that deer live in the wooded ravines, as well.
Have you heard of Frederich Drumpf, a German immigrant who operated a restaurant in Seattle in the 1890s?
Real historians use original documents and verify their sources, and in this essay by Seattle historian Rob Ketcherside, we see that getting at the truth about Mr. Drumpf required painstaking research.
Did you know that the Washington State Office of the Secretary of State has a blog page???? Well, it seems like just about everyone has a blog now!
What does a teenage Great Blue Heron look like?
Upcoming in the month of June 2016 are events and activities which will enhance your understanding of Seattle history and the history of one of Seattle’s iconic neighborhoods, Ballard.
It has been a year since the major reconfiguration of the creek bed and flood plain of Thornton Creek at Meadowbrook. A festival event on Saturday, June 11th, sponsored by Thornton Creek Alliance, will offer education and info about the watershed along with food, fun and music.
Wedgwood in Seattle History 