West Seattle's First Jail Photo by Patrick Robinson. LHM#2010.10.4 Donated by White Center News West Seattle Herald. Today turned out to be a stunning day! Brilliant sun... after buckets of rain falling yesterday. We started the day with a 10 am tour led by local Peder Nelson of his ol' stomping grounds -- Schmitz Park. The museum doors were then unlocked at 11. Today we had folks from as far away as Wales, Woodinville and 63rd Ave SW.(two blocks away.) Visitors and volunteers were looking for answers about : the Alki Lighthouse, the first West Seattle jail, what to do in the area and thoughts on novel ways to outreach oral histories in our "social media oriented" society.
Regarding the jail : it was barely a smidge of a memory for a fellow who lived in this area long ago. He said friends thought he was crazy for remembering something that did not exist, they denied knowledge of any jail in West Seattle, and could not find it on google. I copied off an article in our subject file excerpted from an early West Seattle Herald and he thanked us profusely for proving his sanity. I won't vouch for his sanity, but I will vouch for the existence of a jail! Torn down in 1975, many remember its location near Duwamish Head, the last location being SW Leon Pl. and Harbor Avenue. The article dated Feb. 19th, 1975 said it's original location was on the West Seattle ferry dock across Harbor Avenue, and since being moved had been partially buried by landslides and ivy, and for "the safety and appearance of the area" was bulldozed. West Seattle's early city hall, a simple single story structure next to the jail, was also removed.
Cheers for history! ~ Andrea
www.loghousemuseum.info
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