From the National Trust for Historic Preservation's blog - Homestead news

National Trust for Historic Preservation reports on developments at the Homestead/Fir Lodge

Today when cataloging....

I am a sucker for pet pictures. OK. Some argue that pet pictures are not important for collecting since they are not people. But I do not agree. Pets have their own stories, and are a part of family life. Also their role in American society has changed greatly in the past 200 years!

So I came across this photo today, of Queenie. A pet pit bull from the 1920's. She lived with the Doty family in the South Park neighborhood, and was one of many beloved dogs the family had. Unlike many donors, Carlie Doty was meticulous in labeling her photos. The caption on the back is what sold me.

"Queenie, our pit bull and fox terrier mixed breed dog. Oh so smart and wise and deformed, my dog. Her tail was cut off before I got her. I don't like their tails cut off"

2005.39.065

Hiking Washington's History

Join us tonight at The Pacific Institute, 1709 Harbor Ave SW, to hear former SWSHS president Judy Bentley speak about her new book, "Hiking Washington's History" newly published by the University of Washington Press.

In support of the

Southwest Seattle Historical Society, Log House Museum
Thursday, January 27, 2011
6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at
The Pacific Institute on Alki


Enjoy Heavy Hors d'oeuvres and wine

There will be an “ask” at the event; $250 is the suggested donation but any amount is greatly appreciated

Updates on Alki Homestead indicate ‘This Place STILL Matters’

Southwest Seattle Historical Society * Historic Seattle

4Culture * Washington Trust for Historic Preservation

PRESS RELEASE

11 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 16, 2011

Southwest Seattle Historical Society Log House Museum

3003 61st Ave. S.W., Seattle, WA 98116

Updates on Alki Homestead indicate ‘This Place STILL Matters’

WEST SEATTLE, Wash. – A coalition of four organizations today announced several updates regarding the potential for protection, preservation and restoration of a beloved City of Seattle landmark, the 107-year-old log structure known as Fir Lodge and the Alki Homestead Restaurant.

The four organizations are the Southwest Seattle Historical Society, Historic Seattle, 4Culture and the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation, all of which have heritage preservation and advocacy as a key component of their missions.

The organizations held a press conference on Jan. 16, 2011, the second anniversary of a fire that damaged a portion of the Alki Homestead. The press conference took place at the Log House Museum of the Southwest Seattle Historical Society, the organization that nominated the Alki Homestead for landmark status that was conferred on the building in 1996 by the Seattle City Council.

Here are the updates, which the coalition is optimistic will lead to the protection, preservation and restoration of the Alki Homestead:

1. With the aim of purchasing the Alki Homestead, Historic Seattle, working with private investors, has had significant discussions with the building owner since last summer. In addition, other investigations leave Historic Seattle confident that the Alki Homestead building can be preserved with integrity and practicality. Historic Seattle and its investors remain interested in working with the owner to protect, preserve and restore the Alki Homestead.
2. The Southwest Seattle Historical Society, 4Culture and the Washington Trust filed on Friday a request with the Seattle Department of Planning and Development seeking the city’s help in protecting the building from damage. We trust that this step will maximize the potential for its preservation and restoration, particularly during inclement weather.
3. The coalition released a color poster today that depicts the inspiring rally on July 4, 2010, when 200 public officials, civic leaders and others stood in front of the Alki Homestead to proclaim that “This Place Matters.” Immediately after today’s press conference, the coalition began posting this poster in area storefronts and elsewhere to spread the word about public support for this community and citywide treasure.

For more information on advocacy to protect, preserve and restore the Alki Homestead, please contact the Southwest Seattle Historical Society Log House Museum at 206-938-5293. For press inquiries, call Clay Eals, board member, at 206-484-8008 (cell), or e-mail him at ceals@comcast.net.

No really

Where was this photo a month ago?

Doty Collection 2005.039

WSHS Centennial Year

2010 marked a centennial celebration for West Seattle High School, who graduated their first class in 1910 (only 12 students!) , though the school was opened in 1902 as the West Seattle School. In 2010, the WSHS senior class numbered 257 students!

1998.45.15

Who are these people!?

2004.21.1590

The Log House Museum has thousands of photos in our collection Unfortunately, quite a large number of these photos have no identifying information! No names, no dates, no places, sometimes not even any clues. This makes it very difficult to interpret what is happening in the photo and to determine the relevance the photo has to the collection and overall mission. This problem of unidentified persons is not limited to museum collections though. This is a problem that is probably lurking in your home, in your family's photo collection. I know it is in mine! A good habit to get into is labeling photos on the back in pencil, so that future researchers will not be perplexed by the questions "Who ARE these people and why do I care?"

We do know that this photo belongs to Lucille's Photographic Salon Collection. Lucille Mason operated a photo studio in West Seattle from the 1960's-1990's. She had worked at other photo studios before that. By knowing the provenance of the accession this photo belongs to, a safe guess would be that this is a family who lived in or had ties to West Seattle. But her studio also specialized in photo restoration, so there is no guarantee that this photo was taken at the studio. What are some of the visual clues in this photo that may help us determine something about the family?