Seattle Historical Sites

Summary for 3202 23rd AVE / Parcel ID 2770601345 / Inv # SPU008

Historic Name: Interbay Pump Station Common Name: Style: Colonial, Colonial - Colonial Revival Neighborhood: Ballard Interbay Manufacturing Industrial Center Built By: Year Built: 1911   Significance In the opinion of the survey, this property appears to meet the criteria of the National Register of Historic Places. In the opinion of the survey, this property appears to meet the criteria of the Seattle Landmarks Preservation Ordinance. The Seattle Water Department constructed this small brick pump station in 1911 along with the original 250,000-gallon Magnolia Bluff Tank in order to improve the water supply to Fort Lawton. In 1898, the U.S. Army garrison post had been established on Magnolia Bluff in Seattle with assurances from the City that the fort would receive an adequate water supply with the installation of a new six-inch water main from Queen Anne Hill. Once the fort was in full operation, it was apparent that this would not be the case. The City hoped that the completion of Queen Anne Tank No. 2 in October 1904 would help to provide a more adequate supply, but the poor pressure problems persisted, especially during the summer months. By 1909, the Brigadier General of the Department of Columbia threatened to reduce or abandon the fort if better facilities were not devised. The following year, the Water Department prepared plans for a pump station at Interbay and a standpipe on Magnolia Bluff, but was unable to proceed due to lack of funds. After a summer of 1910 with no water during August and September, a Major Penrose wrote the Mayor in April of 1911, which finally resulted in the construction of the necessary facilities. A brick pump station with an electric pump was constructed on the corner of 23rd Avenue West and West Dravus Street to supply the 250,000-gallon Magnolia Bluff Tank located at 38th Avenue West and West Dravus Street, greatly increasing the water supply to Fort Lawton and the surrounding area. This was the first steel tank constructed for the Seattle water system. A new 1,000,000-gallon tank later replaced the original tank in 1947. With its distinctive Colonial Revival/Georgian Revival stylistic features, the Interbay Pump Station is significant for its design and for its associations with the development of Fort Lawton and Magnolia and with the growth and development of Seattle’s water system.   Appearance Completed in 1911, this one-story brick building exhibits Colonial Revival stylistic influences. These include a pedimented center entrance on the principal west elevation, a dentilled cornice embellished with egg and dart molding, a wide fascia adorned with thin beaded molding, and brick pilasters at the corners. Measuring approximately 40 feet by 26 feet, the rectangular plan building rests on a concrete plinth, which projects at the corner pilasters, and features a side gable roof. Brick fills the gable ends, which are also outlined with dentils and egg and dart molding. Brick pilasters support the dentilled pediment over the center entrance on the west elevation and rest on concrete plinths. Ornate scroll brackets further distinguish this decorative feature. Pairs of window openings, which share common concrete sills, flank the center entrance, which contains modern double doors. Originally set with double hung wood windows, these openings were later infilled with roman brick as were all other window openings. The south elevation has three similar window openings at the center while the north elevation has three smaller openings set high on the wall. The rear east elevation has a center entrance with a modern metal door accessed by a small stoop with one step. A path extends from the stoop to a set of stairs leading down to the sidewalk along West Dravus Street. A single tall window is set at the southern end of this elevation while the northern end has two smaller windows higher on the wall. Enhanced by attractive landscaping along the front, the building is situated at the upper southwest corner of a large site. Beyond the building, the hillside slopes down toward the Interbay area to the east. Despite the window and door alterations, this building is well maintained with good physical integrity.

Detail for 3202 23rd AVE / Parcel ID 2770601345 / Inv # SPU008

Status: Yes - Inventory Classication: Building District Status: Cladding(s): Brick, Stone - Cast Foundation(s): Concrete - Poured Roof Type(s): Gable Roof Material(s): Asphalt/Composition Building Type: Industry/Processing/Extraction - Waterworks Plan: Rectangular Structural System: Masonry - Unreinforced No. of Stories: one Unit Theme(s): Architecture/Landscape Architecture, Science & Engineering Integrity Changes to Plan: Intact Changes to Windows: Extensive Changes to Original Cladding: Intact Major Bibliographic References King County Property Record Card (c. 1938-1972), Washington State Archives. McWilliams, Mary. Seattle Water Department History, 1854-1954: Operational Data and Memoranda. Seattle, WA: Water Department, City of Seattle, c1955. Seattle Water Department. Annual report / City of Seattle, Water Department. Seattle, WA: 1908-1965.

Photo collection for 3202 23rd AVE / Parcel ID 2770601345 / Inv # SPU008

Photo taken Oct 31, 2000