Summary for Harrison-Thomas St, Minor-Pontius AVE / Parcel ID 2467400335 / Inv # |
| Historic Name: |
Cascade Playground Retaining Walls |
Common Name: |
Cascade Park Retaining Walls |
| Style: |
Modern |
Neighborhood: |
Cascade |
| Built By: |
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Year Built: |
1937 |
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| Significance |
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In the opinion of the survey, this property is located in a potential historic districe (National and/or local). |
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This is what remains of the original retaining walls that once encircled the Cascade Playground, now called Cascade Park. Located on the northwest corner of the site and continuing along Minor Avenue at the west and Harrison Street at the north, the retaining walls were built because the neighboring properties complained of “seepage,” from the playground site. Commemorative plaques and photographs in the Sherwood Collection at the Municipal Archives indicate that the walls were constructed by Works Progress Administration labor in 1936-37, after the all the land for the playground had been acquired and cleared of remaining houses in 1931. (Please see main entry 031)
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| Appearance |
| These utilitarian-looking concrete retaining walls, whose only real "decoration," is a light incised pattern near the top and sides of the walls, are located along Minor Avenue N and Harrison Streets. They are about 10’ high, (plus or minus depending on the grade), and are topped by chain link fencing. |
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Detail for Harrison-Thomas St, Minor-Pontius AVE / Parcel ID 2467400335 / Inv # |
| Status: |
Yes - Inventory |
| Classication: |
Structure |
District Status: |
INV |
| Cladding(s): |
Concrete |
Foundation(s): |
Concrete - Poured |
| Roof Type(s): |
None |
Roof Material(s): |
Other |
| Building Type: |
Landscape - Street Furniture/Object |
Plan: |
L-Shape |
| Structural System: |
Concrete - Poured |
No. of Stories: |
one |
| Unit Theme(s): |
Architecture/Landscape Architecture, Community Planning/Development, Politics/Government/Law |
| Integrity |
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Changes to Original Cladding: |
Intact |
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Changes to Plan: |
Slight |
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| Major Bibliographic References |
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King County Property Record Card (c. 1938-1972), Washington State Archives.
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Sherwood, Don. Seattle Parks Histories, c. 1970-1981, unpublished.
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Plaques on the exterior wall of the “retaining wall/comfort station” structure and on the little bridge at the edge of the Wading Pool (WPA, 1936-37 and 1938-39).
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Sherwood, Don, Notes on the “Cascade P.G.”, Sherwood History Files (10.27.76), Seattle Parks and Recreation Website:
www.CityofSeattle.net/parks/history/sherwood.atm
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Hall, W.C. to Holmes E.B., Letter, February 28, 1936 (Sherwood Files, Seattle Municipal Archives).
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Photo collection for Harrison-Thomas St, Minor-Pontius AVE / Parcel ID 2467400335 / Inv # |
Photo taken Sep 30, 2003
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