Seattle Historical Sites

This three-story apartment building located in the Squire Park section of the Central Area was constructed in 1918. It is typical of a low-cost apartment block of its era, with no distinctive architectural decorations or features. The Yesler Way cable car line to Lake Washington opened in 1888 and by the mid -1890s both residential and commercial development along Yesler Avenue was well under way. Seattle experienced a major population growth following the 1897 Alaska Gold Rush and into the first decades of the 20^th Century. Apartment development flourished from 1906 until World War I, when post-war economic difficulties slowed development until the 1920s. Much of the Central Area was predominantly Jewish before World War I and many Jewish businesses and synagogues were flourishing in the area around Yesler Way east of 10^th Avenue. After World War II, most of the Jewish community moved to the Seward Park, Mercer Island and Bellevue. Also before World War II, a substantial Japanese community lived near Yesler and in Japantown several blocks to the southwest.  They owned many businesses near Yesler Way and had a number of important institutions. However, following their internment in World War II, relatively few Japanese returned to the area. Since the mid-20^th century the Central Area has been particularly connected with the African-American community.