Arthur A. Denny
Named in 21 stories. Back to all names
- Oct 5, 1861A Young Seattle's AmbitionA correspondent reports on the rapid development of Seattle in 1861, highlighting the construction of the Territorial University building.Seattle, WA
- Sep 11, 1876The Day Seattle’s Wealthiest Bankers Challenged the TaxmanIn a landmark 1876 legal maneuver, Arthur Denny and Dexter Horton petitioned King County Commissioners to stop paying taxes on their mortgage loans, arguing that taxing the debt while the property was already taxed amounted to double taxation.Seattle, WA
- Mar 30, 1878The Price of Early Seattle SpeculationA series of 1878 sheriff's sales reveals the precarious nature of land ownership during Seattle's early frontier development.Seattle, WA
- Apr 6, 1878The Price of Industrial ExpansionA sheriff’s auction reveals the crushing debt behind the rise of Seattle’s coal industry in the 1870s.King County Courthouse, Seattle, WA
- Apr 20, 1878The Price of Early Seattle Expansion: A Sheriff’s Sale of the Talbot Coal CompanyIn 1878, as Seattle struggled to build its industrial backbone, the courts were already dismantling the assets of struggling developers, illustrating the precariousness of the city’s early capital-intensive boom.King County Courthouse, Seattle, WA
- May 18, 1878Seattle Sheriff's Auction Over an 1878 DebtLegal notices from 1878 reveal a stark trail of property foreclosures, sheriff's auctions, and financial upheaval in the early days of King County.King County Courthouse, Seattle, WA
- May 13, 1886The Secret Plot to Liquidate Seattle’s EliteA deathbed confession unearths a forgotten 1886 conspiracy by radical socialists to assassinate prominent Seattle figures, including the city's founder, Arthur A. Denny.Seattle, WA
- Jul 11, 1886The Battle for Seattle's SoulOn the eve of a contentious city election in 1886, two rival political factions clashed at the Opera House, setting the stage for a fight over the future of labor, law, and the anti-Chinese riots.Seattle, WA
- Jul 12, 1886The Political Brawl for the Soul of Pioneer SeattleAs the city approaches a high-stakes municipal election, a local newspaper mounts a vitriolic defense of the business class against a 'People’s' movement they claim will bring anarchy and mob rule.Third Ward, Seattle, WA
- Jan 2, 1887The Struggle for Seattle’s First ClassroomsBefore the city became an educational powerhouse, Seattle’s early schools were built on the backs of local volunteers, rented rooms, and desperate community fundraising.Third Avenue, Seattle, WA
- Sep 4, 1888A Grand Hotel for the Growing CityA wealthy citizen petitions the city to vacate public streets for a massive, modern hotel, arguing that Seattle’s burgeoning reputation requires world-class accommodations.Seattle, WA
- Jan 13, 1889The Castle on Capitol Hill: Seattle’s $1 Million Gamble for a Grand HotelArthur Denny and his board of trustees have spent months sifting through dozens of architectural plans to find the perfect design for a new landmark. The winner? A Gothic stone fortress that will tower over Second Avenue.Seattle, WA
- Jul 1, 1889The Great Seattle Fire Erased Our RootsAn early record of Seattle’s vanished architecture and the displacement of its first churches following the devastating 1889 fire.Great Seattle Fire, Seattle, WA
- Jan 20, 1891The University’s Dilemma: Should UW Sell Its Prime Seattle Land?In 1890, the University of Washington’s regents warned that its current campus in the heart of the city was a financial and educational liability, urging the state to sell the valuable property and move to quieter grounds.University of Washington, Seattle, WA
- Feb 14, 1891The Relocation of the University of WashingtonCity Hall votes to deed away the original downtown campus to the state, paving the way for the University to move to its modern home.Seattle, WA
- Jun 5, 1892The Birth of Washington TerritoryArthur Denny recounts the 1852 Monticello Convention that successfully petitioned Congress to split the Washington territory from Oregon.Longview, WA
- Oct 25, 1892The Pioneer Defense of John McGrawProminent Seattle figures and old neighbors rally to defend gubernatorial candidate John McGraw against smear campaigns claiming he once ran a gambling house.Seattle, WA
- Apr 20, 1893Bailey Gatzert Dies Peacefully Among Loved OnesEx-Mayor and civic leader Bailey Gatzert dies at the Rainier Hotel; the city mourns a man who helped build Seattle's foundation.Seattle, WA
- Jun 7, 1893A Young Pioneer’s Tragic EndA promising life in the Seattle real estate trade is cut short by a workplace accident at the Vulcan Iron Works.500 Pike Street, Seattle, WA
- Jul 3, 1894Searching for the University’s PastPioneers dig up the 1861 cornerstone of the old University of Washington building to reclaim its secrets.Seattle, WA
- Jan 24, 1895The First Wedding in Seattle, Celebrated Forty-Two Years LaterDavid and Louisa Denny gather four generations of pioneers at their Temperance Street home, where relics of the 1850s—and the certificate from Seattle’s first marriage—turn an anniversary into a founding story.Seattle, WA