The New Jewel of the Seattle Skyline
A descriptive look at the newly completed Yesler-Leary block, a state-of-the-art brick edifice at the corner of Mill and Front streets.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
Now that the Yesler-Leary brick block is practically completed and being occupied, it is fitting to describe this imposing edifice. Nearly a year ago, Messrs. John Leary and H. L. Yesler advertised for plans for a three-story building on the corner of Mill and Front streets. The work, directed by architect W. E. Boone, involved 1,500 tons of sandstone, 600,000 bricks, and thousands of barrels of lime. The basement, with its Schellinger's patent stone floor, is arguably the finest north of San Francisco. The first floor hosts six stores and the First National Bank. The building features double bay-windows and is trimmed with redwood and Port Orford cedar. Hon. M. C. George and Mr. Yesler recently visited the roof, which offers an indescribable panorama of the Olympian range and Puget Sound. Mr. Yesler intends to build a similar structure next spring to fill the gap between this and the Post building, complete with an elevator.
“The sun was slowly creeping behind the western snow-clad mountains of the Olympian range, reflecting back from the placid waters of the Mediterranean of America the beautifully tinted cloud pictures.”
The Yesler-Leary block was a testament to the rapid urbanization of 1880s Seattle. Today, the corner of Mill (now Yesler Way) and Front (now 1st Avenue) remains the historic heart of Pioneer Square, though the original 'finest basement' has long since been superseded by modern high-rises.
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