The Unlikely Rise of Belltown
When William N. Bell first envisioned a northern suburb for Seattle, critics called his plan a 'chimerical scheme of a visionary.' Today, the hammers are ringing as the neighborhood transforms from dense forest into a city hub.
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.
The village of Belltown, lying to the northward of Seattle, which was started up by William N. Bell, Esq., a little over two years ago, was at first regarded as a chimerical scheme of a visionary and somewhat enthusiastic old gentleman. But the old pioneer is a shrewd observer and knew very well what kind of grounds are required for residences. He knew that men of business do not want to live in the very same house nor on the same street where they toil, for we all must win by labor of some sort. And as the value of lots forbid the erection of residences near the wharves, men must either climb hills or go to the northward, as the south end of the town will, when the Seattle Walla Walla railroad is complete, be the location for foundries and shops of all kinds. At first, every man who moved to Belltown was the subject of condolence. Now Belltown lots are in demand and the once dense forest is the site of new homes. We walked down there yesterday, and the welcome din of hammer and saw greeted our ear on every side. Burning stumps in every direction bespoke the advent of gardens and orchards in the future; while the continuation of buildings along the street is such that one can hardly tell where Seattle leaves off or Belltown begins. We half begin to look forward to the day when we shall reside in the northern suburb and hurry to close our labors by eleven at night, so as to catch the last street car for Belltown.
“We all must win by labor of some sort. And as the value of lots forbid the erection of residences near the wharves, men must either climb hills or go to the northward.”
In 1877, Belltown was viewed as a distant, visionary expansion for residents seeking to escape the industrial grime of the waterfront. Today, the neighborhood is a dense, central urban district, but the 'welcome din of hammer and saw' remains the permanent soundtrack of Seattle's perpetual redevelopment.
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