The Bell in the Woods: How Seattle Built Its First University

Thirty-four years ago Saturday the first work on the old state university was commenced. Of the old-timers who furnished materials for the building and those who did the manual labor, only a few are left; the majority of the hardy pioneers have gathered to their fathers. When the old university was built there was much more talk about the “site out in the country” than there has been about the site on which the university now being constructed on the shores of Lake Union stands. The university board of commissioners consisted of Rev. Daniel Bagley, John Webster and Edmund Carr, the first as president of the board, being superintendent in charge of the work. In those days the unbroken forest commenced where the postoffice now stands, and it was necessary to cut a trail through the woods to the school. Later, in order that the building and grounds could be seen from the city, the plateau where the Plymouth Congregational Church and the residences of Angus Mackintosh and Dexter Horton now stand was cut down and the ground partially cleared.

Thirty-three years ago Thursday the old bell in the university was placed in position, and every day since it has called the students to school. It has figured in the pranks of many mischievous schoolboys and has at all times been identified with the early history of the city. Long before the day of lighthouses and buoys it was customary to ring the bell at intervals in foggy weather to warn the few steamers and coasters in these waters of their approach to land. It also served to warn the people in case of fire. The bell was rung at the time of the hanging of Payne, Howard and Sullivan, when the excitement of the people was worked up to a high pitch by continued acts of plunder, lawlessness and murder.

Clarence B. Bagley, who was identified with the building of the university and was one of the first men to help break ground for the site, said yesterday:

“Forty-eight persons were employed on the work, and nearly all the lumber for the building was secured from the mills at Port Blakeley and Port Madison, while the white pine for the finishing, siding, doors, sash, etc., came from a mill at Seabeck, on Hood Canal. I have been looking over the books my father kept at that time and find the names of many persons whom all old-timers will remember. I found the entry relating to receiving 10,000 brick from Capt. H. H. Roeder, the price being $15.50 per thousand, while lime was $3 per barrel and cement $6.50 per barrel. Another entry shows that seven gross of ordinary wood screws cost in that early day $5.75. Capt. Roeder is now a resident of Whatcom County.

“The wages then were not very high; the ordinary workmen received $2 and $2.25 per day, and the carpenters and masons a higher rate.

“On the 10th of March John Pike and his son Harvey Pike began to clear the ground for the buildings, and a few days later James Crow and myself commenced. The Pikes cleared the acre of ground in the southeast corner and we cleared the acre just adjoining, so that we four grubbed the land on which the principal building now stands. All the trees were cut down and the land leveled off, and the trees which now grace the grounds started from seeds and commenced to grow up a few years later and are now about 25 years old. Among the men who helped clear the land were Hillory Butler, John Carr, W. H. Hyde, Edward Richardson, L. Holgate, H. A. Atkins, John Hunt, L. H. Andrews, L. Pinkham, Ira Woodin, Dr. Josiah Settle, and Parmelee Dudley. Of that number there are now dead Carr, Hyde, Holgate, Atkins and Parmelee Dudley. Mr. Crow is now living at Kent and owns a good deal of property there. Mr. Carr was a relative of the Hanfords. Mr. Holgate was a brother of the Holgate who was killed in Seattle during the Indian war, being shot dead while standing at the door of the fort. He was an uncle of the Hanfords. Mr. Atkins was mayor of the town at one time.

“R. King, who dressed the flagstaff, is not among the living. The teamsters who did most of the hauling were Hillory Butler, Thomas Mercer and P. H. Ward, all of whom are still living. William White was blacksmith here then and did a good deal of work on the building. He is now living in California and is well-to-do, and his son is still a resident of Seattle. Thomas Russell was the contractor for putting up the frame of the university building. He died some time since, and of his estate there is left the Russell House, and his family is well known. John Podge and John T. Jordan did a good deal of the mason work, both of whom are now dead, but they have children who still live in this city. The stone for the foundation was secured from Port Orchard and the lime came from Victoria, being secured here at a large cost.

“George Austin, who raised the flagstaff and put the top on, has been dead many years. Dexter Horton and Yesler, Denny & Co. kept stores in those days and furnished general merchandise. Mr. Horton’s store was where the bank now stands and the store of Yesler, Denny & Co. was where the National Bank of Commerce now stands. I. V. Wyckoff, the father of Van Wyckoff, who was sheriff of the county for many years, did considerable hauling and draying. He is dead. Frank Matthias was a carpenter who did a good deal of the finishing work. He died in California and his heirs have since been fighting for a big estate. R. McAleer kept a stove and hardware store and furnished the stoves for the building.

“D. C. Beatty and R. H. Beatty were carpenters. The former is now living on a farm near Olympia and the latter is in the insane asylum at Salem. Ira Woodin is still alive and is the founder of Woodinville. In the early days Mr. Woodin and his father owned the only tannery in the country, which was located at the corner of South Fourth Street and Yesler Avenue, then Mill Street. O. J. Carr, whose name appears as a carpenter, lives at Edgewood. He was the postmaster of the town for many years. O. C. Grey and A. P. Feldman finished the desks for the several rooms and also made the ornaments that grace the front entrance of the building. Mr. Feldman has for many years been a resident of Portland and is known as the junior member of an undertaking firm.

“Plummer & Hynes furnished some of the materials used in the construction. George W. Harris, auditor of the railroad, is a son-in-law of Mr. Plummer. Jordan & Thevondyke were plasterers and both have been dead many years. O. C. Mercer did most of the grading. Mr. Mercer is a brother of Thomas Mercer, who brought two parties of immigrants from the Atlantic coast by sea, many of whom are married and now living in Seattle. Harry Hitchcock, one of the carpenters, is now dead. Henry Gorton was well known for many years. He finally went east, and I think is still living, although I have not heard from him for many years. Of the three who composed the board of university commissioners, Mr. Carr and Dr. Webster are dead.”

The old bell came from the East and cost, laid down in Seattle, $266. It cost $75 to place in position, and the whole cost was nearly $400. It is made of steel and was rung from the tower for the first time in March, 1862.