The Ghost of the Old Foundry
A group of boys wreak havoc in a derelict Seattle building, leaving neighbors to wonder about the city's crumbling youth management.
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.
For some time a band of boys have been making their headquarters in the old foundry building on Front Street, and mischief has inspired their deeds. Of late they have turned their attention to breaking the windows in the building. Capt. Marshall, who owns the property, has at last learned through City Marshal Thorndyke who these boys are, and has had warrants issued for their arrest. But as their parents promise to settle the matter tomorrow morning, the papers have not yet been served. Five boys are included in the warrants for arrest, and the number of window lights broken are sixty-four. The amount claimed for damages which the parents of these mischievous boys will have to pay is about sixteen dollars. There is certainly something wrong in the management of the youths of our city, or they would not be continually getting into trouble and causing trouble. A reform in this matter is sadly needed.
“There is certainly something wrong in the management of the youths of our city, or they would not be continually getting into trouble and causing trouble.”
Concerns over 'youth management' and the misuse of vacant, decaying urban structures are as present in Seattle today as they were in the 1870s. The 'foundry' represents a recurring tension between industrial relics and the growing pains of a young city struggling to provide structure for its children.
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