The Boomtown Hustle: Real Estate and Building in 1876 Seattle
A glimpse into the rapid expansion of Seattle's early infrastructure, where new homes were built 'by the day' and brick yards were leased to meet the hunger for growth.
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.
Two beautiful dwelling houses, all hard finish, built by the day, at the corner of Third and Pike streets. Also, fourteen lots in Law's Addition and three lots in Main Street. Apply to Thos J. Jackson. Additionally, I have leased the Brick Yard known as the Plummer yard for a term of years with the intention of supplying the demand at reduced rates. I will be prepared to furnish orders in January next. C. McAllister.
“Two beautiful dwelling houses... built by the day, at the corner of Third and Pike streets.”
In 1876, Seattle was transforming from a frontier village into a booming city, with property being advertised in the same breath as brick-making and harness-making. Today, the corner of Third and Pike remains a vital urban core, though the 'hard finish' homes have long since given way to the dense high-rises and retail plazas that define modern downtown Seattle.
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