The Artisans of the Foundation
A glimpse into the heavy labor and craftsmanship that quite literally built the streets and structures of early Seattle.
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.
At the Puget Sound Stoneyard, located at the corner of First and Second Street, every variety of cemetery work is executed in marble and other stone with neatness and dispatch. The yard also keeps all kinds of masonry building material for the market. G.W. Bullene, a practical and theoretical engineer and machinist, also offers his services on Front Street, ready to tackle the heavy work of steamboat, mill, and logging camp machinery, ensuring the iron, brass, and steel heart of the city remains in working order.
“Every variety of cemetery work is executed in marble and other stone with neatness and dispatch.”
Today's Seattle is defined by its rapid expansion and construction, much like the 1870s. While we now trade in glass towers and steel beams, the fundamental struggle to maintain infrastructure and mark our history through stonework remains a core part of the city's identity.
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