A Heart-of-the-City Gift for Seattle's Pioneers
P.H. Lewis offers a valuable corner lot at Madison and Fourth Streets to build a permanent home for the Washington Pioneers' Association.
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At a meeting regarding the Washington Pioneers' Association, P.H. Lewis—a pioneer and early developer of King County coal claims—offered a site for a permanent 'Pioneers' Building.' The proposed location is on the southwest corner of Madison and Fourth streets, a lot estimated to be worth between $12,000 and $15,000. The building is intended to house the association's offices, a historical library, and mementoes. Organizers hope to raise further funds via subscription or mortgage to erect a structure of brick or stone. It is noted that Seattle is an appropriate location for such a building, given that the city currently holds the largest concentration of the state's early settlers.
“It is appropriate that Seattle should have the building, as there are more pioneers here than at any other one place.”
The donation of a central city lot for a historical society highlights the era's focus on legacy and defining the 'pioneer' narrative. Today, the corner of 4th and Madison remains in the heart of downtown, reflecting how early land donations shaped the core of modern Seattle.
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