First Presbyterian Church Breaks Ground on Fourth and Spring
A landmark moment for a pioneer congregation, featuring a new, state-of-the-art ventilation system promised to keep the air pure for 1,400 worshippers.
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.
The cornerstone of the new First Presbyterian Church at Fourth and Spring streets was laid this afternoon with ceremonies led by the church founder, Rev. George F. Whitworth. The new building replaces the congregation's original structure and reflects Seattle’s rapid growth. Designed by architect C.A. Alexander, the church will feature a state-of-the-art heating and ventilation system modeled after the new Pacific school house, designed to ensure pure air and eliminate drafts—a first for any church on the Pacific coast. The auditorium is designed in the style of an opera house with a 1,400-seat capacity. Construction is expected to be complete by December 1st.
“The building committee believes that good, pure air is cheap at any price.”
The transition of this congregation to a large, modern downtown facility reflected Seattle's self-image as a 'metropolis of the Pacific' during the 1890s. The obsession with a high-tech ventilation system for the 'comfort' of the congregation provides a fascinating glimpse into Victorian-era standards of public health in civic architecture.
From readers
No comments yet. If you know something about this story — a correction, a family memory, a source — it belongs here.