An 1854 Storehouse, a Saloon, and a Building on Wheels: Seattle’s Old Blocks Give Way

The old buildings now being torn down and removed to make room for the new building of Schwabacher Bros. & Co., on Mill Street, on account of their antiquity, are worthy of more than passing notice. The one known as the Albro building, which has been torn down, was built in 1854 by Mr. Fesler as a storehouse, and occupied the site on which the brick building now stands. At the time of the Indian war Mr. Fesler states that he stood in the rear of this building and shot at the Indians, who were secreted in the woods a short distance off. From that time on the old structure was used for various purposes till 1875, when Mr. Caiman bought the lot on the corner of Mill and Crawford streets, at which time it was moved on the alley, where it has since stood. Jack Kennedy for years occupied it as a saloon, and since his death Wm. Grose has used it for the same purpose. A few days ago it was sold to Mrs. McCallister, and has been torn down; the lumber was lifted up to the head of the bay and put together again at the brick yard.

The other building, which is being moved off, will be placed farther down on the wharf near the Yesler mill. It is a much newer building than the one above mentioned, and was built for a store room by Wm. Cling in 1870. He removed it over on to Washington Street. Wm. Grose afterwards rented the building and converted it into an eating house. It is now on wheels and will soon occupy the site prepared for it near the mill, and will be fitted up as a furniture and upholstery warehouse.