A Depression Year Didn’t Stop Seattle’s Builders
The state university rose toward three stories and Senator Squire’s four-story block went up at Main and South Second—part of $466,077 in construction logged in 1894.
Taking into consideration the financial depression of the past year, which has had a tendency to lessen the usual amount of business, the books of the superintendent of buildings show up a fine record. During the year the marked features of the construction of buildings number several. The letting of the contract and the commencement of the erection of the state university is an important work. This began last May, the buildings when completed to cost $124,000. The basements and gymnasium have been completed, together with one of the three stories.
Another large building on which work has been rapidly going on is that of Senator Squire on the corner of Main and South Second streets, the contract being let in August. The structure occupies three lots and when completed will be four stories in height, the total cost to be $100,000.
The aggregate amount of work done during the year in totals per month as shown by the superintendent’s report is as follows: January, $10,705; February, $9,770; March, $18,335; April, $28,446; May, $152,201; June, $40,762; July, $15,070; August, $130,022; September, $12,092; October, $25,755; November, $12,027; December, $5,902; making a total of $466,077. Several other large structures have been completed during the year.
“Taking into consideration the financial depression of the past year... the books of the superintendent of buildings show up a fine record.”
The state university project was part of the UW’s move to its new campus; Denny Hall, its oldest surviving building, dates from this era. The Squire block at Main and Second Avenue South is gone, but the pattern—big construction pushing through a downturn—still defines Seattle’s booms.
From readers
No comments yet. If you know something about this story — a correction, a family memory, a source — it belongs here.