A Night of Whist and Crokignole in 1889 Seattle
A surprise party for Miss Fannie McKay at her family home on Fourth and Yesler offers a glimpse into the parlor social life 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.
Miss Fannie McKay was given a surprise party last Friday evening at the residence of her parents, corner of Fourth Street and Yesler Avenue, by her numerous friends. The evening was most enjoyably spent by the guests in playing crokignole, whist, Go Bang, Jack Straws, and in singing. Prior to the breaking up of the party, delicious refreshments were served.
“The evening was most enjoyably spent by the guests in playing crokignole, whist, Go Bang, Jack Straws, and in singing.”
While Fourth and Yesler is now the bustling center of Pioneer Square, in 1889 it was the site of the intimate, home-based 'parlor socials' that defined Seattle's social fabric. This quiet evening of games in a private home marks a stark contrast to the dense, commercial character of the intersection today.
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