The Birth of Seattle's Classical Music Scene in 1885
High-society music lovers gathered at S.G. Young’s office to launch the Oratorio Society, setting the stage for the city's cultural maturation.
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.
Between forty and fifty of our citizens who are interested in musical matters met last evening in the office of Mr. S. G. Young and effected the organization of the Oratorio Society. The object is the study of oratorios and operas and a better acquaintance with the works of the best song-writers. The organization was completed, the constitution and bylaws were adopted, and the following officers were elected: President, John Leary; Vice President, Otto Ranke; Secretary, Bernard Pelly; Treasurer, W. I. Wadleigh; Librarian, I. W. Hughes; Director, S. G. Young. Executive Committee: C. E. Bowman, Gov. E. P. Perry, Josiah Collins, Jr., Mrs. Harrington and Mrs. Sarah J. Russell. With this array of names it is hardly necessary to state that the society has a bright outlook, and that the city may now rejoice in the acquisition of that which will add greatly to the tone and culture of this community.
“The city may now rejoice in the acquisition of that which will add greatly to the tone and culture of this community.”
In 1885, Seattle was a growing lumber town struggling to define its 'tone and culture' beyond industry. Today, Seattle remains a city obsessed with balancing its industrial-tech powerhouse identity with a deep, civic-led commitment to the arts.
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