Building a Future: The 1876 Fight for Seattle’s School Sites
As Seattle’s population swelled in the 1870s, city leaders scrambled to secure prime real estate for education amidst a booming, land-hungry frontier town.
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.
There was a large turn-out of voters at the school meeting in the Central building last evening for the consideration of various school matters. It was found that a fund of about $9,000 would be required for building the two new school houses ordered at the last meeting, and to make up deficiencies. To defray which a special tax of six mills on the dollar was voted. Three bids for the construction of the Belltown house were submitted. The names we are not now at liberty to publish, but learn that the lowest was $2,400. At the former meeting it was voted to purchase two lots in Belltown at $250 in gold, and two on the hill above Ninth street. Last night the order to purchase on the hill was rescinded, and the directors were instructed to purchase the Mills block on Sixth street between University and Main, from A. McIntosh, at $2,700. This is one of the finest sites in the city and in case it is secured, we understand that the plan was discussed and endorsed of building upon it only a cheap structure for temporary use, with a view of occupying it in the course of a few years with a substantial edifice that will be an honor to the city.
“This is one of the finest sites in the city and in case it is secured, we understand that the plan was discussed and endorsed of building upon it only a cheap structure for temporary use... with a view of occupying it in the course of a few years with a substantial edifice.”
The 1876 struggle to balance school funding with the rapid acquisition of prime real estate in a growing city mirrors the immense pressure on Seattle Public Schools today. As neighborhoods change and property values soar, the city continues to navigate the tension between the immediate need for classroom space and the long-term cost of urban land.
From readers
No comments yet. If you know something about this story — a correction, a family memory, a source — it belongs here.