Seattle Invites the Whole Territory to Its Centennial Fourth
As the United States turned 100 in 1876, Seattle's civic leaders mobilized an elaborate city-wide committee to prove the frontier outpost was a modern, patriotic city.
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.
The citizens of Seattle have determined to celebrate the Centennial Anniversary of American Independence on the coming 4th of July, and in order to observe the day in a manner befitting the occasion, hereby extend a cordial invitation to everybody throughout our Territory to join with us, and make it worthy of the great event. By order of the Committee. March 11, 1876. Fourth of July Sub-Committees: On Decoration—Chairman, B. Gatzert; Judge Lewis, Hon. A. A. Denny, H. L. Yesler, J. R. Robbins. On Finance and Arrangements—Chairman, B. Gatzert; John Leary, John Collins, Capt. O. D. Hill, D. Kellogg. On Music—Chairman, W. Meydenbauer; W. H. Pumphrey. On Amusements—Chairman, J. S. Anderson: G. Kellogg, F. S. Russell, W. Meydenbauer, L. Reinig, G. V. Calhoun, S. F. Coombs, B. Murphy. On Regatta—Chairman, Dr. Sparling: Captain Winsor, Capt. S. Jackson. On Military and Procession—Chairman, Capt. O. D. Hill; Col. Jenkins, Dr. G. V. Calhoun. On Decoration—Chairman, A. W. Piper; G. W. Hall, T. H. Stringham, W. H. Shoudy, W. G. Jamieson, S. C. Harris. On Printing—Chairman, W. H. Pumphrey; G. A. Weed. On Fire Works—Chairman, A. W. Piper; W. H. Pumphrey, J. Sullivan, W. Meydenbauer.
“The citizens of Seattle have determined to celebrate... in a manner befitting the occasion, and make it worthy of the great event.”
In 1876, Seattle was a small mill town trying to signal its legitimacy to the rest of the nation during the Centennial. Today, the names of these committee chairs—Denny, Yesler, Leary, Gatzert—are etched into the city's street signs and parks, reminding us that the 'civic establishment' has been shaping Seattle's identity since its earliest days.
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