Ivar Haglund

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Ivar Haglund
Born March 21, 1905
Seattle, Washington
Died January 30, 1985
Seattle, Washington
Cause of death myocardial infarction
Nationality United States
Title "Flounder" of Ivar's
Port Commissioner of Seattle
Known for Folksinger, restaurateur
Sculpture of Ivar Haglund by Richard Meyer on Pier 54 in Seattle
Sculpture of Ivar Haglund by Richard Meyer on Pier 54 in Seattle

Ivar Haglund (21 March 190530 January 1985) was a Seattle folk singer and the "flounder"[1] of Ivar's.[2]

Haglund came from an old Seattle family: his maternal grandparents had purchased Alki Point in 1868 from Seattle pioneer Doc Maynard. His mother died of starvation when he was only three, while under treatment by Linda Hazzard, a so-called fasting specialist. He himself was treated by "Dr." Hazzard several times even after his mother's death.[3]

In 1938, he opened Seattle's first aquarium along with a fish and chips counter on Pier 54. In 1946, he opened a full restaurant there, Ivar's Acres of Clams, which with the fish and chip counter survives to this day (although they have been thoroughly remodeled). He coined its motto, "Keep Clam."[2] He expanded the fine dining and fish and chips restaurants into a regional chain.[2]

After his neighbor on Pier 56 put up a sign reading "Don't Feed Sea Gulls, Health Regulation" in 1971, Haglund responded with his own sign encouraging customers to feed the seagulls.[2]

In 1976, Haglund bought the Smith Tower, a Seattle landmark that was once the tallest building in North America west of the Mississippi River. In 1983, he was elected port commissioner after filing as a prank. He died of a heart attack just over a year later.[2]

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ [http://www.ivars.net/Carte_Clam_home/carteclam.html Ivar’s Carte Clam Card], Ivar's restaurants official site. Accessed January 29, 2008.
  2. ^ a b c d e Paul Dorpat, Haglund, Ivar (1905-1985), HistoryLink, June 20, 2000. Accessed January 29, 2008.
  3. ^ Kathrine Beck, Hazzard, Linda Burfield (1867-1938): Fasting Proponent and Killer HistoryLink, October 26, 2006. Accessed January 29, 2008.

[edit] External links