Wikipedia talk:WikiProject Seattle
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[edit] Archives
[edit] In front of the Federal Office Building
There are two of these urn-like objects in front of the Federal Office Building. Does anyone know what they are? - Jmabel | Talk 00:41, 17 September 2007 (UTC)
- Purely decorative is my guess. SchmuckyTheCat
[edit] Seattle portal!
Hello everyone! I got inspired to start a portal for Seattle (long overdue, in my opinion). If you're interested, please help me fix it up, feature some of the best Seattle articles, and create a list of topics. Any suggestions are welcome! Cheers, -- phoebe/(talk) 07:32, 18 September 2007 (UTC)
- I don't get how the "selected pictures" magic works. I made several suggestions a couple of days ago that are still sitting as suggestions; the "more pictures" is blank, so I can't tell what pictures are already "selected"; and I don't get the mechanism by which a particular picture is displayed. - Jmabel | Talk 18:29, 22 September 2007 (UTC)
- The pictures I "suggested" on Sept 19 are still sitting there as "suggested". Am I missing something? - Jmabel | Talk 04:10, 4 October 2007 (UTC)
I've made a few tweaks and officially listed the portal as "live", but I believe that no one is monitoring "suggestions". - Jmabel | Talk 20:24, 22 December 2007 (UTC)
[edit] List of buildings in Seattle
There seem to be no criteria for inclusion in List of buildings in Seattle. There are some pretty obscure inclusions (e.g. the East Republican Street Stairway) and some remarkable omissions (nothing in Pike Place Market, nothing on any college campus). Would someone be interested in taking this under their wing and setting out criteria? Or should we just delete the damn thing and let categories and maybe a Wikipedia-space list of articles we are missing do this work? - Jmabel | Talk 03:21, 23 September 2007 (UTC)
- This looks like a good case for categories, unless someone wants to add text about Seattle architecture. I don't think we need a standalone article that's just lists. --Lukobe 00:28, 9 October 2007 (UTC)
[edit] Rainier Brewing Company
Rainier Brewing Company could really use some work. Does someone want to take it on? I've made a few suggestions on its talk page. - Jmabel | Talk 06:42, 11 November 2007 (UTC)
[edit] Thomas Burke
I notice that Thomas Burke (judge) is a stub. He's a complex and fascinating figure, worthy of a solid article, if anyone is looking for an interesting topic to research. I'm up to my eyeballs in other things right now. - Jmabel | Talk 05:12, 19 November 2007 (UTC)
[edit] Pioneer Square
I just did a little bit of work on Pioneer Square, Seattle, Washington, but it's a really anemic little article on a topic that could easily merit a book. Now that we've salvaged Seattle, Washington as a featured article, is anyone interested in taking this one on? - Jmabel | Talk 07:53, 27 November 2007 (UTC)
- By the way, I have recently added heavily to Commons:Category:Pioneer Square, Seattle, Washington. There is still more to be done (and let me know if there is anything in particular that someone wants). A lot of these could be the basis of articles, and I've done my best to make the descriptions be at least the equivalent of good stubs. - Jmabel | Talk 07:49, 5 December 2007 (UTC)
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- I've been wanting to start an article on the Pioneer Square totem pole for a while, but can't seem to get around to it. Being Seattle's first piece of public art and a major icon for the city during the early 20th century, it seems worthy of at article. There are some nice photos at the Commons now (perhaps yours, Jmabel, I can't remember offhand). The totem pole is mentioned in several articles, but mainly in bits and pieces about how it was stolen from the Tlingit and how is was burned and replaced later on. There's a lot more that could be said, especially wrt how it so clearly symbolized Seattle's desired (and acquired) role at the "gateway to the north". Not only did it help usher in the use of Native American artwork as a symbol of Seattle (and mainly styles from the north rather than "local Indians" -- like totem poles themselves), but it was intentionally placed so that it faced to the northwest, toward the Yukon and Alaska. Eventually its role as Seattle's symbolic icon with connotations of the PNW coast to Alaska, Indians and gold, was overshadowed by the "new totem pole" -- the Space Needle, with rather different connotations! Anyway, if I don't manage to get around to it, maybe somebody else will. The newish book Native Seattle has a lot of useful info for such a page. Pfly (talk) 00:20, 19 December 2007 (UTC)
[edit] Sam Israel
No article on Sam Israel or the Samis Corporation. Without them, we'd have about half as many old buildings in downtown Seattle. - Jmabel | Talk 01:32, 30 November 2007 (UTC)
- Started something VERY basic on Sam himself. I'm assuming there should only be one article for both Sam Israel and the Samis Foundation? --Lukobe (talk) 04:15, 30 November 2007 (UTC)
[edit] Center Park
Article is a bit of a mess, totally uncited, and (judging by some apparent vandalism I just fixed), no one is watching it. Would someone take this one under wing? - Jmabel | Talk 07:22, 21 December 2007 (UTC)
[edit] Category:Landmarks in Seattle
What, if anything, are the criteria for inclusion in Category:Landmarks in Seattle vs. Category:Buildings and structures in Seattle? Why on earth is the Mercer Arena a landmark while Benaroya Hall is not? (Oh, and the Camlin Hotel is in both, violating the rule about including something in two levels of the category hierarchy.) I suspect that this is a distinction without a difference. It seems to me that if we are to continue to have this category, it should only be for buildings and structures with city landmark designation, NRHP listing, etc. - Jmabel | Talk 08:53, 21 December 2007 (UTC)
- It seems to make sense to require some sort of listing for being in the "Landmark" category. Murderbike (talk) 19:24, 21 December 2007 (UTC)
The only problem I see with that is that it means nothing built in the last 25 years will be included. But I think that's OK, in order to have a meaningful category.
Maybe add a Category:Registered Historic Places in Seattle as a subcat of Category:Registered Historic Places in Washington and Category:Buildings and structures in Seattle? And confine Category:Landmarks in Seattle to officially designated city landmarks? Any objections to that? - Jmabel | Talk 20:35, 21 December 2007 (UTC)
- It seems we would need to confine it, to avoid OR and POV issues. Otherwise I could say my house is a "landmark" and it would be so. It seems cat:landmarks in seattle could include listings of NHLandmarks that happen to be in Seattle as well. Murderbike (talk) 20:49, 21 December 2007 (UTC)
- Yes, but if we are going through the work of checking, I'd rather separate the national designations from the local. Many buildings have the local designation but not the national; some (like the 5th Avenue Theatre, unless I'm mistaken) have the national but not the local. - Jmabel | Talk 04:05, 22 December 2007 (UTC)
- Seattle Department of Neighborhoods website supposedly listing all official Seattle Landmarks. - Jmabel | Talk 04:09, 22 December 2007 (UTC)
[edit] Sorting this out
I've now introduced Category:Registered Historic Places in Seattle. I'm quite confident of everything I've placed in the category; there could imaginably be an article or two that belong in the category that I've missed. - Jmabel | Talk 00:37, 28 December 2007 (UTC)
I've removed all buildings and structures without landmark status from Category:Landmarks in Seattle, which turned out to mean removing the vast majority of the articles from the category. I've repopulated it with some official landmarks that have articles but were not previously in the category. - Jmabel | Talk 09:50, 28 December 2007 (UTC)
By the way, most NRHP-listed structures in Seattle and most designated Seattle landmarks lack articles. Anyone looking for topics might consider these. - Jmabel | Talk 09:50, 28 December 2007 (UTC)
I've also done a List of Landmarks in Seattle. Took me most of the day, but I think this (1) should be very useful for anyone working in this area and (2) should prevent Wikipedians from unilaterally designating their personal landmarks as something encyclopedic. - Jmabel | Talk 02:48, 29 December 2007 (UTC)
& I've tried do something more useful with List of buildings in Seattle, which was a mess and is what started me down this road, but I would not be offended if it were entirely deleted. - Jmabel | Talk 03:30, 29 December 2007 (UTC)
[edit] Georgetown PowerPlant Museum
I recently visited the Georgetown PowerPlant Museum and took a lot of photos. I'm pretty happy with these aesthetically, but to be honest for the most part I don't know much about what I was looking at, and they could use far better descriptions than I can give them. If anyone knows their way around the museum or steam technology for power generation, then help would be welcome throughout Commons:Category:Georgetown PowerPlant Museum. If there is anything I can help with (e.g. identifying where in the building certain shots were taken), just ask on my talk page and I'll do my best to help out. - Jmabel | Talk 04:30, 17 January 2008 (UTC)
[edit] Registered historic places
Summarizing from a section I'm about to archive, because this much is still a "live" issue. - Jmabel | Talk 02:26, 26 January 2008 (UTC)
At List of Registered Historic Places in King County, Washington#Seattle:
- Many of these lack articles, if someone is looking for a good little project
- A few lack photos. Status details, previously here, are now at Talk:List of Registered Historic Places in King County, Washington#Seattle photos status, but here is a list of what's missing.
- Adventuress: Now in Port Townsend
- John B. Agen Property
- Duwamish Number 1 Site: this is an archeological site whose location is not public; the Burke Museum has some artifacts, but has not realeased any images.
- MV Vashon
- MV Westward
- SS San Mateo: dying up in Canada, as discussed above
- Schooner Martha
- Showboat Theater: Demolished. Does anyone have a photo?
- (Old) Temple De Hirsch: I have a picture of the ruins; does anyone have an old photo of the building intact?
- Tracy House: actually in Normandy Park
- Wagner Houseboat
I've tried to get to Dick Wagner at the Center for Wooden Boats about the various remaining boats (and his houseboat), but no luck so far with him getting back to me. Quite surprising. - Jmabel | Talk 02:26, 26 January 2008 (UTC)
[edit] "Open tasks"
I've added a bunch of uncovered (or woefully undercovered) topics to the "open tasks" list and will doubtless add more. Would anyone object to removing articles that are in decent shape from this list? For example, Seattle Cinerama is currently in the list, and while it could certainly be expanded, I don't see how it would be useful to send a random participant who wants to help to that particular article: the basics are there. - Jmabel | Talk 08:11, 27 January 2008 (UTC)
[edit] John Butler
Does anyone know anything about a Seattle painter named John Butler, an early teacher at the Cornish School? I can't make out whether he merits an article or not. He may just have been a moderately sized fish in a very small pond. I can't recall ever seeing any of his work, though it's possible I'm mistaken. - Jmabel | Talk 05:37, 31 January 2008 (UTC)
[edit] Pioneer Square-Skid Road District
User:Murderbike pointed out to me that the NRHP listing for the Pioneer Square-Skid Road District just expanded the district boundary yet further this month. I'm not sure exactly what was added; does anyone know? - Jmabel | Talk 05:50, 31 January 2008 (UTC)
- Hmm: or maybe he was wrong about that being an expansion: it just says "ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION APPROVED, 1/15/08". Possibly it was just further official documentation for the existing district. - Jmabel | Talk 05:54, 31 January 2008 (UTC)
[edit] Petosa
Petosa Accordions in Wallingford certainly deserves an article. Founded 1922, in Wallingford ever since, in current location since 1955. Photos available in Commons:Category:Petosa Accordions and Commons:Category:Petosa Accordions collection. Not a lot of citable sources, but here's a good one: Audio of interview with Joe Petosa, KUOW, 1 February, 2008. According to the program, they also started a factory in Italy in 1946, and stopped really manufacturing in Seattle in 1992. Now, even in Italy, it is hard to get a qualifies workforce so their factory there has reduced output. "We'll continue as long as we can continue…" - Jmabel | Talk 05:58, 5 February 2008 (UTC)
[edit] Cascade
I've now done what I think is a pretty solid article at Cascade, Seattle, Washington. Review and further suggestions would be appreciated; I've taken this about as far as I see it going, though I may do articles on individual buildings, congregations, and/or individuals. - Jmabel | Talk 08:18, 6 February 2008 (UTC)
[edit] Idea for skyline template
If someone more knowledgeable could create a picture similar to http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Chicago_Skyline_Crop_Labeled_2560_ver2.jpg , I could create a template like {{Chicago skyline}}. John Reaves 07:07, 20 February 2008 (UTC)
[edit] I'm not sure exactly where the article is in this one...
... but it's sure there some place. This comes from Richard C. Berner, Seattle 1900-1920: From Boomtown, Urban Turbulence, to Restoration (1991), Seattle: Charles Press, ISBN 0962988901, p. 118-121.
When Hiram Gill was elected mayor in 1910, he appointed "Wappy" Wappenstein as chief of police. Their "open city" administration was dramatically corrupt, to the point of being a national news story. The police chief cut a graft deal with vice bosses Clarence Gerald and Gideon Tupper: his payoffs amounted to a tax on prostitution, paid into his pocket. Gambling was rampant all over town. Tupper and Gerald were so emboldened that they formed the Hillside Improvement Company to build a resort on Beacon Hill including a 500-room brothel (which was actually built, but became an ordinary apartment house after Gill was recalled as mayor). Oh, and the would-be brothel was so big that it required a street vacation. Etc. Maybe it all belongs in an article on Gill (this was only part of a very checkered career), but I think "Wappy" probably deserves one as well. And possibly some of this should make its way into one of the Seattle history article series. (Berner doesn't say so, but I'm pretty sure that I've read elsewhere that the apartment building in question eventually was destroyed when an airplane crashed into it, so the building really might have article potential in its own right.) - Jmabel | Talk 06:27, 21 February 2008 (UTC)
- Yes, I was right about the airplane crash: Alan J. Stein, B-50 Bomber crashes into the Lester Apartments near Boeing Field, killing 11, on August 13, 1951, HistoryLink, October 2, 2002. - Jmabel | Talk 06:29, 21 February 2008 (UTC)
[edit] CD boundaries
New topic on main Seattle talk page, moved from CD talk page. --Lukobe (talk) 21:24, 27 February 2008 (UTC)
[edit] Another interesting reference
I didn't know this early Seattle history: History of Seattle, Washington: With Illustrations and Biographical Sketches (1891), Frederic James Grant, written about 40 years after the Denny Party landed. I'm guessing it's the first history book about the city. All on line (although with a few glitches: some pages are poorly scanned), thanks to Google & Harvard.- Jmabel | Talk 22:26, 10 March 2008 (UTC)
[edit] Westlake Park
I've done a bit of expansion on Westlake Park. Does anyone have a suggestion for a source I could cite on the importance of the park as a rallying point for political demonstrations? The prohibition on original research means I can't just cite a dozen specific examples. - Jmabel | Talk 00:19, 28 March 2008 (UTC)
[edit] MOHAI is looking for a volunteer
If you are here in Seattle, do a bunch of history-related research, and like to talk to people about it: MOHAI needs a History Researcher and Presenter, about 10 hours per month. They want someone with "at least a bacehlor's degree in history and be available during the week". I suspect that the former qualification is negotiable if you can show historical work you've already been doing. - Jmabel | Talk 22:28, 1 April 2008 (UTC)
[edit] Terracotta reliefs at Roosevelt High School
Does anyone know precisely what these two terracotta figures are meant to represent? If so, please add appropriately to their descriptions on the Commons. - Jmabel | Talk 05:04, 3 April 2008 (UTC)
[edit] Seattle City Hall question
Am I looking somehow under the wrong name, or did Seattle City Hall not exist previously? I made a bare bones stub yesterday to start building out. rootology (T) 05:58, 31 May 2008 (UTC)
