Washington Hall (Seattle, Washington)

Washington Hall
Location: 153 14th Avenue, at E. Fir Street, Seattle, Washington
Coordinates:
Built: 1908
Architect: Victor W. Voorhees
Location of Washington Hall in Washington

Washington Hall is a historic building and a registered city landmark in Seattle, Washington. It was originally built as a community center by the Danish Brotherhood in America, a fraternal organization, with meeting halls and one-room apartments for new immigrants. In 1973, the building was sold to the Sons of Haiti (an African-American Masonic group) who leased the space to various tenants. It was purchased in 2009 by Historic Seattle and was renovated and re-opened in 2010.

Contents

Description

The building is "a three-story, double wood frame structure with a brick veneer skin. The design is an eclectic mix of Mission Revival and commercial styles.[1]

History

It was built in 1908. It was designed by Victor W. Voorhees.[1] "Throughout its history, it sheltered immigrants from Denmark, Mexico, Puerto Rico and Brazil. Martin Luther King Jr. and W.E.B. Du Bois spoke there, and artists like Duke Ellington, Jimi Hendrix and Billie Holiday played there. It served as the original home of On the Boards, a presenter of contemporary performance now at the base of Queen Anne Hill, and now St. Michael Ethiopian Orthodox Church holds it services there."[2]

It served as a meeting hall for the Danish Brotherhood in America, Seattle Lodge #29,[3] and in the 1970s was purchased by the Sons of Haiti (an African-American Masonic group) who "continued to use the first floor rooms for their organization and rent out the second floor as performance space." Various renovations were completed by the Sons of Haiti.[1]

In 2007, the building was in poor condition and prospects for preserving the building seemed dim.[4][5] It was purchased in 2009 by Historic Seattle and was renovated and re-opened in 2010.[6]

The building was subsequently designated a Seattle city landmark,[7] the building won a $90,000 grant for renovation,[8] and a purchase in 2009 and renovation in 2010 were arranged.[6]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Zola Mumford and B. N. Barleycorn. "City of Seattle Landmark application: Washington Hall". http://www.seattle.gov/neighborhoods/preservation/LPBCurrentNom_WashingtonHallNom.pdf. 
  2. ^ Marian Liu (April 27, 2010). "Washington Hall, Seattle's cultural Ellis Island, reopens with a house party". The Seattle Times. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/thearts/2011716547_washingtonhall28.html?prmid=head_main. 
  3. ^ Washington Hall history "title". http://www.washingtonhall.org/history/ Washington Hall history. 
  4. ^ Brendan Kiley (October 24, 2007). "What's Going to Happen to Oddfellows Hall? Three Real Estate Deals and What They Mean for Seattle Theater". The Stranger. http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Content?oid=424509. Retrieved October 2, 2010. 
  5. ^ Kery Murakami (June 2007). "Historic Central Area hall looks as if it's on its last legs". SeattlePI.Com. http://www.seattlepi.com/local/319439_washingtonhall12.html. 
  6. ^ a b Knute Berger (June 15, 2009). "Washington Hall purchased by Historic Seattle". Crosscut. http://crosscut.com/blog/crosscut/18980/Washington-Hall-purchased-by-Historic-Seattle/. Retrieved August 20, 2011. 
  7. ^ Dominic Holden (2009-01-09). "Washington Hall Designated as Historic Landmark". Slog The Stranger's blog. http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2009/01/09/washington_hall_is_now_a_histo. Retrieved 2010-10-08. 
  8. ^ "title". The Seattle Times. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2012126779_preservation16m.html. 

External links