The TOUR

It's the first day of October and time to announce the Fourth Annual Georgetown Haunted History Tour. We had so much fun last year we decided to expanded and cover two nights of haunting this season!

We are also teaming up with the Theatre off Jackson for this spine tingling experience. Creepy stories, haunting theatrics and ghoulish music.

October 24th and 25th
Four tours nightly: departing every 20 minutes.
Walk Only- $7.00
TOJ Brew House only - $10.00
Combo ticket (both tours!) - $15.00
* children under 9 are FREE - please use your discretion as this event can be too scary for some little ones

Walking tours depart from the Coliman Mexican Restaurant at E Marginal Way and Carleton Avenue South and last approximately an hour.

Advance tickets can be purchased at Brown Paper Tickets. How the ticketing will work.

1. Pull up Brown Paper Tickets in your web browser
2. Choose date for the tour
3. Choose your walking tour departure time (ie 6:00, 6:20, 6:40, or 7:00)
4. Click "begin order", you will asked if you want walking tour only or both the walking tour and brew house tour (a better value and not to be missed!)
5. Select the number of tickets you would like
6. Purchase tickets
7. Plan your costume**, be on time and have fun!

**Costumes are encouraged, BUT REMEMBER, comfortable walking shoes are a must!

Any questions? Please contact us at gthistory@yahoo.com.

***** UPDATE*****
If you have purchased tickets - WILL CALL is at the start of the tour. Coliman Mexican Restaurant. Please plan to arrive a bit early to check in - WILL CALL opens one hour prior to the first tour departure (5pm)

Thank you all for your support!

Georgetown Radio: A film and soundtrack from the early 90s

Blogging Georgetown linked to another great blog Washblog who has posted a two part video recording life in Georgetown during the early 1990's.

Old Foghi remembers the Georgetown Tavern, Hamilton Hall before the facelift, the Blue Max (yes, drinking with pilots and cabin crew!) and the Rainier Lady covered with vines. Most of the bars and businesses along Airport Way were yet to be concieved, boards over windows shielded our view of people living in lofts and small apartments.

Part 1


Part 2


One thing that is striking is the shot of the traffic entering I-5 from Carleton Avenue. Old Foghi and the Old Fart moved into Georgetown in the late 1990's so we were not around when the traffic was routed straight up Carleton.

Traffic circles and a traffic divider have changed the way people navigate these historic streets. I am so glad I only have a few cars and the bus to worry about when I ride my bicycle on Carleton.

This week in history: O-W-R &N Company to Extend Spur to Seattle City Limits

After 95 years, you think we could get some crossing arms? This article comes from the Oregonian, April 11th, 1913.

INDUSTRIAL TRACT INVADED

O.W.R. & N. to Extend Spur to Seattle City Limits

Seattle, Wash, Aug. 11, 1913 - Construction will be begun at once by the Oregon-Washington Railroad & Navigation Company on a spur track extending from Lucile street, near the Seattle Brewing and Malting Company's plant at Georgetown, to Fourteenth avenue South, the city limits, which will serve the industrial tracts recently platted by King County through the efforts of the Chamber of Commerce. A permit has been granted by the Board of Public Works for this track as well as for a spur on Bailey street for a connection with the tracks of the Puget Sound Traction, Light and Power Company, over which the Big Four Iron Works in South Park will be served.

For months, the Chamber of Commerce, various railroad officials and A.L. Valentine, superintendent of public utlities, have been working on the plan connecting the industrial tracts with railroads. So far as Seattle is concerned this is one of the most important railroad extensions that has been undertaken in a long time.

Landmarking Georgetown?

Looks like there might be a group forming interested in landmarking houses in Georgetown. Below is reposted from the neighborhood listserv. Perhaps with enough interest, Georgetown will become a historic district. Links galore 1.)to the person who penned the email so you can get in touch and 2.) the Nomination and Designation Processes.

I am interested in landmarking my own house, and meeting with others who own property who wish to do the same......My own home was built in 1898, and is one of the last examples of work force housing from that period. In the 1930's, the county had determined that it only had 8 years of life left. I'm working on restoring the street side closer to what is in the assessors photos from the 1930s, in spite of the "improvements" made in the 80's. If anyone wishes to chat more drop me a line.

Historic property threatend by development?

I do not have all the information on this - but perhaps someone can look into this one. The Double House at Carleton and Willow now has a land use sign in front of it. I dont know if it is going to be modified or torn down for more development.

The Joseph R. Huber Double House was built in 1911 and was contructed from plans you ordered out of a builders catalog. This one screams history! I would love to see someone take up the cause on this one... I would be up for doing it myself if I were not currently working on a HUGE project at the moment.

"An intact, however slightly altered, example of an early 20th C. multi-family residential design that exhibits distinctive Bungalow design features. This property is a double house (two family dwelling) that appears to have been constructed according to a plans that were commonly available through architect/builder’s plan books or Aladdin type house catalogs. This double house exhibits design features and historic building fabric that reflect the popularity of early 20th C Craftsman/Bungalow design modes: a one & ½ story side gable main form with symmetrically placed cut-away entry porches and bay windows on the principle facade. The house is distinguished by low roof pitches, wide barge boards, wide overhanging eaves, exposed rafter ends and kneebraces. Each entry porch includes a wooden column supported on a low wall plinth. The windows are typically standard double-hung and in some cases they have been altered or replaced. The house is currently clad with narrow clapboard siding (at body) and double course shingles (at gable ends & base). The original cladding treatment along with trim and architectural features emphasized the horizontal design character."

Walking History tour - Sunday, July 13th

Details, details, details.

Meet us at City Hall - 13th and Bailey - at either 11am or 2pm for a fun walk around Georgetown. This is a simple introduction to the early history - we will be walking from City Hall and into the residental quarter. Be sure to wear your comfortable walking attire.

A small donation of $3 bills each is much apprieciated. We will be applying this toward our larger event - the Haunted History Tour - scheduled for late October.

Social business

Dear readers,

I must apologize for the lack of any historical updates over the past two weeks. I am sure something of a historical, hysterical or perhaps mythical nature happened "this day in history".

My yesterdays and todays have been jammed packed with activities brimming with adventure and excitement. I will endeavor to organize all of my notes so I can share them with you, dear readers.

I will be joining another old foghi (perhaps not quite as old) in the Seattle Rooms this Monday evening to read old maps, phone directories and perhaps, just perhaps, microfiche. I don't know how to bait my hook to catch one of these microfiche - but to do hear tell you can read them with a special whats-it located within the stacks.

Interested parties should also note a newly designed walking tour is being developed and will be unveiled at the 13th annual Georgetown Art and Garden Walk - July 13 -2008. More details to follow.

Best regards,

Olf Doghi