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

R.I.P. Ruby Chow

Ruby Chow: 1920-2008

Most Georgetown residents are only familiar with the name, Ruby Chow, as a park at the northend of Boeing field. Yet, Ruby Chow was the first Asian American on the King County Council, elected in 1973 and serving three terms before retiring in 1985.

She was a larger than life figure in the Chinese community. Ruby and her husband Ping owned the first Chinese restaurant outside of Chinatown. While active in the community she campaigned to demystify Chinese culture, inviting the general public to Chinese New Year celebrations and other community events, publicizing positive images of Chinatown.

For such a feisty woman, it would seem she would deserve a larger tribute. Something more than a little used park, under the flight path located at north end of a runway.

You can't even fly a kite at Ruby Chow Park.

Memorial Day

Traditionally, Memorial Day is a day to remember veterans.

This year, I spent Memorial Day remembering things which are lost and often forgotten. Comet Lodge Cemetery is beautiful and sad at the same time. I placed a few red carnations around on some of the remaining headstones. Here are a couple photos:

This week in history

Seattle's first aviation disaster occurred on May 29, 1912, at the Meadows Race Track when an airplane crashed into the grandstand, killing one and injuring 21 others.

Special thanks to an old foghi friend for pointing this out.

Saloon keeper's assault may result fatally

SEATTLE, May 19, 1909

John Mueller, mayor of Georgetown, who was assaulted Monday morning by E.A. Hutchings, proprietor of the Country Inn is in such a precarious condition as the result of his injuries that he may not recover.

Mayor Mueller is in bed at his home barely able to move. Last night, he was irrational at times. One of the blows be received at the base of the skull was so severe that for a time the attending physician, Dr. W. H. Corson, thought the bone had been fractured.

Mayor Mueller is advanced in years and has been in poor health for several months, having taken several trips to health resorts recently to recuperate.

Hutchings, who is held in $5,000 bonds pending the outcome of his victim's injuries, has applied to the superior court for his release on a writ of habeas corpus.

from the 5/21/1909 Morning Olympian c Newsbank/American Antiquiarian Society 2004

It would seem that Hutchings was not a fan of the new closing hours saloons and pool halls must now adhere. Hutchings attacked Mueller at the entrance of the General Offices at the Seattle Brewing and Malting Company as Mueller was opening for the day.

Faust-Dahlstrom residence

The house at 6247 Flora has been on the lips of many around the neighborhood lately - it is up for sale with the properties adjacent.

I went to the Tim O'Brian collection to see if there was a property history. What you see here first appeared in the Georgetown Gazette-News January 28, 2000.

drawing by Jon Dove


The Faust-Dahlstrom residence, located in the 6200 block of Flora Avenue South, was built in 1893-1894 by August Faust, a carpenter and master sash maker. It is tempting to guess that fancy upper sashes on the house reflect Faust's skill at building sashes.

A close look at the facade suggests that the two major part of the house, the gabled half and the ell, were not built at the same time. The Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps for 1904 and 1927 bear out this conclusion. The original house is the northern part with its two-story gable front. The lower hipped roof addition with the large bay window and hipped roof dormer was added some time after 1904 and before 1917. It was probably added before 1909 when William and Mary Eggert moved in.

By 1912 the Dahlstrom family, including Henry C, Herbert L, Edith and Ralph had moved in. Ralph Dahlstrom lived in the house form ore the forty-five years.

Henry Dahlstrom was on of the organizers and most active members of a social club known as t he Non-pareil Club.

In 1916, the Non-pareil Clubhouse was located in the Georgetown Castle (the large pink Victorian house with turret located at 6420 Carleton Avenue) The Non-pariel Club had more than 100 members. They played bridge and held ballroom dances. Club members also had their own twenty piece band and championship baseball team, known also as the Non-pareils.

In the mid 1920's, Henry Dahlstrom, Max Schmidt and Jules Maes were respectively the secretary, president and vice president of the crack Georgetown Merchants baseball team.

Mayor Mueller

John Anton Mueller, a German immigrant, was a brewer by trade and spent his early years in the business, becoming a brewer’s apprentice at the age of twelve. After coming to the states, he joined his brothers who were working at breweries in Illinois. In 1880, he completed studies at a brewer’s academy in New York State and, over the next ten years, was employed at a number of eastern breweries before heading west.

Mueller was a strong presence in the community, serving as school board president and organizing the district’s water, lighting and sewer systems. Mueller also helped establish the Rainier Volunteer Fire Department and served as its chief. He was elected Georgetown’s first mayor after it was incorporated as a city in January 1904. According to an editorial in the Georgetown-South Seattle News (December 3, 1904), his first year in office was a success:

For three years past Mr. Mueller has interested himself in public affairs where he has exhibited the same traits of sagacity and honesty that made his success in business. The Georgetown high school building is the result of his faithful work on the part of Mr. Mueller…The record Mr. Mueller has made as mayor for the first year of Georgetown is altogether commendable…Any man can rest assured that as mayor of Georgetown Mr. Mueller assumes personal responsibility and if he makes a mistake, you do not have to go to any man but Mueller for its correction. A vote for John Mueller is a vote for an honest, capable administration of the city affairs, and his past record is proof positive for this statement.

Special thanks to Gary Flynn of Brewery Gems who sent this wonderful photo of Mayor Mueller. The Mueller residence can be seen at the corner of Carleton and Bailey (please do not disturb the current residents).