Washington, Ballard Historical Society Historical Markers
A bank that collapsed amid scandal. Several saloons that aggressively competed for thirsty mariners. A laundry that was a reputed speakeasy, with a brothel upstairs. Those and other stories are told in a series of 12" X 16" markers placed on more than two dozen buildings along Ballard Avenue Northwest, once the main street of the City of Ballard (now a part of Seattle) and a National Historic Landmark District.
By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, August 29, 2021
The Ballard Avenue Landmark District Historic Marker Project Marker
On 22nd Avenue NW at Ballard Avenue NW on 22nd Avenue NW.
The Ballard Avenue Landmark District holds a significant place in Seattle history. The uniquely-preserved state of Ballard Avenue provides visitors with a window into the heyday of Ballards industrial and commercial era.
The City of Ballard . . . — — Map (db m27976) HM
On Ballard Avenue Northwest at 20th Avenue NW, on the left when traveling north on Ballard Avenue Northwest.
Built by Ballard saloon entrepreneur Louis Anderson, this structure was originally home to Warren Brothers Drug Store. In 1912 Samuel and Lewis Barthelemy opened the well-known Ballard Hardware and successfully conducted business from here for . . . — — Map (db m181484) HM
On Ballard Avenue Northwest at 20th Avenue NW, on the left when traveling north on Ballard Avenue Northwest.
Considered one of the largest moving companies in the area, Ballard Livery and Transfer was established on Leary Avenue in 1904. Its office was moved to this location in 1907, when B.J. Cooney took over the business. A year later the Boyd Brothers . . . — — Map (db m181485) HM
On Ballard Avenue Northwest, on the right when traveling north.
The original owner was Louis Chopard, a partner in Chopard and Cosgrove Wholesale and Retail Liquors, who ran his successful business in downtown Seattle. In 1901 Nicholas Theisen purchased this property and maintained ownership until the late . . . — — Map (db m181441) HM
On 20th Avenue NW at Ballard Avenue NW, on the right when traveling north on 20th Avenue NW.
Through the 1890s this was the most imposing structure in Ballard. It was built in 1893 by William Cors and Robert Wegener, proprietors of the Ballard Wine House. These two men first became business associates in 1889 and opened the Wine House a . . . — — Map (db m181461) HM
On Ballard Avenue Northwest north of 22nd Avenue Northwest, on the right when traveling north.
Built for Fitzgerald and Hynes Department Store for a total of $15,000, this building was dedicated in February of 1909. The department store was located on the ground floor. The Ballard Aerie of Eagles leased the entire upper floor for what was . . . — — Map (db m181473) HM
On Ballard Avenue Northwest, on the right when traveling north.
In 1898 Swedish merchant tailors Frank and Arthur Enquist opened their first tailor shop down the street in the Swanson Block at 5140 Ballard Avenue. Through their success at that location, they were able to build this classic brick structure in . . . — — Map (db m181474) HM
On Ballard Avenue Northwest, on the left when traveling north.
Stephen Battleson, secretary and treasurer for the Horse Shoe Mining Company, with his sisters Olga and Emma, constructed a modest storefront here in 1905. It was initially occupied by Dr. A. J. Douglas's optical manufacturing business and P. . . . — — Map (db m181482) HM
On Ballard Avenue Northwest, on the left when traveling north.
Louis Anderson began his illustrious career in Ballard as a barber in 1891. He quickly became involved in the thriving saloon business, fronting bonds for various bar owners' liquor licenses. By 1902 he had opened his own saloon, the Fremont Saloon, . . . — — Map (db m181479) HM
On Ballard Avenue Northwest, on the left when traveling north.
This fine example of Romanesque architecture was built in 1901 and named in honor of Gustavus B. Sanborn, a pioneer Ballard businessman. Sanborn began his career as a carpenter in 1891. He owned a series of hardware stores on Ballard Avenue in the . . . — — Map (db m181481) HM
On Ballard Avenue Northwest at NW Market Street, on the left when traveling north on Ballard Avenue Northwest.
In 1920 Charles and Edna Halverson built this structure to house their Ladies and Gents Furnishings Store, which they ran successfully for thirty-four years. Shortly after opening the store they expanded their retail focus to include dry goods. . . . — — Map (db m181476) HM
On NW Dock Place at Ballard Avenue NW on NW Dock Place.
Built by Swan Hansen, the president of the Horse Shoe Mining Company, this elegant brick structure was home to the Henry Brothers Saloon (Charles and Lewis). By 1908 the Pederson and Olsen Bar took up residence on the ground floor and stayed until . . . — — Map (db m181487) HM
On Ballard Avenue Northwest at 20th Avenue NW, on the right when traveling north on Ballard Avenue Northwest.
Built by Seattle saloon owner Stephano Raggio in 1904, the Junction Building originally stood three stories tall with a crenellated turret. Unfortunately, fire destroyed the third floor, requiring its removal. In the early 1900s the ground floor was . . . — — Map (db m181465) HM
On Ballard Avenue Northwest north of NW Vernon Place, on the right when traveling north.
Brothers Charles and Richard Kutzner built this stately brick and sandstone structure in 1904 to house their Tonsorial Parlor, a successful barber shop that was formerly located in downtown Seattle. The Kutzners operated their business out of the . . . — — Map (db m181471) HM
On Ballard Avenue Northwest at NW Vernon Place, on the right when traveling north on Ballard Avenue Northwest.
Originally only two stories tall, this Neoclassical Revival building was financed by Albin and Oscar Matthes, proprietors of the Old Home Saloon. In 1905 the Fraternal Brotherhood of the Elks purchased the building and occupied the upper floor. The . . . — — Map (db m181466) HM
On Ballard Avenue Northwest at 22nd Avenue Northwest, on the right when traveling north on Ballard Avenue Northwest.
Tacoma residents James and Welthia Kelsey built this one-story building in 1903 as an investment. They entered into an agreement with Eugene Felt, the owner of the Felt Block next door, to create an internal opening between their two buildings . . . — — Map (db m181472) HM
On Ballard Avenue Northwest south of 20th Avenue NW, on the left when traveling south.
Longtime Ballard bar owner Charley Swanson built this structure in 1904 and opened the Owl Saloon here with his partner Leonard Strygen. Except for the years during Prohibition, when the Owl Cafe occupied the ground floor, this building has . . . — — Map (db m181460) HM
On Ballard Avenue NW at NW Dock Place, on the right when traveling north on Ballard Avenue NW.
Alfred Palmer, proprietor of Alfred Palmer and Sons Real Estate Company in downtown Seattle, owned this building for more than three decades. Valued at $3,890 in 1905, the property was one of the more impressive structures in what was known as the . . . — — Map (db m181440) HM
Near Ballard Avenue Northwest south of NW Market Street, on the left when traveling north.
Built by prosperous Norwegian miner Martin Markusen, this vernacular sandstone and brick building first housed the St. Paul Hotel and later the Princess Hotel on its upper floor. Groceries and meat markets occupied the ground floor storefronts . . . — — Map (db m181478) HM
On NW Vernon Place at Ballard Avenue NW, on the right when traveling west on NW Vernon Place.
For over two decades the Ballard branch of the Scandinavian-American Bank operated out of this Second Empire Baroque structure, which was built in 1902. Originally incorporated in 1892, the bank's main branch was located in Seattle and boasted of a . . . — — Map (db m181468) HM
On 20th Avenue NW at Leary Avenue NW, on the right when traveling north on 20th Avenue NW.
In 1891 William Curtiss built a modest structure on this site to house his tinware and stove manufacturing and sales business. By 1909 he had expanded his inventory to include a wide variety of hardware products and in 1911 he constructed the . . . — — Map (db m181464) HM
On Ballard Avenue Northwest north of NW Ione Place, on the right when traveling north.
In 1901 Nicholas Theisen started his liquor store in the adjacent Chopard Block. Known as the California Wine Company, it featured "a high grade of California wine." Through the success of his business Mr. Theisen was able to construct the Theisen . . . — — Map (db m181442) HM
On Ballard Avenue Northwest south of NW Vernon Place, on the left when traveling north.
Prior to the construction of this classic building, this site housed a much more modest structure that contained the White Front Saloon. Proprietors John Peterson and Hector Chestnut ran their bar here from 1900 to 1905. When the current structure . . . — — Map (db m181483) HM
