Site Report 3
An audio recording of the text on the page, discussing the history of Block 08. University District (Seattle, WA). Copyright Garrett Esko, February 16, 2017.
A screenshot of an online history of the University Bookstore, containing both text and photographs. University District (Seattle, WA). Taken on February 15, 2017. University Book Store.
A view of University Way, taken from the corner of University and 45th. Notice the Bartell Drugs sign on the left hand side. University District (Seattle, WA). Taken in 1959. Seattle Municipal Archvies.
Hello, my name is Garrett Esko, and today I will be discussing the history of Block #8 between University & 15th and 45th & 43rd.
This block is perhaps one of the most well-known and recognized in the area. It’s on the Ave, a major shopping-center, and is home to the UW Bookstore. To many, this block in particular has seemed unchanging throughout the years, and they would not be entirely wrong in that belief. In general, the block has always been full of retail businesses. This is likely due to the centralized location of the block (relative to the Ave. rather than the University), and the closeness of Greek Row. While some specific businesses have come and gone, this block has, as near as I can tell through my research, always been a primarily retail and recreational area.
Granted, the block has been home to several apartment buildings, including the current Malloy Apartments and the University District Apartments in the1920s. However, comparing maps from the 1920s, the 1960s, and today, the buildings’ shapes, locations, and purposes have generally remained unchanged (“Seattle Municipal”). Bartell Drugs, for example, has been on the block since the early 1900s, and is still there to this day (Pulkkinen).
There have been a few major changes to the block, most notably the moving in of the UW Bookstore. In 1924, concerns about the safety of students at the current on-campus location led to a sudden scramble to find available space for the Bookstore. When a pool hall closed on the Ave, the store rented this space as a temporary fix (“Our History”). However, sales jumped by almost 25% during the first year at this location due to the increase in clientele and accessibility, so the space was purchased and moved into permanently (“Our History”).
Overall, while the block hasn’t changed in many major ways, the changes to it have had great impact on the lives of students and workers in the area.
Thank you.