Site Report #3 The Audio Tour
For hundreds of years, the Duwamish Tribe resided on the land that we now call Seattle. They fished in Lake Washington and hunted in prairielands throughout the area. This way of life began to change when the city of Seattle was founded in 1851, and the University of Washington was relocated to the University District. This relocation of the UW in 1895 lead to a population boom in the area. Soon there was an influx of students looking for homes with an easy commute. According to census data from John Caldbick, the city of Seattle had a population of 6,910 in the year 1880 and then skyrocketed to 63,989 in the year 1890.
On this block in particular, there were some single family homes but mostly just forestry. One property owner on this block was Mrs. Bonnar, she was a student of the University of Washington. In Neilsen’s, UniverCity, she recounts the “300 foot (tall) trees, 20 feet in diameter” that surrounded her home. There was a trolley car alongside her block that transported off campus students to the UW campus.
As the University of Washington became known as one of the best schools in the Northwest, the population in the U District exponentially increased with not only students but families too. A census report from the City of Seattle shows that there was a 194% increase in the population of Seattle from the years 1900 to 1910. This created a need for a school for younger children. Homes and trees on this block were tore down to make way for this new school.
In 1903, the University Heights School was opened for all children. When it opened its doors, it had a school body of 200 students and as the years progressed, it became the “largest grade school in the city”, (Neilsen 29). This school was much loved in the community and when enrollment slowed, the community decided to keep the building and transform it into a community center for everyone to enjoy.
The University Heights Center is now home to many community programs, such as Music & Theater, Zumba, and Martial Arts. There is also a weekly farmers market that provides the community with fresh fruits and flowers every Saturday.
As you can see, this block on Brooklyn Ave NE and University Way NE has had a profound impact on the community and strives to uphold a safe, fun environment for people of all ages.