In Memoriam
SwitchYard Media
Written by Lang Kirchheimer
SwitchYard Media, Inc. - contact | website
Designed and produced by Lang Kirchheimer
SwitchYard Media, Inc. - contact | website
A production of SwitchYard Media, Inc.
Hal Smith, courtesy The Nest
Bruce Lee (Nov. 27, 1940 - July 20, 1973)
Perhaps Lake View's most famous resident, Bruce Lee, was a celebrated Chinese-American martial artist, actor and philosopher. Bruce defined martial arts in the 20th century with his practice of Wing Chun, and later created his own eclectic drawing style known as Jeet Kune Do.
Born in San Francisco, Bruce grew up in Hong Kong. He returned to the States in 1959 when his parents grew worried about his increasing involvement in street fights. Arriving in Seattle, Bruce lived with an aunt, finished high school and enrolled in the University of Washington's drama program while continuing to study martial arts. In the summer of 1964, Bruce quit college and headed to California to open a Jun Fan martial arts school in Oakland with his friend James Yimm Lee (at the time, Seattle was home to the only school in North America). Shortly after, Bruce was discovered at a Long Beach Martial Arts expo, launching his acting career with supporting roles -- most notably "The Green Hornet." He later moved back to Hong Kong to star in his breakout film "The Big Boss," followed by "Fist of Fury," which propelled him to international stardom. For his third film, "Way of the Dragon," Bruce was given complete creative control.
On July 20, 1973, months after completing his fourth film, "Enter the Dragon," Bruce Lee died at age 32 from a cerebral edema thought to be caused by an allergic reaction to a prescription painkiller he had taken for a headache that day. Given his incredible health, Bruce's death is viewed suspiciously to this day.
Bruce Lee
Nov. 27, 1940 - July 20, 1973
Courtesy Travis Magee, Brutal Industries
Brandon Lee (Feb. 1, 1965 - Mar. 31, 1993)
Son to legendary martial artist and actor Bruce Lee, Brandon Lee showed bright promise at an early age. But like his father, Brandon tragically died young.
Growing up in Los Angeles, Brandon studied martial arts with his father's friend and later majored in drama at Emerson College, determined to become an action star like Bruce. Upon returning to California, Brandon got his break on his 21st birthday in "Kung Fu: The Movie," playing the son of Kwai Chang Caine (David Carradine), the series' hero. Brandon quickly found steady work in B-grade action films such as "Legacy of Rage" and "Rapid Fire."
On his 28th birthday, Brandon was fatally shot in a prop accident while filming a scene in "The Crow," a movie adaptation of the popular underground comic book. Although a freak accident, Brandon's young age and the mysterious circumstances surrounding his death have led many to draw grisly parallels between father and son, who are buried next to each other at Lake View.
Brandon Lee
Feb. 1, 1965 - Mar. 31, 1993
Elena Bouvier, courtesy of Eastern State Penitentiary
Princess Angeline (1820-1896)
Known as Kikisoblu to her people, Princess Angeline was the eldest daughter of Chief Si'ahl, leader of the native Suquamish and Duwamish Indian tribes of the Puget Sound and namesake for the city of Seattle. Noted for her lineage and strong character, Angeline's historic refusal to relocate to a reservation in accord with the 1855 Treaty of Point Elliot made her a legend among her people while her close relationships with the founding settler families, particularly Henry Yessler (also in Lake View) brought her renown among whites in the city and abroad.
Though little is known about her early years, she became a fixture to the then burgeoning downtown later in life. She lived in a waterfront cabin on Western Ave. between Pike and Pine near today's Pike's Place Market where she laundered clothes and sold hand-woven baskets. Despite the largely anti-Indian sentiment of settlers at the time, Angeline was highly regarded as a peace-maker between the two groups. Her death at 76 in 1896 was marked by a massive ceremony attended by settlers and Indians alike.
Princess Angeline
1820-1896
Courtesy Bennett Productions
Eugene McAllaster (Apr. 4, 1866 - Jan. 30, 1946)
A noted naval architect and engineer who called Seattle home, McAllaster is known for designing the historic Seattle fireboat "Duwamish," one of the most powerful fireboats in the United States during its 75 year career.
McAllaster came to Seattle in 1902 with his wife Katherine after graduating from the University of Michigan. He established his professional reputation with work on the Denny Hill and Jackson Street retrogrades which leveled the chaotic topography surrounding Seattle's downtown. In 1909, remembering the catastrophic losses of the Great Seattle Fire of 1889 and eyeing its ever expanding wooden port, the city tasked McAllaster to design a new fireboat. Determined to create a vessel worthy of the task, McAllaster fitted his boat with a slew of innovative features such as a steel prow for scuttling a burning vessel. Many of those features became standard on modern fireboats.
Although the Duwamish was retired in 1985, it remains moored in South Lake Union, a nationally recognized historic landmark.
Eugene McAllaster
April 4, 1866 - Jan. 30, 1946
Courtesy Hobb's Grove
Henry Yesler (Dec. 2, 1810 - Dec. 16, 1892)
Entrepreneur, politician, and Seattle founding father, Henry Yesler was described by colleague Clarence Bagley as "easily the most active agent in Seattle's physical growth." The city's first businessman and millionaire, it was Yesler's sawmill and the industry created by it that is credited with launching this former outpost into a lumber center and major port.
Attracted by the ample timber and harbors, Yesler came to the Puget Sound in the fall of 1852 looking for a site for his sawmill. He settled on a Seattle location after fellow founding fathers Doc Maynard and Carson Boren donated a parcel of land. While timber may have been Yesler's start, real estate is what made him rich. Besides owning a major portion of downtown, he is credited with building the town's first municipal plumbing system, town hall and library.
Beyond providing the funding, Yesler proved politically vital to the fledgling city. He became an important liaison between displaced Native Americans, white settlers and, later, Chinese immigrants. Yesler twice served as mayor, as well as county auditor and county commissioner. He also headed several municipal transportation and sewage modernization plans. When he died in 1892 the Seattle Post Intelligencer's obituary stated Ð "During the two score years of Seattle's exciting life, there was scarce one twelve month in which Mr. Yesler was not called upon to take an active and prominent part in a public movement of extreme importance."
Henry Yesler
Dec. 2, 1810 - Dec. 16, 1892
Courtesy ScreamWorld
John W. Nordstrom (Feb. 15, 1871 - Oct. 11, 1963)
Emigrating to the states from his native Sweden in 1887 with $5 to his name and a 6th grade education, John W. Nordstrom established a simple shoe store that has since become a successful national chain of upscale department stores.
As a young man, Nordstrom made his way to Alaska to find his fortune in the gold rush. However, with his claim embroiled in a legal dispute, Nordstrom quickly accepted an offer of $30,000 for it and move south to Seattle where he and friend Carl Wallin opened a small shoe store in 1901. From humble beginnings, the business grew with a second Seattle store being added in 1923 to the three Nordstrom sons eventually being handed the reigns of the business in 1928 as Wallin sold out.
From that single downtown Seattle store (now the flagship location and corporate headquarters), the buisness has since blossomed to a leading national upscale fashion retailer, continuing to thrive under the 4th generation of the Nordstrom family. Remaining true to their founder's practical sense of business, the company for years issued new employees a handbook with the rule: "use good judgment." To this day, as an ode to its founder, Nordstrom can be found trading under the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol JWN, the initials for John W. Nordstrom.
John W. Nordstrom
Feb. 15, 1871 - Oct. 11, 1963
Courtesy Terrorfest
Doc Maynard (Mar. 22, 1808 - Mar. 13, 1873)
Following the Financial Panic of 1837, David Swinson "Doc" Maynard drifted west working as a doctor on wagon trains. In 1852 he arrived in Seattle. Falling in love with the widow Catherine Boshears en route, they bushwhacked their way to the Elliot Bay settlement in present day downtown. Maynard soon opened the town's first general store. Besides being credited with helping lure Henry Yesler's sawmill to Seattle, Maynard served as the town doctor, lawyer, first justice of the peace and official Indian agent. Unlike many of his fellow settlers, Maynard was a strong proponent of Indian rights, and is responsible for proposing to name the city after Chief Seattle as an act of tribute to the displaced ruler.
It is possibly due to this fact and his liberal social politics in the relatively conservative town that lead to his being less personally successful albeit influential to early Seattle. After becoming disillusioned with local politics, losing his home to a fire and being caught up in a legal battle between his first and second wife, Maynard died March 13 1873. Remembered for his generosity and kindness, his funeral was among the largest seen by the city.
Doc Maynard
Mar. 22, 1808 - Mar. 13, 1873
Courtesy Full Moon Productions
Arthur Denny (June 20, 1822 - Jan. 9, 1899)
Perhaps one of the first settlers to set foot on the Seattle settlement, Arthur Denny led the Denny Party to Seattle in November of 1851 and helped choose the site of the initial outpost in present day Pioneer Square.
Informally considered Seattle's first leader, Arthur Denny began a career in civil service that include being the town's first postmaster, serving as delegate for the Monticello convention which separated present day Washington state from Oregon and representing Seattle in the Territorial legislature. He also helped start the city's first bank with Dexter Horton, and the University of Washington, personally donating much of the campus for its original location downtown.
Arthur Denny
June 20, 1822 - Jan. 9, 1899
WEBSITE: Locate his grave
Courtesy Woods of Terror
Thomas Mercer (Mar. 11, 1813 - May 25, 1898)
Thomas Mercer was one of the city's earliest pioneers, famous for naming Lake Washington and Lake Union.
Mercer arrived with his 4 daughters to the tiny outpost of Seattle in the Spring of 1853, a recent widower, his wife having passed on the journey from their native Ohio. Ever determined to establish a better life for his family and himself, he persevered and established himself among his fellow pioneers with the first dairy, making rounds as the town's milkman. Recognized for his wisdom and honorable nature, he served as Probate Judge for 10 consecutive years and was responsible for leading the survey team that established present day West Seattle.
Today Mercer is most often associated with the Seattle avenue named in his honor that runs in parallel to the location of his former Dairy Farm in present day lower Queen Anne.
Thomas Mercer
March 11, 1813 - May 25, 1898
Courtesy The 13th Door
Dexter Horton (1825-1904)
While his beginnings in the Seattle outpost were humble, Dexter Horton rose to become one of the wealthiest men in the Northwest and the founder of Seattle's first bank.
Horton arrived with his family at the settlement in 1853 in the same party as Thomas Mercer. Horton began his life in the Northwest working as a hand at Yesler's Sawmill, using his savings to later purchase land for a general store. It was here he began his career as the famed banker he would be Ð known for his honesty and trusting demeanor, sailors, loggers, and other migrant workers in town would ask Horton to hold their wages for them while they were on the job. He soon became so popular for this kind of favor that Horton sold his shop to Henry A. Atkins, Seattle's first mayor, and moved to San Francisco to learn brokerage. In 1870 he returned and started Seattle's Dexter Horton Bank Ð the first in the city.
Running his bank for over 18 years out of an impressive stone building on 1st Ave, Horton later sold it to help in the development of a New York style, vertically expanding downtown. Curiously, these stone properties and his original bank were the few to survive the otherwise uniform devastation of the Great Seattle Fire of 1889.
Dexter Horton
1825-1904