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Overview

Piano retailer David S. Johnston commissioned the design and construction of this capacious retail sales building in Downtown Seattle, WA, completed in 1907. The building had seven above-grade stories and two basement levels.

Building History

David Steele Johnson, who migrated from Cincinnati, OH, to Tacoma, WA, in 1888, built a large business selling pianos in that city. He became so successful that he opened branch stores throughout WA State, including in Seattle, Bellingham, Everett and Yakima, by the late 1900s. His D.S. Johnston Company opened this building in Seattle by 10/1907. It had previously operated a showroom at 903 2nd Avenue. (See Polk's Seattle Directory Company's Seattle, Washington, City Directory, 1906, p. 1054.) In 1909, it billed itself as the "largest musical establishment in America."

By 1910, D.S. Johnston had become the President of the Eilers Music House, headquartered in Tacoma. (See R.W. Polks Seattle Directory Company's Seattle, Washington, City Directory, 1910, p. 857.) The Johnston / Eilers firm sold a variety of piano makes, including Chickering, Kimball, Sohmer, Decker and Sons, and Hazelton. The firm also sold player pianos, player piano rolls, record players, records, sheet music and other music-related material.

Business was clearly rocky for Johnston and his business associate Eilers in the early 1910s. An advertisement posted in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer of 01/01/1914, indicated that they had attempted to sell some of their stores in the West and Pacific Northwest: "About six months ago we decided that we would sell any of our establishments here, or in Oregon, or in Idaho, or in California. We said that for from $6,000 to $10,000 we would sell some of our establishments in the samller communities and that in several of the larger cities we could offer an investment for $200,000 or more that would prove superior to any commercial undertaking; that we would accept all cash or part cash: that we would assist in the management for as long or as short a period as might be desired; but we wanted eventually to be permitted to call at least a portion of our time our own. Since then some of our establisments have been sold outright. Since then a good many others have been closed altogether, and sine that time, failing to find any purchasers outright, particularly owing to the peculiar financial conditions that arose throughout the country, also through the necessity of arranging for the settlement of the estate of our late bloved President, Mr. D.S. Johnston, we were compelled to announce the closing out of both our Seattle and Tacoma houses."

Eilers continued in this lengthy advertisement: "In view of this and also in view of the more promising future that now presents itself, and at the solicitation of many friends, I have secured an option to buy the Eilers Music House of Seattle. I have been connected with this institution since the pioneer days, since it started, in fact. "I have been generously given a large measure of credit for any success that we have achieved and have no doubt been entitled to quite the greatest share of blame for any results that Under these circumstances, we feel that it would be nothing short of commercial crime to permit this great old house to be closed out entirely; yet I find the stock on hand is still too large for me to handle.The pianos remaining on hand must be reduced by at least one-half, the talking machines and records and music cabinets must be reduced by forty per cent, the music rolls, sheet music, small musical merchandise, etc., must be reduced by thirty per cent, before I can secure it with means at my command." (See "The End Came with the Year's Close," Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 01/01/1914, p. 3.) It is difficult to judge whether or not the business of Johnston and Eilers was actually this precarious, or if this lengthy discussion was just part of Eilers's method of high-pressure sales.

Two years later, in 1916, Eilers had decided to sell his Seattle piano business to W.W. Montelius, a music retailer in Vancouver, BC. Eilers wrote an extensive advertisement in 1916 describing his decision to sell out to Montelius: "When the 'Portland' came in from the then mysterious North with its cargo of gold, I was selling out the stock of the old firm of Winter & Harper, at the Burke Building, for my old friend and business associate, the late Mr. D.S. Johnston. Since those days of humble beginnings our business has grown so it is recognized today as the nation's greatest. For some time it has been my purpose, and the purpose of several of my associates, to retire from the arduous duties connected with the conduct of these great businesses at so many points, and when Mr. W.W. Montelius, the head of the great house of Montelius & Sons, Limited, of Vancouver, B.C., offered to buy out this establisment, provided we reduced it to a certain minimum investment for them, we agreed. And now, to the immediate problem confronting us--we occupy, as everyone knows, a very big building--nine stories you know, including the basement--and we have agreed to cut down our big stock to a valuation of less than half. The time to do this is almost too short, but we believe with the sacrifice we have decided to make, it can be done in the few days left to us to accomplish so great a task." (See "Great Piano House Will Retire," Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 09/22/1916, p. 4.)

Building Notes

The building had an exterior facing of rough-hewn coursed ashlar masonry, with a large entablature at the parapet.

A recital hall was located on the third floor of the Eilers Building in 1916. (See R.L. Polk and Company's Seattle, Washington, City Directory, 1916, p. 632.)

Demolition

The Eilers Music Building was razed. Benaroya Hall, home of the Seattle Symphony, was erected on its site in 1997-1998.

PCAD id: 13477