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Overview

The Butler Building #1 was in operation in 1882. (See Residence and Business Directory of the City of Seattle for the Year 1882, [Seattle: Elliot and Sweet], p. 46.)

Building History

A newspaper reporter for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer wrote up an interview with Hilory Butler as he demolished his residence to erect this three-story wood-frame commercial building; Butler stated when asked what he was going to build on his property: "I shall build a three-story wooden building 40x60 feet in size. Work will commence as soon as I get this old building out of the way." When asked why he didn't erect a sturdy brick structure versus using wood, he replied: "You see I am an old man and all I have is this little piece of property here and a few dollars besides. Now if I should build of brick, I would be compelled to borrow a large sum of money. In fact I would have to borrow such an amount that I could never hope to pay it off in my lifetime, and it would keep me scratching all the time to pay the interest on the money and keep up repairs on the property and square on my taxes every year. By using wood I can put up the building without involving myself to any great extent, and when it is done I can enjoy the rents and profits from it during my lifetime, and not have to pay every dollar out to somebody else." He also disclosed that he had already rented commercial space in the unbuilt Butler Building to John Leary and C.H. Kittinger, "...who will occupy a portion of it and sublet the remainder." (See "Why He Builds of Wood," Seattle Daily Post-Intelligencer, 02/10/1888, p. 3, col. 2.)

Building Notes

This commercial investment building replaced Hilory Butler's first residence in Seattle, erected the same year he arrived in town, 1853.

Demolished; the first Butler Building was demolished in the Seattle Fire of 1889.

PCAD id: 14806