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Building History

The Seattle Soap Company operated at least as far back as 1896, and was the maker of Emerald, Blancho and Sopo soap brands. (See Another Bicycle Contest," Seattle Daily Times, 10/13/1896, p. 5.) In 1897, Louis Gilbert was associated with the factory. (See "Favors Home Factories," Seattle Daily Times, 06/05/1897, p. 5.) it was at least the third factory housing the company. The first, a wood-frame structure located on Western Avenue at the foot of Union Street, burned in a fire in 07/1898. The cash-strapped company then moved to a new location at the intersection of Union Street and 6th Avenue. An electric railroad required that the factory move again, which it did in 1903.

The architect John Graham (1873-1955), whose office would grow into one of the largest architectural firms in the Pacific Northwest, designed this third location for owner W.J. Bernard. A note in the Seattle Daily Times in 08/1903 indicated that the Seattle Soap Company needed to move imminently from its 6th and Union location: ""W.J. Bernard, successor of the Seattle Soap Company, asked for the privilege of changing the location from Sixth Avenue and Olive Street to the tide flats, near the Frye-Bruhn Company's packing houses. The street railway company had notified the soap company that it desired the premises now occupied, and to remove. The law makes it incumbent upon the soap company to get a permit from both the ity council and board of health. A soap company is placed in the same category as livery stables, laundries, slaughter houses, etc. The matter was referred to the health and sanitation committee with power to act." (See "Given More Time To Act," Seattle Daily Times, 08/12/1903, p. 8.) Less than a month later, the Times published a building permit notice for Seattle Soap: "The Seattle Soap Company has been given a permit to build a three-story frame soap factory, 64x130 feet at 2506-2512 Ninth Avenue South, to cost $8,000." (See "Progress of Building," Seattle Daily Times, 09/04/1903, p. 2.)

Building Notes

The Seattle Soap Company was listed as John Graham Project #3. (See John Graham and Company,Technical Files, John Graham Job Numbers, July 11.1974, typed and photocopied manuscript, possession of the author, accessed 10/08/2021.)

Demolition

The Seattle Soap Factory #3 was likely razed to make way for Interstate Highway 5, if not before.

PCAD id: 24180