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Overview

Philip A. Baillargeon, brother of Joseph A. Baillargeon, commissioned the construction of this $475,000, four-story department store in 1907, a moment of rapid growth in Seattle, in general, and, more specifically, significant expansion of the city's retail shopping district to include several new department stores.

Building Notes

The building featured a terra cotta-clad exterior.

From 1917 until the early 1950s, the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco maintained its Seattle branch in the Baillargeon Building. The Federal Reserve completed a new Seattle bank at 1015 2nd Avenue in 1951. (See Jennifer Ott, HistoryLink.org, "Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco Board authorizes construction of a branch bank building in Seattle on February 28, 1949," posted 10/10/2008, published 11/05/2018.)

Alteration

An arch was added above the main 2nd Avenue entrance at some point later. According to the City of Seattle, Department of Neighborhoods Historic Sites Summary for the building, "The original storefront design and central entryway were altered when the building was adapted and modeled for bank use purposes c.1918. The original entryway had a square-headed opening and was adorned with ivory-color terra cotta and a crested cornice and ornate metal canopy.It was replaced with the current storefront configuration and entry design." (See City of Seattle, Department of Neighborhoods, "Historic Site Summary forSummary for 1100 2nd AVE / Parcel ID 0942000070," accessed 08/21/2019.)

Another story was added to the Baillargeon Building in 1941.

This report continued: "In 1957-58 when the adjacent Security Pacific Building was constructed, the Baillaergeon Building became functionally interconnected to the new building with a common elevator lobby. All of the original tripartite upper floor level windows were replaced with steel sash in character with the adjacent addition."(See City of Seattle, Department of Neighborhoods, "Historic Site Summary forSummary for 1100 2nd AVE / Parcel ID 0942000070," accessed 08/21/2019.)