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Overview

The Crary Building #1 was erected for the Washington Securities Company during 1907 and 1908.

Building History

The Spokane-based architectural firm of Cutter and Malmgren designed the Crary Building in Downtown Seattle, WA. It opened a Seattle office at about the time of the Crary Building's design.

The Crary Building #1 opened on 12/15/1908. An announcement of its opening appeared in the Seattle Daily Times on 11/24/1908: "The new Crary Building, owned by the Washington Securities Company, at Fifth Ave. and Union Street will be ready for occupancy Dec. 15. This building is located two blocks from the new Federal Building, and in the growing activity on Union St., making it very attractive for office and store purposes. The offices are well-lighted and modern, having hot and cold running water in each. The increasing travel on Union St. makes the stores desirable for retail trade at reasonable rent." (See "Announcement," Seattle Daily Times, 11/14/1908, p. 6.)

Building Notes

In 1910, the architect Charles H. Alden, Jr., (1867-1951) occupied Office #607 in the Crary Building, while John L. Hall, representative of the important Chicago and New York-based engineering firm of Purdy and Henderson, had Office #609. The firms of Bigger and Warner and Willatzen and Byrne also had their offices here at this time. Many architects respected the work of their Spokane contemporary Kirtland Cutter (1860-1939), the designer of the building, and this may have been the reason that so many architects had their offices in it.

The painter Herbert Paul Muehlenbeck (1886-1947) maintained a studio in the Crary Building #1 for 17 years, before he relocated to the Douglas Building. He retired from painting due to poor health in 1945. (See "Muehlenbeck, Painter, Dead," Seattle Times, 11/11/1947, p. 32.)

Demolition

The Crary Building #1 was torn down beginning in 06/1941, to make way for a two-story Crary Building #2 erected at 1405 5th Avenue. The architect of the Crary Building #2 was Henry Fey. (See "To Be Built at 5th, Union," Seattle Times, 05/25/1941, p. 34.)

PCAD id: 8300