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Building History

This building contained bay windows composed of wood framing, a controversial choice in post-fire (1889) Seattle, WA. As Ochsner and Andersen have noted (2003), a lawsuit in 1890 challenged the bay window construction as violating new city fire codes.

In 1901, it was known as the "Vaughn Building." At this time, a sign for the Alaska Commercial Hotel stood over the front door. The hotel also operated next door at 75 South Main Street next door. (Thank you to Joe Mabel who pointed this out to the author in an email, 09/14/2018.) Another advertising sign over the front door in 1901 read "Milwaukee Lager Beer." Heussy and Fitz Druggists operated in the storefront at 303 1st Avenue South.

The Bread of Life Mission has occupied the building since 1945.

Building Notes

King County Parcel Number: 5247800190; Plat name: Maynard's D S Plat; the three-story Winehill Block occupied a 4,440 square-foot lot, and contained 18,010 gross square feet. This location formerly contained a general store operated by David Swinson "Doc" Maynard (1808–1873). Bucheler and Hummel produced a simplified Italianate design for the Winehill Block, the most notable feature of which were the segmentally-arched stone hoods over second and third floor windows.

Alteration

According to the City of Seattle Department of Neighborhood's information: "Originally the main angled projecting bay [located on the corner], also had a ridged roof, which has been lost. Aside from the loss of the top level of the main angled projecting bay and a portion of the parapet, probably as a result of the 1949 Earthquake, the building is fairly intact, particularly at the second and third levels." See Historical Sites Summary for 301 First Ave,accessed 07/30/2007. These losses on the parapet line can be seen in the two photographs illustrated.

Storefront windows on the 1st Avenue South facade have been replaced.