Résumé

Thomson worked as a surveyor in Indiana, c. 1878-1879.

Teacher, Mendocino, CA, c. 1880;

Mathematics Instructor, Healdsburg Academy, Healdsburg, CA, c. 1881.

Assistant Surveyor, [F.H.] Whitworth and Thomson, Surveyors, Seattle, WA, c. 1881-1884; Thomson entered into a partnership with F. H. Whitworth, the Seattle City and King County Surveyor; City Surveyor, City of Seattle, Seattle, WA, 1884-1886.

Locating Engineer, Seattle, Lakeshore and Eastern Railroad, Seattle and Spokane, WA, 1886-1892.

City Engineer, City of Seattle, Seattle, WA, 1892-1911; in 1893, the Seattle city directory indicated that Thomson still maintained an engineering practice called, "R.H. Thomson and Company." Partners in this firm included R. Heber Thomson, George F. Cotterill, and Clarence L. White. Their office was located in Room #5 of the Starr Block. (See R.L. Polk's Seattle City Directory, 1893, p. 429.)

Member, Seattle Port Commission, 1911-1916;

Member, Seattle City Council, Seattle, WA, 1916-1922;

Chief Engineer, City of Seattle, Seattle, WA, 1930;

Private Consulting Practice, Reginald H. Thomson, Engineer, 1916-1930s.

Ph.D., Hanover College, Hanover, IN, 1877.

Relocation

At age 23, Thomson lived in Mendocino, CA, where he worked as a teacher.

He resided at 100 South 9th Avenue in 1893. (See R.L. Polk's Seattle City Directory, 1893, p. 429.)

In 1900, Thomson, his wife, their four children and two boarders lived in a residence at 701 Yesler Street. The family, minus son, James, lived at 2454 Harvard Avenue North in 1920. (At this time, the children at home were 30, 25, and 22 respectively, the eldest, Marion, was a high school teacher.)

Parents

His father was Samuel H. Thomson, an educator, his mother, Magdelyn S. Clifton. His father became Principal of the Healdsburg Academy, Healdsburg, CA, c. 1882.

Spouse

He married his wife, Adele, (born 01/1856 in CA), c. 1884.

Children

He and Adele had four children: James H. (born 05/1885 in WA), Marion W. (born 05/1889 in WA), Reginald H., Jr., (born 12/1894 in WA) and Francis C. (born 10/1897 in WA).

Biographical Notes

Thomson was the mastermind behind the grading of Denny Hill in Downtown, Seattle, WA, 1902-1911; another grading process on the hill occurred in 1929-1930; Thomson also directed a regrading effort in 1906 between First Hill and Beacon Hill; in this process, Jackson Street and Dearborn Streets underwent regrading, and a number of streets, houses and a school were removed or relocated. This regrade necessitated the construction of a bridge at 12th Avenue South.

• Seattle, WA (Architect's Death)
  Seattle, WA

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