TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Thursday alerts & ‘Throwback’ view

(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Nothing out of the ordinary in/from West Seattle so far this morning. Alerts/reminders:

BRIDGE WORK: Today is the last announced day of off-peak work on the outer lanes of the bridge.

THIS WEEKEND: Anti-drilling demonstrations on sea and land Saturday are expected to bring crowds to Seacrest, Don Armeni, and Jack Block Park … On Sunday, Alki Avenue will be closed until about 11 am for the West Seattle 5K. More on both later today.

Now, our weekly look back:

TRAFFIC THROWBACK THURSDAY: This week’s featured image is NOT from the Seattle Municipal Archives, much as we love them. It’s courtesy of the Sheppard Family, who granted us permission to use the view of Admiral/California, from the southeast corner looking north:

(Click for a larger view)
While asking WSB contributor Megan Sheppard if we could use the photo, we forgot to ask the year. Guesses?

AIDM May 14, 2015 (7:37 am)

Great throwback picture! I’m thinking the VW bus is a 1962 Splitscreen. The American car in the background looks like something from the late 50’s so I’ll guess 1963 or 1964.

sam-c May 14, 2015 (8:02 am)

Love that photo! So cool. Thanks for all the TBT, WSB!

Wabbit May 14, 2015 (8:19 am)

I’m in with AIDM, ’63-’67. And maybe that VW is the same one as parked in the lot of one of the first throwback pix from down on Spokane St.? Wouldn’t that be a weird coincidence?

Grid May 14, 2015 (8:24 am)

Bridge backed up to 35th.

valvashon May 14, 2015 (8:34 am)

I’m guessing late 50’s. The first Volkswagen dealer opened in the U.S. in 1955, but yellow STOP signs were phased out starting in 1954 as the red and white type became the official look for STOP signs. Replacement of this one may have lagged as it is not really a full stop sign but a “STOP when signal is off” sign. Still, I would imagine that it would have been replaced before 1960, or 5 years after the official adoption of the red and white STOP sign. Full disclaimer, I was not born until 1963 and did not move to West Seattle until 1998.

KD May 14, 2015 (8:34 am)

Wouldn’t it be great if that darling paperboy who is smiling directly at the photographer could be contacted for an updated photo. Must be in his late 50’s now? Also, probably was a warm spring or summer later afternoon with the sun on the west side of the street and the woman in white wearing a light cotton like dress. Wonder if cute kid still lives in West Seattle?!!

gina May 14, 2015 (8:43 am)

The range of possibilities for the date range from September 1, 1956 until February 3, 1972. Can’t be before, can’t be after.

I remember the newspaper shed,and Sheppard’s on the corner, but the awning being worn.

Boxes of candy feature in the window, and the people are free of winter coats. My time of year guess is after Easter, before Mother’s day.

The year? 1962 on a whim.

Marcee Stone-Vekich May 14, 2015 (8:51 am)

Wow, only 60 minute parking!

East Coast Cynic May 14, 2015 (9:08 am)

Avalon Way to the WSB was backed up this morning and the bus lane full of SOV CHEATERS!

If they can’t get a cop to write tickets to those people, get a camera, e.g., HWY520

NW May 14, 2015 (9:25 am)

My grandfather had the very first vw bus in the state of washington bought it out at a porche dealership in University that a friend of his owned and of course lived and drove it here in West Seattle. He bought the bus we approximate in the late 50’s people would stare as the whole family cruised around in it same make and color as the one in photo!

Pibal May 14, 2015 (9:28 am)

Can’t … quite … make … out … the … date … on … the … newspaper. Squint, squint…

Pibal May 14, 2015 (9:42 am)

According to this WSB item, Virgil Sheppard owned the store 1956-1987.
https://westseattleblog.com/2010/07/west-seattle-grand-parade-sneak-peek-7-orville-rummel-trophy/

Vincent Dakotah Langley May 14, 2015 (10:16 am)

This picture is from either 1965 or possibly 1966.

Friend O'Dinghus May 14, 2015 (10:18 am)

Fascinating photo. I venture a guess of 1963, however the best clue is the face of the newspaper on the stand. I can just barely make out that the photo appears to be a couple, who presumably must be famous to be on the front page. It seems like part of the headline contains the words ‘New York’, but perhaps I am mistaken.

workdowntown May 14, 2015 (10:21 am)

And Mr. Spence bought the pharmacy across the street in 1950: http://wsh.stparchive.com/Archive/WSH/WSH06081950P01.php

I remember driving by in April 1962 when the big earthquake hit and seeing those windows shatter. My mom was driving us to school in her 1952 Plymouth.

Vincent Dakotah Langley May 14, 2015 (10:30 am)

This picture, I believe, would have been taken in 1957, 1958 or 1959. It was taken in mid-to-later afternoon, in the second one-half of the summertime (August 5th to September 20th). Please note to long shadows. This occurs later in the summer months, getting towards the upcoming fall months, and also into the fall and even winter, in the afternoons and evenings. The sun is to the west in this picture, as already noted in the comments here, by “KD”.

Carol O. May 14, 2015 (10:54 am)

The earthquake was in 1965, lots of damage and sadly several deaths.

Friend O'Dinghus May 14, 2015 (11:02 am)

I agree with you Vincent regarding the timing of the day. I am going to presume that the paperboy is out at his stand late in the afternoon as the new addition of the P.I. would have arrived shortly beforehand. Anyone remember what time of day the afternoon paper arrived? I am going to guess in the 5:00-7:00 p.m. range due to the heavy foot traffic and the length of the shadows.

ER May 14, 2015 (11:25 am)

Not a couple in the photo on the newspaper, looks to me like a man holding a small child.

WSB May 14, 2015 (12:00 pm)

Just so you all know – our Sheppard Family source is checking on the photo’s date, and whenever I get word, I’ll post it here.

4thGenWS May 14, 2015 (12:18 pm)

Looks like a 59 VW bus to me. I would guess 1960 s the date. Cool photo. My mom would have been going to Lafayette elementary at that time if I’m not mistaken.

CF May 14, 2015 (12:37 pm)

The dove blue Kombi Bus in the pic is a 59-61, based on the bullet front blinkers and the white blade bumpers.

Wabbit May 14, 2015 (12:49 pm)

I agree that it looks like a man holding a child and it looks like they’re on the front page of both papers in slightly different pose – suggesting it was a significant story that day.

And looking down California, the last car in the distance looks a bit more modern that most of the others in the pic with a more narrow back window. Those started to become more prominent in the early 60’s models.

West Seattle since 1979 May 14, 2015 (1:58 pm)

i think the woman in front is wearing a late 50s “sack dress”. http://divinestitches.org/2013/09/30/the-1950s-sack-dress-an-old-fashion-trend-ill-skip/
Though I’m sure some people wore them in the early 60s too. The other woman’s dress length is consistent with the late 50s/early 60s.