West Seattle scene: Demolition reveals another ‘ghost sign’

On Wednesday, we wrote about the demolition work at 3219-3221, clearing an old commercial building for residential development.

Today, WSB’s Christopher Boffoli sends the photo above, showing faded signage on a newly revealed brick wall alongside 3225 California (which is not part of the current project – the building is currently home to West Seattle Healing Tree). These are what are now known as “ghost signs” – you’ve probably seen a few in West Seattle, and other parts of the city.

Christopher points out that the words “WHOLE FAMILY” and “We do boot repairing here” are visible. Online archives show the Jurians’ Family Shoe Store was in operation there for a dozen years until selling the business in 1931. (The King County Assessor’s Office website, however, traces the building only to 1922.)

Ghost signs are usually painted onto buildings – old brick buildings like this one – but sometimes there are other signage surprises, like the one we showed in 2013 after demolition at 4730 California SW.

Plane nut February 11, 2016 (1:56 pm)

Trade that building, as good as it is, for 27 acres in Redmond? Who got the best of that deal?

Jissy February 11, 2016 (3:59 pm)

Wow, that is cool- thanks for sharing!

BRUCESTUDE February 11, 2016 (7:49 pm)

Thanks for sharing! It’s sad that old buildings have to come down, and this sign is a reminder that there is history lurking everywhere!

sc February 12, 2016 (7:29 am)

Look at the article below the one about the shoe store closing.

West Seattle Bakery invites people to come see their new bread slicing machine!

miws February 12, 2016 (9:45 am)

Yeah, that was cool, SC! When I clicked on the link yesterday, I got lost for quite awhile, as always on the historic newspaper site, in reading through much of the content. In reading through the real estate ads, and considering the date of the paper, I wondered of the possibility of seeing a listing for the “brand new” house I spent my first nearly 11 years in, in the ’60’s, in the Belvidere/Charlestown Water Tower neighborhood, knowing that the house was built in 1931. Didn’t see it, but did see the house from two doors down, which along with my house and a third one, were built by the same builder. King County Parcel Viewer shows a build date of 1930, for that one, so presumably, it was the original builder selling it. A friend who grew up in that house still owns it, along with his wife, so I sent them a link to it. Mike