WEST SEATTLE HISTORY: Highland Park discovery

| Highland Park | West Seattle history | West Seattle news

Thanks to HPAC co-chair Kay Kirkpatrick for sharing this on behalf of “Highland Park history buffs”:

(First two photos by Joe F, who’s in photo #3, taken by Craig R)

On Wednesday workers excavating for utilities relocation at the Highland/Holden signal-and-intersection improvement site dug up more than just old asphalt.

They unearthed several old railroad ties from beneath two feet of asphalt and concrete. These are believed to be from the historic Highland Park/ Lake Burien Trolley line that came up the hillside there between 1912 and 1931.

historylink.org/File/10401

(This find happened one day after the gas-line mishap.)

Alan July 15, 2023 (11:54 am)

Here is some information on the trolley line for anyone interested:https://wdgtrails.wordpress.com/history-2/highland-park-and-lake-burien-railroad/

Also: https://www.historylink.org/File/10401

And: http://www.zombiezodiac.com/rob/hplb/content/history/

Clay Eals July 15, 2023 (12:53 pm)

You can learn more about the Highland Park and Lake Burien Railway in Mike Bergman’s excellent one-hour talk in 2017 here: https://vimeo.com/220239894.

Deb July 15, 2023 (9:10 pm)

Excellent find and thanks so much for sharing the discovery! Any potential for art at the rebuilt HPIC?

miws July 16, 2023 (6:26 am)

Admiral-2009 July 15, 2023 (10:39 pm)

Thank you Alan for sharing.

WiseWoman July 15, 2023 (11:09 pm)

Those have creosote and will burn nicely!

Kanakitty3 July 16, 2023 (7:15 am)

I live in Highland Park and found one of the old trolley tokens while gardening one day. It’s still in pretty good shape for being that old. Not a buried treasure but still a fun little relic to find and a glimpse into Highland Parks past. ❤️

Craig July 16, 2023 (9:43 am)

Thanks to Joseph for closely watching the site and noting the appearance of the ties! Pretty amazing that they have lasted this long. Most of what came to the surface was damaged by the excavator, decaying, and is soaked in some petroleum but one of the ties might be worth preserving for art or display. (HPIC?) Adding to Alan and Clay’s links is another History link article that adds to the story and includes an amazing photo of the line being cleared from a massive slide only a year after it opened in 1912.https://www.historylink.org/File/20686

Holly B July 16, 2023 (11:53 am)

The following link is from the Highland Park Elementary School website. I believe a previous longtime employee wrote the entry. https://highlandparkes.seattleschools.org/about/treasure-on-a-hilltop/

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