It was a double celebration for Southwest Seattle Historical Society leaders and members last night at Beveridge Place Pub: Not only were they excited about the new “Images of America: West Seattle” photo book they helped create – with assistance from volunteers who stepped forward after this request 10 months ago – but they were relieved that the shipment of books arrived in time! You can buy it for $21 (with part of the proceeds benefiting SWSHS) at the Log House Museum gift shop (which carries other books too) – 10 percent discount if you’re a member – and it’ll soon be available elsewhere in West Seattle; if you’re a retailer and would like to carry it, get in touch with the Log House Museum (whose new manager Sarah Frederick was among last night’s partiers – 2nd from left – along with outgoing director Andrea Mercado – 3rd from right).

No, the paranormal investigation didn’t scare her away. Log House Museum director Andrea Mercado told us when we saw her during that event a week ago that a long commute is one of the reasons she would soon be announcing her departure. The official announcement comes in a news release just sent by the Southwest Seattle Historical Society – read on:Read More

Yes, PIHA – Paranormal Investigations of Historical America, shiny black van and all – really did pay West Seattle’s Log House Museum a visit on Friday night (as previewed here Thursday). They didn’t stay as long as they were expecting to (1 am) – they were packing up when we arrived around 11:30 pm – but we did get to chat a bit.

They heard a lot, the investigators informed us, but they won’t be able to interpret what, or who, it was, till getting back to headquarters and analyzing it all. Somebody certainly sensed a presence, we were told, and they dealt with it by asking questions, which they believe were answered by something/someone “friendly.” The “dish” in the photo above is one of the main listening devices. They also recorded their visit in more conventional ways that, museum director Andrea Mercado told us, will result in a video documenting it all; SWSHS has a few photos online too. And the topic of otherworldly presence at the Log House Museum will certainly be on the menu at the Southwest Seattle Historical Society‘s fundraising Halloween brunch at Salty’s on Alki, 11:30 am October 30th (ticket info here). SWSHS has another event coming up:

This new book was created with help from WSB’ers who answered the call we published back in February, after hearing Andrea talk about the project at a meeting of the Southwest District Council. A book-release party is set for 6:30 pm November 2nd at Zeeks Pizza in Morgan Junction; if you pre-order the book through the Log House Museum, you get 10 percent off (20% if you’re a SWSHS member).

Tis the season for spookiness. And tomorrow night – the question of whether the Southwest Seattle Historical Society‘s Log House Museum is haunted, or not, may be laid to rest. It’s getting a visit from the paranormal investigators of PIHA (Paranormal Investigations of Historic America). This isn’t Ghostbusters, mind you – PIHA, according to Vaughn Hubbard, is a registered nonprofit organization doing this for free. And he acknowledges part of the visit is to “support the upcoming annual Halloween fundraiser for the museum” (a brunch at Salty’s, October 30th). But PIHA doesn’t just visit any old – we emphasize, old – historical site; they need proof of the potentially paranormal. So we asked him, what’s the haunting haps here? Reply: “About any paranormal activity at the West Seattle Museum, according to Sarah Frederick, Collections Manager, Log House Museum, she has stated that there has been numerous stories about strange things happening there for years now but they just don’t talk about it. I have to believe what she is telling me is fact, otherwise we wouldn’t spend the time and money required by us for an investigation. We are very selective about where we schedule investigations because of our cost and time invested.” So how do they investigate? We’ll find out tomorrow night, once the PIHA “Grey Team” shows up in its “Command Central Van” (as seen in the promotional clip above). (P.S. We asked SWSHS about the brunch – $65 adults; $25 kids 13/under; free for kids 4 and under; RSVP to 206-938-5293, costumes encouraged.)

Local historian Paul Dorpat shares that photo of what’s believed to be a West Seattle scene – two women in furs, on the beach, sawing a log, many decades ago. It is from a new item on his website, in which he specifically asks WSB’ers for help:

I have just posted – proudly too – SEATTLE CONFIDENTIAL No.3, in hope that you and your gallant and curious readers will help identify it. Even as a mystery it is quite wonderful, but most likely it is a scene on Alki Beach.

Here’s the link to the item on his site. Any clue?

This Saturday, the 100-year-old West Seattle (Admiral) Branch of the Seattle Public Library celebrates its centennial, and you’re invited – 1 to 3 pm. But then a few weeks later, starting in mid-August, it’ll close for roof work – SPL HQ just announced the timetable – read on for details:Read More

That video’s from a tour of West Seattle’s historic Fire Station 37, part of a WSB story first published last February. We’re bringing it out again because word just arrived via e-mail that the process of selling the city-landmark facility has begun – as its replacement a few blocks south gets closer to completion. According to the informational note from the city, it’s a 5,300-square-foot building on a 9,400-square foot lot:

(February 2010 photo by Nicholas Trost)

* Fire Station No. 37 was constructed in the 1930’s and designated a landmark January 2005.
* The architectural style is considered Mission / Colonial Revival with Neo-Classical elements.
* Reuse of the building would need to comply with DPD requirements, L-1 zoning and preservation controls
* The disposition process may take in excess of eighteen months to complete
* Value of the property has not yet been determined but will be based on an independent appraisal.

The county assessor put the value at $295,000 most recently, the note says. First word of the impending sale process is going out to neighbors as well as those who’ve expressed interest before, and the city is asking for comments before making a recommendation to the City Council regarding the building’s future:

Comments are requested by August 13, 2010. You may write or send a fax with your comments to the Fleets and Facilities Department, Attn: Louis Webster, PO Box 94689, Seattle, WA 98124-4689; FAX number (206) 684-0525. You may call and speak with Louis Webster at (206) 684-0357, or reach him by e-mail at the following: Louis.Webster@seattle.gov.

You can also see the official flyer here.

One year after celebrating its centennial, the owner of the Villa Heidelberg Bed and Breakfast has put it up for sale. Several WSB’ers noticed a sign go up yesterday; one even posted about it in the WSB Forums. We checked with Villa Heidelberg owner Judith Burbrink, who marked 10 years of owning it at the same time as last year’s centennial celebration. She said that the sign has come down – she actually didn’t want one, though the property is indeed for sale, “I didn’t want to deter people from making reservations as I am still taking reservations and plan to continue to do so as the sale would be for a turn-key sale of the business.” She reiterates that it’s for sale *as* a B&B. It’s listed for $1.3 million. (If you’re not familiar with Villa Heidelberg, it’s at 4845 45th SW [map].) ADDED 11:25 PM: In a followup note, we asked the B&B’s operator about her decision to sell – click ahead to see what she told us:Read More

(Photo courtesy Historic Seattle)
The city Landmarks Preservation Board has just voted 8-2 to grant city-landmark status to the North Admiral bungalow known as the “Bloss House” (4055 SW Holgate). It was revealed that the home’s longtime (but not original) owner Ruth Ward, who was too ill to attend the meeting at which the nomination was accepted back in April, died five days later (here’s her obituary). “She was just hanging on (to see that happen),” suggested Eugenia Woo of Historic Seattle, which prepared the nomination paperwork. (One of its leaders read a century-old poem, “Bungal-Ode,” bringing smiles around the room – read it here – in explaining the significance of bungalows in general.) The house is in the process of being purchased – pending some legal issues – by a couple who lives next door, who spoke at the hearing (photo right), hoping that the landmark designation wouldn’t get in the way of them making badly needed repairs; they intend to use it as a rental. (They were assured the board would collaborate with them.) It was proposed for landmark status not because of something remarkable about its history or its owners past/present – but rather because it was a rare still-standing example of largely unaltered Craftsman construction and trim. (West Seattle architectural historian Brooke Best also noted during the public-comment period that even though WS is not a place of “high style,” she feels more of its historic architecture should be recognized formally in this way.) First word of the landmark proposal came in early April (here’s our original story).

The Bloss House is now the third new city landmark in West Seattle designated in less than a year – the Seaview Building at The Kenney [WSB coverage here] and The Sanctuary at Admiral, formerly Sixth Church of Christ, Scientist [WSB coverage here] are the previous two. Landmark designation brings some tax benefits but also some responsibilities and restrictions, depending on what part of the structure is designated; in this case it’s the exterior and part of the interior. (That part of the deal will be worked out later, in an agreement containing “controls and incentives.”)

(Photo courtesy Historic Seattle)
The date is now set – two weeks later than previously projected – for the Landmarks Preservation Board to vote on whether to make West Seattle’s “Bloss House” an official city landmark. Board members decided in April (WSB coverage here) to proceed with consideration, but that’s no guarantee of designation. It’s a 95-year-old Craftsman home at (4055 SW Holgate), most notable as a largely unaltered example of the working-class bungalow that dominated so much of the residential construction back then. The two-part nomination document presented to the board (text here, photos here) includes a peek into West Seattle history as well as the background of the house itself. The designation vote is set for the board’s 3:30 pm meeting next Wednesday, June 16, on the 40th floor of the Municipal Tower downtown.