The first United States Post Office in Seattle--and the first in King County--opened in 1853 in pioneer Arthur Armstrong Denny's (1822-1899) log cabin home on Front Street (now First Avenue) and Marion Street, with Denny named the first postmaster. Previously, all mail for Seattle and Alki was delivered once a week by canoe from Olympia. The Seattle Post Office lacked a permanent address for its first fifty years, until the Federal Building opened in 1909 at Third Avenue and Union Street. This ornate building, which had become too cramped and had also begun to deteriorate, was demolished in 1958 and replaced by the modern three-story facility still used today.
In this image employees of the University Post Office station, some in suits and some in uniforms, pose for a photograph outside of the building. When this image was taken, Seattle had an estimated population of 398,267, served by 12 local post offices. The University Station Post Office was located at 1408 East 42nd Street.
Handwritten on image: U. S. Post Office - Seattle, Wn. - University Station - August 14, 1935 Handwritten on image: Session Photo, Hollywood Handwritten on verso: front row suits: left - Bill Saxon - assist.; right - Bill Temple - super. Identifications listed on separate sheet: Back Row - Left to Right: 1. Virgil Kimball; 2. ; 3. Thomas Owens; 4. Wm Dorris; 5. J. J. Minker; 6. Clut Hudson; 7. Wm Pick; 8. Arthur Ellis; 9. ; 10 Richard Ryan; 11 Fred Seayes; 12 Jim Noldh; 13. J. J. McCartin; 14. . Middle Row: 1. ; 2. Johnson; 3. Anton Klebe; 4. John Dalton; 5. Homer Hesketh; 6 Fred Hutt; 7 John C[illegible]more; 8 Wm. Vance; 9. Al Terry; 10. G[illegible], Irving O.; 11. Lyle Bricham; 12. Sam Spafford; 13. Henry Huff; 14. Stanley Va[illegible]. Front: 1. Fred Wisenbom; 2 Guy Pratt; 3 Ayers; 4 Cliff Herrick; 5. Wm Dixon; 6. Oscar Telquist; 7. ; 8. A. S. T. Johnson; 9. Walcott; 10. Ponko.
Caption information source: Polk, R. L. (Ed.). 1935. Seattle (Washington) City Directory. Seattle, WA: R. L. Polk, & Co., Inc.
Physical Description: 1 photographic print : sepia ; 19.5 x 8 in.
Additional Information: Digital copy of this item available thanks to funding from a 2016 Institute for Museum and Library Services grant. Metadata updated as part of a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services administered by the Library Services and Technology Act, through the Washington State Library, a division of the Office of the Secretary of State. View the finding aid for this collection at https://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:80444/xv68076
Credit: MOHAI, Seattle Post Office Photographs, 1972.5319.46
