From 1902 to 1917, three temporary wooden bridges were built over the west water way of the Duwamish River, connecting Harbor Island to West Seattle (annexed in 1907). The first permanent steel bridge, officially known as West Spokane Street Bridge No. 1 (North), was a low-level bascule bridge that opened on November 27, 1924, Thanksgiving Day, and was in use until 1978.
This image south-facing view shows pile drivers and waterfront businesses at the new bridge construction site (front), as well as the old wooden bridge (behind) with its drawbridge raised. In the foreground, the Skookum sits in the west waterway, a boat belonging to J. A. McEachern Co., the firm hired to build the bridge.
James P. Lee (1894-1963) was the City of Seattle's Engineering Department photographer from 1922-1957.
Businesses in image: J.A. McEachern Co., Skookum; Elliott Bay Marine Construction Co. Photographer's number: 4717
Caption information source: Seattle Daily Times, December 31, 1923, page 19
Physical Description: 1 photographic print : b&w ; 6.25 x 8.25 in.
Additional Information: Digital copy of this item available thanks to funding from a 2016 Institute for Museum and Library Services grant. View the finding aid for this collection at https://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:80444/xv82006
Credit: MOHAI, Edward K. Triol Collection of Seattle Bridge Construction Photographs and Drawings, 2006.7.58, photo by James Patrick Lee
