Ferdinand Anthony (1836-1919) immigrated to the U. S. from Munich, Bavaria (now part of Germany) in 1862, and came to Seattle in 1882. He established the city's first book bindery, located in the Frye Opera House at First Avenue and Marion Street in downtown Seattle. Anthony's business was destroyed on June 6, 1889, when the Great Fire swept through downtown Seattle, destroying nearly the entire business district and several brick buildings, including the Opera House.

In this letter to her uncle in Germany, Ferdinand Anthony's daughter Helen, about 14 years old at the time, describes her experience of the Great Seattle Fire. Her letter recounts her father's efforts to save his bindery; the destruction of the downtown area; the rebuilding which began a few days later; and her father's worries about the future of his business.

Mr. Anthony did rebuild his shop, initially moving around among locations before establishing a permanent shop in 1905 at 1522 Seventh Avenue, behind the home he had built for his family in 1882. After Mr. Anthony died his son, Robert, ran the business. Both buildings were torn down in 1964 to make way for a new building.

Caption information sources: The Seattle Sunday Times, September 7, 1958, p. 144; The Seattle Daily Times, April 9, 1964, p. 20.

A transcript of the letter is accessible under Media below.