This image is of St. Joseph's Church which was constructed with Superior Portland Cement. The 10 story building was originally designed in the early Gothic style but the challenge of building during the Great Depression necessitated a change from granite and marble to a newly rediscovered technology, reinforced concrete, bringing the original estimate from $1,000,000 down to $450,000. Reinforced concrete had been widely used in the ancient world but its use wasn't rediscovered until the early twentieth century. St. Joseph’s was designated a Seattle Landmark in 1980, and continues to serve the Capitol Hill neighborhood at 732 18th Avenue East.
The Pacific Coast Cement Company was located on a 20-acre site along the East Duwamish waterway near Charleston Street from 1928-1947. Cement is mixed with sand, water and gravel to produce concrete.
Photographer's number: 19595
Caption information source: www.stjosephparish.org
Physical Description: 1 photographic print : b&w ; 7.25 x 9.5 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/xv312644
Credit: MOHAI, William Norman Cunningham Collection on the Pacific Coast Cement Company, 2016.92.235
