In 1884 lumberman and Seattle's first millionaire, Henry L. Yesler (1810-1892), and his wife, Sarah Burgert Yesler (1822-1887) built their mansion on the block between Third and Fourth Avenues at James Street. Sarah died shortly after they moved in, and Yesler married a young cousin, Minnie Gagle Yesler (born c. 1867), who lived in the house after his death until about 1892. The property was donated to the City of Seattle in honor of Sarah Yesler, Seattle's first librarian, and served as the main Public Library from 1899 until it was destroyed in a fire on New Year's Day, 1901. Following news of the fire, library philanthropist Andrew Carnegie (1835-1919) donated $200,000 for the construction of a new main library, a request he had previously declined, prompting loyal supporters of the library to come under suspicion of arson. The cause of the fire was never settled. The Smith Tower, completed in 1914, now occupies part of this site.
In this image, the Yesler mansion stands in all it's proud late-Victorian glory. Visible on the hill above the mansion is the neoclassical style King County Courthouse on First Hill at Seventh Avenue and Alder Street, completed in 1890.
Photographer's number: 65164
Caption information source: http://pcad.lib.washington.edu/building/5583 Caption information source: "Seattle Public Library housed in Yesler mansion burns down on January 1, 1901," by Priscilla Long, HistoryLink.org Essay 1923
ID Number: SHS267
Date: Circa 1895
Physical Description: 1 photographic print mounted on cardboard: b&w ; 7.5 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.
