By 1930, the Seattle Water Department had built water mains as far north as the 85th Street city limits. Firlands Sanatorium was located far outside the city limits. While it had enough well water for most uses, it lacked a good supply for fighting fires. The water department was reluctant to run mains that far north because planners were unsure whether there would ever be enough customers in the area to justify the expense.

This 1930s photo shows the standpipe (water tower) built at Firlands Sanatorium, a tuberculosis hospital, near the intersection of Fremont Avenue and Northwest 195th Street. At that time, many streets in the area were still unpaved.

SHS category: Water Systems