Washington Hall (Seattle)

{{Short description|Historic building in Seattle, Washington, U.S.}}

{{Infobox NRHP

| name = Washington Hall

| nrhp_type =

| designated_other1 = Seattle Landmark

| designated_other1_date = July 16, 2010{{cite web|title=Landmarks and Designation|publisher=City of Seattle|url=http://www.seattle.gov/neighborhoods/preservation/landmarks_listing.htm|accessdate=2013-03-05|archive-date=March 6, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130306003250/http://www.seattle.gov/neighborhoods/preservation/landmarks_listing.htm|url-status=live}}

| designated_other1_number =

| image = Washington_hall_exterior1.JPG

| caption = Front of the building (east façade) in 2013

| location= 153 14th Avenue, at E. Fir Street, Seattle, Washington

| coordinates={{coord|47|36|10.22|N|122|18|52.7|W|display=inline,title}}

| locmapin = Seattle WA Downtown

| built = {{Start date|1908}}

| architect = Victor W. Voorhees

| builder =

| architecture = Mission Revival and Spanish Colonial Revival

| added = December 13, 2010

| refnum = 10001018{{NRISref|version=2010a}}

}}

Washington Hall is a historic building and a registered city landmark in Seattle, Washington, that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.{{cite web |url=https://www.nps.gov/subjects/nationalregister/upload/weekly-list-2010-national-register-of-historic-places.pdf |title=Weekly list of actions taken on properties: 12/13/10 through 12/17/10 |date=December 23, 2010 |work=National Register of Historic Places Program: Weekly List |publisher=National Park Service |access-date=2017-01-03 |archive-date=September 20, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190920053937/https://www.nps.gov/nr/listings/20101223.htm |url-status=live }} It was originally built as a community center by the Danish Brotherhood in America, a fraternal organization, with meeting halls and one-room apartments for new immigrants. In 1973, the building was sold to the Sons of Haiti (an African-American Masonic group) who leased the space to various tenants. It was purchased in 2009 by Historic Seattle and was renovated and re-opened in 2010 as an events and performance space.

Description

File:Washington_hall_interior2.JPG

The building is a three-story, double wood-frame structure with a brick veneer skin. The design is an eclectic mix of Mission Revival and commercial styles.{{cite web |url=http://www.seattle.gov/Documents/Departments/Neighborhoods/HistoricPreservation/Landmarks/RelatedDocuments/washington-hall-designation.pdf |title=City of Seattle Landmark Designation: Washington Hall |access-date=June 19, 2023 |archive-date=March 1, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170301014944/http://www.seattle.gov/Documents/Departments/Neighborhoods/HistoricPreservation/Landmarks/RelatedDocuments/washington-hall-designation.pdf |url-status=live }}

History

Designed to house the needs of its growing fraternal lodge, the hall was commissioned to be built in 1907 by the Danish Brotherhood in America. The original floor plan was designed by local Seattle architect Victor W. Voorhees, with the intent to provide boarding facilities for new Danish immigrants to Seattle, along with meeting and social spaces for members, and a dance hall and performing arts venue to provide outside income. Throughout its history, it has sheltered immigrants from Denmark, Mexico, Puerto Rico and Brazil. Marcus Garvey and W.E.B. Du Bois have spoken at Washington Hall, and artists like Duke Ellington, Jimi Hendrix and Billie Holiday performed on the upstairs stage. It served as the original home of On the Boards, a presenter of contemporary performance, now located in Lower Queen Anne, a nearby neighborhood."{{cite news|newspaper=The Seattle Times|title=Washington Hall, Seattle's cultural Ellis Island, reopens with a house party|author=Marian Liu|url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/thearts/2011716547_washingtonhall28.html?prmid=head_main|date=April 27, 2010|access-date=October 4, 2010|archive-date=November 2, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101102152916/http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/thearts/2011716547_washingtonhall28.html?prmid=head_main|url-status=live}}

Washington Hall's original purpose was as a meeting hall for the Danish Brotherhood in America, Seattle Lodge #29,{{cite web |url=http://www.washingtonhall.org/history/ |title=Washington Hall History |access-date=October 4, 2010 |archive-date=October 9, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101009151352/http://www.washingtonhall.org/history/ |url-status=live }} and in the 1970s was purchased by the Sons of Haiti (an African-American Masonic group) who "continued to use the first floor rooms for their organization and rent out the second floor as performance space."

Renovations

The Sons of Haiti completed various renovations; however, by 2007, the building was in poor condition and prospects for preserving the building seemed dim.{{cite news|url=http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Content?oid=424509|title=What's Going to Happen to Oddfellows Hall? Three Real Estate Deals and What They Mean for Seattle Theater|author=Brendan Kiley|date=October 24, 2007|newspaper=The Stranger|accessdate=October 2, 2010|archive-date=February 3, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100203030028/http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Content?oid=424509|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=http://www.seattlepi.com/local/319439_washingtonhall12.html|title=Historic Central Area hall looks as if it's on its last legs|author=Kery Murakami|work=Seattle PI|date=June 11, 2007}} It was purchased in 2009 by Historic Seattle. The first phase of the building's restoration was completed in 2010, with an additional three phases scheduled over several years.{{cite news |url=http://crosscut.com/blog/crosscut/18980/Washington-Hall-purchased-by-Historic-Seattle/ |date=June 15, 2009 |title=Washington Hall purchased by Historic Seattle |author=Knute Berger |work=Crosscut |accessdate=August 20, 2011 |author-link=Knute Berger |archive-date=July 21, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721161732/http://crosscut.com/blog/crosscut/18980/Washington-Hall-purchased-by-Historic-Seattle/ |url-status=live }} Major architectural and contractor contributors to the project included Ron Wright and Associates/Architects PS, Coughlin Porter Lundgren, and Lydig Construction.{{Cite web |last=Drueding |first=Meghan |date=2017 |title=In Boom Times for Seattle, a "Hall for All" Endures |url=https://savingplaces.org/stories/in-boom-times-for-seattle-a-hall-for-all-endures |access-date=2024-07-24 |website=National Trust for Historic Preservation}} After all four phases were complete, the building re-opened to the public in May 2016.{{Cite web |title=Washington Hall Renovation |url=https://www.washingtonhall.org/restore-the-hall/renovation/ |access-date=2024-07-24 |website=Washington Hall}}

The building was subsequently designated a Seattle city landmark,{{cite web|first=Dominic|last=Holden|authorlink=Dominic Holden|url=http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2009/01/09/washington_hall_is_now_a_histo|title=Washington Hall Designated as Historic Landmark|work=Slog (The Stranger's blog)|date=2009-01-09|accessdate=2010-10-08|archive-date=July 17, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717074641/http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2009/01/09/washington_hall_is_now_a_histo|url-status=live}} and in 2010 a $90,000 grant was secured for its renovation.{{cite news|url=http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/puget-sound-area-icons-of-the-past-split-750000-grant/|newspaper=The Seattle Times|title=Puget Sound area icons of the past split $750,000 grant|date=June 15, 2010|last=Welch|first=Craig|access-date=2017-01-02|archive-date=January 4, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170104001222/http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/puget-sound-area-icons-of-the-past-split-750000-grant/|url-status=live}} In December 2010, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places.