The top King County award winners are:
Schooner Adventuress, Seattle and Port Townsend: $125,000 to repair natural deterioration of the Adventuress’ iconic overhanging counter stern.
Town Hall, Seattle: $125,000 to restore, clean, and seal the white terra cotta façade and restore the prominent south-facing stained-glass window.
Washington Hall, Seattle: $90,000 to install new electrical service to allow the safe operation of the theater.
Japanese Cultural & Community Center, Seattle: $75,000 to rehabilitate the Center’s primary façades, including siding, windows, and entry porticos.
Mill Creek Canyon Earthworks, Kent: $70,000 to restore the Earthworks’ sculptural landscape elements to their original design.
University Heights Community Center, Seattle: $60,000 to repair the Community Center’s deteriorated historic wood windows.
Chapel Car 5 “Messenger of Peace”, Snoqualmie: $50,000 to rehabilitate Chapel Car 5′s deteriorated structural components, replace missing windows and seating, and restore damaged interior appointments.

Additional nine sites in King County that received $5,000 each:
•    The 5th Avenue Theatre, Seattle
•    King Street Station, Seattle
•    Kirkland Arts Center, Kirkland
•    Horiuchi’s Seattle Mural, Seattle
•    Naval Reserve Armory-MOHAI, Seattle
•    Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle Building, Seattle
•    Tugboat Arthur Foss, Seattle
•    Keewaydin Clubhouse, Mercer Island
•    Theodor Jacobsen Observatory, Seattle

To learn more about all of the grant recipients visit www.preservationnation.org. Congratulations to all the sites nominated for the campaign, and thanks to everyone who voted – way to rally for preservation Puget Sound!

In Residence: How to Research a Building
Saturday, May 15, 2010, 9:30am-4:30pm
Museum of History & Industry, 2700 24th Ave. E., Seattle
A MOHAI Nearby History Workshop, this full day class is presented in partnership with Historic Seattle. Local experts will introduce the skills needed to discover and document the history of your own home and/or neighborhood. Find out how to dig up architectural permits and plans, recognize original structural elements, and identify the personalities who gave your home its unique character. Cost is $45/55 day of event, pre-registration is closed. Additional Info: visit www.historicseattle.org.

Heritage Series: Colman Cold Case
Thursday, May 20th, 2010, 7:00pm
Mercer Slough Environmental Education Center, 1625 118th Avenue SE, Bellevue
Learn about life on Lake Washington in the late 19th century, as seen through the eyes of Clarissa Colman, and hear the intrigue & mystery surrounding the murder of her husband, James Manning Colman. Presented by the Eastside Heritage Center, in partnership with Bellevue Parks and Community Services. Additional Info: visit www.eastsideheritagecenter.org.

“Modern Views, A Conversation on Northwest Modern Architecture” documentary film.
Thursday, May 20, 2010, 6:30 pm
Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI), 2700 24th Ave E, Seattle
The film focuses on the work of Ralph Anderson, Fred Bassetti, Arne Bystrom, Wendell Lovett, and Gene Zema. Made by studio/216, the film was produced by the University of Washington Department of Architecture. Tickets: visit Brown Paper Tickets.

2010 Annual Spellman Awards
Friday, May 21, 2010, 10am
Carol Edwards Center at Woodinville City Hall, 17401 133rd Avenue NE, Woodinville
King County Executive Dow Constantine will present the annual John D. Spellman Awards for achievement in historic preservation. Sponsered by the Woodinville Heritage Society, and hosted by the King County Historic Preservation Program, the event will celebrate 30 years of landmark protection in King County and will honor several organizations, projects and individuals. Additional Info: contact Doug Eglington at doug...@kingcounty.gov.

Poetry Reading and Book Signing with Paul Nelson
Friday, May 21, 2010, 7:30pm-9:00pm
White River Valley Museum, Auburn
In A Time Before Slaughter, poet Paul Nelson explores Auburn’s history in verse, creating a masterpiece in the spirit of classic collages of place penned by American modernists. Admission is free with the purchase of regular Museum admission. Additional Info: visit http://www.wrvmuseum.org/events.htm.

Rohrer House Tour
Saturday, May 22, 2010, 1:00pm-3:00pm.
122 37th Ave E, Seattle
Join Docomomo WEWA for an afternoon at this charming house in Seattle’s Denny-Blaine neighborhood. Designed by John Rohrer, UW Architecture faculty member, this small, yet clever residence was completed in 1949. It is an early example of Northwest Regional Modernism with characteristics that quickly became typical of the style of the mid-twentieth century. Cost: $5 at the door, and no reservations required. Additional Info: http://www.docomomo-wewa.org/.

Best Practices for Digital Collections Management and E-Commerce: Images, Archives and Other Media
Saturday, May 22, 2010, 1:00pm-4:00pm
State Capital Museum and Outreach Center, Olympia
Get your digital images organized. Learn helpful ways to scan and organize family photos, plus tips for storage and organizing on home computers for easy access and searching. Fred Poyner will also demonstrate how the public can access and use the Washington State Historical Society’s rich and diverse online collections, including ordering images. Additional Info: contact Mark Vessey at mves...@wshs.wa.gov or call 360-586-0219.

ACKHO General Meeting @ Washington Hall
Tuesday, May 25, 2010, 9:30am
Washington Hall, 153 14th Avenue, Seattle
Historic Seattle’s purchase of Washington Hall in 2009 gives the century-old building an opportunity to continue to play a significant role in the arts and heritage community for a second century. Tour the building and learn about HS’s efforts to upgrade the facility for cultural uses. Additional Info: visit www.historicseattle.org or call 206-622-6952.

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier presentation
Saturday, May 29th, 2010, 1:00pm
Black Diamond Museum, 32627 Railroad Avenue, Black Diamond

“Tomb of the Unknown Soldier: Honor and Remember” is a presentation by Keith Watson focusing on the dedication and care that is bestowed at the “Tomb of the Unknown Soldier” by the Honor Guard in the Arlington National Cemetery, and the care for fallen Hero’s at Kent’s Tahoma National Cemetery. Additional Info: call 360-886-2142 or e-mail blac...@comcast.net.

Northwest Folklife Festival
Memorial Weekend, May 28-31
Seattle Center, 305 Harrison Street, Seattle
Northwest Folklife creates opportunities for individuals and communities of the Pacific Northwest to celebrate, share and sustain the vitality of folk, ethnic and traditional arts for present and future generations. Addmission to the festival is free, with suggested donations of $10/day or $20/family. Additional Info: visit www.nwfolklife.org.

Thanks so much to all of you who came out to the Washington Hall House Party!  We wanted to give you a shout-out to let you know three things:

1.  You’re looking might funny ..er… fine!  The Washington Hall House Party photobooth photos are now online and available for free!

2.  The hall is one of many awesome regional projects competing for some big money from American Express & the National Trust for Historic Preservation.    Check out the great list of options and cast a vote for your favorite once every day until May 12.

3.  And last but not least, we know you have your ear to the ground and we wanted you to know how folks can get involved with Washington Hall – hold your event, get a residency, become a long-term partner and help shape its future.  Do It At Washington Hall: Request for Proposals open NOW through June 9 Please help spread the word about this opportunity!

Thank you for making Washington Hall so very warm again

Best,
the Washington Hall crew

www.washingtonhall.org
http://www.facebook.com/WashingtonHall

Washington Hall House Party
May 1 – 2, 2010

What’s one hundred and two years old, rejuvenated and set to embark on its next decades of service to the Central District and Squire Park neighborhoods and to artists and arts organizations seeking venues for presenting their work?  Well, of course it’s Washington Hall, the 1908 Danish Brotherhood Lodge 29, built originally as a settlement house and gathering place for Danish immigrants.  Many of you know Washington Hall as the first home of On the Boards, the region’s premier contemporary performance presenter, which occupied the Hall from 1978 to 1998, when it moved to Behnke Center for Contemporary Performance in lower Queen Anne.

After On the Boards vacated the building, Washington Hall began a slow decline, never finding a stable long-term tenant who could generate sufficient income for the building’s owners to adequately maintain the aging structure.   In 2006, Washington Hall faced the wrecking ball.  A commercial real estate developer made an offer to buy the building for the value of its land, planning to demolish the Hall to make way for new condominiums. Out with the old, in with the new?  Not this time!   Historic Seattle and 4Culture, with encouragement from Stephanie Ellis Smith, then Director of CD Forum, approached the building’s owners, the Sons of Haiti, an African American fraternal lodge, with a plan to save the building.  Our community is fortunate to have a dedicated preservation organization with the experience, skill, vision and courage to take on a project as potentially perilous as saving Washington Hall.  Kudos to Historic Seattle.

Washington Hall pulses with history.  Now we invite you to celebrate its rebirth.  On May 1st and 2nd, after many months of advocacy, planning and building stabilization – 4Culture and Historic Seattle are delighted to invite you to a FREE community celebration and grand re-opening for Washington Hall.  The two-day party will bring together Seattle’s arts, preservation and heritage communities. This beloved community center will once again be filled with music, dance and theater from a diverse array of artists.  Stop by and see Washington Hall in action.

Bring cash for Dante’s Inferno hotdogs and veggie sausages, cheap brews/wine and your very own Washington Hall t-shirt and poster.

Read a preview in the Seattle Times, “Washington Hall, Seattle’s cultural Ellis Island, reopens with a house party

Join us!

Saturday May 1, 7-11PM:

7 pm – The hall opens with a jazz set featuring local legend Hadley Caliman and his jazz quintet

8 pm – A showcase of local dance, theater and music
• Lori Larsen
• Black Stax
• Richard Svensson
• Dayna Hanson with Dave Proscia, Paul Moore and Maggie Brown, and special guest Shannon Stewart
• Jim Kent, Mark Haim & Ben Maestas
• Cristina Orbé

9:30PM – Hidmo Entertainment Presents: Live @ Washington Hall, a collaborative jam featuring Central District all-stars:
• Audio Couture
• Sukutai (Zimbabwean drum & dance)
• Laura “Piece” Kelly
• Yirim Seck
• JusMoni
• Brothers from Another

Emcee, Felicia Loud
House DJ, Vitamin D

Sunday, May 2nd, 1 – 4PM
Fun for the whole family, music, storytelling, heritage activities and dancing with:
• Alley Oop
• Savoy Swing
• Casey MacGill’s Blue 4 Trio
• Kibibi Monié (Nu Black Arts West Theatre)
• Jimmy and Grace Holden

The Washington hall House Party is presented by Historic Seattle & 4Culture, in association with Hidmo Entertainment

Lead support provided by
KeyBank, The Boeing Company, RAFN Company

Additional support from provided by
SMR Architects and Coughlin Porter Lundeen

Historic Seattle and 4Culture thank our in-kind supporters for the Washington Hall House Party
KBCS 91.3FM Community Radio, The Stranger, Georgetown Brewing Company, Caffé Vita, Jackstraw, J&J Music, The Nordic Heritage Museum, KidsQwest, and many many volunteers!

We need volunteers who are willing to help with clean up and painting prep!  Lots needs to be accomplished so get out your ‘dirty jeans’ and sign up to help us make this building shine.

Please RSVP with luc...@historicseattle.org if you are willing to help out with this project.

Thanks!!

Washington Hall © Dan Hawkins

We had a great time at the Washington Hall info sessions this November. Thanks to all the lovely, super smart folks who joined us, including neighborhood advocates, artists, historic preservation buffs, local religious leaders, design professionals, and – awesome surprise – two Danish men who, it turns out, had lived at Washington Hall upon first arriving in the U.S. in the 1950′s. (The Danish Brotherhood built the hall in 1908 to accommodate performance, dance and meeting space, as well as provide transitional housing for new immigrants.)

There were great questions about upcoming code requirements, stories about memories of the space, good conversation about visions for the future.

Interesting Fact: Did you know Washington Hall was on the McCarthy-era HUAC list as a site of “subversive activities”? During their tenure as managers of the space, the Danish Brotherhood opened the hall to many groups – like the Young Communists, the Black Panthers, and the American Committee for the Protection of the Foreign Born – when other halls would not. I loved learning that.

—

Interested in the future of this historic, Central District community space?

Come chat with us at the next Info Session on Monday, December 14, 6 pm at Washington Hall (153 – 14th Ave, Seattle, WA)

Or, check out a PDF version of the presentation.

Stay in touch: email Sara...@4Culture.org with questions or to be added to the Washington Hall Updates List.

Photo: 2009, Historic stage at Washington Hall, photo courtesy Dan Hawkins

Neighbors and friends of Washington Hall are invited to come get to know the project managers from Historic Seattle and 4Culture, learn about the progress of the current renovations, and chat about the future plans for the building.

Washington Hall is a Seattle City Landmark and a powerful historic icon, embodying a rich history of performance and community gatherings dating back to 1908. Historic Seattle and 4Culture are working together to preserve the hall with an operating model that maintains clear and meaningful ties to the history of the site while facilitating vibrant contemporary use of the building well into the future. 4Culture and Historic Seattle are committed stewards of Washington Hall and believe a successful operating model for the hall will be developed in partnership with past users, future users and the communities impacted by the space.

Please join us at one of the open houses, or contact Sara...@4Culture.org / 206.296.8677 with any questions, or to be added to the Washington Hall Updates mailing list.

Photo: 2009, 4Culture staff tour the main space at Washington Hall, photo courtesy Brandi Link

Treasured venue that hosted young Jimi Hendrix & Billie Holiday will be transformed into nonprofit performing arts center.

4Culture is thrilled to announce Historic Seattle’s purchase of the recently-designated Seattle Landmark Washington Hall in Seattle’s Central District for $1,500,000. The deal closed on Friday, June 12, 2009. Historic Seattle, a Preservation & Development Authority, purchased the building from the Sons of Haiti Masonic Lodge with the intention of preserving the treasured hall for cultural use. Following upgrades this summer, the facility will be available as early as September 2009 as a rehearsal, performance and event space for arts, cultural, and social groups.

The building was purchased with $250,000 from Historic Seattle, $250,000 from 4Culture, (King County Lodging Tax), and a loan from Key Bank.

Located at 153 14th Avenue, Seattle, WA 98122, in Seattle’s Central District, Washington Hall, was built in 1908 as a settlement house and meeting/dance hall by the Danish Brotherhood Society. Purchased in 1973 by the Sons of Haiti Masonic Lodge, the facility has hosted hundreds of community events over the decades, including legendary musicians Billie Holiday and Jimi Hendrix. Other notable performers like Marian Anderson, Mahalia Jackson, Duke Ellington and Count Basie are also said to have played in the hall. Likewise, W.E.B. du Bois, Joe Louis, and Martin Luther King Jr. are reported to have spoken there. On the Boards, a non-profit arts organization, leased the auditorium from 1978-1998 to present local, national and international contemporary performances in the facility, like the early work of Spalding Grey, Meredith Monk, Mark Morris and many others.

Over the last several decades, the building had fallen into extreme disrepair and upgrades were beyond the financial capacity of the Sons of Haiti. The building was put on the market in 2007. 4Culture staff nominated the building for City of Seattle Landmark status, which it received in January 2009.

image: © Courtesy of 4Culture