The Interurban Building

Also known and the Interurban Bank building, this John Parkinson designed building was erected in 1890 and funded by William Rankin Ballard.

According to a write up about it on PaulDorpat.com called Seattle Now and Then: Tacoma Interurban at Occidental

The intended Seattle terminus for the Tacoma Interurban was at Pike Street but that required a climb on First Avenue too steep for the line’s heavy three-car trains.  Consequently, for the duration – the twenty-six years it served between 1902 and 1928 – the principal common carrier to Tacoma and thru the Green River valley paused here instead, on Occidental Ave. between Yesler Way and Washington Street. Soon the block was proliferated by “Interurbans” – a hotel, a grocer, a café, and perhaps inevitably the grandest structure on the block, the bank building on the left, became known as the Interurban Building, and still is.

It is a trailing dark green Parlor Car that is parked here just south of Yesler Way.  One paid an extra quarter over the 60 cent fair to ride in it, but you got pillowed seats, a white-coated porter fussing after your comfort, and status.  At one of the more vibrant corners in town, this terminus sidewalk was often crowded.  Clearly hats were required – everyone seems to wear one.  The man far left under the conductor’s hat has at his feet another commonplace of the time, packages bound with string sensibly in plain paper.  At the center is another stock specialist for a busy corner – the newspaper boy.
Seattle Now and Then, Paul Dorpat.
Before… Credit Paul Dorpat.
After… Credit Paul Dorpat

What I find the most interesting about it however, are the faces hidden in the flourish. The main entry way lion is unmistakable:

Interurban lion with Smith Tower

But the Yesler entry way’s faces are less noticeable and overlooked by many.

The right-side faces in the outside flourish.

Here’s a few photos of my favorite flourish faces from this fantastic John Parkinson façade.

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