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 Originally
Lake Union was one-third larger than it is today. A small bay extended
inland to Mercer Street and a stream ran through and around Boren
Avenue. South Lake Union is situated in an area that long played a
vital role in Seattle's history. Native Americans were the early
settlers of South Lake Union and it was a trailhead for major trails
headed for Elliott Bay and the Duwamish River. Early European settlers
found several Indian camps on the shoreline near Westlake. David
Denny, an original Seattle pioneer, claimed land in 1853 extending
from Mercer to Denny Way. With these pioneers came industry and
quickly the once heavily wooded area was cleared. With the arrival of
the first sawmill came the beginning of the filling of the lake. Mills
dumped sawdust into the water, covering the small bay at the southwest
corner of the lake. The Cascade community, one of the original Seattle
residential communities, is the eastern flank of the South Lake Union
area. Properties in South Lake Union display a unique architecture
of the working 1920's. Warehouses were built for manufacturing,
storage and service. One can clearly view the transition from brick,
timber framed buildings to concrete and brick structures; some of
Seattle's first reinforced concrete structures were built in South
Lake Union. Also prevalent are numerous examples of post and beam
construction, which have proven to be very adaptable to reuse.
Buildings display a refreshing variety of decoration, including
excellent examples of terra cotta, ornate brick patterns, and
multi-pane industrial windows.
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