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Hosting the Crowds

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COURTESY OF MUSEUM OF HISTORY & INDUSTRY The photo by Anders Wilse looks north across Yesler Way to "Pioneer Place" and the decorations mounted for the Nov. 6, 1899, return of the First Washington Voluntary Infantry from the Spanish-American war. PAUL DORPAT The garlanded arches in the historical photo seem to prefigure those of the Pergola, constructed 10 years later, shown here in part.

WHEN IT WAS still large enough to handle crowds of enthused citizens, Pioneer Place, aka Pioneer Square, was host to a great review of celebrations, political events and parades.

Before the 1889 fire destroyed all the structures surrounding this civic center, the gatherings were staged in the center of the wide intersection of James Street, Yesler Way and First Avenue. After the fire, our ceremonial triangle was created when the streets were both widened and reconfigured (a jog was taken out of First Avenue).

Many of the celebrations held here featured elaborate constructions. On this occasion — the 1899 welcome home for the Spanish-American War "Volunteers" who had spent most of the year in the Philippines fighting the Filipinos, not the Spanish — preparations overlapped with another ceremony: the dedication of the totem pole that was stolen from Tongas Island by an entourage of leading citizens visiting Alaska on what they billed as a "goodwill tour." The photograph of the Oct. 18, 1899, totem dedication reveals most of the special constructions made for the Volunteers' Nov. 6 return. Iron arches were up but not yet decorated. The rigid electric flags were also up (to the right of the totem) and the speakers' platform, too, although it was as yet not draped with the flags and patriotic bunting seen days later.

Gov. John Rogers declared Nov. 6 a state holiday. The Seattle Times reported that 200,000 waited for the First Washington Voluntary Infantry. It was also the city's first taste of something like a victory parade. Spain had quickly surrendered, but not the insurgents who, having fought for independence from Spain, found themselves next fighting for independence from the United States.

Paul Dorpat specializes in historical photography and has published several books on early Seattle.