For a prospect from which to see the historic Pioneer Place neighborhood that, in 1900, was still the center of Seattle's business district, photographer F.O. Wilhelm set his tripod by the south sidewalk of Yesler Way between Sixth and Seventh Avenues. The contemporary view looks from the bridge that lifts Yesler Way between Sixth and Seventh Avenues above Interstate 5.

Here Wilhelm's prime although unintended subject is in the foreground: the rough condition of Yesler Way, where it climbs First Hill, and the ragged scrub lots beside it. The regraded cuts, left of center, along the north side of Yesler Way were made nearly a quarter century earlier when the street — then still called Mill Street — was first graded between Fifth and Eighth Avenues.

Yesler Way was first platted in 1853. Eleven years later the street's namesake, Henry Yesler, paid an eastside pioneer named Castro to transform the pre-historic Indian trail that ran in line with Yesler Way between Elliott Bay and Lake Washington into a wagon road. In 1888 the street's transportation history was greatly advanced when it was again smoothed to build the cable railway that ran between Pioneer Square and Leschi on Lake Washington. The tracks are barely evident on the far side of the dirt street. A year or so after this photograph was taken, Yesler Way was paved with bricks.

Vol. 1 and Vol. 3 of Paul Dorpat's books, "Seattle Now & Then," are $19.95 each from Tartu Publications, P.O. Box 85208, Seattle, WA 98145.