PAUL DORPAT

HENRY AND SARAH Yesler's mansion was not yet 20 when it burned down early in the morning of New Year's Day, 1901. Actually, from this view of the ruins it is clear that while the big home was gutted by fire, neither the corner tower (facing Third Avenue and Jefferson Street) nor the front porch was more than blistered.

The Yesler landmark had a somewhat fiery history. Although it was completed in 1883, Sarah and Henry did not move in; instead, they lived in their little home facing Pioneer Place for three years more. When Sarah died in the late summer of 1887 it was in the mansion, which was then opened for viewing both Sarah — she was "resting" in its north parlor — and the big home.

Soon after, Henry and James Lowman, Yesler's nephew who was managing his affairs, took a long trip east to visit relatives, buy furnishings for the still largely empty mansion and, as it turned out, find a second wife for Henry. It was a local sensation when the octogenarian married his 19- or 20-year-old cousin, Minnie Gagler.

After Henry died in the master bedroom in 1892 no will could be found. While Minnie was suspected of having destroyed it, this could not be proved. Consequently, the home was not — as Lowman and others expected — given to the city for use as a city hall. Instead, Minnie stayed secluded in it until 1899, when she moved out and the Seattle Public Library moved in.

Instead of partying on New Year's Eve 1900, librarian Charles Wesley Smith worked until midnight completing the annual inventory of books that only hours later would make an impressive fire. Except for the books that were checked out, the Seattle Public Library lost about 25,000 volumes to the pyre.

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