PAUL DORPAT

THIS IS THE LAST of the Bell family homes in Belltown. It faced First Avenue from its east side about mid-block between Bell and Battery streets in the heart of Belltown. Counting a temporary home near Pioneer Square, this is the fourth Bell home. During the Indian war of 1855-56, the Bells sensibly fled their first finished home to Seattle for protection. That home overlooked Elliott Bay from the low bluff that was nearly two blocks west of this home on First. It was torched during the "Battle of Seattle," and the fire could be seen from the Navy gunboat Decatur that protected the village. After the battle, the Bells left for California. Later, William returned with his son and several daughters to develop their 320 acres into Belltown. His wife had died in California.

It seems that William Bell moved into this, his last, home in 1875 with his third wife, Lucy, who was the sister of his first wife. William, who had been an invalid for six years, died in the fall of 1887. So if those are Bells posing, that is most likely William's only son, Austin, with his wife, Eva, and three sisters.

Austin was gregarious and well-liked, but, thinking he recognized his father's dementia in himself, he shot himself in the right temple on April 24, 1889. In a shaky note to his wife, he explained that life with such poor health was not worth living.

The day before he was out with a nephew cheerfully describing the brick business block he was planning near the family home. His widow built the structure and named it the Austin A. Bell building. The ornate front façade was landmarked, and it survives facing First Avenue.

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