Washington Hall (Seattle, Washington)
Encyclopedia
Washington Hall is a historic building and a registered city landmark in Seattle, Washington
. It was originally built as a community center by the Danish Brotherhood in America
, a fraternal organization, with meeting halls and one-room apartments for new immigrants. In 1973, the building was sold to the Sons of Haiti
(an African-American Masonic group) who leased the space to various tenants. It was purchased in 2009 by Historic Seattle
and was renovated and re-opened in 2010.
. "Throughout its history, it sheltered immigrants from Denmark, Mexico, Puerto Rico and Brazil. Martin Luther King Jr. and W.E.B. Du Bois
spoke there, and artists like Duke Ellington
, Jimi Hendrix
and Billie Holiday
played there. It served as the original home of On the Boards
, a presenter of contemporary performance now at the base of Queen Anne Hill, and now St. Michael Ethiopian Orthodox Church holds it services there."
It served as a meeting hall for the Danish Brotherhood in America
, Seattle Lodge #29, and in the 1970s was purchased by the Sons of Haiti
(an African-American Masonic group) who "continued to use the first floor rooms for their organization and rent out the second floor as performance space." Various renovations were completed by the Sons of Haiti.
In 2007, the building was in poor condition and prospects for preserving the building seemed dim. It was purchased in 2009 by Historic Seattle and was renovated and re-opened in 2010.
The building was subsequently designated a Seattle city landmark, the building won a $90,000 grant for renovation, and a purchase in 2009 and renovation in 2010 were arranged.
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
. It was originally built as a community center by the Danish Brotherhood in America
Danish Brotherhood in America
Danish Brotherhood in America is a fraternal organization that was founded in 1882 in Omaha, Nebraska. It has about 8,000 members in 2010. A period report said of the Danish Brotherhood, "This is by far the strongest and most influential secular organization about the Danes in America."- History...
, a fraternal organization, with meeting halls and one-room apartments for new immigrants. In 1973, the building was sold to the Sons of Haiti
Sons of Haiti
The Sons of Haiti is an African-American Masonic Grand Lodge and fraternal organization with headquarters in Renton, Washington.The organization has subgroups in Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, New York, New Jersey, Ohio, Oregon, Texas and Washington...
(an African-American Masonic group) who leased the space to various tenants. It was purchased in 2009 by Historic Seattle
Historic Seattle
Historic Seattle is a Seattle, Washington public development authority focused on preserving Seattle's architectural heritage. They issue a monthly online magazine, Preservation Seattle and are involved in advocacy and education....
and was renovated and re-opened in 2010.
Description
The building is "a three-story, double wood frame structure with a brick veneer skin. The design is an eclectic mix of Mission Revival and commercial styles.History
It was built in 1908. It was designed by Victor W. VoorheesVictor W. Voorhees
Victor W. Voorhees was an architect based in Seattle, Washington. He is most known for his residential pattern books.Among the more than 100 buildings he designed are:*the Washington Hall , a City of Seattle Landmark...
. "Throughout its history, it sheltered immigrants from Denmark, Mexico, Puerto Rico and Brazil. Martin Luther King Jr. and W.E.B. Du Bois
W.E.B. Du Bois
William Edward Burghardt Du Bois was an American sociologist, historian, civil rights activist, Pan-Africanist, author, and editor. Born in Massachusetts, Du Bois attended Harvard, where he was the first African American to earn a doctorate...
spoke there, and artists like Duke Ellington
Duke Ellington
Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington was an American composer, pianist, and big band leader. Ellington wrote over 1,000 compositions...
, Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...
and Billie Holiday
Billie Holiday
Billie Holiday was an American jazz singer and songwriter. Nicknamed "Lady Day" by her friend and musical partner Lester Young, Holiday had a seminal influence on jazz and pop singing...
played there. It served as the original home of On the Boards
On the Boards
On the Boards is a non-profit contemporary performing arts organization in Seattle, Washington, founded in 1978. Originally located at Washington Hall in the Central District, the organization moved in 1998 to their current location in Lower Queen Anne...
, a presenter of contemporary performance now at the base of Queen Anne Hill, and now St. Michael Ethiopian Orthodox Church holds it services there."
It served as a meeting hall for the Danish Brotherhood in America
Danish Brotherhood in America
Danish Brotherhood in America is a fraternal organization that was founded in 1882 in Omaha, Nebraska. It has about 8,000 members in 2010. A period report said of the Danish Brotherhood, "This is by far the strongest and most influential secular organization about the Danes in America."- History...
, Seattle Lodge #29, and in the 1970s was purchased by the Sons of Haiti
Sons of Haiti
The Sons of Haiti is an African-American Masonic Grand Lodge and fraternal organization with headquarters in Renton, Washington.The organization has subgroups in Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, New York, New Jersey, Ohio, Oregon, Texas and Washington...
(an African-American Masonic group) who "continued to use the first floor rooms for their organization and rent out the second floor as performance space." Various renovations were completed by the Sons of Haiti.
In 2007, the building was in poor condition and prospects for preserving the building seemed dim. It was purchased in 2009 by Historic Seattle and was renovated and re-opened in 2010.
The building was subsequently designated a Seattle city landmark, the building won a $90,000 grant for renovation, and a purchase in 2009 and renovation in 2010 were arranged.