619 WESTERN AVE

Earthquake damage in Pioneer Square, Seattle, April 13, 1949
Photographer	Harris, Ken  Seattle Post-Intelligencer.


Shortly before noon on Wednesday, April 13, 1949,
an earthquake rocked the area from British Columbia to Oregon
and caused extensive damage. Seven people died and at least 64 were injured in the 
heaviest shock ever recorded in the region.
In Seattle, downtown streets and buildings were jammed with people
but no deaths occurred. As soon as the ground began to shake,
photographer Ken Harris headed out the door for Pioneer Square,
where he predicted damage would be extensive. His front page photo shows
the bricks that cascaded from the cornice of the Seattle Hotel at First and Yesler Way,
damaging at least five automobiles. At least a half a dozen buildings in the
Pioneer Square area had damage to cornices or walls.


Sgns in image include: [McDermott's Hair] Cut, Shave.
Block's, Men's Shoes. The Pioneer Cafe. Rex Drugs.


Car crushed by fallen brick outside Busy Bee Cafe after earthquake, Seattle, April 1949 Photographer - Staff Photographer Seattle Post-Intelligencer. The Busy Bee Cafe was in the rear of the Hotel Seattle, on Second Avenue between James Street and Yesler Way. During the April 1949 earthquake, the owner of the cafe barred the doors to keep panicking patrons from rushing outside. Seconds later, the building's cornice crashed to the sidewalk, crushing several cars on Second Avenue.This photo shows people standing outside the Busy Bee Cafe looking at the crushed cars and fallen brick on Second Avenue. The brick fell from the top of the Hotel Seattle after the April 13, 1949 earthquake, which registered 7.1 on the Richter Scale. The man at far right has a bandaged face. Handwritten on image: Busy Bee Cafe.

Earthquake damage in Pioneer Square, Seattle, April 13, 1949 Photographer Harris, Ken Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Shortly before noon on Wednesday, April 13, 1949, an earthquake rocked the area from British Columbia to Oregon and caused extensive damage. Seven people died and at least 64 were injured in the heaviest shock ever recorded in the region. In Seattle, downtown streets and buildings were jammed with people but no deaths occurred. As soon as the ground began to shake, photographer Ken Harris headed out the door for Pioneer Square, where he predicted damage would be extensive. His front page photo shows the bricks that cascaded from the cornice of the Seattle Hotel at First and Yesler Way, damaging at least five automobiles. At least a half a dozen buildings in the Pioneer Square area had damage to cornices or walls. Sgns in image include: [McDermott's Hair] Cut, Shave. Block's, Men's Shoes. The Pioneer Cafe. Rex Drugs.