619 WESTERN AVE

The original building was designed in 1889-1890 by Elmer Fisher.
The Yesler Way façade dates from the original design by Fisher.
In June 1892, the building suffered a major fire. Emil DeNeuf,
who had originally worked in Fisher’s office, by this time was an
architect in his own right and designed the First Avenue South
elevation. This accounts for the difference in the design of the two
elevations; the Yesler Way elevation appears more Romanesque
Revival in derivation, whereas the First Avenue South elevation shows
a Renaissance influence. Also, DeNeuf often used light colored bricks
in his work, as demonstrated also in the façade of the Lowman and
Hanford Building, also in the Pioneer Square Historic District. The building
was designed for the Schwabacher Brothers, grocery wholesalers,
who had been in business since 1869 on this site. They continued to
have a thriving business in this area and also later commissioned the
Sullivanesque Schwabacher Hardware Company Building at First Avenue S.
and Jackson Street, designed by Bebb and Mendel. The 1892 fire in the
Schwabacher Building is reported to have cost the business $ 425,000;
however, the fire was contained and illustrated the success of the new
building regulations as originally set forth in Ordinance No.1147.
This building is the work of two architects who contributed to the rebuilding
of the “burnt district,” as the Pioneer Square area was known right after the
Fire of 1889 and particularly near Pioneer Place. Elmer Fisher is considered
the most prolific of the post-fire architects. He came to the Pacific Northwest
in 1886 and designed buildings in Vancouver, Victoria and Port Townsend,
before coming to Seattle in 1889. His most well-known work in Seattle is the
Pioneer Building, which he designed for Henry Yesler. By 1891, despite the
accolades the Pioneer Building received in 1892, he had abandoned his career
as an architect to run the Abbott Hotel in Seattle, which he had also designed
and built. Emil DeNeuf arrived in Seattle in 1889 and began his career as a
draftsman in Elmer Fisher’s office. He had an independent practice by the
end of 1891. He was retained by Henry Yesler to complete the Mutual Life
Building,originally the “Yesler Building,” which Fisher had begun. He also was
the designer of the Lowman and Hanford Building. His partnership with
Augustus Heide, with whom he designed the Lowman Building (ca.1906),
lasted from 1901 to 1906. The building, commonly known as the Schwabacher
Building, is also known as the Gatzert-Schwabacher Building, after Bailey
Gatzert. Bailey Gatzert, who had married into the Schwabacher family and
became the head of the Schwabacher business, was also mayor of Seattle in the
1870s.


State Bank of Seattle, Seattle. 1909 Photographe - Curtis, Asahel, 1874-1941 Business establishment and stores depicted at 1st Ave. S. and Yesler Way: Falkenburg and Laucks (chemists, assayers and metallurgists, (95 Yesler Way); Hotel Norman (89 Yesler Way). Falkenburg and Laucks Engineering Company.

Cafe Paloma a small jewel. A Cafe extraordiare of fine mediteranean food, good wine, exotic music and friends with style. Exhibitions of international and local photographers are exhibited each month. Located at 93 Yesler. in the lower right corner of the photograph. Southwest corner 1st Ave. and Yesler Way in the Pioneer Square Photographer - Calvin F.Todd Signs in image include: Dinham-Strehlau Shoe Co. Pioneer Dentist. American Transfer Co., Baggage Transferred. Bakery, Genuine Coffee & Cake. Gatzert.

Gatzert Building, ca. 1909 Photographer Unknown Date ca. 1909 Located at 105-107 Yesler Way. Shows A. Bridge and Co. (Men's Furnishings) and Hotel Norman. On verso of image: Hotel Norman Cafe paloma is located at srteet level in the Gatzert Building. Artists from the 619 Building sit outside with a glass of wine or Turkish coffee with lunch, sketching and philosophizing and sharing stories with owner & chef Sedat Uysal
The original building was designed in 1889-1890 by Elmer Fisher. The Yesler Way façade dates from the original design by Fisher. In June 1892, the building suffered a major fire. Emil DeNeuf, who had originally worked in Fisher’s office, by this time was an architect in his own right and designed the First Avenue South elevation. This accounts for the difference in the design of the two elevations; the Yesler Way elevation appears more Romanesque Revival in derivation, whereas the First Avenue South elevation shows a Renaissance influence. Also, DeNeuf often used light colored bricks in his work, as demonstrated also in the façade of the Lowman and Hanford Building, also in the Pioneer Square Historic District. The building was designed for the Schwabacher Brothers, grocery wholesalers, who had been in business since 1869 on this site. They continued to have a thriving business in this area and also later commissioned the Sullivanesque Schwabacher Hardware Company Building at First Avenue S. and Jackson Street, designed by Bebb and Mendel. The 1892 fire in the Schwabacher Building is reported to have cost the business $ 425,000; however, the fire was contained and illustrated the success of the new building regulations as originally set forth in Ordinance No.1147. This building is the work of two architects who contributed to the rebuilding of the “burnt district,” as the Pioneer Square area was known right after the Fire of 1889 and particularly near Pioneer Place. Elmer Fisher is considered the most prolific of the post-fire architects. He came to the Pacific Northwest in 1886 and designed buildings in Vancouver, Victoria and Port Townsend, before coming to Seattle in 1889. His most well-known work in Seattle is the Pioneer Building, which he designed for Henry Yesler. By 1891, despite the accolades the Pioneer Building received in 1892, he had abandoned his career as an architect to run the Abbott Hotel in Seattle, which he had also designed and built. Emil DeNeuf arrived in Seattle in 1889 and began his career as a draftsman in Elmer Fisher’s office. He had an independent practice by the end of 1891. He was retained by Henry Yesler to complete the Mutual Life Building,originally the “Yesler Building,” which Fisher had begun. He also was the designer of the Lowman and Hanford Building. His partnership with Augustus Heide, with whom he designed the Lowman Building (ca.1906), lasted from 1901 to 1906. The building, commonly known as the Schwabacher Building, is also known as the Gatzert-Schwabacher Building, after Bailey Gatzert. Bailey Gatzert, who had married into the Schwabacher family and became the head of the Schwabacher business, was also mayor of Seattle in the 1870s.