Edd Cox
I and two other Artists, Barbara McAusland and Jim Reiben moved our studios from
the Washington Shoe Building to 619 Western Ave, Fifth Floor South in 1981.
We had been at Washington Shoe for two years on the south half of the second
floor, with a knitting mill upstairs and all upper floors vacent.
When we first looked at the 619 Western Ave Building, all the foors on the north side 
were available and half of the floors on the south side.
Ace Novelty was on the ground floor from 1951 to 1982 and I remember 
a Gorilla suit in the window.
We signed a lease for the Fifth Floor South of 619 early in the year with the first month
free to get the floor cleaned up. It had three walls of large windows, 
two foot thick post and beams supporting twelve foot heigh ceilings 
and wood floors. It was a beautiful sight.
A row of light bulbs down the center and a demolished toilet and everything 
covered in a grey patina. Rent was $0.23 per square foot.
It took more than a year to get truely set-up.
Tearing out what we did not need, cleaning up, spraying gallons of white paint,
building walls and doors, installing a complete electical system along with 
new plumbing and lighting.
We originally had six studios and had designed the hallway as a Gallery.
There was no hot water for three years.
We did not lock the doors to the floors, only the studio doors. There was alot of mutual
studio visiting and gatherings. The Polson Building to the north of us was also begining
to develope as an Artist Studio Building with many U of W grad students locating
there. It was a very exciting, lively, creative block and a real inspiration for
an Artist launching a studio and career.

More Soon...