The Washington Athletic Club, ca. 1945<\/b><\/h2>\n
Photo: <\/span><\/i>Seattle Public Library <\/span><\/i><\/a><\/p>\n In the 1940s, the Washington Athletic Club (WAC) mobilized its members to help fight World War II at home. In its \u201cVictory Center\u201d \u2014 which took up the entire seventh floor \u2014 women sewed, knit, spun, weaved and made surgical dressings. According to the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods, in 1945 ownership of the clubhouse building was transferred to the membership <\/span>at a price of $1,350,000<\/span><\/a>. By 1950, the WAC was recognized as one of the most progressive athletic clubs in the nation, employing some 300 people and serving between 1,200 and 1,500 meals a day.<\/span><\/p>\n Photo: <\/span><\/i>Seattle Public Library<\/span><\/i> <\/a><\/p>\n In the hysteria following the attacks on Pearl Harbor, Seattle participated in one of the worst violations of constitutional rights in American history: the <\/span>expulsion and internment of 12,892 persons of Japanese ancestry<\/span><\/a> from Washington State. In a small act of solidarity in 1942, the <\/span>Seattle Public Library <\/span><\/a>sent 500 books to regional Japanese internment camps.<\/span><\/p>\n Photo: <\/span><\/i>Seattle Public Library<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/p>\n This is a panoramic view of Seattle’s business district from 3rd Avenue and Cherry Street looking northeast.<\/p>\n Photo: <\/span><\/i>Seattle Public Library<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/p>\n Seattle’s first cable car was unveiled in 1889 by Frank Osgood. <\/span>Seattle ran its municipal streetcar system until 1940<\/span><\/a>, when the popularity of the automobile made it obsolete. Many citizens protested, but the city nevertheless began tearing up the tracks to make the streets smoother for cars.<\/span><\/p>\n Photo: <\/span><\/i>Seattle Public Library<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/p>\n This little schoolhouse was erected on Seattle pioneer Henry Van Asselt’s homestead in 1862. This photo features his\u00a0descendants admiring the property shortly before it was demolished in 1940. <\/span><\/p>\n Photo: <\/span><\/i>Seattle Municipal Archives<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/p>\n The Alki fireboat, a 123-foot-long fireboat built in 1927, is said to have originally been powered by 16 gasoline engines; they were <\/span>replaced<\/span><\/a> in 1947 with diesel Navy surplus engines. This photo features the fireboat with the <\/span>Smith Tower <\/span><\/a>in the background. <\/span><\/p>\n Photo: <\/span><\/i>Seattle Municipal Archives <\/span><\/i><\/a><\/p>\n In 1902, Seattle residents approved a $590,000 bond issue to develop a hydroelectric facility on the Cedar River. It was the beginning of public power in Seattle. Public and private systems would compete in the city until 1951, when the nation’s first municipally owned hydro project came to fruition. <\/span><\/p>\n Photo: <\/span><\/i>Seattle Municipal Archives<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/p>\n Before there was Dick’s Drive-in, there was the 4th Avenue Drive-in. <\/span><\/p>\n Photo: <\/span><\/i>Seattle Public Library<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/p>\n Famous for his contribution to shaping northwest-style architecture, architect <\/span>Paul Thiry<\/span><\/a> designed this church on Lake Washington. Thiry is credited as the principal architect of the 1962 World’s Fair, several buildings on the University of Washington campus and many Seattle residential projects. <\/span><\/p>\n Photo: <\/span><\/i>Seattle Public Library<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/p>\n![\"seattle](\"https:\/\/www.livabl.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/seattle-1940s-1.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nThe Seattle Public Library, 1941<\/b><\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nThe Seattle business district, 1949 <\/b><\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nFirst cable car, 1941<\/b><\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nThe Van Asselt Schoolhouse, ca. 1940 <\/b><\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nThe Alki fireboat, 1940<\/b><\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nCity Light display, 1940<\/b><\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nThe 4th Avenue Drive-in, 1940 <\/b><\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nOur Lady of the Lake Catholic church, 1941<\/b><\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nRainier School, ca. 1942<\/b><\/h2>\n
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