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Edward K. Triol Collection of Seattle Bridge Construction Photographs and Drawings, 1915-1925
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Triol, Edward K.
- Title
- Edward K. Triol Collection of Seattle Bridge Construction Photographs and Drawings
- Dates
- 1915-1925 (inclusive)19151925
- Quantity
- 1 box plus oversize folder, (.3 cubic feet)
- Collection Number
- 2006.7
- Summary
- Photographs of Seattle bridges under construction, taken by city photographer James P. Lee, plus three bridge design drawings
- Repository
-
Museum of History & Industry, Sophie Frye Bass Library
P.O. Box 80816
Seattle, WA
98108
Telephone: 2063241126 x102
library@mohai.org - Access Restrictions
-
The collection is open to the public by appointment.
- Languages
- English.
Biographical NoteReturn to Top
Edward K. Triol (1883-1965) was a civil engineer. Before his time in Seattle, he held positions as engineer on the New York barge canal, at a filtration plant in Pittsburgh, at a steel plant in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, and for the Chicago, Milwaukee and Puget Sound Railway. In Seattle, he partnered in the structural engineering firm Triol and Bushnell with Horace L. Bushnell
James P. Lee (1894-1963) started his career with the Seattle Engineering Department in 1910. In 1922, he became the city's full-time photographer, responsible for documenting major construction projects. He retired in 1957.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
The collection consists of photographs of Seattle's bridges (Ballard, Fremont, Montlake, Stone Way, West Spokane Street, and University) in various stages of construction, as well as images of ship canals, railway tunnels and the cityscape in general. The University Bridge and the West Spokane Street Bridge are the most thoroughly documented. The photographs were taken by James P. Lee, the official photographer for the Seattle Engineering Department. Almost all images are dated and labeled by the photographer. Some of the photographs have writing on the front, most likely by Triol. The collection also includes two drawings of bridge designs for the Montlake Bridge done by Triol, and one for the West Spokane Street Bridge, by J.D. Blackwell.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Alternative Forms Available
View selections from the collection in digital format here or by clicking on the camera icons in the inventory below.
Restrictions on Use
The Museum of History & Industry is the owner of the materials in the Sophie Frye Bass Library and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. Written permission must be obtained from MOHAI before any reproduction use. The museum does not necessarily hold copyright to all of the materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from the copyright owners.
Preferred Citation
Edward K. Triol Collection of Seattle Bridge Construction Photographs and Drawings, Museum of History & Industry, Seattle
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Location of Collection
3a.3.7 (box)Location of Collection
1a.3.8 (oversize drawings)Location of Collection
5a.1.shelf1 (rolled drawing)Acquisition Information
Gift of Edward and Gladys Triol; received in February 2006.
Processing Note
Photographs were arranged alphabetically by project, then chronologically.
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.
PhotographsReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
Ballard Bridge
The Ballard Bridge, also known as the 15th Avenue Bridge, was completed in 1917. It connects Ballard,
which became part of Seattle in 1907, to the Magnolia and Queen Anne neighborhoods.
|
1916-1918 | |
| Folder | ||
| 1 | 2006.7.3: Bridge in the early stages of construction |
1916 March 27 |
| 1 | 2006.7.4: Looking north from the underside of the unfinished bridge
Seattle Cedar mill is visible to the west.
|
1917 April 24 |
| 1 | 2006.7.5: View across bridge with half of drawbridge raised and log pond in
foreground |
1917 July 27 |
| 1 | 2006.7.6: View across the partially raised bridge |
1917 July 27 |
| 1 | 2006.7.7: Workers on the top of the bridge |
1917 October 3 |
| 1 | 2006.7.8: View through the completed bridge
|
1918 March 13 |
| 1 | 2006.7.9: Ship W.F. Burrows passing through the open
drawbridge.
On front of image: "15th Ave. N.W. Br. 1st Boat Thru"
|
1918 March 13 |
Fremont Bridge
The original bridge to Fremont was razed in 1911 to make way for the dredging of the Lake Washington
Canal; during this time, all traffic was rerouted to the temporary Stone Way Bridge, just five blocks to the east. A
second temporary bridge served the original gap until 1915, when traffic was again rerouted to the Stone Way Bridge so
that construction on the newest Fremont Bridge could begin.
|
1915-1917 | |
| Folder | ||
| 2 | 2006.7.1: Temporary bridge
A second temporary bridge erected to serve Ballard and Fremont. While it was under construction,
traffic was rerouted to the also temporary Stone Way Bridge five blocks east.
On front of image: "Before"
|
1915 March 18 |
| 2 | 2006.7.2: Cars and streetcar crossing completed Fremont bridge
On front of image: "After"
|
1917 June 15 |
| 2 | 2006.7.10: North pier under construction
On front of image: "N. Pier Fremont"
|
1916 March 23 |
| 2 | 2006.7.11: South pier under construction
On front of image:"S. Pier"
|
1916 July 7 |
| 2 | 2006.7.12: Steelwork underneath the bridge |
1916 October 7 |
| 2 | 1916 October 7 | |
| 2 | 2006.7.14: Looking south across bridge construction towards Queen Anne
On front of image: "Dunford" (with arrow pointing to a well-dressed man standing on the pier)
|
1916 November 16 |
| 2 | 2006.7.15: Drawbridge gears
|
1916 November 16 |
| 2 | 2006.7.16: Looking across the bridge showing cranes
|
1916 November 16 |
| 2 | 2006.7.17: Completed bridge, raised |
1917 April 27 |
| 2 | 2006.7.18: Workers posing near water level |
1917 October 10 |
Montlake Bridge
A city engineer recommended a bridge at Montlake Avenue to improve access to the city's north side.
Finished in mid-1925, it crosses the ship canal at 24th Avenue East.
|
1923-1925 | |
| Folder | ||
| 3 | 2006.7.19: Worker readying cement |
1923 January 12 |
| 3 | 2006.7.20: Man in suit surrounded by rebar in bridge structure |
1923 March 23 |
| 3 | 2006.7.21: Part of the drawbridge mechanism
|
1924 January 23 |
| 3 | 2006.7.22: Bridge interior |
1925 February 26 |
| 3 | 2006.7.23: Unfinished pier
|
1925 March 11 |
| 3 | 2006.7.24: Unfinished bridge from a distance
|
1925 March 11 |
University Bridge
The University Bridge was originally known as both the Eastlake Avenue Bridge and the Tenth Avenue
Northeast Bridge, but an ordinance approved in June of 1919 dictated “University Bridge” as its official moniker. The
bridge was built to replace the Latona Bridge, which had fallen into disrepair.
|
1916-1919 | |
| Folder | ||
| 4a | 2006.7.25: Early construction rig
Handwritten on photo: 1st construction rig. He failed (financially).
|
1916 July 16 |
| 4a | 2006.7.26: Bridge supports under construction |
1916 September 25 |
| 4a | 2006.7.27: Early construction, looking north to the University
District |
1917 September 17 |
| 4a | 2006.7.28: Bridge supports being erected |
1917 October 10 |
| 4a | 2006.7.29: Pile drivers at work |
1917 October 16 |
| 4a | 2006.7.30: Hoisting machinery above a pier of the bridge |
1917 October 30 |
| 4a | 2006.7.31: Early construction on base of pier |
1917 November 9 |
| 4a | 2006.7.32: Supports being filled with sand and gravel
|
1917 December 10 |
| 4a | 2006.7.33: Pile drivers and hoisting machinery at bridge site |
1917 December 10 |
| 4a | 2006.7.34: Incomplete bridge piers |
1917 December 10 |
| 4a | 2006.7.35: Bridge site with sand and gravel piles in foreground |
1918 January 9 |
| 4a | 1918 January 10 | |
| 4a | 2006.7.37: Four men in wooden structure inside bridge
On front of image: "Me"[with arrow pointing upward]
|
1918 March 12 |
| 4b | 2006.7.38: Surveyor and three others on top of wooden and rebar
structure |
1918 April 24 |
| 4b | 2006.7.39: North pier under construction |
1918 April 24 |
| 4b | 2006.7.40: Birds-eye view of pier construction site |
1918 April 24 |
| 4b | 2006.7.41: Detail of pier
|
1918 May 28 |
| 4b | 2006.7.42: Crane swinging a beam into place |
1918 July 24 |
| 4b | 1918 July 24 | |
| 4b | 2006.7.44: Cross section of a pier
|
1918 July 24 |
| 4b | 2006.7.45: Pieces being hoist into place on pier base |
1918 September 18 |
| 4b | 2006.7.46: Gears with workers in the background
|
1918 September 18 |
| 4b | 1918 October 4 | |
| 4b | 2006.7.48: Partially completed bridge span |
1918 October 4 |
| 4b | 2006.7.49: Completed bridge from a distance |
circa 1919 |
Stone Way Bridge
The Stone Way Bridge was a temporary structure that served until the opening of the Fremont Bridge in
June 1917. It stretched across Lake Union, connecting Westlake with Fremont.
|
1916-1918 | |
| Folder | ||
| 5 | 2006.7.50: Looking east across the bridge
|
1916 May 14 |
West Spokane Street Bridge No.1
From 1902 to 1917, three bridges were built to serve West Seattle (which was annexed in 1907);
unfortunately, none of these were permanent structures. Despite its numerous wooden predecessors, the steel bridge
featured here was officially known as West Spokane Street Bridge No. 1 (North). It was finally completed in 1924; its
sister bridge, West Spokane Street Bridge No. 2 (South) opened in September of 1930.
|
circa 1922-1925 | |
| Folder | ||
| 6a | 2006.7.51: Man (Triol?) in wooden bridge support structure |
1922 September 25 |
| 6a | 2006.7.52: Wooden support structure
|
1922 September 25 |
| 6a | 2006.7.53: Construction site showing wooden structures and metal stock |
1922 September 25 |
| 6a | 2006.7.54: Pile drivers and other machines at construction site |
1922 September 25 |
| 6a | 2006.7.55: Early bridge framing |
1922 October 20 |
| 6a | 1922 December 27 | |
| 6a | 2006.7.57: Industrial backdrop of the bridge |
1922 December 27 |
| 6a | 1922 December 27 | |
| 6a | 2006.7.59: Detail of wooden supports |
1923 February 14 |
| 6a | 2006.7.60: Men with cement and rebar |
1923 March 23 |
| 6a | 2006.7.61: Rebar detail |
1923 March 23 |
| 6a | 1923 May 3 | |
| 6b | 2006.7.63: Site showing piers under construction |
1923 July 23 |
| 6b | 2006.7.64: Industrial setting at bridge site |
1923 September 14 |
| 6b | 2006.7.65: Temporary drawbridge completed in 1917 |
1923 October 22 |
| 6b | 2006.7.66: Piers of the first permanent bascule bridge
|
1923 October 22 |
| 6b | 2006.7.67: Bridge piers from water level |
1923 December 7 |
| 6b | 2006.7.68: Dapper man atop a steel beam |
1924 April 21 |
| 6b | 2006.7.69: Detail of steel beams and pier, showing pier mechanisms |
1924 April 21 |
| 6b | 2006.7.70: Four men atop steel work
|
1924 April 21 |
| 6b | 2006.7.71: Detail of steel girding |
1924 April 21 |
| 6b | 2006.7.72: One end of bridge span |
1924 May 20 |
| 6b | 2006.7.73: Panorama of the bridge and its surroundings
2 pictures taped together
|
1924 May 20 |
| 6c | 2006.7.74: Low wooden buttress structure with utility poles in
background |
1924 May 20 |
| 6c | 1924 May 20 | |
| 6c | 2006.7.75: Birds-eye view of bridge through trees
|
1924 May 20 |
| 6c | 2006.7.76: Workers, rebar and lumber at construction site |
1924 June 28 |
| 6c | 2006.7.77: Completed bridge pier |
1924 June 28 |
| 6c | 2006.78: Old and new bridge
|
1924 June 28 |
| 6c | 2006.7.79: Detail of wooden support structure with scaffolding |
1924 August 13 |
| 6c | 2006.7.80: Elevated roadway leading to bridge |
1924 August 13 |
| 6c | 2006.7.81: Detail of drawbridge gears
|
1924 August 13 |
| 6c | 2006.7.82: Ramp under construction |
1924 August 13 |
| 6c | 2006.7.83: One side of the bridge span under construction |
1924 August 13 |
| 6c | 2006.7.84: One side of the bridge span in profile
|
1924 September 2 |
| 6c | 2006.7.85: Roadway leading to bridge |
1924 September 2 |
| 6c | 2006.7.86: Finished section of bridge deck |
1924 November 12 |
| 6d | 2006.7.87: Finished section of bridge deck |
1924 November 12 |
| 6d | 2006.7.88: Completed roadway leading to bridge |
1925 March 11 |
| 6d | 2006.7.89: Ground view of supports under bridge
|
circa late 1924 |
| 6d | 2006.7.90: Bridge from a distance |
circa late 1924 |
| 6d | 2006.7.91: Detail showing nail pattern in wood, worker's legs and
sledgehammer |
circa late 1924 |
| 6d | 2006.7.92: Construction on bridge deck
|
circa late 1924 |
| 6d | 2006.7.93: Nearly completed deck |
circa late 1924 |
| 6d | 2006.7.94: Panorama featuring both the new and the old bridge
2 pictures taped together.
On front of image: "Nearly finished" |
circa late 1924 |
| 6d | 2006.7.95: Profile of completed bridge
|
circa early 1925 |
| 6d | circa early 1925 | |
| 6d | 2006.7.97: Bridge fully opened |
circa early 1925 |
| 6d | 2006.7.98: Men standing near wooden structure of bridge pier
Frank H. Nowell (photographer)
|
circa early 1925 |
| 6d | 2006.7.99: Wooden structure of bridge pier
Frank H. Nowell (photographer)
|
circa early 1925 |
Lake Washington Ship Canal
After five and a half years of construction, the Lake Washington Ship Canal opened on May 8, 1917. It
connects Lake Washington, Lake Union, Salmon Bay, and Puget Sound.
|
1916, 1923 | |
| Folder | ||
| 7 | 1916 May 4 | |
| 8 | 2006.7.101: Looking northeast from Smith Tower |
circa 1923 |
Miscellaneous |
1923 | |
| Folder | ||
| 9 | 2006.7.102: Subterranean tunnel with rail tracks |
1923 September 21 |
| 9 | 2006.7.103: Junction of two underground tunnels |
1923 September 21 |
Drawings, Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| folder-oversize | ||
| 10 | 2006.7.104-105: Montlake Stadium Bridge
2 drawings each 16.25 x 6.5 inches
Edward K. Triol (creator)
Two design proposals for bridge, by Edward K. Triol
|
1923 April |
| shelf | ||
| 5a.2.1 | 2006.7.106: "Engineer's Side Elevation, West Spokane Street Bridge, View Looking
South" 7.5 x 42 inches
J.D. Blackwell, City Engineer (creator)
|
1922 September |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Ballard Bridge (Seattle, Wash.)
- Bridge construction--Washington (State)--Seattle
- Bridges--Washington (State)--Seattle
- Fremont Bridge (Seattle, Wash.)
- Lake Washington Ship Canal (Seattle, Wash.)
- Montlake Bridge (Seattle, Wash.)
- Public works--Washington (State)--Seattle
- University Bridge (Seattle, Wash.)
- West Spokane Street Bridge No. 1 (Seattle, Wash.)
Geographical Names
- United States--Washington (State)--Seattle
Form or Genre Terms
- Photographs
Other Creators
-
Personal Names
- Nowell, Frank H., 1864-1950 (creator)
- Lee, James P. (James Patrick), b. 1894 (creator)
Finding aid prepared by Guy McClellan
2011
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
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