More than 120 people gathered on Sunday at the Magnolia Historical Society event to unveil the sculpture stonework featuring Magnolia icons and to watch an historic slideshow of the region, featuring famed historian Paul Dorpat.
The panel, which was created by Magnolia sculptor John Leglar, weighed in at more than 500 pounds and was too heavy to be displayed at the event, held at the dining hall of the Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church.
So society members and guests had to settle for a picture of the 40-inch by 50-inch panel. The sculpture will be placed permanently in Magnolia Village in the next few months, following the completion of acquiring certain city permits and the construction of a steel frame to hold the heavy slab.
The panel includes the first plat map created of Magnolia, and four iconic images of the area, including a train locomotive, the West Point Lighthouse, the Magnolia Bridge and images of Madrona trees and Magnolia blossoms.
Local historian Dorpat joined Jean Sherrard in a presentation of “Now & Then” historical photographs. The two had collected historical photographs and then had taken recent photographs in as close to the same position as possible. Their subjects included an interesting look at Paris, such as the Eiffel Tower and the creation of the city’s wide boulevards.
Dorpat led a discussion of “Now & Then” photographs from Magnolia, including images of “Salmon Bay Charlie” and his home, which was located in what is now known as the Land’s End area of Magnolia.
Dorpat offered many interesting anecdotes about the photographs that showed the creation of the Chittenden Locks, late 19th Century images of Interbay and Salmon Bay, the Kalakala ferry boat and the creation of Fort Lawton.
Some of his most intriguing comments came about the subject of his next historical book, the famed restaurateur Ivar Haglund. Dorpat discussed what a showman Haglund was and how he was never one to miss a publicity stunt.
That includes the story of the time Haglund had famed boxer Two-Ton Tony Galento wrestle an octopus at Haglund’s waterfront aquarium. Galento won the staged event, but it was subsequently discovered that the octopus was dead. The Humane Society complained about the wrestling match. But Haglund had an excuse: he claimed that the octopus had already passed away before the bout began and its arms were just being manipulated.
To see the images of Paris and some of the images of Magnolia, visit the “Now & Then” Photography show at the Seattle Museum of History and Industry at Seattle’s McCurdy Park at 2700 24th Ave. East.
[[In-content Ad]]