Nestled in a dense, urban neighborhood, the Northwest School building at 1415 Summit Avenue hearkens back to a different era. From its origins as a public elementary school to its current use as home to a private middle and high school, the building turns 100 years old this year. To mark the occasion, a History Day celebration takes place this weekend.
The Northwest School's main building, a designated Seattle landmark, was built in 1905 and has been a school since its inception. It began as the Summit Elementary School, built on land that had previously contained a hospital, and children of many of the city's founding families attended. Enrollment peaked at just over 600 students in 1918. A slow but steady decline - only 215 students were attending by the mid'60s - led the Seattle School District to try and sell the property in 1964.
A deal could not be reached, and the building housed a K-12 alternative program for a few years. Seattle Central Community College next leased the space, a lease that ran out in 1973. The property was bought in 1977 by Kemp Hiatt, a private developer who had plans to turn it into office space. But he was able to have the building placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
When the office plans did not come to pass, local educators Ellen Taussig, Paul Raymond and Mark Terry agreed to buy the building for $1.4 million in 1979. The Northwest School opened the following hear. The school stresses academics and the arts equally, places a high value on community involvement and interconnections. The Northwest School endured periods of financial difficulty, but by 1997 Northwest School was able to buy the school property.
The school serves grades six through 12. More than 400 students attend, including 70 international students from 14 countries, many of whom live in a campus dormitory.
Earlier this year a concert at the Paramount Theatre marked the school's 25th anniversary. In June, an official groundbreaking took place to mark the beginning of an $11 million renovation of the main structure, as well as building a new three-story addition which will double the school's library space and create five new classrooms.
Saturday
celebration
To mark the Northwest School building's 100th birthday, the school has scheduled Northwest School History Day for Saturday, Oct. 29, from 1 to 5 p.m. Visitors are welcome to walk through the old Summit School building and receive tours from students, many of whom will be in period costumes. A large timeline shows 100 years of history in the life of the school, the city and the world.
Many early photographs will be on display. Students will conduct live oral histories will alumni. Detailed plans of the building's renovation - work already underway - also will be on display.
As part of the anniversary celebration, three different panel discussions are scheduled. The first, from 1:15 to 2 p.m., involves old Summit School alumni who discuss what life was like at the school and on First Hill during the early part of the 20th century. The panel will be moderated by MOHAI Executive Director Leonard Garfield.
Northwest School founders Ellen Taussig, Paul Raymond and Mark Terry will hold the second panel discussion from 2:30 to 3:15 p.m. The trio will discuss what led them to create the school in 1980 as well as how the school has evolved over the years. The panel will be moderated by former TV reporter Kenan Block.
From 3:34 to 4:40 p.m., Northwest School alumni from each decade will talk about their experiences at the school. Northwest School Alumni Council Co-Chair Jeff Williams will moderate.
The culminating event will be filling a time capsule with memorabilia from the building as well as its current students.
Doug Schwartz is the editor of the Capitol Hill Times. He can be reached at editor@capitolhilltimes.com or 461-1308.
[[In-content Ad]]
