The Free Online Encyclopedia of Washington State History (original) (raw)
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Diablo Dam incline railway climbing Sourdough Mountain, 1930. Courtesy Seattle Municipal Archives, 2306.
Children waving to ferry, 1950. Courtesy Museum of History and Industry.
Loggers in the Northwest woods. Courtesy Washington State Digital Archives.
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Unionization
On February 19, 1909, Local 174 of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters was chartered in Seattle. Beginning in the 1920s, Dave Beck rose through the ranks of laundry truck drivers to eventually control the entire Teamsters International, aided for many decades by Local 174 chief Frank Brewster. But in the 1950s, Beck ran afoul of federal law and became a resident of McNeil Island Penitentiary in 1962. After his release in 1964, he retired to Seattle, while George Cavano rebuilt and revitalized Local 174.
Large Conflagration
On February 18, 1943, the second of Boeing's top-secret B-29 prototype Superfortress bombers caught fire after taking off from Boeing Field before crashing into the Frye Packing Company on Airport Way and exploding. The plane's 11 crewmen, including renowned test pilot [Eddie Allen](/File/22414 "Allen, Edmund Turney "Eddie" (1896-1943)"), died, along with 20 Frye employees and one fireman. The tragedy could not be concealed from the public, although the identity of the aircraft type would not be revealed until after the war.
Inventing a Sport
On February 13, 1968, Joel Pritchard and several of his friends incorporated Pickle Ball Inc. to promote the sport they invented in 1965 at Pritchard's Bainbridge Island cabin. Pritchard would later serve as a Washington state legislator, a U.S. representative, and Washington's lieutenant governor.
Transit Cut Short
On February 13, 1968, King County Voters approved Proposition 6, a Forward Thrust Parks and Recreation bond that provided much-needed funding for King County parks. Voters also approved bonds for a new stadium and an aquarium, but opted against funding a regional rapid transit system, much to the dismay of present-day commuters.
Seven in Court
On February 17, 1970, the day after the rulings in the Chicago Seven trial, protesters led by the Seattle Liberation Front clashed with police in front of the federal courthouse in Seattle. This led to indictments of the alleged organizers, who became known as the Seattle Seven. For a first-hand account of their trial, please read this essay by Roger Lippman, one of the defendants.
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-- Thomas Carlyle
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