(Ed note: This history originally appeared on Rob’s local history blog, Ba-kground. If you’re interested in Seattle history or old clocks, it’s worth a read, as is his book, Lost Seattle. Rob graciously allowed us to repost this here.)

Below is a lookup table for name changes from the 1870s to the present day in neighborhoods north of Lake Union in Seattle: Brooklyn (west U District); Latona; Wallingford (originally Edgewater); Fremont; part of north Queen Anne; and part of eastern Ballard.

The data north of Lake Union

Here is a link to the data as a csv, shared with …

Bibliophiles rejoice. If voters approve the library levy on the Aug. 6 ballot, the Wallingford library will be open seven days a week, including the now-closed Fridays.

And it will open at noon on Sundays, an hour earlier. While the levy takes effect Jan. 1 (which will include the Sunday changes and an extra hour Monday – Thursday), the Friday changes likely won’t take effect until mid-2020.

Last year the Seattle Public Library had over 17 million visits, lent materials to nearly 400,000 borrowers and hosted more than 11,000 free education events.

This is not a new levy, but replaces …

Coming this winter, westbound riders on the 44 bus will get to their destinations quicker, courtesy of a new transit lane on N 45th Street west of Stone Way N. There is already a transit lane on N Midvale Place, and SDOT is simply extending it all the way to Stone Way. In order to do that, they will remove the lane for cars going straight on N 45th, and it will be one way between N Midvale Pl and Midvale Ave N.  …

Registration is open for Night Out, a nationwide event on August 6th 2019, supported by the Seattle police department in an effort to reduce crime and foster community. That sounds kind of dry, but what it really means is that you can sign up to close off your street for a block party and hang out with your neighbors on a warm summer evening.

Head to the Seattle Night Out website to register your block party or check out a map of block parties planned in your area. Registration closes at 5 p.m. on August 5th, 2019.…

Treasures in our midst: Friday, July 19

Thomas Veith
Architectural Historian

Historic Wallingford invites you to come and learn about the architectural character of the Wallingford bungalow. Get your architecture fix at our next event on Friday, July 19, where architectural historian and designer Thomas Veith will discuss Wallingford’s common house type—the bungalow. The material Tom presents will be great preparation for those planning to attend our Restore & Remodel Workshop and Home Tour in September. Attendees will receive an illustrated brochure featuring residences mentioned in the discussion.

Tom is the author “A Preliminary Sketch of Wallingford’s History, 1855-1985,” …

Next in a long lineup of summer Seafair events is the Wallingford Family Parade. This event got its start, incredibly enough, in the middle of the last century, and although it has had its ups and downs, it has survived up to this very moment thanks to local event producer Celebrate Wallingford.

Date: Saturday, July 13Time: 11 am

From the parade website:

The 70^th Annual Wallingford Family Parade celebrates the grand reopening of Lincoln High School and honors students from 1940 thru 2020. Show off YOUR school spirit and grab some pom-poms, some tie-dye or your best Goth; then …

If you haven’t had enough excitement from your July 4 celebrations, there is a Meaningful Movie in store for you tonight.

Date: Friday, July 5Time: 6:30pmPlace: Keystone Church, 5019 Keystone Place N. Cost: Free, but a $5 donation is suggested to help defray expenses

Here is brief summary quoted from the website:

“Unlocking the Cage” follows animal rights lawyer Steven Wise as he tries to break down the legal wall that separates animals from humans.  Arguing that cognitively complex animals such as chimpanzees, whales, dolphins and elephants deserve to be treated as sentient, self-aware and autonomous beings, Steve and his …