| Summary: | From the earliest settling of what became Seattle's Montlake neighborhood, both Native Americans and whites recognized the importance of the area as a portage route for watercraft, since it was the narrowest portion of unbroken land separating Lake Union and Lake Washington, before the Lake Washington Ship Canal was created in 1916. The idea that a canal would one day link the two lakes seemed obvious to early settlers. Because of this, the nearby land was valuable, and quickly surveyed and purchased. Housing development didn't actually begin until 1905, and it took an additional four years for streetcar service to reach the area. The 23rd Avenue Line was initially constructed to deliver fairgoers from downtown Seattle to the 1909 Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition, though it continued to serve the Montlake area until the demise of the streetcar lines in the 1940s. This image was taken of the Montlake neighborhood at the beginning of housing development. The view is looking west on Boyer Avenue from 25th Avenue North. The bulk of Montlake's housing stock was constructed between 1910 and 1940. Handwritten on mount: Boyer Ave. Looking West, March 15th 1913 Handwritten on verso: Looking West from 25 North Printed on sticker on verso: Phone Queen Anne 1042, L. B. Waters, Commercial Photographer, Views for Haftone cuts. Pictures in colors. At-home portraits. Kodak finishing. Enlarging, Etc. 417 1-2 First Ave. West, Seattle, Wash Caption information source: "Seattle Neighborhoods: Montlake--Thumbnail History," by Paula Becker, HistoryLink.org Essay 10170. 1 photographic print mounted on cardboard: b&w; 32 x 9.5 in.
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