The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1919-10-11
Schwabacher Bros. Co. BeganHistoric
ACareer Here Fifty Years Ago Today

Scatsio's oldest wholesale grocery
house, Schwahachcr Bros. 4 Co.
Inc. the largest firm OF its kind In
the Northwest. Is TODAY celebrating
is 50th anniversary of continuous
business
The history 81 this pioneer firm
Is linked intimately with the growth
ef Seattle. its executives having not
emily been prominent In business ar
fairs. but having served the public
In many important capacities.
Scattlc's Importance as the job.
hing center % tho Northwest. for
Inv district embraced in Alaska.
Washington. Idaho and oregon. Is
credited BY Clarence Bagioy. the his.
torian, 10 the efforts OF Bailey
Gaxert. former mayor and first
president OF Schwahacher Bros. 8
Co. Inc
Picked II as Conner"
Fifty years ago Bailey Gatzcrt.
then a young man. picked out Seat
tie as tho future metropolis OF the
coast lie lived 60 see IL the
metropolis OF the Northwest.
When he published his first al.
veFtisement. 50 years ago, that Is on
October II. 1859. announcing that on
the following saturday. october i6.
he would open a general store deal.
ing In groceries. clothing. boots and
shoes. tobaecos and ship chandlcry.
Seattle had a population OF 9Sly a
few hundred. The Schwahacher
store was opened In a one story
wooden building on Commercial st.
now First a.. South. where the old
New Engiana hotel now stands.
Under the leadership OF Bailey
Gatzcrt and other executives. the
firm kept abreast Of the progress %
Seattle. The firm grew as the city
grew. thru tho first railroad boom.
the coal mining era, survived the fire
OF 1889 and rose rejuvenated from
its ashes. gave the city its first for
eign trade terminal, it's first whole
sale house. its first bonded ware
house. riveted Alaska's wholesale
trade lines 10 this city. expanded
with the Alaska. Yukon. Pacific expo
sition period. until today IL Is the
largest wholesale grocery house In
the Northwest. doing an immense
volume Of business and employing a
force OF approximately $50 In various
activities from acting as clerks in
the main store at Main ST and occl-
dental ave. to statesmen covering the
farthcst points Of Its territory.
First Brick Building
After Gatzcrt's early efforts pros
percd. the firm built the first brick
commercial building in Seattle. Then
IL built another on First ave. South
and one on Wesley way. the two join
Ing. This double building Is stin
standing Tho firm is now housed
In a large four. story and basement
brick building at Main 81. and occi-
dental ave.
When the fire OF 1853 swept away
Seattle's business district the only
wharf left standing was the
Schwahacher wharf at the foot Of
Union St Here tho city's rail and
steamboat lines were conferred and Il
was a scene OF intense activity as
the energetic citizens arranged TO re.
build their city.
Make Generous Offer
When James ]. I'm brought the
Nippon Yusen Kaisha line to this
city as Its first direct line TO the
Orient. his terminals at Smith cove
weren't ready and Schwabacher
Bros a Co. Inc. with Characteristic
public spirit. offered their wharf for
the use of the first steamer. clear
ing their own freight off. so as to
give every facility for the newcomer.
IL was to this wharf that the first
gold ship came from the North and
millions of dollars worth Of the yel.
low metal passed over its planks In
the pokes OF the hardy sourdoughs.
Back OF this wharf. which IL one
OF the largest Of the Seattle central
waterfront. Is six-story brick ware
house and three other warehouses.
all devoted to Schwabacher Bros. &
Co. Inc.
Another notable feature of the