Barnes Building facts for kids
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Barnes Building
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The building's exterior in 2007
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 Location in Seattle WA Downtown
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| Location | 2322 1st Ave. Seattle, Washington |
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| Built | 1890 |
| Architect | William E. Boone, George Meeker |
| Architectural style | Victorian |
| NRHP reference No. | 75001853 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | 1975-02-25 |
The Barnes Building is a historic office building in Seattle, Washington. It's located in the Belltown neighborhood. This building has had many names over the years, like the Odd Fellows' Block, the Masonic Temple, and Ingram Hall.
It was designed in 1889 and built in 1890. The building was made for the International Order of Odd Fellows, a friendly group that helped people. It's one of the first known works by Seattle architects William E. Boone and George Meeker. The Barnes Building is still in great condition today. It has been very important to the Belltown area and Seattle's dance community.
The Odd Fellows used the building for 17 years. After they left in 1909, other groups, including the Free and Accepted Masons, used it. The ground floor has been home to many different businesses since 1890. These include furniture stores, dry goods shops, and even a sleeping bag factory. Today, it hosts bars and offices. The Barnes Building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. It became a Seattle city landmark in 1978.
Contents
History of the Barnes Building
Early Days with the Odd Fellows
The Seattle Lodge No. 7 of the Odd Fellows started in 1876. They began meeting in Belltown in 1877. A man named William Bell, who the neighborhood is named after, built a hall for them. The Odd Fellows shared the cost of setting up this hall. Soon, many social and helpful groups used the space. By the late 1880s, Seattle Lodge No. 7 was the biggest Odd Fellows group in Washington state. It had almost 200 members.
In 1889, the Odd Fellows decided to build a new, strong brick building. They looked at several designs. They chose the plans from architect William E. Boone and his partner George Meeker. The new building was planned to cost $30,000. It would be four stories tall with a basement. The first floor would be for shops. The second floor would have a large meeting room and offices. The third and fourth floors would be for the Odd Fellows' meetings and more offices.
Building the New Home
Construction began in July 1890. This was right after the main rebuilding work finished following the Great Seattle Fire. Even though new building styles were popular after the fire, the Odd Fellows stuck with Boone's older Victorian design. Their old wooden hall was moved again. The Odd Fellows continued to meet there while their new building was built.
A special ceremony took place on August 27, 1890. Over 200 Odd Fellows members and others watched. A time capsule was placed inside the cornerstone. It held copies of the lodge's records and other historical papers. The building went up quickly. The roof was finished by October. A furniture company moved into the ground floor by November. The Odd Fellows started using parts of the building by December. The main meeting hall was fully ready in January 1891.
Changing Businesses and Groups
Within a year, the furniture company moved out. The Seattle Dry Goods Store took its place. But this store closed by February 1893. This was likely due to the Panic of 1893, a tough economic time. Around 1900, the Seattle Vehicle and Implement Company moved in. They sold Moline Wagons and John Deere farm tools.
By the early 1900s, the Odd Fellows needed more space. Their groups were growing too big for the building. In 1905, the main Odd Fellows groups in Seattle bought land on Capitol Hill. They built a new lodge there, which was finished in 1908.
After the Odd Fellows left their old building in 1909, other groups used the rooms. These included the Loyal Order of Moose and the Free and Accepted Masons. The Masons had sold their own building. So, the Barnes Building became known as the Masonic Temple until 1915. Then, the Masons also moved to a bigger place on Capitol Hill.
A Hub for Dance and Community
Other groups stayed in the building. In the 1920s, many social and religious groups joined them. These included the Pentecostal Mission and the International Bible Students Association. During this time, the building was called Ingram Hall. It became a popular spot for dances and dance classes. You can still see an old sign on the back of the building. It advertises "Ballroom Dancing".
In the 1970s, the building was home to the Seattle Dance Center. This was opened by the First Chamber Dance Company. They were Seattle's first professional ballet company. The building, now known as the Barnes Building, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. It was named a Seattle city landmark in 1978.
From 2010 to 2019, the Belltown Pub was on the ground floor. It closed because of high costs. Today, the Screwdriver Bar is in the basement. The upper floors are rented out as office space.
