Those Ballard Avenue saloons

By Kay F. Reinartz

In my last discussion of Ballard history I talked about the establishment of the first "library" in Ballard - the Women's Christian Temperance Union Reading Room opened on Ballard Avenue in the late 1890s.

The temperance union's primary goal in establishing the reading room was to provide mill workers with an alternative to the saloons on Ballard Avenue as a place go after work. The construction of new mills along Salmon Bay in the 1890s was paralleled by the opening of new saloons on nearby Ballard Avenue. In response to Ballard becoming a lumber mill boom town, in 10 years Ballard Avenue changed from a mainly residential street with the post office and a few shops and churches to a rapidly expanding thriving business district.

The next time you are walking or driving down Ballard Avenue remember that the next street over, Shilshole Avenue, was the working road of the Mill District. In short, the mill hands had only a short distance to walk to find a snug beer hall, where they could relax over a glass or two or three and recount their day at the mill. A large portion of the mill hands were single young men between 17 and 30 years old. The workday at the mill was long-10 hours or more if there was a rush order of shingles to get out. The work week began Monday morning between 5 and 6 a.m. and ended at 6 p.m. Saturday when the workers lined up to get their week's wages from the paymaster.

After a long day of strenuous labor handling logs and milled wood products the men were tired and very hungry. The married men had home and the supper table to go to, but the single men had only simple rooming houses where typically two or more men often shared a small room crowded with several beds. The better rooming houses provided the evening supper, but others did not. Down on Ballard Avenue many saloons served food along with beer and spirits.

The saloon typically occupied the street level of a two story building with the second floor rooms rented out to workers. In Passport to Ballard, the community history book, Ballard Avenue historian Susan Cook has provided a vivid picture of the typical Ballard Avenue saloon:

"Polished wooden bars with brass rails stretched the length of the saloon, some having come around the horn by sailing vessel . . . murals, mirrors and tile panels added color and atmosphere above sawdust covered floors."

"Saloons had a lot to offer in the way of entertainment and there were many ways to take the customer's money. For a nickel a man could get a tall glass of beer drawn from kegs with local Claussen (a Ballard brew), Hemrich or Seattle Brewing labels. Whiskey cost a little more, but it was the drink of choice during the early years, and good selection of blends were available. Some saloons had live entertainment, and girls circulated encouraging the customers to spend a little more at the bar."

For those who would rather not drink alone, booths were available with curtains or screens for privacy, and willing company was not hard to find. These "boxes" were the subject of many ordinance debates until they were finally outlawed in 1907. Gambling was a common diversion in the saloons; the friendly game of cards, slot machines, or games of chance were ready for those who felt lucky." Ballard Avenue saloons also served women with the classier establishments having a special "ladies entrance" and separate drinking room. However, this is another story for another day.

Recently I have been asked if I were available for history talks. I would be happy to come to your organization's meeting to talk about Ballard's rich and colorful history. I am available during the day and the evening. Please contact me via bnteditor@robinsonnews.com