West Seattle lost another old friend this week. Not flesh and blood, but still with great heart and soul.

The Corner Inn on California and Fauntleroy locked its doors for good (see story, Page One). While others have had a much longer history with "the Corner," none will miss it more than I.

On the south side, it was an old style, hard to find anymore "greasy spoon" cafe - complete with coffee counter and booths. It had struggled of late with frequent management turnovers. On the north side was the traditional "watering hole" - a long bar down the center, tables along three sides, and a pool table.

The magic was in between. In between is the dance floor. It was that dance floor that set the Corner apart. On that dance floor Steve put down his cane and danced to an old Tony Bennett song. MaryLou whirled around the floor in her wheelchair. My granddaughter, 13 at the time, danced her first dance with 80-year-old Ralph. She liked it so much she took ballroom dance lessons and now helps teach it.

Lauren Petrie played live music there twice a week, Tuesday and Saturday nights, starting at 6 p.m.

Thirteen years ago, the Morgan Community Association wrote a letter to the Liquor Control Board on behalf of the Corner, asking if they could have live music earlier in the evening because of the number of seniors in the area who were looking for a place to go. Lauren has been playing there ever since. Glenn Miller, Jimmy Buffett, Benny Goodman, Hank Williams, Bill Haley and the Comets - all the good old dance tunes. He sounds like a full compliment of musicians, and his voice is as good as it gets. With his diverse repertoire there was something for everyone, but especially for those who love the old songs and can't listen or dance to them anywhere else.

The place was pretty much packed both nights from 6 p.m. until 9:15. Then we would jump up, drag the tables back to switch the dance floor for the late band that played on the small stage at the other end of the room. Many of the older, earlier crowd would leave, with the "west coast swing crowd" staying and being joined by a younger, more traditional Saturday night following. Jeff and the Jet City Flyers, Plum Loco, The Blues Orbiters, and Mary from down at the nursery with her full, rich voice would take over for the rest of the evening.

I will miss the dancing. I hadn't danced in decades until I walked in there a few years ago. I will miss the old songs that I can't hear anywhere else. Most of all, I will miss the people. I will miss Rick who stood outside in the cold waiting for MaryLou's Access bus so she wouldn't be outside alone. I will miss Hank and Audrey who drove all the way in from Auburn. I will miss Bill, who came over from Vashon Island. And Guy and Mabel, both in their 80s, who were always there - always dancing. When the weather was bad and they couldn't drive, they either took the bus or walked - just to come dance and visit. I will miss Ray and his bongo drums, and I will miss Mary, and Agnes, and on and on.

I think Dave's story is the most telling. Years ago on a Tuesday morning he was in the bank across the street from the Corner. He had lost his wife several months before and the teller noticed that he was not a happy camper. She took him over to the window and pointed across the street, telling him to be there and sit at the piano bar at 6 that night and he would never be lonesome again. He did exactly that. When the music started Mary drug him off the stool, taught him how to dance, and he's been dancing (and smiling) ever since.

People come and go, institutions come and go. West Seattle has lost a lot of it's old-time places in recent years. They are all missed, but this one is going to leave a really big hole in the lives of a lot of people, and I can't imagine how it will be replaced.

So long old friend - we're going to miss you, and each other.

Midge Batt

West Seattle