Community Corner
THEN AND NOW: Downtown Kirkland Around 1920
A lot has changed downtown since this great old photo was taken, when much of Kirkland remained undeveloped.
Everything but the layout of the streets has changed since this postcard photo was taken sometime not long after 1920 in the very heart of downtown Kirkland.
The shot was taken from the west side of Lake Street at its intersection with Kirkland Avenue, looking north toward Central Way.
You rarely see a Ford Model T on the streets of town anymore - I’m not an antique auto exert, but that old soft-top looks like ‘T’ to me. And the streets appear to be bare, hard-packed dirt.
Loita Hawkinson, president of the Kirkland Heritage Society, dates this archived photo as sometime soon after 1920. On the second floor of the structure is a hospital operated by a Dr. George Davis starting in 1920.
Below is a drug store. To the left, at the intersection of what is now Lake Street and Park Lane, is the Kirkland Variety Store. It’s 5, 10, 15 and 25 cent sign somehow gives me a chuckle.
On the hill to the left is the Sue Carter home, built in 1912 and torn down not so long ago. And curiously, note the complete lack of development on the north side of Central Way at the base of the hill.
It looks like a sleepy little town -- and that sure has changed as well.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.