This history of North School is taken from the second edition of Building for Learning: Seattle Public School Histories, which includes histories of every school building used by the district since its formation around 1862. The original essay was written for the 2002 first edition by Nile Thompson and Carolyn J. Marr, and updated for the 2024 edition by HistoryLink contributor Casey McNerthney.
North School
North School was one of a pair of two-room buildings to open in 1873 relieving a crowded Central I School. It closed in 1883 with the opening of the new, larger Central II. Remaining at the old North School building was a private kindergarten, started in July 1882 by Mrs. C. A. Blaine, which is said to have been Seattle’s first. Shortly after, the Third Ward Engine House of the Seattle Fire Department took over one room of the building.
Public school students returned to the North School building after Central School burned on April 10, 1888. The school became known as the Third and Pine School and was in a previously unoccupied room at the engine house. It operated as an annex to Central I for two years. In 1928, the site became the location of the Bon Marche building. The Bon Marche became Bon-Macy’s in 2004 and Macy’s in 2005. The Macy’s store closed in 2020. Amazon began leasing the top six floors for office space and remains in the building in 2023.
History
North School
Location: 3rd Avenue & Pine Street
Building: 2-room, 2-story wood
1873: Opened
1883: Closed
1883-84: Used for kindergarten
1884: Sold in April
1885?: Became Third Ward Engine House, Seattle Fire Department; Hose Company No. 7 took over a room there
1888: One room opened as Third & Pine School in April
1890: Classroom closed in spring; building demolished; Engine No. 2's station opened on July 21
