In 1890, the West Coast Improvement Company builds the second bridge, a railroad bridge, across Salmon Bay. This is part of its land development plan for Gilman Park, soon to be renamed Ballard (annexed to Seattle in 1907). The firm built the first bridge, a wagon bridge, the year before. Salmon Bay will become part of the Lake Washington Ship Canal.
The West Coast Improvement Company consisted of Captain William Rankin Ballard (1847-1929), his wife Estelle Ballard, Thomas Burke (1849-1925), his wife Carrie Burke, John Leary (1837-1905), his wife Mary Leary, William Crawford, his wife Mary Crawford, and Alonzo Hamblet, Arthur Denny (1822-1899), his wife Mary Boren Denny, and Dexter Horton (1825-1904). This was a combination of Seattle interests and Salmon Bay pioneers.
Sources:
Kay F. Reinartz, "Gilman Park and the West Coast Improvement Company," in Passport to Ballard (Seattle: Ballard News Tribune, 1988), 26.
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