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1936-1940

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Raising funds for Seattle's first Protestant church
(Washington)

Folklore

J. F. Ariza

Seattle, Wash.

FORM A

STATE, Washington

NAME OF WORKER, J. F. Ariza

ADDRESS, Seattle, Wash., Federal Writers' Project

DATE, December 22, 1938

SUBJECT, Raising funds for Seattle's first Protestant church.

1. Name and address of informant, E. L. Blaine, Good Will Industries, Seattle, Wash.

2. Date and time of interview, 1:30 PM., December 19, 1938

3. Place of interview, informant's office at Good Will establishment.

4. Methodist Union of Seattle, Republic Building.

5. Name and address of person, if any, accompanying you; no one accompanying interviewer.

6. Description of room, house, surroundings, etc., an ordinary office.

FORM B

STATE, Washington

NAME OF WORKER, J. F. Ariza.

ADDRESS, Federal Writers' Project, Seattle, Wash.

SUBJECT, Raising funds for Seattle's first Protestant church.

NAME AND ADDRESS OF INFORMANT, E.L. Blaine, Good Will Industries, Seattle, Wash.

1. Ancestry, Anglo-Saxon, old American stock.

2. Place and date of birth, Central New York State, about 75 years ago.

3. Family, father pastor of a Methodist Episcopal church; mother's ancestry unknown.

4. Places lived in, with dates, New York State; Oregon Territory, Washington State.

5. Education with dates, Oregon and New York State public schools; M. E. College, Lima, N. Y.

6. Occupations and accomplishments; with dates, unknown.

7. Special skills and interests, unknown

8. Community and religious activities, respected son of pioneer clergyman and held in high esteem by fellow citizens.

9. Description of informant, dignified, calm, humorour man; mind vigorous.

10. Other points gained in interview; none in particular except informant's sincerity and dry humor and pride of family.

My father, Rev. David E. Blaine, of the Methodist Episcopal denomination, built the first Protestant church in Seattle. That was in 1854. In Walla Walla, one day in the early 1890's, I met Dexter Horton, already one of the leading financiers of the Northwest who, before he died in 1906, became many times a millionaire. In course of conversation he told me about that first church and the struggle father had to raise funds.

"One afternoon in the summer of 1854, I came over to Seattle from Alki where I was doing day labor in a sawmill and 'baching.' I was greasy and dirty, my trousers patched, shoes worn and full of holes, and I wasn't a very impressive figure. I met your father on First Avenue.

"'How do you do, Dexter,' he said, extending his hand. 'You're the very man I'm looking for. I am raising money to build my church and I want you to subscribe. Everyone in town is helping.'

"'Me?' I asked in astonishment. 'Why, Mr. Blaine,' I said, stepping back a pace or two, 'Look at me! Just take a good look and say frankly how much you think a man like me could subscribe toward your church.'

"Your father appraised me cooly, then said: 'Well, Dexter, I think you could give about ten dollars.'

"I didn't lose any time signing his subscription. But quite a while afterward we met again and I started laughing at him. What is it?' he demanded. Then I told him. 'Mr. Blaine I bluffed you that day you got me for ten dollars. I had a fifty-dollar 'slug' at home ready to lay right in your hand. But your appraisal was poor.'"

Related by E. L. Blaine,

Head of the Good Will Industries in Seattle at his office, December 19, 1938

Text from: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, WPA Federal Writers' Project Collection