HomeMy WebLinkAbout1930 - Potholes Along the WayPlank walkways lined Tukwila streets in
the 1930s, in this view on Tukwila North Hill
looking toward Interurban Avenue. Tukwila
Historical Society
the time branded the delegation as a group
of imposters. Led by Mayor Walkup, Tuk-
wila was determined that this "iniquitous
legislation" shall not come to pass. The bill
never made it to the Executive Office of
Gov. Martin.
At the end of 1932 John R. Walkup
stepped down as mayor and his son John P.
Walkup took the reins as the new mayor of
Tukwila. The Walkups maintained conti-
nuity in government and brought stability
and long-term planning to the municipal-
ity. Undaunted by any "dastardly political
plot" for the disincorporation of the town,
the mayor and council forged on reuniting
the community with dedicated zeal. Out of
this came the successful negotiations with
Seattle initiated by former Mayor Bergquist
for access to Cedar River Water Supply.
With a new water system, homemakers
all over Tukwila turned on their spigots
and filled their tea kettles. The progressive
minded J.P. Walkup acquired land for Tuk-
wila's official public park which came to
be known as Tukwila Park. The "Land of
Hazelnuts" began recovering from the De-
pression and was once again on its way to
becoming a thriving community.
Pat Brodin is a member of the Tukwila
Historical Society. The society operates the
Tukwila Heritage and Cultural Center,
14475 59th Ave. S. The center can be reached
by phone at 206 -244 -HIST or via email at
tukwilaheritagectr@tukwilahistory.org.
Frank Wesley and John P. Walkup stand together at the Tukwila Park in the 1930s. Tukwila
Historical Society
Potholes along the way
BY PAT BRODIN
TUKWILA HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Currently state and local governments
are experiencing budget cutbacks in fund-
ing for Public Works infrastructure. Most
notable is the serious condition of bridges
throughout Washington. For Tukwila, the
old deteriorating Boeing Access Bridge,
identified as a key regional transportation
link, is in need of significant rehabilitation.
Historically speaking, this is nothing new
to Tukwila when one considers the broken-
down streets in the 1930s during the Great
Depression. The conditions in the city were
so appalling, it prompted some drastic ac-
tion by a group of citizens calling for a spe-
cial election to dis-incorporate Tukwila.
When J.R. Walkup became the city's
mayor in 1928, he took the charge that
Tukwila was "not a pretty place' Council
minutes for this time period mention wil-
lows, thistles and noxious brush growing
in the thoroughfares, vandalism, property
damage, and citizenry throwing refuse in
the street. The town still had a problem
with wayward animals, cows, horses and
goats, as well as dogs running about free-
ly. An ordinance still exists to this day in
the Tukwila Municipal Code forbidding
this nuisance. The Tukwila Avenue (South
144th Street) viaduct was condemned and
dismantled and boardwalks were rotting
underfoot.
Led by the outspoken Hiram Blanken-
ship, who appeared everywhere with his
pet monkey on his shoulder, the disin-
corporation faction reiterated that the
community would be better off as part of
unincorporated King County. Complaints
focused on the cost of improvements, fees,
and bond issues. In October 1932 a peti-
tion with 142 signatures was presented by
a group of citizens to the town council to
disincorporate. While things looked bleak
for Tukwila, it went from bad to worse.
Unbeknownst to Mayor Walkup or the
town council, the Washington State Sen-
ate entertained a bill providing for the dis-
incorporation of Tukwila. State Sen. Paul
House said a delegation, purporting to re-
flect the civic sentiment of Tukwila, asked
him to introduce the bill. Civic leaders at