My grandmother, Sue Merrille Willes, lived with her parents and siblings at 210 Selby in 1898. I suppose by now the house must be gone. Linda Naranjo Seattle, WA

Dear Linda, Selby Ave. begins near the Cathedral of St. Paul (built 1906-1915), near downtown, and extends several miles to the western city limits. The No. 210 Selby Ave., is where the Cathedral of St. Paul parking lot is located today. My records indicate that there were never any houses which faced Selby Ave. on that property. There was one house on Summit Ave., on the site of today's parking lot. Could you please check the number and let me know. I believe 210 is incorrect. The street is named for Jeremiah Selby, who had a small farm on the bluff in the 1850s, near today's Cathedral. It was an early business street for the St. Anthony Hill neighborhood, and carried the streetcar traffic to and from downtown. The famous Selby Tunnel started just below the Cathedral bluff, and opened onto Selby Ave., just beyond the Cathedral building. The underground tunnel was built in 1907, to safely carry streetcars up the steep hill. Street cars before that, had to ascend the hill by a cable and pulley system. After a terrible streetcar accident on the hill claimed several lives, it was decided that there was a need for a safer system. The tunnel was closed after the streetcars disappeared from our streets (replaced by buses) in 1954. For many years after, the old Selby Tunnel sheltered scores of homeless during our bitter winters. About ten years ago the city permanently sealed the entrance to the tunnel. Linda J Naranjo wrote: > My grandmother, Sue Merrille Willes, lived with her parents and siblings > at 210 Selby in 1898. I suppose by now the house must be gone. > Linda Naranjo > Seattle, WA > > ============================== > Search the US Census Collection. Over 140 million records added in the > last 12 months. Largest online collection in the world. Learn more: http://www.ancestry.com/s13965/rd.ashx