by William Goodrich Bellman
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Montlake - 2021 and Way Beyond by William Goodrich Bellman |
Bill Bellman loved growing up in Montlake. I heard stories of his adventures in the streets, homes, shops, and alleys of his neighborhood during 1912 to ‘29. He has told those stories all his life. When Bill was eighty-five, he self-published a book about his life, Montlake – 2021 and Way Beyond: The Years 1912 to 1994. He gave a couple of hundred copies to family and friends, and a few were sold to Montlake residents—and the Seattle Public Library. The first one-third of that book is about his Montlake childhood, growing up in the house his parents built at 2021 Lynn Street.
I loaned my copy of his book to Jonathan Dubman, the webmaster of the Montlake site. He loved it and proposed offering it to the neighborhood through the site. When Dad heard about the opportunity to have his writing on the site, he reworked the Montlake content, adding even more stories, pictures, and maps from his early days.
You are about to read the recollections of this nearly ninety year old man who grew up in Montlake in the early part of the twentieth century. You will be amazed at his detailed memories, at his ability to communicate all the fun he and his friends had. You might even be shocked at what young boys in the neighborhood were doing way back then! And, you may find elements of his childhood that remind you of your own. For many reasons, you will be delighted he decided to share with you his love of Montlake.