While searching, typically, for something else I came upon this heartening piece of Kodachrome from the winter of 1943.  The original 35mm slide has a caption written the flip side from the “Kodachrome”  stamp.  It reads, in toto,  “Jan. 43  Our favorite spot to rest in summer under trees on shore E. Green Lake Way. Beautiful in Winter as well!!!”

For the moment I do not know where this slide came from, although I think it was mostly likely picked (by me) from one of two large collections of slides.  One I purchased in a basement sale from a home near the east shore of Green Lake.  The other I got from Lawton Gowey, a since deceased friend, who shared with me many images, stories and enthusiasm for regional history.  Earlier he was given the collected slides of Horace Sykes, a long-time member of the Seattle Camera Club,  and Lawton passed the collection on to me.

Sykes’ work is often wonderful and we should show more of it in this blog and will.  But for the moment the image reminded me of Jean’s frequent early morning visits with his camera to this shore of Green Lake, which is also near his home, and the results that he has published here.  So this is my first “Jean Challenge.”

Can he – or rather, you Jean – repeat this shot with a “now.”  A warning through.  It may be more difficult than we think.  There have been some changes on the east shore since 1943.

JEAN GRABS THE GAUNTLET:

Here’s my best effort, slightly wider than the orginal, but pretty close I think.

I emailed the Sykes original to Kathy Whitman, Aquatics Manager for Seattle Parks and Recreation and she replied:

I can’t be certain but I think it is the northern shore of Green Lake looking across the west. West Green Lake Beach would be located just outside the area of vision to the left side the distant shore… the wading pool located to right side outside the area of vision.  It is on the shore about 2/3’s of the way toward the wading pool when leaving Evans Pool.

That had been my best guess as well, as this spot has always been a favorite of Green Lake strollers. As I recall, the trees in the ’43 photo were cut down and replaced by smaller trees, to general opprobrium, but I can’t recall why.  As can be seen, they’ve grown up a bit.