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Published in The Seattle Times online on Feb. 15, 2024
and in Pacific NW Magazine of the printed Times on Feb. 18, 2024

A would-be landmark served Chinese, Japanese locals

By Clay Eals

For 101 years, it has presided on western Capitol Hill, instantly recognizable but for most of its life not someplace to visit unless you were called by mortality — or you’ve been on a Bruce Lee tourist pilgrimage.

The former Butterworth Mortuary, near the edge of Interstate 5, does catch the eye. Despite standing only three floors tall, its rounded façade, recessed ornamental clock and paired column entrances allow the elegant, tan building to command attention at the busy Pine/Melrose corner.

While it’s not an official city landmark, the Classical Revival charmer designed by architect Charles Haynes bears those earmarks. It’s an “easily identifiable visual feature” of its neighborhood. Perhaps more pertinent, evidence abounds to link it to a “historic event,” “important” person and local “cultural, political or economic heritage.”

In the funeral business since 1883 in Centralia, the Butterworths provided mortuary services in Seattle on First Avenue near Pike Place Market starting in 1903. The family opened its plush Capitol Hill hub, complete with suites, apartments, dormitories and a pipe organ and piano, in March 1923.

From World War II on, the family firm drew much of its identity from its virtually exclusive role in tending to the local Chinese and Japanese communities. Funeral directors Jimmy Mar served the former and Art Susumi the latter.

“That was two-thirds of their business for 60 years,” says former employee Craig Emmick. A conspicuous example of this reputation was its July 30, 1973, service for Lee, the famed martial artist and actor. Bringing  star power from Hollywood were pallbearers Steve McQueen and James Coburn.

The family sold the business in 1998. Attorneys occupied the edifice until last spring.

Today the building is closed except for the former Butterworth chapel, which was remodeled into a sumptuous pub that has operated from the Melrose entrance since 2012 under a clever moniker, the Pine Box. There, Lee fans from around the world stop in to quaff a brew and salute a legend.

No one has stepped up to nominate the building for landmark protection. Owners put the building up for sale last April for $9.3 million and later withdrew it from the market. A real-estate website estimates its value at $5.2 million. It’s assessed at $7.3 million.

The owners’ manager, attorney Jerry Everard, told the Daily Journal of Commerce last April he wants the building to be a keeper instead of a tear-down, likely as an investment for boutique offices. “I’m a collector,” he said. “I don’t like to let go of anything.”

That’s another method to champion the storied treasures that mark our land.

WEB EXTRAS

Thanks to Mike and Craig Emmick , Tom Butterworth, Bert Butterworth Jr., Cyn Huntley, Brian Miller, Eugenia Woo, Bob Carney and Scott & Amy Eals for their invaluable help with this installment!

To see Clay Eals’ 360-degree video of the “Now” prospect and compare it with the “Then” photos, and to hear this column read aloud by Clay, check out our Seattle Now & Then 360 version of the column.

You also will find 26 additional photos and, in chronological order, 14 historical clips from The Seattle Times and Seattle Post-Intelligencer online archive (available via Seattle Public Library), Newspapers.com and Washington Digital Newspapers, that were helpful in the preparation of this column.