Houseboat damage on Lake Union, 1914 (MOHAI 6825)

On March 13, 1914, water from Lake Union gushed into the Lake Washington ship canal when a wooden dam in Fremont gave way. The level of the lake dropped approximately ten feet as a result of the accident. Almost 200 houseboat owners suffered losses when the receding waters left their floating homes stranded on the beach or toppled at odd angles.
This photo shows damaged houseboats along Fairview Avenue East between Newton and Blaine Streets in the aftermath of the Fremont dam collapse.
Caption information sources: Seattle Times, March 14, 1914; Seattle's Floating Homes by Erin Feeney, 2012.
Subjects (LCTGM): Houseboats--Washington (State)--Seattle; Lakes & ponds--Washington (State)--Seattle