FREE BALLARD
Next Tuesday marks the 100th anniversary of Ballard's annexation into the city of Seattle.
The Ballard Newspaper reported: "Shortly after 3 o'clock yesterday afternoon the fire bell of the city hall rang 22 times and the flags on the city hall and fire headquarters were lowered, and Ballard became part of history, and was made part of Greater Seattle. Many of the citizens, while favoring annexation to Seattle, wore a look of sorrow as the former city went out of existence."
The date was May 29, 1907, the official day of annexation, when Ballard became just another Seattle community. It was also the day that Seattle expanded north of Salmon Bay, gaining the booming industrial businesses located there, along with Ballard's 15,000 industrious and tax-paying residents.
One hundred years later, Ballardites are still saddened. Saddened that our forefathers and mothers were forced to give up their autonomy in order to obtain clean and plentiful drinking water. Saddened that we were no longer free.
As we speak a crack team made up of members from Pacific Fishermen, Opperman Design, GM Nameplate, and National Bird Control are fixing the bell in the Bell Tower so they can ring it on Tuesday in remembrance of that fateful day in 1907.
This will probably be followed up by "rabble rousing" at the local bars. Please wear all black and/or your favorite FREE BALLARD merchandise from Archie McPhee
