Treat yourself to a story about Loyal Heights. This neighborhood in Seattle owes its existence to Harry W. Treat. He developed a large tract of land here beginning in 1906.
Loyal Heights is part of greater Ballard. The neighborhood is bordered by 28th Avenue NW to the west. North Beach and Blue Ridge lie to the north, beyond NW 86th Street. Whittier Heights is to the east, past 15th Avenue NW. Central Ballard sits to the south, beyond NW 65th Street.
Harry Whitney Treat established Loyal Heights. He was a businessman. He planned it as a streetcar suburb. This followed the construction of a new electric streetcar line. The Loyal Railway Company operated it.
In 1907, Ballard, including Loyal Heights, was annexed into Seattle. Treat named Loyal Heights after his daughter, Loyal Graef Treat.
Before Treat’s arrival, the land was forested. Trees reached four feet in diameter. By 1912, settlement had advanced. This reflected heavy promotion and the trolley line’s presence.
Treat also developed Loyal Beach and the Loyal Heights Railway. Edward B. Cox managed the trolley line. For three cents, it brought visitors from Ballard to 32nd Avenue W and W 85th Street. Harry Treat would transport visitors in his buggy to see bluff-top home sites. These were along 32nd Avenue W. He also took them to Loyal Beach, now Golden Gardens. A lot could be purchased with a small down payment and installments.
The city built an elementary school in Loyal Heights in 1932. A playfield opened in 1941. The Loyal Heights Playfield had been a play area for years. Children solicited donations to help fund its purchase. One resident recalled collecting money in Hills Bros. coffee cans.
During the 1930s, the area was mostly empty lots. There was an old covered wagon. A heavily bearded old man lived in it. Kids were afraid to go near.
In 1949-50, the Loyal Heights Field House was constructed. It served as a community center. Naramore, Bain, Brady & Johanson designed it. The building featured a gymnasium, social rooms, and locker rooms. Despite window alterations, the building retains its architectural integrity.
Following Treat’s death in 1922, the city purchased Golden Gardens. It opened as a municipal park in 1927. Treat didn’t see Loyal Heights fully settled. Small pockets of undeveloped land remained after his death.
Today, Loyal Heights remains a quiet neighborhood. It is somewhat set apart from the city’s hustle. Harry W. Treat would likely approve of how it has evolved.