Seattle Newsletter (October 14th)

Your news, upcoming events, AI art, historical facts and more!

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Welcome to The Seattle Newsletter!

In today’s edition:

  • Nonproft land trust aims to keep homes permanently affordable.

  • Upcoming Seattle Sounders FC match

  • A deep-dive into the life of Dr. Linda Hazzard

  • And more…

Quote of the Week

"The unexamined life is not worth living."

— Socrates

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Trivia

Here is your trivia question of the week. The answer will be shown in next week’s newsletter. Which do you think it is? No cheating!

What is the name of the Seattle neighborhood known for its vibrant music scene and is often associated with the birth of grunge music?

A) Capitol Hill

B) Belltown

C) Pioneer Square

D) Fremont

Answer to Last Week's Trivia:

The Microsoft co-founder who founded Seattle's Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP) is B) Paul Allen.

News

💼 Business

Nonproft land trust aims to keep homes permanently affordable. (Link)

This former Green Beret now leads digital defenses for UW. (Link)

🏒 Sports

Mariners send prospect to Rays to complete Arozarena trade. (Link)

Huskies set modern program record for consecutive home wins. (Link)

🏦 Finance

Apartment developer eyes large project for Ballard's Market Street. (Link)

Upcoming Events

Here are some events that are happening in our city this week. There is a good mix between sports, entertainment, conferences, concerts, and more.

Sports

🏒 Philadelphia Flyers at Seattle Kraken
Climate Pledge Arena, Seattle
Thursday, Oct. 17th | (More info)

⚽ Portland Timbers at Seattle Sounders FC
Lumen Field, Seattle
Saturday, Oct. 19th | (More info)

Music & Concerts

🎶 Sleeping With Sirens
Showbox SoDo, Seattle
Wednesday, Oct. 16th | (More info)

🎤 Rapsody
The Crocodile - Old Location, Seattle
Thursday, Oct. 17th | (More info)

Family

🔍 Scavenger Hunt Seattle
305 Harrison St, Seattle
Wednesday, Oct. 16th | (More info)

Image of the Week

Every week, I have a habit of making some AI art about our city.

This week, I typed in “A steampunk-themed Seattle with Victorian architecture” and this is what I got.

Let me know what ideas you have for this. I really enjoy making these types of photos.

Seattle Historical Events

Klondike Gold Rush (1897) - Seattle becomes a key supply point for the Klondike Gold Rush, spurring economic growth.

The Klondike Gold Rush of 1897 marked a seminal event in both the history of the Pacific Northwest and the development of Seattle. When gold was discovered in the Klondike region of the Yukon in Canada, it unleashed a frenzied rush of would-be prospectors dreaming of wealth, originating from all corners of the globe. Seattle, positioned as the nearest major port city to the Klondike, quickly became the premier departure point for these gold seekers, offering a direct route to the goldfields. This pivotal role transformed the city into a bustling hub, where outfitters, merchants, and transportation companies flourished by provisioning the miners with the necessary supplies and passage for their journey north.

The economic impact on Seattle was immediate and profound. Entrepreneurs and business owners capitalized on the sudden demand for Klondike-related goods and services. Stores selling mining equipment, camping supplies, and cold-weather gear sprang up virtually overnight, and Seattle's shipping industry saw a significant uptick as vessels were chartered to transport hopeful miners and their supplies to Alaskan ports en route to the Yukon. Real estate values soared, and employment opportunities abounded, contributing to a rapid growth in the city's population. Seattle's strategic positioning and readiness to cater to the needs of the Klondike stampeders not only fueled an economic boom but also laid the groundwork for its future as a key trade and commercial center in the Pacific Northwest.

The Klondike Gold Rush, while brief, left an indelible mark on Seattle's history, effectively transforming it from a modest outpost to a thriving urban center. The legacy of this era can still be seen today in the city's vibrant economic landscape and its cultural heritage, with museums and historical sites preserving the memory of the rush. Seattle's ascendancy as a key supply point for the Klondike stampeders catalyzed its growth and development, setting the stage for its emergence as a major American city. Through this remarkable chapter in history, Seattle established itself as a crucial gateway to the riches of the North, illustrating the profound impact of the Klondike Gold Rush on its destiny.

Famous People From Seattle

Dr. Linda Hazzard (1867–1938)

Linda Burfield Hazzard, often a figure shrouded in controversy, etched her name in the annals of medical history with her unconventional approach to healing — the fasting cure. Her life and career were a paradoxical blend of ambition, humanitarian intentions, and practices that today stir heated debates among medical professionals and ethicists alike.

Early Life and Medical Aspirations (1867-1888)

Born in 1867 in Minnesota, Linda Burfield was one of eight children. From a young age, she exhibited a keen interest in medicine, a field that was, at the time, largely inaccessible to women. Despite societal constraints, Linda pursued her passion with undeterred determination, setting the stage for a career that would become both groundbreaking and infamous.

The Fasting Cure Emerges (1888-1902)

After her marriage to Samuel Christman Hazzard, Linda's beliefs in alternative medicine deepened. Influenced by the fasting cure movement of the era, she began to develop her theories, advocating fasting as a means to allow the body to heal itself from various ailments. Her methods, viewed skeptically by the established medical community, nevertheless attracted a following.

A Controversial Healer in Seattle (1903-1912)

Hazzard's connection to Seattle became significant when she and her husband moved there in the early 20th century. It was in Washington state that she found an environment conducive to her practice, although not without controversy. Despite lacking a formal medical degree, except for a loophole that allowed her to practice medicine in Washington, she opened the Wilderness Heights sanitarium in Olalla, where her fasting cures were administered.

Rise to Notoriety (1912-1915)

Dr. Hazzard’s methods soon caught widespread attention, with claims of miraculous cures but also alarming reports of patient deaths. Her treatments, which involved extreme fasting protocols, were radical, to say the least. Critics labeled her practice as dangerous and unethical, leading to a sensational trial that catapulted her notoriety to new heights.

Legal Battles and Conviction (1915-1916)

The death of Claire Williamson, a wealthy British woman who sought Dr. Hazzard's treatment in Seattle, led to a highly publicized inquest and trial. Charged with manslaughter, Hazzard defended her practices vigorously but was eventually convicted. This pivotal event marked a turning point, casting a long shadow over her career.

A Stint in Prison (1916-1919)

Dr. Hazzard served two years in the Washington State Penitentiary, a sentence that did little to shake her conviction in the fasting cure. She used her time in prison to author a book, expounding on her theories and practices, further cementing her role as a steadfast, if controversial, advocate for her cause.

The Later Years: Redemption or Relapse? (1919-1935)

Upon her release, Hazzard and her husband moved to New Zealand, where she continued her practice with a seemingly less contentious presence. However, her legacy in Seattle and the shadows of her past were never far behind. In 1920, she returned to Olalla, where she reopened her sanitarium, now named the School of Health, continuing her controversial treatments.

The Final Chapter (1935-1938)

Despite surviving several legal challenges and controversies, Dr. Linda Hazzard’s health began to decline. In a twist of fate, she decided to undergo her fasting cure, which ultimately led to her death in 1938. Her demise was seen by many as an ironic conclusion to a life dedicated to promoting a practice that had been both her passion and her downfall.

Legacies and Controversies (Post-1938)

Dr. Hazzard's death did not put an end to the debates surrounding her practices. The Wilderness Heights sanitarium, known among locals as Starvation Heights, left a lasting legacy in the annals of medical controversies. Her approach to healing, viewed by some as pioneering and by others as perilous, remains a subject of study and speculation.

Reflections on Dr. Linda Hazzard

Dr. Hazzard’s life story is a complex tapestry of ambition, conviction, and controversy. Her dedication to her practice, despite widespread criticism and legal battles, underscores a certain courage in her convictions. Yet, the deaths of her patients and her own demise offer a cautionary tale about the dangers of medical practices unsupported by scientific evidence.

Key Achievements of Dr. Linda Hazzard:

  • Pioneered the fasting cure method, advocating it as a natural way to heal the body.

  • Authored a book detailing her theories and practices regarding fasting.

  • Established the Wilderness Heights sanitarium in Olalla, Washington, as a center for her fasting cure treatments.

Dr. Linda Hazzard's biography unveils a life marked by an unwavering belief in an alternative healing method, that of fasting, which she championed despite significant opposition and controversy. Her story is a testament to the complexities of medical innovation and the ethical boundaries it often tests. While her methods and the outcomes thereof remain subjects of debate, her impact on the history of alternative medicine and her connection to Seattle's medical narrative are indelible.

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I would love to hear from you. Don’t be shy.

-Yannick Lyons

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