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Folklore J. F. Ariza
Seattle, Wash.
FORMA
STATE, Washington
NAME OF MORDIF6 J. F. Ariza
ADDRESS, Seattle, Wash., Federal Writers' Project
DATE, December 22, 1938
SUBJECT, Raising funds for Seattle's first Protestant church.
1. Name and address of informant, Er* L. Blaine, Good Will Industries, Seattle, Wash.
2. Date and time of interview, 1830 PM., December 19, 1938
3. Place of interview, informant's office at Good Will establishment.
4. Methodist Union of Seattle, Republic Building.
5. Name and address of person, if any, accompanying you, no one accompanying
interviewer.
6. Description of room, house, surroundings, etc., an ordinary office.
Folklore
FORM B
STATE, Washington
NAME OF WORKER, J. F. Ariza.
ADDRESS, Federal Writers' Project, Seattle, Wash.
SUBJECT, Raising funds for Seattle's first Protestant church.
NAME AND ADDRESS OF INFORMANT, E.L. Blaine, Good 1111 Industries, Settle, Wash.
1. Ancestry, Anglo—Saxon, old American stock.
2. Place and date of birth, Central New York State, tout 75 years ago.
3. Family, father pastor of a Methodist Episcopal church; mother's ancestry
unknown.
4. Places lived in, with dates, New York State; Oregon Territory, Washington State.
5. Education with dates, Oregon and New York State public schools; M. E. College,
Limas N. Y.
6. Occupations and accomplishments, with dates, unknown.
7. Special skills and interests, unknown
8. Community and religious activities, respected son of pioneer clergyman and
held in high esteem by fellow citizens.
9. Description of informant, dignified, celm, humorour man; mind vigorous.
100 Other points gained in interview, none in particular except informantts
sincerity and dry humor and pride of family.
J. F. Arise,
Folklore. Seattle, Wash.
My father, Rev. David E. Blaine, of the Methodist Episcopal denomination,
built the first Protestant church in Seattle. That was in 1854. In Walla Walla
one day in the early 1890's, I met Dexter Horton, already one of the leading finan-
ciers of the Northwest who, before he died in 1906, became many times a millionaire.
In course of conversation he told me about that first church and the struggle
father had to raise funds.'
"One afternoon in the summer of 18540 I came over to Seattle from Alki where
I was doing day labor in a sawmill and tbaching.' I was greasy and dirty, my
trousers patched, shoes worn and full of holesiand I wasn't a very impressive fie-
ure. I met your father on First Avenue.
"'How do you do, Dexter,' he said, extending his hand. 'You're the very
man I'm looking for. I am raising money to build my church and I want you to :nib-
3cribe. Everyone in town is helping.'
"'Me?' I asked in astonishment. 'Why, Mt. Blaine,' I said, stepping back
a pace or two, 'Look at mel Just take a good look and say frankly haw much you
think a man like me could subscribe toward your Church.'
"Your father appraised me cooly, then said: 'Well, Dexter, I think you
could give about ten dollars.'
"I didn't lose any time signing his subscription. But quite +dine after-
ward we met again and I started laughing at him. Mat is it?' he demanded.
Then I told him. 'Mr. Blaine I bluffed you that day you got me for ten dollars.
I had a fifty -dollar 'slug' at home ready to lay right in your hand. But your
appraisal was poor.'"
Related by E. L. Blaine,
Head of the Good Will Industries in Seattle
at his office, December 19, 1938