Seattleite Pet Peeves from 100 Years Ago

Text reads: Seattleite Pet Peeves from 100 Years Ago
Text reads: Seattleite Pet Peeves from 100 Years Ago
Text reads: For one glorious year between 1922 and 1923, The Seattle Daily Times ran a column EVERY SINGLE WEEKDAY called “Have You a Pet Peeve?” where Seattleites could anonymously write in their grievances about the city, its citizens, and other everyday annoyances. One hundred years later, these are a few of my favorite peeves.
Text reads: Down With Knockers Not very long ago I spent two months in California. Everyone knows what boosters the Californians are, sometimes even exaggerating a little. But they deserve a lot of credit for it. I’m not peeved at that at all —it’s this that makes me mad: Everywhere you go, you hear someone knocking Seattle or the state of Washington. Nothing ever pleases them. Seattle is always the worst place on earth. Before we went to California we were told over and over that this city was going to the dogs tomorrow or the next day at the latest; and when we came back, Seattle was still here and getting better every minute. Down with the knockers! Let them stop their talking or get out! — Miss C. Seattle Times, August 31, 1922
Text reads: Boost Wrong Team I have often noticed the Seattle baseball fans rooting for the opposing team. Last Wednesday some of the fans for Seattle saw that Seattle could not overcome the big lead that San Francisco had gained, therefore they were wishing that the Seals would win by a much larger score than they had. I am sure that that is not the real Seattle spirit. — C. N. Seattle Times, April 28, 1923
Text reads: Vandalism Peeves I have read your column a long time, and now have decided that it is time that the public knew of the way that several of the students at our new Roosevelt High School are treating the buildings. There are a few “hard boiled” boys there who thoughtlessly mar the building, and get angry if one reproaches them. One can walk through the halls and notice that there are pencil marks on the walls. After paying a million and a quarter for the school, it seems a shame to have a few of the students spoil the appearance so. — A Student Seattle Times, November 28, 1922
Text reads: Know Your Neighbor My pet peeve I’ve had for some time. Over a year ago I came to Seattle with my husband, it being his home, but I was a stranger. Since then I’ve met a number of people, all of whom promise to call on me, but as yet I’ve seen none of them. If we meet them on the street they say, “I really intended to call, but it’s so hard to get out with the children; they are so much trouble.” I wish the people of Seattle, especially West Seattle, would wake up to the fact that there are just as many good friends to be made among newcomers as among old-timers. I’ve been peeved so much by the indifference shown to strangers in the community that I thought I’d tell you about it. Seattle Times, December 15, 1922
Text reads: Flower Thieves We have a new home and have taken a great deal of pride in making our yard look attractive. We have spent quite a sum of money for hyacinth and tulip bulbs, and as these have but one bloom each year, it is certainly annoying to have them stolen. There are a number of young girls and boys who are making a practice of going around robbing flower beds. Sunday evening three girls came in my yard and helped themselves to the tulips, and last week two other yards in the neighborhood were robbed in the same way. I think I have a real peeve. —A. K. J. Seattle Times, May 8, 1923
Text reads: Those Revolving Doors My pet peeve is the revolving door, used in some business buildings in town, and the hurry mad individual who makes said door spin like a top. Have you ever, in attempting the north entrance to the Postoffice Building, gotten nearly mauled to death by that trick door? I’ll venture to say countless thousands have mentally cursed it. And what’s it there for? To speed up traffic through the building? It does that in some measure, and anyone needs but stand on the corner of Third Avenue and Union Street and watch this marvel mill taking in and sending forth its human grist, to appreciate its deadly efficiency. Seattle Times, January 19, 1923
Text reads: Small Girl Speaks My most perplexing pet peeve is against these people who say they simply hate small girls. I think it is a very rude way of expressing one’s self inasmuch as we who are small are not responsible and remember, too, “poison comes in small packages.” Signed, One of Them. Seattle Times, January 17, 1923

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