Pigeons and Eagles

photo by BallardBlog

In the 1920's the Eagles were flying high in Ballard. They built Ballard's tallest building on the corner of Market and 22nd. It was grand. It housed the lodge, the Bagdad Theatre, and the offices of Ballard's worthiest professionals. Then the Depression hit. The Eagles couldn't make the mortgage payments. The bank foreclosed.

Over the years shops have come and gone in the street level spaces. Upstairs, the building housed Ballard Hospital. The Bagdad closed and was replaced by the famous (or infamous) Backstage nightclub. Many Ballardians have a Backstage story. Most can't be told to their kids.

Nowadays, a new generation of Ballard's worthy professionals have their offices upstairs. On the street you'll find, among other shops, a terrific bakery. The pigeons really appreciate their good work. No wonder they resist the best efforts of the building's owners to evict them.