Tell me how the ivy twines.

This is a reprint of an article published by Bayview Retirement Community.

Ivy on arbor at Bayview Retirement Community. Courtesy of QAHS. August 2024

The rooting on the south side of the arch came from a plant given to the boy, Charles Kinnear in 1880. It had already had a long history having been taken from the ivy vine growing at Westminster Abby, in London. The rooting was given to 'Doc Maynard,' the Seattle pioneer, by a travelling Englishman. Doc Maynard gave a start from his vine to the Bailey Gatzert family who in turn gave a start to Dr Grass, Charles Kinnear's dentist.

 Thirteen-year-old Charles planted the ivy root at his family home at Third and Spring Street where it thrived. When in 1888 the family moved to their new mansion at the foot of Queen Anne Hill, Charles transplanted the vine. He built a strong, four-posted arbor which the ivy soon covered creating an ivy tunnel. The ivy arbor was so impressive that in the 1920's, Mr. McDermott, owner of The Bon Marche' department store, offered Kinnear’s $100 for some of the ivy roots which he planted at his new mansion on Highland Drive. The ivy arbor on the Kinnear property still stood in 1957 when the idea for Bayview Manor came into being.

Old Ivy Arch article featuring Mr & Mrs Charles Kinnear in Seattle Times July 10, 1947

The ivy on the north side of the arch comes from the grounds of the Seattle First Methodist Church, the oldest church in Seattle. Founded in 1853, the church had grown over the years and, by the 1950's, it was located at Fifth and Marion Street. It was the parish of the Reverend Dr. Cyrus Albertson, 1952 to 1963.

Dr. Albertson had an extensive radio ministry and was also a member of the same lodge as Charles Kinnear. They met. The Kinnear family listened to the services on the radio. Charles Kinnear, then in his 80s, and Dr. Albertson became strong friends. Their thoughts, values ​​and visions intertwined. Charles' vision was that when he died his property would be used to serve old people and children in the community. He trusted Dr. Albertson to honor his intentions and left the property to Seattle First Methodist Church for that purpose.

 When the construction of Bayview Manor began the old ivy arbor was demolished. The chopped-off ivy root remained, protected by the shelter of a young evergreen tree on the SW comer of the property. Years later, a resident of Bayview Manor recognized it as the historic vine and new starts were cultivated from it. In 2008 the church building at Fifth and Marion Street was sold as the church planned its move to a new structure at Second and Denny Way. A rooting was taken from the church ivy and cultivated. Now the tendrils of the Kinnear ivy and those of the Seattle First United Methodist Church grow on this arch in the Bayview Manor Residents' Garden on the 10 floor. Their tendrils intertwine, just as the thoughts of Charles Kinnear and Cyrus Albertson did, symbolizing the trust and friendship that created Bayview Manor.

Sources:

This document, in two parts, was written by Catherine Morgan sometime before 2015. Bob Mitchell scanned it, as a document. That document is reproduced here. It was read by Jennifer Flick at the installation ceremony for the arch, made by Bob Mitchell.

The Seattle Historical Society (a 1955 interview with Charles Kinnear in the Seattle Times).