Jack Dunn, Photographer & Retired Firefighter, Madrona

Jack Dunn was a talented photographer who also was a firefighter in our neighborhood until retirement. He lived with his wife in Madrona in the same house since the late 1940s. He raised a family there and over that time has gathered a great deal of insight on how the neighborhood and the people in it have changed together. (He has since passed away is still much missed)

Photo by Madeline Crowley

Honestly, though, this neighborhood was the only interesting one in all of Seattle... It’s gone through so many changes that no other neighborhood can duplicate.

Jack Dunn fairly crackles with energy so it’s little surprise to learn of his love of exploring mountains by hiking, mountain climbing and skiing. Today, he restricts himself to riding his electric bike and photography. He has a great sensitivity and integrity that his views below reveal and reflect.

Jack on Madrona in the 1940s:

Well, it was a whole new world for me after I moved to Madrona. You might say that at that time I was a little old hillbilly who didn’t know anything about the world but I evolved. 

I’d grown up in a logging camp near Mt. St. Helens so I’d only ever seen one black person in my life. During WWII there was a lot of anti-Japanesepropaganda (link to images) so I was shocked to see people being friendly with Asian people. During the war a lot of people felt similarly suspicious there had been a lot of propaganda.

About ’42 Internment happened and that changed the neighborhood too.

This interview is now available in the book, We Lived Here, published by Chin Music Press: https://chinmusicpress.bigcartel.com/product/we-lived-here-stories-from-seattle-s-central-area

Photo: Collection Jack Dunn

Firehouse. Collection: Jack Dunn

 “Color Line” (Redlining) t
 real estate man, Hardcastle (mentioned in text), 

Redlining in Seattle

“White Flight.” 

Old Madrona Elementary. Collection: Jack Dunn

 Black Panthers food program for kids and a free health clinic.

Madron Fire Station history. 

[Jack was referred to the project by Benjamin Chotzen] 

©  Madeline Crowley People of the Central Area 2013   All material is covered by copyright. Express written permission must be given for any copyrighted material on this page. Email to request permission to copy or paste materials. 

This project was supported in part by
4Culture's Heritage Projects program