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Stories archived from the now dormant Belltown Dispatch blog

12-08-2009
Christmas Tree Growing on Austin Bell's Tomb

Austin A. Bell's final resting place in Seattle's Lakeview Cemetery is now home to a small fir tree of the Charlie Brown variety – which thrives on the roof of his tomb. What could be cheerier during the holiday season than this accidental miracle of nature blossoming in all it's pagan glory?

Austin is the son of Belltown's pioneer founder William Bell and you can also see his name on First Avenue and Bell streets on the Austin A. Bell building facade, above Starbucks. He killed himself there and some say his ghost can still be found wandering around Downtown.

Also growing on the tomb of "Seattle's first spoiled rich kid" are some flowers (see photos). The entrance to the tomb has been sealed with modern-day cinder blocks.




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