THE NEIGHBORHOOD: Ballard
THE PERSON: It’s true that Ballard has changed a lot over the years, but there’s one person who has probably seen the neighborhood transform more than anyone. Louis Larsen was born in 1924 and grew up five blocks from downtown Ballard. You may remember that the neighborhood was its own city before 1907. We asked Larsen what it means to be a Ballardite today. And what better place to conduct the interview than at Ballard’s own Sloop Tavern?
QUOTABLE: “New people coming in, getting involved in the community, makes it a stronger community.”
FUN FACT: Larsen worked at the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair. He helped host dignitaries like Prince Philip, Billy Graham, and Gherman Titov.
CHECK IT OUT: Don’t forget to add Ballard’s Syttende Mai festival to your calendar.