Early 20th Century Rare, Historic 29x17” Mercer Island Map

Early 20th Century Rare, Historic and Original 29x17” Southwestern Half Mercer Island Kroll Map Company Atlas Undated But Presumably Early Twentieth Century Published by Kroll Map Company as part of the Atlas of Seattle Precise Parcels and Landmarks of Streets, Parcels, and City Attractions Reference: 94W Also includes Water Mains, Sewers, Water Hydrants, Paving, Buildings, House Numbers and County Tax Lots Features: South Point, Government Meander Line, Island Point, Community Tract Avalon Park, Mercer Island Beach Club and the controversial C.D. Hillman’s Sea Shore-Lake Front Garden of Eden Original Document, Not A Replica Very Good Condition REGARDING C. D. HILLMAN: Clarence Dayton Hillman was a prominent businessman and real estate developer during the later portion of the 19th century. He arrived following the Panic of 1893 from Chicago with numerous prospectors during the Klondike Gold Rush. He purchased large tracts of land upon his arrival that had recently been logged and began sub-dividing the property and selling it to individuals. His stealth built up a substantial business, but left many speculators disgruntled. In 1910, a Seattle newspaper began investigating his business practices. They discovered that he’d greatly exaggerated the development potential and had sold identical parcels to multiple investors. He some instances, he sold property located at the bottom of a lake. He would be charged with the federal offense of mail fraud and convicted. The U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear his appeal. He would serve 18 months of a 30-month sentence in a federal penitentiary. Upon his release, he joined his family in California developing land in Paso Robles, San Diego and Pasadena. He died in Paso Robles during 1935 and is buried at Lakeview Cemetery in Seattle. His property homesteaded as Hillman City in the 1890s is a residential neighborhood in southeastern Seattle located in the Rainier Valley adjacent to the Columbia City neighborhood. Seattle annexed it in January 1907.