On June 6 , 1889 , the Great Seattle Fire destroyed the entire business district ( which consisted mainly of wooden buildings ) , including Yesler 's sawmill , Yesler 's Hall , a theater on the corner of and 1st Avenue , and Yesler 's Pavilion , a civic center on 1st and Cherry Street . They were never replaced . In 1892 , Yesler erected the Pioneer Building on the same plot of land where his first home stood , now the heart of Seattle 's Pioneer Square . Sarah Yesler had died in 1887 , but Yesler built a large new mansion and shared his mansion with a younger female relative ( some sources describe her as a maid ) , whom he married five months later
Great Seattle Fire
Great Seattle Fire
Henry Yesler