He was successful enough to buy , in 1882 , twelve acres along East Madison Street from Henry Yesler . After Grose 's hotel burned in the Great Seattle Fire in 1889 , he moved his home to 2813 E Howell where he lived at the time of his death . After his death his widow , Sara , lived at 1729 24th Avenue . The house next door at 1733 24th Avenue , is often credited with being his house but it was built in 1901 after his death . He gradually sold off house lots to other successful African-Americans in Seattle 's small community , and this area became the northern anchor of what eventually became Seattle 's Central District . The southern anchor , Jackson Street , was poorer , more transient , and rowdier , being part of Pioneer Square
Great Seattle Fire
Great Seattle Fire
William Grose (black Seattle pioneer)