The Belltown Pan
ON THIS SITE,
FROM 1978 TO 1982
THE BELLTOWN CAFE
SERVED THE NEIGHBORHOOD
AS A CULTURAL HEARTH AND
HOME TO A GROUNDHOG DAY
ROOT PIE TRADITION. THE CAFE
PROPRIETORS OFTEN TRADED
FOOD FOR ART WITH THEIR
CUSTOMERS. ONE EXCHANGE
RESULTED IN THE CREATION OF
THE "BELLTOWN PAN"; A LARGE
METAL PAN IN THE SHAPE OF A
BELL, FABRICATED TO FUNCTION
BOTH AS AN EXTERIOR SIGN FOR THE
CAFE AND AS A BAKING PAN THAT
WOULD FIT INTO A COMMERCIAL OVEN
ON GROUNDHOG DAY, THE PAN WOULD BE
TAKEN INSIDE AND USED TO BAKE AN
ASSORTMENT OF ROOT VEGETABLES FOR
ALL TO SHARE, THEN RETURNED TO ITS
OUTDOOR POSITION THE FOLLOWING DAY
DURING THIS TIME PERIOD, THE COMMUNITY
ENGAGED IN MANY CİVIC ACTIVITIES INCLUDING
THE PLANTING OF STREET TREES ALONG FIRST
AVENUE, AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE APEX
BELLTOWN CO-OP. TODAY, THE NON-PROFIT AFFORDABLE
HOUSING ORGANIZATION, BELLWETHER, OCCUPIES THIS
SITE; AND THE ICONIC BELLTOWN PAN LIVES ON AS
SYMBOLIC CALL TO ENGAGE IN COMMUNITY ACTION
FOR THE COMMUNITY GOOD
Submitted by @TomRMarks