Sculpture of Ivar Haglund by Richard Meyer on Pier 54 in Seattle
Ivar Haglund (21 March 1905 – 30 January 1985) was a Seattle folk singer and the "flounder"[1] of Ivar's.[2]
Haglund came from an old Seattle family: his maternal grandparents had purchased Alki Point in 1868 from Seattle pioneer Doc Maynard. His mother died of starvation when he was only three, while under treatment by Linda Hazzard, a so-called fasting specialist. He himself was treated by "Dr." Hazzard several times even after his mother's death.[3]
In 1938, he opened Seattle's first aquarium along with a fish and chips counter on Pier 54. In 1946, he opened a full restaurant there, Ivar's Acres of Clams, which with the fish and chip counter survives to this day (although they have been thoroughly remodeled). He coined its motto, "Keep Clam."[2] He expanded the fine dining and fish and chips restaurants into a regional chain.[2]
After his neighbor on Pier 56 put up a sign reading "Don't Feed Sea Gulls, Health Regulation" in 1971, Haglund responded with his own sign encouraging customers to feed the seagulls.[2]
In 1976, Haglund bought the Smith Tower, a Seattle landmark that was once the tallest building in North America west of the Mississippi River. In 1983, he was elected port commissioner after filing as a prank. He died of a heart attack just over a year later.[2]
Notes
- ^ http://www.ivars.net/Carte_Clam_home/carteclam Ivar’s Carte Clam Card], Ivar's restaurants official site. Accessed January 29, 2008.
- ^ a b c d e Paul Dorpat, Haglund, Ivar (1905-1985), HistoryLink, June 20, 2000. Accessed January 29, 2008.
- ^ Kathrine Beck, Hazzard, Linda Burfield (1867-1938): Fasting Proponent and Killer HistoryLink, October 26, 2006. Accessed January 29, 2008.
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