Mystery of a well-stocked trout pond in Mee-Kwa-Mooks park

I've read about the trout pond once located on the old Schmitz estate (formally named Sans Souci), but have never been able to pinpoint exactly where it sat.  A cool sketch of San Souci's grounds as depicted by the great niece of the West Seattle pioneers Emma and Ferdinand shows a number of landmarks but no specific mention of the "trout pond" 

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Note a "small pond" drawn in on the right. The trout pond?

It was time to leash up the dog and sniff this thing out. The Blue Spruce tree was the first landmark we found…

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Love the early century concrete work!

Then it was off to find where the waterfall was located. Figured that the trout pond could be somewhere down slope from it.

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Appears to be original stone-work for the water feature.  

My guess is that the well stocked pond was located further down the hill near Beach Drive itself. The Parks Department just cleared out some diseased trees and brush (in effort to help the recent restoration project ) and may have uncovered the location.

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On a hot August day, you can almost smell the fish!

There's even a concrete pad that once was a site for a bench of some sorts.

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The bench site looks somewhat new but the Schmitz estate didn't come down 'til the late 60's.

This aerial photo from 1968 clearly shows where the 1907 circa 17 room mansion was excavated as well as the extensive gardens. But no sign of the famous trout pond.

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All the gardens were said to be watered naturally from "Spring Hill"

Here's an archived pic named Sans Souci that shows standing water near whats looks to be the shoreline. Is it the pond?

  787 - Sans Souci Alki Point

Alan Schmitz, grandson of Emma and Ferdinand, holding a photo of the historic mansion that once occupied the hillside of what is now Mee-Kwa-Mooks park.

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Again, no clue as to the whereabouts of the trout pond.

So that's the end of my quest to find the ghost fishing hole of Mee-Kwa-Mooks. If anyone out there actually knows where it existed, please share!

Scupper Sr. for Beach Drive Blog 

 

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Comments

  1. When Alan Schmitz gave a tour of Me-Kwa-Mooks Park for the Southwest Seattle Historical Society a few years ago, he identified the site of the trout pond as that low area near the sidewalk on the north end of Me-Kwa-Mooks, the area that has been extensively cleared recently. I think I could show you that site.

  2. Please do! I’m wondering if the large mound was in the middle of the pond. BDB readers (all 3 of them) would be thrilled to learn some of the historic tidbits you have about our area. Please share!

  3. Looks like a peaceful place to live in. Just a serene setting that you would love to see everyday once you’ve retired from work and looking to settle to something much simpler.

  4. Kathleen Greiff says

    There was a mound/island in the middle, and a little bridge that went from the shore to the center island/mound.

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