File:Michael Carzes and others sitting in a jitney, Seattle, circa 1919 (MOHAI 10868).jpg

Greek-born Michael Demetrios Carzes (1882-1965) immigrated to the U. S. about 1909. An enterprising and community-minded man, Mr. Carzes and his American wife Amanda Rehse (1882-1976), owned and operated the Oyster House at 109 Pine Street for many years. As president of the Greek Community of Seattle (later Greek Community Association), Mr. Carzes also helped organize St. Demetrios' Greek Orthodox Church after its 1916 split from the Greek-Russian Orthodox Church (now Saint Spiridon Orthodox Cathedral). In this image Mr. Carzes, located just above the word "Transit," sits among passengers on one of his jitneys in Seattle. A "jitney" was a self-propelled vehicle carrying passengers, named for a slang term meaning a five cent nickel coin, and a cheap alternative to street cars until the rise of the automobile began limiting public demand for mass transportation. Mr. Carzes incorporated his Queen City Transit Company on June 3, 1915.

Caption information source: The Seattle Daily Times, July 21, 1965, p. 62 Caption information source: http://oldautonews.com/the-jitney-bus

• Subjects (LCTGM): Mass transit--Washington (State)--Seattle