Thirst for More: A Negative Nancy's Analysis of a Good Read.

            As we discussed last week in class, the intended audience for this book is realtors, or anyone interested in Spokane real estate, and it was even more apparent in the second half. Even with this observation in mind, it was a good read, but left me wanting more. My favorite part was Chapter 5. The park system is a unique feature to Spokane’s infrastructure and important to the community, even in its beginnings. I find it interesting that the donation of the land “was clearly a serious conflict of interest with an illegal donative intent to the land owners, it proved to be quite popular with many of the town’s successful developers” (165). I am still not familiar with all of the parks and recreation areas and it made me want to drive around the city to discover what they had to offer.

Manito Park circa 1905-1907 (courtsey of discovery-school.org)

            The next chapter went though the history of Spokane’s architecture. Though I am not by any means an expert in architecture, in all of the pictures the Bamontes used, the houses were a similar square cottage-like structure, just different sizes and ornamentation. I am glad they decided to start with the native dwellings, though short and very generalized.

            Another part I enjoyed was Chapter 7, which describes the different homes of Spokane’s wealthy. Partly because I am envious of their rich lifestyle and houses, but I especially enjoyed the pictures in this chapter. However, I was left wanting to know more about the people who lived inside them as well as how the other half lived. It was also interesting to hear about other famous architects of early Spokane, besides Kirkland Cutter, but the authors did not really expand on the impact of their work on the development of the city, they just discussed certain buildings they designed.

            The old ads in Chapter 9 were very interesting and I hope we are able to find some like that for our ghost signs. Again though, it left me wanting more. They hardly discussed the ads, mostly just reprinting them.

            Since I’m being such a Negative Nancy this entire post, I guess I should end on a positive note. I did enjoy the read and the obvious effort put into their research is impressive. Even if the authors did not take it as far as I was hoping, it serves as motivation for continued research and analysis. This will be a great resource for local history on Spokane. 

A Town Determined

The precarious beginning of Spokane seems a bit off from the bustling city is has grown into after only 140 years. The journey the Bamontes bring us on, in their book Spokane, Our Early History, is enlightening, not only to new Spokanites such as myself, but I’m sure to long term residents as well.

            According to the authors, if it wasn’t for a few determined and patient investors including the “Father of Spokane,” James Glover who “tenaciously clung to his vision and made enough right moves to build the town, and rightfully claim the title” (18).  When the Northern pacific finally arrives in Spokane, or Spokan, the small boomtown becomes a “city of reckoning” (p. 30). With the railroad, population increased and the mining industry took off, creating a need for infrastructure including utilities, public transportation, hospitals, schools, media and telecommunications, and a fire department further cementing Spokane’s permanence in the Inland Northwest.

James N. Glover known as the Father of Spokane. (courtesy of the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture)

            The Great Spokane Fire should have been a major set back to the growing hinterland, was instead motivation for businesses and city leaders to prove to “the world that the spirit of Spokane was untouched” (p. 96). After massive reconstruction, Spokane was “more impressive than ever”(p. 97) and hosted The Northwestern Industrial Exposition.

            The Bamontes emphasize the community of Spokane when describing the various recovery efforts from tragedy after tragedy. They demonstrate how the citizens worked together for the benefit of the city, instead of their individual interests, which seems to be out of the ordinary for a western boomtown. However, they also point out times when people or businesses did take advantage of others downfall such as The Panic of 1893 when the Northwestern and Pacific Hypotheebank took the opportunity to take over much of the city’s real-estate. The city was able to get through these tough times, helped along with new construction of public buildings and again, the rally of the community around Fort George Wright.

            As Spokane started to take root in the Inland Northwest, the development of two sides of society formed along with it. The “darker side of Spokane” (p. 115) consisted of the wage workers and violence, was balanced by the “Age of Elegance,” (p. 115) which was filled with eastern cultural elite in their elegant Kirtland Cutter mansions and automobiles. Spokane continued to grow with large immigrant populations forming their own communities within the city, such as the Scandinavian neighborhood of Peaceful Valley. This increase in population brought both positive and negative changes, including vagrancy, more saloons, grocery stores, hospitals, public transportation and electric lights.

            The Bamontes' section on significant buildings was of particular interest because of our class project. We will be researching buildings in the community, and with resources such as this book, we will discover the impact of certain buildings on the community, the business inside and the owners. The city of Spokane has worked since its founding on the Falls to live up to the vision of James Glover