"After reading your article this morning (Oct. 4) about returning to Spokane, I have the best story," wrote Gretchen Fouche Kuch.

"My parents, sister and I were living in Southern California in 1948 when my father had an opportunity to apply for a job in Spokane."

He had been told he could go right outside the city limits and hunt and fish. That appealed to him.

"He flew to Spokane, was hired, bought a house on South Walnut and came home to sell our home, pack up and head to Spokane, with a dog, cat and a bird. All he could tell us was that the house he bought had 52 pine trees on the property, the city was beautiful and a place where he wanted to raise my sister and I.

"The ride was long, no freeways back then."

They got to the Tri-Cities. No trees. They got to Ritzville. Same thing.

"My dad got into a huge panic as did my mom. Like what did he get us into?"

Welcome to Eastern Washington.

"Then we came down Sunset Hill."

He relaxed and said, "THAT is our city."

I wonder how many new arrivals first glimpsing that view have felt that way.

Gretchen continued.

"When we got to the house dad bought, in a new development, it did have 52 pine trees, all the size of a silver dollar, which later were removed.

"The house served my family until my parents passed away. The house still stands at 1621 South Walnut."

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