River Rock homes
In 1996, Spokane Valley resident Don Rhodewalt began cataloging homes built of river rock (or cobblestones) in Spokane Valley. Rhodewalt lived in a river rock home at 1105 N. Bowdish Rd. and he was fascinated by the building style, which he’d never seen before. His criteria were simple: the house had to be located in Spokane Valley or nearby communities and a significant part of it had to be built out of river rock; a river rock foundation or rock chimney was not enough. He cataloged the homes on this map - but died before he could finish the project.
Spokane
601 E Everett Ave, Spokane, WA
19611 North Hazard Road, Spokane, WA
My grandparents' new home in 1947. Owned then by Jim & Abbie Rock. Built by Jim Rock & cousin Will Latterall in summer of 1947, after tearing down old home, so lived in tents for the summer, until finished. Located on South edge of Wild Rose Prairie, north of Spokane. Now in dis-repair & with new owners.
Spokane Valley
East Broadway Avenue, Spokane Valley, WA
Address is approximate. House is on the Northeast corner of Vista and Broadway. I do not know the people that live there.
Nishimura residence
Was the home of Vera, whom Veradale was named after. Built in 1909--Craftsman style house with river rock wrap around porch.
530 N. Flora Road
River rock home at one point owned by Reverend Edward Kowrach. All the walls are done in river rock - from the foundation to the roof. The home has unusual low eaves on one side. (Don Rhodewalt research)
1105 N. Bowdish Rd
This is the home Don Rhodewalt and Janice Samish lived in when Rhodewalt began his river rock home research in the mid 1990s. It was built in 1923 by Norwegian immigrant Einar Fieldstadt who built quite a few homes in the area. The work shop in back uses the same river rock as the home. (Don Rhodewalt research)
11813 E. Broadway Ave.
This home was built in 1920 and local legend has that it was built by a woman who collected appropriate rocks all over Spokane Valley and built many homes using those rocks. It used to share a driveway with the river rock home at 11901 E. Broadway Ave. That home was built in 1919. (Don Rhodewalt research)
11901 E. Broadway Ave.
Built in 1919 as the main home on an 80 acre ranch, it shares a driveway with nearby 11813 E. Broadway Ave. which is also a river rock home.
Phil Evans
The County told us it was built in 1937. It has river rock walls backed by 6 inches of concrete. It is a 4 bedroom, 2 bath home. It has a basement and a main floor.
4215 N Evergreen Rd, Spokane Valley, WA
4215 North Evergreen Road, Spokane Valley, WA
408 North Flora Road, Spokane Valley, WA
My grandfather, William Latterell, built the home for his family in the very late 1920's or early 1930's. He was assisted by his son Wallace in the construction of the home. Prior to building on Flora Road, William lived in Spokane on Garland Ave. The Great Depression was coming on and he decided to move to the valley where he could have some acreage on which to raise food for the family. Perhaps his earliest work in the Spokane area is a rock home he constructed at Deep Creek. That home remains and is still occupied.
2281 North Vista Road, Spokane Valley, WA
South of train tracks on east side of Vista Road
304 N McDonald Rd, Spokane Valley, WA
This is a two-story home with a newer garage at the back. The entire first story facade is done in river rock. (Don Rhodewalt research)
601 N Evergreen Rd, Veradale, Spokane Valley, WA
The is Vera Water and Power. The original building is built around Well No. 1 which is still part of Vera Water's system in the summer. When it starts freezing the well can't be used because it's not insulated. The building to the side is the old proprietor's apartment. (Don Rhodewalt research)
15703 East Valleyway Avenue, Spokane Valley, WA
We don't have many details on this home - it looks like it may be built at the same time as other rock homes along Valleyway Avenue (Don Rhodewalt research)
14703 East Valleyway Avenue, Spokane Valley, WA
This is a beautiful example of a rock home - and it includes an outdoor cooking area and fireplace also built out of river rock. (Don Rhodewalt research)
14201 East Valleyway Avenue, Spokane Valley, WA
This home was built in 1909 for the McDonald family that was one of the founders of Vera Water and Light. McDonald's daughter Vera, whom the entire area is named after, at one point lived in the home. The property was quite overgrown when the current owner purchased it and has now been restored. (Don Rhodewalt research)
Otis Orchards-East Farms
3613 N Harvard Rd, Otis Orchards, WA
Post Falls
North McGuire Road & West Seltice Way, Post Falls, ID
There is a rock building at this location. We always called it the Rock Church. There used to be a rock house directly across the street from the Rock Church, on the west side of McGuire. In the past few years, it was taken down. There is also another rock house a couple blocks north of the Rock Church. It is on the west side of the road. For many years, "The Rock" stood on the west side of the intersection of Corbin and Seltice Way. It was used as a school for the Post Falls School District and then many years later, a bar. In the late 1980s there was a huge fire in the abandoned building, and it was leveled.
Wallace
Woodland Park
Turning off I-90 at Exit 62, up the Canyon Creek about one mile north towards the ghost town of Burke, this one hundred year old round river rock house was constructed by Italian miners away from the town of Wallace after the big burn 1910 fire.