LASTING LEGACIES

Nestled into neighborhoods and scattered about the Valley, architectural treasures of the past can be found for those who know where to look.

But for those concerned about preserving the Valley’s heritage, there is little opportunity for these buildings to be recognized or saved. Many have already fallen to the hand of progress, and more will likely follow, they say.

“So much of the Valley has become urban sprawl,” said Jayne Singleton, director of the Spokane Valley Heritage Museum. “The very core of the Valley’s history is in danger of being lost.”

Irrigation ditches and structures from the beginning of last century are some of the earliest examples of settlement in the Valley, and many are lost as development increases, Singleton said.

The fledgling city of Spokane Valley does not have a Historic Preservation Committee, unlike Spokane. The city simply has not had enough time or resources to put together a committee, said Mayor Diana Wilhite.

“Arts are very important to a city, but in the scheme of what we need to do, we have a couple other things that we have to get taken care of,” she said. “It’s on the list, but it’s not up at the upper top.”

In the meantime, many buildings and structures are chronicled by the museum, which notes historic architectural contributions, Singleton said.

“People are becoming more interested in preservation,” she said.

Fortunately, many examples of early architecture exist, though they may be surrounded by mobile homes or subdivisions.

A common theme of many older buildings is the use of rounded river rocks. The rocks are stacked to build foundations, chimneys, and sometimes side an entire house.

The rocks were plentiful during early settling of the Valley, Singleton said. Early homesteaders could simply comb their land for the rocks while preparing the ground for farming, then gather the stones and build the sturdy house.

The Vera Water and Power pumphouse, which still stands at 601 N. Evergreen Road, is a castlelike building constructed of stone, which included a room off to the side for the superintendent. The building pumped water for irrigation throughout the area.

In Otis Orchards in the eastern part of the Valley, several rock structures are still around, left behind by fruit growers. One could often tell the ancestry of a family by noting what they did with their rocks, Singleton said. German families would pile all of their rocks in a pyramid in the middle of the property, while Irish families would build rock walls to delineate their land ownership lines. An example of a rock wall fence is currently on display at the museum.

Several notable buildings dot the Valley landscape, too many to note in one sitting. Some classic homes are located on the corners of busy streets, but are surrounded by newer homes. This is often the result of an original farm home remaining while the land was subdivided and sold, Singleton said.

Though the Valley is mostly without the tree-lined streets of a neighborhood like Browne’s Addition in Spokane, the company town of Millwood comes close. Several buildings designed to house plant workers and managers still stand, and a prime example of commercial and factory architecture still operates at Inland Empire Paper Co. The entire neighborhood was listed as a National Historic Place.

The Valley is not without its mansions, either.

Standing on a bluff overlooking the Spokane River and most of the Valley, the former Riblet Mansion turned Arbor Crest Winery still stands. The building was home to Royal Riblet, whose brother founded the Riblet Tramway Co. A chairlift once traveled the distance from the mansion down to the Spokane River.

Towering above neighboring ranch-style homes, the Van Marter home at University Road and Valleyway still stands. Built in 1908, the home is built from concrete meant to simulate stone. The three-story home features a finished attic, an open area in which skating parties were held.

The Spokane Valley Heritage Museum also occupies a historic building, which once held the governmental functions for the Opportunity township from 1912 until 1974. In that time the building served as a public meeting place for neighbors. The building is on the National Register of Historic Places.

“There’s a lot of local history that I think is important,” said Joanne Moyer, who is involved with Spokane Preservation Advocates. “The Valley has a wonderful rural history.”

Moyer said Spokane Valley should take action to form a preservation committee.

“They need to get an organized government entity that oversees it,” Moyer said. “There has to be some sort of preservation group out there.”