Special Birthday Feature
Happy Third Birthday Holly!

"The Riverfront Park Carousel, also known as the Looff Carousel and the Natatorium Park Carousel is a carousel in Spokane, Washington originally built in 1909 by Charles I. D. Looff. The carousel was a gift for Looff's daughter Emma Vogel and her husband Louis Vogel, who owned Natatorium Park in Spokane.[1] It remained at the park until 1968 when the park closed. The carousel was relocated to its present location at Riverfront Park in 1975 where it continues to operate.[2][3]


"The carousel still contains its original 1900 Ruth & Sohn Band Organ, although due to deteriorating player rolls, a digitized recording is played during the carousel's operation[3]. The organ was manufactured in Waldkirch, Germany and imported by Looff around 1900.


"The carousel contains 54 horses, 1 giraffe, 1 tiger and 2 chariots, all hand carved by Looff himself. It also has a brass ring dispenser that allows the outside riders to grab a ring during each pass and then toss the ring at a clown with a hole for his mouth. If the rider is successful in capturing the brass ring, he or she can turn it in to win a free ride on the carousel[4]." (See Link.)

Happy Third Birthday Holly!

Photo: Of the Carousel in Riverfront Park, Spokane October 2003  taken by her
Nana, Suzanne Wilson.
Photo: Of Holly taken on the Carousel in Riverfront Park in Spokane, July 2010 by her mother, Laura (Wilson) Misner.
Link:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riverfront_Park_Carousel

Sunday Church Feature Wildrose United Methodist Church Wildrose United Methodist Church is over 100 years old. The church sits at 6312 West Wildrose Road. This is the corner of West Wildrose Road and Monroe Road south of the town of Deer Park, Washington. "Deer Park was settled in 1889 when a railroad siding was built for the Spokane Falls and Northern Railway." Wikipedia, see Link. Later logging became a big industry in the area. The lumber was sent south to help build the town of Spokane River which became the present city of Spokane.   As can be seen in the photo above the tiny Wildrose United Methodist Church is not near even the small town of Deer Park. It sits on the Wild Rose Prairie where farms are scattered through the tall grass. The other thing that is scattered through the tall grass is deer. At twilight as many as 50 deer might be seen grazing in the fields. Hitting a deer crossing the road is a common occurrence.  Wildrose United Methodist Church holds services every Sunday morning at 9:30. The minister in 2009 was Lee Brooks. However, the lay pastor from 1992 to 1998 was Bob Zinke and he revealed the following information. The church was formed in the late 1800's by John Yingst. At first they gathered in individual homes. But in 1892 they built a church. As the story goes, the carpenter/contractor was an alcoholic and hid his empty whiskey bottles in the steeple. When the congregation found out they were fearful. And rightly so since in 1912 lightening hit the steeple and the church was burned to the ground. The present church was built, but as you can see from the photo above no steeple was added. Inside the church is a sanctuary, two small Sunday School rooms and a bathroom. The sanctuary with its tall trinity window can hold a congregation of 60 to 70 people, but during Bob Zinke's ministry seven elderly worshipers was more likely. The bathroom is a converted back porch and did not have running water until 1994.  Above the church there is not a steeple, but a tall wooden cross.  Another cross, this time neon, is mounted above the front entrance and lets people in the area know that Christians meet to worship on the Wild Rose Prairie. Thank you: To Bob Zinke for the interesting information about the church. Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deer_Park,_Washington Photo: Taken in 2010 by SW.

Saturday Travel Feature
Spokane Milk Bottle

"The Benewah Milk Bottle is a landmark in Spokane, Washington. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the milk bottle was one of two constructed in the area to accompany a successful dairy operation's stores.

"The bottle was completed in 1935 and is a classic example of literalism in advertising. The bottle is stuccoed from its base to where it begins to taper to the bottle's neck. The neck and cap are sheet metal over a wooden frame. The entire bottle had an original white paint. It was Paul E. Newport who built the milk bottles. Newport owned the thriving Benewah Dairy Company. Company ads stated the bottles were "designed to build better men and women by making dairy products attractive to boys and girls. No expense will be spared to make these new stores as sturdy as fine, and as good as the products they represent." Wikipedia.

This first store was just as described, only a milk bottle shaped building. The sign put up on the stack of this building depicted a Native Indian in full feather headdress advertising Benewah Creamery, Fresh Milk and Cream. Later a rectangular store was added to the milk bottle. The first sign on the stack of this building was simply Benewah Dairy Store. Posters in the windows listed Butter 69 cents a pound and Cottage Cheese 19 cents a pound. Inside the store a sign read Lady Borden peach ice cream 20 cents. The next sign that appeared on the stack and the one that is present today is a neon oval that simply says The Milk Bottle. Above the oval is advertised the types of food that is served, such as burghers.

The color scheme inside the store has always been black and white. Photos that line the walls show the original long counter on one side and upholstered booths on the other side. The original floor was medium sized square black and white tiles. Today the sides of the long counter are covered in white tile and the upholstered booths have been replaced with small tables and chairs. The floor is covered in small white tiles grouted in black.

The Milk Bottle is located at 802 Garland Street in the heart of the Garland District of Spokane. Other neighboring buildings of the same era are the Ferguson's Fountain Cafe, the Brown Derby with it brown derby shaped sign, and the Masonic Temple on the corner. The Garland Theater, art deco in design and built in 1945, is just a block away. All these are worth a look when visiting The Milk Bottle that is only open 11 am to 4 pm and is always crowded. This is not only because it is a piece of history, but the food is fresh and reasonably priced: $7.83 for a milk shake, cheeseburgher, and fries or a salad.

A second 'Benewah Milk Bottle" is South 321 Cedar Street in Spokane, but is not thought to be presently in use.

Photo: Taken March 2010 by SW.
Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benewah_Milk_Bottle

Sunday Church Feature
St. Aloysius at Gonzaga

Gonzaga University in Spokane Washington sits on the bank of the Spokane River just north of the downtown area. Gonzaga University was started by the Jesuits in  1887 on a 320 acre of land purchased in 1881 for $936 by Fr. Joseph Cataldo. "It was named Gonzaga College after Italian Aloysius Gonzaga, the patron saint of youth." (Link 2) When the building was completed it was the largest building in Spokane except for the County Courthouse.  The tuition and board for the 20 students at that time was $250 for the ten month term.  A second building was added in 1892. Today 5,000 students attend Gonzaga University. "The campus now includes 94 buildings on 131 acres...Gonzaga employs over 1,200 people " (Link 2)  making it one of the major employers in Spokane.  The university is not only known for its academic excellence, but for its basketball team, the Bulldogs and affectionately called the Zaggs, and for one of its alumni, Bing Crosby.  Bing Crosby grew up in the area and at age 13 served as an altar boy.

St. Aloysius Catholic Church is at 330 Boone Ave. and is the eastern anchor of Gonzaga University.  A framed church was originally built in 1881.  It could accommodate a congregation of a few hundred people.  The church and the University recreation hall were moved in 1899. And in 1911 a new St. Aloysius Church was dedicated. 

"The present St. Aloysius church was dedicated October 12, 1911.  It has the largest seating capacity among Catholic churches in Spokane, able to accommodate 1,100 worshippers.  The church, which replaced an original wooden structure, was designed by the architectural firm of Preusse & Zittle of Spokane.  An adapted Romanesque style, its many rounded arches and graceful circular features help to soften construction lines.  The church, begun in 1909, took almost exactly two years to build at a cost of $176,125.

" Interior features of St. Aloysius church include oak woodwork, altars and ambo of matching Italian marble, and a true pipe organ with 37 ranks of keys.  The Stations of the Cross, in three-dimensional plaster, were made by the Mayers’ Studio of Germany.  This firm was also responsible for the magnificent stained glass windows (25 by 12 feet) flanking the nave, the great rose windows surmounting the east and west balconies, and the smaller niche windows, depicting Jesuit saints and the life of St. Aloysius Gonzaga, positioned around the apse.  In recent years, four new windows have been added depicting  St. Jude, St. Francis Xavier Cabrini, Mother Teresa of Calcutta and Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha.

The church is open for visitors and for private prayer during daylight hours throughout the year.  Brochures providing a self-guided tour are available in the narthex near the main doors and near the Visitors' Guestbook, and guided tours are scheduled at intervals after the Sunday Masses.   Docents can be available for group tours throughout the year by appointment; call 313-7006 to schedule.

"The distinctive twin spires, housing the great bell Catherina, rise high above the surrounding area and are visible from vantage points throughout the city."(Link 1.)

Photo: Taken in 2006 by SW.
Link 1: http://www.stalschurch.org/aboutus/index.htm
Link 2: http://www.gonzaga.edu/Academics/Libraries/Foley-Library/Departments/Special-Collections
/exhibitions/GonzagaHistory1887.asp
Link 3: http://www.gonzaga.edu/Academics/Libraries/Foley-Library/Departments/Special-Collections/Collections/Bing-Crosby-Collection/CrosbyandGonzaga.asp

Saturday Travel Feature

Concrete Grade School

Concrete, Washington

Photo: Taken in Concrete, Washington in September 2007 by SW.

Link:

Saturday Travel Feature
Spokane Railroad Tower

"This tower is all that remains of the great Northern Depot that stood on the site from 1902 to 1972. The building was removed while clearing the downtown site for Expo '74. The tower symbolizes the role the railroads had in the development of the city and is a focal point of the Riverfront Park." (Quote from the book Spokane's Historic Architecture published by Eastern Washington State Historical Society.)  One wishes that the whole of the Northern Railroad Depot could still be seen. The tower is 155 feet in height and does play its carillon bells each day and noon.


The Great Northern Depot with its Clock Tower was built at a cost of $150, 000. It was thought to be the finest railroad depot west of Chicago. "It was made with pressed brick and trimmed with native sandstone. The four clock faces are 9 feet across on each side, making it the largest Clock Tower in the West. The 8 ft. pendulum and weight which powers it weigh 500 lbs. The clock has to be wound once a week by a hand crank. A Riverfront Park employee climbs up every week to keep it running on time. The original depot  served the train the "Empire Builder"." (Thanks to the Discovery School in Spokane for this information.) The Empire Builder still runs today between Chicago, Illinois and Seattle, Washington. Some train buffs consider it the most beautiful ride in North America.


Riverfront Park runs through the downtown Spokane area along side the Spokane River. The river is crossed in this area by three bridges.  Across the river from the Northern Depot Tower is the 1909 Carrousel with its hand carved and restored horses as well as a tiger and a giraffe. You can ride it most days of the year. You can also ride the aerial tram with a spectacular view of the Spokane River's waterfall. And of course, there is the worlds largest red Radio Flyer wagon with a slide even adults slide down.


Photo: Taken  2009 by SW.


Links: http://www.historicspokane.org/NationalRegister/clock_tower.htm