USA > Washington > Lincoln County > An illustrated history of the Big Bend country, embracing Lincoln, Douglas, Adams, and Franklin counties, state of Washington, pt 1 > Part 24
USA > Washington > Adams County > An illustrated history of the Big Bend country, embracing Lincoln, Douglas, Adams, and Franklin counties, state of Washington, pt 1 > Part 24
USA > Washington > Douglas County > An illustrated history of the Big Bend country, embracing Lincoln, Douglas, Adams, and Franklin counties, state of Washington, pt 1 > Part 24
USA > Washington > Franklin County > An illustrated history of the Big Bend country, embracing Lincoln, Douglas, Adams, and Franklin counties, state of Washington, pt 1 > Part 24
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For several weeks following the removal of the county records from Sprague to Davenport the most absorbing question among the busi- ness men and citizens generally was the loca- tion of the court house building, a topic by no means original or unique. Apparently a ma- jority of the citizens favored a location on the north side of the main street, although some de- sired it placed on the south side. This matter was decided finally by the county commission- ers, on Tuesday night, February 7th, by a se- lection of a location on the north side on the block deeded by the citizens of Davenport. Concerning this temporary division of opinion the Lincoln County Times said :
"Excitement ran high Sunday afternoon, and the commissioners themselves were, appar- ently, undecided what to do up to the time of taking final action. It was reported that they were favorable to the south side location, and those friendly to the other side. who were the dominating element in town, began to bestir themselves to prevent the location going south. In the evening, between 8 and 9 o'clock, after the commissioners had met to take final action, a meeting of the north side advocates was called in Turner & Plough's old store room to devise some means of prevailing on the commissioners to adopt the originally proposed site in Colum- bia Addition. This meeting had been called to order .for some time and several prominent citizens had expressed themselves quite vigor- ously, when some one came in and announced that the commissioners were writing out an or-
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der for the location of the court house on block 94. Columbia Addition. This announcement was greeted with vociferous and hearty cheers, and the gathering filed out the door and down the street to the commissioners' room to ex- press their approval of the action taken.
"The chief worker for the south side was P. W. Dillon, and had he been supported by an equal number of the town's people would, in all probability, have made a successful fight. for the commissioners themselves, personally. favored a location nearer the depot."
As a result of abundant crops and the re- turn of prosperous times throughout the coun- try Davenport, in the fall of 1897, assumed a thrifty, indeed, a jocund air. The merchants all conducted an extensive business. Not since the palmy days of '89 and '90 had there been such a volume of ready cash in circulation. Everybody, from the capitalist down to the Si- wash who sawed wood-or refused to saw wood-was prosperous and happy.
The opening of war with Spain awakened a commendable patriotic spirit in Davenport, and this sentiment animated all classes of citi- zens. In May, 1898, it was decided to organ- ize a battery of light artillery, and, according- ly, a formal petition was forwarded to Gover- nor Rogers and Adjutant General Ballaine ask- ing to be mustered into the state militia. En- rollment papers were at the Big Bend drug store and many signers signified by their acts their intention, or desire, to become members of this organization. If it was impossible to serve as members of a battery the signers declared their entire willingness to serve as infantrymen. The company was organized Saturday, May 28, the following officers being elected : Captain, J. J. Sargent ; First Lieutenant. Henry G. . An- derson : Second Lieutenants, C. Il. McCourt, J. A. Prudhomme; First Sergeant. Patrick Corbett : Color Sergeant, O. T. Oswalt. It was decided to organize as light artillery, but to serve as infantry if necessary, to be included in the next call for troops. . \ few days later the
adjutant-general authorized the company to be m11stered in as infantry. The company drilled twice a week. And thus Davenport for the first time became represented in the military service of the United States.
One of the most destructive fires in Daven- port's history broke out early Thursday morn- ing. September 8, 1898, a conflagration which licked up a number of business houses on Har- ker street. The ominous cry of "fire!" aroused the shumbering population and after the first alarm was given the cry was quickly taken up, and within a few moments people of both sexes came pouring down to the scene of destruction from every direction. The sky was illuminated by fierce flames which covered the roofs and came streaming down out of the windows and doors of the wooden buildings adjacent to Will- iam Finney's large brick store. Rapidly the fire spread from one wooden shack to another, al- though scarcely a breath of air was stirring ex- cept that created by the flames themselves. It was difficult to tell in which of the wooden build- ings the fire had originated, for flames swept over two or three of them almost simultaneous- ly, but it was subsequently learned that the ini- tial point had been in the Dale house, a frame building next to Mr. Finney's store. Within a very few moments following the alarm the fire engine was placed in position down by the creek which flows along Spring street, south and back of the row of wooden structures fac- ing on Harker street. Here the fire had se- cured great headway. From the first it was ap- parent that none of the wooden buildings could be saved, and for awhile it looked as though the entire business portion of the town must be swept away.
Had a stiff breeze prevailed it would not have been possible for the volunteer firemen, with the appliances at hand, to have saved a single building along Harker or Morgan streets. Fortunately scarcely a breath of air was stir- ring, and what little there was came from the north, the most favorable quarter. The store
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house and oil room back of the Finney block was soon a mass of flames. The rear door leading into the store burned out and flames were immediately communicated to the interior. In less than an hour after the alarm had been sounded the entire structure was reduced to a mass of smouldering ruins. The sheds in the rear of Millis' store and the adjoining stores fed the flames, and from here they seized upon the window and door frames in the rear of the bank and other brick buildings. The efforts of the firemen were then directed entirely to the work of preventing the destruction of the brick block west, along Morgan street, from the bank. There was no lack of willing hands and water was laid on the superheated brick walls with good effect. Valuable service was also rendered by the bucket brigade. Streams of water were poured from the back windows and along the roof. By 1 :30 the volunteers had the fire well under control. Its onward march east across Harker street was checked by heroic effort, although the large plate glass windows in the Hooper block were shattered. Thus the fire was confined to the wooden buildings south along Harker street. The only brick building destroyed was the large store of William Fin- ney. The frame structures destroyed were the Dale House, John Hanson's barber shop, the Oleson restaurant, and the saloon building oc- cupied by Ellsworth Shaw.
During the porgress of this fire men and women were constantly employed transporting goods across the street from the brick store buildings, and some damage resulted from breakage. The grocery store of H. D. Barber and the millinery store of Miss Mary Moore were destroyed. There were a number of nar- row escapes and one man was so badly burned that it was feared he would not recover. The unfortunate man, Samuel Koehn, was a tailor in the employ of Daniel Delin. He attempted to find his way down the stairway which was was full of flames and smoke. He rushed through it all making his escape with great dif-
ficulty. He had been assisted out of his room by T. Larson, a carpenter, who heard him in- side trying to make his way out. Mr. Larson was, also, badly burned about the face and head. Mrs. Mahet, the proprietor of the house, escaped with her child by jumping out of the top win- dow at the rear of the building. A number of others made similar escapes with scarcely a stitch of clothing.
Following are the losses not covered by in- strance : Dale House, owned by William Fin- ney, $2,000 ; Oleson restaurant, owned by Judge Small, $600 ; E. Shaw, saloon, $600.
Following are the losses of those carrying insurance, the amounts being the amount of insurance paid by the companies : William Fin- ney & Company, $11,650; E. Shaw, $500; MI. Millis, $636.50; H. D. Barber, $419.35; Mary Moore, $57: G. T. Logsdon, $6.50; S. Kruger, $75: Maria A. Wainwright, $235; Mrs. E. G. Wilson, $564: C. R. Petrie, $76; H. W. Knapp, $78; H. C. Keedy, $289.
Following this disaster the city council es- tablished a fire limit consisting of all of blocks 78 to 79, inclusive, and the south half of blocks 80 and 83, inclusive, of Morgan's Addition. This limit included the blocks between Morgan and Spring streets from the town hall to the Times office, on the south side of Morgan street, and half the blocks on the north side of Morgan street.
Despite the fact that considerable building was done in the summer of 1898, there was a dearth of living houses and many who would have moved to town could not do so owing to lack of accommodations. The destruction by fire of the Dale House deprived many of a place of residence. During the summer months several families made their homes in tents.
More rapid advancement in business condi- tions was made in the young town during the year 1898 than ever before in its history. The sun of prosperity that had kissed the bountiful wheat fields had, also, shone through the dark cloud of depression and gladdened the hearts
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of all. It was a season of magnificent crops and the harvest inspired confidence and awak- ened new hopes in almost every family. The pulse of trade was quickened, investments were encouraged and the season was one of general revival and convalescence from a low, financial fever. Commenting upon these favorable con- ditions the Lincoln County Times said :
"In this fortunately located little city it is evident in the renewal of building, the appear- ance of new faces in the streets, and a more cheerful disposition among the old residents that all are hopeful of the future. This growth of population has necessitated the construction of new business houses and the building of numerous residences, many of them handsome and substantial homes. The example of tliose who first started building last spring was a spur to others to follow, resulting in a wonder- ful growth in the place.
"It would simply be impossible to enumer- ate separately all the buildings erected in Dav- enport during 1898. No portion of the town has suffered neglect. On every hand can be seen evidence of this rapid growth. The total amount of money invested in these improve- ments foots up to thousands of dollars. On Morgan street three handsome brick buildings were added to the business blocks, two of them erected by David Wilson and one by Dr. Whit- ney. Ole Hair also put up a large and very neat brick block on Sixth street. During the year the secret societies completed the two- story auditorium at the corner of Ninth and Morgan streets. This is a very creditable structure, and supplies a long felt want in the nature of a public hall. The public school has been enlarged by a new addition that in its di- mensions is about the size of the orginal build- ing. But it is in the number of new residences that Davenport excelled during 1898, far sur- passing the record of any previous year. Fully fifty new residences were constructed during the season. Among these were homes built by Fred Hulsman, H. N. Martin, David Wil-
son, J. B. Pershall, Mr. Earls, Mrs. Rogers, H. Il. Hulton and C. E. Weyland.
The militia company organized in the spring of 1898 disbanded before the second call for volunteers was made. Word was received from the authorities at Olympia in August that a company from Davenport could be mustered into state service. Preparations were at once made for the forming of a battery, and Wed- nesday evening. September 13th, the company consisting of 28 members, was mustered in as Battery A, by Captain Lyons, of Spokane. Fol- lowing were the officers and members of the company :
Captain, H. G. AAnderson ; First Lieutenant, O. T. Oswalt; Second Lieutenant, Frank Dal- lam, Jr .; Sergeant, Emil Graf; Color Bearer, J. J. Sargent ; George Bertonerer, Jalek Hop- kins, Roy Millis, Stephen Jayne, Antone Kotsch, Charles Smith, Fred S. Knapp, John H. Snyder, M. W. Miller, James A. Redick. Ira B. Hyatt, Louie D. Todd, Lee Moore, T. Jayne, R. P. Moore, E. D. McDonnell, J. W. Gibson, W. Kennedy, Stephen O'Leary, H. S. Omacht, H. L. Perry, T. Goodlad, T. R. Jayne.
The adjutant general issued a general order consigning the various military companies of the state to organized regiments. The Second Regiment was composed of Company A, at Spokane; B at Colfax : C at Goldendale : D at Walla Walla; E at Spokane; F at Yakima; G at Garfield, and Battery A, Light Artillery, at Davenport. The Davenport boys were also at- tached to the First Battalion of the Second Regiment, with Companies A, E, and G. the Spokane and Garfield warriors, commanded by Captain E. W. Lyons, of Spokane. In Janu- ary. 1899, the Davenport Company was sup- plied with arms. The battery was one in name only, as the organization was armed and equipped as an infantry company, having Springfield ritles.
Saturday, July 2, 1899, a special election was held in Davenport for the purpose of voting on a proposition to issue bonds for establishing
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a system of water works. There were 239 votes registered. No great interest was manifested and only 176 votes were cast. Of these 132 were favorable to the proposition and 44 against the same. These bonds were sold and in Au- gust work was commenced on the plant.
Battery A, of Davenport, left on Saturday, November 4, 1899, for Seattle to participate in the welcome extended to the members of the First Washington Volunteer regiment on its return from the Philippines. The battery was in charge of Captain Henry Anderson and First Lieutenant Richard Oswalt. Forty-two members of the battery took part in the excur- sion.
Davenport's new system of water works was placed in operation Saturday, December 9. 1899. This was the consummation of two years of exertion. Several propositions had been considered by the city authorities and there had been some lively skirmishing over the prop- osition. It had been at last decided that the municipality should own the plant. Upon reaching the next step was to decide upon the source of supply. Several sources were exam- ined, but the one finally selected was that known as the "lower spring," which was pur- chased from C. C. May for $1,000. The town at last secured a small system, but a good one which promises to meet all requirements. The construction of the system is such that its ca- pacity may be increased and the pipes extended at any time.
The year 1899 was but a continuation of 1898 in the matter of improvements of a per- manent nature. Two handsome brick blocks were erected during this year and many resi- dences. A conservative estimate places the value of improvements for 1899 at $100.000. June 9, 1900, a school election was hield at which it was voted to bond the district for $20,- 000, the sum of $15,000 to be applied to the erection of a new school building, and $5.000 to pay indebtedness. The vote was 187 for: 78 against. In December. 1900, the new high
school building was completed as a cost of about $16,000. During the winter of 1900-1 Daven- port was visited by smallpox in the prevailing mild form. Public schools were closed and public gatherings of all kinds were discontinued for a short period. Twenty-one buildings were erected in 1900 at an estimated cost of $40,000. Tuesday evening. October 22, 1901, the Day- enport Commercial Club was organized, a body which has accomplished much on the lines of betterment of the town and the settlement of the surrounding country. C. E. Meyers was the original president, and A. W. Turner, vice president : F. W. Anderson, treasurer, E. L. Spencer, secretary.
In November, 1901, the militia company was disbanded. For some time previous the company had existed as an independent organi- zation, not being assigned to any regiment. The muster out was made by Lieutenant John Kin- zie, N. G. W., and the arms and equipments of Battery A were shipped to Olympia.
Concerning municipal illumination the Lin- coln County Times of March 13, 1903, said :
"The town of Davenport was illuminated Monday, March 9th for the first time with electric lights. The last piece of machinery was placed in position and the last connection was made about 3 o'clock in the afternoon, when the switch was turned on, the same instant a bright light beaming forth from each lamp in the city. Not the slightest difficulty occurred and everything worked with complete and ex- act precision from the start. The electric light plant has been delayed to a late day, consider- ing the town's size. but it is one of the latest improved plants in existence, and it has many advantages not offered in any city supplied at an earlier date."
Saturday evening. June 20, 1903, the town was scorched with one of the hottest blazes in its history. At 5 o'clock p. m., flames broke out from the roof of the old Mirror office. corner of Spring and Harker streets. More than half a gale was blowing from the southwest. All
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combustible matter was as dry as tinder, and within the space of a few moments the entire building was a mass of smoke and flames. Next to this building stood a Chinese laundry. formerly the Cameron saloon; then the Tripp livery barn ; next the old store building owned by J. H. Nicholls, and last the little building owned by the Bowers Brothers, which was practically destroyed. The manner in which the fire boys fought the flames was deserving of the highest commendation. The last stand was made at the Bowers residence where there was a desperate fight between man and the devour- ing element. Although the firemen were pro- tected by coats and wet blankets several of them were badly scorched. The Tripp livery stable was filled with horses and rigs, but the animals and almost everything in the building was saved, yet the flames swept through it so sud-
denly that the escape of two or three men who were working in the loft were cut off, and they were compelled to jump through the windows. This was the largest and best building in the row. The large O'Leary residence on the brow of the hill above where the fire was raging was ablaze at one time and was saved only by des- perate efforts.
The heaviest loss fell to J. L. Tripp. who owned the livery barn, occupied by the Brink Brothers, valued at about $4,000, on which only $500 insurance was carried. The old Mirror building was owned by Mr. Breslauer and was valued at $400, insurance, $250. The laundry owned by Fred Lauer was valued at $600, 110 insurance. The Chinaman lost several hun- dred dollars worth of fixtures. J. II. Nicholls lost $500 or $600, no insurance. The fire or- iginated from fire-crackers with which some boys were playing in the Mirror building. The buildings destroyed were the first erected in the town of Davenport. They formed the original town, and were built by J. H. Nicholls and Robert Cameron in 1881-2.
In November, 1903, Davenport became am- bitious to be advanced to a town of the Third
Class. A town of this class is divided into wards and is entitled to seven councilmen and all its officers become elective. The first re- quirement is that the town must contain a popu- lation of not less than 1,500. Tuesday, Decem- ber 8th, an election was had in accordance with a petition which had been circulated by Louie Todd, and the vote was 132 for, and 4, against advancement. A census of the town was sub- sequently taken by Enumerators Todd and Donahue who found a population of 1,616, an increase of over 50 per cent since the census of 1900. The result placed Davenport in the Third Class.
The first secret society organized in Daven- port was that of the Odd Fellows, in 1889, with eleven members. The Masonic Lodge was or- ganized the same year, with, a membership of seventeen. In the spring of 1890 the Knights of Pythias organized with a membership of thirty-five. The succeeding order was the Good Templars who perfected an organization in December, 1891, its initial membership being twenty. At present the fraternal societies of Davenport are: Columbia Lodge No. 56, De- gree of Honor; Excelsior Lodge No. 246, 1. O. G. T .; Davenport Lodge No. 64. I. O. O. F .: Loyal Americans; Davenport Lodge No. 55, A. O. U. W. ; Arcadia Lodge No. 58, A. F. & A. M .; Lincoln Tent No. 62, K. O. T. M .; Davenport Chapter No. 25, R. A. M.
Davenport was the home of the first church organized between Spokane and the Columbia river. It was the First Presbyterian and was instituted in the fall of 1884, chiefly through the efforts of 11. HI. McMillan. During five years Mr. McMillan labored as its pastor, hold- ing services in the public school building. In 1889 a building was erected. Sunday, Decem- ber 14, 1902, this handsome edifice was dedi- cated. It cost $10,126. Today Davenport is represented by the following congregations : Baptist. German Lutheran, Catholic, Presby - terian, Christian, First German M. E., First M. E., St. Luke's Protestant Episcopal.
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In December, 1903, the public schools of Davenport had outgrown the then commodi- ous school building.
Davenport is a town in which much atten- tion has been given to the planting of trees, cultivating lawns, and otherwise beautifying homes. The result of such commendable 1 ?- bors is a beautiful transformation, and the many examples thus set will. doubtless, be followed by others who may succeed the present genera- tion. The first impression of the visitor to Davenport, and after a casual glance about, is that it is a town of churches and schools, for in: every part of the town are to be seen those eni- blems of civilization. The churches are large and are modern in style and appointment. The high school building, constructed of white pressed brick, is the largest and finest structure in the county. Davenport is the educational center of the Big Bend, and students come from
the surrounding country to attend the schools, their graduates being accepted in all the higher institutions of learning throughout the statc. There are two commodious meeting places for public assemblages, the Auditorium and Arm- ory hall. The Auditorium is equipped with the necessary scenery to accommodate dramatic eu- tertainments of all classes, and Armory hall serves for general entertainments. Davenport is the trade center for a vast territory, supply- ing the country beyond the Columbia river, a distance of over 30 miles. A large per cent of the Cedar Canyon mines in Stevens county finds its outlet through this city. There are two banks in the town, about a dozen grocery and general merchandise stores, two large ho- tels, a number of smaller ones, besides an equally large representation in other lines of business. Five doctors and ten lawyers are en- gaged in the practice of their professions.
CHAPTER V.
CITIES AND TOWNS-CONTINUED.
CRESTON.
One of the most eligibly located towns on the line of the Central Washington railway is Creston. It is situated at the foot of Brown's Butte, a gently sloping hill, and a prominent landmark in this locality. It is in the center of what is known as the Brent's country, one of the exceptionally rich farming sections of Lin- coln county. The elevation is about 2,500 feet above sea level. The distance west from Dav- enport is 30 miles. It is surrounded by a wide expanse of exceedingly fertile farming coun- try. The population is about 450.
Of the country surrounding Creston it may be said that it varies in a number of particu- lars. There are rocky canyons and "scab"
lands; there is, also, a large area of farming land that cannot be surpassed anywhere in the western country. Especially is this true of the Brent's country to the north and north- west. The "lay of the land" is ideal for agri- cultural purposes; the soil is deep and heavy and not subject to frosts that occasionally in- jure grain farther west; it retains mosture much better than the lighter soil to the south. Still, good homes, surrounded with an air of prosperity are found even in the canyons and "scab" lands. Creston is, annually, the shipping point for from 300,000 to 400,000 bushels of. grain, varying with different seasons. In 1902 Orchard Valley marketed at Creston 8,800 boxes of berries and fruits, realizing $70,090, and this, too, at prices below the average of
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other years, or over $222 per acre for the land under cultivation.
Creston, so named because of its elevation, being the highest point on the Central Wash- ington railway came into existence with the building of this road in 1889. The townsite was railroad land. In the spring of 1890 this townsite was platted by H. S. Huson; the instrument was filed June 23. 1890. The original structure was a store building brought down from Sherman by Henry Verfurth. In it he opened a small store, the first mercantile establishment in Creston. Mr. Verfurth became, also, postmaster when the government decided to establish an office at this point. Nearly synchronous with the ar- rival of Mr. Verfurth in the prospective town came A. H. Hesseltine, who conducted a black- smith shop, and Henry Mangus, the latter be- coming proprietor of the second store. The Lincoln County Times of May 2, 1890, stated that Creston contained at that period a depot building, a hotel, one or two other small struc- tures-"and prospects of some day becoming a good town." These "prospects" have been amply fulfilled.
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