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 30
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 30
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 30
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 30
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of grading the Northern Pacific road was be- gun at Ainsworth, at the mouth of the Snake river, in 1879; the work of completing the road to the spot where Sprague is located required over a year. .
One of the exemplary rules established by the Northern Pacific Company at the time it was building its road through Washington was that no liquor should be sold within one mile of the proposed line of track. In June. 1880, E. MI. Kinnear and Patrick Wallace opened a sa- loon to accommodate the men employed in grading the road, at a point just one mile north of where Sprague now stands. To this day the place is known as "Whiskey Rock." At this point the saloon flourished until the ban against such resorts in Sprague was removed. The first building erected upon ground which is now within the corporate limits of Sprague was put up by the Northern Pacific Company for the storage of grain and commissary stores. This was in June, 1880. Later this building was utilized for a number of years as a livery stable. It was located on Railroad Avenue. The commissary store was conducted by Edwin Dane, who was a time-keeper in the employ of the railroad company. Shortly afterward he engaged in business for himself and opened a second store, but did not long remain thereafter. The railway commissary storehouse was merely a temporary affair, intended to sup- ply the wants of the graders in the company's employ. To E. M. Kinnear belongs the honor of being the pioneer business man of Sprague. In July, 1880, he erected a store building and stocked it with a small assortment of goods. Mr. Kinnear came from Colfax, where, it is said, he operated a peanut stand for a short period. His Sprague business expanded until he had an establishment of mammoth propor- tions within a few years. Until the railway came he freighted his stock in from Colfax. The same year Willis Misner opened a black- smith shop.
The year 1880 did not witness an abnormal
growth in the town. The railroad graders were about the only people from whom to derive sup- port. the country not yet being settled to any appreciable extent. Still, even the graders con- trived to add to "the gaiety of nations," and they livened up the town. During this year the townsite was surveyed by Dr. Miller and the plat was filed with the auditor of Spokane county December 27, 1880, by the Northern Pacific Railway Company, per Walter Sprague. The new town had been named in honor of General John W. Sprague, who from 1879 to 1883 was in charge of the Northern Pacific Company's interests on the Pacific coast, as general superintendent, assistant treasurer and land commissioner. Mr. Sprague died in Ta- coma. December 24, 1893. Among those who settled in the new town in 1880, or who had previously come to the vicinity, were Patrick Wallace, William Burrow, Commodore Downs, H. L. White, James N. Campbell, Patrick Cumasky. Frank Sturgis, David Vinyard, Ed- win Dane, E. M. Kinnear, Dr. Miller and others.
The spring of 1881 witnessed the arrival of new enterprises in the young city. The railroad became a finality. The rails were laid into town Sunday, May 16th. Shortage of material had considerably delayed the arrival of the road and during the winter work had been interrupted. Let us glance at the town at this date. There were then the two small general stores of E. M. Kinnear and Edwin Dane, a livery stable con- ducted By Patrick Wallace, a boarding house in a tent presided over by a Mr. Brown, and an- other of which Mrs. O'Toole was the land- lady, two saloons, one owned by Patrick Dillon ; the other by Alfred Rickett, conducted by Wil- liam H. White, and a blacksmith shop owned by Willis Misner.
During the construction of the Northern Pacific Railway, and for some time subse- quently, Sprague was a typical western city; high carnival ruled at all hours : the town grew like Jonah's gourd. The prominent factor in
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HISTORY OF THE BIG BEND COUNTRY.
this "boom" was the location there of railroad headquarters. Handsome residences and sub- stantial business houses were erected ; prosper- ity was in evidence on every side. With the wonderful development of the surrounding country business expanded ; Sprague developed into a city of prominence. The advent of the railroad was the signal for increased activity. Residents of Sprague at that transition period tell us that the amount of stock shipped from the town during 1881 was something enormous. Sheep raising was carried on to some extent by a number of parties in the vicinity, and all seemed to be seized with a desire to patronize the new railway. The company immediately erected its depot and selected Sprague as the location for the railway shops for the Idaho division. Work on these was at once com- menced and about 350 men were employed on the shops, round houses, etc. Officials of the road looking after its interests built handsome homes for themselves, thus contributing to the town an appearance of permanency. The erec- tion of these beautiful residences by the railway officials enters largely into the history of Sprague and a chapter might be written profit- ably on this one subject. But many of these officials were subsequently placed on trial charged with appropriating the company's ma- terial for their homes. It was alleged that the lumber which was supposed to have been used in the company's buildings had been surreptit- iously utilized by employees. Northern Paci- fic stone was used in the foundations ; Northern Pacific bricks for chimneys; Northern Pacific paint found its way on to the outside and inside of buildings while men drawing pay from the Northern Pacific Company were employed in the construction of private buildings. It is claimed that from ten to fifteen houses were thus constructed: the trial of the predatory of- ficials was a landmark in Sprague's history. Yet no one was convicted.
As with many other towns one of the orig- inal institutions in Sprague was the brewery,
established in 1881. In that year R. O. Porak and Charles M. Rasch came overland in a prairie schooner from The Dalles, Oregon, and both at once entered into business, Mr. Rasch engaging in a saloon enterprise while Mr. Porak directed his attention to the brewing of beer. "The Kettle," which at this time composed this primitive brewery, was placed between two rocks; the institution was in work- ing order. The product of this little establish- ment met with a ready sale and the owner, care- fully husbanding his profits, enlarged the plant. Within a few years he was established in a stone and brick building.
While there was considerable activity in the new town it was not until about May, 1882, that the postal authorities saw fit to grant Sprague a postoffice. J. J. Burns was made postmaster. The second general store (Mr. Dane having gone out of business ) to be opened in Sprague was one owned by Gehres & Hert- rich. These gentlemen had selected a lo- cation during the winter of 1881-2, and in March they arrived with their goods, opening up for business on the 28th of that month. When they arrived the snow had melted; the townsite was covered with water. Unloading their stock near the present depot site they packed them through the inundation to the store building. Victor Hertrich, alluding to the opening of their business, says that the first sale made was that of a suit of clothes to David Vinyard.
April 20, 1882, the new railroad shops were opened by an elaborate ball. Pioneers of the town well remember this momentous event. On that day the town was visited by a "cold snap." The ground was covered by four inches of snow: the thermometer registered ten de- grees below zero. There is no disputing the fact that these shops were responsible for the future prominence of Sprague in Lincoln county. Else Sprague woukl never have been recognized in the 80's and early go's as the "best town in eastern Washington." Several
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hundred thousands of dollars were expended by the Northern Pacific Company in improve- ments in this young city. In the extensive shops repair work for the entire Idaho division was done; for a certain period all cars were con- structed at this point ; old cars and engines over- hauled and rebuilt. From the date of the es- tablishment of the shops until 1895 the pay- roll of the Northern Pacific Company here av- eraged fully $30,000 per month.
The first celebration of Independence Day ever held in Lincoln county occurred in Sprague, July 4, 1882. Hon. W. H. Small- wood was orator, and George S. Brooke, presi- dent. of the day. W. H. Carr served as chief of police. Prayer was offered by Rev. G. W. Shaw. Even at this early day Sprague boasted of a brass band and a competent glee club. In 1882 the first hotel-the National-was erected by Brown & Dane. This year also witnessed the establishment of the first school with a roll of about thirty scholars, and the first church, the Episcopalian. This house of prayer was built by popular subscription, led by V. W. Sanders. Its erection amply demonstrates the proverbial push and energy of the citizens of Sprague. R. R. Jones was the contractor. The timbers were framed on Saturday evening, and on Sunday morning all the able-bodied men in town worked on the building. That forenoon the edifice was completed and in the afternoon services were held. During the latter part of 1882 the first newspaper, the Sprague Herald, was established. December 13th, of the same year a volunteer fire department was organized. It was a hook and ladder company, the first of The city of Sprague was incorporated under a charter enacted by the Legislative Assembly of the Territory of Washington. It was ap- proved by the governor November 28, 1883. This charter provided for the government vi the city by a mayor and six councilmen to be elected by the people for a term of one year, to serve without pay. It provided, also, for a marshal to be elected by the people, and a the kind in the Territory of Washington north of the Snake river, and east of the Cascade mountains. John Bartol served as the first president and for, many years he remained at the head of the Sprague fire department, and was, in fact, for a number of years the oldest fire department president in the Territory. This pioneer, and now historic, organization, before the hose carts and other appartus were added, ' justice of the peace and assessor to be chosen
consisting solely of a hook and ladder truck, and a small band of determined men, success- fully combatted two fires in the early history of the town which threatened the total destruc- tion of the place. Upon the organization of the department Master Mechanic Jonathan Evans was elected chief and J. N. Campbell, assistant. No active part was taken by Mr. Evans as he was prevented from doing so by his duties with the Northern Pacific Company. Full responsi- bility fell upon the shoulders of Mr. Campbell.
The company organized December 13. 1882. The following month the hook and lad- der truck was puchased from the Portland, Ore- gon, fire department, the members of the com- pany assisted by a few other citizens, paying for the apparatus. Its cost in Portland was $450 ; the right to Sprague, $50. Later, upon the complete organization of the company of fire fighters, it was presented to the city. A complete list of the members of this company is rot in existence. Eight of them, who for a number of years were closely identified with the organization, were John Bartol, J. N. Campbell, A. S. Hughes, Ed. Pendleton, Benja- min Ettleson, C. M. Rasch, David Vinyard and W. P. Murray. Other members who served with distinction during the 80's were H C. Smith, C. M. Samson, W. J. Slattery, P. Beardsley, George Beardsley, Fred Cooper, T. Foley and T. N. Murphy. With the growth of the town it became necessary to add other ap- paratus, and two hose carts were purchased, thus completing the organization of Hose Com- panies Nos. I and 2.
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A GLIMPSE OF ORCHARD VALLEY, LINCOLN COUNTY, LOOKING DOWN THE COLUMBIA.
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HISTORY OF THE BIG BEND COUNTRY.
by the city council. The officials named in the act were George S. Brooke, mayor; E. M. Kinnear, William A. Fairweather, R. O. Porak, B. B. Glasscock, L. A. Conlee and Patrick Wal- lace councilmen. That year the city govern- ment was organized. Martin J. Maloney was elected the first marshal and Frank Wilson was selected to serve as justice of the peace. At the time of this incorporation the city contained a population of about five hundred people. Of the town at about this period (1882) the Herald said, under date of May 25, 1892:
"Although Sprague in the early 80's was the largest town and the best business point in northern Washington, still it enjoyed for a long time the unenviable distinction of being an undesirable place for residence ; of having the worst site and environments; and being the poorest built and most shaggy place this side of the mountains. And all this was true to a con- siderable extent, for railroad officials, having no other object in view, fixed upon the site as the most advantageous and best adapted one for division headquarters and the location of their machine shops, and not being troubled with any aesthetic taste, they were oblivious to the picturesqueness of the shores of Lake Col- ville, and quite indifferent about the once rug- ged surface of the town site in this coulee, or its craggy surroundings. What tended fur- ther to excite stich comment in connection with the natural disadvantages we had to begin with was the general aspect of the place when nearly a thousand people were swarming about the busy hive; for aside from there not being a green tree, or shrub or flower, or blade of grass within the corporate limits, the streets of this at one time 'City of Rocks' were all ungraded and in horrible condition, and outside of the then imposing headquarters, the huge machine shops and a few business houses, nearly all places of residence were one-story frame struc- tures of most unprepossessing appearance, and well calculated to evoke a broad smile from the
passersby, as well as the unfavorable impres- sions which were so common."
Beginning with the establishment of the railroad shops in 1882 there had always existed an element of uncertainty in the growth and prosperity of Sprague, arising chiefly from (loubt and speculation concerning the perma- nence of division headquarters. Yet despite this quasi-uneasiness the town improved, grew and prospered until it became, as said by the Herald, the best town of its size in the Terri- tory of Washington, and probably unsurpassed by any other city of 2,500 inhabitants on the Pacific coast. Its enterprises were always directed by a class of business men who never contemplated defeat in any undertaking to which they might put their hands. The mo- mentous county seat fight of 1884 has been voluminously treated in another chapter of this work. Of Sprague, as it appeared to him in 1884, Mr. Frank M. Winship, for many years editor of the Sprague Herald, writing in Jan- uary, 1889, said :
We landed in Sprague early in 1884. shortly after the days of tents and "dugouts," and at a time when her citizens were beginning to think of something more than a mere camping outfit. Some good. substantial buildings were then taking the places of temporary structures, and it seemed as though Sprague was des- tined to make rapid strides toward becoming the metropolis of eastern Washington. But as time shipped by and we failed to see improvements in the business portion of the city, which her growth and natural sur- roundings demanded, we were at a loss to know how it was that firms doing the immense amount of business that many of them were should be contented to transact their business in old shells that would hardly shield their goods from inclement weather. We have some- times been amused while standing in front of some of our business houses carrying stocks of goods worth from $50,000 to $60,000 to note what little attempt was made to advertise the business of these firms. We have seen from time to time in the show windows of these same firms a beautiful conglomeration of disorder in the matter of displaying their goods. For instance, we have noticed boots and shoes, gaudy beads, dry goods, apples, potatoes and omons all together on one string. Was this because the proprietors supposed that only
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HISTORY OF THE BIG BEND COUNTRY.
Siwashes would see their display, or was it lack of taste and enterprise on the part of our business men ?
We have solved this query as follows: Many of our business men came here when Sprague was only a railroad camp and started their enterprises on a small scale and built up large commercial interests and were satisfied to ply their avocations in buildings wholly at variance with the growth and demands of their trade, and making the prosperity of their city a secondary consideration, content while they, themselves, were ac- cumulating fortunes, to let the city take care of herself. Some of these same old fogies have even gone so far as to discourage parties desiring to locate here by tell- ing them that business was dull and everything was being overdone, when in truth there was not a business man in the city who was not making money. We are glad to note that within the last two years this great evil has been, in a large measure, overcome. Some of the old fogies have left and men of enterprise have come in, and those of the old ones who remain see the necessity of keeping pace with the times. Many new buildings have been erected that would be a credit to any city, and with those in contemplation, in another year the business portion of the town will wear quite a metropolitan air.
June 28, 1886, the city of Sprague voted on the question whether or no intoxicating liquors should be sold within her corporate limits. The result was favorable to the "wet" element, the vote being : For prohibition, 90; against, 283.
Lincoln county's original flouring mill was erected at Sprague in 1887. Pledges from farmers were secured by the promoters to fur- nish 50,000 bushels of wheat. A considerable portion of this pledged wheat came from a dis- tance of 35 or 40 miles. Huffman & Stevens were the proprietors of this enterprise. It is averred that every bushel of wheat grown in 1887 between the Columbia river and Rock creek was marketed at this mill, totaling ex- actly 52,000 bushels. In this connection it is interesting to note that this same territory in 1901 yielded at least 12,000,000 bushels. Dur- ing the spring of 1887 a cavalry company known as Troop A was enrolled, an organiza- tion destined to play an important part in the town's history, and one in which the people of Sprague took great pride. Following were the members, officers and privates of Troop A.
as furnished by Sergeant Bartol shortly after organization :
E. G. Pendleton, captain; R. G. Paddock, first lieutenant ; Thomas O'Brien, second lieutenant ; John Bartol, first sergeant ; J. N. Campbell, second sergeant ; M. P. Murphy, third sergeant; Wallace Mount, fourth sergeant ; W. T. Murray, first corporal ; W. F. Brown, second corporal; Thomas Meagher, third corporal ; Charles A. Hagen, fourth corporal.
Privates-B. F. Burton, G. S. Brooke, A. B. Brooke, J. J. Burns, John Bracken, Thomas Block, S. A. Conlee, John Cody, George Case, Len Curtis, George Cosgrove, James Dillon, J. P. Deredesheimer, P. Dencer, H. W. Fairweather, James Fairburn, F. M. Gray, David Hig- gins, J. J. Harris, W. Hinshaw, A. S. Hughes, S. G. Jackson, O. C. Jensen, John Palmer, A. Schneider, W. S. Specklmire, J. S. Smith, Thomas Smith, W. J. Slattery, George M. Fray, G. A. Wood, L. A. Winney, T. A. Wickham, P. Wallace, B. B. White, H. W. Brooke, G. S. Johnson, G. R. Klnick, J. W. Kelly, W. B. Lott- man, I. G. McGinnis, H. T. Murray, J. J. Maloney, J. W. Miller, M. S. Weeks, S. Newman, R. M. Porter, William Pea, W. F. Robertson, Frank Ringuit, Knox Johnson, Charles B. Johnson, Willis Kinder, H. Mc- Ginnis, S. P. McGinnis, M. Mullett, M. J. Maloney, S. G. McMillan, Ira G. Nelson, . W. H. Olds, W. P. Putman, F. M. Quinlan, L. P. Reardon, T. S. Roodman, R. D. Rairdon.
In the election for officers of Troop A, in May, 1888, the following candidates were suc- cessful: Charles B. Johnson, captain : B. B. Glasscock, first lieutenant; Dr. Smith, second lieutenant. In this capacity Captain Johnson served for many years.
A Sprague citizen, writing of the improve- ments in his town in September, 1887, said :
I want to have a little general talk about our im- provements under way and prospective, to show that our sister city, Spokane Falls, hasn't got it all her own way. To start with is the new mill, the brick and stone foundation of which is already up. The building will be 36x48 feet in size, three stories and basement. The capacity of this mill will be 75 barrels per day. The warehouse already up is 30x70 feet. An engine room will be built, the engine to be 35-horse power. The town council is receiving plans for putting in a system of water pipes and sewers. Plans are also being re- ceived for establishing a system of electric lights. An- other industry talked of here is a foundry. As a shipping point Sprague stands second between Helena, Montana, and Wallula Junction. Transactions at the
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HISTORY OF THE BIG BEND COUNTRY.
depot average about $25,000 per month, and this season over one-half million pounds of wool were shipped from here, and this business is increasing yearly. Building improvements are very brisk. Three dwellings, those of Messrs. J. H. Shields, Frank Gheres and William Dittenhoefer, will cover $14,000 finished. It is safe to place the amount at $75,000 which is being spent in building operations.
Saturday morning, November 13, 1887, Sprague was visited by a fire which destroyed four buildings. The losers were Miss Callan, millinery; Thomas McAllister, harness store; Jones & Nygard, furniture, and McInnis, pho- tographer. All carried insurance with the ex- ยท ception of Mr. McInnis. In addition to the de- struction of her store Miss Callan lost consider- able money which was in a trunk that was burned.
In the beginning of the year 1889 Sprague was a busy town of 1,600 people. She exhibited positive evidence of prosperity in the improve- ments of her streets; the erection of brick busi- ness blocks ; in her large public school and court house. Here was located a Catholic school ( St. Joseph's Academy), and many men found lucrative employment in the railroad shops. Sprague was the principal headquarters for the Idaho division of the Northern Pacific Railway Company, and the company had a large, hand- some building for the use of its officials. A brewery using the barley grown in the sur- rounding country and hops from Puyallup Val- ley brought considerable money to the town and the neighboring farmers. The same year wit- nessed many improvements, public and private. These included an electric light plant and a sys- tem of water works. New business houses were erected ; a creamery established and, taken alto- gether, it was a year of great advancement for the town. Aside from the improvements men- tioned a new brick city hall was built. Prior to the erection of this edifice the city council had been meeting in a woodshed.
During the first decade of Sprague's history the town never experienced what might be cor- rectly denominated a "boom." It had no oc-
casion for one nor did it attempt to manufacture one with the usual ingredients of "hot air" and imagination. But up to the period of its great and almost incalculable disaster through fire it enjoyed a steady growth. Many of the towns in eastern Washington coming into existence in the 80's bought advertising space in the Port- land Oregonian, the Minneapolis Tribune and other papers for the purpose of attracting atten- tion to them. But this was not the case with Sprague. It permitted its own steady march to interest the stranger within, or without its gates. From the time of its inception its course was one of uninterrupted smoothness. It made such improvements as time and circumstances would permit. Nearly all the streets and ave- nues were graded ; its public buildings consisted of a commodious opera house, Masonic Tem- ple and city hall. Up to a certain eventful date 10 floods nor fires nor blizzards marred the city's progress during the first decade.
But the year 1890 began with a "boom" of colossal proportions. Never before in the town's history had there been such marked activity in real estate as was witnessed in March of this year. Business lots that had been on the market for months at merely nominal figures were now snapped up quickly and eagerly. All descriptions of property advanced rapidly. The underlying cause for all the "com- mercial tumult" was the announcement that the Northern Pacific Railway Company would at once begin the work of doubling the capacity of its car shops, round houses, etc., and would expend $250,000 in improving its property. It was on the wings of rumor, also, that the Ore- gon Railroad & Navigation Company was about to establish a new railroad east and west of Sprague, and that Sprague would be headquar- ters for the construction work. The possibility of the erection of a smelter here affording em- ployment to 2,000 men did not in the least diminish the enthusiasm of the citizens. A fran- chise was granted by the city council for the construction of a street car line to be completed
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