USA > Washington > Spokane County > Spokane > History of the city of Spokane and Spokane County, Washington : from its earliest settlement to the present time, Volume I > Part 69
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On October 6, 1887. the Catholies of Spokane had the pleasure of paying their respects to Cardinal Gibbons. Hearing that he was to pass through the city, they sent a committee to meet him at Rathdrum, and when the train arrived at the Spo- kane depot, quite a crowd, not merely of Catholics but of other citizens as well, greeted the Cardinal, who was accompanied by Archbishop Gross. Bishop Bundel of Helena. and Dr. Chappel of Washington, D. C.
It was during the pastorship of Father Rebmann that the Sisters of Providence emme to found the hospital, which has been such a blessing to Spokane.
In March, 1887. Father Jacquet was recalled to Spokane to raise money to put up the parochial school which stood next to the Main street church. Work was begun soon after, and the building was opened in 1888, with the Sisters of the Holy Names in charge.
The Catholic population had so much increased that even the church of Our Lady of Lourdes was not sufficient, so during the pastorship of Rev. Charles Mackin the church of St. Joseph, situated on Dean avenue, was built by the Jesuit Fathers and was dedicated by Bishop Junger, May 15, 1890. Father E. Kauten attended it, together with the Main street church, for about a year and a half. when it's present pastor, Rev. J. DeKanter, took charge. In connection with St. Joseph's there is a flourishing parish school, in charge of the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
In 1890 Rev. J. M. Cataldo, then superior of the Jesuits of the Rocky moun- tains, turned over both the church of Our Lady of Lourdes and that of St. Joseph's to the secular clergy. Rev. Emile Kauten was on May 1. 1890, assigned by the bishop as pastor of the church of Our Lady of Lourdes, where he long remained. endearing himself to his dock by his untiring zeal. His death occurred at Seattle, January 7. 1912.
On October 1, 1891 an event of great interest in the history of the Catholic church in the Northwest was celebrated at Gonzaga college, the golden jubilee of the founding of the Rocky mountain missions.
On November 16. 1891, another Catholic church, that of the Sacred Heart, situated on Fifth avenue, was dedicated by Rev. Father Joeren of Uniontown, who
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was delegated by Bishop Junger to act in his stead as the Bishop lay siek at the time at the Sisters' hospital in this eity. This church, which has since disappeared. was bought and removed to its present site by Rev. Barnabas Held, O. S. B., who had come to Spokane August 17. 1890, as an assistant to Father Kanten.
After turning over the two churches to the sccular clergy, the Jesuits confined themselves to their new parish and college work and as quite a few Catholic fam- ilies lived near the college the college chapel was opened to them as a place of worship. But the number of students as well as the number of Catholics on the North Side increasing, it was deemed necessary to build a church on the college grounds, especially as the Bishop had lately erected the new parish of St. Aloy- sius, with the college chapel as its church. Accordingly work was begun in the sum- mer of 1892 by Rev. J. B. Rene, on a new church, and on November 20, 1892, it was dedicated by the late Bishop Aegidius Junger, D. D., and named St. Aloysius church. With the growth of the parish the congregation outgrew this church, and in its place arose the present spacious and beautiful St. Aloysius, one of the finest places of worship in the northwest.
When, in 1893 the Great Northern railroad established its yards at Hillyard, the Jesuit Fathers bought ground and erected thereon a small church at their own expense ; and on its being completed it was blessed, as had been the other Catholic churches of Spokane, by Bishop Junger under the title of St. Patrick's church. It has since been replaced by a handsome briek structure at a cost of about $20.000. The church has now a resident pastor.
GONZAGA COLLEGE
As stated in the first part of this article, the Jesuit Fathers bought land from the Northern Pacific Railroad company, on the north side of the river, intending it for school purposes. But it was not until 1881 that work was begun on what was to be Gonzaga college, and it was not until 1886 that the building was com- pleted. It was first opened to students in the fall of 1887 under the presidency of Rev. J. Rebmann. Its beginning was quite modest, only eighteen students ap- pearing on its roll for the first scholastic year. and these were mostly small boys in the lower classes. The following year, however, the number of students was doubled. and the course of studies advanced from that time until the scholastic year of 1892-93, when the college had 100 students; its progress was steady, not only in increase of students, but in a continual raising of the standard of studies. In 1889 the Rev. Charles Mackin. S. J., succeeded Father Rebmann as president. On April 22, 1894. this college was incorporated and empowered to confer such degrees and literary honors as are usually conferred by similar institutions of learn- ing. and on June 28 of this same year, the degree of Bachelor of Arts was con- ferred on two students who had completed the prescribed course. From that time on the success of Gonzaga college was assured.
It soon became apparent that a new building was necessary, and on July 29. 1897, ground was broken for the new Gonzaga college building, situated on the beautiful site overlooking the bay and facing Boone avenue, near the old college building. which it replaced.
In September. 1899. the new college opened. under the presidency of Rev. Gco.
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de la Motte. S. J. Nearly 200 students were enrolled during this year, while for the following year 210 names appeared on the registry. The old college, though a brick structure, some 120 ft. by 160 ft., having been safely moved from its orig- inal site to a more convenient location near the new building, has been devoted exclusively to the Jesuit scholasties, to pursue here an advanced course of philos- ophy, mathematics and natural science.
Having been chosen as general superior of the Rocky Mountain Mission, Father de la Motte resigned the presidency to the Rev. Raphael J. Crimont. S. J., during whose administration the present addition, which doubled the capacity of Gonzaga, was begun. In May. 1901, Father Crimont was appointed to the re- sponsible post of prefect-apostolic of Alaska and was succeeded as president of the college by Rev. Francis C. Dillon, who completed the main building and the gymnasium.
In 1905 the Rev. Herman J. Goller, S. J., took up the reins of government and guided the destinies of Gonzaga until he was appointed first provincial of the Cal- ifornia province of the Society of Jesus in September. 1909.
During the administration of Father Goller many improvements were made at Gonzaga, the most important being the erection of the infirmary building, situated at the west end of the main building. Father Goller was succeeded in his office of rector by the incumbent, the Rev. Louis J. Tachan, S. J., whose aim and purpose is to make the college the leading educational institution of the great northwest.
The main building of buff brick and granite trimmings is five stories and has a frontage of 145 feet along Boone avenne, with a depth of 120 feet on Standard street. In the basement are located the dining halls, kitchen, music rooms and rooms for the heating plant. The first floor contains the office of the faculty and several large, well lighted class rooms. The second floor has two large study rooms and several class rooms. The students' chapel with a seating capacity of 700, occupies the greater part of the third Hoor, which also contains the lecture halls of the sei- ence departments and the college museum. The fourth floor is devoted entirely to dormitories.
The gymnasium fronts on Boone avenue and is 116 feet long by 67 feet wide. Ninety fect of the length is for the open floor space and 25 feet for the reading and billiard room at the north end. This gymnasium is, with its floor space of 6,000 square feet, one of the largest in the West and is fully equipped with all the modern apparatus, billiard rooms, swimming pool, shower baths, dressing rooms and lockers.
The infirmary is a separate building and is conveniently situated at the second part of the quadrangle. It is equipped with every modern convenience. " There are three wards containing twenty beds, besides thirteen private rooms for such as are not ordinarily indisposed and who need special attention. A pharmacy and a doctor's office, bath rooms and toilet rooms are annexed. A lay brother with assistants, is in constant attendance and the college physician calls every day to visit the sick and advise those who desire consultation.
In 1889 Rev. Charles Mackin, S. J .. then president of Gonzaga college, turned the little frame building on Main street, near the Catholic church, into a day school, St. Ignatius, nuder the direction of the college authorities. It was intended to prepare children residing in the city for the higher classes of the collegiate course.
EARLIEST CATHOLIC CHURCH IN SPOKANE
Congregation worshipped at first in the little box house on the right. Later the brick church on the left, Our Lady of Lourdes, was erceted
FATHER
LOUIS TAEL-
MAN, S. J.
President of Gonzaga
College
-
DEDICATION OF THE NEW CHURCH OF OUR LADY OF LOURDES
FATHER JOSET Famous Jesuit Missionary in the Spokane Country
TENE PUBLIC LIDARY
NEW YORK LIBRARY
1
4 LENOX INIU ILATIOND
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This school in 1889-90 had forty boys on the roll, and was taught by Mr. Thomas Purcell, later a priest in charge of Coeur d'Alene City and surrounding missions. It was conducted until 1892, when its teacher and most of the pupils entered Gon- zaga college.
SACRED HEART HOSPITAL
One of the needs most keenly felt in the early days of Spokane was a place where the sick and maimed eould find the care their condition required. To meet this pressing want, the Sisters of Providence were invited to come here and erect a hospital, and on August 30, 1886, Sister Joseph of the Sacred Heart and Sister Joseph of Chrimathea, left Vancouver, Washington, for Spokane, where a site was seeured. The former supervised the work of constructing the hospital; the latter became its first superioress.
They put up for a while at the California hotel, while a rough shanty was being built as a temporary residence near the ground purchased for the hospital. This was a rude structure. and the Sisters had to cover themselves with oilcloth when retiring to rest in rainy weather. Contracts for the new hospital were given out and work commenced. The cornerstone of the new hospital was laid by the late Bishop Junger, assisted by the Catholic clergy of the town. While the building was going up two more Sisters came to Spokane, and shortly after two of the four then here visited the Coeur d'Alene miners to beg some alms for the completion of the work. The miners received the Sisters kindly, and gave them liberal alms, The first patient was admitted while the carpenters were still at work. He was a young man found sick and alone in a shed. The Sisters took him in and cared for him, but all they could do was to smooth the pillow of death, for he expired in four days.
On January 27, 1887. the Sisters took possession of the new building, and at once received seven patients. On the first Friday of February, 1887, mass was said for the first time in the chapel of the hospital. The good work had now begun in earnest, and at the end of the first year, as a summary of the year's work, the Sisters could point to 122 patients attended to in the hospital, and 1,010 visits to the poor and sick outside.
With the passing of the years Sacred Heart outgrew this building, and extensive ground was acquired at Eighth avenue and Browne street for a new and more spacious structure. An engraving of this majestic building appears on another page.
SISTERS OF THE HOLY NAMES
The arrival of the Sisters of the Holy Names in Spokane takes us back to the summer of 1888. At the pressing invitation of the Rev. James Rebmann, S. J., the School of Our Lady of Lourdes was erected on Main street. Five sisters from the provincial house of Portland, Oregon, assumed charge of the new school in September, 1888. On opening day three hundred children responded to the roll call. To meet the demands three teachers were added. This school was subse- quently removed to its present location adjoining the new church of Our Lady of Lourdes.
The Very Rev. Joseph M. Cataldo, S. J., was in 1889, superior of the Jesuit missions of the Rocky mountans. The reverend father made a formal request to
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the Sisters of the Holy Names to open a boarding school in Spokane and gener- ously donated for the purpose a tract of five and two-tenths acres in Sinto's addi- tion. The corner stone of the future academy was laid September 14, 1890. It was now only a question of time when the cherished wish of the Jesuit fathers would be realized. While Gonzaga would provide for the home life and edneation of the young men, the Academy of Holy Names would become a center of Chris- tian training for young women.
On July 31. 1891. the large and commodious institution was dedicated by the Rev. J. B. René, president of Gonzaga college, and classes were opened August 3 !. It was evident that the new academy had been built for a greater Spokane and not for that of 1891. Its location on the north side of Spokane river was suburban, the car services were irregular, so the attendance was at first meager-but on be- hokling the success which had crowned the elder institution. Gonzaga college. the Sisters read their brighter days in the distant future.
Another decade ushered in an era of rapid development in Spokane. The Sis- ters were no longer at the extreme limits of the city; it had stretched far beyond them. In 1902. 235 students had been entered and of these eighty-one were resi- dent students.
The building could not accommodate greater numbers. Matters so apparent found a speedy relief. The frontage of the original building is not to be recognized in the modern elevation. Two extensive wings were erceted. one on either side of the central structure, the whole presenting an elegant design. What is true, liter- ally of the beautiful lawns, and shaded campus, is no less true figuratively-"the wilderness has blossomed as the rose."
In perfect company with the material advancement of the academy, has been its progress along educational lines. Holy Names Academy was chartered in 1891 as one of a group of academies under the direction of the Sisters of Holy Names of Jesus and Mary in the states of Oregon and Washington. By this act it came into the ranks of the secondary school of the state. In 1908 it was placed among the State accredited high schools.
An amendment to the School Laws of the State, passed during the legislative session of 1907. empowered the faculty of Holy Names Academy to establish the advanced normal training course of two years as maintained in the state normal schools. The normal course was inaugurated in September, 1907, and in November the work was officially examined by three inspectors appointed for this purpose by the State Board of Education. On December 31, 1907, at a meeting of the State Board of Education held in Seattle, the normal department was formally acered- ited. A student on being graduated in this department receives a professional cer- tificati entitling her to teach in the public schools for a period of five years. After twenty-seven months of successful teaching in Washington, Oregon, Idaho or Mon- tana, the holder receives a life diploma.
From the foundation of the Normal department, the faculty saw the fitness and wisdom of having the department presided over by a local board. to which body all matters pertaining to the Normal school might be referred. Edward O'Shea. senior chairman of the board ; James Monaghan. M. M. Cowley. Frank P. Hogan. E. J. Cannon. D. W. Twohy, James P. MeGoldrick, Dr. P. S. Byrne. Judge P. F. Quinn and M. B. McGowan, constitute this board.
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ST. JOSEPH'S ORPHANAGE
The invitation extended by Spokane to the Franeisean Sisters to come and found an orphanage in Spokane was cheerfully aeeepted, and Sister Barbara as superioress. and three other Sisters, all from Philadelphia, reached Spokane in September. 1890, to commence the noble work of protecting and instrueting the orphaned and homeless. Rev. Joseph Cataldo donated land in Sinto addition near the Spokane river, and the united offerings of certain of our citizens had a simple frame building put up. The building was not quite finished when the Sisters ar- rived, but Mrs. James Monaghan cared for them till their own building was hab- itable. They opened this same month with only four children, but it was not long before the orphanage became known, and in 1891 the number of children had already run up to 70.
The orphanage had only been in existenee a year when the first building put up was found wholly inadequate for the ever increasing number of children brought to these good Sisters to be cared for. Charitable friends aided the Sisters to have an addition made to their house, and this was finished in August, 1891, and no sooner finished than it was filled. But it was not until November 2, 1891, that the orphanage was formally blessed by the Rev. President of Gonzaga college.
Other Catholic institutions are the refuge of the Good Shepherd, for unfor- tunate girls ; St. Ann's church in Union Park; St. Francis Xavier's church and school in Lidgerwood ; St. Anthony's church in the Northwestern section of the city; and a new parish organizing in January. 1912. in the southeastern part of town, and including Sacred Heart hospital.
Vol. 1-37
CHAPTER LXXII
SPOKANE'S JEWISH COMMUNITY
EARLY DAY HISTORY REVIEWED BY RABBI LEVINE-SIMON BERG ESTABLISHES A STORE IN 1879-OTHERS WHO FOLLOWED SOON AFTER-FIRST JEWESSES BY THE FALLS- FIRST BIRTH AND FIRST DEATH-FIRST DIVINE SERVICE-RABBIS WHO HAVE SERVED HERE- VARIOUS JEWISH ORGANIZATIONS.
O UR Jewish citizens have played well their part in building up Spokane and the Inland Empire. To Rabbi David Levine, Ph. D., the editor is in- debted for the appended eoneise and interesting sketch:
About a seore and five years ago the first beginnings of a Jewish community were diseernable in Spokane. The early comers were attraeted by the splendid possibilities of the little town growing up around about the falls of Spokane river.
The first Jew to take up his abode in this eity was Simon Berg, who arrived in 1879 and established a general merchandise store on the corner of Howard and Main. Others who followed within the next half dozen years were Ben Scheeline, S. J. Holland, Albert Heller, Eugene Michael, Simon and Joseph Rosenhaupt, Isaac Baum, Jacob Barmon, Solomon and Simon Oppenheimer, Ben Loewenberg, Mose Oppenheimer, Simon Anerbach, and Emanuel Schwartz. Those who came between 1886 and August, 1889, when Spokane was reduced to ashes, were Joe and Sam Hanauer, Leopold and Sam Stern, Frank Wolf, Sol Mayer, A. B. Gold- stein, I. Bramson, A. W. Siegel, Ben Solomon, Joseph R. Grinsfelder, Nathan Toklas, D. Holzman, J. A. Schiller and Sam Bayless. Of those who came shortly after the great fire were Louis Reubens, Samuel Katz, Arthur Benjamin, A. W. Voorsanger, H. L. Jackson, Reuben Weil, Hugo Fisher, A. F. Levy, Herman Hanauer, the Galland brothers (Adolph, Julius and Sam), and A. Friedlein.
The first Jewesses to arrive in Spokane were Miss Tillie Oppenheimer (now Mrs. Isaac Baum) and her sister, Mrs. Ben Seheeline, who came in the fall of 1883 and saw the town leap from a population of 1,500 to 5,000 in six months.
Their brother, Simon Oppenheimer, was most prominently identified with the development of the eity. By attraeting Dutch eapital to Spokane Simon Oppen- heimer was ineidentally responsible for the establishment of the Holland Bank. He was one of the incorporatots of the Traders National Bank.
The first Jewish child born in Spokane was May Rosenhaupt (Mrs. J. Howells) -February 5, 1888.
The first death in the little Jewish community occurred in 1886 when Amy Schceline, a child 9 years old, died of scarlet fever. Owing to the nature of the
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disease the authorities would not permit the body to be shipped to another town for burial in a Jewish cemetery. The family was therefore obliged to inter the remains in the general cemetery then located at what is now Maple street and Eleventh avenue. The body now lies in the Jewish section of the Fairmont ceme- terv.
The very first Jewish divine service in this city was held in 1885 in the home of S. Auerbach. who acted as precentor. A meeting for the purpose of organizing a congregation was held at Concordia Hall September 28, 1890. J. W. Toklas acted as chairman and Hugo Fisher as secretary. Committees were appointed to draft a constitution and to secure additional members. At a subsequent meeting, held October 5, 1890. a temporary constitution and by-laws were adopted and the organization of Congregation Emannel formally effected. The following officers were elected : J. W. Toklas. president; Ben Solomon, vice-president; A. W. Voor- sanger, treasurer : Arthur Benjamin, secretary; and J. Kellner, Albert Heller and N. Phillips, trustees. On December 28, 1890, the committee on constitution and by-laws reported that they recommended the adoption of the complete constitution and by-laws of Temple Emanuel of New York City. This document was read. discussed and rejected as the congregation felt that it did not cover their special needs. Accordingly the temporary constitution and by-laws were. with slight alter- tions, permanently adopted.
In August, 1891, a call was extended to the Rev. Dr. Emanuel Schreiber to serve for one year. The congregation was incorporated September 16, 1891. On September 14. 1892, a newly cerceted synagogue was dedicated with appropriate ceremony. In October. 1892. the religious school was organized by Arthur Benja- min and Miss Hannah Munter, who acted as the principal teachers for a number of years.
The following have been presidents of the boards of trustees: J. W. Toklas (October, '90-October '91) ; Louis Reubens (October, '91-October, '93) ; Sam Bayless (October, '93 -- October, '94) ; H. L. Jackson (October, '91-January, '95) ; Sam Bayless (January, '95-September. '96) : Leopold Stern (September. '96- September, '98) : Louis Reubens (September. '98-September, 1911) ; Sam Gal- land (September, 1911-). Of the vice-présidents, Aaron Kuhn holds the record for the longest period in office ( 1905-1910).
The following have served as ministers of the congregation: Dr. Emanuel Schreiber (September. '91-August, '92) ; Dr. Rudolf Farber (November. '95- September, '97) ; Rabbi Jacob Bloch (September, '92 June, '94); Dr. David Levine (September. 1901 -).
The present officers of the congregation are: honorable president, Louis Reu- bens: president. Sam Galland ; vice-president, Harry Holland : treasurer. A. Fried- lein : honorary secretary. A. Feuchtwanger. Other members of the board of trustees are Engene Michael. L. Dellar, Sam Ofner, S. R. Stern, P. Saffron. The Women's Auxiliary Society of the Congregation is presided over by Mrs. S. Sternberg.
The Orthodox clement of Spokane Jewry is represented by Congregation Ken- eseth Israel, organized in 1902. During the first seven years of their existence they worshiped in Odd Fellows hall. In 1909 the congregation erected a syna- gogue at a cost of $35,000. The chief lay workers of this congregation have been the Cohn brothers ( Hyman, Joseph and Harry). Abraham Phillips, Abraham Coll,
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Wolf Goldberg, and B. Asheim. The congregation has thus far had two Rabbis: the Rev. S. Reuben, and the present inenmbent, the Rev. B. H. Rosengard. Abra- ham Coll is president of the board of trustees. Mrs. Hyman Cohn is president of the congregation's auxiliary society.
The following are the communal organizations conducted independently of either congregation: the Ladies' Benevolent Society, president, Mrs. Eugene Michael; The Jewish Brotherhood, the men's benevolent society. A. Feuchtwanger, president ; the Sisters of Loving Kindness. president. Mrs. L. Dellar,-this society pays the last respeet to departed sisters in Israel; Abraham Geiger Lodge. No. 423, of the Independent Order of the B'nai B'rith. S. Edelstein. president ; the Progress Social Club, president. S. Galland. and the Free Hebrew School and Educa- tional Alliance, principal. A. Villkomirson.
The Jews of Spokane are contributing their share toward the moral and mate- rial upbuilding of the eity and the development of the tributary territory. Their deep interest in the well-being of this eity is evideneed by their generous response whenever called upon in behalf of the common good. Although numbering at the most about 2.000 souls, they either lead or are counted with the leaders in the fol- lowing lines of business: Wholesale and retail crockery, wholesale and retail toys, wholesale and retail bakeries. wholesale and retail cigars, wholesale post eards, wholesale liquors, wholesale and retail men's clothing and furnishing goods, banks, eloaks and snits. millinery. ladies' tailoring establishments, department stores. real estate, insurance, theatres, shoes, drugs, jewelry, hides and junk, furs, furniture and other household furnishings, groceries and optical goods.
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