Bamontes' Spokane

Tony and Suzanne Bamonte's Spokane, Our Early History: Under it all is the Land affirmed, “Spokane’s history is defined by the land under our feet and the people who discovered and nurtured it (vii).” This statement resonates profoundly with public historians who also dwell in the Lilac City.  Within the first half of Bamontes’ work, concepts are discussed that allowed Spokane to become the center of the Inland Empire. 

Chapter 1 opens up with the first photograph of Spokane and quickly jumps into the American settlement of the area.  Land acquisition and private land ownership, instigated by the easy access to the West, created by the Northern Pacific Railway, catapulted the Inland Northwest into a bustling region.

Chapter 2 continues the theme of Spokane’s founding through the means of the railroad business and the entrepreneurial spirit.  The new residents of Spokane greatly impacted the expansion of Spokane Falls, as evident in their namesakes, Cannon’s Addition and Browne’s Addition.  Also, many other businessmen would find their way to Spokane and help aid Spokane’s development, including the William C. Gray family, developing Spokane’s first quality hotel, the California House, Francis Cook, established the newspaper Spokan Times, and Louis M. Davenport, The Davenport Hotel and Restaurant.  The Bamontes also discuss the building up of infrastructure and basic utilities.  It’s too bad that the Bamontes skipped over the establishment of the Jewish synagogue in Spokane as it was the first synagogue established within the entire state of Washington, something I find particularly interesting.   

The original Temple Emanu-El, Washington's first synagogue, 3rd Avenue and Madison Street, Spokane, Est. 1892
Courtesy Spokesman-Review Archives

Chapter 3 depicts a Spokane devastatingly affected by a massive fire, but unwilling to give in to the devastation.  In addition to Kirkland Cutter, which we read extensively about in a complete chapter dedicated to him in our last book, we get to read about architect Chauncey Seaton and his contributions to the rebuilding of downtown Spokane.  Seaton is most known for the beautiful Review Building.  I found it extremely eerie to read the story of the Northern Pacific Railroad accident in 1890 as I was parked on Sprague and Division earlier today.  I also enjoyed the 1899 picture of the bicyclists preparing for a race as I am an avid bike rider.  It is awesome to see that bicycling has essentially always been a preoccupation with Spokanites as there were already 10,000 bicycles in Spokane in 1904. 

 

Chapter 4 is centered on the Spokane’s turn of the century ideal of “progress” and establishing the foundation of the Spokane Association of Realtors-I cannot decide if this is a legitimate linking of realty and history, or just a clever attempt to include realty in the broader scope of the Spokane narrative.  I found it interesting that homelessness and vagrancy were ramped in the early years of Spokane, so much so that even the hospitals frequently provided shelter for the needy.  This was such a prevalent occurrence that Spokane had three more hospitals built before 1900 and 1910.  Today it seems that religious organizations and handouts are what help sustain the needy in Spokane.  I enjoyed the section on the Paulsen and Hutton buildings, as well, and even enjoyed the history of the Paulsen and Hutton families.             

As practicing realtors, the Bamontes scope of work understands that it is the constructing, selling and purchasing of the built environment that vividly narrates the history of Spokane.  The Bamontes use an array of interesting primary sources, which fits succinctly with the training of public historians, and can be appreciated as such.  Their use of photographs and anecdotes contribute significantly to their historical lens, and exceedingly contribute to their cause of filling the void in Spokane history books.