Spokane Appoints its First Parks Superintendent

We have been reading from the book, “Manito Park:  A Reflection of Spokane’s Past” (by Tony Bamonte and Suzanne Schaeffer Bamonte) for several months now and learning about the founding of our beautiful Manito Park.  We have also been introduced to some interesting characters who played instrumental roles in the founding of Spokane.  This week, we are learning about the first park superintendent for the young city of Spokane.

The first Spokane park superintendent was E. Charles Balzer, a German-born immigrant, who was employed as the “city florist” when the city acquired Manito Park.  There is no official record of when he became superintendent, but shortly after tendering his resignation on December 23, 1909, he stated in a follow-up letter he had “been with the parks 9 years.”   Because park records were not kept until the park board was formed in 1907, information regarding the operation of the early park system is sketchy.  Much of Balzer’s correspondence from 1907 to 1909 can be found at the Eastern Regional Archives.  Most of it was written on official letterhead stationery inscribed with: “E.C. BALZER, Superintendent of City Parks, Residence:  Manito Park, Phone Main 4817.”  This same letterhead also lists the city parks:   Manito, 93 acres; Liberty, 23 acres; Corbin, 13 ½ acres; Coeur d’Alene, 10 acres; Audubon, 33 acres; and Stadacona, 1 ½ acres.

Next week, we will read about further development in Manito Park, and how then Mayor Boyd announced amenities of the park.  Tune back in at http://www.ManitoPark.org or http://www.blogspot.mantioparkorg.com for the next chapter.

This Week We Meet Aubrey White...

Last week, we were introduced to Aubrey White, who became known as the “Father of Spokane’s Park System”.  This week we will learn more about this interesting character.  The information posted here is quoted from the book, “Manito Park:  A Reflection of Spokane’s Past”.  You can learn more about this book at www.tornadocreekpublications.com.    Our story now continues:

In addition to his tireless park promotion campaign, Aubrey White was also active in numerous business ventures.  He was in partnership with Jay P. Graves in the Old Ironside and Grandby mining properties.  He was also involved in Graves’ railway lines (Spokane Traction Company, Coeur d’Alene Electric Railway, and Spokane &Inland Railway Company) and participated in the reorganization of the three companies into the Inland Empire Railway Company, of which Graves was the president and White vice-president.  White, Graves and several other investors (the Spokane-WashingtonImprovement Co.) , owned large tracts of land, including some land donated for Manito Park.  Although White had numerous conflicts of interest, his connections and influence were driving forces behind Spokane’s development.  White’s memory has been honored by the naming of Aubrey L. White Parkway in Riverside StatePark, and the preservation of an area he loved along the Little Spokane River as a park.

Property Values Continue To Rise Around The Park

At the time Manito Park was donated to the city, the parks were governed by politics and park donors.  A special charter in 1891 had placed Spokane’s public parks under a joint supervision of the mayor, the city engineer and the city council president, subject to the authority of the city council.  In 1955, the Eastern Washington State Historical Society taped an interview of Laurence R. Hamblen and Joel E. Ferris, two civic-minded citizens with long-term service to the park commission, discussing the Spokane park system history, Mr. Hamblen, then-president of the Spokane Park Board and board member since 1912, explained Spokane’s early governing body as follows, “At that time, Spokane was governed by a council of ten members, two from each ward in the city.  The city, of course, was divided into five wards.  This meant that the full system was largely political because each ward wanted to acquire for its constituents more than the other wards.  The result was a political issue all of the time.”

As previously noted, many Spokane parks were donated by owners of nearby property who clearly understood the potential benefit of having the city improve the park land.  A front page article in August 4, 1907 SpokesmanReview stated, “Park Improvements Add Fifteen Times Their Cost to Adjacent Property -  Property adjacent to a developed boulevard is 100 percent more valuable than it would have been in the same district without the park or boulevard improvements having been made.  This is the unanimous opinion of real estate men, who are in one accord in boosting for a better park and boulevard system for Spokane.” 

In an attempt to remove the parks from the political arena and protect against exploitation by park donors, a 1907 charter amendment created a separate nonpartisan park board commission of ten unpaid members, with the mayor serving as an ex officio member.  Another amendment in 1910 eliminated the mayor’s position and provided for a city council representative to act as a liaison between the city and the park board.

Correspondence and park board minutes filed in the Eastern Regional State Archives housed at Eastern Washington University and the Spokane Parks and Recreation Department archives provide insight into the formation of the Spokane Park Department.  The founding of the park board was largely through the efforts and assistance of Aubrey Lee White and the Spokane Chamber of Commerce, of which White was director.  Although Spokane was surrounded by open country and had little need to preserve land for parks, with the city’s rapid growth and expansion, White had the foresight to push for preservation of open space while it was still available and affordable.   He organized and served as President of the City Beautiful Club, whose purpose was to promote the establishment of a city park and playground system that would put or recreation area within walking distance of every neighborhood.  When the initial park board was formed, it was comprised of businessmen, who were also friends, with common interests.  AubreyWhite was chosen to be the first president of the board, serving from 1907 to 1922.  His determination to secure a visible park system for Spokane took tangible form soon after the park board was formed.  Grading, seeding and planting of Manito Boulevard began, and within three years, a $1,000,000 park bond was passed to expand and improve the park system.  Because park funds were limited, White persuaded private citizens to plant many of the leafy deciduous trees that beautify Spokane’s streets today.  White’s foresight and tireless campaign to secure public park lands earned him the reputation as “Father of Spokane’s Park System.”

 Next week, we will learn more about this interesting character Aubrey White and how his vision and foresight helped shape Spokane’s landscape.

A Famous Landscape Design Firm is Consulted on the Design…

In our continuing study of Spokane’s early days and the birth of Manito Park, last week we read some old newspaper articles about the sales of residence building sites being advertised around the new “Montrose” (Manito) Park.  Today, we see a few more details about the design and layout of the beautiful park itself.  The source was the newspaper of the day, The Spokane Falls Review.  Read along and get caught up in this interesting story.

The following is an excerpt from an article appearing in the same paper [Spokane Falls Review] describing the coming of the Spokane & Montrose Railroad to Cook’s development and the beauty of the area:

Our citizens will rejoice when they can be carried quickly and cheaply to the shady groves and sparkling fountains of Montrose Park.  No one will be credited with having seen Spokane hereafter unless he has ridden over its heights on the Spokane & Montrose railroad… This will be the route for all local picnics and family excursions.  The elevated property south of the business portion of the city will now come to the front as the healthiest and most fashionable residence section.

Another description of the Montrose area was in a report to the City of Spokane by the Olmsted Brothers, a nationally renowned landscape architectural firm from Brookline, Massachusetts, which designed parks and private gardens in many major cities.  The father, who had founded the firm, was one of the designers of Central Park in New York City.  On July 10, 1907, at a cost of $1,000 plus expenses, the park board hired the Olmstead firm to prepare a preliminary recommendation for Spokane’s existing parks and to assist in the development of an overall park and boulevard system.  Following an inspection of Manito Park, they stated:

“The city is fortunate in possessing already a local park so large, so well situated, and accessible as this is… The picturesque, weather-beaten ledges, especially interesting to city people used to tidy, clipped lawns and grass plots, appear to be in process of being covered over with a thin layer of earth followed by grass… There is much rough, ledgy ground in this park.  Doubtless that had something to do with its selection for a park.  The land, that is to say, looked discouraging for low-priced suburban lots.  In some degree it is discouraging and costly to fit it for use as a public park, yet it is worth more for a park than fifty foot lots… The prominent ledges are decidedly valuable as picturesque landscape features.  They should be carefully preserved and taken advantage of in designing all kinds of improvements.”

The Olmstead report detailed their impression of the infant park in 1907.  The nearly two-page narrative on Manito recommended future improvements.  A third of the report was devoted to the zoo, primarily recommended for its removal.  (It was removed during the Depression, but purely for economic reasons.)  Manito Park did not develop from a master plan, but has been a constantly evolving, changing environment, shaped primarily by the inspiration or vision of various park superintendents or directors.  There is a popular mistaken notion, largely perpetuated by a park department brochure published some years ago, that Manito Park was an Olmsted Brothers’ design.  Although the content of the Olmsted report confirms an existing layout, some of their recommendations were eventually followed: park roads were widened, paved and grades reduced; an open area was graded for a level playing field; and continuous grassy areas were planted.  Few specific landscape suggestions were offered, except to add another 31 acres to remove irregular boundaries, which they felt were not conducive to pleasing park design.  That suggestion never materialized.

Montrose Park is sold lot by lot – here are some of the ads….

At the time of Francis Cook’s acquisition in 1884 of what is now called Manito Park, a natural beauty permeated that entire area.  The region in its early days of Spokane’s settlement has been described in many ways, some of which were not flattering, referring to it as “undeveloped tangle” or a “wooded tangle of underbrush and basaltic rockpiles as big as houses.”  However, the beauty of nature was clearly evident to Cook as he initiated the beginnings of the park and advertised the first and most complete description of it in the Spokane Falls Review on April 21, 1888.

MONTROSE PARK!

An elevated plateau adjoining the city; affording the finest residence sites.  It has broad avenues, shade trees, abundance of water and is traversed by the motor line.

It commands fine views and lies within five minutes ride of the heart of the city.

THIS SITE IS BEAUTIFUL; HEALTHY AND ATTRACTIVE!

The property in this suburban park is offered to purchasers at low figures and on easy terms; Apply to NORTHWESTERN LAND COMPANY,

Spokane National Bank Building, for particulars.

MONTROSE PARK

Among the many new additions adjoining the City of Spokane Falls, none have so fully met with all the requirements of a first-class residence site as Montrose Park; which will be placed on the market on

MONDAY, APRIL 23

It lies south of the city, and comprises a portion of the beautiful plateau overlooking the Valley of the Spokane.  This plateau as it is now appears presents to the appreciative eye a SYLVIAN [sic] PARADISE

The open woody stretches of gently undulating ground, afford elegant residence sites, and will be occupied ere long with many bright and happy homes.  Besides the natural attractions that offer there are wide avenues of one hundred and twenty feet.  This will give twenty feet for promenades on each side with an eighty foot driveway.  Plenty of water can be had upon this upper level at from twenty to forty feet in depth.  In some portions of this addition fine springs abound.  To further and to the desirability of Montrose Park, there will be three fine parks laid out with fine drives and walks and some will contain miniature lakes and fountains.  Whenever one finds wild roses the soil where they grow is sure to be rich and strong.  Scattered about on the gentle slopes and the pretty open plazas wild roses bloom in great profusion – hence the name –

“MOUNTAIN OF ROSES!”

The new addition comprises six hundred acres and lies only twelve blocks from Riverside avenue.  The new motor line traverses the new addition on three broad avenues, and thus the remotest portions of Montrose will be within five minutes ride of the heart of the city.  That which also adds to the desirability of Montrose Park for residence sites is the healthfulness of location.  The mean elevation above the business portion of the city is 350 feet.  This places it above the fog line and where one gets benefit of the southern breezes and the sun.  At many points it commands fine views.  The streets are easy to construct and will be comparatively inexpensive.  Purchasers will receive a satisfaction guarantee for the completion of the motor line through the property, and which guarantee will form a part of the Contract of Purchase.  Call and see plat and get particulars.

Spokane Becomes a Lucrative Market for Architects...

After Manito Park was donated to the city, the surrounding area developed rapidly, although the demand for new home construction was beginning to concentrate in a moderately-priced range.  From Spokane’s inception until about 1915, the population growth was steady, reaching over 139,000 according to the United States census taken that year.  Spokane was a lucrative market for architects.  By 1907 eighteen architectural firms were listed in the Spokane directory, many employing numerous architects.  A lot of homes built in the Manito area came from these architects’ designs.  About this time, a new concept in house plans also emerged – house plan catalogs.  Catalog plans were largely in response to the popularity of the Craftsman Bungalow, which had received high-profile coverage in various architectural and home design magazines.  About 1908 the Ballard Plannery Company was formed.  This architectural firm issued a 106-page catalog of house blueprints for minimal costs.  A large number of lumber companies operating in Spokane also sold house plans.  The catalog plans frequently offered pre-cut packages of lumber and assembly instructions.

When America entered World War I, residential construction slowed.  According to the 1915 and 1920 census figures in the Polk directories, Spokane experienced a temporary downturn in population.  Population figures from various sources often conflict.  This was partially due to the expansion occurring beyond Spokane’s city limits, which was not included in the census counts.  In earlier years, the city limits were more narrowly defined and have since changed.  Many of the most rapidly growing areas, such as Hillyard, were not included until later.  By 1923, the year Cutter left, the housing market was rebounding and Spokane ranked among the top twenty Pacific Coast cities in what was termed “The race for leadership in building permits.”  The statistic was released by the Federal Reserve Bank during March of 1924, and appeared in the Spokane Press the 18^th of that month.  During this period, the Craftsman Bungalow became the most popular style homes in the Manito area.

The design influence of Preusse, Cutter and their associates left a lasting mark on Spokane.  Many of the homes built in the Manito neighborhood reflect the European influence, a trademark of Spokane’s early architects, and are admired by residents today.

We Learn More About Kirtland Kelsey Cutter.....

Last week, we learned of the rise of a prominent architect in Spokane named Kirtland Cutter and his rise in fame.  We also learned about his marriage to a Spokane-area rich man’s daughter, their continued success, subsequent divorce and devastating results that fell on Cutter. 

This week we will continue to read more about this interesting character and how he fared in early Spokane. 

Cutter’s most prosperous years began around 1897 and lasted into the early 1900s.  During those years he was the architect of choice for many of the wealthy Spokane families.  He designed the majority of the mansions directly below the rim of the Manito plateau (“The Hill”), which were some of his first major commissions.

Cutter experienced some difficult times after his divorce from Mary Corbin.  Because of his high profile, on September 4, 1907, the Spokesman Review gave a detailed account of an embarrassing incident that took place shortly after he married his second wife, Katherine Phillips Williams.

KICKS ARCHITECT OFF STREET CAR

Jack Williams Applies Boot to Kirtland K. Cutter.

Kirtland K. Cutter, society man and architect, whose reputation is national, was kicked from a Manito park car last Thursday evening by “Jack” Williams, society man and former secretary of the Sullivan Mining Company, who now has offices with former Judge George Turner in the Fernwell building.  Mr. Cutter received the kick as he was descending the steps of the car at Sixth avenue and Washington street, but he landed on his feet when he struck the ground, and after picking up his hat, which fell in the mud, due to his hurried flight, he hastened on his way home without glancing back or making any remarks to his assailant.

On account of the social prominence of the two men the occurrence has caused much talk among the members of the Spokane club and Country club.

Mr. Cutter is married to Mr. Williams’ divorced wife, the wedding taking place soon after the divorce was granted [10 days] … According to the chronicle of those who saw the melee, it occurred on a Manito park-bound car at 5:40 o’clock last Thursday afternoon.  The car was crowded with home-going residents of the hillside and Manito Park neighborhoods.  Because of the crowded condition of the car and the fact that Mr. Cutter kept going after the kick had been administered most of those on the car were not aware of what had happened.  “The first that I knew that trouble had broken out between the erstwhile friends, Cutter and Williams, was when I heard Mr. Williams say ‘You _ _ _ _, get off the car,’ said a wealthy resident of the hill, who was just in the rear of Mr. Williams.

“Then”, said the spectator, “Mr. Cutter’s hat shot into the air.  He followed the hat from the car, never said a word, and ignored the little mishap…. The affair occurred at Sixth avenue and Washington street.  It was raining cats and dogs.  Cutter thumped his umbrella into position first and then gathered his hat from the mud.  He went up Sixth avenue in the direction of his home.

“The affair occurred so quickly that I did not comprehend at the time that a kick had been delivered.  Mr. Williams was standing in a crowd on the rear platform of the car and Mr. Cutter had been inside the car”….Another friend of Mr. Williams said: “…Jack told me he had been waiting for a chance to plug Cutter for some time, and this was the first opportunity he had to deliver the chastisement.”

Cutter continued to practice architecture in Spokane until 1923.  Although at time his practice extended to other states, most of his work was accomplished in Spokane.   When the big money poured into the city in the late 1800s and the wealthy built their elegant mansions, Cutter was able to command substantial prices for his services.  As the demand for these mansions slowed, Cutter found himself in an extremely competitive position.  The bottom was falling out of his upscale market and the competition was meeting the demand for more affordable house plans.  By the time Cutter left Spokane in 1923, his practice had declined.  He went in search of a market compatible with his talents, which he found in Long Beach, California.  Kirtland Kelsey Cutter practiced architecture until his death on September 26, 1939, in Long Beach, California, at the age of 79.  Cutter has one remaining blood relative, his grandson, Joe Corbin, whose birth name was also Corbin Corbin.  Joe Corbin was born July 26, 1926, and presently resides in Los Angeles.